Podcast
Curb Enthusiasm
Hosted by New York City Department of Transportation · EN
The Curb Enthusiasm podcast offers unique insight on what’s new, innovative, and exciting in the world of transportation and urban planning. Created by the New York City Department of Transportation, the podcast is focused on issues at the local, national, and international level and features guests who discuss the most consequential transportation work happening all over the globe.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 16: NYC’s New DOT Commissioner on Faster Buses, Safer Streets, and a More Dynamic Public Realm
Apr 1400:33:50Tap to summarizeSeason 2 of Curb Enthusiasm kicks off with NYC’s new DOT Commissioner, Mike Flynn. Commissioner Flynn shares his vision for the agency under Mayor Mamdani. He discusses faster buses, safer streets, saving outdoor dining, and why he thinks this is a defining moment for New York City streets.
Transcribe →Episode 15: Reflecting on the Past Four Years, and Recommendations for the Mamdani Administration, with Ydanis Rodriguez
Dec 1800:29:49Tap to summarizeEmily Weidenhof and co-host Ryan Lynch sit down with New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The trio discuss his career in public service, immigrating to the United States at 18 years of age, his proudest accomplishments as DOT commissioner, and advice for the incoming Mamdani Administration.
Transcribe →Episode 14: How Public Space Builds Stronger Cities With NYU Professor Eric Klinenberg
Nov 2400:26:17Tap to summarizeEmily Weidenhof and co-host Burkina Morgan welcome esteemed sociologist, professor, and award-winning author Eric Klinenberg to the podcast to discuss what social infrastructure is and why it is vital to building strong and resilient cities. The trio talks about how everyday community staples like parks, public plazas, and even the subway can shape the connections we make with others.
Transcribe →Episode 13: Why The Brooklyn Bridge Was Built and What It Takes to Maintain It
Oct 2900:27:16Tap to summarizePaul Schwartz, Deputy Commissioner of Bridges at the NYC Department of Transportation, joins the podcast to discuss the history behind New York City’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge, and what it takes to oversee and maintain it along with over 800 other bridges across the five boroughs.
Transcribe →Episode 12: What the Pedestrianization of Times Square Taught Us About Urban Design
Sep 2900:32:44Tap to summarizeEmily Weidenhof is joined by co-host David Breen, director of strategic initiatives at NYC DOT, for a conversation with Andy Wiley-Schwartz about his work leading the pedestrianization of Times Square, shaping the landscape of Manhattan, and how NYC DOT is continuing to reimagine the Broadway corridor. Andy is a manager consultant for Bloomberg Associates and former assistant commissioner for public space at NYC DOT.
Transcribe →Episode 11: How Nashville’s New Half-Penny Sales Tax Is Funding $3.1 Billion in New Sidewalks, Better Bus Service, and Safer Streets
Aug 2800:28:15Tap to summarizeEmily Weidenhof and co-host Rochelle Brahalla, director of transit strategy at NYC DOT, welcome Nashville Department of Transportation Director Diana Alarcon to the podcast. The conversation focuses on the Choose How You Move referendum, which raised sales tax 0.5% to fund enhanced public transportation, sidewalk expansions, upgraded traffic signals, and safety projects in Nashville, Tennessee.
Transcribe →Episode 10: Ecologist Eric Sanderson on How NYC Transformed From Wetlands and Forests to Concrete and Skyscrapers
Jul 2400:36:24Tap to summarizeEric Sanderson, vice president for urban conservation strategy at the New York Botanical Garden and the author of the best-selling book, Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City, joins Emily Weidenhof and Kyle Gorman, assistant director of programs and partnerships in NYC DOT’s Public Realm team. They discuss how the city looked before European settlement, the influence of indigenous trails on the city’s first streets, the shift from agriculture to housing as transportation methods expanded, and the effect of climate change on the future of NYC’s streets and public space.
Transcribe →Episode 9: How Street Designs Differ Around the World, and How to Design Them for Kids, with Skye Duncan
Jun 2300:24:57Tap to summarizeGlobal Designing Cities Initiative Executive Director Skye Duncan joins Emily Weidenhof and Jason Banrey to discuss her work in cities around the world and the importance of designing streets with children in mind. Duncan is an urban designer with 20 years of experience in architecture, urban design, and planning, who previously served as a senior urban designer at the New York City Department of City Planning.
Transcribe →Episode 8 (Part 2): Eric Beaton on the Truth About Daylighting, Why Bike Lanes Benefit Everyone, and the Future of Vision Zero
May 20, 202500:28:47Tap to summarizeEric Beaton and Emily Weidenhof discuss the surprising findings from NYC DOT’s daylighting study, how we determine the placement for speed and red-light cameras, why bike lanes benefit everyone, and the future of Vision Zero.
Transcribe →Episode 8 (Part 1): Eric Beaton on Why Your Street May Feel More Congested and How Data Informs DOT Projects
May 6, 202500:21:39Tap to summarizeEric Beaton, NYC DOT deputy commissioner for transportation planning and management joins Emily Weidenhof to discuss how NYC DOT collects data, why road users’ feelings don’t always match traffic data, how we’re using data to inform transportation planning, and more. This is part one of a two-part episode.
Transcribe →