"Live with Living Cities" is a podcast that explores the work, impact, and partnerships driving inclusive economic growth in cities across the United States. Hosted by Living Cities, this series highlights innovative strategies, transformative policies, and community-driven solutions that expand access to capital and create a more inclusive economy.
Episodes introduce who we are, what we do, and feature insightful conversations with changemakers—from government leaders and nonprofit innovators to entrepreneurs and residents—working to remove barriers to financial opportunity. Through storytelling, expert analysis, and real-world case studies, Live with Living Cities uncovers the challenges and successes of building economic systems that work for everyone.
Listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at initiatives that drive investment in undercapitalized communities, foster entrepreneurship, and help more people build long-term financial security. Whether discussing new models of capital deployment, public-private partnerships, or community-led investment strategies, this podcast provides actionable insights for those committed to driving meaningful economic change.
Join us as we amplify the voices of leaders, share lessons from the field, and explore what it takes to build cities where everyone has the resources and opportunities to thrive.
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Credit is one of the quiet systems shaping who gets to build a future in a city. It can determine whether someone can buy a home, start a business, move into a better apartment, recover from a setback, or access fair financial opportunities. And yet, for many renters, the largest bill they pay every month has historically done little to help them build credit. In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles is joined by Madelaine Britt, Manager of the Office of Financial Empow...
27 May 2026
How Local Government Leaders Can Unlock Funding for Small Businesses
The City as Capital Convener: How Local Government Leaders Can Unlock Funding for Small Businesses Small businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, but access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to their growth and resilience. In this episode, adapted from a Living Cities webinar, we explore how local governments can play a powerful role in strengthening small business ecosystems by serving as capital conveners. Our panelists share practical insights from Miami, Detroit, and ...
30 Apr 2026
Opportunity Zones 2.0: Rewiring Capital for Community Wealth
In this mini-episode of Live with Living Cities, Dr. Ahmed Whitt explores the evolving landscape of Opportunity Zones and what the next generation of place-based investment policy could mean for communities across the country. As policymakers revisit and refine Opportunity Zones through new federal legislation, this conversation examines both the promise and the challenges of these incentives. Dr. Whitt breaks down how Opportunity Zones 2.0 could better align private capital with equitable ec...
26 Mar 2026
Beyond Silos: How Cities Build the Relationships Small Businesses Actually Need
Be sure to sign-up for news, updates and the webinar series and more! This month on Live with Living Cities, we're replaying the first in our Rewiring Capital for Strong Local Economies webinar series. In this webinar our facilitator and guests explore the role cities play in shaping the relationships that help small businesses move from survival to long-term growth. While many local governments invest in programs intended to support entrepreneurs, uneven participation, low capita...
26 Feb 2026
Building Stronger Communities for Economic Success with Roderick Wheeler
In this episode of Live with Living Cities, host Justin Charles sits down with Roderick Wheeler, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Wheeler Social Impact, for a timely conversation about why communities are not peripheral to economic growth, but foundational to it. We unpack how neighborhoods, businesses, philanthropy, and civic institutions are deeply interconnected, and what happens when that ecosystem is either strengthened or neglected. Roderick shares a clear-eyed perspective ...
21 Jan 2026
B3 in Action: Building Pathways for Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Norris Williams introduces Breaking Barriers to Business (B3), an initiative expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs in undervalued commercial corridors across the Southeast; this is an interview.
31 Dec 2025
A look back at 2025
This episode of "Live with Living Cities" reflects on the year 2025, offering insights into future trends.
11 Nov 2025
Capital with a Conscience: Sydney Thomas on Rethinking Venture for the 99%
Sydney Thomas, Conductor at Symphonic Capital, discusses reimagining venture capital to serve the 99% with host Justin Charles, exploring intentional growth strategies and inclusive ecosystems in this interview.
14 Oct 2025
Ashley Gabb on Building with Vision and Impact
Ashley Gabb shares her journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur with Valerie McDowell, discussing purpose-driven leadership and building equitable systems in this interview.
9 Sept 2025
How to Compete When the Rules Keep Changing with Philip Gaskin
Host Philip Gaskin interviews guests about building resilient business ecosystems that foster growth and create inclusive economies for everyone.
6 Aug 2025
Impact Investing With Jim Casselberry
Jim Casselberry discusses impact investing with host Justin Charles, explaining how it channels capital toward underserved communities and innovative concepts in this interview.
8 Jul 2025
The Inclusive Capital Council & Catalytic Capital: Advancing Income and Wealth Equity
Justin Charles interviews Daniel Nissenbaum and Mileyka Burgos-Flores about the Inclusive Capital Council's work to transform capital flow and promote equity-centered investments.
10 Jun 2025
Applications of AI in Closing Income and Wealth Gaps
Host Justin Charles interviews Dr. Ahmed Whitt about artificial intelligence's impact on wealth equity, exploring both the potential benefits and risks for economic opportunity.
13 May 2025
Shared Ownership, Shared Prosperity: Lessons from Saint Paul
In this episode of Live with Living Cities, CEO Joe Scantlebury sits down with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to explore how shared ownership and solidarity economy strategies are reshaping local governance. Recorded at the City of Saint Paul’s Office of Financial Empowerment conference, this powerful conversation highlights Saint Paul’s role in the Closing the Gaps Network and the broader movement for equitable economic transformation.
8 Apr 2025
Closing the Gaps: Building the Future Cities Deserve
Host Justin Charles explores the origin and impact of Living Cities’ Closing the Gaps Network—a bold, national initiative helping cities tackle deep-rooted racial wealth and income disparities. Born out of the 2020 Year of Reckoning, the CTG Network has grown into a coalition of 24 cities committed to advancing long-term, inclusive, and community-driven solutions. In this episode, you'll learn how cities are working to empower entrepreneurs from underserved communities, expand access to...
6 Mar 2025
Building Inclusive Prosperity: An Introduction to Living Cities
Welcome to Live with Living Cities, the podcast dedicated to building a just and equitable society by dismantling systemic barriers to financial equity. In this episode, host Justin Charles introduces you to Living Cities, a collaborative of influential philanthropies and financial institutions working to close the income and wealth gap and foster economic justice in cities across the U.S. The episode explores the historical roots of economic disparities, the necessity of systems change, and ...
Who has been a guest on Live with Living Cities
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Norris Williams
Sydney Thomas
Ashley Gabb
Jim Casselberry
Daniel Nissenbaum
Podcast Authority Score: 4 / 100
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7
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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