Podcast
Good for Cities
Hosted by infrastructureinstitutesoc · EN
Welcome to Good for Cities, the podcast that examines the ideas, policies, and trends shaping urban life. Hosted by Matti Siemiatycki, Director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto School of Cities, the show asks the essential question: are these interventions really making our cities better? Each episode features conversations with leading urbanists, challenging assumptions about city building to uncover which ideas stand the test of time, and which might need to be rethought—or even scrapped altogether.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is Mission-Driven Design Good for Cities?
Apr 600:43:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Good for Cities podcast, Matti Siemiatycki speaks with Nyasha Harper-Michon about community-led architecture, urban planning, and building more inclusive, sustainable cities. They explore how architects can integrate community engagement into design, align development with local needs, and navigate challenges like affordable housing, climate change, and urban inequality. Nyasha shares lessons from working beyond traditional architecture practice and advancing equity in city-building. This episode is ideal for architects, urban planners, and students interested in architecture careers, community-driven design, and the future of sustainable cities.
Transcribe →Are Financial Landlords Good for Cities?
Mar 2400:38:35Tap to summarizeFinancial landlords claim to contribute to the housing stock, but they also have higher rates of eviction and above guideline rent increases than other housing providers. Since the 1990’s, ownership of rental housing by financial firms has drastically increased, with more financial landlords, such as investment trusts and asset managers owning more apartment buildings than before. This has contributed to a shift that’s turned housing into an investment product for third-party investors, who have increasingly consolidated ownership of rental properties across the country. In this episode, Martine August, affordable housing advocate and financial landlord researcher, explains how financial firms are changing the rental landscape, often at the expense of low-income communities. We unpack data on rent increases, eviction rates, and maintenance issues, and discuss why rent control and non-market housing are crucial tools for protecting tenants.
Transcribe →Are Community Land Trusts Good for Cities?
Mar 900:43:56Tap to summarizeAs housing costs rise and neighbourhoods change, many communities are asking a fundamental question: how can current community members help shape the future of their neighbourhoods? Community land trusts are increasingly part of that conversation. While often framed as a tool for permanent affordability, CLTs also represent a broader shift in how land is owned, governed, and stewarded. In this episode of Good for Cities, Matti Siemiatycki speaks with urban planner Chiyi Tam, about the growing community land trusts movement. They examine what development without displacement can mean in practice, explain how CLTs differ from housing co-ops, and dig into how governance models can bring residents into meaningful decision-making to build long-term stability. The conversation asks what CLTs reveal about civic engagement and imagination in city building, and how different ownership models can shape more inclusive urban futures.
Transcribe →Are Self-Driving Cars Good for Cities?
Feb 2700:34:24Tap to summarizeAutonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, are often seen as the future of urban mobility, promising safer streets, smoother traffic, and more efficient transportation. But how autonomous vehicles are governed and regulated will ultimately determine their impact on cities. In this episode of Good for Cities, Matti Siemiatycki speaks with Andrew Miller about autonomous vehicles policy, safety regulation, and the evolving frameworks shaping self-driving cars in urban environments. They examine how automated driving systems operate in complex conditions, and what accountability looks like when technology replaces human drivers. The conversation also touches on mobility data governance and data privacy concerns, as autonomous vehicles generate and rely on large-scale transportation data. Andrew reflects on the broader transportation system impacts: will autonomous vehicles reduce congestion and complement public transit, or increase vehicle kilometres travelled and intensify gridlock? As cities across Canada and beyond prepare for greater automation, the episode considers how today’s regulatory and infrastructure decisions could shape urban transportation systems for decades. Tune in to explore the intersection of self-driving cars and urban policy and the question of whether this technology will actually make our cities better.
Transcribe →Is Canada's Water Infrastructure in Crisis?
