Why Sprawl IS the Housing Crisis

Why Sprawl IS the Housing Crisis

Author: Strong Towns May 19, 2025 Duration: 56:25
On the surface, sprawl seems like an easy answer to the housing crisis. It fits with the mechanisms we have in place today, and it aligns with the lived experiences and political will of most Americans. But the reality of our housing crisis is more nuanced, and it's bigger than sprawl: The problem is the current way we develop, whether that's inside cities or on the fringes. Chuck explains why in this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn how to beat the housing crisis the right way. Download The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform today! Read more: “Escaping the Housing Trap” by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges “America Should Sprawl? Not If We Want Strong Towns” by Charles Marohn Chuck Marohn (Substack)

Each week, Charles Marohn guides a discussion that feels less like a formal lecture and more like a thoughtful chat with a knowledgeable neighbor. The Strong Towns Podcast digs into the practical, often overlooked details that determine whether a community thrives or just struggles along. The conversations here consistently connect the dots between sensible budgeting and the physical shape of our streets, parks, and neighborhoods, arguing that true resilience comes from this intersection. You’ll hear specific examples of how towns and cities can make incremental, affordable investments that build long-term wealth and stability, moving beyond short-term fixes. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast focuses on actionable ideas for local leaders and engaged citizens alike, exploring how everyday decisions about infrastructure and land use directly impact a place's financial health. It’s a grounded perspective on creating communities that are not only more solvent but also more welcoming and livable. The ongoing dialogue reinforces the core idea that a strong town is built from the bottom up, one block at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Strong Towns Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Comparing the Strong Towns and YIMBY Approaches to the Housing Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:06
The Building Culture Podcast explores holistic solutions to crafting a more beautiful, resilient and thriving world through the built environment. Its host, Austin Tunnell, recently invited Strong Towns President Charles…
Memorable Moments in the History of Strong Towns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:33
Over the years, Chuck has added audio clips to the Strong Towns Podcast outro music to memorialize influential moments and experiences he’s had since founding Strong Towns. Today, in honor of that outro music being retir…
From the Federal Government to RV Parks: A Housing Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:13
On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck continues answering housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover state and federal housing policy, local government’s role in finan…
From Building Backyard Cottages to Banning Airbnbs: A Housing Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:54
On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck answers housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover the history of the housing market, as well as backyard cottages, alternative h…
Why Strong Towns Won’t Cave to Election Year Pressures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
It’s Member Week here at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’re publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast. In this episode, Chuck explains how election years affect a nonpartisan nonprofit like Strong To…
From the Bottom Up: How Members Built the Strong Towns Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:41
It’s Member Week here at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’re publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast this week. In this episode, Chuck is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Towns’ director o…
To Build Strong Towns, We Need To Change the Cultural Conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:08
Today, we’re kicking off Member Week at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’ll be publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast this week. In this first episode, Chuck discusses the cultural shift that the S…
5 Things the Next President Should Do To Build a Stronger America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:12
Strong Towns is a nonpartisan organization that’s focused on starting change from the local level, not the federal one. However, Chuck was recently challenged to come up with five things that the next president, whoever…