Reinventing Planning, an Esri original podcast, will empower you to take on a modern approach to planning, housing, and economic development policy amid the challenges facing communities today. Our goal is to provide you with access to community development industry leaders and interviews with planning professionals that are driving innovative projects with GIS and policies that make a real difference in their communities.
Learn more about how GIS can reinvent your planning processes at www.esri.com/planning
Jenny Rauch from Dublin, Ohio, joins Keith to talk about how the Envision Dublin Community Plan that got her planning team recognition in a local parade. Dublin planners leveraged GIS and data visualization to guide stakeholder conversations, simplify complex planning issues, and foster a collaborative, data-informed process that shaped their new community plan.
Check out the plan (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/775646484c58444e87f70a9bf507e6c6).
Get the guide to using ArcGIS as a planning system (https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/government/urban-and-community-planning-ebook).
5 Feb 2026
Ep 14 | Chatting with Chattanooga-Hamilton County RPA
Keith is joined by Melissa Taylor, the Director of Transportation Planning/MPO Coordinator for Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency to discuss her award winning 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (https://chcrpa.org/project/2050-rtp/).
If you haven't downloaded the new ebook yet, you can find it here (https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/government/urban-and-community-planning-ebook).
18 Dec 2025
Ep 13 | Giving Context to Density
Keith is joined by 2025 Planning Directors Summit speaker, Tom Hopper from Massachusetts Housing Partnership, to talk about the Residensity tool. This tool helps local communities meet compliance for a region-wide transit-oriented housing mandate by visualizing density levels across the state.
MassGIS (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massgis-bureau-of-geographic-information )
MBTA Communities EOHLC (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/multi-family-zoning-requirement-for-mbta-communities )
TODEX site (www.mhp.net/todex )
Massachusetts Housing Partnership (https://www.mhp.net/about-us )
Residensity (https://residensity.mhp.net/ )
29 Aug 2025
Ep 12 | The Pinellas Region Moves Forward
What's worse: public comment or 12 year-olds before lunchtime? In this episode Keith is joined by 2025 Planning Directors Summit speakers Rodney Chatman and Nicole Galasso from Forward Pinellas to compare the teaching and planning professions as they talk about their Indian Rocks Beach and North Greenwood projects.
Don't miss their presentation at Planning Directors Summit, request to attend here (https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/planning-directors-summit/registration?aduc=Industry_Manager_Outreach&aduca=E_PDS_25&aduco=podcast&adut=e-pds-25&cid=683f58643d695cea13e30b3d_Fq8uO1Q&sf_id=701UU00000M7yhAYAR&utm_campaign=E_PDS_25&utm_content=podcast&utm_id=701UU00000M7yhAYAR&utm_source=Industry_Manager_Outreach&utm_term=e-pds-25).
Get new stories delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to the Community Development eBrief (https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/infrastructure/community-development-news).
7 Jul 2025
Ep 11 | Everything You Need to Know About Esri's 2025 User Conference
This episode previews Esri's 2025 User Conference, highlighting key updates and essential information for both new and returning attendees.
2 Jun 2025
Ep 10 | Talking Housing with APA's Jason Jordan
Jason Jordan of the American Planning Association examines the evolving federal policy landscape, advising planners on how federal decisions impact local and regional planning in this interview.
16 Apr 2025
Ep 9 | Charlotte Plans for Astronomical Growth
The Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan is a winner of the APA's National Planning Award. Blaize Rai Nelson from the Charlotte Data Analytics & Visualization Team joins us on the podcast to discuss how the city used GIS to inform and gain stakeholder buy-in across the city.
2040 Comp Plan (https://cltfuture2040.com/)
Comp Plan StoryMap (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/c22dbcb0aa7e4c77b729519d8a42df9f)
18 Mar 2025
Meet Us at NPC25!
Join us as Keith dives into the highly anticipated American Planning Association's National Planning Conference (https://www.planning.org/conference/). This event is a must-attend for anyone passionate about planning and development and the future of our communities.
Esri will be at booth #901, showcasing an incredible lineup of demo theater presentations (https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/media/fliers/esri-demo-theater-apa-npc25.pdf) that you definitely won't want to miss! From cutting-edge GIS technology to innovative planning solutions, our experts will be there to share insights and answer your questions. This is your exclusive sneak peek of what to expect at the conference and learn how Esri is shaping the future of planning and development.
10 Feb 2025
Ep 7 | Rebuilding Magna Takes a Drone (or Two)
You never want a natural disaster to hit your community, but what happens when it does? Join Marie Schliecher, James Burton, and Mat Starley from the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) as they discuss how they used drone imaging and 3D modeling in ArcGIS Urban to rebuild a historic district after an earthquake shook the city of Magna, Utah. Discover the innovative ways GIS technology supported urban planning and recovery efforts.
In this episode, you will learn:
How MSD leveraged drone technology and GIS to rebuild a downtown
The role of 3D modeling in urban planning and reconstruction
Insights on using GIS to gain stakeholder buy-in and engage the public
Additional Resources:
Visit theArcGIS Experience Builder site (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dd145b6aaf31417d90d78630eeeb98ee/) Marie discussed
Submit your GIS success storyhere (https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/share-story)
Upcoming Event: James Burton will be leading aworkshop (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ugic.org/uncategorized/pre-conference-workshops/__;!!CKZwjTOV!3IQBwe_3nDcg2yIJV2x2PETOFMUo96Y0OLzDCukurdqCynbrzgnwoL2z1P9AlL8R_BMeMZ3jrRlmBBDoGP9f$) on Drone Imagery Collection and Processing at the Utah Geographic Information Council 2025 Conference (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ugic.org/uncategorized/ugic-registration-open/__;!!CKZwjTOV!3IQBwe_3nDcg2yIJV2x2PETOFMUo96Y0OLzDCukurdqCynbrzgnwoL2z1P9AlL8R_BMeMZ3jrRlmBF-THU0d$) on May 12.
11 Dec 2024
Ep 6 | Forward Dallas
Lawrence Agu, Chief Planner for Dallas, shares insights into the city's ForwardDallas 2.0 adoption, highlighting the department's engagement process and overcoming hurdles to achieve resident buy-in and input.
24 Sept 2024
Ep 5 | An All In Comprehensive Plan
The City of Fort Wayne and Allen County, IN partnered (no small task these days) to create an award-winning comprehensive plan for their quickly-growing region. Learn how they went about it, the challenge of public engagement during a pandemic, and how GIS was an integral part of the plan and process.
All-In Allen Comp Plan - https://all-in-allen-hlplanning.hub.arcgis.com/
Esri Planning Directors Summit - https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/planning-directors-summit/overview
21 Nov 2023
Ep 4 | Planning for the Future in a Small Town
In this episode, you will hear from Theo Melancon, the city manager of Dickinson, Texas. This city is surrounded on all sides by suburban communities, have a beautiful bayou through the middle of the city, and no formal city center. Learn how GIS helps design their plan for attracting sustainable developments and meeting the needs of their residents without scarring their natural environment.
↓ Click the links below for more information. ↓
PRO Housing Program Offer (https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/government/pathways-to-removing-obstacles-to-housing-download-the-program-offer)
ArcGIS Urban and CityEngine at City of Dickinson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Ekp0ZCiGM )
ViewPro ArcGIS Urban Launch Kit (https://www.viewprogis.com/arcgis-urban-deployment)
6 Nov 2023
Ep 3 | Performing a Fiscal Impact Analysis with GIS
You may not have heard of the City of Fate, Texas yet, but
you will. They are taking an innovative approach towards fiscal sustainability with their approach to planning, and GIS is at the center of it. Tune in to this episode to hear from the city’s Director of Planning and Development Services.
City of Fate Website (https://www.fatetx.gov/)
More information about ArcGIS Urban (https://esri.com/urban)
13 Dec 2022
Ep 2 | Forecasting County Shifts and Trends with Matt Chase
In this episode of Reinventing Planning, Keith and Natalie interview the CEO & Executive Director of the National Association of Counties, Matt Chase. They talk about the importance of using reliable GIS data to forecast shifts across counties and visualize the impacts of policy decisions on communities. Matt provides insight about how using GIS tools as a way to engage community members and foster collaboration.
Tune in to this episode to learn about the common challenges counties are facing across the US, the effects of counter-urbanization, and the national association of counties.
22 Nov 2022
Ep 1 | Engaging Communities and Influencing Change with Clarence Anthony
Keith and Natalie interview Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director for the National League of Cities. Mr. Anthony will cover why he decided to take on this role, how cities are tackling the current housing affordability crisis, and what organizations like NLC can do to support sustainable and equitable development going forward. We’ll also learn how Mr. Anthony’s son caused Keith such grief and angst in the mid 90’s.
21 Nov 2022
Coming Soon!
Because there just aren’t enough podcasts available these days, we wanted to introduce a new one to you focused exclusively on issues in planning, housing, and economic development. Hosts Keith Cooke and Natalie Veal outline the vision for this new podcast series and the resources that will supplement it.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
19
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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