Charter Cities Podcast

What is a pop-up city, and what does it actually look like on the ground? In Episode 82 of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter speaks with David Chitta and Michelle Made about Zanzalu, a three-week co-living and co-working pop-up city hosted in Fumba Town, Zanzibar. They unpack what a pop-up city actually is and what makes the experience unique: shared breakfasts, spontaneous workshops, game n...

Africa’s development story is often framed through crisis or pessimism. Joe Studwell offers a different perspective. In this conversation, Studwell explains why Africa’s economic transformation is only beginning. Unlike the post-independence era, today’s Africa has the population density, urban concentration, and educational foundation necessary for sustained development. Building on themes from H...

In Episode 80 of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter speaks with James of Ârc about building a global city that attracts ambitious people from around the world. James shares Arc’s long-term vision for city building and explains why talent, culture, and community are just as important as infrastructure and capital. They discuss how Arc is building momentum through pop-up cities and partnerships...

In Episode 79, Mark Lutter sits down with serial AI founder and investor Bradford Cross, now CEO of Alpha Cities, to explore what happens when a Silicon Valley systems thinker takes on the world’s most complex product: government. Bradford argues that government should be treated as a product—one that often performs poorly, iterates slowly, and lacks the discipline of customer-centric design. Draw...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Rodney Lockwood, author of Belle Isle: Detroit’s Game Changer. Lockwood outlines his vision for turning Detroit’s Belle Isle into a privately funded “Freedom City,” inspired by models from Monaco, Singapore, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. From governance reforms and land-value taxation to Formula One racing and monorail transport, Lockwood explains how bold exper...

Grand Bahama’s Freeport is often left out of the origin story of special economic zones—but it shouldn’t be. In this episode, Mark sits down with Dillon F. Knowles, President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, to trace Freeport’s beginnings under the 1955 Hawksbill Creek Agreement—arguably the first modern free trade zone—through its Vegas-on-the-Atlantic heyday and the slowdown that followe...

In this conversation, Joel Burke and Carl Peterson discuss the remarkable transformation of Estonia into a leader in digital governance. They explore Estonia's journey from post-Soviet struggles to becoming a hub for tech innovation, including the rise of companies like Skype. Joel shares insights on Estonia's e-governance initiatives, the e-residency program, and the importance of cybersecurity f...

In this Freedom Cities episode, Professor Tom W. Bell dives deep into the world of legal innovation and special jurisdictions. A law professor turned legal systems designer, Tom shares his journey from academia to advising real-world projects like the Catawba Digital Economic Zone and Free Society’s forthcoming decentralized city. He explains Ulex—his open-source legal system—and walks us through...

In Episode 75 of the Charter Cities Podcast, we’re joined by Jarrad Hope—founder of the Logos Network and author of Farewell to Westphalia—to explore the provocative idea of post-nation-state governance. Jarrad and Mark dive into the decline of traditional state power, how blockchain technologies enable new forms of sovereignty, and why decentralized communities may soon provide public goods and g...

In Episode 7 of the Freedom Cities Podcast , Mark Lutter sits down with Alex Voss, CFO of Tipolis, a company pioneering the development of new cities around the world based on private governance models. Alex shares his journey from investment banking to building freedom-enhancing urban communities and dives into the evolving global landscape for charter and free cities. From Tipolis’ new project i...

In Episode 74 of the Charter Cities Podcast, host Mark Lutter speaks with Siaka Stevens, co-founder of Sherbro Alliance Partners and the visionary behind Sherbro Island City in Sierra Leone. With the recent ratification of their agreement with the government, Sherbro Island now has special administrative status and strong legal protections—opening the door to serious investor interest. Siaka discu...

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, we speak with David Ernst, founder of Secure Internet Voting, about the urgent need for innovation in democratic systems. David argues that while voting is foundational to democracy, its design is outdated, especially in an era of digital communication and governance. We explore what it would take to make online voting secure, transparent, and legitim...

