KunstlerCast - Suburban Sprawl: A Tragic Comedy
411 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 380 ratingsJames Howard Kunstler, author of "The Geography of Nowhere" and "The Long Emergency," takes on suburban sprawl, disposable architecture and the end of the cheap oil era each week with program host Duncan Crary.
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Episodes
KunstlerCast #206: Live Audience Podcast @ CNU
May 24, 2012 00:00 - 54 minutes - 48.1 MBThis episode, featuring a conversation betweek JHK and CNU President and former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, was recorded before a live audience at the Congress for the New Urbanism. Norquist and Kunstler answer audience quesions on a variety of topics.
KunstlerCast#205: Prominent New Urbanist Authors
May 17, 2012 00:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBJames Howard Kunstler joins other prominent New Urbanist writers on a recent panel at The Congress for The New Urbanism, held in West Palm Beach, Florida this May 9-12, 2012. Featuring: Chuck Bohl, Peter Katz, Philip Langdon, and Charles Marohn.
KunstlerCast #204: Twilight of the Mall Era – REDUX
May 03, 2012 00:00 - 38 minutes - 39.2 MBThis is an edited, re-released version of an episode first recorded in Sept. 2008: For this program James Howard Kunstler and Duncan Crary visit Colonie Center, a 1.3 million square-foot enclosed two-level regional shopping center located in suburban Albany, N.Y. After more than $12 million in renovations to this shopping center's exterior and interior, Jim remains as unimpressed with this place as he was in the 1970s when it was first built. Before entering the mall, Jim describes the heroi...
KunstlerCast #203: Live Audience Podcast - Part 2
April 26, 2012 00:00 - 31 minutes - 32.2 MBJames Howard Kunstler and Duncan Crary record a podcast before a live student audience at Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y. As part of a Humanities Super Seminar on liberal arts and activism, the students read The KunstlerCast book. In this segment, students ask questions out the future of the Internet, concentrating poverty and wealth in New York City and how individuals can face the enormous issue of rebuilding our human habitat. Sponsor: "The Heirloom," by Richard Davies.
KunstlerCast #202: Live Audience Podcast
April 19, 2012 00:00 - 50 minutes - 52.1 MBJames Howard Kunstler and Duncan Crary record a podcast before a live student audience at Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y. As part of a Humanities Super Seminar on liberal arts and activism, the students read The KunstlerCast book. During the podcast Jim and Duncan riff on college architecture and the Union campus before opening up the discussion to questions from the class. Topics include: the value of a liberal arts education in The Long Emergency, monocultures concentrating poverty in ...
KunstlerCast #201: Listener Mailbag
April 12, 2012 00:00 - 25 minutes - 25.2 MBJHK fields listeners calls about the healthcare industry and its future in the Long Emergency, the validity of peak oil, cognitive ability to retain information from a computer screen vs. the printed page, and light pollution. Sponsor: "The Heirloom," by Richard Davies: http://theheirloom.blogspot.com.
KunstlerCast #200: Celebrating Four Years of Kasting
April 05, 2012 00:00 - 31 minutes - 31.8 MBThe KunstlerCast celebrates its 200th episode with listener suggested clips of favorite moments from the past four years. Duncan reads a special essay about meeting JHK at the shopping mall before retrieving some retired audio from the archive.
