Blanchard on Baltimore Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/blanchard-on-baltimore Blanchard on Baltimore, hosted by District 11 City Councilman Zac Blanchard, pulls back the curtain on how Baltimore's city government actually works — and where it falls short. Each episode, Blanchard talks with people working across public safety, transit, housing, public health, economic development, and neighborhood leadership to unpack the real problems Baltimoreans face and the solutions being worked on. Skipping the political spin, the show aims to be the kind of grounded, practical look at city government that an engaged resident — with no inside connections — would actually find useful. © 2026 Zac Blanchard — Blanchard on Baltimore 9ac5432f-0286-5e4e-8611-84c7abf09e0c yes Welcome to Blanchard on Baltimore en Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:33:00 -0400 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:33:29 -0400 https://blanchardbaltimore.transistor.fm https://img.transistorcdn.com/jGAPp5y3AiocMem697-5NpiASRohp_Ey6qx0WlQE-xg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iMzZj/NDI2Zjg0ZjU2MWU0/N2E1NDM0NTEwOThk/NzQxMi5wbmc.jpg Blanchard on Baltimore https://blanchardbaltimore.transistor.fm episodic District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard Blanchard on Baltimore, hosted by District 11 City Councilman Zac Blanchard, pulls back the curtain on how Baltimore's city government actually works — and where it falls short. Each episode, Blanchard talks with people working across public safety, transit, housing, public health, economic development, and neighborhood leadership to unpack the real problems Baltimoreans face and the solutions being worked on. Skipping the political spin, the show aims to be the kind of grounded, practical look at city government that an engaged resident — with no inside connections — would actually find useful. Blanchard on Baltimore, hosted by District 11 City Councilman Zac Blanchard, pulls back the curtain on how Baltimore's city government actually works — and where it falls short. Blanchard on Baltimore, Blanchard on Baltimore podcast, Zac Blanchard, Zac Blanchard podcast, Councilmember Zac Blanchard, District 11 Baltimore, Baltimore City Council District 11, Baltimore City Council, Baltimore local government, City Hall Baltimore, Local policy Baltimore, Municipal leadership, Urban policy & governance, Baltimore city politics, Local democracy in action, Baltimore public safety, community policing, crime prevention strategies, Baltimore safety initiatives, Baltimore public transit, city infrastructure, Baltimore red line, urban transit, street paving & safety, Baltimore housing, vacant property solutions, urban development, Baltimore city zoning, neighborhood revitalization, Baltimore public schools, early education Baltimore, community leadership, neighborhood associations, Baltimore community engagement, Baltimore residents, South Baltimore, Downtown Baltimore, Midtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Baltimore community news, #BlanchardOnBaltimore, #Baltimore, #BaltimoreCity, #District11, #BaltimorePolitics, #LocalGovernment, #PublicSafety, #UrbanPolicy, #CommunityFirst, #CharmCity District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard carpercreative@outlook.com No No Join or Die: Why Community Might Save Us with Pete Davis 1 1 3 3 Join or Die: Why Community Might Save Us with Pete Davis full 18a257b0-136e-42b2-b03d-27170e561a7d https://share.transistor.fm/s/503f3194 Zac sits down with his friend and new Baltimorean Pete Davis — co-creator of the Netflix documentary Join or Die — to talk about a question that shapes everything else in local government: what actually holds a community together?

Pete unpacks the ideas behind Join or Die, built on Robert Putnam's research into declining civic participation, and makes the case that democracy doesn't just run on good government — it runs on clubs, neighbors, and ordinary relationships. They also preview Pete's upcoming second book, working title Hail the Cultivators: Why Slow Culture Is Our Only Quick Fix, which pushes back on the idea that any city problem has a silver-bullet solution.

