Nothing against the countryside, which is lovely, but cities are where things happen. They are magnets for trade, and they're where cultures meet. They're also where more than half the world’s population lives, a number that will only continue to grow. Cities are also now serving as a unique testbed for responses to climate change—bolstering public transport ... Show More
Oct 31
From The Big Story: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Sneaking six Americans out of Iran in 1979 would take an audacious plan, false identities, and an epic Hollywood cover story. Written by Joshuah Bearman. Originally published ... Show More
36m 54s
Oct 2025
Can we build better cities for mental health and the climate?
Today, more than half the world’s population live in cities – and as our numbers swell, so will our cities, especially those around the Pacific Rim, where it’s predicted our largest megacities of 10 million plus will be situated. And herein lies an opportunity: 60% of the buildin ... Show More
26m 47s
May 2022
How is your city tackling the climate crisis? | Marvin Rees
“If we can unlock the full potential of our cities, we can minimize the price the planet pays for hosting us in our growing numbers,” says Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, UK, who understands deeply how cities can help (or hurt) the environment. Rees notes that while sustainabl ... Show More
14m 56s
Jul 2022
Can our cities survive climate change?
Europe was this week hit by an extreme heatwave exacerbating drought conditions and sparking wildfires in France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. The UK also broke its record temperature exceeding 40C. All this just weeks after flooding caused widespread disruption in Sydney, ... Show More
49m 13s
Aug 2019
You 2.0: Our Better Nature
<p>If you live in a big city, you may have noticed new buildings popping up — a high-rise here, a skyscraper there. The concrete jungles that we've built over the past century have allowed millions of us to live in close proximity, and modern economies to flourish. But what have ... Show More
25 m