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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.
32 Episodes
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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
A junkyard full of police cars. A brand-new $2 million fire truck. And a crash course in why cities — and households — need two budgets. This episode makes sense of capital vs. operating budgets with stories you won’t forget.Episode music: Beautiful Oops by All Good FolksLicense code: H3MNCMJ3SJOV43OEGameshow by AirstreamLicense code: JPLW5YBY6LXTMRD9
When a capital project hit a deadlock, Peter had to fire an uncooperative architect—or did he? Join him as he shares what happened, and why you should always think several moves ahead in your own endgame.Episode music: Getting to the Bottom of It by Fernweh GoldfishLicense code: WWQ0RCUOUHDOBEGA
What does a missed train, a cold beer, and a bureaucratic form have in common? The lost decade of I-676.This episode of The Reflective Urbanist unpacks how a simple lapse in judgment—and the inflexible gears of Weberian bureaucracy—delayed a major highway project for ten years. From Philadelphia to South Jersey and from sociology to spiral-bound proposal fails, it's a story about process, power, and the very human limits of rational systems.Episode Music: Miami 1987 by Hey Pluto!License code: MEEKDY746KHUXXSJ
Peter Brown has a new answer to that familiar question—and this time, it starts with market failure, detours through Scandinavian tax policy, and ends with a pony.If we’re serious about housing everyone, we need to stop blaming developers and start talking about taxes, subsidies, and what kind of country we want to be.Episode music: Suburban Honeymoon by Christian LarssenLicense code: AMNMKL2XYCBMQO73
Why aren’t those greedy developers building more affordable housing? Well, what if the problem isn’t them—it’s us? In this episode, I unpack why pointing fingers at the private sector misses the mark, and how local politics, zoning drama, and good old-fashioned NIMBYism are quietly sabotaging housing solutions. If you've ever said “I support affordable housing, just not there,” this one’s for you.Episode music: A Charming Day by Albert BeharLicense code: IXYJBHSOTKRUMWFQ
We were the private-sector pros brought in to fix a sluggish city bureaucracy. Confidence? We had it. Experience? Not so much. This episode dives into what happens when political appointees try to move the machine—and what they learn from the civil servants who’ve kept it running all along.Episode music: 'Excusez-Moi?' by Roo WalkerLicense code: QWKDKG5GBE2Q9TRJ
When a developer balked at the price of a consultant’s time, he nearly lost a $300,000 grant. In this episode, Peter unpacks a real-life story about urgency, expertise, and the often-misunderstood difference between price and value. It’s a sharp, short take on why what something costs isn’t always what it’s worth—especially when the stakes are high and the deadline’s tonight.Episode Music: Guitars de France by Jonny Boyle License code: AHA1GWA6NYTFBFUZ
Why are Minneapolis signal poles painted green and yellow—Packers colors—in Vikings territory?It started with a simple design question on a downtown street project... and ended with a new city policy, a Cold War case study, and maybe—just maybe—two lifelong Packers fans in the public works department pulling off the ultimate prank.This episode, we peel back the layers of city decision-making through a Cold War lens, explore why bureaucratic SOPs can outlast billion-dollar stadiums, and ask: what really drives the choices our cities make?Tune in to find out why sometimes, the answer to “why?” is just: “Because we’ve always done it that way.”Episode music: Jump and Jive by All Good FolksLicense code: IFAGW9VTZ4TDHG9B
Think you're holding all the cards? You might be—but that doesn’t mean it’s time to play your ace. In this episode, Peter explores the quiet power of restraint. Whether you're in a pitch meeting, a tough conversation, or just trying not to be that guy, sometimes less really is more. It’s poker wisdom with a professional twist.Episode music: Stealy Move by SoundrollLicense code: QT4PYTCAVHZMJOXW
Hi everybody and welcome back to The Reflective Urbanist! This week’s episode is in honor of Signalgate! I know, I know, that was so last week and it has already been replaced by Venmo-gate but still, I wanted to move this episode to the front of the que. I wrote it months ago, recorded it three weeks ago, and hadn’t intended to release it for a few more weeks but alas, recent news has made it relevant right now. This episode is called “definitely don’t publish it” and it is about why you should never talk about confidential business matters in public places, or in the case of our national security leaders, in unsecured online text groups.Episode music: Local Forecast by Kevin MacLeodLicense code: BDJ5RQ1RF3NFMFRA
Who really holds the power—the big names on the door or the people behind the scenes? My architect friend knew the answer, and Kafka’s The Castle shows what happens when you don’t. Before you get lost in a bureaucratic maze, consider this: the key to success might be in the hands you’re overlooking.Episode music: Scherzo for Nightmares by Aaron Paul LowLicense code: E3D3QLWKKRR0EBXR
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