KunstlerCast #199: Communications Wasteland
March 22, 2012 00:00 - 40 minutes - 42.1 MBJHK and Duncan have a ramble 'n rant episode on the robitification of our communications landscape, that wasteland of overcomplexity and hyperdependence of modern technology. Sponsor: http://theheirloom.blogspot.com/
KunstlerCast #198: Catherine Tumber on Small Cities – Part 2
March 15, 2012 00:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBJHK and Duncan speak about America's small industrial cities with Catherin Tumber, author of The Promise of America’s Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World. Sponsor: CNU20.org
KunstlerCast #197: Catherine Tumber on Small Cities - Part 1
March 08, 2012 20:37 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBJames Howard Kunstler speaks by phone with Catherin Tumber, author of Small, Gritty, and Green: The Promise of America's Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World. Tumber is a journalist and historian and research affiliate in the Community Innovators Lab in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning.Sponsor: http://cnu20.org
KunstlerCast #196: JHK's Veganism
March 01, 2012 00:00 - 25 minutes - 26.1 MBJHK talks about his experience being a 97 percent vegan and how the American diet may change in the Long Emergency. Sponsor: http://cnu20.org
KunstlerCast #195: Reading the Landscape
February 23, 2012 00:00 - 41 minutes - 42.8 MBJames Howard Kunstler shares his thoughts on the experience of moving through the landscape and built environment on foot, rather than by car. Sponsor: http://www.CNU20.jpg
KunstlerCast #194: What Does Urban Really Mean?
February 16, 2012 00:00 - 21 minutes - 22.2 MBJames Howard Kunstler helps host Duncan Crary define the term "urban," a term that is often misunderstood or confusing to the general American public.Sponsor: http://cnu20.org
KunstlerCast #193: Listener Mail Bag
February 09, 2012 00:00 - 35 minutes - 35.7 MBIn this episode, James Howard Kunstler and Duncan Crary go through the KunstlerCast listener mail bag. Topics include: David Brooks's recent 180 on the "wonders" of suburbia, the Zeitgeist movement, the fate of ebooks, home maintenance during The Long Emergency, rural Illinois and other topics. Sponsor: http://CNU20.org
KunstlerCast #192: Arthur E. Berman, Petroleum Geologist
February 02, 2012 00:00 - 58 minutes - 50.7 MBJames Howard Kunstler speaks by phone with Arthur E. Berman, who is a petroleum geologist and consultant to the energy sector; editorial board member of The Oil Drum; associate editor of the AAPG Bulletin; director of The Association for the Study of Peak Oil. Berman has published more than 100 articles on petroleum geology and technology and has made more than 50 presentations in the last year to professional societies, investment conferences and companies. He speaks to Jim tonight about th...
KunstlerCast 191: Get Used to Being Uncomfortable
January 26, 2012 00:30 - 50 minutes - 62.3 MBJames Howard Kunstler comments on the rising rates of pessimism in the U.S. in response to Capital cronyism, the dissapearing American dream, and our own entitled wishful thinking.
KunstlerCast #190: The Trust Horizon
January 19, 2012 00:00 - 22 minutes - 28 MBJHK discusses the growing mistrust for government in the U.S. and the rise of local trust networks in response. The inspiration for today's show comes from The Automatic Earth blog, http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com
KunstlerCast #189: Irrational Cries to Demolish Infrastructure
January 12, 2012 00:00 - 41 minutes - 50.7 MBAfter a tragic death, citizens in the Albany area are clamoring to tear down an old train bridge slated to become a bike-hike trail. JHK & Duncan examine this story and explain why we must save historic infrastructure like the bridge in question.
KunstlerCast #188: Forecast 2012
January 05, 2012 00:00 - 38 minutes - 33.1 MBJHK discusses his forecast for 2012 and shares his New Year's resolution.
KunstlerCast #187: GOP Nominee?
December 30, 2011 20:53 - 51 minutes - 43 MBJHK shares his take on the GOP candidates for the 2012 US election.
KunstlerCast #186: John Michael Greer
December 22, 2011 00:00 - 50 minutes - 39.4 MBJohn Michael Greer, author of The Long Descent, The Wealth of Nature and, most recently, Apocalypse Not, joins JHK and Duncan by phone to speak about 2012 apocalypse scenarios, Green Wizardry, politics and techno narcissism. http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com
KunstlerCast #185: Duncan on Relocalize Vermont
December 15, 2011 00:00 - 31 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode, Duncan appears solo on a radio program called Relocalizing Vermont to talk about The KunstlerCast book and podcast and the influence that James Howard Kunstler has had on him. In this half-hour interview by Carl Etnier asks Duncan about the KunstlerCast came to be, why JHK alwasy seems to rip on Amory Lovins, the Y2K thing, and other topics. A caller from Britain asks about the prospects of re-villaging suburbia.
