People Behind the Plans Podcast Series

Exploring the Work, Life, and Ideas of Planners Across the Field

Hosted by Courtney Kashima, AICP, planner and small business owner of Muse Community + Design in Chicago, the People Behind the Plans podcast series features conversations between planners on work, life, ideas, and problem-solving in a variety of communities.

Multiple Ways to Listen

Find us on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and SoundCloud — or wherever you get your podcasts.

Recent Episodes

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.

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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.

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Episode 29: Erin Aleman

In this episode of People Behind the Plans, listeners hear from CMAP executive director Erin Aleman. Erin, the first woman and first planner to head up the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, sits down with host Courtney Kashima, AICP, to talk about how she got into planning (hint: via an eye-opening experience in college) as well as the organization's goals around resilience and inclusive growth.

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Episode 28: Kelwin Harris

Kelwin Harris is the director of outreach and engagement for the Office of the Cook County Assessor in Chicago. In this episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast, host Courtney Kashima, AICP, talks with Kelwin about his work, upbringing, and thoughts on how planners can advance equity in their work and the profession.

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Episode 27: Todd Vanadilok, AICP

Todd Vanadilok, AICP, talks with People Behind the Plans podcast host Courtney Kashima, AICP, about his planning-focused educational comic series, social justice, and avoiding "one size fits all" planning approaches.

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Episode 26: Enessa Janes, AICP, PhD

On this resilience-focused episode of People Behind the Plans, host Courtney Kashima, AICP, and Enessa Janes, AICP, PhD, discuss Enessa's work as community resilience coordinator at the City of Arvada, Colorado.

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