Released: June 28, 2012 JHK and Duncan speak to a group of NextGen New Urbanists during the Congress for the New Urbanism held in West Palm Beach, Fla. this May 9-12. NextGen New Urbanists are young professionals participating in the New Urbanist movement. Jim asks the group to tell him what they’re up to and more »
KunstlerCast #186: John Michael Greer
Apocalypse Not, Green Wizardry and Techno-Narcissism Released: Dec. 22, 2011 John Michael Greer, author of The Long Descent, The Wealth of Nature and, most recently, Apocalypse Not, joins JHK and Duncan by phone to speak about 2012 apocalypse scenarios, Green Wizardry, politics and techno narcissism. Greer explains how the 1970s were the last time that more »
KunstlerCast #185: Duncan on Relocalize Vermont
A Chat With the KunstlerCast Host Released: Dec. 15, 2011 In this episode, Duncan appears solo on a radio program called Relocalizing Vermont to talk about The KunstlerCast book and podcast and the influence that James Howard Kunstler has had on him. In this half-hour interview by Carl Etnier asks Duncan about the KunstlerCast came more »
KunstlerCast #182: Ken Avidor
Depicting a Landscape of Logos Released: Nov. 25, 2011 JHK and Duncan are joined by Minneapolis-based cartoonist and self-described muckraker Ken Avidor, who recently illustrated the KunstlerCast book and whose artwork as been displayed on this website for years. Topics include Minnesota sprawl, the Mall of America, Avidor’s artistic influences and his opposition to the more »
KunstlerCast#167: Picturing Suburbia – Rebroadcast
Painting the landscape of our time Released: Aug. 4, 2011 (Originally April 24, 2008). In this rebroadcast of one of our very first podcasts, we revisit JHK’s adventures in landscape paiting. JHK’s paintings are currently hanging in two group exhibitions this sunner. Description: When James Howard Kunstler isn’t railing against suburban sprawl, he’s painting it. more »
KunstlerCast #165: Landscape Urbanism – Part 2
JHK & Andres Duany Critique the Landscape Urbanism Released: July 21, 2011. JHK continues his critique of Charles Waldheim’s presentation on Landscape Urbanism, delivered at the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 19). This episode also includes remarks by New Urbanist leader Andres Duany and a listener quesion from a conferencegoer. [Note: This episode contains more »
KunstlerCast #164: Landscape Urbanism – Part 1
JHK Critiques Charles Waldheim’s Remarks Released: July 14, 2011. In recent years there has been a growing debate between New Urbanism and Landscape Urbanism, a theory that argues the landscape, rather than architecture, is more capable of organizing the city and enhancing the urban experience. In this episode, JHK reacts to recent remarks by Harvard more »
KunstlerCast #160: Housing Market Crash Update & Car Sharing
Transitioning Away from Car Dependency Released: June 16, 2011. JHK gives an update on the bursting housing bubble and the fate of car dependency in America. This episode includes a short interview with Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-Go Car Sharing, and Sonya Newenhouse, president of Community Car, two professionals in the car sharing industry. Car more »
KunstlerCast #158: Americans Demand Walkable Neighborhoods…
But Prefer Suburban Style Housing Released: May 26, 2011. On today’s episode JHK discusses a recent poll by the National Association of Realtors which found that while many Americans claim they want to be able to walk to stores, restaurants and other urban amenities, they prefer to live in single family detached homes above all more »
KunstlerCast #157: When McDonald’s Comes to Town
A Community Design Debate Released: May 19, 2011. JHK and Duncan look at two new McDonald’s projects in their home towns and touch upon some universal issues with regards to these types of developments appearing throughout North America. Using the comments on a local newspaper blog, they gague how members of the community are reacting more »
KunstlerCast #149: Debauchery in the Student Ghettos
Keg and Eggs Riots in the U.S. Released: March 24, 2011 JHK and Duncan apply an urbanist lens to a recent string of drunken St. Paddy’s Parade Day riots in three U.S. cities: Newport, RI, Hoboken, NJ, and Albany, NY. Topics covered in this discussion include: monocultures, transient populations, the ghettoization of the generations, self-regulating more »
KunstlerCast #146: Geritopia
