Charter Cities Podcast
by Mark Lutter
The Charter Cities Podcast explores how charter cities can help solve some of the largest challenges of the 21st century, from urbanization to global poverty to migration. Each episode Mark Lutter interviews experts in international development, new cities, finance, entrepreneurship, and governance, to develop a better understanding of the various aspects of charter citiesIf you want to learn more visit the Charter Cities Institute at https://www.chartercitiesinstitute.org/
Episodes
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Willie Vos on Building Waterfall City
Waterfall City began with 2,200 hectares of farmland between Johannesburg and Pretoria and an unusual challenge: the land couldn’t simply be sold off to developers. Instead, its owners adopted a long-term leasehold model that helped preserve a unified vision for the development over decades.…
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David Chitta and Michelle Made on Zanzalu and Life Inside a Pop-Up City
What is a pop-up city, and what does it actually look like on the ground? In Episode 82 of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter speaks with David Chitta and Michelle Made about Zanzalu, a three-week co-living and co-working pop-up city hosted in Fumba Town, Zanzibar. They unpack what a pop-up...
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Joe Studwell on How Africa Works
Africa’s development story is often framed through crisis or pessimism. Joe Studwell offers a different perspective. In this conversation, Studwell explains why Africa’s economic transformation is only beginning. Unlike the post-independence era, today’s Africa has the population density, urban...
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James of Ârc on Building a Global City to Push the Frontier
In Episode 80 of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter speaks with James of Ârc about building a global city that attracts ambitious people from around the world. James shares Arc’s long-term vision for city building and explains why talent, culture, and community are just as important as...
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Bradford Cross on Alpha Cities & Treating Government as a Product
In Episode 79, Mark Lutter sits down with serial AI founder and investor Bradford Cross, now CEO of Alpha Cities, to explore what happens when a Silicon Valley systems thinker takes on the world’s most complex product: government. Bradford argues that government should be treated as a product—one...
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Rodney Lockwood on Belle Isle
In this episode, Mark speaks with Rodney Lockwood, author of Belle Isle: Detroit’s Game Changer. Lockwood outlines his vision for turning Detroit’s Belle Isle into a privately funded “Freedom City,” inspired by models from Monaco, Singapore, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. From governance reforms...
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Dillon Knowles on Reviving Freeport
Grand Bahama’s Freeport is often left out of the origin story of special economic zones—but it shouldn’t be. In this episode, Mark sits down with Dillon F. Knowles, President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, to trace Freeport’s beginnings under the 1955 Hawksbill Creek Agreement—arguably...
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Joel Burke on E-Governance and the Rise of Estonia
In this conversation, Joel Burke and Carl Peterson discuss the remarkable transformation of Estonia into a leader in digital governance. They explore Estonia's journey from post-Soviet struggles to becoming a hub for tech innovation, including the rise of companies like Skype. Joel shares…
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 8: Tom Bell
In this Freedom Cities episode, Professor Tom W. Bell dives deep into the world of legal innovation and special jurisdictions. A law professor turned legal systems designer, Tom shares his journey from academia to advising real-world projects like the Catawba Digital Economic Zone and Free...
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Jarrad Hope on Blockchain Communities and Post-Nation-State Governance
In Episode 75 of the Charter Cities Podcast, we’re joined by Jarrad Hope—founder of the Logos Network and author of Farewell to Westphalia—to explore the provocative idea of post-nation-state governance. Jarrad and Mark dive into the decline of traditional state power, how blockchain technologies...
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 7: Alex Voss
In Episode 7 of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter sits down with Alex Voss, CFO of Tipolis, a company pioneering the development of new cities around the world based on private governance models. Alex shares his journey from investment banking to building freedom-enhancing urban communities...
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Siaka Stevens on Building Sherbro Island City
In Episode 74 of the Charter Cities Podcast, host Mark Lutter speaks with Siaka Stevens, co-founder of Sherbro Alliance Partners and the visionary behind Sherbro Island City in Sierra Leone. With the recent ratification of their agreement with the government, Sherbro Island now has special...
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 6: David Ernst
In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, we speak with David Ernst, founder of Secure Internet Voting, about the urgent need for innovation in democratic systems. David argues that while voting is foundational to democracy, its design is outdated, especially in an era of digital…
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Three Wyoming State Senators on Freedom Cities, Federal Land, and Innovation
This episode features a conversation with Wyoming State Senators Dan Dockstader, Brian Boner, and Chris Rothfuss, hosted by Carl Peterson of the Charter Cities Institute. The discussion centers on the concept of Freedom Cities, first introduced in national discourse by former President Donald...
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Michael Muthukrishna on Cultural Evolution and the Human Advantage
In this episode of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark speaks with Michael Muthukrishna, Associate Professor of Economic Psychology at LSE, about how cultural evolution explains the rise of human civilization. They explore why Homo sapiens prevailed over Neanderthals, the role of self-domestication...
