People Behind the Plans Podcast Series
Exploring the Work, Life, and Ideas of Planners Across the Field
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Recent Episodes
EPISODE 54: Phil Green, AICP
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with Phil Green, AICP—a planner by day and improviser by night—about how the skills he’s honed on stage can help planners handle curveballs at community meetings, build better conversations, and even survive a permit meltdown. Much of it comes down to active listening. With humor and heart, Phil makes the case for bringing a little “yes, and…” into your planning practice.
EPISODE 53: Katelynn Morgenstern
On this episode of People Behind the Plans, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with Katelynn Morgenstern, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning for Kennett Township, Pennsylvania. As an introvert , Kate turned to social media to network, build confidence, connect with peers, and explore planning issues beyond her day-to-day role. Through her @CityPlannerKate persona, she’s created a space to discuss equity, hostile architecture, and the evolving planning profession—while staying grounded in authenticity and self-care. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation on how social media can empower planners to find their voice and build community.
EPISODE 52: Tom Pace
On this episode of People Behind the Plans, Tom Pace, the Director of Community Development for the City of Sacramento, discusses the innovative zoning reforms and planning efforts that have been implemented to address the housing crisis in Sacramento.
Episode 51: Nico larco and Kaarin Knudson
On this episode of People Behind the Plans, Nico Larco and Kaarin Knudson, co-authors of The Sustainable Urban Handbook, share real-world applications of the handbook and how planners can use it throughout the planning process to evaluate their options, engage stakeholders, and find sustainable solutions that meet their community’s goals.
Episode 50: Julia Freedgood
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Julia Freedgood, author of Planning Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, talks about the complex and fragile web behind the food we eat, and the important role planning plays, especially in rural areas. Freedgood, a senior fellow and senior program advisor at the American Farmland Trust, digs into rural and urban agriculture, food insecurity, and even how renewable energy production can be at odds with food production. Always optimistic, she'll share how planners can shift their mindset toward comprehensive food systems planning and offer guidance on addressing food challenges.
Episode 49: Sara Bronin
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, host Meghan Stromberg sits down with Sara C. Bronin, founder and director at The National Zoning Atlas. Bronin explains how an effort to Desegregate Connecticut paved the way for the National Zoning Atlas and how planners are contributing to — and benefiting from — this movement to demystify and democratize the policies that shape communities.
Episode 48: Megan Oliver, AICP
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Megan Oliver, AICP, WELL AP, founder of Hello Happy Design, discusses how the intersection of neuroscience and planning — called neurourbanism — can provide planners with the necessary tools to design places for social and emotional health. Oliver also speaks to the rising awareness of neurodiversity and how we can change our assumptions about how community members engage with the people and places around them.
Episode 47: Anaid Yerena and Rashad Williams
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, JAPA contributors Rashad Williams, Assistant Professor of Race and Social Justice in Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh, and Anaid Yerena, Associate Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Washington, Tacoma, speak about anti-racist community planning concepts that lay the foundation for planners to reckon with history, disrupt the status quo and find new ways to pursue equity in every community.
Episode 46: Shain Shapiro
In this episode of the People Behind the Plans series, Shain Shapiro, founder and executive chairman of Sound Diplomacy, discusses how planners can champion music policy in cities, as well as a case study of an American city that took a strategic approach to incorporating music in its long-term plan.
Episode 45: Taiwo Jaiyeoba
On this episode of People Behind the Plans, Taiwo Jaiyeoba joins host Meghan Stromberg to talk about leading zoning reform efforts in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, both as a planning director and in his current role as city manager. He also shares his tips for winning over naysayers and his thoughts on what makes a good comprehensive plan.
Episode 44: Dave Amos
In this episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast, YouTuber and planner Dave Amos talks about his fortuitous route to the profession, why he's telling the planning story in exciting, new ways, and how planners can lean into social media to connect with their communities.
