Advertise on podcast: Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast

How does one of the fastest growing cities in the United States keep improving its services without simply hiring more people? In this episode, we speak with Paul Grimes, City Manager, and Brandon Opiela, Chief Data and AI Officer, both of the City of McKinney, Texas, USA, about the answer they have landed on: reforming the way work gets done. We explore McKinney's High Performance Organisation culture, which networks talent across teams and pushes decision making down to whoever is closest to a problem. Paul explains why protecting space for staff to experiment is a leadership priority, while Brandon describes the results in practice: an internal innovation fund called Project Magpie, an Innovation Academy that teaches lean process thinking in plain language, and the data centralisation work that gives AI something trustworthy to build on. We also discuss the city's AI sandbox, where staff with no coding background build tools for their own departments. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:37) - Teaser question: If you could choose one animal to describe McKinney, which would it be and why?(00:04:01) - Guest background(00:07:51) - What Makes McKinney Unique(00:12:07) - High Performance Organization Culture(00:17:41) - Centralizing Municipal Data(00:24:10) - Delegating Decision Making(00:27:00) - Providing Tinkering Space(00:29:01) - Project Magpie Explained(00:31:47) - The Innovation Academy(00:34:37) - AI Sandbox And Vibe Coding(00:38:32) - Overcoming Innovation Distractions(00:40:41) - Current City Challenges(00:43:05) - Advice For Other Cities(00:47:10) - Segment: Flip the Script(00:52:08) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, we cross the Atlantic to Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, to explore how a city builds a more intentional innovation culture from the inside. We are joined by Ishu Gupta, Innovation and Data Strategy Lead for the City of Green Bay, who works at the intersection of change management, technology, and data inside the Mayor's Office. We look at why Green Bay is moving from solution-led innovation towards defining the problem first, his view of data as civic infrastructure, and the structures the city has built around it. We also touch on data-informed community engagement around public safety, procurement reform, and what separates a useful conversation about AI from the hype. To go deeper on the thinking behind this episode, Ishu has shared his own piece on why process comes before technology for city innovators. You can read it here: https://ishugupta.substack.com/p/for-city-innovators-process-before Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:20) - Teaser question: Green Bay is well known for the packers, but if you had to describe the city beyond football within the three emojis, what would the emojis be?(00:02:51) - Guest background(00:07:49) - Green Bay's Unique Context(00:10:34) - Data as Civic Infrastructure(00:17:56) - Problem-First Innovation(00:24:05) - Data-Informed Community Engagement(00:27:08) - Streamlining City Procurement(00:32:10) - AI in Local Government(00:35:55) - Unlocking Meaningful Innovation(00:37:08) - The Role of Leadership(00:39:02) - Segment: Inspire Us(00:40:21) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode of Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast, we head to Kyiv, Ukraine, to explore Mental Guard, a city-level mental health initiative embedded within the public education system. We are joined by Kateryna Mohylnytska, Head of the Mental Health Project and Chief Communications Officer of the Kyiv Digital Agency, Ukraine. Kateryna explains how Mental Guard moves schools from reaction to prevention, noticing early signals before they become a crisis. She walks us through its three pillars: early wellbeing assessment, rapid human response, and coordination through trusted digital tools. The conversation looks closely at how the city safeguards sensitive data, designs for trust, and co-creates with children, teachers, and psychologists. We also discuss what success looks like beyond numbers, the challenge of scaling without losing humanity, and practical advice for cities and companies that want to build similar support systems. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:26) - Teaser question: Could you describe Mental Guard with only three emojis?(00:03:22) - Guest background(00:05:28) - Pressures in Kyiv Schools(00:07:40) - The Mental Health Gap(00:09:16) - What is Mental Guard?(00:11:00) - City-Level Infrastructure(00:12:26) - Digital Trust and Communication(00:14:40) - Privacy and Safeguarding(00:16:51) - Prevention and Early Detection(00:19:25) - Measuring Success(00:21:33) - Advice for Other Cities(00:23:23) - Scaling the Initiative(00:25:48) - Collaborating with Companies(00:28:11) - Open Floor(00:29:41) - Segment: Inspire us(00:31:02) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

