Curb Enthusiasm

Former Department of Traffic Commissioner and renowned traffic engineer Sam ‘Gridlock Sam’ Schwartz joins the podcast to discuss the history congestion pricing, autonomous vehicles, and on-street parking reform in New York City. Co-hosts Emily Weidenhof & NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn also chat with Schwartz about the city’s first on-street protected bike lane, the origins of his name ‘Gridlock Sam’, and even answers a few questions from our listeners.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. has been filming streets since 2005. As the founder of Streetfilms, he has documented the transformation of cities around the world, from Bogotá's Ciclovía to London's Low Traffic Neighborhoods, Paris's school streets initiative, and Montreal's pedestrianization projects, amassing millions of views and becoming one of the most trusted voices in urban transportation media.
 In this episode of Curb Enthusiasm, NYC DOT's Emily Weidenhof and Sal Garro sit down with Eckerson for a wide-ranging conversation about what cities around the world are doing to reclaim street space for people and what New York can learn from them.

Season 2 of Curb Enthusiasm kicks off with NYC’s new DOT Commissioner, Mike Flynn. Commissioner Flynn shares his vision for the agency under Mayor Mamdani. He discusses faster buses, safer streets, saving outdoor dining, and why he thinks this is a defining moment for New York City streets.

Emily Weidenhof and co-host Ryan Lynch sit down with New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The trio discuss his career in public service, immigrating to the United States at 18 years of age, his proudest accomplishments as DOT commissioner, and advice for the incoming Mamdani Administration.

Emily Weidenhof and co-host Burkina Morgan welcome esteemed sociologist, professor, and award-winning author Eric Klinenberg to the podcast to discuss what social infrastructure is and why it is vital to building strong and resilient cities. The trio talks about how everyday community staples like parks, public plazas, and even the subway can shape the connections we make with others.