Who Killed the Starter Home?

Not a Bubble, Just Demand - Conversation with Salim Furth

In this episode, economist Salim Furth explains why the housing crisis isn’t just speculation: it’s demand running headfirst into regulation. His research quantifies how much red tape really costs families in this country.
We also talk about how towns fall over themselves to lure big companies while failing the small and mid-size developers who could actually build the housing we need. Along the way, Salim shares inspiring success stories from Texas to Maine and even offers advice for our gubernatorial candidates.

Unstoppable: Housing Reformer with a Newborn - Conversation with Rashi Kesarwani

Berkeley Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani shares how she ran and won on a pro-housing platform, and how that has now become the norm. Did you know that Berkeley, the birthplace of single-family zoning, just passed ordinances allowing 8 units per parcel + 8 ADUs as of right? As Rashi says, “It’s so much more fun to say yes to new people in your community.”

Vision or Vandalism? When Development Erases Art - Conversation with Leon Rainbow

Graffiti artists are often the first responders to abandonment. But what happens to their art when development moves in?
In this episode, graffiti artist and muralist Leon Rainbow shares his journey—from tagging walls in California to painting Trenton’s largest mural on the outside of the maximum-security prison. We dive into the role of art as expression, as business, and as community building.
 

Do NOT Sell Grandma's Home! conversation with Shaheed Morris

Shaheed Morris takes us inside his personal journey, from nearly losing his grandmother’s home to building a bigger vision for Trenton’s future and for his own. He’s working, studying, and building all at the same time, turning challenge into momentum and vision into action.

Redefining Luxury: Walkability, History, and Community - Conversation with John Hatch

In this episode Architect and Developer John Hatch and I explore how walkability, historic charm, and a strong sense of place can be the real luxuries—and why cities like Trenton are full of starter home treasures waiting to be rediscovered. I especially love the story of John and his collaborators literally bringing 18 homes back to life in their own neighborhood—and that’s just the beginning.
 

Want a City That Works? Give a Damn! Conversation with Sean Jackson

In this episode, Sean Jackson, CEO of Isles, shares his thoughts on what it takes to grow a city that truly works. We talk about Trenton’s housing and community revitalization—and how it all starts with caring enough to make change happen. Isles is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and educating adults and youth, helping families build wealth through innovative financial services, and promoting healthy living.

Bedroom Community to True Community, Conversation with Roland Pott

This first conversation is with Roland Pott, a real estate broker, developer, and longtime Trenton resident. We talk about what it really takes to turn a “bedroom community” into a real one.
Trenton’s walkability, density, and affordability offer a rare opportunity: a place where first-time buyers and small-scale developers can help shape the city’s future—without waiting for billion-dollar investments or zoning miracles.
Roland shares why this historic city is already built for community—and why now is the time to bring it to life

Is NIMBYism Hypocrisy? Conversation with Christopher Chowton

In this episode, I spoke with Professor Christopher Cowton, an expert in business ethics and co-author of a powerful paper on hypocrisy. Joining us from London, he helps unpack the moral tension at the heart of NIMBYism—when people who support progressive values push back on new housing in their own neighborhoods.
Is it hypocrisy? Fear? Or something deeper? And how can philosophy help us talk about housing more honestly—and more possibly more productively?

You Get What You Tax For - conversation with Joe Small

In this episode, I spoke with the Honorable Judge Joe Small, retired presiding judge of the Tax Court of New Jersey. Judge Small breaks down how our property tax system, rooted in 1940s constitutional language, affects everything from starter home construction to school funding, and why it’s often lower- and middle-income families who end up footing the bill.
We talk about what's broken, what could be fixed, and why some reforms are harder than they should be.
We would like to hear what you think about this conversation or if you have any ideas for how to bring the starter homes back from the brink of extinction, send us a note at starterhomepodcast@gmail.com

The Government IS Working, conversation with Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez of NJ DCA

In this episode, I spoke with Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). As one of the state’s largest departments, DCA is on a mission to support residents, local governments, businesses, and community organizations through financial assistance, technical expertise, and smart policy—helping improve quality of life across New Jersey.
I’ve personally benefited from DCA’s technical services, so it was especially exciting to hear about the innovative and ongoing programs that are saving taxpayers money and expanding access to homeownership in our state.
Here are the links to the programs we talked about:
NJHOMES: https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/njhomes.shtml
Section 8 Homeownership Program: https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/section8ho.shtml
Family Self Sufficiency: https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/fss.shtml
Affordable Housing Trust Fund: https://www.nj.gov/dca/dhcr/offices/ahtf.shtml