Dans cet épisode francophone de Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast, nous traversons l'Atlantique pour nous rendre à Montréal, la métropole francophone d'Amérique du Nord. Nous y recevons Natacha Beauchesne, commissaire au développement économique en charge de l'économie circulaire au sein du Service du développement économique de la Ville de Montréal, au Canada. Natacha nous explique comment Montréal aborde l'économie circulaire non pas comme une politique de gestion des déchets, mais comme un levier de transformation économique. Devenue en 2024 la deuxième ville au monde, après Munich, à se doter d'un rapport sur l'écart de circularité avec Circle Economy, Montréal a mesuré son point de départ : 3 % de circularité, avec un objectif de 17 % d'ici 2050. Nous abordons sa feuille de route co-construite avec le milieu des affaires, des initiatives concrètes comme Synergie Montréal, et ce qui rend une solution réellement attractive pour une grande ville. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:17) - Teaser question: si la ville de Montréal était un animal, quel animal serait-elle et pourquoi?(00:03:31) - Guest background(00:06:22) - Defining Circular Economy(00:09:16) - Circularity Gap Report(00:12:19) - Co-constructing the Roadmap(00:14:50) - Concrete Circular Actions(00:19:11) - Economic Development Focus(00:22:17) - Public-Private Collaboration(00:25:23) - Remaining Challenges(00:27:58) - Open Floor(00:29:54) - Segment: Trial and Error(00:32:18) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

Taiwan's Yunlin County supplies one in every three vegetables and pigs on the nation's dining tables. Yet its transformation extends far beyond traditional agriculture. Join Hsieh Shu-ya, Deputy Magistrate of Yunlin County, Taiwan, as she reveals how Yunlin is reimagining rural innovation through smart technology, circular economy strategies, and inclusive design. From AI-powered crop predictions that help farmers make data-driven decisions to converting agricultural waste into high-value textiles and green energy, Yunlin demonstrates how infrastructure investment, strategic partnerships, and empathy-driven leadership can turn demographic challenges into economic renewal. Discover how a county once defined by farming is becoming a competitive Agri-Industrial-Commercial Tech City, attracting young entrepreneurs and positioning itself on the global stage whilst ensuring no one is left behind. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:07) - Teaser question: if you had to describe Yunlin in just three words, what would they be?(00:03:46) - Guest background(00:05:06) - Yunlin's Role(00:06:52) - Agricultural Infrastructure(00:08:50) - AI in Farming(00:10:27) - Market Competitiveness(00:13:13) - Transforming Waste(00:15:30) - Circular Economy(00:17:46) - Financial Sustainability(00:20:12) - Inclusive Design(00:22:44) - Empowering Youth(00:26:10) - Future Challenges(00:28:32) - Segment: Inspire us(00:30:56) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

Kansas City is not chasing AI hype. Instead, Andrew Ngui, Chief Digital Officer of Kansas City, Missouri, United States, is focused on the essential work that makes artificial intelligence functional in local government: aligning data, processes, and people. In this episode, we explore what lies beneath every successful AI implementation. Through Kansas City's work with the Bloomberg City Data Alliance and their 311 service redesign, Andrew reveals the real challenges facing city governments adopting AI. He challenges the sector's obsession with technological solutions and redirects attention to what truly matters: organisational change, staff readiness, and the psychological safety required for innovation to take root. We also discuss the risks often left unspoken: the unintended consequences of automation, the value of thinking time embedded in routine work, and why human-to-human connection should never be outsourced to machines. Andrew shares practical tools developed through the Gov AI Coalition to help cities move beyond pilots, and why meaningful work built on autonomy, mastery, and purpose is the real driver of transformation. A conversation about what it actually takes to implement AI responsibly in cities, and why the future belongs to those who think before they deploy. