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  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP07 | Dreams Become Policy – From Listening to Lasting Change

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP07 | Dreams Become Policy – From Listening to Lasting Change
    2026/04/14

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    We are back in West Palm Beach, Florida this episode to continue our conversation with Sherryl Muriente, to discuss how the City will use learning from their previous placemaking initiatives to shape a bright future for West Palm Beach.

    As a long time resident of West Palm Beach and now the Public Realm Director for the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Sherryl is working to bring kindness back into the heart of the city through grace, media partnerships and whimsy. Together we discuss the strategy the City is using for collaboration at every level of implementation, the evolution of placemaking still to come, and how to make efficient and effective decisions for the best use of public space.

    The episode covers:

    • How to reframe the media from “adversary” to “ally” and the power of storytelling
    • The launch of a placemaking mini-grants program to help build small dreams relatively quickly to build long-term civic partnerships
    • What it looks like to build collaboration at every level of placemaking and project implementation
    • The difference between qualitative and quantitative and the importance of both in decision making
    • Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about how to turn temporary experiments into permanent installations
    • The need to evolve “placemaking” to avoid it becoming diluted and to maintain intent.



    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/
    Sherryl Muriente | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryl-muriente-060051b/

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP07 | Dreams Become Policy – From Listening to Lasting Change appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 24 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP06 | Subversive Joy: Trojan Horse Tactics for Public Space Imagination

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP06 | Subversive Joy: Trojan Horse Tactics for Public Space Imagination
    2026/04/07

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    In this episode we focus on West Palm Beach, Florida with our guest Sherryl Muriente, is working to bring life back into the heart of the City after the COVID-19 pandemic through whimsical and “play-focused” art installations.

    As the Public Realm Director for the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Sherryl walks us through their largest cultural initiative – The Trojan Horse Project. We discuss the importance of including the elderly and children (both groups often over-looked) in decision making and what new tools can be used to bring cultural changes that impact everyone within a community.

    In this episode we cover:

    • How to leverage the education system as a creative resource for placemaking and the importance of early engagement for a long-lasting community
    • Why imagination, whimsy and play are important tools for positive community engagement
    • The perseverance that is needed to overcome challenges and difficulties when working to create lasting cultural changes and a few strategies to overcome these difficulties.
    • How municipalities can benefit from the use of AI in placemaking initiatives
    • The importance of diversification within internal programming for inclusive and efficient data collection for effective decision making


    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/

    Sherryl Muriente | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryl-muriente-060051b/

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP06 | Subversive Joy: Trojan Horse Tactics for Public Space Imagination appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 25 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP05 | The Long Game: Aligning Values, Vision, and Vibrancy

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP05 | The Long Game: Aligning Values, Vision, and Vibrancy
    2026/03/31

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    We head over to Austin, Texas for this episode to sit down with Matthew Schmidt who takes us through the cultural reset currently developing in the City to create a community where culture and economy can thrive together.

    As a leader in the City of Austin’s Business Development and Economic Expansion division, Matthew walks Emily and Tim through his strategy to a thriving cultural centre through community engagement and economic infrastructure. We dive into the history of cultural funding in Austin, the importance of financial diversification within a civic ecosystem, and the role that the City plays in supporting artists and non-profit organizations to reframe creativity as business.

    This episode covers:

    • The current place-based cultural strategies being used in the City of Austin and how these initiatives have changed over time to bring continuous cultural value to the community
    • The distribution of the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax to fund public spaces and the importance for cities to diversify their revenue streams early
    • The evolution of economic development metrics to dedicated arts offices to accurately capture the cultural impacts in the City
    • Tools which can be used by municipalities to deeply engage their community and how to use these tools to keep meaningful metrics
    • What creators can expect from the City in the next 3-5 years


    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/
    Matthew Schmidt | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattschmidt24/

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP05 | The Long Game: Aligning Values, Vision, and Vibrancy appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 27 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP04 | Building Joy Into the Infrastructure: Downtown Vancouver’s Next Phase

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP04 | Building Joy Into the Infrastructure: Downtown Vancouver’s Next Phase
    2026/03/24

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    We are back in Vancouver, BC, Canada for this episode where we sit down with our guests ClaIre Leaonard, to discuss her strategy to bringing light back to the Downtown core through security, inclusivity and re-usable infrastructure.

    As the current Placemaking and Public Spaces Manager for Vancouver Downtown, Clare walks us through the strategies being used in the City to bring excitement and novelty to the community without constantly starting from scratch – from making anchor events that citizens can rely on annually, to investing in re-usable infrastructure. We dive into the aftermath of the devastating Lapu Lapu Day festival in 2025 and how it affected the city’s approach to safety, as well as the strategies the City is using to bring joy into its (limited) public spaces.