Contact

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Why Community Comes First
  • (02:05) - – Join or Die: The Documentary
  • (08:08) - – Robert Putnam & the Decline of Civic Life
  • (09:04) - – A Story About What Community Actually Does
  • (18:35) - – Baltimore's Own Neighborhood Culture
  • (18:56) - – Pete's Next Book: Hail the Cultivators
  • (20:05) - – Why There's No Silver Bullet
  • (25:04) - – Building Real Expertise in Community
]]> Zac sits down with his friend and new Baltimorean Pete Davis — co-creator of the Netflix documentary Join or Die — to talk about a question that shapes everything else in local government: what actually holds a community together?

Pete unpacks the ideas behind Join or Die, built on Robert Putnam's research into declining civic participation, and makes the case that democracy doesn't just run on good government — it runs on clubs, neighbors, and ordinary relationships. They also preview Pete's upcoming second book, working title Hail the Cultivators: Why Slow Culture Is Our Only Quick Fix, which pushes back on the idea that any city problem has a silver-bullet solution.

Contact

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Why Community Comes First
  • (02:05) - – Join or Die: The Documentary
  • (08:08) - – Robert Putnam & the Decline of Civic Life
  • (09:04) - – A Story About What Community Actually Does
  • (18:35) - – Baltimore's Own Neighborhood Culture
  • (18:56) - – Pete's Next Book: Hail the Cultivators
  • (20:05) - – Why There's No Silver Bullet
  • (25:04) - – Building Real Expertise in Community
]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:30:00 -0400 District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard 1731 Zac sits down with his friend and new Baltimorean Pete Davis — co-creator of the Netflix documentary Join or Die — to talk about a question that shapes everything else in local government: what actually holds a community together?

Pete unpacks the ideas behind Join or Die, built on Robert Putnam's research into declining civic participation, and makes the case that democracy doesn't just run on good government — it runs on clubs, neighbors, and ordinary relationships. They also preview Pete's upcoming second book, working title Hail the Cultivators: Why Slow Culture Is Our Only Quick Fix, which pushes back on the idea that any city problem has a silver-bullet solution.

Contact

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Why Community Comes First
  • (02:05) - – Join or Die: The Documentary
  • (08:08) - – Robert Putnam & the Decline of Civic Life
  • (09:04) - – A Story About What Community Actually Does
  • (18:35) - – Baltimore's Own Neighborhood Culture
  • (18:56) - – Pete's Next Book: Hail the Cultivators
  • (20:05) - – Why There's No Silver Bullet
  • (25:04) - – Building Real Expertise in Community
]]> Blanchard on Baltimore, Blanchard on Baltimore podcast, Zac Blanchard, Zac Blanchard podcast, Councilmember Zac Blanchard, District 11 Baltimore, Baltimore City Council District 11, Baltimore City Council, Baltimore local government, City Hall Baltimore, Local policy Baltimore, Municipal leadership, Urban policy & governance, Baltimore city politics, Local democracy in action, Baltimore public safety, community policing, crime prevention strategies, Baltimore safety initiatives, Baltimore public transit, city infrastructure, Baltimore red line, urban transit, street paving & safety, Baltimore housing, vacant property solutions, urban development, Baltimore city zoning, neighborhood revitalization, Baltimore public schools, early education Baltimore, community leadership, neighborhood associations, Baltimore community engagement, Baltimore residents, South Baltimore, Downtown Baltimore, Midtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Baltimore community news, #BlanchardOnBaltimore, #Baltimore, #BaltimoreCity, #District11, #BaltimorePolitics, #LocalGovernment, #PublicSafety, #UrbanPolicy, #CommunityFirst, #CharmCity No Rashfield Park, Harborplace, and the Future of the Waterfront with Dan Taylor 1 1 2 2 Rashfield Park, Harborplace, and the Future of the Waterfront with Dan Taylor full a1fbf4ce-a2d2-48bb-b087-23fcc98a25f5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/beab6951 There's a lot happening at the Inner Harbor right now, and Waterfront Partnership president Dan Taylor is right in the middle of it. 

Zac talks with Dan about the upcoming Rashfield Park ribbon cutting, the ongoing redevelopment of Harborplace, and the plan to convert the Light Street Spur into new park space.

