PODCAST · education
American Planning Association
by American Planning Association
From affordable housing to disaster recovery, from climate resilience to autonomous vehicles, APA's podcast delves into a wide array of urban planning topics with deep curiosity, expert analysis, and affecting, true-life stories.
Episodes
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Shruti Shankar, AICP, on People-First Mobility Hubs, Mentoring, and the Beautiful Messiness of Cities
What happens when planners and designers don’t try to control every part of a city — and instead make room for people to shape it? In this episode of People Behind the Plans, recorded live at NPC26, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with Shruti Shankar, AICP, an urban design director and...
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School-Oriented Development: Bridging the Divide Between Education and Transportation Planning
This episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning is an installment of our safety series focusing one of the most overlooked levers in community safety: how kids get to school. Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall sit down with Mathew Palmer, Senior Research Scholar and Project...
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Mapping Environmental Justice in NYC with Paul Lozito, AICP
In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, hosts Em Hall and Divya Gandhi sit down with Paul Lozito, AICP, Deputy Executive Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, to explore how environmental justice is reshaping urban planning in New...
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The New 21st Century ROAD to Housing Law with Jason Jordan
In this special episode of the APA Podcast, recorded fresh off the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially becoming law, host Mike Johnson talks to Jason Jordan, APA's public affairs principal. Jason dives into some of the important provisions in the new legislation, outlines some of the...
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Ten Percent Braver: Championing Personal Resilience with Jaz Ampaw-Farr
Recorded live at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit, this special APA Podcast episode features an intimate and uplifting conversation between host Mike Johnson and NPC26 keynote speaker Jaz Ampaw-Farr— an internationally acclaimed British motivational speaker, leadership consultant,...
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From Disinvestment to Renewal: Lessons from Detroit's Joe Louis Greenway
The Joe Louis Greenway is a 29-mile trail network connecting 23 neighborhoods and four cities across metropolitan Detroit, and it runs on land with a complex legacy of disinvestment, industrial use, and community displacement. Building the Greenway requires more than funding and construction. It...
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Ryan Slattery, AICP, on Resilience, Community Trust, and Tough Conversations
How do you protect communities from intensifying floods, heat, storms, and other hazards when the words around those risks can shut the conversation down? In this episode of People Behind the Plans , recorded live at NPC26, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with Ryan Slattery, AICP , a...
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From Data Centers to City Streets: Rethinking Infrastructure in a Digital Age
Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall continue the Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning series with a conversation that challenges transportation planners to reckon with a new kind of infrastructure: the data center. Recorded at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit, this...
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Planning Education, Uncertainty, and the Rapid Evolution of AI with Tom Sanchez, AICP
In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association (APA), chats with author and professor Tom Sanchez, AICP. The two engage in a thoughtful discussion about the rapidly...
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Resilient Landscapes: The Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Training Program
In this episode of the APA Podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores California’s Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Training Program, recipient of the 2025 Resilience and Sustainability Award. Joined by Molly Mowery, AICP, executive director of Community…
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Connected Neighborhoods: The Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Study
In this episode of the APA podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores Detroit's Heavyweight Impact: The Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Planning Study for Inclusive Neighborhood Growth, recipient of the 2025 National Planning Excellence Award. Joined by Michele Flournoy…
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Governance, Preemption, and the Importance of Protecting Local Representation with Nestor Davidson
In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, research manager at the American Planning Association (APA), sits down with Nestor Davidson, the Emma Bloomberg Professor of Real Estate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.…
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Connecting Communities: Rural Solutions for Transportation Challenges
In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall spoke with Luke Van Denend, Outreach Coordinator at AECOM, and Zoe Miller, MPH, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Moving Maine Network, for a wide-ranging discussion focused on rural...
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Embracing Transformation: The Gwinnett County 2045 Unified Plan
In this episode of the APA podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores the 2045 Unified Plan from Gwinnett County, Georgia, recipient of the Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan in the 2025 National Planning Awards. Joined by Yang Chen, Planning Division director at...
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The Circular Economy, Climate Action, and Urban Sustainability with Helen Santiago-Fink
In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with climate urbanist and researcher, Helen Santiago-Fink. Helen shares insights drawn from her extensive experience...
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Memphis Math: A Formula for Meaningful Engagement
What does it take to prove that community engagement didn’t just happen — but actually shaped decisions, priorities, and outcomes? In this episode of People Behind the Plans, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with planner Christina Edingbourgh about a framework her team calls “Memphis...
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Pathways to Influence: Finding Your Voice as a Planning Advocate
In this episode of the APA Podcast, three planning professionals share their personal journeys and practical advice on how planners can engage in advocacy work. Planners have the data, vision, and insights that elected officials need to be able to make informed decisions for our communities. And...
