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Artwork for The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

StreetsblogUSA
Urban Planning
Road Safety
Vision Zero
Car Dependency
Sustainable Transportation
Traffic Violence
Transportation
Public Space
Transportation Advocacy
Community Engagement
Transportation Policy
Mobility
Urban Mobility
Public Health
Electric Bikes
Media Influence
Reckless Driving
Urbanism
Climate Change
Bicycle Advocacy

Covering the movement to end car dependency in the United States, one interview at a time

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes94Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

Latest Episodes

It's easy to jump to conclusions about why so many drivers continuosly break speed limits, whether you assume they just can't help it or just don't care about anyone but themselves. A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, though, f... more

Like the interstate system before it, a network of massive, hyper-scale AI data centers is cropping up across America. And much like highways, they're spewing air, water, and noise pollution across our communities, unleashing more surveillance tech a... more

A sidewalk isn't just a strip of asphalt; it's a place where countless laws collide, whether they're governing our movement, our safety, our right to free speech, our economy, or even just who's responsible for shoveling after a snow storm. But most ... more

Affordability is the buzzword in American politics — and when it comes to transportation affordability, the policies that would give the most families the most immediate relief would also do the most to address the climate crisis. So why aren't thing... more

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Recent Guests

Saul Levin
Host of The Hum podcast, transportation reform advocate
The Hum, transportation reform
Episode: When the Battles Against Harmful Highways and Hyperscale Data Centers Collide (Saul Levin)
Michael Pollack
Author of Sidewalk Nation; law professor
Cardozo Law School / Sidewalk Nation
Episode: Does Your City Need a 'Department of Sidewalks'? (Michael Pollack)
Emmett Hopkins
Transportation Policy Manager for the Climate and Community Institute
Climate and Community Institute
Episode: How Sustainable Transportation Can Help End the Affordability Crisis — And Help Climate Champions Win
Josh Naramore
Researcher, Enacto
Enacto / NACDO
Episode: Are US Cities Ready for the Robotaxi Revolution? (Josh Naramore)
Christopher Coes
Executive Director of America Forward (FWD)
America Forward (FWD)
Episode: How to Push a Livable Streets Project Forward — Even in the Age of Federal Clawbacks (Christopher Coes)
Michael O. Emerson
Professor of Sociology at Rice University, co-author of the UBN framework
Rice University
Episode: How a 'Universal Basic Neighborhood' Can Help Americans Live Longer
Ian Coss
Host of The Big Dig Podcast and organizer of the Highway Teardown Tour
The Big Dig Podcast / Highway Teardown Tour
Episode: How to Tell the Story of a Highway Teardown (Ian Coss)
Dr. Anat Caspi
Research scientist and director of the Tasker Center for Accessible Technology
Episode: What It Takes To Map Every Sidewalk In Your State (Dr. Anat Caspi)
Josh Dorfman
Host of Supercool, a podcast focusing on climate innovations
Supercool
Episode: Five 'Supercool' Transportation Founders to Watch in 2026

Host

Kea Wilson
Host of The Brake, Streetsblog USA; editor and driving voice behind transportation policy discussions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • What are you doing today, to help end car dependency?

    Kea’s interviews are generally short and well edited to where she’s able to capture the guest’s main idea thoroughly and her empathetic tone and point of view make this show one of the best on my feed. I always leave wondering how what I just learned will help me to answer/respond to the question/charge of what I’ll do today to end car dependency

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    guitardude1236
    United States2 years ago
  • On point

    Kea is always full of valuable information and insights and presents it in a digestible way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nkihvudhrvkudbrvku
    United States2 years ago
  • Just amazing

    Love Kia, the host’s, passion for mobility and all the guests are fantastic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nusCGHK
    United States2 years ago
  • The Brake by streetsblog

    Interview show with plain speaking people asking probing thoughtful questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nansindy
    United States2 years ago
  • Very thought provoking podcast

    I learn so much listening to the brake, the adverse affects of car dependency, and how to better fight it in my community. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pepper Burly
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thoughtful conversations with diverse voices about mobility and car dependency.
The show is praised for accessible storytelling and positive, actionable discussions about transportation reform.
Host provides valuable, digestible insights and keeps discussions focused on impact.
Interviews are well-edited and guest ideas come through clearly, with host asking probing questions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When the Battles Against Harmful Highways and Hyperscale Data Centers Collide (Saul Levin)
Q: What are data centers as objects in the public realm?
They are large facilities that house computing infrastructure; while some are traditional warehouses, hyperscale data centers are massive, energy- and water-intensive projects that can reshape urban form and require careful consideration of siting and impacts.
Does Your City Need a 'Department of Sidewalks'? (Michael Pollack)
Q: What is the core idea behind the Department of Sidewalks, and why might it be controversial?
The idea is to centralize sidewalk governance to avoid fragmentation among many agencies, improve coordination, and ensure equitable maintenance and policies; some advocates fear siloing or politicizing space, but the guest sees it as a path to better public space management.
Does Your City Need a 'Department of Sidewalks'? (Michael Pollack)
Q: Why begin the book with on-site trips to places like New York, New Orleans, and Houston rather than starting in the law library?
Pollack says visiting actual places grounds the argument in concrete experience, showing the universal and varied ways sidewalks function across different communities, which helps illustrate both problems and potential solutions beyond abstract law.
Does Your City Need a 'Department of Sidewalks'? (Michael Pollack)
Q: Longtime listeners will know you like to start with the elevator pitch. Tell me, what is Sidewalk Nation about and why should Streetsblog fans care?
Michael explains that Sidewalk Nation examines the sidewalk as a nexus of law and daily life, arguing that its regulation affects a wide range of policy areas and that readers should care because sidewalk governance reveals how communities handle safety, accessibility, and public space planning.
How Sustainable Transportation Can Help End the Affordability Crisis — And Help Climate Champions Win
Q: Basically, how do we mobilize investments for multimodality in a way that is fast and secure and going to last basically?
The approach is to demonstrate short-term benefits to communities to build coalitions, while leveraging blueprints and evidence showing the higher long-term value of multimodal investments, and to ensure funding for both capital costs and operating costs to scale quick wins like fast and free buses.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

What is The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on transforming urban mobility away from car dependency through in-depth conversations with policymakers, researchers, advocates, and journalists. Across episodes, the host probes how streets, sidewalks, and public spaces are governed, funded, and redesigned to prioritize safety, accessibility, and livable neighborhoods, often highlighting practical policy frameworks, equity considerations, and community-driven solutions. Notable themes include sidewalk governance, livable streets, transit affordability, and the politics of infrastructure funding, with a consistent focus on actionable ideas for cities and advocates.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast:

1. The War on Cars
2. Talking Headways: A Streetsblog Podcast
3. The Strong Towns Podcast
4. On the Media
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast are there?

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 94 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast?

Recent guests on The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast include:

1. Saul Levin
2. Michael Pollack
3. Emmett Hopkins
4. Josh Naramore
5. Christopher Coes
6. Michael O. Emerson
7. Ian Coss
8. Dr. Anat Caspi

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