In this episode of Challenger Cities, we chat with Paul Owens, co-founder of BOP Consulting, long-time collaborator of Charles Landry, and one of the most quietly influential thinkers on culture and cities anywhere in the world.

Paul has spent decades helping cities understand something most of them overlook: culture isn’t a sector or an industry, it’s an operating system of a place. It’s who you are, where you come from, and how you imagine yourself collectively as a city.

We talk about:

• Culture as a public good, drawing on Robert Hewison’s definition and why it still cuts through the noise.
• Why assets don’t matter nearly as much as institutional capacity — the ability of a city to reflect on itself and act with confidence.
• London 2012 and how the Cultural Olympiad temporarily galvanised the UK’s cultural brain.
• Berlin’s cultural immune system, its resistance to monoculture, and why it remains a beacon of civic confidence.
• Chengdu’s “Park City” model, greenways, bike networks and how spatial planning can actively cultivate cultural life.
• The vanishing of cheap space and the consequences for artists, identity and civic vibrancy.
• Participation as democratic infrastructure, and why cultural engagement is one of the few things that strengthens both social cohesion and civic imagination.
• Paul’s magic wand: a permanent cultural endowment that recycles the public value culture creates back into the ecosystem.

This episode is for anyone who senses that culture is doing far more work in a city than we usually acknowledge. Paul offers a way to see it, and measure it, and invest in it, that feels both urgent and hopeful.

Melissa Bruntlett discusses her book 'Women Changing Cities' and the transformative role of women in urban mobility and planning. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, care, and community engagement in creating sustainable and equitable cities. The discussion covers various global cities, the challenges faced in transportation, and the impact of female leadership on urban change. Bruntlett shares insights on grassroots movements and the need for collaboration to drive positive change in urban environments.

Takeaways

• Women are making significant contributions to urban mobility.
• Empathy and care are essential in urban planning.
• Cities should be designed with children and families in mind.
• Grassroots movements can lead to meaningful change.
• Female leadership often results in more inclusive policies.
• Transportation systems must address everyday needs, not just commutes.
• Collaboration and community engagement are key to success.
• Stories of transformation can inspire action in other cities.
• Urban planning should focus on creating enjoyable public spaces.
• Change takes time, and patience is crucial in advocacy.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Urban Mobility and Advocacy
• 04:32 Women Transforming Cities
• 07:06 The Inspiration Behind 'Women Changing Cities'
• 10:09 The Role of Women in Urban Mobility
• 12:34 Care and Mobility: A New Perspective
• 15:14 Empathy in Urban Leadership
• 17:57 Navigating Backlash Against Female Leaders
• 20:25 Collective Efforts in Urban Transformation
• 23:03 Finding Common Ground in Urban Development
• 25:39 Global Perspectives on Urban Spaces
• 31:18 Exploring Urban Challenges in Delhi
• 34:04 Innovative Solutions for Women's Safety in Transportation
• 38:46 Empowering Local Voices in Urban Change
• 39:17 Finding Your Place in Urban Advocacy
• 43:51 The Role of Women in Urban Leadership
• 50:04 The Importance of Fun in Urban Spaces
• 56:43 Exploring Urban Challenges and Innovations

This one’s a little different. We sat down with Lady Valeska, a professional dominatrix now based in London, to talk about what cities, workplaces, and leaders could learn from the world of kink.

It turns out, quite a lot!

We talked about power, shame, permission, and trust, but not in the ways you’d expect. Lady Valeska’s version of dominance isn’t about control, rather it's about awareness. She reads people the way good designers read context: through signals, not assumptions.

We got into:

• How communication and consent could fix more than just our sex lives.
• Why shame might be the most dangerous civic material ever invented.
• The death of anticipation in a world addicted to instant gratification.
• What the kink community understands about safety that most cities don’t.
• And why London’s chaos has its own erotic energy — while Toronto still plays it a little too polite.

It’s not an episode about sex. It’s about systems, culture and the trust it takes to make exploration feel safe.

Because whether you’re designing a city, a company, or a scene ... the rules are the same: communication, consent, boundaries, safe words and aftercare.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Kink and Dominatrix Culture
• 04:45 The Evolution of a Dominatrix
• 07:27 Communication and Consent in Kink
• 10:02 Creating a Safe Space for Exploration
• 12:43 The Dynamics of Shame and Acceptance
• 15:03 Gender Fluidity and Societal Norms
• 17:55 Cultural Differences in Leadership and Communication
• 20:22 The Impact of Technology on Kink and Sex Work
• 22:42 The Diversity of Kinks and Online Perceptions
• 25:11 The Importance of Failure in Personal Growth
• 27:46 Communication in Kink and Relationships
• 30:55 Cultural Perspectives on Kink and Acceptance
• 32:02 Comparing Life in Toronto and London
• 36:21 Generational Differences in Acceptance
• 39:05 Wishing for a Better Future: Free Healthcare for All
• 39:56 Exploring Taboo Conversations
• 40:19 Personal Growth Through Challenging Topics