KunstlerCast #184: Fake Warrior Culture
December 08, 2011 00:00 - 32 minutes - 26.7 MBJames Howard Kunstler takes three listener calls all regarding different angles of professional sports and warrior culture.
KunstlerCast #183: In World Made By Hand Country
December 01, 2011 00:00 - 56 minutes - 44.6 MBJim's finally found himself a new home, and it's right on the edge of the place that inspired the fictional town of Union Grove in his World Made By Hand novels. Duncan brings listeners along for the scenic drive from Troy up to Washington County, before the two tour his new village and meet some of the locals.
KunstlerCast #182: Ken Avidor
November 25, 2011 00:00 - 47 minutes - 38 MBJHK and Duncan speak by phone with artist and self-described muckraker Ken Avidor, who recently illustrated the KunstlerCast book.
KunstlerCast #181: A Collegiate Discussion of World Made By Hand
November 17, 2011 00:00 - 44 minutes - 37.8 MBJHK takes questions from the students in a college English class who have just completed reading "World Made By Hand," a post-peak oil novel. These highly intelligent questions range in topic from the role of religion, violence, and narrative strategy of Wold Made By Hand. Jim also reveals his true feelings about George Lucas and his thoughts about making revisions to novels. Note: This episode contains cursewords.
KunstlerCast #180: Occupy Everything
November 10, 2011 00:00 - 24 minutes - 20.5 MBJames Howard Kunstler shares his thoughts on the Occupy movement sweeping America. It's going to be a dark and difficult time ahead for the U.S. and JHK thinks we may be heading into a period of mischief this spring. But he has a lot of faith in the younger generation because they're not cynical and they truly want to live in a country they're capable of caring about.
KunstlerCast #179: The Long Emergency vs. NYC's Resurgency
November 03, 2011 00:00 - 1 hour - 61.7 MB"The Long Emergency vs. NYC's Resurgency: A Debate about the Future of Cities" featuring Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Paul Steely White and author James Howard Kunstler. Jeff Olson of Alta Planning & Design moderates before an audience at Skidmore College. Oranized by Kim Marsella of the Skidmore Environmental Studies Department.
KunstlerCast #178: CNU Fireside Chat with JHK
October 27, 2011 00:30 - 29 minutes - 23.5 MBJames Howard Kunstler and Duncan Crary join Congress for the New Urbanism CEO & President John Norquist for a "fireside chat" about new urbanism, the future of cities and other topics. This is a 25 minute excerpt from a one hour conversation that was original broadcast live over the Internet as part of the CNU membership drive. An archive recording of the full conversation is availble for listening for CNU City Builder members. For information, visit: CNU.org/membership.
KunstlerCast #177: JHK Addresses Preservationists
October 21, 2011 00:00 - 53 minutes - 44.1 MBJim and Duncan talk about Historic Preservation on their return drive from the annual conference of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, held in Buffalo this week. This show includes an excerpt from the keynote address Jim gave to kick off the conference. During the talk JHK explained to preservationists that not all buildings are worth saving -- particularly the modernist architectural abortions of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
KunstlerCast #176: Listener Mailbag
October 14, 2011 00:00 - 44 minutes - 36.6 MBJHK and Duncan get caught up on listener calls. Question topics include: Phoenix vs. Georgia; repealing the gas tax, The Long Descent, Landscape Urbanism and why aren't there any African-American characters in Jim's World Made By Hand novels? One listener also shares a bizarre and raunchy conspiracy theory.
