Ep 132 - Reimagining Shelter: Systemic Design for Homelessness // Andrew J. Gregor
Show Notes:
In this episode, Andrew James Gregor joins Trent Bell for a thoughtful conversation on homelessness, wealth disparity, empathy, art, and the deeper societal structures that shape American life.
Together, they explore the complex roots of homelessness, including mental health, economic inequality, cultural values, and the systems that often fail to preserve human dignity. Andrew shares insights into innovative shelter models and systemic design solutions, while Trent reflects on broader questions around American culture, technology, and the growing gaps in human connection.
The conversation also touches on the role of art, the importance of empathy, and the potential for AI and emerging technologies to either deepen societal harm or help create more compassionate solutions.
It’s a thoughtful conversation about learning to look, staying curious, and the role art plays in helping us better understand ourselves and others.
About:
Andrew James Gregor is an architect and author whose work explores the fragile systems that shape everyday life, from fear and social division to homelessness, dignity, and the meaning of shelter. Raised in Beirut and later based in the United States, Andrew brings a deeply personal and cross-cultural perspective to his writing. His debut novel, Them, examines paranoia, prejudice, and the ways fear can corrode a community, while his latest novel, Roscoe, offers a compassionate look at homelessness and how quickly stability can disappear. Alongside his writing, Andrew has spent years working in architecture and design-build construction, giving him a grounded understanding of shelter not just as a structure, but as a basic human need.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgregor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluedogconstruction
Latest book - Roscoe: https://www.amazon.com/ROSCOE-Andrew-J-Gregor-ebook/dp/B0GX3771MT?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1
Trent’s Business: trentbellphotography
