American Planning Association

American Planning Association
  • 4.5 (58)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the American Planning Association Podcast. This is your source for discussions, interviews, and lectures on a multitude of planning topics.

  1. Ryan Slattery, AICP, on Resilience, Community Trust, and Tough Conversations

    6d ago

    Ryan Slattery, AICP, on Resilience, Community Trust, and Tough Conversations

    How do you protect communities from intensifying floods, heat, storms, and other hazards when the words around those risks can shut the conversation down? In this episode of People Behind the Plans , recorded live at NPC26, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg talks with Ryan Slattery, AICP , a resilience and hazard mitigation planner in Houston, about what it takes to keep difficult conversations moving when trust is fragile, language is loaded, and the stakes are real. Drawing on more than a decade of work helping communities prepare for and recover from shocks and stresses, Ryan reflects on why “meeting people where they are” is not about avoiding hard truths. It is about finding the way into conversations that matter. Along the way, he shares what planners can learn from criticism, why the best engagement starts with listening, and how the work of protecting communities continues even when the vocabulary gets complicated. Ryan also offers a window into planning from inside a large engineering firm, where resilience work can be shaped alongside stormwater, transportation, and environmental expertise from the start. He talks about where AI may help planners make sense of complex information — and where human judgment still matters most — as well as the growing tensions around data centers, water, and the conversations communities cannot afford to postpone. And because Houston is never just a backdrop, Ryan makes the case for an NPC27 itinerary with bayou trails for hiking and biking, culture in every direction, and plenty of great food along the way. It is a conversation about resilience, community trust, and the uncomfortable moments that can make planners better at the work. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/ryan-slattery-aicp-on-resilience-community-trust-and-tough-conversations/

    34 min
  2. From Data Centers to City Streets: Rethinking Infrastructure in a Digital Age

    May 29

    From Data Centers to City Streets: Rethinking Infrastructure in a Digital Age

    Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall continue the Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning series with a conversation that challenges transportation planners to reckon with a new kind of infrastructure: the data center. Recorded at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit, this episode features Manny Patole, Industry Assistant Professor at NYU’s Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP), whose work sits at the intersection of community data science, environmental justice, and AI’s hidden physical footprint. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/from-data-centers-to-city-streets-rethinking-infrastructure-in-a-digital-age/

    31 min
  3. Planning Education, Uncertainty, and the Rapid Evolution of AI with Tom Sanchez, AICP

    May 27

    Planning Education, Uncertainty, and the Rapid Evolution of AI with Tom Sanchez, AICP

    In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association (APA), chats with author and professor Tom Sanchez, AICP. The two engage in a thoughtful discussion about the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and planning, reflecting on the unpredictability of the future, the importance of learning from past trends, and the need for planners to remain both cautious and open-minded. The conversation emphasizes embracing uncertainty, leveraging intelligence to adapt and innovate, and the value of collaboration. The 2026 Trend Report for Planners is created by APA in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-education-uncertainty-and-the-rapid-evolution-of-ai-with-tom-sanchez-aicp/

    35 min
  4. Resilient Landscapes: The Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Training Program

    May 19

    Resilient Landscapes: The Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Training Program

    In this episode of the APA Podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores California’s Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California Training Program, recipient of the 2025 Resilience and Sustainability Award. Joined by Molly Mowery, AICP, executive director of Community Wildfire Planning Center, and Matt Damon, staff chief of Community Wildfire Mitigation Assistance with CAL FIRE / Office of the State Fire Marshal, they discuss how the unique interdisciplinary program brings planners and fire officials together to reduce risk, strengthen collaboration, and improve long-term resilience. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/resilient-landscapes-the-land-use-planning-for-wildfires-in-california-training-program/

    35 min
  5. Connected Neighborhoods: The Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Study

    Apr 26

    Connected Neighborhoods: The Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Study

    In this episode of the APA podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores Detroit's Heavyweight Impact: The Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Planning Study for Inclusive Neighborhood Growth, recipient of the 2025 National Planning Excellence Award. Joined by Michele Flournoy, urban designer at Detroit's Planning Development Department, and Ashley DiCaro, senior associate at Interface Studio, they discuss how the Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Planning Study uses the greenway as a catalyst for neighborhood redevelopment, creates economic opportunity, and strengthens community ties to ensure nearby residents benefit from the greenway's investment. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/connected-neighborhoods-the-joe-louis-greenway-neighborhood-study/

    43 min
  6. Governance, Preemption, and the Importance of Protecting Local Representation with Nestor Davidson

    Apr 1

    Governance, Preemption, and the Importance of Protecting Local Representation with Nestor Davidson

    In this episode of the Trend Talk podcast, a companion series for the 2026 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, research manager at the American Planning Association (APA), sits down with Nestor Davidson, the Emma Bloomberg Professor of Real Estate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. An urban law expert, Nestor delves into the complex dynamics between state and local governance, highlighting the adversarial relationships and the challenges of state preemption. Their conversation covers the importance of shared governance and the need to protect local representation, while acknowledging the shortcomings of local politics. They also explore how these issues intersect with broader environmental, political, and social trends, emphasizing their impact on cities, planners, and planning practices across the country. The 2026 Trend Report for Planners is created by APA in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

    39 min
  7. Connecting Communities: Rural Solutions for Transportation Challenges

    Mar 21

    Connecting Communities: Rural Solutions for Transportation Challenges

    In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall spoke with Luke Van Denend, Outreach Coordinator at AECOM, and Zoe Miller, MPH, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Moving Maine Network, for a wide-ranging discussion focused on rural Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and mobility access. The conversation explores how rural communities require fundamentally different approaches to TDM than their urban counterparts, from coalition building and community-driven solutions to rethinking the metrics we use to measure success. Luke and Zoe challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve rural transportation barriers, emphasizing instead that trust, local knowledge, and cross-sector collaboration are the real drivers of change. The conversation digs into what it actually takes to bring community members with lived experience into formal transportation decision-making, and why simply inviting people to the table isn't enough. Luke and Zoe also reflect on what's giving them hope: a growing willingness among rural employers to engage in transportation conversations, and a generational resurgence of interest in mutual aid as a foundation for mobility solutions. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/connecting-communities-rural-solutions-for-transportation-challenges/

    53 min
  8. Embracing Transformation: The Gwinnett County 2045 Unified Plan

    Mar 13

    Embracing Transformation: The Gwinnett County 2045 Unified Plan

    In this episode of the APA podcast, Roberta Rewers, senior communications manager, explores the 2045 Unified Plan from Gwinnett County, Georgia, recipient of the Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan in the 2025 National Planning Awards. Joined by Yang Chen, Planning Division director at Gwinnett County, and Allison Stewart-Harris, lead consultant with TSW, they discuss how the plan reimagines suburban planning through a “mode-agnostic” approach to the 15-Minute City—prioritizing access to daily needs no matter how residents travel. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/embracing-transformation-the-gwinnett-county-2045-unified-plan/

    35 min
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4.5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

Welcome to the American Planning Association Podcast. This is your source for discussions, interviews, and lectures on a multitude of planning topics.

Information

  • Creator
    American Planning Association
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    288
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © American Planning Association
  • Show Website
    American Planning Association

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