KunstlerCast #175: Despotic Christian Theocrats on the Rise
October 06, 2011 00:00 - 51 minutes - 44.3 MBThere's a crazy Christian cult on the rise in the US and JHK believes Americans needs to watch out. The New Apostolic Reformation is a dangerous movement exerting its influence on the American political sphere during a time when this country is so fraught with problems that we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to being pushed around by crazy people like this, Kunstler says. The group -- which has connections to presidential candidates Rick Perry and Michele Bachman -- not only believes in lit...
KunstlerCast #174: Big Sky Country
September 29, 2011 21:43 - 43 minutes - 36.7 MBAfter a recent visit to Montana, JHK asks: What is living in a town in Montana all about? He observes that it’s mostly about the scenery outside of town, not the town itself. The streets are too wide, the buildings too low and the public face of the urban fabric is too thoughtless and badly proportioned. Yet many so-called progressives in these places are arguing for more “open space” in their towns. Sustainability is the new buzzword there and elsewhere in America. But what many overlook is...
KunstlerCast #173: Mexico City
September 22, 2011 00:30 - 52 minutes - 44.6 MBTwelve years ago James Howard Kunstler visited Mexico City to write a chapter for his book "The City in Mind." He recently returned there to speak at a conference. In this podcast Jim shares his thoughts on the history, present state and future prospects for this major world city. Note: This episode includes cursewords.
KunstlerCast #172: Jeff Goodell on Climate Change
September 08, 2011 21:06 - 47 minutes - 40.1 MBJHK and Duncan are joined by Jeff Goodell, environmental writer for Rolling Stone magazine and author of "How to Cool the Planet" and "Big Coal." Jeff speaks about global warming and some of the efforts to cool the planet through man-made projects.
KunstlerCast #171: The End of Growth - Part 2
September 01, 2011 00:00 - 17 minutes - 14.2 MBIn the conclusion of this one-hour conversation, Richard Heinberg, author of "Peak Everything", "The Party's Over" and the newly published "The End of Growth" joins James Howard Kunstler by phone to talk about peak oil, financial dysfunction, the failures of industrial aggriculture and the coming problems of sububurbia. Heinberg also shares his thoughts on being labeled a "Doomer." Sponsor: http://postcarbon.org
KunstlerCast #170: The End of Growth - Part 1
August 25, 2011 20:36 - 36 minutes - 29.1 MBIn part one of this one-hour conversation, Richard Heinberg, author of Peak Everything, The Party's Over and the newly published The End of Growth joins James Howard Kunstler by phone to talk about peak oil, financial dysfunction, political convulsions and generational conflict. Sponsor: PostCarbon.org
KunstlerCast #169: Will TLE Put an End to Spontaneous Behavior?
August 18, 2011 18:27 - 37 minutes - 31.1 MBA listener asks Jim if American’s cherished character trait of spontaneity is bound to car dependency. JHK shares his thoughts on the American National Character and how it may change during The Long Emergency.
KunstlerCast #168: The Downgrading of America
August 11, 2011 18:53 - 50 minutes - 42.8 MBJHK updates us on the recent credit downgrading of America as it relates to the unfolding Long Emergency. At the end of the show we play a song based on The Long Emergency by a podcast listener.
KunstlerCast #167: AUDIO ONLY - Picturing Suburbia
August 04, 2011 19:30 - 15 minutes - 13.1 MBOriginally broadcast April, 2008: When James Howard Kunstler isn't railing against suburban sprawl, he's painting it. Vincent van Gogh painted the peasant sleeping by the haystack because he was living in a landscape populated by people. Our landscape is populated by cars. So, as a sur la motif painter of our time, Jim's subjects include cars on the road, gas stations and the industrial ruins of America's manufacturing past. Making this landscape legible on the canvas is a challenge, but it'...
KunstlerCast #167: ENHANCED - Picturing Suburbia
August 04, 2011 06:00 - 15 minutes - 24.5 MBEnhanced version of April 2008 broadcast. When James Howard Kunstler isn't railing against suburban sprawl, he's painting it. Vincent van Gogh painted the peasant sleeping by the haystack because he was living in a landscape populated by people. Our landscape is populated by cars. So, as a sur la motif painter of our time, Jim's subjects include cars on the road, gas stations and the industrial ruins of America's manufacturing past. Making this landscape legible on the canvas is a challenge,...
