What Do Urban Planners Actually Do?

Logosofia no Dia a Dia · May 11, 2026 · 30m

It sounds like a simple question: what is urban planning, and why can't we just let cities grow naturally? This episode unpacks the hidden discipline that decides where roads, sewer lines, and housing go—and who gets to make those calls. We explore the messy history of American planning, from the interstate highway system to redlining, and grapple with the real tension between top-down control and organic development. Is the planner a steward or a sovereign? And what can we learn from Tokyo's hands-off approach to building? Episode 2745 — myweirdprompts.com/n/2745 (permanent short link…