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 5: Wyoming State Senators Brian Boner, Chris Rothfuss, and Dan Dockstader
In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, host Carl Peterson speaks with three Wyoming State Senators—Brian Boner (District 2), Chris Rothfuss (District 9), and Dan Dockstader (District 16)—about the bold future of economic development in Wyoming through the lens of Freedom Cities. The...
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 4: Patri Friedman
In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter is joined by Patri Friedman, a pioneer in the new cities movement. As the founder of the Seasteading Institute and Managing Partner at Pronomos Capital, Patri has spent the last two decades pushing for new approaches to governance through...
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 3: Isaiah Taylor
Isaiah Taylor, CEO and Founder of Valar Atomics, joins the Freedom Cities Podcast to discuss their game-changing advancements in nuclear energy. Learn about their $19 million seed round, their first reactor project in the Philippines, and how scalable nuclear power could transform American…
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 2: Edward Pinto
In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Edward Pinto discusses his work at the American Enterprise Institute Housing Center, focusing on the housing supply crisis and potential solutions. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing federal land for housing development, particularly through…
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Freedom Cities Podcast - Episode 1: Joshua Abbotoy
Welcome to the Freedom Cities Podcast, a short-form series by the Charter Cities Institute & the Frontier Foundation. In each episode, we sit down with innovators, entrepreneurs & thought leaders to explore how Freedom Cities can drive innovation and economic growth. In our first episode of the...
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Nick Allen on Freedom Cities
In this episode, Nick Allen from the Frontier Foundation delves into the concept of Freedom Cities, highlighting their potential to rejuvenate American urban landscapes and industries. He explores the historical context of city formation in the U.S., the necessity of supporting emerging…
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Atossa Araxia Abrahamian on Freeports, Free Zones, and The Hidden Globe
In this conversation, Atossa discusses her book 'The Hidden Globe,' which explores the complexities of special economic zones and the unconventional legal systems that exist outside traditional nation-states. She reflects on her upbringing in Geneva, Switzerland, and how it shaped her…
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Mark Lutter and Kurtis Lockhart on Building Institutions and the Future of African Education
In this conversation, Kurtis discusses his transition from CCI to establishing the Africa Urban Lab at the African School of Economics in Zanzibar. He highlights the urgent need for new universities in Africa to harness the continent's demographic potential and improve education quality. The...
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Ian Goldin on the History and Future of Cities
Imagine a world where cities are not just places to live, but dynamic hubs of innovation, specialization, and cooperation. What if the cities of today are shaping the political and economic landscapes of tomorrow in ways we are only beginning to understand? In this episode, we dive deep into the...
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Evan Osborne on Economic Liberalism in Modern China
Liberalism in China has taken many twists and turns. And in today’s episode, we explore its fascinating history, from its early pre-Western roots, all the way to its current incarnation within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and beyond. Joining us to unpack this fascinating topic is Evan...
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Leander Moons on Mass Timber Construction in Africa
Imagine Africa built their infrastructure using the same systems as the Western World. Embracing sustainability is a critical element of building a greener future for Africa and the world. Leander Moons is the Founding Owner of Studio OMT Architects, a mass timber architecture and urban design…
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Building a Charter City Ecosystem with Mark Lutter
How do you take the positive aspects of Silicon Valley, and apply it to a radically different context like developing charter cities? Today, Jeffrey Mason, Head of Research at the Charter Cities Institute (CCI), is joined by Mark Lutter, Founder and Executive Director of CCI, and CEO of Braavos...
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Building Vibrant Communities with Brooke Bowman and Mark Lutter
Can a city hold the key to unlocking economic prosperity on a grand scale? In this episode, we sit down with Brooke Bowman and Mark Lutter to discuss charter cities and their role in addressing economic development challenges. Mark is a visionary thinker invested in progress, governance, social...
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Luqman Edu on Itana, Nigeria's First Digital Free Zone
What would it take to create the ideal jurisdiction for global tech companies to be able to grow and scale in Africa? Joining us today to unpack this question is Luqman Edu, co-founder and CEO of Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Free Zone. Through their partnership with the Federal Government of...
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Kartik Akileswaran and Jonathan Mazumdar on Growth Teams and Structural Transformation
Many countries need radical structural transformation, specifically in more developing nations, and Growth Teams and made it part of their mission to empower developing countries to create jobs and grow their economies. Today, we are in conversation with the cofounders of Growth Teams, Kartik...
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Jon Vandenheuvel on Small Farm Cities
Affordable housing and economic development challenges in Africa are multifaceted and interconnected, but what is the solution? In today’s conversation, we sit down with Jon Vandenheuvel, the founder of Small Farm Cities Africa and senior advisor for the Charter Cities Institute. Small Farm…
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Tom Lavers on Ethiopia's Developmental State
Ethiopia's Developmental State model has garnered attention for its ambitious goals and efforts to transform the economy, but has it been successful? Joining us today is Tom Lavers, Senior lecturer in Politics and Development at The University of Manchester, to help navigate this complex topic.…
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Lant Pritchett on Economic Growth, Charter Cities, and State Capability
In today's episode of Charter Cities, we're honored to welcome Lant Pritchett, a distinguished economist and a thought leader in development economics. Our deep-dive conversation will focus on the critical topic of growth diagnostics, exploring the complex challenges policymakers face in…
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Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney on Africa's Bad Urban Laws
On today's Charter Cities episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa's Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners…
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International Hubs and the Future of Living with Vitalik Buterin
Coming up on today's episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and...
