Best UnBuild Podcasts (2025)

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Teaser - Unbuild Walls w/ Silky Shah (Re-Air) 25:11

Play Pause

8d ago25:11

25:11

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132654803Beatrice speaks with Silky Shah about the historical and material links between the rise of the immigration detention system and mass incarceration, and her new book, Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition.Note: This ep…

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135 - ZIP-R for CZ 6B - New Construction? Continuous Air Control Layer for Exterior Retrofit CZ 4A? 38:25

11d ago38:25

38:25

Two great questions about wall assemblies. The boys dig deep, exploring all the variables to consider for both wall assemblies. And no big surprise: Much of the conversation is about how to get these three control layers right (water, air, thermal) and ALSO get the drying potential (vapor) correct. PETE'S RESOURCES: - 2021 IRC - Montana NOTE: The I…

1
Santa Maria del Fiore - The Unbuildable Dome 14:29

27d ago14:29

14:29

Discover how Florence’s most iconic cathedral became the birthplace of Renaissance architecture, and how Filippo Brunelleschi solved a 45-meter-wide engineering mystery no one else could. This episode explores the political ambition, civic pride, and human genius behind the construction of the world’s largest masonry dome, completed in 1434. From m…

101
Disability and the Ongoing Federalism Revolution w/ Karen Tani and Katie Eyer (Unlocked) 1:26:09

5d ago1:26:09

1:26:09

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released May 6th, 2024 for Death Panel patrons and is being unlocked today for the first time. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice and Phil speak with legal scholars Karen Tani and Katie Eyer abo…

1
Space Needle - Seattle’s Window to the 21st Century 12:37

6d ago12:37

12:37

Discover the story behind Seattle’s most iconic landmark, the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, this futuristic tower captured the imagination of a city and became a lasting symbol of ambition and innovation. Learn how a simple sketch on a napkin evolved into one of the most recognizable structures in the world, from its bold design an…

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There Is No Place For Us w/ Brian Goldstone (Unlocked) 1:42:00

13d ago1:42:00

1:42:00

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released May 19th for Death Panel patrons and is being unlocked today. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice and Tracy speak with Brian Goldstone about how we intentionally undercount the homeless …

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CCTV Headquarters – A Loop through Power, Media, and Form 15:58

13d ago15:58

15:58

Explore the story behind the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, one of the most radical buildings of the 21st century. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, this massive looping skyscraper challenged conventional architecture and redefined China’s urban skyline. From its politically charged commission to its daring structural design and the infamous fire th…

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Teaser - Against Carceral Infrastructure w/ Mon Mohapatra (06/30/25) 26:53

15d ago26:53

26:53

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132653960Beatrice speaks with Mon Mohapatra of Community Justice Exchange (CJE) about their new resource “If They Build It: Organizing Lessons & Strategies Against Carceral Infrastructure,” a resource looking at the strategies deployed in ant…

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Long Covid Under Trump w/ Sick Times (06/26/25) 1:27:10

19d ago1:27:10

1:27:10

To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice speaks with Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles W. Griffis of The Sick Times about what the Trump administration has done in its first few months to set back long covid research and to deepen what we’ve long called the sociological prod…

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30 St Mary Axe – Rethinking the Modern Skyscraper 12:53

20d ago12:53

12:53

In this episode we head to the heart of London to uncover the story behind 30 St Mary Axe, the skyscraper better known as The Gherkin. From the tragedy of a bombed historic building to the rise of a glass tower that redefined London’s skyline, this is the story of a building that challenged not just height restrictions, but architectural expectatio…

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Teaser - Another Way Out w/ William C. Anderson (06/23/25) 23:24

21d ago23:24

23:24

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132134082Beatrice speaks with William C. Anderson about the liberal tendency to limit political action to voting while simultaneously blaming victims of the electoral system for their own oppression (e.g. dismissal of the south as somehow “de…

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134 - Another Double Feature - SIPs vs Stick-Frame & Thermal Degradation of Rigid Insulation 34:59

26d ago34:59

34:59

Whole bunch of reasons to consider SIP building systems BUT switching from stick-framing is not a walk in the park. But UnBuild It has a ton of experience with SIPs. Next up: Just how stable are the R-values of rigid insulations (the plastic ones with blowing agents) over time? The boys spend just the right amount of time on this on...(just could n…

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US v. Skrmetti and the Long History of Youth Transition 1:45:13

