The Strong Towns Podcast

Geoff Cooper, chief executive of New Zealand’s Infrastructure Commission, leads the National Infrastructure Plan and advises on asset strategy. He explains why maintenance and renewals dominate costs. The plan reframes choices about big new projects, growth on the fringe, and who ultimately pays. It stresses better asset data, portfolio thinking, and realistic spending limits.

Michel Durand-Wood, author and civic commentator who writes on municipal finance, describes realizing cities can be structurally insolvent. He discusses how service cuts and rising costs revealed deeper fiscal design problems. They cover urban form, infrastructure burdens like roads and pipes, the limits of efficiency fixes, and small, local actions that nudge long-term financial resilience.

They compare three lenses on the housing crisis: supply shortages, demand pressures, and a finance-focused view of hidden capital flows. Listeners hear metaphors for unseen financial forces that amplify booms and deepen busts. The conversation spotlights local tactics, why single-policy wins often fail, and a strategy centered on incremental, neighborhood-scale change.

A rethink of America’s transportation priorities and why the interstate program outlived its purpose. A look at how federal funding and grant structures favor big expansion over local maintenance. Proposals to shift responsibility to states, prioritize stewardship, and align money with safety, walkability, and community needs.

Chuck Marohn, founder of the Strong Towns movement and former civil engineer turned planner, shares his journey from small-town engineering to advocating financially resilient communities. He contrasts Jane Jacobs’ humble incrementalism with Robert Moses’ technocratic master plans. The conversation covers how cheap money favors big projects and chains, why local capacity matters, and why Gen Z gives him hope.

A reflection on where the movement stands in 2026 and how strategy has shifted from traffic to deeper membership engagement. Growth of local groups worldwide and new tools like the Finance Decoder and housing toolkits get spotlighted. Plans for city partnerships, national campaigns on highway policy and parking mandates, and upcoming gatherings and training programs are previewed.

In this episode, Matt Steele, a Brainerd-area resident and transportation advocate, joins to discuss the proposed highway interchange in Baxter. They dive into the hidden costs of this safety upgrade, exploring the rapid suburban development and its implications. Public perception of traffic safety sparks debate, while the complex design features like roundabouts face cultural resistance. They examine the influence of local businesses, the effectiveness of public engagement, and question whether the project truly benefits the community.

Housing prices are skyrocketing, but what can communities do? Chuck dissects the 'housing trap' and how historical mortgage practices created this mess. He highlights the shift from local-driven housing markets to financialized assets and argues for essential reforms like duplex conversions and backyard cottages. By making housing policies approachable and supportive of small developers, communities can pave the way for affordable entry-level homes. It's all about reshaping the conversation around housing to meet everyday needs.

Brian Reisinger, an author and farm consultant, shares insights on the dire state of family farms and their impact on rural communities. He talks about the generational shift in farming skills and the persistent challenges farmers face, including debt and consolidation pressures. Reisinger emphasizes the link between farm loss and the decline of small towns, while exploring innovative solutions like farm diversification and agritourism. He also highlights the potential for resurgence in rural areas spurred by new consumer interest and changes brought by the pandemic.

In a lively Q&A, experts tackle the hurdles facing small-scale housing projects, from tricky codes to financing woes. The conversation dives into the legalization of boarding houses and the lingering gray areas that leave tenants vulnerable. Strategies for cities to incentivize banks for niche lending are discussed, alongside community banks' vital role in financing affordable units. Chuck shares success stories of scaling small developments into larger projects, advocating for pre-approved plans and streamlined permitting to break down barriers in the housing market.