Infill: A YIMBY Podcast

YIMBY Action
  • 4.7 (50)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

Audio selections from YIMBY Action. Interviews, panel discussions, speeches and more, including round-table discussions on local politics and urban policy with folks across the US in the pro-housing movement.

  1. 6d ago

    Moving Chains: How New Housing Creates Affordability

    In this episode, YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss sits down with Alex Horowitz, Project Director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts, to explore new research on how housing supply impacts affordability across American cities. The conversation examines the concept of “moving chains”—the process by which new housing creates opportunities throughout the housing market as residents move between homes. Sonja and Alex discuss why housing shortages disproportionately harm low-income renters, how new market-rate housing can reduce pressure on existing affordable units, and what the data reveals about the relationship between housing production and affordability. They also explore common misconceptions about new development, the political challenges surrounding housing production, and why zoning restrictions and permitting delays continue to worsen affordability nationwide. If you’ve ever wondered whether building more housing actually lowers costs, this episode offers a data-driven look at one of the most important debates in housing policy today. Read the research discussed in this episode: https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2025/07/31/new-housing-slows-rent-growth-most-for-older-more-affordable-units Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    36 min

  2. May 11

    Scott Wiener: The Jewish YIMBY Going to Congress

    In this wide-ranging conversation, Scott Wiener traces his journey from a childhood shaped by building community from scratch to becoming one of the country’s most influential pro-housing lawmakers. He walks through the moment the housing crisis “clicked” for him—defending tenants facing eviction, watching even compliant projects get buried in process, and realizing that scarcity isn’t accidental—it’s policy. Tune in to hear Scott and YIMBY Law's Sonja Trauss discuss how political courage actually develops: from lived experience, data, and the quiet realization that the loudest voices aren’t always the majority.   The conversation also dives into the politics of governing in the real world, from delivering constituent services that build trust, to navigating backlash across issues like housing and foreign policy. Wiener lays out an ambitious federal housing vision: massive investment, faster permitting, and aligning incentives so cities actually build. He makes the YIMBY case clear: if we want affordability, stability, and equity, we have to build more homes, faster.   Join YIMBY Action's Email List: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/yimby-action-mailing-list Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    45 min

  3. May 4

    How the Race for CA Insurance Commissioner Could Impact Housing

    In this episode of Infill,  listeners will meet Patrick Wolff, long-time YIMBY and candidate for Insurance Commissioner in CA. During the discussion, Sonja Trauss and Wolff unpack a wonky but critical issue: how California’s broken insurance market is making the housing crisis even worse. Wolff explains how outdated regulations, climate-driven risk, and a dysfunctional approval process have turned insurance into a major barrier for Californians, and how policy threads through our housing supply and housing insurance problems.   They also dig into Wolff's vision for reform, including improving transparency, encouraging innovation in risk reduction, and restoring a healthy market. It’s a deep dive into an overlooked but powerful lever for affordability, climate resilience, and better governance. Tune in to hear more about Patrick and his campaign, which is going on right now!   Learn more about Patrick Wolff: https://patrickwolff.com/   Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join   Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/   Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social   Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    54 min

  4. 11/10/2025

    The Newest Tool for YIMBY Voters

    On this episode of the Infill Podcast, we’re giving listeners an inside look at YIMBY Action’s new Scorecards for statewide elected officials, starting with Virginia. Rising housing prices are a huge concern for American voters. YIMBY Action’s Scorecards will be a critical tool for residents to understand which elected officials are taking bold action on housing, so we can make our neighborhoods more affordable for everyone. In this discussion, we’ll talk to the architect behind the first YIMBY Action Scorecard, our very own Senior Campaigns Manager Joh Gehlbach. We’ll discuss what these Scorecards tell voters, what we’re already learning from this Virginia iteration, and how this tool will help voters and advocates cut through the noise and hold legislators accountable.   Read the Scorecard: https://yimbyaction.org/scorecards/2025-virginia-state-scorecards/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction

