&Co. Podcast

What happens when you turn a parking lot into a roller rink for one weekend? In this episode, the Yard & Company team breaks down their latest activation in Wheaton, Maryland—an ambitious, joyful experiment in placemaking. From design challenges to community buy-in, you’ll hear how a simple idea became a catalyst for long-term change, and why sometimes the most powerful planning tool is a pair of roller skates.

On this special episode of &Co., Yard's own Chris Ashwell and Andre Johnson step in as guest hosts to debut Talk of the Town—a brand new storytelling card game created by the Yard team. More than just a game, Talk of the Town is a tool for connection, designed to spark meaningful conversations about place, community, and creativity. Chris and Andre share the backstory behind its creation, the design process, and the ways they hope it will be used—from community council meetings to coffee shops across the country. Whether you're a planner, a neighbor, or just someone who loves a good story, this one’s for you.

The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.

On this special edition of & Co., we celebrate the release of Yard’s Anthology 2024, a collection of stories, insights, and reflections on the people and places that defined our year. Join us as we revisit the projects that challenged us, the communities that inspired us, and the ideas that are shaping the future. From the streets we walked to the voices we amplified, this episode is both a reflection and a roadmap—looking back at what we built together and forward to what’s next in 2025.

The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.

In this episode of & Co., Kevin is joined by Yard & Co. team members Layne Ferguson and Brooke Klejnot to discuss the recent activation, "The Backyard," at the Blink festival in Cincinnati. Blink, the nation's largest public art and light show, transformed downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into a glowing canvas. Yard & Co. partnered with Cincy Nice, Black Art Speaks and BlaCk OWned Outerwear to create a community-centric space featuring a film about Cincinnati's Black neighborhoods, interactive activities, and a welcoming atmosphere. The team shares insights into how the activation came together, including the challenges and creativity that went into building the space with limited time and budget. From pallet seating to light installations, hear how "The Backyard" became a hub for connection, art, and fun throughout the festival!

The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.

In this episode of & Co., Kevin is joined by Yard & Co. team members Layne Ferguson and Brooke Klejnot to discuss the recent activation, "The Backyard," at the Blink festival in Cincinnati. Blink, the nation's largest public art and light show, transformed downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into a glowing canvas. Yard & Co. partnered with Cincy Nice, Black Art Speaks and BlaCk OWned Outerwear to create a community-centric space featuring a film about Cincinnati's Black neighborhoods, interactive activities, and a welcoming atmosphere. The team shares insights into how the activation came together, including the challenges and creativity that went into building the space with limited time and budget. From pallet seating to light installations, hear how "The Backyard" became a hub for connection, art, and fun throughout the festival!

The activation was made possible thanks to generous sponsors, including Skanska, The Plant Trolley, The Porch Swing Company, and Neyer Properties, who all contributed to bringing this vibrant space to life.

Join us for a lively conversation with Dan Hintz, where we dive into the unconventional side of urban planning, development, and the power of community-driven change. In this episode, Dan shares his experiences in revitalizing downtown spaces, running a beer garden, and how creativity in planning and development can lead to meaningful transformations. If you're curious about how hands-on work intersects with high-level strategy, this one's for you!

In this episode of &Co., Dara Eskridge, CEO of Invest STL, discusses resident-led planning and revitalization. In her conversation with Kevin she challenges traditional notions of urban planning, reinvestment and talks about her recent experience working with YARD in the West End of St. Louis. Dara highlights the significance of creating spaces where neighbors can come together and shape their future, arguing that genuine engagement and long-term commitment to the residents can lead to sustainable and inclusive growth. The conversation also explores the role of planners as facilitators rather than mere technicians, advocating for a more empathetic and inclusive approach to urban development. 

On this episode we're joined by Yard's very own Daniella Beltran to discuss the First 16 feet, a term we use to describe the first 16 feet up from the sidewalk and out from a building. Discussed are CNU & the Strong Towns Gathering which occurred after the recording of this episode.

More about Strong Towns:

strongtowns.org

More about Ross: https://rosschapin.com/

Ross Chapin's Full Presentation: https://youtu.be/N1ibE-LL8E8