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:34) - Teaser question: what's the most very human problem in your city that you, you never dare hand to an AI machine or anything like that?(00:04:38) - Guest background(00:07:04) - Introducing Kansas City(00:09:19) - Improving 311 Services(00:15:51) - Risks of AI Implementation(00:18:53) - GovAI Coalition Tools(00:22:27) - Human Readiness for AI(00:25:54) - Removing Structural Barriers(00:28:48) - Effective Vendor Partnerships(00:33:27) - Unintended AI Consequences(00:37:55) - Segment: Hot Take of the Day(00:38:48) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

Michael Rech, Mayor of Folgaria, manages one of Italy's most dynamic Alpine municipalities. Located in the Dolomites, Folgaria welcomes 2 million visitors annually while maintaining a permanent population of just 3,000 residents spread across 33 villages. This creates a unique tension: balancing climate commitments with the realities of a tourism-dependent economy. In this episode, Michael explores how small mountain municipalities can turn climate goals into everyday action. He discusses practical strategies for energy efficiency in public buildings, innovative water management systems that respond to Folgaria's unique geography, and sustainable mobility solutions tailored to Alpine terrain. Throughout the conversation, Michael emphasises the importance of collaboration and long-term partnerships in overcoming resource constraints. The episode reveals how small municipalities can move beyond theoretical planning to deliver concrete results, even with limited budgets and administrative capacity. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:15) - Teaser question: if you have a fun fact, or maybe a very little known fact about Folgaria.(00:02:47) - Guest background(00:04:55) - Municipality Day-to-Day Reality(00:06:36) - Everyday Climate Action(00:07:54) - Balancing Local Pressures(00:09:45) - Energy Efficiency Upgrades(00:12:58) - Water Infrastructure Challenges(00:16:14) - Low-Impact Mobility Strategy(00:20:52) - Small Municipality Challenges(00:21:45) - Overcoming Implementation Barriers(00:23:57) - Approaching Meaningful Collaboration(00:27:25) - Segment: Shout Out(00:28:42) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, recorded in collaboration with the Urban Future 2026 conference in Ljubljana, we travel to Vienna, Austria, to discuss practical climate action. Our guest, Johannes Lutter, Head of International Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at Urban Innovation Vienna, shares how the city implements its Smart Climate City Strategy. We explore the balance between climate protection and adaptation, highlighting initiatives like public cooling zones designed to combat urban heat and prevent social isolation for vulnerable residents. Johannes also outlines the massive challenge of transitioning 600,000 households from gas heating to renewable alternatives by 2040. Additionally, we look into how Vienna fosters co-creation through the Vienna Climate Teams and builds strategic partnerships with academia and the private sector to scale sustainable solutions across the urban landscape. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:45) - Teaser question: What kind of public space most feels like Vienna?(00:03:28) - Guest background(00:04:45) - Smart Climate City Strategy(00:06:31) - Infrastructure Traditions and Challenges(00:08:20) - Climate Adaptation and Heatwaves(00:10:35) - Translating Goals to Standards(00:13:30) - Genuinely Useful Public Participation(00:16:58) - Strategic Institutional Partnerships(00:20:08) - Prioritisation and Political Action(00:23:17) - Scaling Beyond Pilot Projects(00:26:05) - Segment: Top or Flop(00:29:15) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, recorded live at the 2026 Urban Future conference in Ljubljana, we head to Celje, Slovenia. We are joined by Monika Tominšek, Head of Development, Projects and Economy Office, and Tanja Tamše, Expert Associate in the Department for Development, Projects and Economy at the Municipality of Celje. Together, they discuss what it takes to build urban change with people, rather than just for them. The conversation explores the EU-supported MAG-NET project, which addresses the challenge of brain drain by working to retain local talent. Our guests detail how they make public participation a continuous part of urban governance, from testing ideas with citizens to forming strong alliances across public institutions. Listen in to discover how Celje is translating long-term visions into concrete actions to shape better Smart Cities. