
Active Towns
Conversations about Creating a Culture of Activity: Profiling the people, places, programs, and policies that help to promote a culture of activity within our communities.
Latest episodes

Sep 23, 2022 • 54min
European Street Experiments w/ Emily Stutts (video available)
In this episode, I connect with Emily Stutts, a special ed teacher from Brooklyn, NY, who has just returned from a summer school class in Germany and The Netherlands focusing on transforming our streets into people-oriented places through quick interventions. Emily's journey to becoming a passionate urbanist and advocate for creating safer, more activity-promoting streets and communities is such an inspiring tale for any concerned community member who would like to make a difference in their neighborhood.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectHelpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Megan Ramey episode- Billy Fields episode- Lior Steinberg episode- The Car That Wanted To Be A Bike book in the Active Towns bookshop and on Amazon - George Liu episode- Darcy Kitching episode- Tim Gill episode- Curbing Traffic book by the Bruntlett's in the Active Towns Bookshopand on AmazonFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteStudio Equipment:- Main MIcrophone Sennheiser Pro Audio MKH416-P48U3- Rode RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio- Additional Microphone - Shure MV7- Camera - Sony ZV-E10 (currently sold out)- Lens - Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens- Elgato Cam Link 4k- Elgato Streamdeck XL*- Elgato Streamdeck (*you may not need the XL)Editing Computer System:- Apple MacBook Pro 16" 2021 M1 Pro- LG 34WP88C-B 34-inch Curved 21:9 UltraWide QHD (3440x1440) IPS Display with Ergo StandFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities".My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in, I hope you find this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. Any donations collected are used specifically to support the organization's mission.To make a donation to Advocates for Healthy Communities go here
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Sep 16, 2022 • 59min
Car-Free Megacities w/ Emilia Hanna (video avalable)
In this first episode of Season 4, I'm honored to present this chat I had with Emilia Hanna, Manager of the Car-Free Megacities Campaign - a fun yet serious competition between New York, Paris, and London to reduce their levels of car-dependence and relieve themselves of the negative impacts that motor vehicles inflict on the city.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectCan you imagine London, Paris, and New York free from car dependency?The Car Free Megacities campaign is a two-year project in London, New York, and Paris to reimagine our cities as places where private cars become obsolete and to dramatically raise policy and public support for urban car reduction. This campaign is a collaboration between climate charity Possible, think-tank the New Weather Institute, Paris sans Voiture, Brooklyn Spoke, TransAlt, Westminster University’s Active Travel Academy, and Glimpse, supported by the KR Foundation, and Brompton.Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
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Aug 20, 2022 • 1h 4min
The War On Car Dependency w/ Doug Gordon (video available)
In this episode, the Season 3 Finale, I welcome back Doug Gordon, co-host of The War on Cars Podcast and founder of Brooklyn Spoke Media, for some reflections on the past eight months of safer streets for everyone developments and some of our favorite episodes.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn addition to our conversation, we fielded questions and comments from our live audience via YouTube chat.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- My first episode with Doug, Ep 61, Season 2- My episode w/ Dr. Natalia Barbour- My episode w/ Sam Balto- My episode w/ Jessie Singer- The WOC episode w/ Jessie- The WOC episode on the Auto Show- The WOC episode w/ Marley Blonsky - The WOC episode w/ Edward Niedermeyer- The WOC episode w/ Amy Westervelt- The WOR episode They Paved r/place and Put Up a Parking Lot- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht canal- Curbing Traffic book by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett- Clarence Eckerson Streetfilms 3rd St Vid- Ryan Van Duzer- Jason Slaughter w/ Not Just Bikes- Bicycle Colorado - Michelle Wu - Mayor of Boston- Anne Hidalgo - Mayor of Paris- Valérie Plante - Mayor of Montreal- My episode w/ Billy Fields- Jos Sluijsmans w/ The International Cargo Bike FestivalFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aug 12, 2022 • 1h 7min
The Street of the Future w/ Professor Billy Fields (video available)
In this episode, I am delighted to welcome back Billy Fields, Associate Professor, Texas State University, for a detailed discussion about his recent month-long trip to Europe to study and document the amazing street transformations taking place in many cities, including Barcelona, Paris, Utrecht, and Amsterdam, to name just a few.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn this episode, we take a good look at the street of the future, and it may just surprise you.Dr. Billy Fields, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, and each summer, he likes to take a group of students over to The Netherlands to experience what he describes as resilient street designs that add to health, wellbeing, and vibrancy of the city.This summer, he also was able to visit several cities in Spain in addition to Paris, so we discuss some of the street transformations he witness in those locations as well.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel): - My first interview w/ Prof. Billy Fields, Ep 74– Adaptation Urbanism and Resilient Communities Transforming Streets to Address Climate Change- Cornelia Dinca, Sustainable Amsterdam- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht canal- BicycleDutch video on the Utrecht Fietsstraat conversion- Curbing Traffic book by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett- MobyconFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aug 10, 2022 • 1h 5min
Shoal Creek Trail w/ Ivey Kaiser (video available)
