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Urbanism meets food, travel, business, tech and the environment in a podcast that takes a fresh look at the future of our cities - and the people redefining it: from influential chefs, musicians and activists, to architects, urban planners, politicians, environmentalists and entrepreneurs. We travel the globe to ask the big questions. How can we fix our food system? How can tourism be a force for good? How can we breathe life back into abandoned buildings? How can we prevent natural disasters? How is remote work changing what we look for in our cities? We bring you the stories of human resilience and innovation at the heart of our world’s rapid transformation.
*New episodes released monthly
Common Ground is a podcast brought to you by place making & marketing agency Toposophy.
For more than a decade TOPOSOPHY has been inspiring and informing its clients on how to transform places; whether they’re neighbourhoods, cities, regions or whole countries. The TOPOSOPHY team works with international organisations, multinational brands and government agencies around the world, leading them every step of the way to find place making and marketing solutions that are built to last. As constantly curious people, we love to collect game-changing ideas that are transforming other sectors, and draw valuable lessons for the future of places. This podcast series -curated by the TOPOSOPHY team- is just one example of how we bring these valuable ideas to life.
*New episodes released monthly
Common Ground is a podcast brought to you by place making & marketing agency Toposophy.
For more than a decade TOPOSOPHY has been inspiring and informing its clients on how to transform places; whether they’re neighbourhoods, cities, regions or whole countries. The TOPOSOPHY team works with international organisations, multinational brands and government agencies around the world, leading them every step of the way to find place making and marketing solutions that are built to last. As constantly curious people, we love to collect game-changing ideas that are transforming other sectors, and draw valuable lessons for the future of places. This podcast series -curated by the TOPOSOPHY team- is just one example of how we bring these valuable ideas to life.
19 Episodes
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The ‘metaverse’ and its so-called ‘virtual worlds’ have somewhat fallen short of the hype, but that doesn’t mean everyone has lost out. Urban planners across the globe have started to combine the vision of the metaverse with smart cities and the internet of things, to create immersive ‘digital twins’ of our cities and buildings that are changing how we think about urban planning. In this episode we speak to Salla Eckhardt, Senior Vice President for Commercial Market at OEC Services who formerly worked with Digital Twinning software at Microsoft, and Anders Logg, Professor of Mathematics at Chalmers University in Sweden, who develops and explores digital twins for cities.
What can the everyday person teach an expert when it comes to the places we live? How can something as simple as the design of a webpage lead to more constructive collaboration? And what does it take to have a truly participatory way of governing? In this episode, we talk to Robert Bjanarson, the CEO of Citizens Foundation and the man behind “Your Priorities”, a platform that has helped cities across the globe crowdsource solutions for their urban planning problems. Before UCL Professor Muki Haklay breaks down what exactly citizen science is and why it’s never been easier for the average joe to contribute to valuable research. Plus: Reykjavik resident Axel Kvaran talks us through the process of proposing a project for his neighbourhood.
How can culture become a driving force behind a neighbourhood’s social and urban renewal? How can a place steer clear from commercialising what makes it unique? And what can a city do to safeguard its artists in times of crisis? In this episode, Jen Hughes, a Senior Advisor at the National Endowment of Arts, explains how their Our Town grant is helping villages, towns and cities across the US revitalise their urban and rural spaces. Before Roland Fischer-Vousden breaks down how his organisation SET are adapting vacant buildings in London to give local artists a lifeline.
How can urban spaces support the mental wellbeing of a community? What might a morning spent gardening do for someone’s happiness? And how can the simple concept of a shed bring people together? In this episode, Robin Hewings – Programme Director at Campaign to End Loneliness UK – breaks down how the built environment impacts our wellbeing, author and academic Barry Golding chats to us about the phenomenon of Men’s Sheds in Australia and Philip Nichols CEO of Spitalfields City Farm in London explains the benefits of community gardens. Plus: TOPOSOPHY’s advice on how cities and towns can collaborate with positive grassroots organisations.
What can a videogame teach us about the way we plan our cities? How might developing a play park help make for safer spaces for both children and adults? And do grown-ups really know best? In this episode, we speak to former Commissioner of Parks and Rec of Philadelphia — Kathryn Ott Lovell, about the iconic playstreets programme that has been happening in the city for half a century, and James Delaney Chair of the Board at Block by Block to learn how the NGO is designing public spaces across the global south through the help of Minecraft and children. Plus TOPOSOPHY’s takeaways on the things city officials must consider when bringing play into their urban planning.
