After a period of downtime on the TTPod recording front, we return with this first episode of a miniseries contemplating the metropolitan scale planning challenges and approaches adopted in the City of Johannesburg since 2000. This first introductory episode acts as an introductory episode, introducing six of us: professional planners who have held the title of Assistant Director: Metroplitan Planning since the City was constituted in 2000. Colleagues Johan Olivier, Peter Ahmad, Nkateko Shiplana, Dylan Weakley, Minenhle Maphumulo and Thandeka Mlaza-Lloyd each take a turn in introducing themselves and reflect on dominant themes and challenges they faced over two and half decades of metro planning. It was a really special recording, and I'm looking forward to unpacking some of the key themes and issues with colleagues in future episodes. For now, enjoy the stories and handovers that, in some small way, have contributed to the thinking and progress made in the City's metropolitan landscape since 2000. Recorded 1st October 2024