Booked on Planning

Planning for the future can feel overwhelming, yet essential. The American Planning Association’s (APA) 2026 Trend Report offers planners foresight into upcoming trends that could shape our world. In our latest episode, we talked with Petra Hurtado, APA’s Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, to delve into these trends. Now in it’s fifth year (coincidentally…or not….this was our 100th episode in the fifth year of our show), we have covered every trend report from the first so you can really start to see the evolution of the document and it’s contents.
This time around, we definitely talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and it’s impacts and how to prepare for it. As trends like AI, transportation, and housing continue to evolve, Hurtado emphasizes the need for planners to address these changes head-on--”looking away won’t make it go away” was the theme of the conversation. The episode highlights recurring themes like climate change, demographic shifts, and policy changes. 
Show Notes:
Check out the full report on APA’s website at https://planning.org/publications/document/9323378/ 
Trend Universe: https://planning.org/foresight/trends/ 
New Home for Data Source’s Article: https://www.planning.org/planning/2025/sep/5-tech-tools-for-building-relevant-and-reliable-urban-data-infrastructure/ 
Upskilling: https://www.planning.org/upskilling/ 
Further Reading: The Ministry of Time by Kiliane Bradley
God is Red: A Native View of Religion by Vine Deloria Jr.
Work Without Jobs: How to Reboot Your Organization’s Work Operating System by Ravin Jesuthansan and John W. Boudreau

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In the latest episode of the Booked On Planning podcast, hosts Stephanie Rouse and Jennifer Hiatt sat down with author and developer Jamie Madden to discuss his new book, Bittersweet Lane: Creating Home(s) in the American Affordable Housing Crisis. Part memoir and part educational guide, the book offers a rare look at the housing crisis from someone who grew up in affordable housing and now spends his career building it.
Madden’s unique background allows him to bridge the gap between resident needs and developer realities. He emphasizes that successful housing requires understanding the “chain of consequences” behind every decision—from laundry room placement to the complex certification processes residents must navigate. A central theme of the interview is the ideological struggle over the purpose of affordable housing. Madden points out that while the goal should be simple—"everyone should have a place to live"—U.S. policy has historically wavered between viewing housing as a reward (like parks) or a punitive measure (like prisons). 
Show Notes:
Further Reading: Gaffs: Why No One Can Get a House, and What We Can Do About It by Rory Hearne
Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief by Katriona O’Sullivan
Topographia Hibernica: Acclaimed stories from the bestselling Irish author, podcaster, satirist and musician by Blindboy Boatclub

A past episode referenced by Jamie is Homeless is a Housing Issue, a book he references in Bittersweet Lane.
Check out the APA National Planning Conference page and register to attend today at https://planning.org/conference/?utm_campaign=NPC26&utm_source=external&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=bookedonplanning 
To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/

 
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Progressivism struggles with a never ending pendulum swing between Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian impulses, bringing us to our current problem of inaction. Author Mark Dunkelman in his book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back", explains the origins of American progressivism as a response to the upheaval created by railroads and national-scale economic power, outlining these two competing impulses within the movement: the Jeffersonian push to break up big institutions and return power to smaller, local actors, and a Hamiltonian push to build strong public institutions capable of regulating large private entities. 
The discussion traces how the U.S. shifted toward large-scale governance in the New Deal and mid-20th century, then swung back in the 1960s–1970s as public trust eroded due to environmental damage, highways cutting through communities, urban renewal, Vietnam, and Watergate, leading to layered legal and procedural checks that can fragment decision-making and make it difficult for governments to act quickly. Dunkelman describes how the judiciary’s role changed over time and argues that today’s system resembles a “tragedy of the commons in reverse,” where widespread veto points prevent collective action. 
Show Notes:
Further Reading: Making a New Deal: Industrial Workers in Chicago, 1919-1939 by Lizabeth Cohen
Saving America's Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America by Lizabeth Cohen
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner
Find each on our Policy book list at https://bookshop.org/lists/theory-policy-history

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/
 
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In this episode of Booked on Planning, we dive into a conversation with Zahra Ebrahim, author of 'Messy Cities: Why We Can't Plan Everything.' Ibrahim discusses the inspiration and collaborative effort behind her book, a collection of 42 essays that challenge the traditional notions of urban order and highlight the benefits of urban 'messiness'. The episode explores themes such as ecological benefits, social infrastructure, cultural heritage, and the dynamic interactions that define city living. Listeners can expect a thought-provoking discussion on re-evaluating what makes cities livable, resilient, and vibrant, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives and inclusive urban planning.
Show Notes:
Recommended Reading: Is a River Alive? by Robert McFarlane
Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now—As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long for It  by Craig Taylor
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book and any others on your reading list through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning.
To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/
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A road that was never built still managed to hollow out a neighborhood. We sit down with historian Emily Lieb to unpack how Baltimore’s “Road to Nowhere” took shape on paper, and why that was enough to destabilize Rosemont—a Black middle-class community of sturdy daylight rowhouses—through years of uncertainty, disinvestment, and policy misfires.

This conversation isn’t just about Baltimore. It’s about how plans, incentives, and vague labels shape markets and lives long before construction begins. We dig into the human toll of being told you’re “elected to be the sacrificers,” the choice to protect a cemetery over living homeowners, and the core question planners must face: is a city a place to live or a corridor to drive through? If we want the former, we have to align dollars, definitions, and decisions with the people already there.

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Show Notes:
Author Recommended Reads: Crime novels are a good way to understand cities (ex: Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett)
Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book or any of the recommended readings through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/
Marvin Planning Consultants
Serving the planning needs of communities and counties in Nebraska and throughout the Midwest.

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