Why are so many late night venues across the UK and Europe shutting down? How can cities and local councils draw the fine line between residents and revelers? What role do developers have in keeping culture alive? In this episode we’re looking into the pros and cons of the night time economy. We’ll be speaking to Mark Davyd – CEO of the Music Venue Trust in the UK - to hear about the pioneering policy looking to protect independent venues. Before Ramon De Lima, former Night Mayor of Amsterdam, tells us how the city dealt with safety and noise whilst promoting a clubbing culture. Finally we talk to George Griffin, owner of the Meraki nightclub in Liverpool to hear how a property development almost spelled the end for his business. Plus: TOPOSOPHY’s takeaways on the benefits of welcoming nightlife to multiple neighborhoods in a city.
How are the neighborhoods, towns and cities of the future prioritising proximity in their planning? In this episode we’re looking at the concept that has captivated urbanists and city-planners across the globe: the fifteen minute city. First, we talk to Carlos Moreno, the architect of the model, who is driving change in the French capital of Paris, before best-selling author and urbanist Jeff Speck talks us through the benefits of walkability. Finally Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba explains why community participation is vital when creating a more equitable city. Plus TOPOSOPHY’s takeaways on how strengthening social democracy will be key to making 15-minute city work.
How are the ways we produce, distribute and consume food changing for good? In this episode we journey from farm to fork, to hear how waste can be eliminated at every step of the food process. We speak to Pete Pearson, Senior Director of Food Loss and Waste at WWF, to hear how getting smart about waste is vital when combatting food insecurity, before talking to David Rosenberg, CEO of vertical farming company Aerofarms, who are using closed-loop systems to grow their greens. Finally Doug McMaster, Head Chef of the UK’s first zero-waste restaurant Silo, tells us how failure is an essential part of the process in creating a restaurant where bins don't exist. Plus: TOPOSOPHY's recommendations on how cities themselves can lead the transition to circular solutions in our food systems.
Are our cities ready for an ageing population? In this episode, we look at what this demographic shift means for our homes, towns, and cities, and see how countries across the globe are preparing for this change. We speak to David Stewart, photographer and founder of Ageist, who introduces the concept of a Life 2.0 before turning to writer and activist Ashton Applewhite, who tackles our misconceptions about age. Finally, designer and consultant, Gretchen Addi tells us how better design is key to making our cities more accessible and promoting longevity. Plus: TOPOSOPHY's takeaways on universal design, ageing as a process of continual reinvention, and the mechanics for ageing in place!
How are businesses banding together to improve their neighbourhoods? On this episode we discover what BIDs can offer, from improving baseline services like street sweeping and safety to hosting festivals that celebrate an area’s history and culture. We speak to John Lambeth, CEO of Civitas, to help unpack how exactly BIDs work, before visiting London where Gianluca Rizzo - Managing Director of the Brixton BID - gives us a tour of the neighbourhood, and tells us how his organisation is doing things a little differently. Finally we talk to Barbara Askins, a “BID-legend” who’s been running the 125th Street BID in Harlem, New York for thirty years. Plus: TOPOSOPHY's takeaways on the ingredients that make for a successful BID and the importance of community engagement.
How are companies and entire cities changing to accommodate the rise of remote work? On this episode, we take a closer look at how buildings are combining work, play and stay, with a new breed of hybrid spaces embraced by remote workers and digital nomads alike. We speak to Finland-based professor of Knowledge Management Kirsimarja Blomqvist to hear what makes for the ideal remote-working environment. We head to Croatia where Mario Mrksa has turned a summertime resort into an off-season ‘digital nomad valley’, and to the Netherlands, where Hans Meyer, CEO of Zoku hotels, tells us how the hotels offer a place to relax, work, and connect with other remote workers. Plus: Toposophy’s takeaways on the importance to see hybrid spaces as more than just places to work and sleep, and how our major report for the City Destinations Alliance “Understanding the World of the Digital Nomad” - which you can find at Toposphy.com - shows how cities and regional authorities can benefit from the trend by understanding the people behind it.
How can we leave the places we visit better off than we found them? On this episode, we tackle the tricky term ‘regenerative tourism’ and the responsibility we all have as travelers. We hear from the growing group of travel professionals touting regeneration as the next step in travel: Aukje Van Gerven, Tourism manager of Rewilding Europe reveals how she’s helping endangered species across Europe, from wild bison in Romania to the Iberian lynx in Portugal, tour operator Jennifer Spatz, CEO of Global Family Travels, shares how they put host communities from Iceland to India at the heart of each trip, and scientist, activist and author of Designing Regenerative Cultures, Dr. Daniel Christian Wahl, gives us his take on how regenerative systems and thinking can inspire much more than just the travel industry! Plus: Toposophy’s insights into how the regenerative movement can become a reality in practice.
