Justine Underhill and I chat about her journey to becoming a city councillor in Falls Church, Virginia! We meander our way through the discussion, talking about tons of different topics. Justine Underhill is a city councillor in Falls Church, Virginia, and a content creator who uses her YouTube channel to break down complex urban design and economic issues. With a background in economics and performing arts, she combines data-driven storytelling with advocacy for safer, more walkable, and housing-abundant communities. Her journey into urbanism began in New York City and led her from community organizing to running for elected office. ~~ Find Justine ~~Website: https://justineunderhill.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@justine-underhillInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justineundyBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/justineunderhill.bsky.social================Some topics we explore are: • How Ben discovered Justine via Reddit’s “f**k cars” community• Traffic calming designs (e.g., concrete balls) and public objections• Vision Zero philosophy: Reducing crash severity over eliminating crashes• Justine’s background: Economics/theatre education to urban advocacy• The NYC scooter executive’s life-changing perspective on car-dominated spaces• Personal urbanism awakening: From yelling at taxis to policy change• Running for city council in Falls Church, VA• YouTube as a tool for debunking misinformation• Door-knocking campaigns for community engagement and election wins• Housing shortages and ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)• Economic benefits of walkable cities vs. suburban sprawl• Street redesigns: Safety vs. parking trade-offs• Why bikes are better than cars in post-apocalyptic scenarios (and filmmaking challenges)• Prepper tips: Urban resilience and food shortages• Falls Church’s development boom and local backlash• The “shadow debate”: Talking to residents vs. assuming their concerns• Financial barriers to small-scale development• Why asking “Who owns the streets?” changes everything================Get early access to videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, like our extensive brainstorming sessions, full interviews, and video commentaries over at https://www.patreon.com/bendurhamDo you have an insider tip or unique information on a story? Do you have a suggestion for a story you want me to cover? Submit via email: [email protected]• where to find me •Website: https://bendurham.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendurham.ca🎥 Everything I use, in one place: https://bendurham.ca/gear-guide/================WATCH and RATE the Wheels and Beyond podcast on: » Spotify: https://bendurham.ca/WAB-spotify» https://bendurham.ca/WAB-apple» https://bendurham.ca/WAB-yt================NERDY RECORDING DETAILS: This recording took place on the morning of July 19th, 2025 using RiversideFM. A/V syncing issues are really getting annoying with Riverside's 24fps vs external camera's typical 23.976. Sigh. Edited and mixed in Davinci Resolve Studio. 1080p render. Audio is optimized for an ITU-R BS, 1770-4 standard at -1dBTP and -16LKFS, specifically for Spotify standards.

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