26d ago1:45:13

1:45:13

Note: This episode was originally released for patrons on September 23rd, 2024 and is being re-aired today in reponse to the Supreme Court's ruling in the case, as Artie explains at beginning of the episode. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice and Jules discuss …

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Teaser - What We Burn w/ Marques Vestal (06/16/25) 14:47

29d ago14:47

14:47

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131635837Against the backdrop of riotous anti-ICE actions in Los Angeles, Beatrice and Tracy speak with Marques Vestal about the history of property and place, eviction and forced removal in LA and how the state's policies of expulsion shaped…

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Seizing the Means of Reproduction w/ Annie Powers & Tracy Rosenthal (Re-Air) 1:17:16

1M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

Note: This episode was originally released November 14th, 2024 and is being re-aired today in solidarity with the actions taking place in Los Angeles and elsewhere. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice and Tracy Rosenthal speak with Annie Powers about how our org…

1
Parthenon – The Illusion of Perfection 17:42

1M ago17:42

17:42

Discover the secrets behind one of the most iconic buildings in history. This episode explores the Parthenon in Athens. Not just as a temple to the goddess Athena, but as a masterclass in political power, architectural illusion, and cultural identity. Learn how 5th-century BCE architects used subtle curves, tilted columns, and optical tricks to cre…

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Sick Sad World w/ Vicky Osterweil (Unlocked) 1:52:49

1M ago1:52:49

1:52:49

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released April 28th for Death Panel patrons and is being unlocked today for the first time in solidarity with the protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice and Vi…

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133 - Deep Dive on That Pesky Transition: Top-of-Foundation/Bottom-of-Above-Grade Wall 34:23

1M ago34:23

34:23

Should exterior above-grade wall sheathing or framing line up flush to the outside face of the foundation? Is sealing the bottom of the above-grade wall and foundation with a sill sealer product like Protecto Wrap Triple Guard a good idea? This sets off Jake, Steve, and Pete on balancing water protection, air sealing, and drying potential at this k…

1
Mad World w/ Micha Frazer-Carroll (Re-Air) 1:20:30

1M ago1:20:30

1:20:30

Note: This episode was originally released August 31st, 2023 and is being re-aired today as we continue to adjust to our return from parental leave. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice speaks with Micha Frazer-Carroll about her book Mad World: The Politics of Me…

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Guggenheim Bilbao Museum – The Birth of the Bilbao Effect 16:57

1M ago16:57

16:57

The Guggenheim Bilbao Museum is more than an architectural icon and a turning point in the history of cities. In this episode, we explore how a daring political decision, a collapsing industrial economy, and a radical design by Frank Gehry came together to create what is now known as “The Bilbao Effect.” Learn how Bilbao, once a declining port city…

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Teaser - The Pro-Infection Presidency w/ Jane Thomason (06/02/25) 16:38

1M ago16:38

16:38

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130544835Beatrice speaks with Jane Thomason of National Nurses United (NNU) about the Trump administration’s disbanding of the CDC’s HICPAC committee, the body that oversees infection control practices across the healthcare industry — and a c…

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Refusing Genocide, from Palestine to Pandemic w/ Rasha Abdulhadi (Re-Air) 1:15:06

2M ago1:15:06

1:15:06

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released September 27th, 2024 and is being re-aired today in solidarity with Palestine, and to be able to re-share Rasha's guided reflection near the end of the discussion (beginning 44:55). To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.pa…

1
Empire State Building - The Making of an American Legend 16:12

2M ago16:12

16:12

Step into 1930s New York and discover the incredible story behind the Empire State Building, a skyscraper born from rivalry, built during the Great Depression, and crowned the tallest in the world for nearly 40 years. From secret spires and airship dreams to record-breaking construction and pop culture fame, this episode unpacks how the Empire Stat…

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Teaser - Here Come the Long Knives (05/26/25) 24:05

2M ago24:05

24:05

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129947873Beatrice and Artie discuss the “GOP Murder Bill” just passed in the House of Representatives, with a particular focus on why adding work requirements to Medicaid is so dangerous, and how brazen the attacks on trans care are under the…

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RFK, Health Capitalism and the Myths of Wellness (Re-Air) 1:27:38

2M ago1:27:38

1:27:38

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released for patrons November 18, 2024 and is being re-aired today with a new brief intro from Artie at the top of the episode. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodOriginal description:Beatrice and Artie …

