45 Best Community Development Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

The Strong Towns Podcast is a weekly conversation on the Strong Towns movement, hosted by Strong Towns Founder and President Charles Marohn and frequently featuring special guests. The podcast explores how we can financially strengthen our cities, towns, and neighborhoods and, in the process, make them better places to live. Join Chuck in examining how everything from urban design to economics to systems theory to psychology helps inform this core question. more

The Bottom-Up Revolution features the stories of the Strong Towns movement in action. Hosted by Tiffany Owens Reed and Norm Van Eeden Petersman , it's all about how regular people have stepped up to make their communities more economically resilient, and how others can implement these ideas in their own places. We'll talk about taking concrete action steps, connecting with fellow advocates to build power, and surviving the bumps along the way—all in the pursuit of creating stronger towns. Each episode features a Strong Towns advocate who is making positive change in their community. more

Explore topics related to transformational community leadership including economic development, non-profit engagement, organizational management, and policy development. It's a candid conversation with veterans of the economic development profession along with inspiring interviews of today's thought leaders. more

Why does the housing market seem so broken? And what can we do about it? UCLA Housing Voice tackles these questions in conversation with leading housing researchers, with each episode centered on a study and its implications for creating more affordable and accessible communities. more

Building Local Power brings you thought-provoking stories and new ideas for breaking the hold of corporate monopolies and expanding the power of communities to chart their own futures. We deliver insights from trailblazing lawmakers, scholars, business leaders, and advocates. Plus, conversations with in-house experts at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance help reveal the patterns and policies that shape our economy and communities. These stories and conversations help map solutions that distribute power to everyday people. Our newest series, The Data Centers Are Coming, brings listeners into the stories of local communities fighting back against Big Tech, corporate greed, bureaucratic secrecy, and a system that prioritizes scale at all costs. more

Where Urban Planning, Cities, Hip Hop Culture and Community Development conversations live. The Streets are Planning Podcast highlights the unheard voices, stories and impact of community leaders working in cities and neighborhoods across the globe. more

The future of small towns doesn't depend on us finding more people; we need to better engage the ones who are already there. Each week, join Rebecca Undem, small-town champion and rural entrepreneur, as she chats with people who are doing their part to grow their community. You'll hear ideas and learn ways to better support your business community, create a sense of belonging for all, and foster a rich arts and culture scene in your small town. If you live in a small town, care deeply about your community, and share the belief that 'if you're not growing, you're dying', this is the podcast for you. more

The Buildout is a podcast from Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, CHFA, featuring the stories, people, and innovative ideas driving affordable housing and community development in Colorado. more

The Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast explores neighborhood design and urban policy topics through the critical lens of equity to give listeners the tools needed to overcome structural and institutional barriers. And examines how the built environment shapes communities for better or worse. Tune in once a month, to keep it Four Degrees to the Streets. Please rate and leave a review! Follow us on Instagram @the4degreespod. Or connect with us over email at ****@gmail.com. Tune in once a month, to keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.Views and opinions are our own. more

Hosted by three passionate leaders—Adam Stakeman, Alex Downard, and Christine Flohr—the podcast dives into the people and projects shaping Wabash County's future. Every episode offers its listeners key takeaways that can be implemented in their own communities and will cause you to pause and celebrate the wins in your own backyard. With backgrounds in community development, economic growth, outdoor adventure, marketing, and tourism, the trio interviews local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and creatives who are all working to make Wabash County thrive. Subscribe and join us! more

Power Station is a podcast about change makers. Each episode features a nonprofit leader whose organization is leading progressive change in underinvested and overlooked communities. more

The dominant narrative of rural America is often one of decline and division. On Reimagine Rural podcast, host Tony Pipa, a scholar in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution and a product of rural America himself, visits rural places across the United States to hear local people tell the story of how they are enacting positive change in their communities and learning how public investment in rural people and places can lead to increased and equitable prosperity. more

The Collective Impact Forum is here to share resources, tools, and stories to support social change makers working in cross-sector collaboration. more

A behind the scenes look at what makes cities tick. Whether financing infrastructure, adapting to climate change, or building more affordable housing, a big part of innovative solutions can be traced back to land. more

