The Strong Towns Podcast

From Service Cuts To Understanding City Insolvency

The conversation follows Michel Durand-Wood's path from noticing small local cuts—closed pools, rising taxes—to understanding his city as structurally insolvent. Along the way, he and Chuck talk about grants, debt, Canadian and U.S. examples, and why efficiency alone hasn’t fixed anything.

Additional Show Notes

• Dear Winnipeg (Site)
• You'll Pay For This! (Book)
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

Beyond Supply and Demand to Housing’s Unseen Financial Forces

Chuck walks through three ways of seeing the housing crisis: supply, demand, and the Strong Towns view that grapples with “dark finance” and capital flows. He explains why campaign-style wins and single-variable fixes rarely deliver real affordability. The episode closes with a candid update on recent leadership changes and how Strong Towns has restructured its media work over the past year.

Additional Show Notes

• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

What Comes After the Interstate Era? | New Report

For years, the dominant explanation for America’s infrastructure problems has been that we haven’t invested enough. Yet federal spending on transportation is at historic highs, and frustration with the results continues to grow.

This report offers a different interpretation.

The Interstate Highway System achieved its original goal. The challenges we face today are not the result of failure, but of a system that continued long after its purpose was fulfilled. Understanding what comes after it is the work in front of us.

Additional Show Notes

• ‍Watch on YouTube.
• Read the Mission Accomplished White Paper.
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

Humility Versus Hubris in American Urbanism

Why 95% of planners get it wrong, how monetary policy killed Main Street, and why Chuck Marohn is optimistic about Gen Z. This wide-ranging conversation, first featured on the Yeoman podcast with Geoff Graham, explores the difference between Jane Jacobs's humble incrementalism and Robert Moses's technocratic master plans—and which approach is winning in 300+ communities.

 

Additional Show Notes

• Chuck Marohn (Substack)
• Geoff's Podcast https://yeomanpodcast.com/

Where the Strong Towns Movement Is Headed in 2026

In this year’s State of Strong Towns address, Chuck Marohn reflects on where the movement stands at the start of 2026 — what’s changed, what’s growing, and how the work ahead remains grounded in humility, restraint, and bottom-up action.

Additional Show Notes

• ‍Watch on YouTube.
• Read the 2025 Annual Report.
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

The Hidden Costs of "Improving" This Minnesota Highway

‍A major highway project is pitched as a safety upgrade — but at what cost to the community? Today, Chuck is joined by Matt Steele, a fellow Brainerd-area resident and longtime Strong Towns member. They unpack a highway interchange that's been proposed in nearby Baxter and the long-term trade-offs that shape strong (or fragile) places.

Additional Show Notes

• Read more about this project: "Six Roundabouts to Nowhere" by Charles Marohn
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How Communities Are Breaking Out of the Housing Trap

Why is housing so expensive, and what can local communities actually do about it? In this live recording, Chuck unpacks the roots of America's housing trap and shares actionable reforms that any community can implement.

Additional Show Notes

• This presentation was recorded live from Wayne, Pennsylvania. Click here to bring Chuck to your own city!
• Check out Strong Towns’ housing toolkits for more strategies to bring housing to your community.
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How To Build Resilience in Struggling Rural Communities

Family farms are struggling to survive across America, with whole communities hanging in the balance. In today's episode, Chuck sits down with Brian Reisinger, author of "Land Rich, Cash Poor." They unpack the structural issues leading to the decline of farms and rural communities, as well as opportunities to rebuild resilience.

Additional Show Notes

• "Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer" by Brian Reisinger
• Brian Reisinger (site)
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How Cities Can Help Small Developers Build Housing

In this live Q&A, Chuck explains why small-scale housing is so hard to build. From codes to permitting to financing, he breaks down the friction points that stall projects everywhere and explains how cities can address them.

 

(Note: This episode was recorded live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Some questions may be difficult to hear.)

Additional Show Notes

• Bring Chuck to your own city!
• Learn how to support small developers in our new housing toolkit.
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

A Shared Identity Makes Cities Strong. Here's How To Find Yours.

Strong cities know who they are. In today's episode, Chuck is joined by Ryan Short, founder of Civic Brand. They discuss how uncovering a shared identity guides smarter decisions, strengthens civic pride, and helps communities thrive.

Additional Show Notes

• "The Civic Brand: The Power & Responsibility of Place" by Ryan Short
• Civic Brand (site)
• Ryan Short (LinkedIn)‍
• Chuck Marohn (Substack)

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.