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:29) - Teaser question: Do you have a fun or little-known fact about Celje?(00:03:34) - Guest background(00:07:33) - Discovering Celje(00:10:17) - The MAG-NET Project(00:15:29) - Public Participation Strategies(00:23:57) - Long-Term City Vision(00:31:48) - Segment: Flip the Script(00:35:24) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, recorded live at the Urban Future 2026 conference in Ljubljana, we explore the evolving landscape of Mannheim's inner city. Our guest, Petar Drakul, City Centre Commissioner and Head of FutuRaum for the City of Mannheim, Germany, shares insights into navigating complex urban transformations. We discuss the critical difference between merely participating in a process and taking genuine ownership of it. Petar explains how his team brought together over 30 diverse stakeholders to build a shared vision before implementing concrete measures. From creating collaborative greening projects to rethinking public spaces, this episode unpacks the practical realities of engaging local communities. Join us to learn why early involvement and empathy are essential for shaping the Smart Cities of tomorrow. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:21) - Teaser question: explain to me the soul of the city of Mannheim.(00:02:45) - Guest background(00:04:17) - Urgent City Centre Change(00:05:59) - Involving Local Stakeholders(00:08:01) - Creating a Shared Vision(00:11:18) - Reaching Community Agreements(00:14:22) - The Cost of Transformation(00:16:23) - Managing Municipal Budgets(00:19:29) - Engaging Missing Stakeholders(00:24:14) - Handling Community Resistance(00:26:39) - Next Steps for Futuraum(00:31:34) - Segment: Flip the script(00:34:13) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

Recorded live at the 2026 edition of the Urban Future conference in Ljubljana, this episode explores how the City of Toronto, Canada, is rethinking public engagement. Our guest, Daniel Fusca, Manager of Public Consultation, Parks and Recreation at the City of Toronto and Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto School of Cities, shares his approach to treating the public as a true delivery partner. As democracies face declining public trust and growing polarisation, Daniel explains why traditional consultation methods need to be updated. He details how Toronto uses deliberative tools, such as civic lotteries and citizens' assemblies, to bring representative, diverse groups of residents into complex decision-making processes. By sharing accountability and guiding communities through difficult trade-offs, local governments can build resilient decisions that stand the test of time. Tune in to learn how to effectively capture the collective intelligence of your city. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:58) - Teaser question: So if you had to describe Toronto using only three emojis, which ones would you pick?(00:03:16) - Guest background(00:05:07) - Toronto's Growth And Diversity(00:06:58) - Declining Public Trust(00:09:16) - Public As Delivery Partner(00:12:05) - West End Case Study(00:17:27) - Citizens Assemblies(00:26:40) - Rebuilding Public Trust(00:28:34) - Private-Public Partnerships(00:31:34) - Segment: Hot take of the day(00:33:30) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, recorded in collaboration with the Urban Future conference at their 2026 edition in Ljubljana, we sit down with Signe Pērkone, Senior Project Leader and Architect at the City Development Department of the Municipality of Riga, Latvia. While many urban areas plan for continuous growth, Riga faces a different reality: a shrinking population. Signe explains what smart consolidation looks like on the ground, focusing on the strategic development of neighbourhood centres to ensure accessible local services. We explore the use of spatial development plans as negotiation tools to align the public and municipal departments. Signe also shares why flexible planning is essential for adapting to changing circumstances and discusses the practical challenges of handing a masterplan over for implementation. Join us to learn how Riga is consolidating its resources to build a resilient urban environment. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:50) - Teaser question: If you had a superpower to help you with your daily work for the city, which one would it be and why?