Walking the Heights of Los Angeles

In this debut episode of The Neighbor Effect, I speak with Dave Ptach and Siobhan Burke, the inspiring forces behind Stairstreet Advocates, a community dedicated to restoring and preserving Los Angeles’ iconic stair streets. We discuss how their walks and cleanups have grown into a vibrant social club, fostering connections and care for the city.

We also explore broader urban initiatives reshaping LA—from creating safer streets to enhancing walkability and building community resilience. Tune in to learn about impactful projects and get practical advice for making neighborhoods more walkable, connected, and thriving.

Produced by Urban Therapy. Join us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos, stories, and updates on urban initiatives worldwide.

Mentioned initiatives and organizations:

• Los Angeles Walks
• National Walk to School Day
• Los Feliz Neighborhood Council’s Grants 
• Friends of the Los Angeles River
• CicLAvia
• Investing in Place
• Hyperion Street Safety Coalition
• Parklets and Plazas Program
• Book by Eric Klinenberg - Palaces for the People
• Barcelona's Superblocks
• Livable Communities Initiative

Credits:

• Creator and host – Darya Sannikova
• Composer / Sound Mixing – Sybe
• Cover – Eleonora Nekrasova

Special thanks to our guests:

• Dave Ptach and Los Angeles Stairstreet Advocates
• Siobhan Burke and Lyric Design & Planning