Listening to Shirley talk, explain and simply recount a story, a decision or a fact is a powerful insight into years, decades of experience, thought and practical wisdom. I was immediately struck not only by Shirley’s wealth of knowledge, but by the intensity of her thought and the depth of her assessment.

She didn’t have a topic map for the podcast because she didn’t want one. She didn’t need one. So skilled a speaker and thinker is she, that she knew she would be able to satisfy every question I would ask.

We went from topics that entailed mobility, communication, community, environmental politics, city planning, sustainability, equality, social issues, history, race relations and party politics and I think, wow, listening back, what an amazing person.

Shirley Franklin is the first former Mayor I have ever had the chance to sp ...