Show Summary

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by acclaimed director Matt Tyrnauer from Los Angeles, who discusses his latest documentary, “Citizen Jane: Battle for the City.” The film delves into the dynamic story of people, communities, urbanism, and the influential work of writer-turned-activist Jane Jacobs.

Award-winning journalist and urban critic Roberta Gratz also joins the conversation. As President of the Center for the Living City in New York and a former colleague of Jane Jacobs, Roberta offers unique insights into Jacobs’ legacy and the ongoing impact of her ideas on cities today.

About our Guests:

Matt Tyrnauer is the Director of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City. He’s made feature films such as Valentino: The Last Emperor, which won the top documentary prize at the Chicago Film Festival. It was one of the highest-grossing documentaries in 2010 and was short-listed for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He is a partner in Altimeter Films in Los Angeles, which he co-founded with Corey Reeser. He’s a writer whose career began at Spy magazine and The New York Observer. Tyrnauer is also an award-winning journalist who has written many feature articles for Vanity Fair, where he has been editor-at-large, special correspondent, and is now a contributing editor.

Roberta Brandes Gratz is an award-winning journalist, urban critic, lecturer, and author.  Her most recent book is We’re Still Here Ya Bastards: How the People of New Orleans Rebuilt Their City. Earlier works include The Battle For Gotham: New York in the Shadow of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs, the now-classic The Living City: Thinking Small in a Big Way, and Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown.