What Is PLANNING? What Planners Do, How To Deal With Them, and Why I'm On YouTube Instead

This episode is everything you wanted to know about urban and regional planning (that can fit into a reasonable-length YouTube video), but were afraid to ask. This is response to A LOT of requests I've gotten since the beginning of this channel, to answer questions like:

- What is planning, and what's the best way for someone to get engaged in planning efforts and make a difference in their community?
- What kind of educational background or experience do I need to become a planner?
- Can you talk about your own career path and projects you've worked on?
- What the heck are you doing on YouTube, anyway?

I touch on all of this in today's video, and I expect it to result in even MORE questions and requests, so fire away down in the comments!

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Twitter: @nerd4cities
Instagram: @nerd4cities

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Previous CityNerd Videos Referenced:

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Resources:

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Images
- Coffee shop Video by hirshphilippe from Pixabay

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Music:
CityNerd background: Caipirinha in Hawaii by Carmen María and Edu Espinal (YouTube music library)

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[austinjones]

As a non-planner, I think your channel (along with other resources) has helped crystalize a lot of things I thought about my city, and gives me some language to put in my emails to my councilmember or talk with my friends and family about. I feel like I just have a clearer vision and story of how I want my city to look and feel. It's a great service!

[wyvern]

There's nothing like getting back from work, unwinding on the couch, and turning on the tube to get my weekly dose of scathing sarcasm and city planning information!

[matthays]

My new nightmare: A screen of 16 CityNerds, all ironically criticizing my city at the same time.

[jfungsf]

The best part of this video is when (5:36) *Ray throws shade* at OBF & *rightfully* so. So priceless!😂 👍💯

[PhillipRPeck]

Not worried about anyone stealing from your notebook of ideas because it's written in alien hieroglyphs.

[JHZech]

I'm not going into urban planning but your videos convinced me that there is hope in the US. I like the walkable, transit connected neighborhoods abroad, but I had always lived in a car dependent suburb and thought that was the only possibility, but now I've looked deeper and found walkable pockets and transit around me.

[RetNemmoc]

Planning for me was going to endless night meetings, public gripe sessions and working on too many projects at the same time. I burned out on all that, but haven't lost my interest in the subject.

[Adolar]

You’re really selling me on being a YouTuber honestly.

[de-fault_de-fault]

I have an undergrad degree in urban studies, decided to work for a year or so before applying to grad school for planning, and have instead worked at the same place for 16 years, doing lots of things, none of which are planning. Life is funny that way. But since I reverted to commuting by train after a few years of driving, YouTube channels like yours have kept me in touch with that part of my brain, which is much appreciated.

[zekecaldon]

my mom told me that I wouldn’t like being a planner because I would be frustrated. I believe her a lot more now.

[JailBlazersNoMore]

Just wanted to mention that it's awesome you worked on the SW 4th project. I leave nearby there and I think it's really going to make a big difference in the bike/walkability in the area. I've never been 'excited' for construction near me before but I keep checking for updates about when construction will start on the project.

[ShireseLouie]

I also have a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature but a Masters in Urban Planning and Policy. I am also a misanthrope.

[theblackunicornpress]

It is wonderful seeing people with English degrees use them across many different fields. So many English students undervalue the actual skills that an English degree develops in pursuit of an "English Career, " whatever that is supposed to mean. Expressing complicated ideas in new ways is very, very important and you do a great job of it! Thank you.

[snk_private]

I am not and won't ever be an urban planner, but as someone who's still in law school, I have more and more felt the need to actively change the world I live in with the means that I am given as a lawyer. As such it is incredibly inspiring to have discovered the urban planning/urbanism/public transportation bubble on YT over the past two years and has substituted, however sad that might be, being in contact with non lawyers at university to give life the meaning I need.
While I must admit that I have not been active in my own community (to a certain extent, because it won't be my community for much longer and law school is time consuming in its own right) you and your fellow creators have shown me that this is an area of the law that I will need to eventually specialize in, so that I can do my "part" in bringing forth pragmatic and reasonable solutions in whatever way my professional position might allow me to.
This video in particular was one I did not know I needed, but has helped me understand more about your original profession and how I can interact with it.

So basically thanks, and keep up the great content Ray; I sincerely need your brand of sarcasm in my life!

[conradbielicki]

Personally I find your channel so watchable because of your expertise. Being an infotainment youtuber is kind of like being a teacher. The best teachers have a wealth of experience in the field

[marchomotion]

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" So nice to hear a little bit about how you approached your career changes!

[Jack-fwmw]

I took an Urban Planning course in school on a bit of a lark (I was getting a masters in CS, so databases and coding were very familiar), and learned the very basics of ArcGIS. I really appreciate you sharing your methods and data sources, as that is the inspiration I need to do more with my ArcGIS than mapping and rating where the Breweries are that I like, and how far of a bike ride they are.

[jslaurie]

As an architect (urban planning is my main passion) that collaborates a lot with planners I love that your content. I’m able to be more educated on planning and can help assist other planners with street corridors, design, etc. I’ve even shared some of your videos to my students. All I can say is big stuff is happening on the east coast!! Sent a connection on LinkedIn

[EastWindCommunity]

Incredible channel growth, you made a good decision I'd say! Keep it up. Kinda funny that (in the thumbnail anyway) you went from a shiny, smiley poorly lit, and probably ambitious public servant to a serene, sarcastic, sublimely captured YouTuber.

[viniciusdantas]

Hello there! I'm a social scientist from Brazil and I'm currently trying to get into a urban planning post grad program here. Your videos fascinate me, to watch them just makes me think about the similarities and differences between american and brazilian urban issues. It's only a bit sad that, clearly, in both countries there doesn't seem to be as much of a shortage of good willing, interested urbanists who wish to plan better cities, but a structural lack of interest on doing so by major actors.
Btw: yes, everything about the sports scenario in the US confuses me.