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Artwork for The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

StreetsblogUSA
Public Space
Urban Planning
Sustainable Transportation
Car Dependency
Mobility
Electric Bikes
Bicycle Advocacy
Autonomous Vehicles
Vision Zero
Public Health
Transportation
Equality
Emergency Streets Policy
Road Safety
Health Equity
Urban Institute
Non-Drivers
Urban Mobility
Urbanism
Traffic Violence

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes89Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CultureNews Commentary

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Artwork for The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

Latest Episodes

Even before the Trump administration and the current congress started rescinding federal grants left and right, it was hard to get major sustainable transportation projects across the finish line in America. That's why one livable streets legend is s... more

The idea of providing a "universal basic income" to ensure every U.S. resident can afford the fundamentals is gaining traction with the rise of AI. But even that much-needed money might not guarantee much of a life to people who live in neighborhoods... more

Highway teardowns are messy, multi-decade projects that spark countless debates and competing narratives — even among livable streets advocates who broadly agree that replacing autocentric infrastructure is a good idea. In his Peabody Award-winning p... more

Washington State is on the brink of completing America's first comprehensive, statewide inventory of every single sidewalk and pedestrian path — and along with it, a collection of tools that make it easy for transportation professionals and every day... more

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Recent Guests

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
Carter Lavin
Transportation advocate and author of 'If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight.'
Streetsblog
Episode: How to Be a Better Transportation Advocate (Carter Lavin)
Sarah Goodyear
Veteran journalist and co-author of 'Life After Cars'
Co-author of 'Life After Cars'
Episode: Is a 'Life After Cars' Really Possible? (Sarah Goodyear)
Peter Harnik
Author, activist, and executive producer of the documentary From Rails to Trails
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Episode: The Shocking Untold Story of America's Rail-Trail Movement (Peter Harnik)
Ashton Rohmer
PhD candidate in Peace and Conflict Studies with a background in urban planning
Episode: Our Streets Look Like War Zones — But What if They Were 'Sites of Peacebuilding'? (Ashton Rohmer)

Host

Kea Wilson
Host and editor focusing on transportation justice and livable cities

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 76 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 Statesa year ago
  • On point

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nkihvudhrvkudbrvku
    United Statesa year 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are well-chosen and the discussions feel inspiring and actionable.
Thoughtful interviews that surface key ideas and practical takeaways for ending car dependency.
Content is accessible without sacrificing depth, often linking personal stories to policy changes.
The host brings empathy and clear questions, making complex topics digestible.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Push a Livable Streets Project Forward — Even in the Age of Federal Clawbacks (Christopher Coes)
Q: What have you learned from the National Learning Process about challenges communities face when building safe, affordable, resilient places?
Communities know what they want, but they need capable partners to help them execute; infrastructure work cuts across rural and urban areas and delivers broader benefits like cleaner air, better access to opportunity, and long-term community resilience.
How a 'Universal Basic Neighborhood' Can Help Americans Live Longer
Q: Why is it important that the universal part of the Neighborhood concept applies to every neighborhood, not just a subset?
Because health outcomes are interconnected across neighborhoods; a failing one drags down the entire city, while universal coverage ensures the benefits spread and sustainability improves overall population health.
What It Takes To Map Every Sidewalk In Your State (Dr. Anat Caspi)
Q: How do we get there? What would it take to extend this kind of portal across the entire country?
We are actually pushing through those last 10% out of the 458 target population centers, and we plan to have captured all sidewalks in Washington by the end of this biennium. The tooling we've set up is built for scale and we're in conversations with other states to extend this framework.
How to Be a Better Transportation Advocate (Carter Lavin)
Q: Why is it so hard for urbanists to get engaged in like moving power in the political space?
Lavin explains that many people are passive consumers of politics and often view it as something intimidating. They might equate politics with partisan issues rather than the broader concept of interactions within society.
Is a 'Life After Cars' Really Possible? (Sarah Goodyear)
Q: Is there anyone specific out there who you hope reads this book?
Goodyear suggests New York Governor Kathy Hochul as someone who could benefit from the book's arguments on transportation issues.

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?

The series centers on transportation justice and reducing car dependency, featuring interviews with researchers, advocates, journalists, and policymakers who explore equitable mobility, public space design, and policy reform. Episodes frequently dissect how infrastructure, culture, and governance shape non-auto mobility, often linking personal stories to systemic change. A standout angle is the blend of rigorous policy discussion with accessible storytelling, making complex topics like rail advocacy, pedestrian access, and victim-centered transportation policy approachable for a broad audience.

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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. The Urbanist Agenda
5. Tech Won't Save Us

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

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 89 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. Christopher Coes
2. Michael O. Emerson
3. Ian Coss
4. Dr. Anat Caspi
5. Josh Dorfman
6. Carter Lavin
7. Sarah Goodyear
8. Peter Harnik

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