Omslagafbeelding van de show Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace

Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace

Podcast door markcwr

Engels

Persoonlijke verhalen & gesprekken

Tijdelijke aanbieding

2 maanden voor € 1

Daarna € 9,99 / maandElk moment opzegbaar.

  • 20 uur luisterboeken / maand
  • Podcasts die je alleen op Podimo hoort
  • Gratis podcasts
Begin hier

Over Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace

Closer is a conversation about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Alle afleveringen

14 afleveringen

aflevering RJ Justice of the City of Knoxville artwork

RJ Justice of the City of Knoxville

Is it possible for a city to be both flexible and intentional?  How can a fast-growing city create public spaces that invite people to spend time together? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Rebekah Jane (RJ) Justice, the Chief of Urban Design and Development for the City of Knoxville about how cities can grow without losing the qualities that make people love them in the first place. RJ shares how her city has shifted from simply chasing investment to strategically guiding it, and why the most important question in urban design may simply be: Who feels invited here? Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

22 mei 2026 - 31 min
aflevering Lennart Lajboschitz of Folkehuset Absalon artwork

Lennart Lajboschitz of Folkehuset Absalon

Have we optimized ourselves into loneliness?  What if the antidote to social isolation isn’t technology or convenience, but shared meals, table tennis, and a little intentional friction? In this episode of CLOSER, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Lennart Lajboschitz, founder of Absalon, the beloved Copenhagen community house that welcomes nearly 600,000 visitors a year. Built inside a former church, Absalon has become an international model for social connection through communal dining, shared activities, and the radical idea that cities should create more opportunities for strangers to become neighbors. Lennart shares how tiny design choices can transform human behavior, and why hosts may be the most important people in public space. From communal dinners to music bingo to 500-person table tennis nights, this conversation explores how intentional spaces can foster kindness, belonging, and joy. CLOSER is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

14 mei 2026 - 35 min
aflevering Josephine Ramirez Senior Advisor and Arts Leader artwork

Josephine Ramirez Senior Advisor and Arts Leader

Two radical ideas: everyone is an artist and making art together can bring us together.  In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Josephine Ramirez, a veteran arts funder and nonprofit leader whose career includes senior roles at The Music Center and the James Irvine Foundation. Why has the arts world drawn such sharp lines between “artists” and everyone else? And what if creativity is less about excellence, and more about connection? Josephine shares her provocative vision for flipping the traditional arts model: shifting focus away from elite performance and toward mass participation. She explores how art can function as a core human practice, why nonprofit funding structures may be reinforcing exclusion, and how everyday creativity—from community choirs to public practice—can build stronger, more connected communities. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

30 apr 2026 - 41 min
aflevering Leah Houston of Mabelle Arts artwork

Leah Houston of Mabelle Arts

What does it take to unlock creativity in communities that already have deep social bonds? And why it a good strategy to leave a park unfinished? In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Leah Houston, founder and executive director of Mabelle Arts in Toronto’s Mabelle Park, where artists and residents collaborate to design, build, and program public space together. Her work has transformed a neglected park into a vibrant hub for connection, creativity, and community life, earning her the inaugural Tim Jones Creative Placemaking Award. Leah shares how participation can be more powerful than discussion, why artistic vision is essential to getting things done, and how embracing the unfinished nature of public space creates room for ongoing connection and evolution. We explore the tension between grassroots work and institutional systems, the role of parks in building relationships, and why making things together may be the most effective way to bring people closer. Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

23 apr 2026 - 31 min
aflevering Kira Strong of Highline Network & Bridget Marquis of Reimagining Civic Commons artwork

Kira Strong of Highline Network & Bridget Marquis of Reimagining Civic Commons

What does it take to turn forgotten infrastructure into places people love? And how are parks and public space leaders growing a movement to truly bring people together?   In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Bridget Marquis and Kira Strong, two national leaders shaping the future of public space.   Kira Strong is Executive Director of the Highline Network, a coalition of 46 of the best parks and trails in the country that together attract almost 50 million visitors a year. Bridget Marquis leads Reimagining the Civic Commons, a remarkable coalition of 11 communities working to make public assets work harder and produce more for cities.   Bridget and Kira share how investing in parks, trails, and civic assets can unlock social connection, economic opportunity, and environmental impact. We explore why “hosting” matters as much as design, how small interventions can build trust in communities, and why the public realm may be the most overlooked tool cities have to bring people together.   Closer is a conversation hosted by Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace about the strategies that make cities more social—and why that is the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

16 apr 2026 - 56 min
Super app. Onthoud waar je bent gebleven en wat je interesses zijn. Heel veel keuze!
Super app. Onthoud waar je bent gebleven en wat je interesses zijn. Heel veel keuze!
Makkelijk in gebruik!
App ziet er mooi uit, navigatie is even wennen maar overzichtelijk.

Kies je abonnement

Meest populair

Tijdelijke aanbieding

Premium

20 uur aan luisterboeken

  • Podcasts die je alleen op Podimo hoort

  • Geen advertenties in Podimo shows

  • Elk moment opzegbaar

2 maanden voor € 1
Daarna € 9,99 / maand

Begin hier

Premium Plus

Onbeperkt luisterboeken

  • Podcasts die je alleen op Podimo hoort

  • Geen advertenties in Podimo shows

  • Elk moment opzegbaar

Probeer 7 dagen gratis
Daarna € 13,99 / maand

Probeer gratis

Alleen bij Podimo

Populaire luisterboeken

Veelgestelde vragen

Meer vragen & antwoorden
Begin hier

2 maanden voor € 1. Daarna € 9,99 / maand. Elk moment opzegbaar.