For about a decade and a half, Carol Coletta has interviewed the leading urban thinkers in the U.S. and she continues these incisive and provocative conversations at Memphis’ own Kudzukian network on her new podcast,  Cities Now With Carol Coletta.

Her first interview explores a seminal question for Memphis: Why Black Cities Are Undervalued and What We Can Do About It.  Since taking the helm at Memphis River Parks Partnership, she has championed Memphis and particularly called for embracing the fact that it is a black city as a competitive advantage.

She explores that point in interviews with Andre Perry, fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and scholar-in-residence at American University, and Joe Cortright, who blogs at cityobservatory.org  and is president and principal economist of Impresa, a consulting firm specializing in regional economic analysis, innovation, and industry clusters.

Mr. Perry has found significant disparities between real estate values in predominantly African American neighborhoods compared to predominantly white neighborhoods in the U.S., even when their incomes are the same.

Mr. Cortright, recaps his latest findings about Memphis in the context of economic segregation and undervalued African American neighborhoods.

Ms. Coletta has been recognized several years as one of the 100 leading experts on cities.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who cares about Memphis and you can hear it here.