Episode 43: Rebekah Taussig
In this episode of People Behind the Plans, we sit down with Rebekah Taussig before her keynote address at APA's 2023 National Planning Conference. She explains how storytelling has allowed her to reclaim the narrative of her own life and help others understand how isolating, cumbersome, unjust, and unsustainable our cities and our culture are for people with disabilities.
Episode 42: Jane Golden
Philadelphia is a public art epicenter — and not by chance. The city has long institutionalized investment in local muralists through programs like Mural Arts Philadelphia, a nonprofit created in 1998 by artist and executive director Jane Golden. Through more than 4,000 murals, the program has helped residents celebrate identity, tackle issues like environmental justice, and paint the change they want to see.
Episode 41: NOLAN GRAY
In this special episode of the People Behind the Plans series, Arbitrary Lines author Nolan Gray sits down with guest host Jason Jordan, APA's director of public affairs, to examine the cities and states charting a new course for zoning reform — and offer advice for planners navigating the myriad interests impacting land use decisions.
Episode 40: Mark Wheeler
In this episode of the People Behind the Plans series, Mark Wheeler, CIO for the City of Philadelphia, explores blockchain's potential, how it can provide transparency to the data collection that fuels smart cities, his advice for planners, and where he looks for inspiration and innovation.
Episode 39: Nithya Raman
Urban planner and L.A. City Council member Nithya Raman shares her vision for reducing homelessness, offers tips for working more effectively with city government, and explains how planners can use their expertise to educate and galvanize communities for positive change.
Episode 38: Naomi Doerner
As a growing number of cities develop mobility justice initiatives, Naomi Doerner, MUP, is helping planners navigate these efforts to address systemic inequities and barriers in transportation. Doerner, principal and director of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates sat down with host Courtney Kashima, AICP, to talk about what mobility justice looks like in practice, including some inspirational examples from around the world.
Episode 37: Michael Ford, AIA, NOMA
In this special episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast series, guest host Jason Pugh, AICP, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), sits down with Michael Ford, AIA, NOMA, keynote speaker at the 2022 APA National Planning Conference. In this live-recorded discussion in San Diego, Ford and Pugh talk about the unique connection between hip-hop, urban design, community engagement, and so much more.
Episode 36: Rasmus Astrup
In this episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast series, host Courtney Kashima, AICP, is joined by Rasmus Astrup, partner and design principal at Danish urban design and landscape architecture practice SLA. Rasmus and Courtney discuss the importance of biodiversity and nature-based solutions to address the needs of cities to mitigate against the effects of climate change and specific issues like extreme urban heat.
Episode 35: Leslie Kern
Author Leslie Kern joins host Courtney Kashima, AICP, on this episode of People Behind the Plans to discuss her latest work, Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World. The two explore the myriad challenges women face living in and navigating spaces built largely for a narrow subset of the population.
Episode 34: Katanya 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.
Episode 33: Tamika Butler
As a watershed year comes to a close, Tamika Butler, Esq, founder and principal of Tamika L. Butler Consulting, joins 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.
Episode 32: Monique López, AICP
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.
Episode 31: Samantha Choudhury
Melbourne-based planner Sam Choudhury joins host Courtney Kashima, AICP, to discuss how her parents' immigration to Australia from Bangladesh shaped how she plans for communities, how planning differs in the U.S. and Australia, and how business-improvement districts need focused management to succeed — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 30: Traci Sanders
Host Courtney Kashima, AICP, catches up with Traci Sanders about how she discovered urban planning, as well as influential projects she's worked on, such as the East Harlem Neighborhood Plan. Traci serves as the director of civic impact for WXY Studio, a multidisciplinary architecture, design, and planning firm based in New York.
Previous Episodes
Episode 29
Episode 28
Episode 27
Episode 26
Episode 25
Episode 24
Episode 23
Episode 22
Episode 21
Episode 20
Episode 19
Episode 18
Episode 17
Episode 16
Episode 15
Episode 14
Episode 13
Episode 12
Episode 11
Episode 10
Episode 9
Episode 8
Episode 7
Episode 6
Episode 5
Episode 4
Episode 3
Episode 2
Episode 1