Listener Origin Stories (Patreon Bonus Re-Release)

Aug 6, 2024

Listeners share inspiring origin stories about their journeys from car dependency to advocacy for safer urban environments. Personal narratives reveal the burdens of car culture while celebrating the shift towards cycling and walking. Highlights include a luchador advocate from Mexico City and reflections on adapting to a car-free lifestyle in Minneapolis. The duality of car love and environmental responsibility is explored, along with practical solutions for promoting bike-friendly policies. These transformative experiences showcase a passionate community fighting for better infrastructure.

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Intro

00:00 • 6min

From Cars to Community: Personal Journeys Against Car Dependency

05:51 • 20min

Reflections on Car-Free Living and Urban Spaces

26:10 • 3min

Conflicted Love: The Duality of Cars and Environment

28:49 • 2min

Personal Transportation Journeys and Practical Solutions

30:52 • 4min

Navigating Urban Transport: Personal Journeys

34:23 • 28min

Cycling Journeys: From Commuters to Advocates

01:02:49 • 16min

Episode 133: Listener Origin Stories (Patreon bonus re-release)

We’re taking a short break to work on our forthcoming book and some of our upcoming fall shows. We’ll be back with new free episodes in early September. In the meantime, please enjoy this re-release of our Patreon bonus episode from December 26, 2023. You can get all of our Patreon bonus episodes and more subscriber-only content – plus stickers! – by signing up to support us at www.patreon.com/thewaroncarspod. (A new Patreon-exclusive bonus episode will be released in two weeks.)

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Last November we told you our origin stories. Everything from early driving lessons to our experience living in car-dependent places has informed our journey to becoming radicalized, so to speak, into The War on Cars.

Now it's your turn! We put out the call to our Patreon supporters for their origin stories, and — wow! — did you deliver. We heard from people all over the world about how they began to see the problems with car dominance, with stories ranging from gradual realizations to sudden epiphanies. Plus, we heard from a few friends and former guests of the podcast. (Not all heroes wear capes, but one you'll hear from at the top of the show most certainly does.)

Honestly, we were so impressed and inspired by everyone's stories. We often tell people that we have the smartest and most engaged audience in podcasting and this episode is undeniable proof of that. Thank you for all you do in your neck of the woods to fight for safety, sustainability, equity, and more.

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Thank you to Bull Moose Soft Goods and Cleverhood for their support. For the latest discount codes, listen to the episode.

*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and you'll be tipped off to listener participation episodes like this one, and receive access to ad-free versions of all our episodes, special bonus content, stickers, and more! ***

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Pick up podcast tees and other merch in our official The War on Cars store. Purchase books from podcast guests and support independent booksellers at our official Bookshop.org page.

This episode was edited by Ali Lemer. It was recorded by Josh Wilcox at the Brooklyn Podcasting Studio. Transcriptions are by Russell Gragg. Our theme music is by Nathaniel Goodyear.

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