PathBreakers is a video podcast from The Kresge Foundation featuring community leaders who are reimagining what's possible in American cities. Hosted by Tracey Pearson and Jamie Bennett, with special guest hosting by Rip Rapson, each episode is an intimate conversation about the vision and determination it takes to create change. Season 2 goes into four cities with one central question: Who has power to shape what happens in their city? Detroit. New Orleans. Memphis. Fresno. Sixteen conversations with the community leaders and mayors building the future of their cities block by block. more

Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. more

Amplifying ideas that fly below the radar. We talk environmental and social justice, arts, culture, community-building and urban issues with featured guests.This podcast is produced by SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement as a part of our Knowledge Democracy Project @ 312 Main — encouraging the meaningful exchange of ideas and information across communities.Hosted and currently produced by:Am JohalJoey MalbonJulia AokiKathy FengSamantha WaltersVisit our website for archived audio and video recordings of our public events: https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/library.html more

Welcome to Community Possibilities ®! This In this podcast, I will be joined by community leaders, doing the hard work of social change. We will talk about root causes and dig deep to understand social and health inequities. Let's imagine all of the possibilities if we learn how to talk to each other, not at each other. more

Welcome to CLD Talks. CLD Talks has been set up to raise the profile of Community Learning Development across Scotland. We will have Talks with front line community workers from third sector and statutory organisations, managers and decision makers to share practice, promote their work and some feel good moments of their careers. Follow us on Twitter @CLDTalks to join in the conversation! more

This is the podcast for all you city-builders, city-shapers and city-dwellers out there that care about driving change towards people- centred communities. On In-Development we talk about how Canadian cities develop in and up. We are presented by IDEA, the infill Development in Edmonton Association, a non-profit education and advocacy group bringing together like-minded people working to shape our City. more

Tune in to The Community Effect, the podcast where we explore the power of people and place. Join host Marietta Rodriguez, President & CEO of NeighborWorks America, as she sits down with changemakers, innovators, and community leaders who are building a brighter future for all. From affordable housing and economic opportunity to resident leadership and environmental sustainability, we'll uncover the inspiring stories and innovative solutions that are transforming communities across the country. Subscribe now and be part of the movement! more

Brought to you by the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association (OAPA), Better Planners is a podcast that delves into in-depth conversations around relevant and timely stories that surround the urban planning realm including the ground-level work of planners, community development advocates, and allied professions. With an emphasis on amplifying the voices and stories of marginalized communities. The episodes will be a resource and guide to provide insights into planning related topics people face on a daily basis that may be inspiring, challenging, questioning, and/or innovative. This podcast is intended for urban, regional, and rural community planners. Or you could be a community advocate, student, newcomer, or seasoned professional, this podcast series will have something for everyone! So join us as we all become better planners! Instagram: @betterplanners  more

Community By Design: Exploring Social Infrastructure in Waterloo Region is a 5-episode podcast series that takes you on a tour of some of the most critical social infrastructure in Waterloo Region, where creative connectors are using everyday spaces—libraries, schools, public squares—to build belonging and social connection. Through conversations with a variety of community builders, this show reveals how intentional design and grassroots ingenuity are weaving a stronger social fabric across our communities. Produced by Midtown Radio and supported by the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, each episode uncovers the inspiring ways ordinary people are creating extraordinary connections in the places we gather, learn, and grow together. more

Bending The Arc explores the everyday work of creating inclusive, equitable and racially just communities. This podcast spotlights bold thinking and action by creative, passionate, experienced thinkers and actors from cities and communities around the US and Canada. Join us to learn about strategies to make communities diverse, vibrant places of well-being and opportunity. Bending the Arc is produced by the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and co-hosted by Dr. Mark Joseph and Dr. Amy Khare. more

Cities don't just happen. They're shaped by the choices we make about housing, transportation, infrastructure, public spaces, and the communities we want to become. Yet too often, the systems we rely on make it difficult to build the places people need. Building Better Cities with Dr. Kate Gasparro goes behind the scenes with the leaders, builders, thinkers, and innovators reimagining how cities grow. Each episode explores the ideas and solutions helping create more sustainable, equitable, and thriving communities. Breaking norms. Building cities. more

