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How can we enable people, organizations, and governments to build and maintain regenerative and healthy environments for everyone? In this podcast series, we explore the Societal Assets and initiatives by the Townmaking Institute and others that envision a shift towards a regenerative and thriving society.
Episodes will cover assets and initiatives developed by the Townmaking Institute and its community. Every other week, we will feature local stories, including narratives from the Netherlands, India, Kenya, and beyond.
This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles.
22 Episodes
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This week, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Lukas Reichel, founder of Som Mobilitat, a car-sharing cooperative in Catalonia with about 4,000 members and 160 cars. Together, they discuss Lukas’s journey, the motivations behind starting Som Mobilitat, and how the cooperative contributes to building stronger, more sustainable communities. This conversation is part of our Societal Impact series, where we feature individuals making a difference through community-driven initiatives and their ...
Please note: This is a special recording of our conversation on ISA and ASG in Dutch. If you’d like to hear the English version, you can find it in the episodes from 1st and 8th August. We’ll be back to English in the next episode. In deze speciale Nederlandstalige aflevering van Towwnmaking spreken ingenieur Paul Timmer en host Servaz van Berkum over Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) en Adaptive Speed Governance (ASG), beiden helpen de bestuurder van een voertuig veiliger te helpen. ISA i...
Our guest this week is Indranil Bhattacharya. In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum and Indranil explore the nature of data, highlighting how, without context, it’s merely a collection of numbers. They dive into the challenges data presents and discuss why responsible use is essential for building a fair, human-centered society. Indranil explains how we can better understand data integrally with what it represents, emphasizing that its true value exists with the knowledge to understand numb...
In this episode of Townmaking, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Thieu Besselink, who focuses on regenerative farming for the Townmaking Institute. They discuss how regenerative agriculture can secure the future of our food systems by healing ecosystems, revitalizing soil, and moving away from harmful agricultural practices. Thieu shares insights on how these methods can sustainably meet global food needs while empowering individual farmers and communities through the commons, giving them...
In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Daniel Picado, a community organizer and founder of Pais Plural, an LGBTQI+ organization in Venezuela. Together, they explore Daniel’s personal journey, the mission that drives his work, and how his efforts have shaped his dedication to building a more inclusive, plural, and citizen-centric society. Through Daniel’s story, we delve into the broader themes of creating societal impact—highlighting the everyday work that brings meaningful ch...
This week, host Servaz van Berkum and Mobility as a Commons (MaaC) expert Walter Dresscher continue their conversation on shared mobility and urban development. We discuss how MaaC could reshape project development across different housing sectors: private sector rentals, homeownership, and social housing. How can we ensure shared mobility is accessible to everyone, regardless of income or background? At the heart of this is the idea that urban and project development should focus on the nee...
Mobility as a Commons (MaaC) expert Walter Dresscher joins us once again to continue our discussion on community-owned shared mobility—a model that rethinks mobility ownership by sharing vehicles like cars, bikes, and more. We’ve previously covered this topic in our July 11th and July 18th episodes, so feel free to revisit those for additional context on MaaC. In today’s episode, Walter and host Servaz van Berkum, will dive deeper into how MaaC intersects with urban and project development. ...
In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum shares aspects of Marc Bemelmans' Narrative Record, an educator and passionate cyclist. As a vocational teacher in Amsterdam, Marc trains the next generation of bike mechanics. Together, they discuss his life, his love for bicycles, and his strong ties to both the mechanical craft and the field of education, where he has dedicated most of his career. Narrative Records document the lived experiences of specialists like Marc, providing valuable insights o...
In this episode of Townmaking, host Servaz van Berkum is joined by Indranil Bhattacharya and Thieu Besselink to explore the latest in the Townmaking community. The discussion dives into Adaptive Speed Governance (ASG), Cycling Corridors, and Mobility as a Commons, highlighting how these initiatives are reshaping urban environments. This podcast was produced and curated by Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, Bono Siebelink, and Servaz van Berkum, with music by Mickey Smid. This podcast is publ...