1
Neue Nationalgalerie - Mies van der Rohe’s Final Masterpiece 12:51

2M ago12:51

12:51

Step into 1960s Berlin with me as we uncover the story of the Neue Nationalgalerie, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s final masterpiece. Designed during the Cold War tensions and under the Berlin Wall’s shadow, this modernist icon redefined museum architecture with its minimalist steel-and-glass pavilion. Explore how Mies, returning to Germany after decad…

1
Teaser - There Is No Place For Us w/ Brian Goldstone (05/19/25) 27:54

2M ago27:54

27:54

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129388051Beatrice Adler-Bolton and Tracy Rosenthal speak with Brian Goldstone about how we intentionally undercount the homeless in America, and what life looks like for those that don’t make the official count; the myths of homelessness and …

1
132 - The Pre-Construction Process? 36:27

2M ago36:27

36:27

Plenty of reasons for the question mark: Pete wondered what this term really meant; Jake points out that for most of his career, he was not involved in this process as a builder; Steve gets pretty heated when this process does not include budget (at least a realistic budget...). Gem here from Steve: "70% of a home's budget is hardwired into the num…

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Nathan Tanks the Economy: An Oral History of 100 Days of DOGE w/ Nathan Tankus (Unlocked) 2:31:09

2M ago2:31:09

2:31:09

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released May 5th for Death Panel patrons and is being unlocked today for the first time. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice speaks with Nathan Tankus to walk through an oral history of the early…

1
Taj Mahal – A Love Story Told in Architecture 12:43

2M ago12:43

12:43

Discover the story behind one of the most iconic buildings in the world: the Taj Mahal. More than a monument, this 17th-century masterpiece is a symbol of love, loss, power, and architectural brilliance.In this episode, we explore the history of the Taj Mahal, the relationship between Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, and the cultural and politi…

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Teaser - Health Fascism Descends (05/12/25) 26:46

2M ago26:46

26:46

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/128800850Beatrice, Artie and Phil review the early months of the second Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, with health agencies undergoing mass purges, Medicaid cuts looming, millions declared administratively “dead” …

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Menace to the Future w/ Jess Whatcott (Unlocked) 1:07:43

2M ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released January 27th for Death Panel patrons and is being unlocked today for the first time. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodBeatrice speaks with Jess Whatcott about the ideological links between inc…

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Seattle Public Library – A Machine for Learning in the Digital Age 22:54

2M ago22:54

22:54

Discover how Seattle built one of the most radical libraries of the 21st century. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, the Seattle Central Library redefined what a public building could be. A twelve-story machine for learning, wrapped in glass and steel. From its book spiral to its bold design logic, this episode unpacks the architecture, ambition, an…

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Teaser - Nathan Tanks the Economy: An Oral History of 100 Days of DOGE w/ Nathan Tankus (05/05/25) 37:33

2M ago37:33

37:33

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/128245289Beatrice speaks with Nathan Tankus to walk through an oral history of the early months of DOGE's ongoing infiltration of the Treasury payments system and Social Security, why the "Trump-Musk Payments Crisis" threatens a bigger fundam…

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131 - Two Q's: Isn't ZIP-R backwards? Shouldn't we rainscreen roofs as well as walls? 29:04

2M ago29:04

29:04

Two great questions on which the boys pontificate in fine form. Yes, ZIP-R is "backwards" (rigid insulation interior to structural sheathing) but that does not mean that it doesn't work; it does, just differently. So why don't we typically rain screen roof claddings? The short answer is it always costs more, regardless of the type of roof cladding.…

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Let This Radicalize You w/ Mariame Kaba & Kelly Hayes (May Day Re-Air) 1:34:45

3M ago1:34:45

1:34:45

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released May 18th, 2023. We are re-airing it today to celebrate May Day, as Artie explains in a brief intro at the top of the episode. To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpodOriginal description:Beatrice spe…

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Golden Gate Bridge - The story behind the most iconic bridge ever built 17:55

3M ago17:55

17:55

In this episode of Architecture Topics we'll explore the full story behind the Golden Gate Bridge. From the geographic and economic factors that made it make sense, to the ambitious engineer who dared to imagine the impossible but didn't actually know how to build it, to the team behind the scenes that did... Discover how Joseph Strauss rallied pub…

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Teaser - Sick Sad World w/ Vicky Osterweil (04/28/25) 19:36

3M ago19:36

19:36

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127684119Beatrice speaks with Vicky Osterweil about some of the major events that happened during our parental leave—from Trump’s kidnapping of protesters for political speech to the proposed autism registry—and what the first months of Trump…

