Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines
Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines is a podcast series from SmartCitiesWorld and the Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities) that features frank conversations between international city leaders and industry practitioners. Each episode focuses on sharing ideas to solve urban challenges, with an emphasis on environmental, economic, and social resilience and sustainability. Co-hosted by R-Cities' Executive Director Lauren Sorkin and SmartCitiesWorld's Advisory Board Chair Paul Wilson, the show provides a platform for urban innovators to discuss initiatives and insights for building sustainable cities. The podcast aims to support city practitioners facing urgent targets across a wide range of urban issues.
Episodes
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City
In this episode of The Urban Exchange, hosts Paul Wilson and Katrin Bruebach speak with Bianca Perez, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for Quezon City in the Philippines – a city that, in August 2025, experienced an extreme flooding event where the equivalent of five days of rain fell in just one hour.
Bianca explains how Quezon City, the most populous city in the Philippi
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 31 – Resilient Sydney: 33 local governments, one resilience strategy
Dive into the latest episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, where hosts Paul Wilson and Lina Liakou are joined by Yvette Andrews, strategy and engagement manager for Resilient Sydney, and a key architect of the newly released Resilient Sydney Strategy 2025-2030. Together, they explore what it takes to build a truly resilient city in the face of climate change, natural disasters, and social challen
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 30 – Norfolk: building coastal resilience before the storm
Dive into the heart of coastal resilience with this episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, supported by Sand Technologies, where hosts Paul Wilson and Nate Echeverria are joined by two leading voices from the City of Norfolk, – Kyle Spencer, Chief Resilience Officer, and Dr. Paul Robinson, Executive Director of RISE Resilience Innovations. Together, they unpack the unique challenges and groundbre
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 29 - Financing city resilience
Dive into the heart of urban resilience and climate finance in this thought-provoking episode of the Urban Exchange podcast, where hosts Paul Wilson, Chair of the Advisory Board at Smart Cities World. and Nate Echeverria, North America Engagement Lead, Resilient Cities Network, are joined by Roland White, Global Lead for City Finance and Management at the World Bank. Together, they unravel the com
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 28 - Data-driven urban resilience in Montevideo
In this compelling episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, host Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson dive deep into the transformative world of digital innovation and urban resilience, featuring an extraordinary case study from Montevideo, Uruguay.
Join us as we journey to Montevideo, where city representatives Andrea de Nigris and Ximena Cidras share the city's approach to data integration and municipal
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 27 - Life-saving action on extreme heat
In this episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson explore extreme heat in cities worldwide. Joined by Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, former Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, and Nick Jones, Program Lead, Extreme Heat Resilience, at GDFRR and World Bank's City Resilience Program, they unpack a story of urban resilience that began in Ahmedabad and is transfo
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 26 - Championing urban heat resilience: Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni Myrivili
In this episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson dive deep into the critical issue of extreme heat with Lenio Myrivili, Global Chief Heat Officer for UN-Habitat and the Atlantic Council. The conversation explores how rising temperatures are transforming urban experiences across the globe, from Athens to London, and the profound challenges cities face in managing i
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 25 - Understanding AI-powered water resilience
In this insightful episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast, sponsored by Sand Technologies, host Lauren Sorkin delves into the critical challenge of clean water and resilience, with a focus on how artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool to address these pressing issues.
Joined by Byron Roelofsz, the AI Solutions Director at Sand Technologies, and Beam Furr, the Mayor of Broward County
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 24 - The City Resilience Framework & the next decade of resilience
This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast focuses on the evolution of urban resilience and the critical role of the City Resilience Framework. Hosts Lauren Sorkin and Paul Wilson welcome Jo Da Silva, the Global Director of Sustainable Development at Arup, who shares insights from her decade-long journey in developing this influential framework.
The conversation begins by exploring the resilience
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 23 - Identifying urban solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity
This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast focuses on identifying urban solutions at the intersection of climate, health, and equity.
Resilient Cities Network's Lauren Sorkin hosts, joined by Patricia Himschoot and Catalina Thela from the Buenos Aires City Government, and Jeannette Ickovics from Yale University to discuss the key findings from the Urban Pulse report.
The guests emphasise the need
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 22 - Digital solutions shaping the urban landscape
This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast explores the role of digital financial innovation in building urban resilience, featuring experts Daniel Sullivan, Director of Resilience for the City of Cape Town, and Tanya Filer, Founder and CEO of StateUp.
