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
Car-Lite Living in Indigo w/ Scott Snodgrass & Clayton Garrett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
In this episode, I speak with Scott Snodgrass and Clayton Garrett, founders of Meristem Communities, the developers of Indigo, a people-first community that will provide a car-lite lifestyle plus the added bonus of integ…
Wheels for Wellbeing w/ Isabelle Clement, MBE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:20
In this episode, I connect with Isabelle Clement, Director of Wheels for Wellbeing, a UK-based charity with a mission to enhance disabled people’s lives by ensuring that anyone can access the physical, emotional, practic…
Bike Streets: Unlocking the City by Bike w/ Avi Stopper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
In this episode, I welcome back Avi Stopper, Founder of Denver's BikeStreets.com, for an update on their new mobile app, routing tools, community adventure rides, and the exciting Destinations initiative.Thank you so muc…
Streets For People w/ Cllr James McAsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
In this episode, I connect with Cllr James McAsh for a conversation about a series of safer streets initiatives London's Borough of Southwark has implemented. We'll discuss how they've navigated through resistance to cha…
Psychology & Transportation Engineering w/ Patricia Tice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:24
In this episode, I connect with Dr. Patricia Tice, Ph.D., for a conversation about the role of psychology (or lack thereof) in transportation engineering and in designing our streets to be welcoming for "All Ages & Abili…
Motonormativity w/ Prof. Ian Walker & Prof. Marco Te Brömmelstroet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:17
This is a "can't miss" discussion featuring Professor Ian Walker from Swansea University in Wales and Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet from the University of Amsterdam about their recent paper on Motonormativity, also kn…
Accelerating Seattle's Mobility Options w/ Greg Spotts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:06
In this episode, I connect with Greg Spotts for a conversation about his tenure serving the city of Seattle, WA and the active mobility projects his team completed during this period and a handful of the ones he is most…
Building Optimism w/ Coby Lefkowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:01
In this episode, I connect with Coby Lefkowitz, author of Building Optimism, for a conversation about creating people-oriented communities, some of the Dutch cities that inspire his work, and why places like Santa Barbar…