This episode features a conversation with Wyoming State Senators Dan Dockstader, Brian Boner, and Chris Rothfuss, hosted by Carl Peterson of the Charter Cities Institute. The discussion centers on the concept of Freedom Cities, first introduced in national discourse by former President Donald Trump, and how Wyoming—home to abundant federal land and cutting-edge energy projects—might serve as a tes...

In this episode of the Charter Cities Podcast, Mark speaks with Michael Muthukrishna, Associate Professor of Economic Psychology at LSE, about how cultural evolution explains the rise of human civilization. They explore why Homo sapiens prevailed over Neanderthals, the role of self-domestication and social learning in societal development, and how religion and cooperation have shaped social comple...

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast , host Carl Peterson speaks with three Wyoming State Senators—Brian Boner (District 2), Chris Rothfuss (District 9), and Dan Dockstader (District 16)—about the bold future of economic development in Wyoming through the lens of Freedom Cities. The conversation explores Wyoming’s unique challenges and opportunities, including how the checkerboard pattern...

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Mark Lutter is joined by Patri Friedman, a pioneer in the new cities movement. As the founder of the Seasteading Institute and Managing Partner at Pronomos Capital, Patri has spent the last two decades pushing for new approaches to governance through the creation of innovative urban developments. They explore why Africa represents the most promising f...

Isaiah Taylor, CEO and Founder of Valar Atomics, joins the Freedom Cities Podcast to discuss their game-changing advancements in nuclear energy. Learn about their $19 million seed round, their first reactor project in the Philippines, and how scalable nuclear power could transform American industry by driving down energy costs. Isaiah also dives into the regulatory hurdles facing nuclear innovatio...

In this episode of the Freedom Cities Podcast, Edward Pinto discusses his work at the American Enterprise Institute Housing Center, focusing on the housing supply crisis and potential solutions. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing federal land for housing development, particularly through the Bureau of Land Management. Mark and Edward explore Freedom Cities as a solution to the housing short...

Welcome to the Freedom Cities Podcast, a short-form series by the Charter Cities Institute & the Frontier Foundation. In each episode, we sit down with innovators, entrepreneurs & thought leaders to explore how Freedom Cities can drive innovation and economic growth. In our first episode of the Freedom Cities podcast, Joshua Abbotoy discusses his innovative approach to building rural commu...

In this episode, Nick Allen from the Frontier Foundation delves into the concept of Freedom Cities, highlighting their potential to rejuvenate American urban landscapes and industries. He explores the historical context of city formation in the U.S., the necessity of supporting emerging industries, and the crucial role of coalition-building among stakeholders. The conversation addresses regulatory...

In this conversation, Atossa discusses her book 'The Hidden Globe,' which explores the complexities of special economic zones and the unconventional legal systems that exist outside traditional nation-states. She reflects on her upbringing in Geneva, Switzerland, and how it shaped her understanding of sovereignty and international law. The discussion delves into the evolution of citizenship by inv...

In this conversation, Kurtis discusses his transition from CCI to establishing the Africa Urban Lab at the African School of Economics in Zanzibar. He highlights the urgent need for new universities in Africa to harness the continent's demographic potential and improve education quality. The conversation delves into the challenges of setting up a university, the focus on practical skills in the cu...

Imagine a world where cities are not just places to live, but dynamic hubs of innovation, specialization, and cooperation. What if the cities of today are shaping the political and economic landscapes of tomorrow in ways we are only beginning to understand? In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of urban development with Ian Goldin, a leading expert on global development and urbanization. Ia...

Liberalism in China has taken many twists and turns. And in today’s episode, we explore its fascinating history, from its early pre-Western roots, all the way to its current incarnation within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and beyond. Joining us to unpack this fascinating topic is Evan Osborne, Professor of Economics at Wright State University, and author of the highly informative new book Ma...

Imagine Africa built their infrastructure using the same systems as the Western World. Embracing sustainability is a critical element of building a greener future for Africa and the world. Leander Moons is the Founding Owner of Studio OMT Architects, a mass timber architecture and urban design firm working in Africa and Europe. During this episode, he joins us to chat about building in Africa in c...