Dan and Zac get into the real trade-offs behind these projects — construction surprises, aging infrastructure that has to be fixed regardless of what else happens, and the traffic questions on everyone's mind. They also talk about two of the summer's biggest wins: the record-breaking Sail 250 event and the push to expand water taxi service into a real transit option for residents, not just visitors.

Contact


Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – A Big Year at the Inner Harbor
  • (01:27) - – The Best Job in Baltimore?
  • (03:36) - – Biggest Surprise on the Job
  • (05:58) - – Rashfield Park: What's Opening & Why It Matters
  • (14:24) - – Behind the Scenes of Construction
  • (22:47) - – Why the Bulkheads Have to Be Fixed
  • (24:00) - – Harborplace Redevelopment, Explained
  • (31:00) - – The Light Street Spur Debate
  • (37:29) - – Sail 250: A Summer to Remember
  • (45:01) - – The Case for Better Water Taxi Service
  • (49:30) - – What's Next for the Waterfront
]]> There's a lot happening at the Inner Harbor right now, and Waterfront Partnership president Dan Taylor is right in the middle of it. 

Zac talks with Dan about the upcoming Rashfield Park ribbon cutting, the ongoing redevelopment of Harborplace, and the plan to convert the Light Street Spur into new park space.

Dan and Zac get into the real trade-offs behind these projects — construction surprises, aging infrastructure that has to be fixed regardless of what else happens, and the traffic questions on everyone's mind. They also talk about two of the summer's biggest wins: the record-breaking Sail 250 event and the push to expand water taxi service into a real transit option for residents, not just visitors.

Contact


Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – A Big Year at the Inner Harbor
  • (01:27) - – The Best Job in Baltimore?
  • (03:36) - – Biggest Surprise on the Job
  • (05:58) - – Rashfield Park: What's Opening & Why It Matters
  • (14:24) - – Behind the Scenes of Construction
  • (22:47) - – Why the Bulkheads Have to Be Fixed
  • (24:00) - – Harborplace Redevelopment, Explained
  • (31:00) - – The Light Street Spur Debate
  • (37:29) - – Sail 250: A Summer to Remember
  • (45:01) - – The Case for Better Water Taxi Service
  • (49:30) - – What's Next for the Waterfront
]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:30:00 -0400 District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard 3093 There's a lot happening at the Inner Harbor right now, and Waterfront Partnership president Dan Taylor is right in the middle of it. 

Zac talks with Dan about the upcoming Rashfield Park ribbon cutting, the ongoing redevelopment of Harborplace, and the plan to convert the Light Street Spur into new park space.

Dan and Zac get into the real trade-offs behind these projects — construction surprises, aging infrastructure that has to be fixed regardless of what else happens, and the traffic questions on everyone's mind. They also talk about two of the summer's biggest wins: the record-breaking Sail 250 event and the push to expand water taxi service into a real transit option for residents, not just visitors.

Contact


Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – A Big Year at the Inner Harbor
  • (01:27) - – The Best Job in Baltimore?
  • (03:36) - – Biggest Surprise on the Job
  • (05:58) - – Rashfield Park: What's Opening & Why It Matters
  • (14:24) - – Behind the Scenes of Construction
  • (22:47) - – Why the Bulkheads Have to Be Fixed
  • (24:00) - – Harborplace Redevelopment, Explained
  • (31:00) - – The Light Street Spur Debate
  • (37:29) - – Sail 250: A Summer to Remember
  • (45:01) - – The Case for Better Water Taxi Service
  • (49:30) - – What's Next for the Waterfront
]]> Blanchard on Baltimore, Blanchard on Baltimore podcast, Zac Blanchard, Zac Blanchard podcast, Councilmember Zac Blanchard, District 11 Baltimore, Baltimore City Council District 11, Baltimore City Council, Baltimore local government, City Hall Baltimore, Local policy Baltimore, Municipal leadership, Urban policy & governance, Baltimore city politics, Local democracy in action, Baltimore public safety, community policing, crime prevention strategies, Baltimore safety initiatives, Baltimore public transit, city infrastructure, Baltimore red line, urban transit, street paving & safety, Baltimore housing, vacant property solutions, urban development, Baltimore city zoning, neighborhood revitalization, Baltimore public schools, early education Baltimore, community leadership, neighborhood associations, Baltimore community engagement, Baltimore residents, South Baltimore, Downtown Baltimore, Midtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Baltimore community news, #BlanchardOnBaltimore, #Baltimore, #BaltimoreCity, #District11, #BaltimorePolitics, #LocalGovernment, #PublicSafety, #UrbanPolicy, #CommunityFirst, #CharmCity No Rehabbing Baltimore, One House at a Time with Victor Akinnagbe 1 1 1 1 Rehabbing Baltimore, One House at a Time with Victor Akinnagbe full 73732e6a-3c87-42d3-80d1-cf90675ad800 https://share.transistor.fm/s/eeda693f Baltimore has cut its number of vacant, blighted properties from 16,000 to 11,500 in the last few years — and is on pace to get under 1,000 by the mid-2030s. Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with Victor Akinnagbe, director of Rebirth Baltimore, to talk about how that turnaround is actually happening on the ground.

