Townmaking

Societal impact | Lukas Reichel: Catalan Cooperative Car-Sharing

This week, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Lukas Reichel, founder of Som Mobilitat, a car-sharing cooperative in Catalonia with about 4,000 members and 160 cars. Together, they discuss Lukas’s journey, the motivations behind starting Som Mobilitat, and how the cooperative contributes to building stronger, more sustainable communities. This conversation is part of our Societal Impact series, where we feature individuals making a difference through community-driven initiatives and their pursuit of a more sustainable, inclusive urban environment. This episode was a collaboration between Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, BonoSiebelink, and Servaz van Berkum. Special thanks to Lukas Reichel and Walter Dressher. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/ [https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/]). See https://www.townmaking.com/ [https://www.townmaking.com/] for more information.

NL episode: Hoe beheersen we de snelheid van het verkeer (zonder de openbare ruimte aan te passen)

Please note: This is a special recording of our conversation on ISA and ASG in Dutch. If you’d like to hear the English version, you can find it in the episodes from 1st and 8th August. We’ll be back to English in the next episode. In deze speciale Nederlandstalige aflevering van Towwnmaking spreken ingenieur Paul Timmer en host Servaz van Berkum over Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) en Adaptive Speed Governance (ASG), beiden helpen de bestuurder van een voertuig veiliger te helpen. ISA is een systeem dat is ontworpen om bestuurders te waarschuwen wanneer een voertuig de lokale snelheidslimiet overschrijdt. Sinds juli 2022 is ISA verplicht gesteld door de Europese Unie voor alle nieuwe voertuigen, zoals auto’s en vrachtwagens. ASG, ontwikkeld door het Townmaking Institute in samenwerking met de Gemeente Amsterdam, is oorspronkelijk ontworpen voor e-bikes en kan de veiligheid van alle typen voertuigen verbeteren zonder gebruik te maken van camera’s, sensoren of herinrichting van de openbare ruimte, en zonder privacy te schenden. In deze aflevering gaan we dieper in op de werking en doelstellingen van beide systemen, de voordelen voor verkeersveiligheid en de uitdagingen die zich voordoen bij de implementatie. Deze podcast werd geproduceerd en samengesteld door Paul Timmer, Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, Bono Siebelink en Servaz van Berkum. De muziek is van Mickey Smid. Voor meer informatie over het Townmaking Institute en deze podcastserie, bezoek townmaking.com. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/ [https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/]). See https://www.townmaking.com/ [https://www.townmaking.com/] for more information.

What is the true value of Data?

Our guest this week is Indranil Bhattacharya. In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum and Indranil explore the nature of data, highlighting how, without context, it’s merely a collection of numbers. They dive into the challenges data presents and discuss why responsible use is essential for building a fair, human-centered society. Indranil explains how we can better understand data integrally with what it represents, emphasizing that its true value exists with the knowledge to understand numbers, not the numbers themselves. This episode was a collaboration between Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, Bono Siebelink, and Servaz van Berkum. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/ [https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/]). See https://www.townmaking.com/ [https://www.townmaking.com/] for more information.

Can regenerative farming secure the future of our food production?

In this episode of Townmaking, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Thieu Besselink, who focuses on regenerative farming for the Townmaking Institute. They discuss how regenerative agriculture can secure the future of our food systems by healing ecosystems, revitalizing soil, and moving away from harmful agricultural practices. Thieu shares insights on how these methods can sustainably meet global food needs while empowering individual farmers and communities through the commons, giving them the agency to lead local change. Together, they explore why it’s crucial to rethink our relationship with food, especially as conventional farming depletes essential resources like soil. The conversation highlights how regenerative practices promote biodiversity, sequester carbon, and enhance crop productivity, all while building resilient communities and protecting the environment for future generations. This episode was a collaboration between Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, BonoSiebelink, and Servaz van Berkum. Special thanks to Thieu Besselink. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/ [https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/]). See https://www.townmaking.com/ [https://www.townmaking.com/] for more information.

Societal impact | Community organiser Daniel Picado, plural citizen-centric societies.

In this episode, host Servaz van Berkum sits down with Daniel Picado, a community organizer and founder of Pais Plural, an LGBTQI+ organization in Venezuela. Together, they explore Daniel’s personal journey, the mission that drives his work, and how his efforts have shaped his dedication to building a more inclusive, plural, and citizen-centric society. Through Daniel’s story, we delve into the broader themes of creating societal impact—highlighting the everyday work that brings meaningful change to communities. Daniel shares his vision for a more equitable society, his experiences and how his personal calling has guided him through the challenges he has faced. This episode is part of our Societal Impact series, where we feature individuals making a difference through community engagement and their pursuit of a more just and livable urban environment. This episode was a collaboration between Indranil Bhattacharya, Omar Zuberi, Bono Siebelink, and Servaz van Berkum. Special thanks to Daniel Picado. This podcast is published by the Townmaking Institute under the Next Commons principles (https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/ [https://nextcommons.townmaking.com/]). See https://www.townmaking.com/ [https://www.townmaking.com/] for more information.