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Strong Towns

We advocate for a model of development that allows our cities, towns and neighborhoods to grow financially strong and resilient.

The Strong Towns Podcast

Richard Florida is a University Professor and Director of Cities at the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto, he's a writer and journalist, and he serves as senior editor for The Atlantic, where he co-founded and serves as Editor-at-Large for CityLab. He's also the author of a new book, The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class-and What We Can Do About It.

In this interview with Chuck Marohn, Florida discusses the backlash to one of his most famous books, The Rise of the Creative Class, and the growth in inequality and economic segregation in American cities, which he cites as a much bigger problem than gentrification. Florida also shares his reaction to the presidential election and his thoughts about the future of the suburbs.

Richard Florida and the New Urban Crisis

The ongoing pandemic has raised big questions about the future of North American cities. For example, we’ve heard for almost a year now that COVID-19 will be the end of cities and the triumph of the suburbs. After all, why would people who could work anywhere choose to live in dense, plague-riddled cities? We’ve published our share of responses to this line of thinking—including articles by Joe Cortight of City Observatory, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3, and others—but the gloomy predictions keep coming.

For years, one person we at Strong Towns have turned to again and again for wisdom on the present and future of cities is Richard Florida. Florida is a researcher and professor at the University of Toronto, the author of numerous books—including the modern classic, The Rise of the Creative Class—and the co-founder of CityLab.

Strong Towns president Chuck Marohn invited Florida back to the Strong Towns podcast to talk about the choices facing cities now and after the pandemic. They discuss Florida’s insight that where talent goes, innovation and economic development are sure to follow...and what that looks like in an era of remote work. “Remote work,” Florida says, “gives the knowledge worker a larger portfolio of choices [of where to live].” What cities are best positioned to attract that talent now? They also talk about the future of superstar cities like New York and London, why some cities (Toronto and Minneapolis are examples) are stuck in two worlds, and how the pandemic has widened the socioeconomic gaps between the “privileged third” and everyone else.

This conversation is available both as a podcast and on video.

Additional Show Notes:

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Richard Florida (Website)
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Richard Florida (Twitter)
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Charles Marohn (Twitter)
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Watch the conversation on YouTube
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More Strong Towns content featuring Richard Florida
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“Richard Florida and the New Urban Crisis” (Podcast)
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“The Growth Ponzi Scheme, Part 4,” by Charles Marohn (see an overview of The Growth Ponzi Scheme here)
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“Recommended Reading: The Great Reset,” by Charles Marohn
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Richard Florida: Remote Work and "The Rise of the Rest"

On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck answers housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover the history of the housing market, as well as backyard cottages, alternative housing arrangements, and housing finance.

Tune in on Monday for Part 2, where Chuck will answer questions related to other topics, including state and federal housing policy.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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 • "
Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis • " by Chuck Marohn and Daniel Herriges.

From Building Backyard Cottages to Banning Airbnbs: A Housing Q&A

On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck continues answering housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover state and federal housing policy, local government’s role in financing and regulation, local action, the division between urban and rural environments, and temporary housing.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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 • Part 1: "
From Building Backyard Cottages to Banning Airbnbs: A Housing Q&A • ."

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Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis • " by Chuck Marohn and Daniel Herriges.

From the Federal Government to RV Parks: A Housing Q&A

Over the years, Chuck has added audio clips to the Strong Towns Podcast outro music to memorialize influential moments and experiences he’s had since founding Strong Towns. Today, in honor of that outro music being retired, he breaks down each of these clips, explaining why they’re significant and how these experiences influenced him and the Strong Towns movement as a whole.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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Memorable Moments in the History of Strong Towns

The Building Culture Podcast explores holistic solutions to crafting a more beautiful, resilient and thriving world through the built environment. Its host, Austin Tunnell, recently invited Strong Towns President Charles Marohn and California YIMBY’s Nolan Gray onto the show to debate the housing crisis. It was a great conversation that explores how these movements align and differ in their approaches to housing.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Transcript available on our site.
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The Building Culture Podcast.
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Nolan Gray (Twitter/X).
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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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Comparing the Strong Towns and YIMBY Approaches to the Housing Crisis

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses the common misbelief that an incremental approach to housing development is inherently slow. He explains how an incremental approach can actually be much faster than focusing on large housing projects, what that means for major cities, and how to make incremental housing more appealing to people who don’t want their neighborhoods to change.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Transcript available on our site.
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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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Learn what comes next for incremental housing in 2025 by tuning into the State of Strong Towns address on January 30 at 4 p.m.
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Debunking the "Slow and Incremental" Myth: The Key to Rapid Housing Growth

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses housing with Cullum Clark, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. They talk about why there is so much resistance to new development, ways that officials and advocates could engage with the public to reduce that resistance, and what the incoming Trump administration could mean for housing.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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George W. Bush Presidential Center (site).
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Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).
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Learn what comes next for incremental housing in 2025 by tuning into the State of Strong Towns address on January 30 at 4 p.m. EST.
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How Do You Build More Housing When No One Wants Neighborhood Change?

Today, Chuck is joined by Ben Hunt, the creator of Epsilon Theory. Their conversation revolves around the concept of the Widening Gyre, a “profound social equilibrium where bad people and bad ideas drive out good people and good ideas.” They discuss this concept from a few different angles:

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How it relates to top-down systems like America’s political systems and corporations.
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How it has led to the loss of a national narrative and increased division and conflict.
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How a community-based approach that focuses on doing the right thing today is the best way out.
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ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Hear more from Ben Hunt:
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“Ben Hunt: We're Not Going to Fix This from the Top Down” (podcast).
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“Ben Hunt: In Praise of Bitcoin” (podcast).
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Ben Hunt (Twitter/X).
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Epsilon Theory (site).
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Chuck Marohn (Substack).
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Ben Hunt: Surviving the Widening Gyre Through Hope and Community

This special episode of the Strong Towns Podcast explores the Strongest Town Contest, including what cities can learn from previous winners, what it means for cities to participate, and a preview of this year's Contest. Joining the discussion are Strong Towns staffers Lauren Ronnander and John Pattison, as well as Stephen Gawron, the former mayor of the 2018 Strongest Town, Muskegon, Michigan.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Learn more about the Strongest Town Contest.
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Nominate your place (anyone can do this for free, even if you’re not a local official or city staff!)
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Chuck Marohn (Substack).
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Bonus Episode: Lessons From 9 Strongest Town Contest Winners

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar and Kevin Blanchard, former city staff members in Lafayette, Louisiana. Carlee is now Strong Towns’ chief of staff, while Kevin is CEO of the nonprofit Downtown Lafayette, which promotes infrastructure development and business revitalization.

Carlee and Kevin discuss the challenges of balancing competing demands and priorities when working in local government, particularly when trying to make smarter financial decisions. They also share recommendations for how local governments and residents can work together constructively.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

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Download the Strong Towns Finance Decoder to get to the bottom of your city’s finances.
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Kevin Blanchard (LinkedIn)
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Chuck Marohn (Substack)
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How To Handle the Bureaucracy of Local Government

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