Taz Khatri

Episode 33: Equitable Neighborhoods, Arizona ADU and Missing Middle Laws

February 11th, 2026  |  52 mins 34 secs

accessory dwelling units, adu standard plans, affordable housing, arizona, christian solorio, city of phoenix, equitable neighborhoods, missing middle housing

Listen to my conversation with former State House representative, housing advocate and architect Christian Solorio about equitable neighborhoods and the recently passed state laws mandating fewer restrictions on accessory dwelling units and missing middle housing. Christian was heavily involved in the passing of these laws and he tells us why he thinks they're so important. He also introduces a new City of Phoenix program where homeowners can choose from approved standard ADU plans instead of creating plans from scratch and how this program will make it that much easier to make affordable housing and equitable neighborhoods in Phoenix a reality.

Episode 32: Interview with Environmental Artist Joan Baron

December 17th, 2025  |  40 mins 58 secs

adobe, architecture, joan baron

Environmental Artist Joan Baron has long been interested in earthen materials. She is currently obsessed with adobe and making earthen ovens or hornos as a way to empower everyday people to not only make their own food, but build their own earthen oven too! She, along with artisan Clint Plecas (who was a previous guest on Tea with Taz), lead adobe workshops teaching everyday people how to make adobe bricks and how to build with them. Making your own earthen home with adobe, Joan believes, could be an answer to the housing affordability crisis young people are facing. We also talk about the role of art in the built environment and how it can be used for placemaking. You won't want to miss this conversation with Joan, who is a powerhouse of an artist, community builder, and activist!

Episode 31: Interview with Local Real Estate Developer Ryan Hilbun

October 16th, 2025  |  44 mins 24 secs

architecture, real estate developer

What does a real estate developer actually do? Ryan Hilbun, a local up-and-coming Phoenix developer illuminates the inner workings of the development world in this podcast. He tells us what matters to developers and how they make decisions. (Hint: It's not always JUST about the bottom line.) We also talk about Ryan's passion for Placemaking and how it impacts the work he does.

Episode 30: What is Trauma-Informed Design?

August 25th, 2025  |  44 mins 53 secs

architecture, trauma-informed design

Everyone has gone through some level of trauma, but some have to deal with more serious trauma than others - think of people who have lost housing in a natural disaster or war, people recovering from domestic abuse or hospitalized patients. These may be examples that don't apply to you but designing with a trauma-informed approach benefits everyone! RJ Millhouse, Assistant Professor at the ASU Design School, breaks it down for us and explains how trauma-informed design is a thoughtful approach that would improve design for all demographics.

Episode 29: All About Building with Adobe with Clint Plecas

July 17th, 2025  |  58 mins 7 secs

adobe, architecure

Although adobe is an ancient building material that likely originated in the Middle East, it has a uniquely Arizonan dimension in that our clay-heavy soil is perfect to make sturdy and beautiful adobe bricks. Clint Plecas, an adobe craftsman, gives us an overview of this natural building material, its origins in Arizona, it's rich history, how to make it and how adobe is used and made in modern times.

Episode 28: A Conversation with Prof. Phil Horton on how Design Education is Changing Amid Political Upheaval

June 18th, 2025  |  56 mins 20 secs

architecture, design education, phil horton

Join us for a timely conversation with Clinical Associate Professor of Architecture Phil Horton about how the recent changes in federal funding and policy are impacting The Design School at Arizona State University along with the positive and sometimes challenging impact of eliminating barriers for students who want to study architecture. Phil also tells us about the innovative joint studio he's been running with the architecture program at the An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine and how this collaboration has become more relevant yet more uncertain than ever.

Episode 27: A Conversation with Arizona's State Historical Preservation Office

April 8th, 2025  |  51 mins 36 secs

architecture, historic district, historical preservation, kathryn leonard

Kathryn Leonard is one of my favorite leaders. She has been serving as the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer for nearly nine years and the agency is better for her courageous leadership. Listen to us geek out about historic preservation in Arizona and how stressful it can be, but when it works, how rewarding it is. We talk about some big questions that the field of preservation is facing - such as who's history is being preserved, should we be rethinking the idea of historical integrity and how can we get young people interested in preservation? One of Kathryn and her team's biggest efforts during the year is putting on the annual Arizona State Historic Preservation Conference which is happening in Phoenix this year. Everyone is welcome. You can register here: https://www.azpreservation.org/confer.... Kathryn also talks about the the Arizona State Historic Preservation Plan update which is an opportunity to address the big questions of preservation and to forge a new, more inclusive, path for historic preservation in Arizona.

