How Conversations Shape Our Cities? HC E17 | Reena Mahajan | Ruchita Bansal

About the Episode: Cities are not shaped only by plans, projects, or infrastructure. They are shaped much earlier by conversations, assumptions, and what we collectively accept as “normal.” In this episode of The Human City Podcast, Ruchita Bansal speaks with Reena Mahajan, architect, urban planner, and founder of Studio Divercity and StreetSmart, about how the way we talk about cities quietly determines what we end up building. Drawing from her work across India, Europe, and Latin America, Reena reflects on:Why many urban decisions are already made before planning beginsHow “demand” is socially constructed — not neutralWhy car-centric cities persist even when they don’t serve most peopleHow communication can act as a form of urban interventionWhat it means to step outside the system to question itAnd why everyday experiences, not expert jargon, should guide city-makingThis is not a conversation about quick fixes or technical solutions. It’s about culture, power, and the invisible decisions that shape our streets, mobility, and daily lives. If you care about cities as a planner, policymaker, practitioner, or citizen — this conversation will change how you think about urban change. About the Guest: Reena Mahajan is an architect and urban planner with over two decades of experience working on people-centred, nature-positive cities. She leads Studio Divercity and is the founder of StreetSmart, a civic tech platform that captures lived experiences of streets to inform better urban decisions. She is also part of Lab of Thought, a global collective rethinking how cities function and who they are built for.Connect with her on Linkedin:   / reena-mahajan  Explore more about her work here: https://www.studiodivercity.com/Find out more about her StreetSmart app: https://livestreetsmart.com/About the Host: The Human City Podcast is hosted by Ruchita Bansal, an accomplished urban planner and project management professional with 15+ years of experience. She has led multi-billion-dollar development projects and sustainable mobility programs across India, including her leadership role at the Ayodhya Development Authority.Ruchita is also the founder of SheCity India, a platform for gender-inclusive urban planning, storytelling, and data-driven advocacy.