Soundings

Green Health

Join Natalia, Iamanni, and Marjorie on a journey of investigating the connection of health inequity and sustainability in diabetes treatments! 

Reimagining the Road Ahead

"Reimagining the Road Ahead" delves into the concept of car-free days, especially their implementation in Bogotá and Paris, the political and practical challenges to their widespread adoption, and the broader push to re-imagine urban spaces with fewer cars.
Interviews:Enrique Peñalosa is a Colombian politician and urban strategist who served as mayor ofBogotá (1998–2000, 2016–2019). He is known for championing sustainable urban mobility,including Bogotá’s TransMilenio bus system and the city’s first Día Sin Carro (Car-Free Day), abold initiative that reshaped public attitudes toward transportation and urban space. His policiesprioritized pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, aiming to create a more equitable andaccessible city.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Pe%C3%B1alosaDaniel Rich is a former local government manager with over 30 years of public sectorexperience. He served as Mountain View’s City Manager from 2011 to 2019, overseeingcomplex land use projects and regional planning efforts. Earlier in his career, he held leadershiproles in Sunnyvale, Belmont, and Campbell, as well as working for members of Congress. Sinceretiring, he has been a lecturer at Stanford University, teaching courses on public policy andlocal governmenthttps://urbanstudies.stanford.edu/people/daniel-h-richDehan (Danno) Glanz is an urban designer and planner with expertise in transit-orienteddevelopment. His work spans large-scale village design, architectural prototypes, andmixed-use neighborhoods that integrate sustainable transportation. He has contributed toprojects such as the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Re-Use Plan and the Richmond BARTTransit Village. Glanz holds a BA in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Master ofArchitecture from UCLA. (Though not in our podcast, his interview helped our group refine ourscope early in production).https://urbanstudies.stanford.edu/people/dehan-danno-glanz
 
MusicArtist | Song Title | Source (in order of appearance)Carlos Vives | Ella Es Mi Fiesta | YouTubeGreenfire | False Records | Blue Dot SessionsJon Presstone | The Nature of Curiosity | YouTubeDesjardins | The Maison | Blue Dot SessionsAzalai | Taoudella | Blue Dot SessionsBodytonic | Thannoid | Blue Dot SessionsMaurice Larcange | Traditionnel musette | YouTubeStromae | Alors on danse | YouTubeGlass Obelisk | First Results | Blue Dot SessionsEltham House | Delicates | Blue Dot SessionsThe Fence | Bivly | Blue Dot Sessions
ReferencesAtlas of Urban Expansion - Los Angeles. (n.d.).http://www.atlasofurbanexpansion.org/cities/view/Los_Angeles This online resource provides detailed spatial and statistical data on the urban expansion of Los Angeles, emphasizing the city's extensive growth and sprawling roadnetworks. It highlights how urban development patterns have shaped car-centric land use and transportation infrastructure.Chrisafis, A. (2015, September 27). All-blue skies in Paris as city centre goes car-free for firsttime. The Guardian; The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/27/all-blue-skies-in-paris-as-city-centre-goes-car-free-for-first-time
This news article reports on Paris’s first car-free day, describing the environmental and social impact of the initiative, including improved air quality and public reception. It serves as a case study demonstrating the short-term benefits of restricting car access in urban centers.Glazener, A., Wylie, J., Van Waas, W., & Khreis, H. (2022). The impacts of Car-Free Days andevents on the environment and human health. Current Environmental Health Reports,9(2), 165–182.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00342-yThis peer-reviewed study reviews global evidence on how car-free events affect air pollution levels and public health, with findings that support reduced vehicular traffic as a means to improve urban environmental conditions. The authors also explore limitations and recommendations for future policy design.
Identifying the amount of urban space occupied by roads. (2021, June 21). EU Urban Mobility Observatory.https://urban-mobility-observatory.transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/identifying-amount-urban-space-occupied-roads-2021-06-21_enThis article examines how much of a city's surface area is allocated to road infrastructure, highlighting the implications for urban planning and sustainability. It underscores the need to reevaluate space usage in cities dominated by car-centric designs.Masiol, M., Agostinelli, C., Formenton, G., Tarabotti, E., & Pavoni, B. (2014). Thirteen years of air pollution hourly monitoring in a large city: Potential sources, trends, cycles and effects of car-free days. The Science of the Total Environment, 494–495, 84–96.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.06.122Based on over a decade of air quality monitoring, this study analyzes pollution patterns and confirms measurable air quality improvements during car-free days. It offers valuable data for policymakers aiming to implement sustainable transportation strategies.
Mercier, J. (2009). Equity, social justice, and sustainable urban transportation in the Twenty-First Century. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 31(2), 145–163.https://doi.org/10.2753/atp1084-1806310201Mercier explores the intersection of transportation planning with equity and social justice, arguing for inclusive policies that consider marginalized communities. The article critiques conventional transportation systems and proposes frameworks for more equitable urban mobility.Paris Journée sans Voitures. (2015, October). Soundlandscapes’ Blog.https://soundlandscapes.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/paris-journee-sans-voitures/This blog post offers a personal narrative and sound-based exploration of Paris's car-free day, capturing the unique urban atmosphere when motor traffic is halted. It complements academic studies with experiential insight into public reactions and sensory transformations.Potter, B. (2023, August 10). How the Car Came to LA. Construction Physics.https://www.construction-physics.com/p/how-the-car-came-to-laPotter provides a historical analysis of how Los Angeles developed its car-dominated infrastructure, explaining economic, political, and cultural factors. The article contextualizes current urban form and mobility issues in the city’s past transportation choices.Statista. (2025, April 28). Transportation sector CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 1975-2024.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1118464/transportation-co2-emissions-in-the-us-energy-consumption/#:~:text=U.S.%20transportation%20sector%20emissions%20from,percent%20of%20the%20global%20total.This statistical source charts U.S. transportation-related CO₂ emissions over five decades, illustrating trends and contributing factors. It serves as a key reference for understanding the environmental footprint of vehicular travel.The Paris Agreement and uncertainty in the warming from 1850-1900 to recent decades. (n.d.).Copernicus. https://climate.copernicus.eu/GCH2023-Paris-AgreementThis article discusses the scientific assessments underpinning the Paris Agreement targets, focusing on climate change baselines and projected temperature increases. It emphasizes the urgency of reducing emissions, including from transportation, to meet global climate goals.UNFCCC. (2025). The Paris Agreement. United Nations Climate Change; United Nations.https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreementThis official UN source outlines the framework and commitments of the Paris Agreement,aiming to limit global warming through national contributions and mitigation strategies. It provides the international policy context for local climate actions, including transportation
reform.Urry, J., Leach, J. M., Dunn, N., Coulton, C., & Team, L. C. (2017). The little book of car free cities.This publication presents a concise guide to envisioning and implementing car-freeurban environments, supported by case studies and design principles. It advocates forreimagined cityscapes that prioritize people, sustainability, and public health over privatevehicle use.

