Talking Cities with Matt Enstice And Friends

Matt talks with Clara Miller, President of the F.B. Heron Foundation, about Heron's leadership in shining a light on the need for impact investing alongside mission investing; how asset managers and corporations are responding to millennials and why it's important; and why the old Girl Scout adage "leave the campsite better than we found it" still applies.

Matt talks with Su Sanni, co-founder of We Did It, a software platform that helps nonprofits fundraise online, about getting bit by the entrepreneur bug in college; growing up as a first generation Nigerian American; and the surreal experience of waking up one winter morning to find himself on the cover of Black Enterprise.

Hear from Norma Nowak, entrepreneur, scientist, innovator and director of UB's NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. Norma talks about the road that led her to founding Empire Genomics, a spin out company from research developed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute; the critical role her research played in the Human Genome Project; and how the advancement of technology has acce...

In this episode, Matt talks with Dr. Samina Raja , Principal Investigator of the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo, about her work with one of the largest USDA grants for food systems research, Growing Food Connections; how she's married urban planning and public health in her profession and the lessons l...

Matt speak with Dr. Adnan Siddiqui about how rebellion and family experiences led him to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon; growing up & training in Pakistan; and the incredible partnerships and medical innovation happening right here in Buffalo.

Matt talks with Anne Wadsworth, social innovator and co-founder of @thewholegirl. GEC is piloting a community-led initiative in Kitenga, Tanzania, that supports the transformative power of education to enable young women to become catalysts for change in their communities. They touch on the importance in civic engagement in this international effort and using technology to build a school halfway a...

Matt talks with Robby Takac, co-founder of the Goo Goo Dolls, about the not-for-profit organization he founded that encourages kids through music, the "end of your arm" philosophy to improving communities, seeing the country with @RoadsideAmerica, and why he built a recording studio in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.

Matt & Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown talk about their experience with CityLab, the impact of the growing immigrant & refugee population to Buffalo's revitalization, driving development through the city's new "Green Code," sharing ideas with other mayors across the country, and his love of @FlamingFish food truck.

Are we living in a post-truth America? Matt and Bruce Katz, Centennial Scholar at The Brookings Institution, discuss the need for cities to adjust to a very different world after the election & Brexit; the impact of relocating anchor institutions to the downtown core; and the radical remake of federalism.

Matt talks with Janne Siren, director of the Albright-Knox, about the art gallery as a major anchor institution in Buffalo and the holistic role the arts play in elevating the community through engaging youth, partnering with other local organizations, and leveraging the latest technology.

Matt's daughter Molly takes over the show to introduce Matt to his audience. They talk about why he created this show and his interest in the people who make cities great; how he went from working on Saturday Night Live in NYC to leading a Medical Campus in Buffalo; and who his ideal guest would be (after Molly, of course).

Matt was a recent guest on the Heron Foundation Soundbites podcast, so we thought we'd share that this week. He talks about what it means to be an investor of the Heron Foundation and what it's meant for our organization, but more importantly how it's helping our team and our partners to revitalize Buffalo.

Candace Johnson, CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, talks with Matt about their innovative partnership with Cuba, the surprising ease of recruiting stellar researchers & physicians to Buffalo, Roswell's role as an economic driver for the region, and why patients should be the center of the universe.

David Rust, executive director of Say Yes to Buffalo, talks with Matt about how an innovative public-private partnership has changed thousands of lives and why Buffalo is seen as a model for change.

Cheryl Heller, founder of the first master's level program in social design at the School of Visual Arts, talks with Matt about how she helps people see what is remarkable about what they do, driving change agents at PopTech, and why people overcomplicate things.

John Fullerton, founder of the Capital Institute, reflects on the regenerative economy and the disruption of the financial system. John and Matt talk about the need to shift our mindset from reductionist thinking – focusing on the parts, the problems – to holistic thinking, to open up new opportunities.

Mark Rossi is a collaborative developer of innovative programs, tools and initiatives for integrating sustainable materials and safer chemicals into the economy. He founded BizNGO and is currently Executive Director of Clean Production Action Group.

Matt talks to Dr. Jennifer Obadia, Eastern US Regional Director for Healthcare Without Harm. They cover everything from the importance of understanding where food comes from and how it relates to job creation; the need to transform the national food system and what that means for city and state government; access to food and building an environment to makes healthy eating easy; and using food as a...

Matt talks with Darius Pridgen, pastor and elected official in Buffalo, NY, about the role of the church in transforming communities. They discuss the need for a comprehensive plan to engage families; finding elected officials not afraid to make tough decisions to lead true systems change; and where he gets his entrepreneurial inspiration.

Matt interviews Michellene Davis , executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer for RWJ Barnabas Health in New Jersey. They talk about how growing up in Camden, NJ has shaped her both personally and professionally; ensuring youth have a "seat at the table" so that their voice is heard as communities are being revitalized; and her belief that health care institutions should be in th...

Matt talks with Tony Masiello , former mayor of Buffalo, NY, about the opportunities and challenges that elected officials face in transforming cities. They discuss what led Tony to develop creative solutions to the difficult economic situation facing Buffalo during the 80s and 90s, much like many other Rust Belt cities at that time. Tony spent 35 years working in government on behalf of Western N...

This week, Matt talks with David Gamble , architect and urban planner specializing in urban design, about the importance of bringing community and economic development together through planning and engagement. David is the principal of Gamble Associates based in Cambridge, MA, and has been a lecturer in Harvard University's Graduate School of Design since 2009. David has spent 25 years working in...