In this episode of the APA Podcast, Ann Dillemuth, AICP, chats with Detroit Planning Director Alexa Bush for an in-depth conversation about Detroit’s remarkable journey from decline and bankruptcy to revitalization and growth. Alexa shares how creative funding, community engagement, and persistent vision have fueled Detroit’s urban renewal, offering crucial lessons for planners facing uncertainty in cities across the nation. In addition, Alexa shares her excitement to showcase the city's transformation in person as Detroit is set to host the 2026 National Planning Conference.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-after-bankruptcy-detroits-path-to-recovery-and-innovation/

Interested in presenting a session at NPC26 in Detroit or online? Submit a session proposal or sign up to be a session reviewer. Proposal window closes August 20, 2025. Submit your proposals at planning.org/conference/proposal/

Jill Locantore, Executive Director of the Denver Streets Partnership (DSP), joined co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver to discuss how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) can be a key tool for achieving Denver’s Vision Zero goals.

This Critical Conversation in Transportation Planning dives deep into the political, cultural, and social challenges inherent to transforming corridors from car-centric to bike and pedestrian-friendly. From traffic calming and street design to Denver’s bold efforts to prioritize buses and pedestrian safety, Jill unpacks how a truly safe city starts with valuing people over cars. Under Jill’s leadership, DSP has helped to advocate for and implement policies that promote a transit-centered approach to improving traffic safety. The organization has been instrumental in convening multiple community stakeholders with a common goal of transforming Colfax Avenue, the “longest, wickedest street in America,” into a major arterial that supports the city’s ambitious Vision Zero goals of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

Relevant Links

Denver Streets Partnership Guiding Principles for Colfax BRT

A Vision for Transit in the Denver Region

A new vision for Speer Boulevard: Cut down the cars in favor of pedestrians, parks and buses

Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-jill-locantore/

Episode sponsor: Caltrans

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-mike-pritchard-aicp/

Co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike Pritchard, AICP, Assistant Director at York County Planning Commission, at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver.

This episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning explores how human-centered design and empathy interviews can transform transportation planning by prioritizing people's lived experiences over traditional data-driven approaches. The discussion highlights practical strategies for inclusive planning across diverse geographies—from urban centers to rural communities—while emphasizing the importance of storytelling and strong partnerships in securing funding and communicating complex transportation concepts to stakeholders.

Relevant Links:

● Community in Motion: The York and Adams Counties Coordinated Human Services Public Transportation Plan

● United for ALICE

● 5 Ways Empathy Can Help You Be a Better Planner

About Mike Pritchard, AICP:

Mike Pritchard, AICP, is Chief of the York County Planning Commission’s (PA) Transportation Planning division, which serves as staff to the York Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Since 2011, he has worked in community and transportation planning at YCPC and the City of

What do improv comedy and planning have in common? According to Phil Green, AICP —more than you'd think. A practicing planner and seasoned improviser, Phil shares with APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg how tools from the improv stage—like active listening, quick thinking, and collaborative storytelling—can empower planners to navigate tough questions, community tensions, and even mundane fence permits with humor and humanity.

In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Phil brings to life the unexpected intersections of comedy and civic engagement, explaining how improv can boost a planner’s confidence, empathy, and ability to lead with presence. He reflects on his unconventional path from stand-up to site plans, how improv helped him feel more connected and resilient, and why embracing failure (and fun) makes for stronger teams and better outcomes.

Whether you're facing a high-stakes public hearing, a frazzled applicant, or just want to build stronger communication skills, this episode offers fresh insights—and a few good laughs—on how the art of improvisation can make planners more effective, compassionate, and present.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/phil-green-aicp-on-what-planners-can-learn-from-improv/

Episode sponsor: Eastern Washington University

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-wes-marshall-and-trung-vo-aicp/

In this episode, co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall were excited to take the podcast show on the road, recording episodes at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver. This dispatch of Critical Conversation in Transportation Planning kicks off our safety series and features Wes Marshall, PhD, PE, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, and Trung Vo, AICP, PE, Denver Office Director, Senior Planner, and Owner at Toole Design.

Our speakers highlight how many traffic engineering standards are based on flawed assumptions rather than science, specifically pointing to problems with level of service metrics, automatic traffic growth assumptions, and designing for peak hours rather than community needs. They emphasize the need for courage to tackle arterial roads where most fatalities occur, challenging the reactive approach of waiting for crashes to happen instead of proactively designing safer streets for all users.

