Rephonic
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
Car Dependency
Urban Mobility
Transportation Policy
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 monthlyEpisodes241Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CultureNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The War on Cars

Latest Episodes

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

Streets can be more than places to move and store cars—they can be places for children to grow and thrive. Alice Ferguson and Tim Gill are the UK-based authors of a new paper called "Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom: How a 'child lens' would tra... more

We talk with a guest who knows firsthand just how destructive cars can be. Dr. Rex Tai is a physician who works in long-term care. Many of his patients are the victims of traffic violence. His experience providing care for these people has been part ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Urbanist Agenda
The Urbanist AgendaNot Just Bikes
99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

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: EPISODE 170: A Doctor's View of Traffic Violence
Tony Kushner
Playwright and author, known for Angels in America
Episode: Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War
Nicole Corcoran
Researcher at ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Arizona State University
Episode: America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free
Deborah Salon
Researcher at ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Arizona State University
Episode: America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free
Hue-Tam Jamme
Researcher at ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Arizona State University
Episode: America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free
Brent Toderian
City planner and urban designer with decades of experience; former chief planner for the city of Vancouver.
Episode: Planning Livable Downtowns with Brent Toderian

Hosts

Sarah Goodyear
Host with co-host role; frequent guest on urban mobility discussions; affiliated with The War on Cars.
Doug Gordon
Co-host and primary host; frequent moderator of urban mobility discussions.

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
    3 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 States4 months ago
  • Genuinely Insane

    These people do not live in reality.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Vepr_157
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Balancing rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling.
Positive reception of advocacy toward bikeable, transit-focused cities.
A robust roster of guests from academia, journalism, and city planning.
Thoughtful, data-driven discussions that connect research to policy.
Some listeners feel ads reduce listening experience.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas!iHeartPodcasts
The Determined Society with Shawn French | Mindset, Adversity & Growth
The Determined Society with Shawn French | Mindset, Adversity & GrowthShawn French | Adversity & Determination Expert
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
The Why Files: Operation PodcastThe Why Files: Operation Podcast

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Tony Kushner on The Pushcart War
Q: Can you tell us about when you first read the book and what it meant to you?
Kushner recalls reading it as a child in 1964 and notes how the book's political edge and the idea of ordinary people challenging powerful interests shaped his own views, influencing his later work and politics.
America's Hidden Desire to Live Car-Free
Q: What percentage of Americans do you think would like to live car-free?
The study found that about 18% of urban and suburban residents are strongly interested, with about 40% more open to the idea, indicating a sizable untapped demand that could grow with the right environment and amenities.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The War on Cars

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

A thoughtful exploration of urban mobility, transportation policy, and the societal costs of car-dominated cities. Episodes typically feature researchers, urbanists, journalists, and city planners discussing survey results, case studies, and policy levers that could expand transit, walking, and bike-friendly infrastructure. The show often blends rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, using guest expertise to unpack complex issues like car dependence, livable streets, and equity in urban design. Noteworthy are the recurring guests from academia and city planning, plus a clear, advocacy-driven stance that emphasizes public transit, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and climate-conscious urban reform. This mix makes it a strong fit for list... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The War on Cars?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The War on Cars. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The War on Cars and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The War on Cars get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The War on Cars, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The War on Cars?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The War on Cars, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The War on Cars have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The War on Cars 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 The War on Cars?

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

1. The Urbanist Agenda
2. The Strong Towns Podcast
3. The Climate Denier's Playbook
4. 99% Invisible
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The War on Cars are there?

The War on Cars launched 8 years ago and published 241 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The War on Cars?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The War on Cars from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The War on Cars?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The War on Cars. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The War on Cars?

Recent guests on The War on Cars include:

1. Casey Johnston
2. Alice Ferguson
3. Tim Gill
4. Dr. Rex Tai
5. Tony Kushner
6. Nicole Corcoran
7. Deborah Salon
8. Hue-Tam Jamme

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days