KunstlerCast #166: Bicycle Sharing
July 28, 2011 21:22 - 53 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week James Howard Kunstler gets a much needed break from podcasting, while Duncan speaks to a representative of B-Cycle, a bicycle sharing company with programs through the U.S. Afterwards, Duncan tours Madison, Wisconsin on bike with a local guide and Matt Dellinger, author of Interstate 69 and blogger for WNYC’s Transportation Nation.
KunstlerCast #165: Landscape Urbanism - Part 2
July 21, 2011 21:13 - 53 minutes - 44.4 MBJHK continues his critique of Charles Waldheim's presentation on Landscape Urbanism, delivered at the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 19). This episode also includes remarks by New Urbanist leader Andres Duany and a listener quesion from a conferencegoer.
KunstlerCast #164: Landscape Urbanism - Part 1
July 15, 2011 00:37 - 44 minutes - 37.8 MBIn recent years there has been a growing debate between New Urbanism and Landscape Urbanism, a theory that argues the landscape, rather than architecture, is more capable of organizing the city and enhancing the urban experience. In this episode, JHK reacts to recent remarks by Harvard Prof. Charles Waldheim at the Congress for the New Urbanism on Landscape Urbanism. In particular, Kunstler will respond to Waldheim’s claims that New Urbanism places too much emphasis on neoclassicism while no...
KunstlerCast #163: Triumph of the City - Part 2
July 07, 2011 20:24 - 36 minutes - 30.9 MBJHK continues his critique of Ed Glaeser's talk from recent Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 19) and the ideas presented in his best-selling book Triumph of the City. Sponsor: Orion Magazine.
KunstlerCast #162: Triumph of the City - Part 1
June 30, 2011 20:57 - 52 minutes - 44.3 MBJHK Critiques Ed Glaeser's talk from recent Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 19) and the ideas presented in his best-selling book Triumph of the City. Sponsor: Orion Magazine.
KunstlerCast #161: Cities of the Future
June 23, 2011 00:30 - 8 minutes - 7.49 MBIn a special cross promotion, Andrew Blechman of the Orion Magazine podcast interviews JHK about cities of the future. For the full interview, visit: http://www.orionmagazine.org/cities
KunstlerCast #160: Housing Bubble Update & Car Sharing
June 16, 2011 19:54 - 55 minutes - 45.6 MBJHK gives an update on the bursting housing bubble and the fate of car dependency in America. This episode includes a short interview with Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-Go Car Sharing, and Sonya Newenhouse, president of Community Car, two professionals in the car sharing industry. Sponsor: Bjorn Bergman who reminds listeners to eat local this summer! 651-276-8875
KunstlerCast #159: The Congress For the New Urbanism
June 09, 2011 17:53 - 44 minutes - 36.9 MBIn the first of many installments to come, Duncan updates James Howard Kunstler on the recent Congress For the New Urbanism, held June 1-6, 2011 in Madison, Wisc. The Congress for the New Urbanism is a professional association of planners, architects, developers, political leaders and activists who are committed to revitalizing cities and curb the continuation of sprawl. During this show, we hear from: Andres Duany, New Urbanist architec; Ed Glaeser, Harvard economist & author; U.S. Rep. Ear...
KunstlerCast #158: Americans Demand Walkable Neighborhoods...
May 26, 2011 18:33 - 30 minutes - 25.4 MBOn today's episode JHK discusses a recent poll by the National Realtors Association which found that while many Americans claim they want to be able to walk to stores, restaurants and other urban amenities, they prefer to live in single family detached homes above all else. This seems to be a contradiction, but the arrangement could be possible through New Urbanist planning. Sponsor: http://cnu19.org