#129 Vilnius: Lessons in Listening, Leading, and Letting Go
In this episode, Remigijus Šimašius, former Mayor of Vilnius and Minister of Justice of Lithuania, shares his journey from legal academia and policy advocacy to leading one of Europe’s most progressive cities. The conversation explores how data transparency and lived urban experience shape inclusive, practical leadership, highlighting the importance of open governance, civic dialogue, and regulatory innovation. Remigijus discusses the challenges of fostering sustainable urban growth, the role of smart tools in public service, and the delicate balance between regulation and innovation in building truly smart, equitable communities.
Episode Overview
[00:02:00] Teaser Question: “If Vilnius was an animal, which animal would it be and why?”
[00:03:27] Our guest’s background
[00:07:23] Strategies for combating corruption and fostering transparency
[00:09:53] Examples of innovative regulatory approaches in city governance
[00:13:36] Balancing innovation with effective regulation
[00:16:50] From talk to action: implementing change in public service
[00:18:35] Reflections on decisions made as mayor
[00:20:42] Advice for new mayors and aligning with community vision
[00:23:01] Current urban challenges in Vilnius and needed tools for change
[00:29:54] Regulation wisdom: flexibility, context, and impact
[00:33:10] Podcast Segment: Inspiring story or quote
[00:39:52] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”
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41:32
#128 Chamonix: Smart Tourism with a View from the Alps
Recorded live at the ChangeNOW event in Paris, in this last episode of this series, Éric Fournier, Mayor of Chamonix, shares his journey from political consultancy to nearly two decades of local leadership in the French Alps. The conversation explores how lived experience shapes inclusive leadership, highlighting the importance of empathy, visibility, and grassroots engagement in public service. Éric discusses the challenges of managing overtourism and housing scarcity, the urgency of climate action in mountainous regions, and the role of scientific advisory councils, bold regulation, and local resilience in building truly smart, equitable communities.
Episode Overview:
[00:01:32] Teaser Question: “If you had to describe Chamonix in only three words, what would they be?”
[00:03:11] Our guest’s background
[00:05:09] Rethinking tourism for sustainability and resident quality of life
[00:09:57] Managing housing scarcity and the impact of secondary homes
[00:12:11] Regulating hotel development and the shift toward ‘better, not more’
[00:13:31] The role and impact of the Scientific Advisory Council
[00:18:27] Addressing climate change and habitability in mountain territories
[00:20:17] Podcast Segment: Special Shout-Out to environmental associations
[00:21:09] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub
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22:55
#127 Amsterdam: Dancing Through Energy Transition Challenges
Recorded live at the ChangeNOW event in Paris, in this episode, Mimi Eelman, Innovation Manager for Energy at the City of Amsterdam, shares her journey from geological studies and early climate awareness to spearheading energy innovation projects in one of Europe’s most forward-thinking cities. The conversation explores how lived experience shapes inclusive leadership, highlighting the importance of empathy, visibility, and grassroots engagement in public service. Mimi discusses the challenges of engaging citizens in energy topics, the urgency of climate action at the local level, and the role of education, creativity, and systemic disruption in building truly smart, equitable communities.
Episode Overview:
[00:00:37] Teaser Question: “If you had to illustrate Amsterdam’s energy transition with only three emojis, what would they be and why?”
[00:03:07] Our guest’s background
[00:06:08] Energy-sharing project in Amsterdam Noord (Republica Building)
[00:10:00] Lessons from a previous project on Texel island involving families and behavioural change
[00:13:16] Designing citizen engagement in energy projects
[00:20:06] Framework for deciding levels of public involvement
[00:23:28] Possibilities and risks in Amsterdam’s decarbonisation pathway
[00:27:17] Barriers to scaling up pilot projects and importance of taking action
[00:30:39] The importance of having a dream or “moonshot” to inspire action
[00:31:53] Podcast Segment: Inspire Us – Mimi shares her inspiration from Madonna
[00:33:11] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub
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35:55
#126 Bratislava, Slovakia: Bridging Ambition and Action
In this episode, recorded live at the Change Now Summit in Paris, where BABLE was a media partner, Marian Zachar, member of the Climate Office of the City of Bratislava, shares his journey from international relations and youth development to pioneering urban climate leadership. The conversation explores Bratislava’s evolving climate agenda, highlighting how long-term vision, systemic change, and pragmatic action are driving decarbonisation efforts. Marian discusses the city’s ambitious targets, strategies to engage businesses and citizens, and the importance of transparency, feasibility, and coalition-building in climate planning.
Episode´s Overview:
[00:00:03] Teaser Question: “If Bratislava were an animal, which animal would it be and why?”
[00:01:07] Our guest’s background
[00:03:50] What climate change and decarbonisation mean for Bratislava
[00:06:51] How priorities are selected and the 65-measure climate plan
[00:10:17] Example: The Mayor of Bratislava Climate Challenge with local companies
[00:15:19] Engaging citizens and promoting behaviour change through spillover effects
[00:18:11] Reflections on the EU 2030 climate neutrality target—ambition vs. realism
[00:21:20] Podcast Segment: Trial & Error – Lessons from missed opportunities in planning
[00:24:39] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub
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26:59
#125 UITP Summit: Rethinking Mobility for People, Not Cars
In this first episode of a special UITP series—produced in partnership with the UITP Summit 2025, where BABLE is a media partner—Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), shares insights from his distinguished career in public transport and urban mobility. The conversation explores how shifts in societal expectations and climate concerns have redefined mobility planning, highlighting the importance of inclusive governance, demand-driven solutions, and sustainable innovation. Mezghani discusses the evolution of public transport policy, the impact of digitalisation and electrification, and the need for structured regulatory frameworks. He also champions gender equity in mobility leadership and emphasises the value of holistic, people-centred approaches in building smarter, more resilient cities.
Don’t miss out on being part of the conversation! https://www.uitpsummit.org/hamburg2025/
Overview of the episode:
[00:01:25] Teaser Question: “Can you describe UITP’s mission using just three emojis?”
[00:01:48] Our guest’s background
[00:05:06] Evolution of public transport and urban mobility
[00:08:28] Governance challenges in public transport
[00:14:53] The role and mission of UITP
[00:19:46] Promising trends and visions for urban mobility
[00:23:13] Misconceptions and resistance to mobility reform
[00:25:03] Energy efficiency and the ‘avoid, shift, improve’ approach
[00:28:58] Public transport investment vs. alternative solutions
[00:33:47] The importance of gender inclusion in transport planning
[00:36:31] Podcast Segment: “Roll with the punches” (this or that questions)
[00:41:00] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub
Hop on the journey toward a better urban life and hear from top actors in the Smart City arena about stakeholders and themes most prevalent for today's citizens and tomorrow's generations.
At BABLE, through our platform and services, we enable processes from research and strategy development to co-creation and implementation. Visit us at www.bable-smartcities.eu
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