There is so much that is fascinating about Dr. Michael Mehaffy and his work.He's an international consultant in urban development innovations, an author of myriad of articles and books on architecture and sustainable urbanism, and he sits on the boards of three international journals of urban design. He also developed a course in sustainable urbanism, which was later the basis of a Masters and Ph.D. program in sustainable urbanism at the University of Oxford. Yes, there's all that and so much more. But what is most compelling about Michael is how he weaves his deep knowledge and breadth of experience into valued-filled and action-oriented philosophies that illuminate how everyone in society can prosper together. And that is what is at the heart of today's podcast. But how do we get there? How  does sustainable urbanism help to create thriving cities, improve our health and heal the damage we've done to the planet? We need to understand the nuances and the complexities first. In Part I of our conversation, we discuss:How cities are "kidnapped"The meaning of sustainable urbanism Why affordable housing is an essential componentWhat pattern language is and why it's importantWhat makes a 'good city? An equitable city? One that's prosperous for all its residents?Whether sustainable urbanism helps or hurts ecologically based efforts like regeneration and rewildingWe also talk about influential figures in urban design and theory, Christopher Alexander and Jane Jacobs, both of whom Michael has written extensively about in several of his published articles and books.Lastly, we delve into the work of the Prince's Foundation and the International Making Cities Livable Conference (IMCL) organizations for which Michael has been–or currently is–the Executive Director. --- Dr. Michael Mehaffy:  Author & Urban Innovations ConsultantLinks: ASU FacultyGoogle ScholarBook PublicationsWikipedia PageInternational Making Cities Livable (IMCL) Conference