AI & Austin

Steve Adler, mayor of Austin during the hyper-growth years of 2015-23, discusses his new book, "Hot Seat — Hot City," about his experience leading a growing city as skyrocketing housing costs and a surge in homelessness inflames local politics. We also talk about his epic battle with Uber/Lyft in 2016 and Austin's disappointing efforts to build mass transit.

I talk with Austin bike advocate Alejandro de la Vega about whether it's culture or infrastructure that prevents Americans from biking. And what arguments will make people support taking space away from cars to give to bikes?

I talk with Jessica Brand, executive director of the Wren Collective, about wrongful prosecutions and why America's uniquely punitive justice system hasn't resulted in greater safety. But what does the alternative look like?

In many American cities, the only alternative to single family houses are massive apartment complexes. Why aren't we building the beautiful, family-friendly apartments that we admire in Europe? Alicia Pederson of Courtyard Urbanist explains.

Itzel Hernandez grew up like any other American kid in Red Bank, NJ. She only realized she was undocumented when applying to college. We talk about why anti-immigrant politics doesn't reflect how Americans actually feel about the immigrants who are their neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

I talk with Kyle Vansice, founder of Cedar, an Austin-based startup that uses AI to help builders figure out what they can build on a given piece of land. We have a broader conversation about the damage done to American cities by 20th century planning and zoning.

America is increasingly handing off care of our elders to private equity-backed longterm care facilities. Judy Karofsky, author of "Diselderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice" says it's only going to get worse. We also reminisce on her colorful political life, including the time she was the ONLY woman mayor in Wisconsin (Middleton!) and why she enjoys living among young people in old age.

Amy Seponara, co-founder of the Ambler Community Garden, talks about the tremendous value of community gardens and the vociferous pushback she encountered from longtime residents of Ambler, Pa.

Alexander Pasch talks with me about starting a career in tech in the midst of the AI revolution and why he devotes all of his political energy to local government.

Adam Greenfield of Safe Streets Austin joins me to talk about the battle to undo decades of car-centric planning that has sapped the life out of many American neighborhoods and confined many of us to traveling everywhere by car.