Skip to content

Talking Headways: Richard Jackson on City Environments and Public Health

How do the places we inhabit lead to systemic public health problems?
podcast icon logo

How do the places we inhabit lead to systemic public health problems?

On the podcast this week, I discuss this question with Dr. Richard Jackson of UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. Jackson is the author of three books on the subject of the built environment and public health, and hosted the PBS series Designing Healthy Communities. He has also served as director of the CDC’s National Center on Environmental Health and California’s State Health Officer.

Jackson shares his thoughts about the federal silos of housing, transportation, food policy, and health, as well as the under-appreciated issue of indoor air quality. At the CDC, he says, his message that the built environment is responsible for poor health outcomes was so threatening that some members of Congress wanted him fired.

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion that touches on how the internet is affecting kids, migration in Syria, the future of the LA River, the health benefits of trees, and the frustrations of doctors at the “end of the disease pipeline” treating young kids and adults with type 2 diabetes.

Photo of Jeff Wood
Jeff Wood is the creator of the Talking Headways podcast and editor of the newsletter The Overhead Wire.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog USA

Are U.S. Cities Ready for the Robo-Taxi Revolution?

April 28, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines Pay for Roads Whether We Use Them or Not

April 28, 2026

Urban Truth Collective: The One-Hour City Conspiracy

April 27, 2026

Monday’s Headlines Introduce the New Green New Deal

April 27, 2026

How Intercity Bus Lines Are Rebranding To Attract New Riders

April 27, 2026
See all posts