Together, we look at the findings of StateUp's latest research, conducted in partnership with the Resilient Cities Network, on the transformative p
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 21 - 10 years of urban resilience in Rotterdam
This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast takes a look back at Rotterdam's resilience journey over the past decade. Host Paul Wilson speaks with Arnoud Molenaar, Rotterdam's Chief Resilience Officer, who was one of the first city CROs to be appointed in 2014.
Molenaar discusses how Rotterdam first addressed resilience through climate adaptation efforts due to its location near water. We discover
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 20 - Tackling plastic waste in our water
This episode of the Urban Exchange podcast explores solutions to the global challenge of plastic pollution, with a focus on cities' role in addressing this issue. R-Cities' Lauren Sorkin is joined by Dr. Parama Roy of Okapi Research and Advisory in Chennai, and Taylor Maddalene of the University of Georgia, to discuss the scope of plastic waste problems worldwide and their impacts on urban areas.
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 19 - The intersection between risk, resilience and insurance
This episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast explores how risk, resilience and insurance measures come together to support the future of cities. The episode delves into innovative partnerships to strengthen climate resilience in Miami Dade County, with Galen Treuer from Miami Dade explaining how rising insurance costs due to hurricanes and flooding have impacted many residents.
Through the Resilient
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 18 - Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, City of Bangkok - Holistic disaster resilience
Bangkok, a city of rapid growth, faces the challenges of a complex urban landscape. In this episode, we delve into Bangkok's resilience journey with Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor in Bangkok, and a specialist in disaster resilience.
Join Lauren Sorkin, executive director of the Resilient Cities Network, in conversation with the Deputy Governor, as they discuss:
The city's biggest resilience
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 17 - Digitalising government disbursements to enhance urban resilience
The latest episode of the Urban Exchange delve into the transformative impact of technology on government disbursements to enhance urban resilience. Joining host Paul Wilson are Agustin Botteron, author of a new Visa report on government disbursements and former Chief Resilience Officer of Santa Fe, and Robert L. Matthews, Director of the Washington D.C. Child and Family Services Agency.
Agustin s
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 16 – Genesis Gavino, City of Dallas
Mike Lake, CEO of Leading Cities and a member of the Smart Cities World Advisory Board, hosts a special episode recorded live from the 2023 Smart City Expo in Barcelona, where he is joined by Genesis Gavino, Chief of Staff Resilience Officer for the City of Dalla.
Genesis provides a behind-the-scenes look at her role as Chief of Staff, detailing the essential elements that the role encompasses tha
Urban Exchange Episode 15 - Greater Manchester and Arup - Cities building digital resilience
In this episode of the Urban Exchange, host Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of Resilient Cities Network and Co-chair of the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board, is joined by Kathy Oldham, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Will Cavendish, Global Digital Services Leader, Arup.
The latest episode is set in the context of the new publication entitled Digital Citi
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 14 – Kate MacKenzie, New York City – Plant-powered city action
Urban food systems are coming under increasing strain due to urbanisation and climate-related issues. In the latest episode of the Urban Exchange, Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, joins the Resilient Cities Network’s Lauren Sorkin to discuss how food systems and plant powered food transitions are advancing urban resilience and climate adaptatio
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 13 – Robert van Asten, The Hague – Creating a water vision
In this episode of the Urban Exchange, host Paul Wilson, Chief Business Officer for Connected Places Catapult and Chair of the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board, is joined by Robert van Asten, Deputy Mayor and Alderman for Urban Development, Strategy and Europe for The Hague.
On the agenda this month is The Hague's work on water resilience, its international significance as the peace and justice cap
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 12 – Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara and Visa – Innovation in the urban mobility sector
In the latest episode of the Urban Exchange, Paul Wilson, chair of the Advisory Board for Smart Cities World and Chief Business Officer at the Connected Places Catapult, is joined for a talk on all things urban mobility by Diego Marquez, the Planning Mobility Manager for the Metropolitan Institute of Planning and Development for the Metropolitan area of Guadalajara, and Jose Rodriguez, Head of Urb
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 11 – Gareth Morgan, Cape Town – Mainstreaming and institutionalising urban resilience
In this episode of the Urban Exchange, Lauren Sorkin, executive director of Resilient Cities Network, hosts Gareth Morgan, executive director of future planning and resilience for the City of Cape Town.
In an exclusive interview, Gareth reflects on the exciting frontier work he is undertaking to institutionalise and mainstream resilience across the various aspects of the city’s work, encompassing
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 10 – Safer Schools: Building resilience in education infrastructure
As the risks from climate change increase, public school infrastructure in our cities and communities is under threat from natural hazards. It may not be a subject we often think about in connection to education in our cities, but it is regardless a critical issues – one that impacts our children’s present as well as their future.