    31 min

  5. 09/26/2025

    How One Gen Z Leader Wants to Use YIMBYism to Save Chicago

    Meet Drake Warren, a 26-year-old running for Cook County Commissioner in Illinois. He is an engineer and housing advocate who fell in love with Chicago in college. Now, he wants to give back to the community he has made a home in by running for a local government office. He believes that Chicago has begun to lose its YIMBY roots and wants to serve his community by running for office, so that he can help more homes be built in his city and county.   On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Jennifer Borrero speaks with Drake about why he was inspired to run for Cook County Commissioner. He breaks down what he thinks current leaders are missing in housing policy, and why more people must become familiar with local politics. They also discuss the importance of having balanced experiences in government and finally, how we can get more young folks plugged into local government and advocacy. If you're curious about what it's like to run for local office or want to hear a great discussion about how local politics shapes the world around us, then this is the episode for you. Tune in!   Learn more about Drake Warren: https://drakefor10.com/   Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join   Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/   Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social   Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    31 min

  6. 09/19/2025

    Why Nothing Works: Breaking the Gridlock on Housing and Progress with Author Marc Dunkelman

    On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Law’s Executive Director Sonja Trauss sits down with author Marc J. Dunkelman to tackle one of the biggest questions facing Americans today: why are we unable to build the infrastructure, housing, and public works that our communities so desperately need? Drawing from his new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back, Dunkelman explores how even well-intentioned procedural reforms, community protections, and environmental reviews can create veto points that stall change, particularly in housing policy.   They also delve into the shift in Americans’ connectedness that has impacted our political landscape, what tactics and reforms could cut through the red tape, and how housing advocates can push for structural shifts that unlock homebuilding, transit, and equity. Finally, Marc and Sonja explore the similarities and differences between Dunkelman’s thesis in Why Nothing Works and the thesis of Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson in their book, Abundance. In addition to highlighting the challenges of the bureaucratic processes we have now, Dunkelman also encourages readers and listeners of this episode to consider who should have the power to make decisions on behalf of communities. Tune in to hear more about the changes that Dunkelman has written about in American politics, and the historical context of the tension we are still feeling today as we navigate decisions about the architecture of power.   Get Marc Dunkelman’s newest book, Why Nothing Works, here: https://rjjulia.com/book/9781541700215 Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    56 min

  7. 09/09/2025

    Cheat Codes for Housing, Politics, and Prosperity with Economist Daryl Fairweather

    On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action Managing Director Gillian Pressman speaks with Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. Daryl recently released her book, Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work, and she is a keynote speaker at the upcoming 2025 YIMBYTown conference in New Haven.   Tune in to hear Gillian and Daryl dive into her YIMBY origin story and why she is starting a YIMBY Action chapter in Wisconsin. You'll also hear about why Daryl supports grassroots organizing as such a powerful tool for reform, and why we need YIMBYs to build power across coalitions to change the politics that are causing our housing shortage. Daryl also discusses how the lenses of identity inform how people show up for (or against) housing.   Get Daryl's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Hate-Game-Economic-Cheat-Codes/dp/0226839524   Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join   Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/   Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social   Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    42 min

  8. 09/02/2025

    Building the Abundance Coalition

    Abundance has been the hot topic on a lot of our minds since Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson released their book earlier this year. But how do we make the vision of Abundance politics become a reality? A new coalition of advocates may serve as the answer.   On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Gillian Pressman speaks with Deputy Director at the Breakthrough Institute, Alex Trembath, about how the Abundance coalition and movement are beginning to take form. The Breakthrough Institute is the lead host of the upcoming Abundance Conference, where hundreds of leaders and activists will come together to chart the course for the Abundance movement.   Tune in to learn more about the environmental work that the Breakthrough Institute does, how advocates can come together even while having differences in frameworks and approaches to advance a shared vision, and what Alex is hoping to see come from the Abundance Conference and movement!   Learn more about the Breakthrough Institute: https://thebreakthrough.org/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

    46 min
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4.7
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Audio selections from YIMBY Action. Interviews, panel discussions, speeches and more, including round-table discussions on local politics and urban policy with folks across the US in the pro-housing movement.

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