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The Current — and Future — State of Hazard Mitigation Planning with Chrissy Caggiano, AICP
In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, American Planning Association (APA) Research Manager Joe DeAngelis, AICP, talks with Chrissy Caggiano, AICP, chair of APA’s Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Division. The two discuss the...
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Marccus Hendricks on Infrastructural Justice and Staying True to Your Values
Marccus Hendricks, associate professor at the University of Maryland and director of the Stormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice Lab, joins People Behind the Plans for a wide-ranging conversation on disaster resilience, environmental justice, and the current challenges facing the…
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Kelsey Zlevor on Designing Public Spaces for Mental Health
How can a public space help someone who’s in the middle of a depressive episode? And what does it mean to design with emotional experiences in mind? In this episode of People Behind the Plans, planner and design researcher Kelsey Zlevor joins APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg to explore how...
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Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning: Reverend Jessica Abell
This episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning introduces the groundbreaking Disruption Occurrence Index, a tool designed to quantify and predict the community impacts of infrastructure maintenance, utility work, and street improvements. Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall spoke...
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Stephanie Rouse, AICP, and Jennifer Hiatt on Books, Podcasting, and Finding Your Own Voice
What started as a study tool has grown into a nationally recognized podcast. When Nebraska planners Stephanie Rouse and Jennifer Hiatt volunteered to read through the AICP exam’s recommended reading list, they decided to share the workload—and the insights—by creating a podcast. Four seasons…
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Planning After Bankruptcy: Detroit's Path to Recovery and Innovation
In this episode of the APA Podcast, Ann Dillemuth, AICP, chats with Detroit Planning Director Alexa Bush for an in-depth conversation about Detroit’s remarkable journey from decline and bankruptcy to revitalization and growth. Alexa shares how creative funding, community engagement, and…
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Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning: Jill Locantore
Jill Locantore, Executive Director of the Denver Streets Partnership (DSP), joined co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver to discuss how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) can be a key tool for achieving Denver’s Vision Zero goals. This Critical Conversation in...
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Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning: Mike Pritchard, AICP
Episode sponsor: Caltrans Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-mike-pritchard-aicp/ Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike Pritchard, AICP, Assistant Director at York County Planning Commission, at the…
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Phil Green, AICP, on What Planners Can Learn from Improv
What do improv comedy and planning have in common? According to Phil Green, AICP —more than you'd think. A practicing planner and seasoned improviser, Phil shares with APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg how tools from the improv stage—like active listening, quick thinking, and collaborative...
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Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning: Wes Marshall and Trung Vo, AICP
Episode sponsor: Eastern Washington University Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-wes-marshall-and-trung-vo-aicp/ In this episode, co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall were excited to take the podcast show on the road, recording episodes at…
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Katelynn Morgenstern, AICP, on Planning, Social Media, and Finding Your Voice as an Introvert
What does being an introvert in a profession centered on community and collaboration mean? For Katelynn Morgenstern, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning in Kennett Township, Pennsylvania, navigating networking and building a brand used to feel daunting—until she discovered the power of social...
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The Role of Planners in Space Exploration with Justin Hollander, FAICP
In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with author and urban planning professor Justin Hollander, FAICP. Listen as they examine the potential for…
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Planning for Wellness and Personal Resilience with Dr. Mary Beth Janke
In this special NPC25 episode of the APA podcast, APA President Sue Schwartz, FAICP, interviews keynote speaker Dr. Mary Beth Janke about her experiences and insights on advancing wellness and building resilience. Dr. Mary Beth, who has over 30 years of experience in psychology, security, and...
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The Future of Transportation Planning with Beneeta Mary Jose
In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with recent graduate and current transportation planner, Beneeta Mary Jose. The two explore the latest trends…
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Empowering Youth and the Urban Planning Pipeline with Annette Koh and David Salazar, FAICP
In this episode of the APA podcast, host Dina Walters is joined by David Salazar, FAICP, and Annette Koh to discuss an initiative in Long Beach, California, that is looking to pave the way for future urban planners. Through engaging youth in high schools and teen centers, the program introduces...
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Building Community and Purpose: Leah Rothstein on Just Action
In this special NPC25 episode of the APA podcast, host Michael Brown, AICP, conference committee chair for NPC25, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Leah Rothstein. Leah is co-author along with her father, Richard Rothstein, on the book Just Action, and has specialized in community...
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Tom Pace on Zoning Reform and Housing Innovation in Sacramento
Sacramento, California, is at the forefront of zoning reform, tackling some of the biggest challenges in housing supply and affordability. Tom Pace, the city’s director of community development, shares how the city has embraced policies to remove barriers to housing production, modernize outdated...
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Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning: CNT's Nina Idemudia, AICP and Jacky Grimshaw
In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall interview Jacky Grimshaw and Nina Idemudia, AICP, from the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) in Chicago. They discuss the evolution of transportation planning, the importance of community...