On this episode of the Urban Exchange, host Francis Ghesquiere from
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 9 - Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Leader - Progress at COP27 and climate finance
The Urban Exchange welcomes back Glasgow City Council leader, Susan Aitken, to talk Cop27 and climate finance.
The latest episode of the Urban Exchange Podcast sees Resilient Cities Network’s Lauren Sorkin in conversation with Glasgow City Council leader, Susan Aitken, to uncover some of the key takeaways from Cop27, how the conference compared to Cop26, and the critical role of finance in climate
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 8 - Making cities green, resilient and inclusive in a changing climate
The latest episode of the Urban Exchange brings together the principal authors of the World Bank’s latest extensive report on urban climate to discuss the 10 key findings.
Hosted by World Bank’s Francis Ghesquiere, Head of the Secretariat for the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction & Recovery (GFDRR), the Urban Exchange welcomes World Bank economists Megha Mukim and Mark Roberts as its latest g
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 7 - Part 2: Monica Barone, CEO, City of Sydney
Preview: In part two of our conversation with Monica Barone, CEO of the City of Sydney, we discover the changing nature of city relationships with citizens, how that can shape resilience and climate action, and lead to more equitable and inclusive communities.
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 7 - Part 1: Monica Barone, CEO, City of Sydney
The part one of the latest episode of the Urban Exchange sees Monica Barone, CEO of the City of Sydney, in conversation with Jeff Risom to understand how the nature of resilience is changing, and how Monica and the city are adapting.
The new Urban Exchange Episode takes an in-depth look at the ways the City of Sydney is approaching urban resilience, from engaging with citizens to encouraging proac
Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 6: Daniel Quintero, Mayor of Medellin
Preview: The latest episode of the Urban Exchange brings together Mayor of Medellín Daniel Quintero with Leading Cities’ Mike Lake to discuss the advance of urban resilience in Colombia’s second-largest city.
The new Urban Exchange takes an in-depth look at how Medellín has been led through times of strain in the pandemic by Mayor Quintero, and how it is now emerging as a more resilien
Urban Exchange Episode 5: Andy Foster, Mayor of Wellington
Lauren Sorkin, executive director at Resilient Cities Network, will be joined by Mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, to focus on the overarching frame of Mayor Andy Foster’s leadership on digital resilience with highlights on Wellington’s award-winning Digital Twin initiative and working with start-ups and digital businesses.
Urban Exchange Episode 4: Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami
Episode four of the Urban Exchange podcast comes direct from Cop26 in Glasgow, as Resilient Cities Network executive director, Lauren Sorkin, hosts Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez, to reflect on Cop26, climate adaptation and mitigation, and the Mayor’s role in futureproofing Miami through digital technology.
To begin with, Mayor Suarez gives his take on progress at Cop26 and whether he truly beli
Urban Exchange Episode 3: Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council
On the third episode of the Urban Exchange podcast, Jeff Risom, chief innovation officer at Gehl Architects and member of the SmartCitiesWorld advisory board, speaks with Glasgow City Council leader, Susan Aitken, to discuss urban design for a sustainable future and why Glasgow is the perfect host for COP26.
During the conversation, Jeff discovers how Councillor Aitken came to be in her position o
Urban Exchange Episode 2: Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, City of Rotterdam
Episode 2 of the Urban Exchange podcast welcomes the City of Rotterdam’s Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb as its special guest, as he discusses how to advance urban resilience for climate adaptation with the Resilient Cities Network’s (R-Cities) executive director, Lauren Sorkin.
During the discussion, Mayor Aboutaleb speaks about the challenges facing his city at the moment, the steps he’s taking to face t
Urban Exchange Episode 1: Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston
Cities on the Frontlines: Resilient Infrastructure
Preview: The first episode of the Urban Exchange podcast sees Mayor Turner of Houston, the Chair of the Resilient Cities Network Board of Directors, in conversation with Paul Wilson, Chair of the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board. Together, they discuss Houston’s definition of resilience, Houston’s plans to build resilience, and why Houston’s stat
Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines Trailer
Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines is the podcast series from SmartCitiesWorld and the Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities), delivering frank and open conversations between international city leaders and industry practitioners that share ideas to solve urban challenges.
With the world’s cities under pressure to deliver a sustainable future for more than half of the global population – a figur
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