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Artwork for Challenger Cities

Challenger Cities

Iain Montgomery
Toronto
Urban Planning
Public Transit
Public Transport
Urbanism
Housing
Urban Development
Transportation
London
Urban Design
Montreal
Community Engagement
Paris
Parking
Copenhagen
Urban Transportation
Healthcare
Youth Financial Awareness
Housing Crisis
Urban Living

Iain Montgomery of Now or Never Ventures interviews urbanists, creatives, transit and development types to explore how cities can punch above their weight and create distinctive new futures outside of the tired playbooks.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes87Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelArtsDesignSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Challenger Cities

Latest Episodes

Two risk-management cultures looking at each other across a table, each waiting for the other to move. That's rail's relationship with venture capital. Iain talks to Richard Fisher, founder of Future Travel Studio, about why nobody would fund his Dre... more

This is a lovely episode with Thomas Ableman (a returning guest!) that is mostly about an amazing project he and a few volunteers recently secured funding to go and deliver called Mini Switzerland in the Derbyshire hills.

We often hear about how it'... more

One of the best people I met last year was Samantha Peart. We were in Copenhagen for a few days and of our fellows group, I have to say she asked the best questions. She’s also exceptionally good at getting you to question your assumptions or reflect... more

If you liked our episode with Ilana Altman about The Bentway, then you'll like this one with Ken Greenberg, because he's part of that origin story. Ken is a legend in Toronto urbanism circles, as someone who did pioneering work in his early career in... more

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Recent Guests

Sam Peart
Global Head of Sustainability at Hassell
Hassell
Episode: Challenger Cities EP82: The Purpose is Not the Function with Sam Peart
Ken Greenberg
Urbanist and former city planner involved in Toronto's urban design initiatives
Former City of Toronto Urban Design Group; various international civic projects
Episode: Challenger Cities EP81: A Chair in the City and a Stool at the Rouge with Ken Greenberg
Saurabh Mangla
Founder of Ipsum and Lumatera; materials innovator focused on moving IP from lab to market
Lumaterra / Ipsum
Episode: Challenger Cities EP80: The Materials of Cities with Saurabh Mangla
Gerald Babel-Sutter
Founder/ organizer of Urban Future, urbanist behind Challenger Cities discussion
Urban Future
Episode: Challenger Cities EP79: The Best Practice Industrial Complex with Gerald Babel-Sutter
Jen Angel
Leader, Evergreen
Evergreen
Episode: Challenger Cities EP78: Saying Yes More with Jen Angel
Alex Bozikovic
Architecture critic for the Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
Episode: Challenger Cities EP77: The Will To Build with Alex Bozikovic
Heath Gledhill
Co-founder, GledHill Shield
GledHill Shield
Episode: Challenger Cities EP76: Urban Troubleshooting with Heath Gledhill & Tom Shield
Tom Shield
Co-founder, GledHill Shield
GledHill Shield
Episode: Challenger Cities EP76: Urban Troubleshooting with Heath Gledhill & Tom Shield
Tasha Freidus
Director of Education and Entrepreneurship, Shorefast Institute
Shorefast Institute
Episode: Challenger Cities EP75: What a Rock Off a Rock Can Teach the Rest of Us with Tasha Freidus

Host

Iain Montgomery
Host of Challenger Cities

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Countries come & go, cities endure

    Love Iain’s breadth and interview style.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Acorrn
    Canada4 months ago
  • Top Notch

    Look forward to every episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Marshdogg
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great insights into urbanism and public spaces from thoughtful guests.
Listeners appreciate the host's breadth and interview style.
High-quality guests and practical storytelling stand out for sponsors and guests alike.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#240
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#11
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#51
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#19
Brazil/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#48
Poland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#57
South Africa/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Challenger Cities EP82: The Purpose is Not the Function with Sam Peart
Q: What is the key shift you're trying to drive in how projects are framed from the start?
The shift is to separate the purpose from the function of a project and to start with place analysis that considers impact beyond the boundary, which guides better decisions and collaborations.
Challenger Cities EP82: The Purpose is Not the Function with Sam Peart
Q: How did you end up in a sustainability role that spans engineering, government, and design?
Sam describes a career path from Arup through public sector roles into Hassell, emphasizing a pattern of moving between problem-solving, design, and governance to understand how different organizations influence place.
Challenger Cities EP78: Saying Yes More with Jen Angel
Q: If you had a magic wand, what would you do with it to accelerate urbanism and infrastructure?
Jen would create conditions that let decision-makers say yes to innovative ideas from a wide range of sources, allowing experimentation and rapid implementation of collaborative, multi-stakeholder solutions.
Challenger Cities EP78: Saying Yes More with Jen Angel
Q: Give me the short version of what's the Evergreen Conference? Why should people be there? What would they get from it?
Jen describes the conference as a gathering that blends grassroots and policy perspectives, emphasizes interactive experiences in the ravines and public spaces, and showcases a diverse group of practitioners to foster collaboration and practical ideas for vibrant cities.
Challenger Cities EP72: The Case for Civic Joy with Ilana Altman
Q: What's next for The Bentway and the Gardiner corridor?
Expansion involves completing the seven-kilometer plan, extending programming and public realm improvements, and maintaining a strong partnership between government and philanthropy to realize a connected vision that keeps the space active, safe, and meaningful for residents and visitors.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Challenger Cities

What is Challenger Cities about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A forward-thinking show that explores how cities can reinvent themselves beyond traditional planning playbooks. Conversations thread through urban design, public spaces, transportation, governance, and community engagement, often emphasizing systems thinking, sustainability, and long-term impact over quick wins. Guests include architects, planners, educators, and developers who share practical stories from real projects, from repurposing infrastructure to nurturing place-based economies. The podcast stands out for its mix of critique, ambition, and hands-on insight, offering listeners concrete ideas for shaping livable, resilient cities while highlighting the people and processes that drive transformative urban outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Challenger Cities?

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How many listeners does Challenger Cities get?

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What are the audience demographics for Challenger Cities?

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How many subscribers and views does Challenger Cities have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Challenger Cities has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Challenger Cities?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Challenger Cities:

1. The Messy City Podcast
2. The Strong Towns Podcast
3. The Urbanist
4. Upzoned
5. The War on Cars

How many episodes of Challenger Cities are there?

Challenger Cities launched 2 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Challenger Cities?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Challenger Cities?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Challenger Cities?

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What guests have appeared on Challenger Cities?

Recent guests on Challenger Cities include:

1. Sam Peart
2. Ken Greenberg
3. Saurabh Mangla
4. Gerald Babel-Sutter
5. Jen Angel
6. Alex Bozikovic
7. Heath Gledhill
8. Tom Shield

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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