Relevant Links:

● Death by Design: A New Book from a CU Denver Transportation Expert Rethinks the Science Behind Our Roads

● Killed By a Traffic Engineer, Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System

● Denver Moves: Safe and Slow Streets with Bikeways

● No More Five-Lane Roads: An Engineer’s Perspective

About Wes Marshall:

Wes Marshall, PhD, PE, is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, where he holds a joint appointment in urban planning. He plays a pivotal role as director of the CU Denver Human-Centered Transportation program and the Transportation Research Center at CU Denver. Wes is a licensed Professional Engineer and focuses on transportation teaching and research dedicated to creating safer and more sustainable transportation systems.

Wes is the author behind the 2024 book Killed by a Traffic Engineer. He also has more than 80 peer-reviewed journal publications and book chapters to his name and has received millions of dollars in research funding. Wes was the winner of the campus-wide CU Denver Outstanding Faculty in Research Award. He also has a passion for teaching and mentoring students and is the only three-time winner of the CU Denver College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty in Teaching Award.

A native of Watertown, Massachusetts, Wes is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BS) and the University of Connecticut (MS and PhD). He is a recipient of the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship, Australia’s Endeavour Fellowship, and the Transportation Research Board’s Wootan Award for the outstanding paper in policy and organization.

About Trung Vo:

Trung serves as a Senior Planner and our Denver Office Director. In his work, he leverages his certification as a planner, licensure as a Professional Engineer, and experience in both the public and private sectors to help communities become safer, more connected, and more resilient. Trung specializes in multimodal planning and design, public engagement, and design guidance.

Outside of the office, Trung enjoys photography, bicycling, snowboarding, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

What does being an introvert in a profession centered on community and collaboration mean? For Katelynn Morgenstern, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning in Kennett Township, Pennsylvania, navigating networking and building a brand used to feel daunting—until she discovered the power of social media to build authentic connections, explore planning passions beyond her day job, and grow her confidence. Through her online persona @CityPlannerKate, Katelynn cultivated a meaningful network that helped her engage in person with more ease, while exploring under-addressed topics like equity and hostile architecture.

On this episode of People Behind the Plans, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg sits down with Kate at the NPC25 in Denver to talk about her journey from overwhelmed first-time conference attendee to confident speaker and thought leader. They explore how social media can be a powerful tool for introverted planners, why authenticity matters more than algorithm hacks, and how to stay connected while protecting your well-being.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/katelynn-morgenstern-aicp-on-planning-social-media-and-finding-your-voice-as-an-introvert/

In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with author and urban planning professor Justin Hollander, FAICP. Listen as they examine the potential for human settlements on the Moon and Mars, and discover the unique challenges and ethical questions that come with planning cities beyond Earth. Hollander also shares insights from his book, First City on Mars: An Urban Planner's Guide to Settling the Red Planet, discussing the opportunities for planners in the expanding space industry and the lessons we can learn for urban development back on our home planet.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-role-of-planners-in-space-exploration-with-justin-hollander-faicp/

In this special NPC25 episode of the APA podcast, APA President Sue Schwartz, FAICP, interviews keynote speaker Dr. Mary Beth Janke about her experiences and insights on advancing wellness and building resilience. Dr. Mary Beth, who has over 30 years of experience in psychology, security, and investigative work, shares her thoughts on setting and achieving personal goals, including her experiences delivering a TED Talk, authoring books, and serving as a Special Agent in the U.S. Secret Service. The discussion also touches on the importance of continuously evolving and striving to live a fulfilling life. Listeners can hear more from Dr. Mary Beth at NPC25 in Denver.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-for-wellness-and-personal-resilience-with-dr-mary-beth-janke/

In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with recent graduate and current transportation planner, Beneeta Mary Jose. The two explore the latest trends in micromobility, electrification, and the essential balance between proactive and reactive planning. Beneeta also shares her thoughts on how young professionals are shaping the transportation landscape, the importance of including children's perspectives, and the visionary future of an integrated, sustainable, and human-centric transportation network.

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-future-of-transportation-with-beneeta-mary-jose/

In this episode of the APA podcast, host Dina Walters is joined by David Salazar, FAICP, and Annette Koh to discuss an initiative in Long Beach, California, that is looking to pave the way for future urban planners. Through engaging youth in high schools and teen centers, the program introduces students to the world of urban planning, providing them with tools and knowledge to improve their communities. David and Annette discuss the origins of the program, its growth, the partnerships that have made it possible, and the impact it has had on both the students and the city. Learn how this innovative program is creating a pipeline for future planning professionals and fostering the next generation of community leaders.

This episode is sponsored by: University of Michigan Engineering

Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/empowering-youth-and-the-urban-planning-pipeline-with-annette-koh-and-david-salazar-faicp/