In this episode, I reconnect with Ivey Kaiser, Executive Director of Austin's Shoal Creek Conservancy, for a chat about some exciting updates addressing some crucial gaps in the trail. We also talk about how important it is to provide safe and inviting access to meaningful destinations served by the trail for All Ages & Abilities.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectHelpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Shoal Creek Conservancy website- My Shoal Creek Blvd Protected Cycle Track RideFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aug 5, 2022 • 1h 2min
Inspired by Travel Abroad w/ Robert Spillar (video available)
In this episode, I reconnect with Robert "Rob" Spillar, Former DOT Director for Austin, TX, and current Senior Vice President, National Director of Smart Cities for STV. We discuss his nearly 14-year career launching and leading the transportation department and how two significant study trips abroad help to shape the trajectory of mobility in the Texas capital, the establishment of a comprehensive bicycle network master plan nearly a decade ago, and the quickly emerging Dutch-inspired cycle network that is currently being constructed.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectIn Rob's new role as the Senior Vice President and National Director of Smart Cities, he will establish and lead STV's new multidisciplinary practice.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- STV's website- My Austin Dutch-inspired playlist- Austin bike network milestone - Austin's Active Transportation & Street Design Division websiteFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aug 3, 2022 • 53min
Design Translation w/ Jace Davis (video available)
In this episode, I connect with Jace Davis with Bicycle Colorado and the Denver Streets Partnership for a conversation about his recent month-long vacation to Europe and how he plans to translate the people-oriented public space designs he experienced into his work in Denver.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectJace is excited about translating what is possible into actual aspirational transformations that are inherently achievable in Denver and other car-dependent cities globally. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Bicycle Colorado website- The Denver Streets Partnership website- My recent Bicycle Colorado episode- My interview with Jill Locantore- My recent episode with Jason Slaughter with Not Just Bikes- My first episode with Jason Slaughter with Not Just Bikes- The Happy City by Charles Montgomery- Walkable City by Jeff Speck- Curbing Traffic by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett- Cities for People by Jan GehlFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jul 29, 2022 • 1h 13min
Barriers to Riding with Kids w/ Dawn Rahman (video available)
In this episode, I connect with Dawn Rahman, a riding mom and doctoral researcher at the University of Westminster in the U.K., studying the barriers that mothers face when attempting to ride a bike with their children.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectDawn Rahman is a mom who wants more moms to ride with their kids, so she's doing a doctoral research study examining what factors make doing so more difficult, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. Some of the things she learned and heard from her study participants were not surprising, concerns for safety, time pressures, and literal barriers in the pathways, yet others were shocking, at least to me, continued verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and shaming from other moms. Yet, these moms find a way to ride their children because it's the right thing to do, and it brings the family joy. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Dawn on TwitterFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jul 27, 2022 • 1h 3min
For The Kids w/ Lanrick Bennett, Jr (video available)
In this episode, I connect with the Bicycle Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Lanrick Bennett, Jr., who says he's doing this for kids, because they deserve to have a safe and inviting cycle network so that they may experience mobility freedom.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectLanrick wants his children, and everyone for that matter, to be able to ride a bike safely to meaningful destinations across the city to meet their daily needs and so he stepped forward to serve as Toronto's very first Bicycle Mayor. The role is part of a global community engagement initiative run by the BYCS organization in based in Amsterdam. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- BYCS website- My interview w/ Maud de Vries the co-founder of BYCS- Follow Lanrick as the Toronto Bicycle Mayor on Twitter Four Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jul 23, 2022 • 1h 22min
Strong Active Towns Livestream w/ Charles Marohn (video available)
In this episode, I reconnect with my good friend, Charles "Chuck" Marohn, founder of the Strong Towns organization and worldwide movement, for a discussion about the inherent connections between Strong Towns and Active Towns, the need for reform in the traffic engineering and city planning fields, and he provides the latest update on his battle with the state licensing board.Watch the video version of this episode to get the full effectStrong Towns and Active Towns together again! I was honored to welcome Charles "Chuck" Marohn, founder and president of the Strong Towns organization, back on the Podcast, this time in a Live-Streaming broadcast event.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- For more information on Strong Towns, visit their website- My interview with Chuck in 2021- Chuck's Confessions book- Chuck's first book - Strong Towns- Here's a video Excerpt of the EpisodeFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Various mixes also by John SimmermanResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I’m a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2022Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here.Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. Any donations collected are used specifically to support the organization's mission.To make a donation to Advocates for Healthy Communities go here
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★