APA Podcast
Affordable housing. Urban design. Disaster recovery. Economic development. Autonomous vehicles. These are just some of the topics APA's podcast delves into with deep curiosity, expert analysis, and affecting, true-life stories. Throughout every episode of the podcast, listeners of all backgrounds — from those ensconced in the daily challenges and rewards of planning to those coming to the field with fresh eyes — get a firsthand look at what it means to be a planner in a world that needs them now more than ever.
Multiple Ways to Listen
Find us on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and SoundCloud — or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent Episodes
Katanya Raby Continues Equity Work of Civil Rights Giant Al Raby
Urban planner, artist, and activist Katanya Raby joins host Courtney Kashima, AICP, to talk about her work at the Office of the Mayor for the City of Chicago, her time at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), and her post as executive director of the Al Raby Foundation.
AARP's Rodney Harrell on Changing Demographics and Livable Communities
Rodney Harrell, a planner and AARP Public Policy Institute's vice president of Family, Home and Community, thinks the biggest policy problem we face is the siloing of planning issues — separating housing from transportation from economic development from health. This disjointedness negatively affects people across the lifespan, but these impacts will become even more pronounced as our nation gets older. He and APA's editor in chief Meghan Stromberg discuss where we go from here.
Is Your Environment Limiting Your Functioning?
The built environment often does not allow people of all ages and abilities to function at their highest level. For many, it limits functioning — a phenomenon known as environmental press. Built environment strategist Esther Greenhouse talks with APA's editor in chief Meghan Stromberg about this idea and solutions to it, as well as eye-opening reasons why cities and towns must value their older citizens as much as they value younger adults.
Why We Need More Intergenerational Policies, Programs, and Places
You've probably heard the term "multigenerational," but what about "intergenerational"? Matthew Kaplan, professor of Intergenerational Programs and Aging at Penn State University, fleshes out the meaning of the term for APA's editor in chief Meghan Stromberg, and the two discuss some of the fascinating case studies in intergenerational programming from around the world.
Tamika Butler on Antiracism, Equity, and Self-Care Through Solopreneurship
As a watershed year comes to a close, Tamika Butler, Esq., founder and principal of Tamika L. Butler Consulting, joins People Behind the Plans host Courtney Kashima on the podcast. The result is a stirring, uplifting, and funny conversation on the issues facing everyone who works to undo society’s inequities.
Seeking Justice and Showing Communities Love Through Planning
People Behind the Plans host Courtney Kashima, AICP, chats with social justice planner Monique López, AICP, MCRP, MA, founder of the anti-racist, values-driven participatory planning and design firm Pueblo Planning. Monique shares stories from some of the firm's projects, merging anecdotes with the wisdom they brought her to create poignant takeaways for listeners.
How El Paso Reimagined Capital Improvement Planning During COVID-19
When projected revenue shortfalls put most of the City of El Paso's scheduled capital improvement projects on hold, planners in this Texas border city saw an opportunity to rethink the capital improvement planning (CIP) and budgeting process and reprioritize projects using an equity-focused approach.
Planners Are Helping Small Businesses Become Resilient Amidst the Pandemic
APA public affairs manager Emily Pasi talks with two Massachusetts planners: Angela Cleveland, AICP, of the City of Amesbury, and Matthew Coogan, AICP, of the City of Newburyport. Listeners find out how planners in these communities are helping local small businesses navigate the pandemic by innovating and planning for a more resilient future.
APA Podcast Series
People Behind the Plans
Planners of every discipline share the impactful work they do. Led by host Courtney Kashima, AICP, these conversations illuminate the essential hows and whys of planning.
Planning the Autonomous Future
Listen to experts discuss how autonomous vehicles could (and should) fit into the public right-of-way.
Resilience Roundtable
Planners and allied professionals who make resilience their mission, even in the face of devastating natural hazards, share their stories and best practices.
Have an Idea for a Podcast Episode or Series?
Is there a planning topic we haven't covered that you can't stop thinking about? Have you become aware of a planner doing exciting work in the field who deserves to be featured? Or do you just want to send us a note on how we're doing? Send your ideas, comments, and feedback to podcast@planning.org, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.