Leisureville, by Andrew Blechman Released: March 3, 2011 Author Andrew Blechman discusses his book Leisureville, a tragicomic report on The Villages, America’s largest planned retirement community. In this version of suburbia, Blechman explains, everyone drives golf carts, last call is at 8:30, Fox News plays on the hour from the lampposts and children aren’t allowed. more »
KunstlerCast #127: The Tragedy of the Commons
JHK Visits Bay City Michigan Released: Sept. 30, 2010 James Howard Kunstler explains the Tragedy of the Commons, as first described by Garrett Hardin in 1968, as how this philosophical theory relates to the public realm, suburbia, private property, commerce, environmentalism and concepts of freedom. This episode also includes a short radio story produced by more »
KunstlerCast #125: Cassandra, A Thought Experiment
JHK Travels Back in Time to Warn The American People of the Future that Awaits Them Released: Sept. 16, 2010. Duncan asks JHK what he would say to the American people of 1946 if he had the means to travel back in time. What would Kunstler tell them about the suburban dream as promised to more »
KunstlerCast #121: Modern Family Living
Reacquainting With Our Relatives Released: Aug. 12, 2010. James Howard Kunstler muses on the suburban family living arrangement–past, present, future. Points of discussion include: “Boomerang Kids” (a.k.a. adult children living in their parents’ home), caring for seniors, and learning to live in closer proximity to family members. Direct Download: KunstlerCast_121.mp3 (38 MB | 32:35 mins.)
KunstlerCast #112: The Politics of Place
Inversion of Assumed Roles Released: May 20, 2010. James Howard Kunstler examines the politics of place. Are the suburbs more conservative than cities? Why are people who try to conserve the historic fabric of their towns branded as radical liberals, while the agents of destruction in those towns call themselves “conservative?” What is the historical more »
KunstlerCast #107: Sprawl Defenders
The Arguments For Suburbia Released: April 15, 2010. This conversation was recorded one day before James Howard Kunstler was scheduled to debate Randal O’Toole at Brown University in Providence, RI. O’Toole is a well-known advocate for the suburban living arrangement. Host Duncan Crary chats with JHK about the pro-suburbia arguments in preparation for the debate. more »
KunstlerCast #103: Parking Militants & Hot Heads
Passionate Positions on Parking Released: March 18, 2010. James Howard Kunstler is sometimes propelled into “mad dog mode” when speaking about the modern American landscape. But tempers fly on all sides of these urban policy debates. And there are many times when the only sane response is to be angry about what we’ve done to more »
KunstlerCast #90: The Demise of Happy Motoring
Cruising Toward Collapse with a Stunning Stupidity Released: Nov. 26, 2009. James Howard Kunstler believes that the Happy Motoring project is running out of time. Peak Oil and problems with alternative energy aren’t the only issues facing future motorists. He thinks that car ownership will become less democratic in the future as cars become too more »
KunstlerCast #89: Everyday Architecture
Empty Gestures, Darth Vader Windows & Porches for Leprechauns Released: Nov. 19, 2009. James Howard Kunstler thinks that most modern buildings are not really architecture, they’re just manufactured boxes. Whether it’s suburban houses, or retail stores, the buildings of our everyday environment send the message that we don’t care about ourselves or our surroundings. Kunstler more »
KunstlerCast #83: Jane Jacobs, Urban Thinker
The Death and Life of Great American Cities Released: Oct. 8, 2009. Planetizen, an urban planning website and book publisher, recently conducted a poll about the Top 100 Urban Thinkers. Jane Jacobs, author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, made #1 on the list. Kunstler explains the story and importance of Jacobs. more »
KunstlerCast #81: Los Angeles
Provisional Civilization Released: Sept 24, 2009. James Howard Kunstler shares his thoughts on Los Angeles, California after a recent visit to Tinseltown. The motoring infrastructure of Los Angeles stretches from horizon to horizon. It is a provisional civilization in which all is subordinate to the car. However, Kunstler believes Los Angeles is more urban than more »
KunstlerCast #72: Sprawling to Obesity
The Burbs are Bad for Your Health Released: July 23, 2009. This May, the Committee on Environmental Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed that the design of U.S. communities (i.e. car-dependent suburbia) negatively affects the health of children (i.e. makes them obese). James Howard Kunstler explores the relationship between suburban sprawl and the more »