How to Build a Healthy City

Today's cities - home to more than half the world's population - are struggling to deal with a harmful mix of public health problems: populations are ageing, obesity is rising and pollution has reached toxic levels.

What are cities doing to tackle these enormous problems? In this six-part series, Darren Dodd talks to Financial Times correspondents around the world - from Singapore to Copenhagen - about initiatives designed to make cities healthier and more pleasant places to live.

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Episodes

Coronavirus exposes health inequalities at heart of city life

Darren Dodd talks to FT correspondents about how the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the health inequalities in many of the world's great cities and what can be done to address these problems. Simon Kuper is our Life and Arts columnist based in Paris. He discusses local attempts to make the French capital greener and more child-friendly, as well as efforts to address the stark divides between wealthy Parisians living in the centre and the poorer residents on the city's periphery. Amy Kazmin i...

Jun 18, 2020•29 min

Tokyo and healthy eating

Japanese cuisine has long been famous for its healthy properties but what makes it so special? Is it responsible for the impressive longevity of the Japanese? And is it still popular in the modern age of processed food? Darren Dodd talks to Leo Lewis, FT Tokyo correspondent about the myths and realities of washoku, the traditional Japanese diet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24, 2020•25 min

New York and fitness

New York is in the middle of a boutique fitness boom. Manhattanites can choose from a wide range of Insta-friendly - but pricey - gyms, offering everything from spin classes to workouts in a giant fridge. But what options are available in poorer neighbourhoods? In this episode, Darren Dodd discusses a tale of two cities with Hannah Kuchler, the FT’s US pharma correspondent. This podcast is supported by Novo Nordisk. To read more FT health coverage, visit FT.com/reports Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Mar 17, 2020•28 min

Pontevedra and air pollution

Twenty years ago, Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain pedestrianised its city centre. But what effect has it had on life in the town and the health of its residents? In this episode, Darren Dodd talks to Peter Wise, FT Lisbon Correspondent, who travelled to Pontevedra to speak to the man behind the scheme and get the views of the locals. This podcast is supported by Novo Nordisk. To read more FT health coverage, visit FT.com/reports Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 10, 2020•25 min

Social prescribing in Manchester

Greater Manchester is the only region in England that has joint control with the National Health Service of its health and social care spending. This devolved power has enabled some interesting experiments in “social prescribing”, where doctors dispense community activities rather than drugs for certain patients with mental health problems. Darren Dodd talks to Andy Bounds, FT Northern England Correspondent, about the difference the scheme is making and the lessons to be learnt for the rest of t...

Mar 05, 2020•28 min

Copenhagen and loneliness

The reasons someone might feel lonely are multiple and diverse, which means finding a solution is tricky. There is not yet a pill you can take to cure loneliness. In this episode, Darren Dodd speaks to the FT’s Nordic correspondent, Richard Milne, about how people in the Danish city of Copenhagen are tackling this growing health problem. This podcast is supported by Novo Nordisk. To read more FT health coverage, visit FT.com/reports Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 24, 2020•30 min

Singapore and urban design

As the world’s population ages, the need for urban design to serve the elderly is becoming ever more important. Providing areas where communities can meet and spend time together is crucial to a city. In Singapore, a new building called the Kampung Admiralty has been built to address exactly that. In this episode, the FT’s Stefania Palma talks to Darren Dodd about the residents living there and how the complex is different to a nursing home. This podcast is supported by Novo Nordisk. To read mor...

Feb 24, 2020•25 min

Introducing How to Build a Healthy City

How to Build a Healthy City is a brand new podcast from the Financial Times. Today's cities - home to more than half the world's population - are struggling to deal with a harmful mix of public health problems: populations are ageing, obesity is rising and pollution has reached toxic levels. What are cities doing to tackle these enormous problems? In this six-part series, Darren Dodd talks to Financial Times correspondents around the world - from Singapore to Copenhagen - about initiatives desig...

Feb 18, 2020•2 min

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