‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Are Chattanoogans ‘Doing It Their Damn Selves’? — Presented By City Cast Madison
Sometimes it can feel like the Madison government is two (or more) steps behind the needs of its neighborhoods. Enter the residents of Chattanooga, Tennessee. What Chattanoogans don’t have, they make up for in advocacy, whether by showing up to city council and organizing for change or just doing things themselves. City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with creator and city lover Hope Henchey about how she and her neighbors are sneakily and secretly fixing up their city. You’ve heard of the Nashville bench builders — now get ready for the Chattanooga pothole fillers, sidewalk layers, and (literal) trail blazers.
Mentioned on the show:
- Atlas Obscura feature on the community-built benches in Chattanooga
- Efforts by Strong Chattanooga to make a path through the woods in a sidewalk-less neighborhood
- Review of Hoboken's streak of zero traffic fatalities
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
How AI Is Changing Madison, Plus Updates from Breese Stevens Field
The owners of Forward Football Club and Rally Madison are looking to make some big changes to Breese Stevens Field. Big Top Events also o...

Inside YWCA Madison’s 2026 Racial Justice Summit
This October marks the 25th year of the YWCA Madison Racial Justice Summit. Ahead of the two-day conference, City Cast Madison host Bianc...

WI Attorney General on Meta Payout, PFAS Settlement, and Ruiz Investigation
Wisconsin is set to receive at least $219 million from Meta as part of a multi-state settlement over allegations the social media company...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast Madison
It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Madison, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizz...

AI Art Letter Explained, City Council Rejects Relief Fund, and Badger Applications Double
The controversy over an AI-driven sculpture coming to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art continues: in an open letter with hundreds o...

Train Your Mind To Be IRONMAN Strong
IRONMAN Wisconsin is coming to Madison this weekend. Expect closed streets and super fit Madison visitors! For those of us who aren’t t...

State Climatologist on Wisconsin's Wild Weather & Climate Change
A new United Nations report says global warming has hit the point of no return and is set to consistently exceed the 1.5°C benchmark set...

MMoCA Director on AI Art, and New Exhibits at Remodeled Chazen
An upcoming art installation at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art has sparked some controversy due to its use of AI. On today’s podc...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Nashville Is Beating Flock — Presented By City Cast Madison
Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in Madison? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measure...

AI Art Sparks Backlash, Finance Committee Rejects More Police Monitor Funding, and New MSN Direct Flights
This week, the Madison Finance Committee voted unanimously to deny additional funding for the Office of the Independent Police Monitor. T...


