#119 IMAGINE the Citiverse: Phoenix & Valencia

In this episode, Michael Hammett, Director of the Office of Innovation at the City of Phoenix, Arizona, and Arturo Castello, Deputy Technical Director at Valencia Innovation Capital, delve into the concept of the Citiverse and how their cities are embracing human-centred innovation. Michael shares Phoenix’s challenge of creating shaded, heat-resilient pathways to enhance mobility and wellbeing in extreme temperatures, while Arturo discusses Valencia’s focus on reimagining playgrounds as inclusive, connected, and sustainable community spaces. Together, they explore the importance of co-creation with citizens, the role of digital twins, and how technology can be used meaningfully to shape liveable, future-ready urban environments. Don't miss this exciting lead-up to the IMAGINE 2025 event in Tampere, Finland, where cities and innovators will collaborate to shape the Citiverse!  Episode Overview:  [00:01:41] Teaser Question: “If your city’s Citiverse had a tagline or motto, what would it be?” [00:03:13] Our guests’ background [00:07:47] Introduction to the Citiverse and its relevance for Phoenix and Valencia [00:11:43] Valencia’s Citiverse challenge: Reimagining playgrounds [00:13:37] Phoenix’s Citiverse challenge: Mapping shaded pathways to support heat resilience [00:16:58] Involving citizens in co-creating meaningful urban solutions [00:20:27] Addressing criticism around futurism vs. urgent urban needs [00:24:30] Communicating innovation effectively to the public [00:25:52] Using a gaming perspective for citizen engagement in city design [00:28:17] Defining success and hoped-for impact of the Citiverse projects [00:31:35] Open floor: Final thoughts and reflections from the guests [00:36:05] Podcast Segment: “Flip the Script” – guests ask each other questions [00:42:36] 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.