Affordable housing is the backbone of better opportunities for all. ChangeMakers with Katie Goar analyzes the issues and challenges being faced in affordable housing today. In each episode, Katie speaks with finance experts, thought leaders, and change-makers to explore innovative solutions that provide more affordable housing options across the country. Whether you want to learn more about economic development, government funding, why affordable housing makes good economic policy, and why the total community benefits from affordable housing, this is the podcast for you. more

Rules of Engagement is a monthly podcast showcasing the projects and partners of the University of Minnesota's North Minneapolis-based Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC). Conversation topics center on UROC's research mission of working in scholarly-based partnership with urban communities to advance learning, improve quality of life, and discover breakthrough solutions to critical problems. The series is hosted by UROC Senior Director for Community Partnerships, Makeda Zulu, with production assistance from Blackbird Revolt. Topics include birthing justice, community partnerships, job creation, food justice to name a few. About UROC: Located in North Minneapolis, the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) links the University of Minnesota in vital public partnership with urban communities to advance learning, improve quality of life, and discover breakthrough solutions to critical problems. Since opening its doors in 2009, UROC has worked to build thriving, innovative, and respectful collaborations, create new models of urban and community development, and strengthen the University as a vitally engaged 21st-century university serving the public good. more

Shelterforce is nonprofit news publication that covers affordable housing in the U.S., as well as community planning, racial equity, community development, and more. Here you can listen to authors read their latest Shelterforce articles, as well as our interviews with folks on the ground. For more, go to shelterforce.org. To support our nonprofit newsroom, make a tax-deductible donation at https://shelterforce.org/donate. more

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) is a network of Christians committed to seeing people and communities experience God's shalom. This podcast features teaching from our annual conference, interviews, and training courses. more

Delaware Community Foundation President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay gathers insights from remarkable experts across Delaware, each offering their perspective on what it takes to build and sustain thriving communities for the long haul. more

Distressed to Success is a podcast that discovers how savvy investors and entrepreneurs are profitably transforming underserved communities through strategic investment and innovative business models. Host Brian Seidensticker, Co-Founder of Last Best Partners, interviews local developers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investment professionals who have successfully brought private capital into distressed areas while generating sustainable returns.From Low Income Housing Tax Credits to creative financing solutions, each episode uncovers actionable strategies for identifying investment opportunities that deliver both financial returns and meaningful community revitalization. Learn from leaders who have transformed cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Memphis through profitable ventures that create lasting community improvement.Whether you're a high-net-worth investor, local developer, or community development professional, discover how to turn distressed assets into thriving neighborhoods while building sustainable businesses that benefit both your portfolio and your community. more

The Common Wealth Podcast tackles economic development challenges and identifies tools used to empower disinvested communities in Detroit and beyond. We examine the central question. Can community economic development meaningfully advance economic, racial, and social justice? more

Michigan Reimagined tells the stories of people and organizations who are driving Michigan's economic sustainability. Chris believes that Michigan residents often lead with an apology for the shortcomings of this fabulous state, and he thinks that is unnecessary. Every city has its perks and problems. Instead of complaining about what we don't have, healthier behavior is finding those doing great work and giving them a platform to share their results. Whether it's new restaurants, housing stock, talent retention, transportation innovation, tourism, development incentives, placemaking or arts this state is full of passionate people in action. Hear their stories in 15 minute, deep-dive interviews on Michigan Reimagined. more

KLCC's Oregon Rainmakers is a podcast where we talk to leaders creating community success in western and central Oregon. Our region is rich with leadership stories that aren't being told, so we decided to create a podcast where we can have a conversation with the very leaders in Oregon who are moving our community forward. Every other week, we launch a new in-depth conversation with a person who is either creating wealth, policy, or opportunity for Oregon to continue to thrive today, and into the future. It could be a CEO or business leader, it could be an elected official, entrepreneur, or nonprofit leader, but the conversation will always focus on an important driver of community prosperity. more