    This episode covers:

    • The importance of security for all public events and it’s evolution over time. Safety is about comfort and inclusivity, not about surveillance.
    • Prioritizing sustainability over spectacles to create anchor events that the community can rely on year-after-year. While residents crave “newness”, lasting vibrancy will only be created through local initiatives
    • Claire’s four pillars of placemaking: activation, beautification, strategic planning and maintenance.
    • How to make the most in a city with limited public spaces for activations.
    • Vancouver’s trajectory for the next five years and beyond



    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/

    Claire Leonard | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcleonard/?originalSubdomain=ca


    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP04 | Building Joy Into the Infrastructure: Downtown Vancouver’s Next Phase appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 14 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP03 | Beyond the Main Stage: Can Events Build Lasting Vibrancy?

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP03 | Beyond the Main Stage: Can Events Build Lasting Vibrancy?
    2026/03/17

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    In this episode we focus on Vancouver, BC, Canada where we sit down with Clare Warner, to discuss how the City of Vancouver is creating lasting vibrancy beyond pop-up events and installations.

    As the former director for planning and engagement, Clare takes us through the core tenets of environmental design in the downtown core – from the city’s approach to public space ownership, to its unique take on public art installations, and the importance for permanent infrastructure to support outdoor initiatives. Together we dive into the city’s master plan for public art installations, the need for community surrounding local art and events, and we try to answer the question: can events alone be enough to build lasting vibrancy?

    This episode covers:

    • Creating a space for “invitation” as opposed to “re-invigoration” to avoid the perception of failure
    • The data and science behind creating “longer lift” in a community through local events instead of investing in a global phenomena
    • While permanent infrastructure is the goal, there is strategy to some semi-permanent spaces
    • Creating strong, lasting relationships between private partners and civic representatives such as local businesses, artists, private property managers, cultural organizations and public departments.
    • Using innovative solutions to fill the public art spaces such as workshops, experiential installation, and multi-day pop-ups.

    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/

    Clare Warner |https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarewarner/?originalSubdomain=ca

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP03 | Beyond the Main Stage: Can Events Build Lasting Vibrancy? appeared first on Story City.
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    59 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP02 | How Baltimore is Using Infrastructure to Reconnect and Reimagine

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP02 | How Baltimore is Using Infrastructure to Reconnect and Reimagine
    2026/03/10

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    In this episode we focus on Baltimore, Maryland where we sit down with our guest Eric Souza, to discuss how his organization is leveraging the community of Midtown to take down historic barriers and build opportunities for the community.

    Eric is the past President for Midtown Baltimore, which is a neighbourhood advocacy and improvement program striving to provide consistent services in order to ensure a clean, green and safe community. Eric walks us through the benefits of a management authority in a small city like Baltimore and how it differs from other civic authorities. We dive into how the city of Baltimore is confronting its difficult history through art, and what initiatives they are planning to leverage art and artists to bring safe access to services to the community. By using art as infrastructure, Midtown Baltimore is able to bring safety and security to their historic neighbourhood.

    This episode explores:

    • The need for art as infrastructure
    • Why the organization strives for maintenance before beautification
    • The importance for equity through safe access for all communities
    • Why cities need to start looking at artists and creatives as civic partners to create and the benefits that can come in investing in artists locally
    • What the future for Baltimore could look like

    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/
    Eric Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-souza-894970112/

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:

    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP02 | How Baltimore is Using Infrastructure to Reconnect and Reimagine appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 17 分
  • Vibrant Spaces S02 EP01 | How Tulsa is Building with Artists, Equity, and Identity in Mind.

    Vibrant Spaces S02 EP01 | How Tulsa is Building with Artists, Equity, and Identity in Mind.
    2026/03/03

    Download Story City to get out and adventure! https://links.storycity.app/forward-to-store

    In this episode we focus on Tulsa, Oklahoma, where guests Meg Gould and Natalie Bowling are using art, infrastructure, and deep listening to bridge historic divides and create a stronger sense of identity for a city still in the process of healing.

    As leaders from Tulsa’s Planning and Economic Development Department and the Downtown Coordinating Council, Meg and Natalie walk us through the city’s evolution—from the trauma of urban renewal and the legacy of redlining, to new pathways for storytelling and celebration. We dive into Tulsa’s public art master plan, equitable investment zones, and the role artists play in serving as cultural ambassadors—bringing light and pride to neighborhoods too often overlooked.