Feb 900:39:16Tap to summarizeWater is essential, but our infrastructure to deliver it is often invisible until it fails. In this episode of Good for Cities, Matti Siemiatycki speaks with Kerry Black, Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary, about the challenges, trade-offs, and innovations shaping water systems in Canada. They discuss the 2026 Calgary water main rupture, why governments prioritize new projects over maintenance, and how decisions about growth, pipe sizing, and asset management lock in risk for decades. Kerry shares insights on cutting-edge monitoring technologies, including robots that inspect pipes from the inside, and explains the persistent water infrastructure challenges facing Indigenous communities. Tune in to explore the hidden systems we all depend on, and ask the question: are we investing in the infrastructure we really need?
Transcribe →Is High-Speed Rail Good for Cities?
Jan 2000:37:17Tap to summarizeWhat possibilities and risks does high-speed rail pose for Canadian cities? On this episode of Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki is joined by Yonah Freemark to unpack the pros and cons of high-speed rail in Canada. They explore how high-speed rail can improve people’s lives by cutting travel times, enhancing access to jobs and services, and boosting economic opportunities, especially for secondary cities that often benefit from stronger regional connections. At the same time, they discuss how local context poses specific challenges for proposed high-speed rail projects in Canada, including environmental conditions, ridership, and construction and operations expenses. Comparing Canada’s experience with the high ridership and economic advantages seen across China and Europe, the conversation explores why high-speed rail remains compelling yet difficult to deliver.
Transcribe →Was 2025 Good for Cities?
Jan 700:34:41Tap to summarizeWhat do the biggest stories of 2025 tell us about the state of our cities? On episode 6 of Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki is joined by his brother, Elliot Siemiatycki, to reflect on a pivotal year for urban life. They explore the highs and lows shaping cities faced in 2025, from falling crime rates and congestion pricing to deepening housing challenges, strained transit systems, and the growing impact of fires and fiscal pressures. The conversation looks at how policy choices, cultural moments, and political interference are reshaping city life, and what these trends might mean for cities in 2026.
Transcribe →Is International Aid Good for Cities?
Dec 1000:31:59Tap to summarizeAccess to reliable infrastructure financing is a key determinant of how rapidly growing cities can develop, yet funding models are shifting in ways that could reshape urban futures across the Global South. Traditional sources of capital are shrinking, while new streams are stepping in, raising questions about who sets the rules and whose priorities are being served. In this episode of Good for Cities, host Matti Siemyiatycki sits down with Astrid R.N. Haas, independent feminist urban economist, to tackle the challenge of financing rapid and equitable urban growth. They explore how cities in Africa and Asia are navigating declining support from traditional donors like the U.S., Canada, and the European Union, alongside new investment from initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road. The conversation examines how these shifts influence planning decisions, infrastructure strategies, and the long-term capacity of cities to guide their own growth.
Transcribe →How To Make Affordable Housing That's Good for Cities
Nov 1400:36:06Tap to summarizeAccess to safe and affordable housing is a key determinant of well-being in any city, yet unaffordability remains a defining crisis of our time. Housing prices have skyrocketed way ahead of wage growth, putting home ownership and affordable rent out of reach for many. What are the causes of deteriorating housing affordability, and what can be done about it? In this episode, Matti Siemiatycki, Director of the Infrastructure Institute, sits down with Dr. Brian Doucet, award-winning teacher and Associate Professor in Planning at the University of Waterloo, to address the tough questions around housing affordability. They explore the forces driving up housing costs, and question whether current policy frameworks are designed to prioritize the needs of investors or the needs of people who require a stable place to live.
Transcribe →Are Bike Lanes Good for Cities?
Oct 1500:37:50Tap to summarizeBike lanes are central to city planning, but why do they spark such fierce debate? On Good for Cities, host Matti Siemiatycki sits down with infrastructure expert Dr. Shoshanna Saxe to cut through the "bikelash" and analyze the numbers. They discuss how to balance public benefits - like the 44% reduction in car-bike conflicts on Bloor Street and the reported 49% jump in retail sales in some urban corridors - with political resistance and equity concerns. Shoshanna shares her research on the gap between data and public perception, offering practical advice for cities looking to build effective, publicly supported, and data-driven bike networks.
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