A podcast about community liberation through food access, food sovereignty, and the relationship we have with the environment. Focusing on the Good Food District - a geographical defined area of San Diego, CA consisting of Southeastern San Diego, Barrio Logan, National City, and Lemon Grove - this podcast explores improving overall health and well-being in communities of color through self-determination, urban agriculture, and placemaking. more

Wisdom is the next step in gaining knowledge. And with that, the Native Learning Center has created the Hoporenkv Native American Podcast. Hoporenkv (Hopo-thlee-in-ka) is the Creek word for 'wisdom'. Hoporenkv Native American Podcast is the audio podcast from the Seminole Tribe of Florida's Native Learning Center to provide short and focused information on various Tribal housing and community development topics and subject matter related to Tribal housing and NAHASDA in shorter formats than our typical weekly webinars. Make sure to visit the NLC website to learn more about the upcoming Hoporenkv Native American Podcast. more

An exploration of all things community development (CD) in dialogue with citizens and practitioners around the world. Dr Peter Westoby has been on the CD journey for over 30 years, as citizen practitioner, professional and academic. He's published over 60 journal articles and 15 books. He's worked in many countries, including South Africa, Uganda, Australia, Nepal, India, and Vanuatu. He's currently a Director/Senior Social Practitioner with Community Praxis Co-op, a visiting professor at University of the Free State/South Africa and Honorary Associate Prof with Deakin Uni/Australia. more

Difference Makers is a podcast series from the Native CDFI Network and Tribal Business News that explores how Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are reshaping the future of tribal economies — one loan, one partnership, one bold idea at a time. more

The MSU Center for Community and Economic Development podcast is aimed at providing outreach to community members and students throughout the state of Michigan. The Community and University podcast series features economic developers and committed scholars who share their knowledge and experience around equitable economic development within their communities and across Michigan. The podcast provides an additional platform for strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, responsive community engagement, and collaborative learning to support the creation and identification of innovative tools, models, policies and practices to increase the number of small businesses; create access to job skill development; improve public infrastructure; advance high-growth entrepreneurship and strengthen underserved communities and historically excluded citizens. By hearing various insights and perspectives, an opportunity is created to enrich the continuing discussion around equitable economic development and thought given to the wider implications that economic development practices have on distressed communities in Michigan.https://ced.msu.edu/ more

The Community Center is a show about building community. We interview various experts, advocates, and community leaders to collect a wide range of perspectives that showcase work being done in our communities today to give everyone a better idea of where we might be headed in the future.This show is brought to you by Eryngo Urbanism. more

This podcast seeks to highlight people across the world in various fields who are working, discovering, and thriving in community spaces. Through this celebration and coming together we hope that people reimagine community as the driver of the Good Life. CREDITS Hosted by Cormac Russell and Dr. Sacha DeWolfe Podcast theme created by Isaac Russell. Edited by Isaac Russell more

Hoosier Ag Today presents YOUR Purdue Extension! Your Community is a podcast focused on how Purdue Extension's Community Development division is working to foster economic growth in Indiana communities. Join HAT's Greg Allen as he discusses their mission of strengthening the capacity of local leaders, residents, businesses, and organizations to build resilient, vibrant, and sustainable communities through research-based resources and processes. more

A podcast about Community Development practice:| Promoting its value| Sharing its learning| Connecting its practitioners more

Be a Neighbor is the official podcast of NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, a nonprofit community development agency based in Scranton, Pennsylvania.You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, Podbean, Overcast, Castro, Castbox, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic and Stitcher! New episodes released triweekly. more

Produced and hosted by Birdman of Birdman Media™, Rural Builds spotlights the people, partnerships, and projects strengthening rural America.In each episode, we explore how rural communities design innovative, scalable solutions to address the social determinants of health — often with fewer resources, more barriers, and far less attention than urban and metro areas.This podcast goes beyond the challenges to center the builders: the educators, clinicians, organizers, parents, first responders, developers, and leaders who turn rural obstacles into opportunity.Rural Builds shows funders, policymakers, and listeners what's possible when rural communities are trusted, resourced, and empowered to build.Because when rural builds, everyone benefits. more