On the eve of Thanksgiving, Peter shares the surprising stories of three veterans who forever changed the way he sees others—and himself. A reflection on judgment, curiosity, and the hidden lives behind the people we think we know.
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A victory that wasn’t: Peter tells the story of how insisting on brick in the design of the Twins' Target Field resulted in a surprisingly unintended outcome for an adjacent neighborhood. Along the way, he unpacks key negotiation lessons about flexibility, listening, and finding true mutual gain.
Episode music: Funny Toys by Giulio Fazio
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Before you start building, ask: do you really need a new project, or just a smarter way to use what you’ve got? In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares stories of costly overreach, clever fixes, and the fine line between maintenance and reinvention.
Episode music: Canataloupe by RA
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What does the film Inception have to do with budgets for city buildings and 22 kinds of lightbulbs? In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter discusses how design choices made on day one can ripple through decades of maintenance — and why sometimes, less really is more.
Episode music: Trouble Brewing by Matt Stewart Evans
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You know good design when you see it, right? In this episode, Peter explores why architects and developers often differ on what constitutes 'good design,' emphasizing that design is subjective and shaped by many perspectives—including those of developers, critics, planners, and investors. Listen to some of the lessons he's learned about who you should probably listen to. (Hint: it's not your gut.)
Episode music: Misadventure by Giulio Fazio
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Continuing the thread from last week of public project financing, Peter dives further into the world of how cities and special-purpose governments utilize municipal bonds. Using city aquariums as case studies, he illustrates how failing projects often shift financial burdens to taxpayers, creating a "moral hazard."
Episode music: The Brotherhood by Soundroll
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What are public authorities, and why do they matter so much to how cities actually get things done? The Reflective Urbanist dives into the politics, financing, and quiet influence of these “shadow governments.”
Episode music: Silly Chase by Simon Folwar
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Funny Footsteps by Simon Folwar
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Peter revisits Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities—a book he first encountered (and maybe slept through) as a college student. Decades later, he reads it cover to cover and finds Jacobs’ insights on vibrant, mixed-use cities are as sharp and relevant as ever.
Episode music: 56s Comedy by Giulio Fazio
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The Funny Bunch by Giulio Fazio
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This week, Peter stitches together Monty Python, exploding architectural models, and a designer who looks like Fabio. Why? To explore the messy, unpredictable world of architect selection panels—where bias, personality, and power dynamics often overshadow objective decision-making. From comedy sketches to real-life stories, we unpack why choosing the "best team" is rarely as straightforward as it seems.
Episode music: The Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa, performed by the United State Marine Corps Band
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This week on The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares the story of his first big procurement challenge in city government: getting three simple flashlights for his staff. What followed was a months-long lesson in bureaucracy, trust, and why you should never underestimate civil servants.
Episode music: Snoopy Loopy by Simon Folwar
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A junkyard full of police cars. A brand-new $2 million fire truck. And a crash course in why cities — and households — need two budgets. This episode makes sense of capital vs. operating budgets with stories you won’t forget.
Episode music: Beautiful Oops by All Good Folks
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Cornell researchers say eating together makes teams more effective. A Scorsese movie, a Minneapolis planning project, and a few unforgettable dinners prove the point. Tune in for stories and lessons on why breaking bread might be the smartest business strategy of all.
Episode music: Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod, Mafioso by Theo Gerard; and Tres French by Jonny Boyle
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This fall feels like a fresh start—and what better way to kick off the new season than with a “Back-to-School” episode? In this first show of the season, I reflect on what it means to keep learning—long after we’ve left the classroom. From Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School to real-life lessons about humility, curiosity, and growth, this episode explores why being a “learn-it-all” will always beat being a “know-it-all.”
Episode Music: Saved by the 80s by All Good Folks
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No Time for Games by Soundroll
The Reflective Urbanist is back for Season Two! After a summer break (and a cake with our logo in icing washed down with TRU blue margaritas), we’re kicking off with a few fresh ideas, a few experiments, and plenty more of what you enjoyed from Season 1. The premiere episode drops September 3—get a sneak peek of the P020: “Back-to-School.”
Teaser music: "Honey, I'm Home" by Giulio Fazio
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It’s the Season 1 finale of The Reflective Urbanist! Join Peter as he reflects on a year of exploring the intersection of stories and big ideas that shape our cities. He shares the lessons learned, celebrates the feedback that has made this journey so rewarding, and sets the stage for what’s to come. Don’t miss this heartfelt wrap-up — and a look at what’s next!
Episode music: Dance of the Hours - Ponchielli by Aura Classica
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When a capital project hit a deadlock, Peter had to fire an uncooperative architect—or did he? Join him as he shares what happened, and why you should always think several moves ahead in your own endgame.
Episode music: Getting to the Bottom of It by Fernweh Goldfish
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What does a missed train, a cold beer, and a bureaucratic form have in common? The lost decade of I-676.
This episode of The Reflective Urbanist unpacks how a simple lapse in judgment—and the inflexible gears of Weberian bureaucracy—delayed a major highway project for ten years. From Philadelphia to South Jersey and from sociology to spiral-bound proposal fails, it's a story about process, power, and the very human limits of rational systems.
Episode Music: Miami 1987 by Hey Pluto!
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Peter Brown has a new answer to that familiar question—and this time, it starts with market failure, detours through Scandinavian tax policy, and ends with a pony.
If we’re serious about housing everyone, we need to stop blaming developers and start talking about taxes, subsidies, and what kind of country we want to be.
Episode music: Suburban Honeymoon by Christian Larssen
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Why aren’t those greedy developers building more affordable housing? Well, what if the problem isn’t them—it’s us? In this episode, I unpack why pointing fingers at the private sector misses the mark, and how local politics, zoning drama, and good old-fashioned NIMBYism are quietly sabotaging housing solutions. If you've ever said “I support affordable housing, just not there,” this one’s for you.
Episode music: A Charming Day by Albert Behar
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We were the private-sector pros brought in to fix a sluggish city bureaucracy. Confidence? We had it. Experience? Not so much. This episode dives into what happens when political appointees try to move the machine—and what they learn from the civil servants who’ve kept it running all along.
Episode music: 'Excusez-Moi?' by Roo Walker
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