The Impact Lab: An NYU Public Service Podcast
How do you solve public "unsolvable" problems? With innovative cross-disciplinary thinkers. Welcome to The Impact Lab, a podcast where two NYU public service professors offer a behind the scenes look at the wildly innovative NYU Public Service Impact Lab where they bring together graduate students, community partners, the Mayor’s Office, city agencies, community leaders, and unconventional thinkers to move the needle on policy that matters to our lives.
Each season, we go deep into one issue. Season 1 is all about finding solutions to New York City's shortage of public bathrooms. Can a fresh look from the next generation of leaders make things better? Can we get the right people in the room to not only theorize but implement the big changes needed?
Episodes
Aug 14, 2026
Aug 14, 2026
55 min
District 37 City Council Member Sandy Nurse chats with Thom Blaylock about 2025's Local Law 58, working with the new Mayor and figuring out how to keep bathrooms front of mind in the huge list of priorities for New York City.
The other Impact Lab coaches, Alex Heil, Polly Trottenberg, Sarah Kaufman, Tiffany Charbonier and Pat Satterstrom weigh in on the implications of the interview.
References:
Sandy Nurse
Mayday Space as a community center
BK ROT picking up compost
Vision Zero is still a thing
Money Ball as metaphor for the search for a single number to guage bathroom siting priorities.
Jul 15, 2026
Jul 15, 2026
1 hr 9 min
Impact Lab partner Julie Chou chats with Thom Blaylock and Polly Trottenberg about the history of NYC bathrooms and her recent research and advocacy for bathrooms in various new projects including the 175 Park Avenue POPS project.
The other Impact Lab coaches, Alex Heil, Sarah Kaufman and Pat Satterstrom weigh in on the implications of the interview.
References:
Julie Chou
Citywide Strategy 2020 report
Good to Go, A Citywide Assessment of Public Restrooms 2024 report
community board 5
Picture the homeless
free to pee campaign
CEMUSA 2006 APT contract
Fair Fares expansion
1990 ADA passage
175 Park Avenue Pop
Note, only one mention of public restrooms in this prospectus and that is from a note from the Manhattan Borough President about the lack of toilets within the transit hall underground. There are still no plans to include toilets in either the POPS or the transit hall.
CB5 Approval of 175 Park Avenue with bathrooms
Jun 9, 2026
Jun 9, 2026
42 min
Pat Satterstrom, Tiffany Charbonier and Thom Blaylock discuss the origins of NYU Wagner's Public Service Impact Lab.
Show Notes
Impact Lab Website
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Music
Special Thanks to Daniel Satterstrom for the theme music and footnote sound FX!