Victor shares his own journey — flunking out of high school, finding his way to Coppin State University, and eventually returning to Baltimore to rehab the very neighborhood that shaped him. He and Zac dig into what it really takes to bring a vacant rowhome back to life, how Baltimore's approach compares to cities like Detroit and New York, and the biggest remaining hurdles — from licensing rules that keep skilled tradespeople sidelined to buyers who don't know the resources available to them.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Baltimore's Vacant Housing Crisis, By the Numbers
  • (03:01) - – Meet Victor & Rebirth Baltimore
  • (04:23) - – What Rebirth Does & How It Started
  • (07:52) - – Victor's Origin Story: From Flunking Out to Coppin State
  • (13:57) - – Lessons from Detroit, New York & Trenton
  • (17:18) - – What Elected Officials Get Wrong
  • (20:47) - – What's Changed in the Last Few Years
  • (23:11) - – The Biggest Remaining Hurdle: Licensing & Trades
  • (25:01) - – Closing Thoughts
]]> Baltimore has cut its number of vacant, blighted properties from 16,000 to 11,500 in the last few years — and is on pace to get under 1,000 by the mid-2030s. Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with Victor Akinnagbe, director of Rebirth Baltimore, to talk about how that turnaround is actually happening on the ground.

Victor shares his own journey — flunking out of high school, finding his way to Coppin State University, and eventually returning to Baltimore to rehab the very neighborhood that shaped him. He and Zac dig into what it really takes to bring a vacant rowhome back to life, how Baltimore's approach compares to cities like Detroit and New York, and the biggest remaining hurdles — from licensing rules that keep skilled tradespeople sidelined to buyers who don't know the resources available to them.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Baltimore's Vacant Housing Crisis, By the Numbers
  • (03:01) - – Meet Victor & Rebirth Baltimore
  • (04:23) - – What Rebirth Does & How It Started
  • (07:52) - – Victor's Origin Story: From Flunking Out to Coppin State
  • (13:57) - – Lessons from Detroit, New York & Trenton
  • (17:18) - – What Elected Officials Get Wrong
  • (20:47) - – What's Changed in the Last Few Years
  • (23:11) - – The Biggest Remaining Hurdle: Licensing & Trades
  • (25:01) - – Closing Thoughts
]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0400 District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard 1532 Baltimore has cut its number of vacant, blighted properties from 16,000 to 11,500 in the last few years — and is on pace to get under 1,000 by the mid-2030s. Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with Victor Akinnagbe, director of Rebirth Baltimore, to talk about how that turnaround is actually happening on the ground.