In this episode host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Indranil Bhattacharya to dive into the concept of Narrative Records. These records capture the everyday lives and lived experiences of people across Europe, Africa, and Asia, giving us valuable insights into what makes communities more liveable. We explore how these stories can help shape better environments and why they’re so important to the work we do at the Townmaking Institute. We also discuss how others can get involved in building ...
This is the second of two episodes in which host Servaz van Berkum interviews members of the Amsterdam City Council about their work and vision for creating livable cities. Today, he’s joined by researcher, church council member, and City Council Member Elisabeth IJmker. These episodes also mark the introduction of a new format in our podcast series. Periodically, alongside our regular episodes, we will spotlight individuals who have made a significant societal impact, delving into what motiv...
In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with restaurateur and Amsterdam City Council member Elise Moeskops to talk about what drives her forward in her life, her work, and how this has shaped her role as a city council member. This episode kicks off a new format for the series, where we focus on everyday people making a real difference in their communities. We’ll talk about their work, their vision, and how they’re helping to create more livable cities. This podcast was produced a...
In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum continues his conversation with Townmaking engineer Paul Timmer. They explore the growing use of e-bikes and the important issue of safety. Are e-bikes, as they are today, fundamentally unsafe? How do they influence urban planning and the way we commute? Most importantly, how can we address the safety concerns they raise? Paul suggests that certifying motor systems could improve safety standards without requiring every new e-bike model to undergo...
This episode is the final installment of our three-part series on speed dynamics in urban environments. In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum continues his conversation with Townmaking engineer Paul Timmer. This time, they delve into Adaptive Speed Governance (ASG), an innovative driver-assistance system created by the Townmaking Institute in partnership with the City of Amsterdam. Initially developed for e-bikes, ASG can enhance the safety of all types of vehicles without relying on ...
This is the second episode in our three-part series exploring the dynamics of speed in urban environments. In this episode, Townmaking engineer Paul Timmer joins host Servaz van Berkum to discuss Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA). ISA is a system designed to alert drivers or even take control when a vehicle exceeds the local speed limit. Since July 2022, the European Union has mandated ISA for all new vehicles, including cars and lorries. We’ll delve into how ISA works, its objectives for en...
This is the first episode in a three-part series exploring the dynamics of speed in urban environments. Indranil Bhattacharya and host Servaz van Berkum will delve into the intricate relationships between speed, liveability, and safety. How does travel speed impact our surroundings? How do we perceive speed, and how do others perceive our movement? Moreover, how should we regulate speed, and why is it necessary to do so? This podcast was produced and curated by Paul Timmer, Indranil Bhattac...
In this follow-up episode of Townmaking, host Servaz van Berkum continues the conversation with Walter Dresscher, diving deeper into the practical aspects of building communities centered around community-owned mobility. Walter shares his personal journey of starting his own community and now guiding others to do the same. They discuss the tangible steps and strategies required to foster these innovative communities, highlighting real-world examples and actionable insights. Learn how shared m...
In this episode of Townmaking, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Walter Dresscher to discuss community-owned mobility, also known as Mobility as a Commons (MaaC). Together, they delve into communal models of ownership, discussing how shared vehicles and shared efforts can contribute to building vibrant, liveable cities and enhance urban life. This podcast was produced and curated by Walter Dresscher, Omar Zuberi, Bono Siebelink, and Servaz van Berkum (host). Music by Mickey Smid. See h...
The Internet today mostly treats us as consumers, not as citizens. To make things worse, we are often represented as users conforming to the same standards. As citizens we have rights to clean water, clean air, and healthy food. As digital citizens, we should have the right to represent ourselves accurately, and to know where and how our information is being used. However, we are often without agency, funneled into revenue-maximizing streams. But we are not the same, we come from different cu...
In the third episode of Townmaking, we discuss the NextCommons Principles. What are they and why does Indranil Bhattacharya think they are needed for societal equality and resilience? This podcast was produced and curated by Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, Fernanda Hunken Herrera, and Servaz van Berkum (host). Music by Mickey Smid. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/). See https://www.townmaking.com...
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