No matter how easy we make it to build, the existing housing system is based on a financial model that cannot tolerate lower prices. If falling prices is the goal, then we need to build a system that can deliver on it. In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck explains how our current system prevents prices from falling and how we can build a better one. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn how to actually make housing affordable with the Housing-Ready Toolkit. Chuck Marohn (Substack) Want to bring the conversation to your city? Book Chuck Marohn as a speaker.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In this special episode, Chuck is joined by Graham Campbell, director of Economics & Research for the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. They discuss the true cost of infrastructure — and why both New Zealand and North America are facing the same financial and structural challenges. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Chuck Marohn (Substack) Want to bring the conversation to your city? Book Chuck Marohn as a speaker.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

In this episode, Chuck dives into the root causes of the housing crisis. Using clips from interviews with housing experts and reporters, he explores the popular theory that the housing crisis is caused by a lack of supply. He shows how this belief relates to the Strong Towns approach. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn how to unlock housing in your city: The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform Hear more from… Cullum Clark Conor Dougherty Steve Nygren Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

Chuck sits down with Ryan Johnson, the founder and visionary behind Culdesac Tempe, the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the U.S. They discuss the realities of living in and developing a community like Culdesac, from transportation costs to working with local government. Ryan explains how they maintain walkability in an Arizona desert, how they successfully nurture small businesses, and how they encourage people to embrace co-ownership of the community. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn more about Culdesac. Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

Serenbe is a unique community just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. It’s based on the development pattern of traditional English villages, with walkable, mixed-use “hamlets” surrounded by nature. In today’s episode, Chuck sits down with Serenbe founder Steve Nygren to discuss the process of developing this kind of community, as well as Steve’s development philosophy of “radical common sense.” ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES “Start in Your Own Backyard: Transforming Where We Live With Radical Common Sense” by Steve Nygren Learn more about Serenbe. Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership, including member-exclusive perks.

A few weeks ago, the New York Times article "Why America Should Sprawl" went viral, sparking a national discussion about housing and development patterns. In today’s episode, Chuck sits down with Conor Dougherty, the reporter behind the article, to discuss his perspective on housing in more depth. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Prefer to read or watch? We've got you covered. Click here for the transcript or here for the YouTube video. Learn how to beat the housing crisis the right way. Download The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform today! Read more: “America Should Sprawl” by Conor Dougherty “Golden Gates” by Conor Dougherty “America Should Sprawl? Not If We Want Strong Towns” by Charles Marohn “Escaping the Housing Trap” by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges Chuck Marohn (Substack)

Cullum Clark, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, returns to the Strong Towns Podcast to discuss his recently published report on housing reform. Cullum highlights several reforms that have proven to be economically feasible, politically realistic, and impactful on a large scale. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES More from Cullum: Read the report: Build Homes, Expand Opportunity: Lessons from America’s Fastest Growing Cities George W. Bush Presidential Center (site) “How Do You Build More Housing When No One Wants Neighborhood Change?” (Strong Towns Podcast) Learn how to unlock housing in your city: The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform Chuck Marohn (Substack)

Today, Chuck is joined by Jeff Speck, a city planner, author, and principal of an urban design and consultancy firm. They discuss the ideas shared in Chuck’s book “Escaping the Housing Trap” and how those concepts play out in the real world, including examples from Jeff’s own work. Their discussion covers a wide range of topics, including incremental zoning reform, the benefits and pitfalls of inclusive zoning, and how to finance small-scale housing. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Join Jeff and Chuck in Providence next month. Get your National Gathering tickets now! See more from Jeff: The Planner’s Pledge (site) “Walkable City” by Jeff Speck, updated edition “Walkable City Rules” by Jeff Speck See more from Strong Towns: “Escaping the Housing Trap” by Chuck Marohn and Daniel Herriges The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform Chuck Marohn (Substack)

On the surface, sprawl seems like an easy answer to the housing crisis. It fits with the mechanisms we have in place today, and it aligns with the lived experiences and political will of most Americans. But the reality of our housing crisis is more nuanced, and it's bigger than sprawl: The problem is the current way we develop, whether that's inside cities or on the fringes. Chuck explains why in this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn how to beat the housing crisis the right way. Download The Housing-Ready City: A Toolkit for Local Code Reform today! Read more: “Escaping the Housing Trap” by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges “America Should Sprawl? Not If We Want Strong Towns” by Charles Marohn Chuck Marohn (Substack)

ZacTax is a financial analysis firm that helps city officials understand their revenue streams and make smarter financial choices. Today, Chuck is joined by its founders, Chad Janicek and Patrick Lawler. They explain how they work effectively with local governments and how their work is helping drive a cultural shift toward stronger and more productive cities. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn more about ZacTax: Website LinkedIn Connect with Chad and Patrick: Email: chad@zactax.com || patrick@zactax.com LinkedIn: Patrick Lawler Learn more about the Strong Towns approach to finance. Chuck Marohn (Substack)