In this episode we’re separating fact from fiction when it comes to living in rural towns today: we ask why people are leaving at such an alarming rate, and meet the people bucking the trend. We head to Italy to meet Danny McCubbin - the community chef who’s set up shop in a small village in Sicily thanks to the one-euro-house project, conductor Martim Sousa Tavares whose orchestra is bringing fresh opportunities to the youth of rural Portugal, and Stephanie Bertaina, the US policy analyst who has helped over 100 rural towns in the States reboot their economy. Plus: Toposophy’s key takeaways on reviving rural regions and how they’ve helped do just that in towns and villages from Greece to Scotland.
How can we deal with cities getting..too popular? From Amsterdam and Dubrovnik to Venice, in this episode we head to the European cities whose intense footfall is tangibly affecting the quality of their tourism - and the lives of residents. We meet Geerte Udo from amsterdam&partners, deputy mayor of Dubrovnik Jelka Tepsic and Valeria Duflot who heads up Venezia Autentica: three women tackling overcrowding head on, using tactics such as crowd dispersal, branding, technology and tourist taxes, to name a few. Plus: a glance at overtourism post-pandemic, Toposophy’s report on overcrowding for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (the first of its kind on this topic), and a sit-down with Toposophy’s head of insights, Peter Jordan.
How do we build resilience in today’s disaster-prone cities? In this episode we’re looking at what happens after the initial shock of a natural disaster. How do people and governments come together to help rebuild from the ground up? We’re heading to New York to see how a design competition helped governments and citizens collaborate to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. On the other side of the states, San Jose’s mayor Sam Liccardo talks us through the new Climate Corps that’s mobilising the city’s youth in the fight against climate change, The Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk shares his experience making the award-winning podcast Floodlines and we look to Australia where research into past bushfires is helping the country get smart about future threats. Plus: Toposophy’s key takeaways on building resilience and how they’ve helped put together a wildfire recovery plan to help Greece’s Evia region get back on its feet.
To build or not to build? In today’s episode we’re finding out how we can reuse our architectural heritage to keep up with the needs of our changing world, while still honouring the past. We head to Japan to hear how the city of Kyoto is finally getting serious about preserving its iconic Machiya townhouses. Anna Keay from The Landmark Trust is rescuing old castles and medieval halls all over the UK, turning them into affordable holiday homes for all, and UCL Professor Dr. Kalliopi Fouseki shares her thoughts on an inspirational heritage project that’s breathing life back into rural Chile. Plus: Topοsophy’s key lessons on reusing architectural heritage, and how it’s turning the iconic Arsakeio Building in Athens into the city’s first Food Hall.
We’ve all heard that food brings people together - but how can it help heal the deeper social problems in our communities? Our guests today are four pioneers of the food movement: Italian chef Massimo Bottura and his business partner and wife Lara Gilmore share how their project Food for Soul is redefining traditional soup kitchens to help those in need, food activist Kamal Mouzawak reveals how the trauma experienced in his native Beirut led him to create the country’s first farmer’s market ‘Souk El Tayeb’, and Francisca Gorjão Henriques invites us into the kitchen of Mezze, a homey Middle Eastern restaurant in Lisbon that’s helping refugees find work - and a second home. Show Notes Food for Soul Souk El Tayeb Mezze
This is a pre-launch episode of Common Ground by Toposophy! To get us in the mood for our official podcast launch on March 29th and in light of World Water Day, we sat down with two titans of the global conversation about water: Henk Ovink, 'Ambassador for Water' and The Netherlands’ Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, and Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. We talk about Rotterdam’s ingenious flood-prevention solutions, how Bangladesh is pioneering a new cyclone preparedness programme, why Rio’s favelas are planting trees as a natural barrier to floods - and how the pandemic has changed our approach to risk forever. Common Ground is a podcast brought to you by the place making & marketing agency Toposophy. Production: The Greek Podcast Project Show notes: Henk Ovink Mami Mitzutori
Common Ground is launching soon! Urbanism meets food, travel, business, tech and the environment in a podcast that journeys across the globe and takes a fresh look at the future of our cities - and the people redefining it. Brought to you by place making & marketing agency Toposophy.
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