Victor shares his own journey — flunking out of high school, finding his way to Coppin State University, and eventually returning to Baltimore to rehab the very neighborhood that shaped him. He and Zac dig into what it really takes to bring a vacant rowhome back to life, how Baltimore's approach compares to cities like Detroit and New York, and the biggest remaining hurdles — from licensing rules that keep skilled tradespeople sidelined to buyers who don't know the resources available to them.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

  • (00:00) - – Baltimore's Vacant Housing Crisis, By the Numbers
  • (03:01) - – Meet Victor & Rebirth Baltimore
  • (04:23) - – What Rebirth Does & How It Started
  • (07:52) - – Victor's Origin Story: From Flunking Out to Coppin State
  • (13:57) - – Lessons from Detroit, New York & Trenton
  • (17:18) - – What Elected Officials Get Wrong
  • (20:47) - – What's Changed in the Last Few Years
  • (23:11) - – The Biggest Remaining Hurdle: Licensing & Trades
  • (25:01) - – Closing Thoughts
]]> Blanchard on Baltimore, Blanchard on Baltimore podcast, Zac Blanchard, Zac Blanchard podcast, Councilmember Zac Blanchard, District 11 Baltimore, Baltimore City Council District 11, Baltimore City Council, Baltimore local government, City Hall Baltimore, Local policy Baltimore, Municipal leadership, Urban policy & governance, Baltimore city politics, Local democracy in action, Baltimore public safety, community policing, crime prevention strategies, Baltimore safety initiatives, Baltimore public transit, city infrastructure, Baltimore red line, urban transit, street paving & safety, Baltimore housing, vacant property solutions, urban development, Baltimore city zoning, neighborhood revitalization, Baltimore public schools, early education Baltimore, community leadership, neighborhood associations, Baltimore community engagement, Baltimore residents, South Baltimore, Downtown Baltimore, Midtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Baltimore community news, #BlanchardOnBaltimore, #Baltimore, #BaltimoreCity, #District11, #BaltimorePolitics, #LocalGovernment, #PublicSafety, #UrbanPolicy, #CommunityFirst, #CharmCity No Welcome to Blanchard on Baltimore 1 1 Welcome to Blanchard on Baltimore trailer 4788beb0-26f8-4efa-a267-ce4e9890bc0a https://share.transistor.fm/s/bd3cad8b Introducing Blanchard on Baltimore: District 11 Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with the people shaping city government to explore what's working, what isn't, and why. 

No spin, no tell-alls — just honest conversations about how Baltimore really runs.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

]]> Introducing Blanchard on Baltimore: District 11 Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with the people shaping city government to explore what's working, what isn't, and why. 

No spin, no tell-alls — just honest conversations about how Baltimore really runs.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

]]> Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:32:08 -0400 District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard District 11 Baltimore City Councilman - Zac Blanchard 63 Introducing Blanchard on Baltimore: District 11 Councilman Zac Blanchard sits down with the people shaping city government to explore what's working, what isn't, and why. 

No spin, no tell-alls — just honest conversations about how Baltimore really runs.


Contact 

Have a question, story idea, or feedback for the show? Reach out to Zac Blanchard's office:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Blanchard on Baltimore so you never miss a conversation, and leave a rating or review — it helps more Baltimoreans find the show.

]]> Blanchard on Baltimore, Blanchard on Baltimore podcast, Zac Blanchard, Zac Blanchard podcast, Councilmember Zac Blanchard, District 11 Baltimore, Baltimore City Council District 11, Baltimore City Council, Baltimore local government, City Hall Baltimore, Local policy Baltimore, Municipal leadership, Urban policy & governance, Baltimore city politics, Local democracy in action, Baltimore public safety, community policing, crime prevention strategies, Baltimore safety initiatives, Baltimore public transit, city infrastructure, Baltimore red line, urban transit, street paving & safety, Baltimore housing, vacant property solutions, urban development, Baltimore city zoning, neighborhood revitalization, Baltimore public schools, early education Baltimore, community leadership, neighborhood associations, Baltimore community engagement, Baltimore residents, South Baltimore, Downtown Baltimore, Midtown Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Baltimore community news, #BlanchardOnBaltimore, #Baltimore, #BaltimoreCity, #District11, #BaltimorePolitics, #LocalGovernment, #PublicSafety, #UrbanPolicy, #CommunityFirst, #CharmCity No