This week, Robin Rather of Collective Strength joins the podcast to talk about missteps in the planning profession -- including how things go wrong with language. Robin shares how she got to thinking about urban issues and why she believes current planning practice is stuck in the 1990s. We discuss the often jargon-filled language the profession uses, taking a paragraph from Austin’s current zoning code rewrite to illustrate.
Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: Critiquing the Language of Planners
By Jeff Wood
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog Los Angeles
Rosemead Creates Subcommittee on Bus Rapid Transit with Neighboring Cities
After a contentious city council meeting, the motion passed.
March 13, 2026
Friday’s Headlines
LAX rental car center, Traci Park, Merced Greenway, Metro operations, car-nage and more
March 13, 2026
Reading Changes in City Streets
Markings on cities streets can sometimes reveal what used to be there
March 12, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines
Record heat, parking, Ohio Ave., Measure ULA, Culver City, gas prices, car-nage, and more
March 12, 2026
Eyes on the Street: New Stations on Metro D Line Extension Section 2
After this May's D Line section 1 opening, there's more D to come! The D is growing longer! Check out photos of new station erection... er... construction today in Beverly Hills and Century City
March 11, 2026