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Private Cities: A New Frontier in Urban Development and Governance with Martin Rama and Yue Li
Host Jeffrey Mason welcomes esteemed guests Martin Rama and Yue Li to another enthralling episode of Charter Cities. Together, they embark on a deep exploration of the intriguing world of private cities, delving into their impact on urban agglomerations and the delicate interplay with local...
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Relationship Building, Network Cities, and Leveraging Competitive Advantage with Mark Lutter
Charter Cities Institute Founder and Chairman Mark Lutter returns to the podcast to share his perspective on network states, charter city trends, and more. Mark is also the CEO of Braavos Cities, a charter city development company partnering with local landowners and a leading organizer of…
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Industrialization and Assimilation with Dr. Elliott Green
Industrialization has a myriad of consequences that have been studied and speculated upon from the very start. In this episode, Dr. Elliott Green joins us to discuss the impact of industrialization on ethnic identity and diversity. Dr. Green is a political scientist, Africanist, and associate...
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Emergent Tokyo with Joe McReynolds
We are joined on the show today by Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, and we have an extensive conversation about the characteristics of Tokyo urbanism, the role of policy in the city, lessons that may be applied to charter cities, and also some of Joe's...
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Education, Electricity, Fertility, and Economic Growth with Charlie Robertson
What do high education and low fertility rates have in common? According to today’s guest, Charlie Robertson, they are both positively correlated with economic growth. In today’s episode, Charlie shares the reasons why he believes that countries that don’t get their fertility rates down to below…
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Doing Business in Africa with Deanne de Vries
The West’s misconceptions about Africa are vast, particularly when it comes to the realm of business. Today we are joined by Dr. Deanne de Vries, who has worked across the continent in various capacities for over 30 years. She is currently an advisor for firms looking to enter the African market...
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Catawba Digital Economic Zone with Joseph McKinney
If you’re a regular listener of this podcast you may be familiar with the term Special Economic Zone (SEZ). In short, SEZ refers to an area where business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. Typically, these zones will have laws or legal codes and regulations that make it...
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A Framework for the Elite's Role in Development with Stefan Dercon
Stefan Dercon is the author of Gambling on Development, in which he details his theory of the elite bargain framework for development in low-income countries. Stefan is a Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, and also serves as the Director of the Center for the Study of…
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Exploring Solutions to the Development Problem with Efosa Ojomo
Development is one of the major challenges of our time. Unfortunately, it’s often approached in a way that does more harm than good. Efosa Ojomo has a better solution, and he’s here today to share it. Efosa is the leader of the Global Prosperity Research Group at the Clayton Christensen Institute...
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Lessons on Economic Growth for the Future with Dr. Jared Rubin
Dr. Jared Rubin is the co-author of How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth, which he wrote with Mark Koyama, a previous guest on the podcast. We are so happy to welcome Jared to the show today to discuss the thesis of his book, and what he and Mark aimed to add to…
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The Real Story of China in Africa with Deborah Brautigam
China’s presence in Africa is widely speculated upon (and wildly misunderstood). Joining us today to speak to the truth of the matter is Sinologist-Africanist Professor of International Development at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Deborah Brautigam. Deborah is...
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Linda Colley on War and Constitutions
Dr. Linda Colley is a leading expert on British imperial and global history, among other topics in British history. Dr. Colley is the M.C. Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton University, here today to discuss her newly published book, The Gun, The Ship, and the Pen: Warfare…
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Charter Cities Atlas: Venice with Thibault Serlet and Corey Tazzara
Today’s episode is a bonus episode, where we take a deep dive into the Italian Renaissance (with a focus on Venice) with world-renowned expert, Professor Corey Tazzara. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the formation of independent city-states, to the financial and political ramifications of…
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Tackling Poverty and Preventing War with Chris Blattman
The Ukraine-Russia conflict has dominated headlines over the past few months, with countless theories and hypotheses being touted to explain Russia’s aggression. Join us as we talk to one of the world’s leading experts on violence and politics, Professor Chris Blattman. We start the episode with…
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Seeding the Future 02: A Fundamental Cultural Shift with Sid Sijbrandij
In order to build the cities of the future, there is a need for synergy between a number of elements and institutions and, as philanthropy evolves with the times, an active approach to impacting the necessary changes means an understanding of these sometimes disparate forces. Joining us on the…
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About this show
The Charter Cities Podcast explores how charter cities can help solve some of the largest challenges of the 21st century, from urbanization to global poverty to migration. Each episode Mark Lutter interviews experts in international development, new cities, finance, entrepreneurship, and governance, to develop a better understanding of the various aspects of charter citiesIf you want to learn more visit the Charter Cities Institute at https://www.chartercitiesinstitute.org/
Hosted by
Mark Lutter
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