Active Towns

Active Towns

Author: John Simmerman Language: English Episodes: 100
Hosted by John Simmerman, Active Towns digs into a simple but powerful idea: what if our daily environments made movement a natural and joyful part of life? This isn't a fitness show; it's a series of conversations exploring how our towns and cities are fundamentally shaped, and how that shaping influences our health and happiness. Each episode connects with planners, advocates, designers, and everyday citizens who are reimagining public spaces, transportation, and community programs. You’ll hear specific stories about transforming a street corner into a gathering place, the ripple effects of a new bike path, or how a local policy shift can encourage more kids to walk to school. The discussions go beyond theory, focusing on the tangible people, places, and policies making a difference right now. Tuning into this podcast offers a hopeful and practical look at the building blocks of vibrant, healthier communities, revealing how small changes in our shared surroundings can collectively foster a culture where activity is woven into the fabric of everyday life. It’s for anyone curious about the intersection of well-being, design, and civic life.
Episodes
Changing Lanes: A safer street transformation documentary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:54
How streets are transformed into safer, more inviting places is messy and difficult. This fascinating new documentary dives deep into the details of just such a transformation in New York City, and the results are beauti…
Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom with Alice Ferguson & Tim Gill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:31
In this episode, I reconnect with Tim Gill and meet Alice Ferguson for a discussion about a recent report they collaborated on titled “Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom,” which calls for a radical, child-centered app…
The Urban Truth Collective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:32
In this episode, I reconnect with Tom Flood and Grant Ennis and meet Brent Toderian to discuss their new collaborative effort, the Urban Truth Collective: The truth about cities in an age of disinformation.Helpful Links…
Pocket Neighborhoods 101 with Ross Chapin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:13
In this episode, I reconnect with Ross Chapin, author of Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World, for an in-depth discussion about this powerful approach to creating more livable commu…
Cities In Motion with Jacob Davis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:43
In this episode, I connect with Jacob Davis, host of The Cities in Motion Podcast, for a discussion about what led him to want to host an urbanism and sustainable communities podcast that channels the tenets of the Stron…
Dancing Through Life in Hanoi with Grace & Dieter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
In this episode, I reconnect with a dear friend from my Boulder triathlon days, Dieter Bruhn, and his relatively new wife, Grace. We discuss the Hanoi dance scene and contrast the culture of activity in Vietnam with Boul…
Killed By Traffic Engineer Again with Wes Marshall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:24
This is the Livestream recording of my Follow-Up Conversation with Prof. Wes Marshall, about his impactful book Killed By A Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System. Help…
Restoring the American Village with Diane Alisa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:01
In this episode, I connect with Diane Alisa Tuft, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, to discuss her journey into urbanism and her advocacy for walkable communities and the return of…
If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight with Carter Lavin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:57
In this episode, I reconnect with Carter Lavin for an in-depth discussion about his new book, If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy. Helpful Links (note that some may inclu…