(00:03:06) - Guest background(00:07:10) - Riga's Urban History(00:11:32) - Smart Consolidation Strategies(00:13:28) - Neighbourhood Centre Plans(00:18:24) - Flexible Urban Planning(00:22:26) - Implementation Challenges(00:30:19) - Segment: Roll with the punches(00:33:34) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this special episode, recorded live in collaboration with the Urban Future conference at their 2026 edition in Ljubljana, we explore the complexities of urban rehabilitation in Porto. We are joined by Ricardo Ferreira da Silva, Programme Manager at Porto Vivo Urban Rehabilitation Society in Portugal. We discuss the challenge of caring for a historic centre while protecting its identity and ensuring it remains a liveable space for residents. Ricardo shares insights into the fragile balance between preserving authenticity and managing the pressures of tourism. The conversation also covers strategies to attract families back to the city centre, the importance of cross-departmental coordination, and how blended-finance models are utilised to support affordable housing and mixed-use spaces. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:04:03) - Guest background(00:06:07) - Living in Historic Porto(00:08:04) - Cross-Department City Collaboration(00:11:40) - Revitalizing City Neighborhoods(00:13:47) - Balancing Tourism and Housing(00:16:35) - Funding and Private Partnerships(00:19:28) - Porto's Core Urban Challenges(00:23:51) - Adapting Plans to Reality(00:26:59) - Lessons for Other Cities(00:33:56) - Segment: Shout Out(00:37:20) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this episode, in collaboration with the Urban Future conference, recorded at their 2026 edition in Ljubljana, we travel to Madrid to explore the intersection of environmental infrastructure, clean mobility, digital operations, and urban innovation. Our guest, José Luis Cifuentes Sastre, Innovation, Promotion and Information Manager at Madrid City Council, shares insights into the Valdemingómez Technology Park. This site functions as a large-scale urban sandbox, testing technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensors in a live operational environment. We discuss how Madrid produces renewable energy from municipal waste to support urban mobility, including EMT bus lines and electric bicycles. The conversation also details the shift towards data-driven operations, digital twins, and the vital role of public-private partnerships in advancing Smart Cities. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:11) - Teaser question: If Madrid were an animal, what animal would it be and why?(00:04:44) - Guest background(00:08:21) - Madrid's Visible Future(00:11:29) - Valdemingomez Technology Park(00:16:50) - City Value Chain Role(00:23:40) - Landfill Innovation Pilots(00:30:50) - Urban Sandbox Regulations(00:33:45) - Scaling Waste Innovations(00:40:56) - Building Successful Partnerships(00:48:56) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”

In this special episode from our Major Cities of Europe 2025 series, we travel to Florence, Italy, to speak with Alessandra Barbieri, Manager in EU Projects and Fund Raising within the City Manager Department of the Municipality of Florence. We discuss the city's recently developed AI Adoption Plan, a strategic framework designed to guide the integration of artificial intelligence into public services. Alessandra explains how Florence is transitioning from isolated pilot projects to a structural system that prioritises transparency, security, and compliance with European and national regulations. The conversation covers the practical steps of implementation, including a comprehensive internal training programme for civil servants and the importance of cross-departmental collaboration. We also examine the environmental impacts of AI and how the municipality aims to balance technological advancement with its climate goals. This episode provides a clear look at how Smart Cities can responsibly adopt new technologies to better serve their citizens. Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page. And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:00) - Teaser question: If you have to pick only three words to describe Florence, which words would you choose and why?(00:03:13) - Guest background(00:04:43) - Need for AI Plan(00:06:17) - Structure of the Plan(00:08:23) - Internal Staff Training(00:14:20) - AI Pilot Use Cases(00:20:20) - AI Environmental Impact(00:22:05) - Implementation Challenges(00:25:05) - Advice for Other Cities(00:26:40) - Collaborating With Companies(00:27:50) - Breaking City Silos(00:30:49) - Segment: Shout Out(00:34:18) - Ending question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”