18: WRAP UP, REFLECTION & REVEAL (+ Care and the city, +Aussie social media ban, +urban themes of the year and much more...)

This month, we (Beth and Tom) are podding alone, using the final episode of the year to reflect on some of the big themes we’ve discussed in 2025 as well as on the process of making Urban Radar.  We start with our monthly radar for December, dipping into three current stories each as usual. Following this we offer some quick-fire thoughts on a number of issues and themes that have resurfaced repeatedly throughout the year and remain prominent as it draws to a close. Finally, we consider some of the highlights of podcasting itself, before unveiling a surprise in store for Series 2…On our monthly radar for December: Care work and the city - from the UK’s current ‘carers scandal’ to Bogota’s care blocksUrban ‘brandalism’, ZAP games and ‘subtervising’ (confused? Head to 9:15 to find out…)The decline of trial by jury in the UK and what this might mean for urban justice and efforts to overcome spatial, class and linguistic biasAmerica’s new National Security Strategy and how this connects to Trump’s war on urban diversityThe Australian social media ban and its potentially different ramifications in urban vs rural areas Syrian cities one year after the fall of AssadOn our rapid fire ‘radar of radars’, we consider:Military coups and their urban implicationsTechnology and public spaceFlag urbanism and the branding of the cityThe UK-Denmark anti-migration love-inSolidarity, belonging and ‘urban lawfare’The entanglements of local infrastructure and global financeUrban warfare, critical minerals and strongman diplomacyRead MoreThe Independent Review of Carer's Allowance Overpayments: A Welcome Step Towards Wider Reform of Welfare Benefits for Carers | the Centre for CareCaring Cities: Towards a Public Urban Culture of Care?Dismantling the advertising city: Subvertising and the urban commons to comeActivating the playful city: A review of ludic urbanism and introducing the ludic continuum frameworkHosts:Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Development in the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester.  His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change. (linkedin.com/in/tom-goodfellow-0b418441) Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK. (linkedin.com/in/itsbethperry)Email feedback to: [email protected] can also follow us on instagram: @urbanradarpodcastThanks to the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester for providing time, resources and equipment to support this podcast.