The Bottom-Up Revolution - Restarting a Strong Towns Local Conversation

In this episode, Josh Olson reflects on how he and others helped bring a Strong Towns local conversation group back to life in Madison, and kept it going with simple habits like reserving the same library room each month. It explores the projects that grew out of that effort, including safer street trials, Parking Day, and support for a major housing reform package. As the group took on these projects, members built relationships with city staff, showed up to public meetings, and pushed for small, low-cost changes—like turning a peak-hour traffic lane into parking—that the city implemented within months.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

• Local Recommendations:‍
  
  • Mother Fools Coffeehouse
  • Ahan Restaurant
  • Teasider
  • Lake Loop
• Strong Towns Madison (Site)
• Strong Towns Madison(Instagram)
• Counting Cranes (Substack)
• Vote for Madison in the Strongest Town Contest!
• Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram)
• Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!