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© Peter Hendee Brown
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The Reflective Urbanist is for all city-builders, from design professionals, developers, and civil servants to elected officials, interest groups, and community members. Each episode combines a story, a theory, and a lesson, bridging between ideas and practice to illuminate how things get done in the city.
43 Episodes
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Big presentations don’t always reward the best ideas—they reward luck, style, and the occasional spectacular failure. From RoboCop to real-world boardrooms, this episode explores how creative misdirection and charisma can change everything.Episode music: Sunshine Strut by Goldeny
A reflection on V for Vendetta, Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, and a city under federal siege—this episode asks what happens when fear replaces law, and fiction starts to look like foresight.Episode music: Mr. Nobody by DADALicense code: H5CIGYWQXHAGETPGStrength & Honor by Sky ToesLicense code: NETW5XKC1KOARADLNo Royal Road by Aaron Paul LowLicense code: EK2634PSTZAHBBWF
On the next episode of The Reflective Urbanist, part of Peter's Reflecting on Freedom series, exploring themes of freedom and authoritarianism through V for Vendetta and Snyder’s On Tyranny, inspired by current events in Minneapolis.The episode What Happens Next: Anticipatory Obedience and the Rise of Paramilitaries posts Jan. 30.Music: Blundering Buffons by Matt Stewart-EvansLicense code: SFABRUEAYNX2XBM4
What if development is less about buildings and more about seeing differently? This episode explores how enterprising individuals combine overlooked assets and unmet demand to create entirely new real estate products.Episode music: Juggling by Andrey RossiLicense code: CRMTTN66DIADHPKP
Who truly belongs in public space—and who decides? In the Season 3 premiere of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter confronts democracy, dissent, and the growing tension between freedom and control in America’s streets, asking what we stand to lose when public space is no longer free.Episode music: Small Town by Christian LarssenLicense code: SWXAZOKIAQLIN2KE
What's coming for Season Three of The Reflective Urbanist? More of developers, freedom, and that mailbag episode (finally.)
In the midst of distraction, outrage, and uncertainty, Peter shares a deeply personal reflection on solitude and the quiet work of tending the inner self. This episode is an invitation to slow down, focus, and rediscover a sense of freedom that no one else can take away.Episode music: Impromptu For Piano Forte and Beatbox by Kevin MacleodLicense code: QYYNA7YUAEWMJJFGGossip by SoundrollLicense code: PQURSVOD7V0A33FPA Merry Gypsy Christmas by Jonny BoyleLicense code: REM6UOLUUGWN0EZD
In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter revisits the most unforgettable neighborhood meeting of his life—one with tempers high, a controversial developer, and a masterclass in disarming a crowd. Through the story, he discusses Chris Matthews’s maxim “Hang a lantern on your problem,” revealing how owning your liabilities can become your greatest strategic asset.Episode music: Forbidden Desire by Albert BeharLicense code: EC5C8WEHBMFCYHAGCorn Fed by AirstreamLicense code: UKXE2VPTY35RCEJ0
When a perfectly planned project collapses under a once-in-a-century shock, what does it reveal about how cities—and the people who build them—understand risk? In this episode, we explore Black Swans, “third fists,” and why the improbable is far more predictable than we think.Episode music: Hiccup Waltz by Giulio FazioLicense code: 0U8MXUHIXN8J67TYDark Light by Yeti MusicLicense code: R959TWF8XULLNTEK
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Peter shares the surprising stories of three veterans who forever changed the way he sees others—and himself. A reflection on judgment, curiosity, and the hidden lives behind the people we think we know.License code: 8J3KENIRKTI1WI7P
A victory that wasn’t: Peter tells the story of how insisting on brick in the design of the Twins' Target Field resulted in a surprisingly unintended outcome for an adjacent neighborhood. Along the way, he unpacks key negotiation lessons about flexibility, listening, and finding true mutual gain.Episode music: Funny Toys by Giulio FazioLicense code: BBKORYF9B5LV8INS
What does the film Inception have to do with budgets for city buildings and 22 kinds of lightbulbs? In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter discusses how design choices made on day one can ripple through decades of maintenance — and why sometimes, less really is more.Episode music: Trouble Brewing by Matt Stewart EvansLicense code: PLSX62N5XIJMIPIIandDark Lake by Simon FolwarLicense code: PMAMTWRMKZMVBBVC
You know good design when you see it, right? In this episode, Peter explores why architects and developers often differ on what constitutes 'good design,' emphasizing that design is subjective and shaped by many perspectives—including those of developers, critics, planners, and investors. Listen to some of the lessons he's learned about who you should probably listen to. (Hint: it's not your gut.)Episode music: Misadventure by Giulio FazioLicense code: FOCPQZHCGB1WMM5L
Continuing the thread from last week of public project financing, Peter dives further into the world of how cities and special-purpose governments utilize municipal bonds. Using city aquariums as case studies, he illustrates how failing projects often shift financial burdens to taxpayers, creating a "moral hazard."Episode music: The Brotherhood by SoundrollLicense code: CL5IGZPFZ8K6AK1B
What are public authorities, and why do they matter so much to how cities actually get things done? The Reflective Urbanist dives into the politics, financing, and quiet influence of these “shadow governments.”Episode music: Silly Chase by Simon FolwarLicense code: KBAODW2ETIEHVEYUFunny Footsteps by Simon FolwarLicense code: 692ACCXFW7ZLHOOP
Peter revisits Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities—a book he first encountered (and maybe slept through) as a college student. Decades later, he reads it cover to cover and finds Jacobs’ insights on vibrant, mixed-use cities are as sharp and relevant as ever.Episode music: 56s Comedy by Giulio FazioLicense code: 1SWCQZWYJDT2WCVZThe Funny Bunch by Giulio FazioLicense code: TLBGPEW4E5UZCZIB
This week, Peter stitches together Monty Python, exploding architectural models, and a designer who looks like Fabio. Why? To explore the messy, unpredictable world of architect selection panels—where bias, personality, and power dynamics often overshadow objective decision-making. From comedy sketches to real-life stories, we unpack why choosing the "best team" is rarely as straightforward as it seems.Episode music: The Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa, performed by the United State Marine Corps BandNota Bene by Doug OrganLicense code: ASXTDXDUKKB4U0EO
This week on The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares the story of his first big procurement challenge in city government: getting three simple flashlights for his staff. What followed was a months-long lesson in bureaucracy, trust, and why you should never underestimate civil servants.Episode music: Snoopy Loopy by Simon FolwarLicense code: FVSW6US4LYR27YGG
Cornell researchers say eating together makes teams more effective. A Scorsese movie, a Minneapolis planning project, and a few unforgettable dinners prove the point. Tune in for stories and lessons on why breaking bread might be the smartest business strategy of all.Episode music: Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod, Mafioso by Theo Gerard; and Tres French by Jonny BoyleUppbeat licenses: JOFSV0KXWL1CK3Z4, ECABEOMJMVSXCFSA, QNCKKBXVTRIMWMIF
This fall feels like a fresh start—and what better way to kick off the new season than with a “Back-to-School” episode? In this first show of the season, I reflect on what it means to keep learning—long after we’ve left the classroom. From Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School to real-life lessons about humility, curiosity, and growth, this episode explores why being a “learn-it-all” will always beat being a “know-it-all.”Episode Music: Saved by the 80s by All Good FolksLicense code: JIDVWH6SLUH7CCEVLazer Beam by MatrikaLicense code: ZSG2LVNUJH1CCBC9No Time for Games by Soundroll
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