2025 Stories to Save Our Planet trailer

The United Nations have called climate change the challenge of our generation. A growing body of environmental storytelling is bringing clarity to complicated climate conversations by casting a vision for a better future, and providing compelling, actionable climate change solutions. In this course, students have the opportunity to contribute to that conversation by creating a 10 to 15-minute narrative podcast episode that entertains, challenges, and moves your audience. 

The Sound of Profit

Follow Jacob, Miles, and Victor through a story about musical exploitation, globalization, and hope, starting with the creation of Jazz and concluding with the future of Afrobeats. 
 
Names: Jacob Matlof, Miles C. Selles, and Victor Chen
Interviewees:
Bolaji Oyedepo 
Bolaji Oyedepo is an Nigerian American musician from Houston, Texas, paving his own way in the modern music industry with the fusion of Afrobeats with hip hop and R&B. He’s known for his primarily afrobeats song “OWO!”.
Viranshi Vira
Viranshi Vira is a student at Case Western University. Raised in Los Angeles, Vira found her love for K-pop during the pandemic and has been fascinated by the industry ever since. However, she’s also aware of the forces that shape the K-pop industry.
Dr. Pheaross Graham - music.stanford.edu/people/pheaross-graham
Dr. Pheaross Graham is a Mellon Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center and Lecturer in the Department of Music at Stanford University. He is a musicologist and concert pianist with expertise in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western art and African American music. 
Research: No research was explicitly cited in the episode. However, the following resources were consulted during the development of the podcast:
The Origins of Jazz - Jazz Observer
Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’: Big Mama Thornton’s Influence – Rolling Stone
Little Richard: I Am Everything Documentary Review – Rolling Stone
Studs Terkel Radio Archive - Jazz Topics
Forum Discussion on Record Label Hopping in the 50s and 60s
Big Mama Thornton – Wikipedia
Hound Dog (Song) – Wikipedia
WhoSampled - Elvis Presley's ‘Hound Dog’ Covers
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller – Wikipedia
Fela Kuti – Wikipedia
Fela Kuti Official Website
Is K-pop Afrobeats Here to Stay? – JoySauce
 
Music Acknowledgements:
“Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton, Youtube 
“Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley, Youtube
“Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard, Youtube
“Money” by Pink Floyd, Youtube
“Shakara” by Fela Kuti, Youtube
“OWO!” by Bōlají, Provided by Artist, Deezer
“Smart” by Le Sserafim, Youtube
“Dynamite” by BTS, Youtube