We met through Twitter and had our first real conversation for a podcast. What a world! Eric Miller is passionate about creating great and healthy cities and other communities, and so am I. He is the editor/publisher of The New Colonist, a site where he and Richard Risemberg chronicle the return of many from life in suburbia and the resurgence and sustainability of city living, in the U.S. and globally. Like me, he is a New Yorker with roots near Pittsburgh who is constantly thinking about cities and suburbs.

A series of weekly podcasts at Newcolonist.com has been exploring arts and culture in various cities, bicycling and other transportation choices, what’s next for suburbia, walkable places, and other aspects of sustainable living. This week, Miller interviewed me for a Newcolonist.com podcast. We discussed the Mindful Walker, walking New York and appreciating architecture, what you experience when walking compared with driving, comparisons of New York and Pittsburgh, changes in Hell’s Kitchen, the challenges of “creative destruction” co-existing with historic preservation, Coney Island, and more.

It’s a conversation that touches upon everything from whether people are aware of their surroundings as they walk around the city to the wonderful, new lawn chairs in Times Square. If you’re so inclined, grab a cup of coffee or tea and give a listen:

A Conversation With the Mindful Walker

(Note: I listened to this podcast through Internet Explorer, which opened the Windows Media Player. This seemed to offer a better listening experience for me than through the Firefox browser, which I customarily use. You can listen to the Newcolonist.com podcasts from this page, or if you have iTunes installed on your computer, you may subscribe to this series through the iTunes store. The Newcolonist.com podcasts are free of charge.)

Interview Questions

Here are some of Eric Miller’s interview questions. What are your own thoughts about them? Definitely feel free to share your thoughts and comments, or even just think about them. Enjoy the conversation!

• What are some of the things you become aware of when walking that you miss when driving?
• Tell me about your neighborhood and how it is changing?
• In the sense of modernity and creative construction, perhaps New York is the most modern city in the U.S. You’re an advocate of preservation. How well can preservation and modernity coexist?
• Do you get the sense that people care to know what’s around them? How can this awareness be nurtured?
• The recent financial crisis has brought major changes to New York including business closings, reduced rents, and job losses. Can you see or feel any changes on the street? What’s better or worse than this time last year? What could the lasting impacts be?
• What would a New Yorker find familiar in Pittsburgh and what would be a learning experience? How about vice versa for a Pittsburgher in New York?