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The Future of Public Sector Planning with APA President Sue Schwartz, FAICP
In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, Research Manager at the American Planning Association, chats with APA President, Sue Schwartz, FAICP. The two discuss the evolving landscape of public sector planning and...
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Nico Larco and Kaarin Knudson on Demystifying Sustainable Urban Design
Planners have a difficult job. In addition to being experts on their own technical field of planning, they must also understand a variety of other disciplines — like architecture, landscape and ecology to name just a few. These fields are complex in their own right, and planners must consider and...
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Housing Supply Accelerator: An Interview with Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Robert Broeksmit
In this episode of the Housing Supply Accelerator series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Robert Broeksmit, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. The two discuss why MBA joined the Housing Supply Accelerator; how the…
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American Farmland Trust's Julia Freedgood on Planning Sustainable Food Systems for All People
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...
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Housing Supply Accelerator: An Interview With National Association of Realtors President Kevin Sears
In this third episode of the series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Kevin Sears, President of the National Association of Realtors. The two discuss how real estate professionals have been specifically impacted by the housing crisis, what...
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The Burlington Model: How Planning-Led Reforms Transformed the City's Housing Market
In this episode of the APA Podcast, Jason Jordan, APA's Principal of Public Affairs, chats with Burlington, Vermont's former mayor, Miro Weinberger, and former planning director, Meagan Tuttle, AICP. In this discussion, they share how they worked together to provide the political leadership and…
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Improvise, Innovate and Involve: 3 Planners Reveal the Importance of Flipping Your Perspective
Welcome to the third episode of Short Takes, a three-part miniseries from the American Planning Association. Short Takes, hosted by Sophia Burns, brings listeners into the field with planners pursuing inventive new approaches to everyday issues: community engagement, land use and zoning, and…
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Aspire, Advocate, and Advance: 2 Planners Talk Frankly About Career Challenges and Moving Up
Welcome to the second episode of Short Takes, a three-part miniseries from the American Planning Association. Short Takes, hosted by Sophia Burns, brings listeners into the field with planners pursuing inventive new approaches to everyday issues: community engagement, land use and zoning, and...
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Creativity, Compensation, and Culture: 3 Planners Share Community Engagement Innovations
Welcome to the first episode of Short Takes, a three-part miniseries from the American Planning Association. Short Takes, hosted by Sophia Burns, brings listeners into the field with planners pursuing inventive new approaches to everyday issues: community engagement, land use and zoning, and…
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Housing Supply Accelerator: An Interview with National Association of Home Builders Chairman Carl Harris
In this second episode of the series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. The two discuss the NAHB's role as a core partner in the Housing Supply Accelerator, as well as what…
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Housing Supply Accelerator: An Interview with National League of Cities CEO Clarence Anthony
In this first episode in a new series, Emily Pasi, director of public affairs at the American Planning Association chats with Clarence Anthony, CEO of the National League of Cities (NLC). Clarence and NLC are partners alongside APA on the Housing Supply Accelerator. The Housing Supply Accelerator...
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National Zoning Atlas Founder Sara Bronin is Empowering Communities to Transform Land Use
Zoning reform has become a topic of national interest, not just among planners and local decision makers, but also in the national media and in everyday conversations. While the national housing crisis is well-documented, information on the role of local zoning rules has been harder to find —…
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Megan Oliver on How to Plan for Happiness in Cities
Planners can design places for many purposes: to promote commerce, to protect us from natural disasters, to uplift historical significance. As mental health and social relationships become increasingly significant, new questions rise to the top: What about planning for the way people feel? How…
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Anaid Yerena and Rashad Williams on Building an Equitable Future of Planning
The history of planning includes policies and practices that have resulted in entrenched inequity and enduring systemic barriers. Understanding the complexities and impacts of those barriers is necessary to dismantling ingrained inequalities and achieving transformative change. A recent edition…
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Rediscovering Roots: Planner Jewell Littles Walton Uncovers Family Ties to Tulsa's Black Wall Street
Jewell Littles Walton is an urban planning and real estate professional with a career spanning multiple decades. She joins Dina Walters, a member of APA's Prioritize Equity team, for this special episode to share the story of uncovering her family’s connection to the early 20th century Greenwood...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
From affordable housing to disaster recovery, from climate resilience to autonomous vehicles, APA's podcast delves into a wide array of urban planning topics with deep curiosity, expert analysis, and affecting, true-life stories.
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American Planning Association
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How many episodes does American Planning Association have?
American Planning Association currently has 294 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is American Planning Association about?
From affordable housing to disaster recovery, from climate resilience to autonomous vehicles, APA's podcast delves into a wide array of urban planning topics with deep curiosity, expert analysis, and affecting, true-life stories.
How often does American Planning Association release new episodes?
American Planning Association publishes regularly with 294 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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American Planning Association is created and hosted by American Planning Association.
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