Today, we’re celebrating a big milestone—our 100th episode of the Next City podcast!

It’s hard to believe I’ve somehow hosted more than 50 hours of interviews with our incredible journalists and their sources — each of whom inspires me with their wisdom and impact. I’ve learned so much along the way, that’s for sure.

As I reflect on 100 episodes, though, probably the most important thing I’ve learned is that people will never stop trying to make life better, no matter how entrenched the systems they face. We’re living through challenging times, but the people we meet on the Next City podcast prove that change is possible, and it’s always been happening in cities. (Even when it felt like no one from the federal government was coming to help.)

I have no doubt that work will continue. And that’s because I truly believe that you, our readers and listeners, are exactly what this country needs right now.

I start every episode by saying, “I hope you’re here because you want to spread good ideas from one city to the next city.” I say hope, except I’m certain that nothing can stop you. You’re turning strangers into neighbors, prioritizing people over profits, and showing up in solidarity. In 100 more episodes, I expect I’ll be interviewing many of you about what you did to meet this moment.

Thank you for your continued support of Next City. We’re a nonprofit, so we can’t do this without you. Thanks for believing in the importance of solutions-based journalism.

This Is Our Land, Not A Money-Making Scheme

Can organizers for a network of community land trusts in Los Angeles help keep real estate out of the control of giant corporations? We speak with Fanny Guzman Ortiz, founder of Fideicomiso Comunitario Tierra Libre.

Is Giving Away Cash the Best Way to Cut Poverty?

Guaranteed income has gone from a dream to reality in numerous pilot programs across the country. We speak with the leader of Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which has served more than 230 Black mothers since 2018.

The First City To Launch Its Own Bank

What becomes possible when the public owns the bank? Philadelphia wants to find out, with a public bank venture intended to support small businesses and break down the racial wealth gap. We speak to Derek Green, the city council member championing Philadelphia’s version of a public bank.

This Ride-Hailing App Alternative Is Owned By the Drivers

You’ve probably heard complaints about Uber and Lyft from drivers who spend all day working for the apps but who aren’t full-time employees. A group of drivers started asking, “Why don’t we have our own app?” And from there, a new app that is 100% worker-owned was born. It’s already live in the nation’s biggest competitive market — New York City. We speak with one of its founders, Ken Lewis.

An “Unapologetically Black” Monument Rises in Los Angeles

Can a 1.3-mile long monument preserve the culture of a Black neighborhood as it faces the specter of gentrification? We speak with Jason Foster, president of Destination Crenshaw, which is charged with bringing the monument to life.

These Cities Have Ended Chronic Homelessness

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for homelessness. But there is a by-name database and a program called “Built for Zero” that is ending homelessness, one person at a time. We speak with Rosanne Haggerty and Jake Maguire from Community Solutions, the organization that runs Built for Zero.

Boston Is Helping To Buy Up Buildings And Keep Rents Affordable

The city purchased 36 triple-decker buildings in late 2022. All of them have been placed into the East Boston Neighborhood Trust. We speak with Andres Del Castillo, an organizer with City Life/Vida Urbana, the Boston nonprofit that organized the tenants fighting to stay in their homes.

Chinatown Nights Is Cultural Power And Preservation

One organization creates “place-keeping” that fights gentrification, counters a wave of anti-Asian hate exacerbated by the pandemic, and celebrates what makes Chinatown special. We speak with Yin Kong, a co-founder of Think!Chinatown.

Why So Many People Attend City Meetings in Lexington

The nonprofit CivicLex, launched in 2017, is keeping the public informed — and getting them engaged in local government. We speak with Richard Young, founder and executive director of CivicLex, about how the initiative has pushed local government officials to rethink how to connect with the public.

A Boston Neighborhood’s Cautionary Tale About Climate Change

The Seaport neighborhood in Boston is nicknamed by activists as the “Inundation District.” A new documentary of the same name shows where urban planning went wrong and what residents are doing now. We speak with filmmaker David Abel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who’s spent a decade reporting on climate change for The Boston Globe.

This post was originally published on Next City.