Episode 26: An Overview of the 2025 Architectural Film Showcase with Steve Weiss

March 27th, 2025  |  29 mins 13 secs

architecture, film festival, no festival required, steve weiss

The Valley's resident independent film screener Steve Weiss (No Festival Required) tells us about the three films he's chosen to show at this year's Architectural Film Showcase. He tells us about the wonderful spaces he will be screening the films in and the star-studded (local stars at least) post-film discussion panels he's put together. Here are the films, times, dates, and locations. You can buy your tickets at www.nofestivalrequired.com "The Hollywood Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story" April 9, 2025, Walter Studios, Doors at 6:30pm, Film at 7:00pm "beadlearchitecture - A Film by Suzanne D. Johnson" April 13, 2025, 3rd Street Theater at Phoenix Center for the Arts, Doors at 12:30pm, FIlm at 1:00pm "Light without Sun - A Film om Architect Jorn Utzon and Cas Lis" April 17, 2025, The Abbey PHX, Doors at 6:30pm, Film at 7:30pm

Episode 25: Omar Bailey Shares His Journey as a Black Architect

February 17th, 2025  |  43 mins 44 secs

architecture, black architect

Omar Bailey, a Senior Associate at the architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch, talks about how he got to where he is and how he found his strengths even though they weren't what he expected they would be in architecture school. Listen to this fun and informative conversation about how architecture professionals change and grow as they advance in their career and some of the additional obstacles minority architects have to overcome.

Episode 24: An Interview with Historic Preservation Thought Leader Bonnie McDonald

November 25th, 2024  |  54 mins 45 secs

architecture, historic preservation

How do we make Historic Preservation relevant to more than just little old ladies of leisure? Who's stories do our current Historic Preservation systems tell and which groups are routinely overlooked? How is Historic Preservation related to Health, Workers Right's and People's Right to Place?

Bonnie McDonald, the President and CEO of Landmarks Illinois, answers these difficult questions and more. Bonnie is the author of THE RELEVANCY GUIDEBOOK — BUILDING A MORE RELEVANT PRESERVATION MOVEMENT and she shares what she learned when interviewing groups of people who are hardly ever included in the Historic Preservation conversation. She shares the things that still need to change and also tells us about glimmers of hope and success stories about how Historic Preservation has been made relevant to a wider swath of the population.

Episode 23: An Interview with Arizona Legislator Sarah Ligouri on the new ADU Law

October 9th, 2024  |  44 mins 23 secs

adu, architecture

There has been a flurry of pushback on the new statewide law mandating that every city that has over 75,000 people must allow any single family home to add at least one attached or detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Everyone from historic preservationists, city planner, and neighborhood organizations are up in arms about this overall positive move to make ADUs more prevalent in our state. Listen in on my interview with Arizona Legislator Sarah Ligouri, a big proponent of this legislation. to find out why the Arizona Legislature passed such a sweeping law, overriding citys' ability to regulate ADUs, and why it may not be such a bad thing after all.

Episode 22: The New Incarnation of Taliesen School of Architecture

August 27th, 2024  |  37 mins 4 secs

architecture, architecture school, taliesen school of architecture, taliesen west

In this episode Taz interviews Stephanie Lin, the Dean of The School of Architecture, an institution that was once called The Taliesen School of Architecture which was founded by Frank Lloyd Wright. Find out what the school is up to now that it is no longer at Taliesen West and the very cool, hands on, experimental projects that continue to be produced there.

Episode 21: The latest on the South Central Light Rail Extension by the City of Phoenix Light Rail Administrator

July 30th, 2024  |  49 mins 22 secs

architecture, housing, light rail, phoenix, south phoenix, transportation, urban plannings

Markus Coleman, the Light Rail Administrator with the City of Phoenix tells us the latest news about how the South Central Light Rail Extension is going and when we can expect it to be open to the public.

Episode 20: Interview with Historian Lydia Otero about the Erasure of Hispanic Parts of Tucson, Arizona

June 13th, 2024  |  57 mins 9 secs

architecture, historic district

Who's history matters and who's history is told and from who's perspective? Historian and activist Lydia Otero sheds light on the untold costs of Urban Renewal in Tucson and how the Mexican built-environment that evolved over generations was destroyed in favor of more "civilized" and "attractive" city center that would bolster Tucson's tourism industry and investment in the city.

Episode 19: A Wheelchair User gives her Unique Perspective on the Challenges of Navigating the Built Environment

May 15th, 2024  |  49 mins 41 secs

accessibility, architecture

Jennifer Longdon, a community leader, a former state legislator and an accessibility activist, has been using a wheel chair since a shooting in 2004 left her paralyzed from the chest down. She gives us her unique perspective on what it's really like to live in her historic house and to go out and use public buildings, streets and sidewalks while using a wheelchair.

Episode 18: A new architectural film screening plus a report of someone who survived a remodel to their home!

April 8th, 2024  |  1 hr 2 mins

architecture, film festival, home improvement, home resale, house resale

Steve Weiss, the Executive Director of No Festival Required, an independent cinema organization, shares with us about his latest architectural film screening. He and his wife have also undergone a renovation of their home and Steve shares an insider's perspective on what it's like to live through a home renovation that lasted for months. Listen in for invaluable insights on how to survive a home renovation in this episode.