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Mask Bans Are Everyone’s Fight (Re-Air) 1:32:50

3M ago1:32:50

1:32:50

Note: We are back from parental leave! This episode was originally released August 22nd, 2024. We are re-airing it today in light of New York Governor Kathy Hochul's ongoing push to force a mask ban through New York state budget negotiations, as Artie explains in a brief intro at the top of the episode. Please note that the county-level mask ban di…

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Centre Pompidou Paris - The "inside-out" museum 12:24

3M ago12:24

12:24

Explore the story behind the Centre Pompidou in Paris, one of the most radical and controversial buildings in modern architecture. Designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers in the 1970s, this iconic "inside-out" museum challenged everything Paris thought it knew about culture, design, and public space. In this episode we will talk about the politi…

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(We're BACK!) - Teaser - Love in a Fucked Up World w/ Dean Spade (04/21/25) 19:08

3M ago19:08

19:08

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127162993Beatrice speaks with Dean Spade about holding together political coalitions, friendships, and organizing partnerships in the face of a culture of disposability and a world on fire.Note: We're back! Thank you to everyone for all the w…

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130 - Two Qs: Job Site Safety & Garage Moisture Management 28:40

3M ago28:40

28:40

What could be more fun than yammering on about scary job site stories and just how confusing a space your garage can be? You listeners ask the damndest questions, so we just keep on cranking... Per usual, Steve closes us out with humor worthy of these two questions... PETE'S RESOURCES: - "Does Safety Affect Productivity in Construction?" - From our…

1
"Waste, Fraud and Abuse" 1:33:12

3M ago1:33:12

1:33:12

This episode was originally released for patrons on February 10th, and we are unlocking it today as threats to cut Medicaid and Social Security have only grown louder and more explicit since it was recorded (and as our central comments on the nature of "waste, fraud and abuse" rhetoric remain, unfortunately, enduringly relevant). We're back from ou…

1
La Pedrera - The Gaudí Masterpiece Barcelona Once Mocked 18:46

3M ago18:46

18:46

Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is one of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona and a landmark of Antoni Gaudí's architecture. Discover how this bold and controversial building was mocked when it was built in the early 20th century, and how it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of modernist innovation. Perfect for fans of Barcel…

1
NYC Guggenheim Museum – The Building That Refused to Fit In 12:54

3M ago12:54

12:54

The NYC Guggenheim Museum is a building that broke every rule of museum design, defied the city's building codes. It became Frank Lloyd Wright’s final, and most controversial masterpiece. Wright was in his late seventies when he took on the commission. He hated New York. He didn’t like museums. And yet, over sixteen turbulent years, he fought to br…

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Sydney Opera House - Building the Impossible 13:33

3M ago13:33

13:33

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, but few know the dramatic story behind its creation. In this episode, we explore how Danish architect Jørn Utzon won an international design competition, solved an impossible engineering challenge, and then was forced to abandon the project before it was finished. Discov…

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Teaser - State Building, Development Ideology and Debt in the West Bank w/ Kareem Rabie 20:14

3M ago20:14

20:14

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126650833Beatrice speaks with Kareem Rabie about how capitalist visions for “the day after” ceasefire often rely on economic development projects that act as an extension of settler colonialism, Rabie’s research on housing development project…

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Welcome to Architecture Topics! Architecture History—One Story at a Time 1:01

3M ago1:01

1:01

Welcome to Architecture Topics, the podcast where we delve into the stories, ideas, and designs that shape the world around us. My name is Liam Caron, and in each episode, I’ll take you on a journey through the ideas, designs, and people that have shaped architectural history. From ancient monuments to modern skyscrapers, I’ll explore how architect…

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Lifetime Care w/ William Bronston 1:20:25

3M ago1:20:25

1:20:25

Beatrice and Phil speak with lifelong activist William Bronston about his experiences trying to take down the infamous Willowbrook institution from within as a young doctor, his appeal to replace “long term care” with “lifetime care," and how his work towards deinstitutionalization informs his ongoing advocacy for single payer healthcare.Transcript…

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Teaser - "No Use to the State" w/ Micah Khater 18:23

3M ago18:23

18:23

Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126159598Beatrice speaks with Micah Khater about her award winning article on the intersection of race, disability, and incarceration in the southern US in the early 20th century, and her work documenting the history of how Black women experi…