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Artwork for The War on Cars

The War on Cars

The War on Cars, LLC
Public Transit
New York City
Urban Planning
Car Culture
Congestion Pricing
Public Transportation
Climate Change
Transportation Policy
Car Dependency
Urban Mobility
Transportation
Cleverhood
Cycling
Electric Vehicles
Road Safety
Life After Cars
Austin
Motonormativity
Safe Streets Advocacy
Effective Cycling

The War on Cars brings you news, commentary and stories about the worldwide battle to undo a century's worth of damage wrought by the automobile.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes243Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for The War on Cars

Latest Episodes

What does it take to make a street safer for everyone? In the US, it typically requires a combination of tragedy, grassroots organizing, and political leadership. Even when these ingredients come together, success is never guaranteed, as so many proj... more

This is a preview of a Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. For complete access to this and all of our bonus content, plus ad-free versions of regular episodes, merch discounts, presale tickets to live shows, and more, become a Patreon supporter of The W... more

Antonio Reynoso, Claire Valdez, and Julie Won are all running in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York's 7th congressional district. That's the seat that opened up when veteran Democratic politician Nydia Velazquez announced she was retiring. I... more

Just as it is with road safety, so much of how Americans talk about health pushes the responsibility for eating right and exercising onto the individual, ignoring the many structural barriers that prevent people from making "good" choices. Through he... more

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Recent Guests

Henry Burke
Senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project; writer on financial regulation, corporate influence, government capacity, and economic media
Revolving Door Project
Episode: PREVIEW: Sean Duffy's Great American Road Grift
Antonio Reynoso
Brooklyn Borough President, congressional candidate
New York political figure
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Claire Valdez
New York State Assembly member
DSA member, union organizer
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Julie Won
New York City Council member
City policymaker
Episode: Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Casey Johnston
Author of Lift Off, Couch to Barbell, and A Physical Education
Author, journalist
Episode: A Physical Education with Casey Johnston
Alice Ferguson
Co-founder of the Playing Out movement
Playing Out
Episode: Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom
Tim Gill
Researcher, writer, and independent scholar
Independent
Episode: Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom
Dr. Rex Tai
Physician who works in long-term care
Independent attending physician; works in Upper Manhattan/ Bronx area
Episode: A Doctor's View of Traffic Violence
Tony Kushner
Playwright and author, known for Angels in America
Episode: Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War

Hosts

Doug Gordon
Co-host and primary host with a focus on urban policy, car culture critique, and mobility justice.
Sarah Goodyear
Co-host with a background in urbanism journalism and advocacy, guiding conversations on streets, safety, and policy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • Kind of a mixed bag as a podcast. Some of the interviews they've done have been really insightful and educational, often the ones that are more sociological or historical in nature. Hearing about political activism around the world is interesting. But too often they focus on New York City politics without really motivating why the things at NYC might have relevance/interest elsewhere, and just kind of take it for granted that people would care about NYC and I'm afraid I just don't. (Sorry. I've ... more

    Podchaser
    4
    E
    4 months ago
  • Easy listening

    I listen to this all day at work, instead of my music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GearKing
    United States4 months ago
  • GOATED

    I’m joining the war on cars. Too many innocents have been lost for the profit margins of the automotive industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CadeBurd7896
    United States4 months ago
  • Surprise, surprise

    Why am I surprised to learn we were manipulated by corporate America to depend on cars.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bettie Davis Eyes
    United States5 months ago
  • Genuinely Insane

    These people do not live in reality.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Vepr_157
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows strong advocacy but some listeners feel ads dilute episodes.
Strong interviews with diverse experts and advocates.
Insightful coverage of urban mobility and policy nuance.
Accessible analysis that translates complex planning topics for a broad audience.
Audience sees tangible public-interest value in policy discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#195
Argentina/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Q: How would you handle opposition in Congress to changing funding formulas or expanding transit investment?
By building coalitions with urban representatives, finding common ground on infrastructure, and leveraging successful local programs (like congestion pricing) as proof of concept to persuade other states and districts.
Taking the Transportation Fight to Congress from NY-7
Q: What specific steps would you take to secure more federal funds for transit and biking infrastructure in New York City?
The guest argues for changing federal formula-based funding to reflect city ridership, prioritizing operations, and pursuing national coalitions with other urban lawmakers to push for a larger transit budget.
Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom
Q: Why do you describe the proposed approach as radical, and what does it aim to change about our cities?
It reframes streets as spaces for children to explore, move, and learn, prioritizing their health, safety, and independence over cars, with the aim of healthier, more connected communities for everyone.
Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War
Q: How do the themes of power, oppression, and community in the book relate to today's urban and political climate?
Kushner connects the book's street-level activism to contemporary struggles around power structures, social justice, and community organizing, with parallels to current political rhetoric and real-world movements.
Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War
Q: What were the challenges in adapting The Pushcart War for film, and how did that shape your view of the story?
He discusses the difficulties of adaptation, including how the book's tone and illustrations are inseparable from its documentary voice, and why those elements resisted film translation; this reflected a broader theme of fidelity to source material.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The War on Cars

What is The War on Cars about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, this program consistently explores how car dependence shapes cities, mobility, and public life, often foregrounding urban planning, transportation policy, and social equity. Guests range from researchers and city planners to politicians, journalists, and activist organizers, yielding conversations that critique car-centric design while envisioning walkable, bikeable, and livable streets. Notable themes include equity in transit funding, the health and safety costs of traffic, child-friendly streets, and the cultural shifts needed to reimagine mobility. A few episodes mix sharp policy analysis with human-centered storytelling, making it especially relevant for listeners who want data-driven insights paired with real-world im... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The War on Cars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The War on Cars:

1. The Strong Towns Podcast
2. The Urbanist Agenda
3. Tech Won't Save Us
4. Volts
5. This Machine Kills

How many episodes of The War on Cars are there?

The War on Cars launched 8 years ago and published 243 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 The War on Cars?

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What guests have appeared on The War on Cars?

Recent guests on The War on Cars include:

1. Henry Burke
2. Antonio Reynoso
3. Claire Valdez
4. Julie Won
5. Casey Johnston
6. Alice Ferguson
7. Tim Gill
8. Dr. Rex Tai

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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