In this 37-minute episode, Michael Dear, author of Why Walls won’t Work, takes us through the evolution of the US-Mexico border from quaint and lacklustre demarcations to its current full-fledged military industrialisation. 

Michael talks about the rise of borderland mentalities (min. 4) slowly etched into those living in that region, the intertwined economies along the border (min. 10), its militarisation after 9/11 (min. 11), just how ineffective walls are (min. 17) and the “portfolio” of options.

We then continue discussing not only the supply of drugs, but the slow change in US government thinking that indeed there is a demand challenge (min. 23).

As part of the LA School in urban planning, Michael shares his views about the 2024 LA Olympics (min. 26), the city’s challenges around traffic (min. 28), but also that given all of those, it still works relatively well. He closes up with his favourite places in the Golden State (min. 35).

Feed you soul. Keep listening.