Isn't That Spatial

In this last episode of Isn't That Spatial, we cover places that are believed to have some mystical powers/woo-woo significance based on geographic location.       This episode is dedicated to Sarah Wirtz.

Just in time for your summer road trip, we're talking about gas stations and their uncertain future as the world moves towards electric cars. Will they adapt to electrification or become relics operating on the fringes of society? And what will become of our beer caves? Imagine along with us!

On this episode, we·re discussing the 85-acre, $90M+ planned urban development located at the edges of Atlanta known as Cop City. We talk about the significance of the land it is being planned on, how it upends some VERY RECENT urban plans sponsored by the City of Atlanta, and what broader political and geographic components are at work here that have made Cop City so infamous on a national scale....

Mmmmm. The geography just doesn't get much more casual than this, folks. This episode is all about the geography of breakfast. And I, for one, could go for an extra side of casual this week. Where did the concept of the American breakfast even come from? Geography is the answer! Dig in as we discuss the origin of breakfast favorites from eggs to bagels to that Instagram-famous breakfast dish. And...

On this episode, we dive into the pirates and the guerillas of radio and how they have used the spaces available to them - be it ships or public housing units - to find and create communities big and small around the radio dial.

The geography and politics of administering vaccine rollouts have always needed to be masterminded to be successful. With the current COVID-19 vaccine campaign underway, we discuss the geography of past and current inoculations efforts and what made them successful... or not.

Perhaps the biggest goal of urban planning and community development is creating a sense of place - a sense of belonging. But defining "belonging" can be tricky, and sometimes we're better at defining what we avoid. On this episode, we discuss the subtle and not-so-subtle features in our environment that signal us to avoid. And then maybe we can start to get down to what makes us feel like we belo...

Tactical Urbanism refers to projects done without permission from the local government or with any formal planning – it is DIY, low cost, and temporary. Tactical Urbanism is a tool anyone can use to get the public to pay attention to something the community needs, like more parks or bike lines, or even just to add some fun to the built environment. On this episode, we explore all kinds of Tactical...

We often think of our cities and towns as their own entities in control of what they do, and for a good part history they have been. On this episode, we're going to look at how emerging tensions with states and the erosion of Local Control has been playing out in our communities and impacting spatial issues including the environment, economic development, and social issues. You can view the Show N...

There are countless miles of hidden tunnels under our feet that we don't really think about. In this episode of Isn't That Spatial, we're going underground to discover the tunnels - from the little-known to the downright mysterious - in our cities and towns. Who knows what's hiding down there! You can view our Show Notes + related content on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

This episode is all about vacant lots - where did they come from and what are we doing with them? We'll explore uses of vacant lots from the perfectly pragmatic to the more... creative.   You can view the Show Notes and related content on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

This is the final episode in our series, Spatial Topics In Film, and we're discussing Tales of Two Places - movies that depict two geographic settings as a major part of the story. Films we look at include 80s "wrong side of the track" gems, city vs. suburb "urban fantasia" films, and movies that contrast two cities. Films discussed on this episode: West Side Story The Outsiders Pretty In Pink Des...

This episode is the second in our three-episode series, Spatial Topics In Film. In this episode, we discuss movies featuring simulacra - or simulated realities within the film, from sci-fi dystopia to alternate versions of our present-day reality. Films discussed include The Matrix, Blade Runner, Her, Black Panther, and The Truman Show. You can view the Show Notes and related content on our websit...

This episode is the first in our three-episode series, Spatial Topics In Film. In this episode, we discuss movies that depict the filmmakers' hometown and the unique insight into those geographies the filmmaker provides. Films discussed on this episode include Dazed and Confused, Lady Bird, Moonlight, It Follows, and Hairspray. You can view the Show Notes and related content on our website at Isnt...

On this episode, we'll try to define the slippery term "gentrification" that refers to neighborhood change, for better or worse. What does gentrification look like, how does it happen, what are the markers, and what can anyone do about it? Find all the answers here! (Sort of.)   You can view the Show Notes on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

ITS025 is all about babies and birth control - the geography of reproduction! We explore the spatial component of births, birth control, abortion access, and even baby name trends. You can view the Show Notes and related content on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, we're looking at the geography of music scenes - the major scenes in popular music, what set those cities apart stylistically, and the spatial factors for how it all came together in that time and place. You can view the Show Notes, this episode's playlist, and related content on...

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedication to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, we're exploring the deep dark regions of coal country - what and where is it exactly, how it developed and how it was exploited, and where it belongs in today's world.   You can view the Show Notes and related content at IsntThatSpatial.net !

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, we're exploring the representation of women in the city - monuments, streets, schools, and other odes to women. OK - we're exploring the LACK of those memorials to women. You can view our Show Notes and related content on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

In a follow up to ITS010 on popular music's odes to urban renewal, this episode covers what "urban renewal" actually was - and how it led to so much displacement and the destruction of so much good stuff in our cities. You can view our Show Notes on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. In this episode of our Spatial Topics In Music feature, we're listening to the songs of skid row and life on the wrong side of wherever. You can view the Show Notes on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, let's dive into the hype of the Amazon HQ2 selection process that is driving hundreds of cities (and many of us) into a frenzy. We'll take a look at likely selection criteria, incentives cities are doling out, and what all this is worth anyway.   You can view the show notes and r...

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, we're exploring the wild world of logistics - from the original Amazon (the US Postal Service) to actual Amazon. We're taking a peek behind these "hidden" infrastructures and seeing how they impact our urban areas.   You can view the Show Notes and related content on our website...

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. On this episode, we're exploring the geography of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. and their legacy since the designation. View the Show Notes on our website at IsntThatSpatial.net !

Isn't That Spatial is the podcast dedicated to casual geography and the spatial component of whatever. This episode is the podcast equivalent of a little holiday cocktail chatter. It's the first installment of our new series Bibelot-graphy, where we explore an odd urban curio. Bibelot-graphy #1 documents the infamous "Me Love Rambo" billboard graffiti in Brooklyn, NY.   You can view the show notes...