    This episode explores:

    • How artists and infrastructure are being used to repair and reconnect neighborhoods
    • The power of shifting from “revitalization” language to place-based storytelling
    • The promise (and challenge) of funding models driven by private philanthropy
    • Why city planning needs both strategic design and on-the-ground community relationships to succeed
    • How Tulsa is investing in local creatives and sending artists out into the world as ambassadors—to extol the virtues of building your life and career in Tulsa


    SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh8rKab1BFgpmHcjS-9sfOH0fRKPVdE2M
    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city/id1760077454
    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mQxJbv9DF1DdSxl2NTtF3
    LISTEN ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e6c6c83d-f728-4ddd-991e-365439087fcb/vibrant-spaces-podcast-by-story-city

    CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS & GUESTS
    Emily Craven | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycraven/

    Tim Souza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-m-souza/
    Meg Gould | https://www.linkedin.com/in/meggould/
    Natalie Bowling | https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliebowling/

    FOLLOW STORY CITY:
    INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/storycityapp/
    LINKEDIN | https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-city/

    TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@storycityapp

    FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/StoryCityAdventuresSIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER |https://about.storycity.app/Newsletter

    The post Vibrant Spaces S02 EP01 | How Tulsa is Building with Artists, Equity, and Identity in Mind. appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 12 分
  • Vibrant Spaces Podcast Ep 7 – Season Wrap Up – Let’s Build a City!

    Vibrant Spaces Podcast Ep 7 – Season Wrap Up – Let’s Build a City!
    2024/11/15
    Welcome Dear Listeners… ..What a journey it’s been! Today, we’re thrilled to bring you the season finale of Vibrant Spaces Podcast—a show dedicated to reimagining how we activate, connect, and build city spaces that serve our communities. Join co-hosts Emily Craven and Tim Souza as they look back on an inspiring season of placemaking, vibrant storytelling, and groundbreaking city-building ideas that are reshaping urban spaces across the United States. In this special wrap-up episode, Emily and Tim celebrate a season filled with transformative ideas and innovative thinkers. From Tampa to Philadelphia, Baltimore to Kansas City, each city has shared unique insights, demonstrating how cities can be both inclusive and vibrant. Together, they revisit impactful themes from each episode: Tampa’s neighborhood connections, Kansas City’s artistic and community events, Baltimore’s collaborative rise, and Philadelphia’s forward-thinking nighttime economy. Each story added a piece to the puzzle of creating spaces that don’t just function but bring joy, healing, and a sense of belonging to everyone. As we look back on this season’s discussions we take a moment to imagine if we had a magic wand, how we would build own own cities from scratch and ask the questions: How can cities learn from each other? How can we create a framework that makes great ideas scalable across cities? These questions push us toward a vision of cities that are both unique in culture and unified in purpose. So, plug in those headphones and join us one last time this season as we celebrate the moments, leaders, and cities that have paved the way to a more vibrant tomorrow. Here’s to the future of Vibrant Spaces—may it inspire you to imagine what’s possible in your own community! Thank you for joining us this season, and we look forward to continuing this journey together in Season 2! Listen Here or Subscribe on Your Favorite Podcasting Platform Show Notes Learn more about Story City and how we work with partners here. Transcript of this Episode is here. You can subscribe to the Podcast via our YouTube channel here, or via our main Podcast page here where you can also find our other episodes and seasons. Want to be considered for an episode? Email Emily and Tim with information on your city and initiatives and tell us, what do you do innovatively in your city? About your hosts: Emily Craven – Founder & CEO Story City: Emily has worked with cities for well over a decade to reimagine public space via storytelling and upskilling of local creators in digital activations of cities. Regularly driving 30k+ people through targeted city areas via adventure and whimsy, Emily has won national awards, been profiled in multiple magazines, and worked with international organizations like the Institute for the Future of the Book to bring content from the screen to the streets in innovative ways. Tim Souza – Head of Community Activation at Story City: Tim has held many roles and titles over the years with organizations ranging from Microsoft to Thomson Reuters to TEDx, specializing in the building networks of partners to create larger impact than would have been possible individually. With both a passion for and a degree in Peace, Justice, Entrepreneurship and Technology Tim excitedly now tackles the challenges faced by local creatives, cities, and businesses to build strong vibrant communities of creators who add layers of play to the physical world around them via Story City’s innovative model. The post Vibrant Spaces Podcast Ep 7 – Season Wrap Up – Let’s Build a City! appeared first on Story City.
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    1 時間 5 分