Will Elon Musk’s Data Centers Actually Help Memphis?

Elon Musk's company xAI is building massive data centers in Memphis, promising economic transformation. But at what cost? Abby is joined by Strong Towns Blog Editor and podcast host Asia Mieleszko to dissect the billion-dollar AI infrastructure boom and explore why cities keep falling for "shiny object urbanism."

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

• Hear more from Asia on the brand-new podcast Stacked Against Us!
• "Elon Musk Gambles Billions in Memphis to Catch Up on AI" by Alexander Saeedy, The Wall Street Journal (October 2025)
• "Shiny Object Urbanism" by Billy Cooney
• "Where's the Wealth?" by Charles Marohn‍
• Abby Newsham (X/Twitter)
• Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Hey listener! You hear from us all the time, but today we want to hear from you. We want your feedback on this podcast and any other Strong Towns podcast you like to listen to. Please fill out this quick survey to share your thoughts: strongtowns.org/survey

 

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.