Rephonic
Artwork for Active Towns

Active Towns

John Simmerman
Urban Planning
Community Engagement
Active Transportation
Public Health
Cycling
Public Transit
Biking
Active Mobility
Walkability
Climate Change
Urbanism
Cycling Infrastructure
E-Bikes
Active Towns
Urban Mobility
Urban Design
Infrastructure
Los Angeles
Youth Transit Usage
Renewable Mobility Vision Plan

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes348Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Active Towns

Latest Episodes

LIVESTREAM RECORDING:  Beth Osborne, President & CEO of Smart Growth America, joined me for an in-depth discussion about the newly released Dangerous by Design 2026 Report.

👉 Preview the Report here

If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, p... more

In this episode, Clarence Eckerson, Jr., shares some behind-the-scenes insights into the making of his new documentary profiling the amazing 34th Avenue Open Streets installation, now viewed as a permanent linear park, formally named Paseo Park by th... more

In this episode, I connect with Professor Sara FL Kirk, with Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for an in-depth discussion about her research centered on environments that promote healthy, active living, what prompted her to become a safer... more

New York City is on the cutting edge of many amazing "Streets Are For People" initiatives, and Open Plans is increasingly front and center in this movement with campaigns such as School Streets, Low Traffic Neighborhoods (LTNs), Public Space Manageme... more

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Recent Guests

Sara Kirk
Professor of health promotion at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Episode: The Goal is Free Range Kids w/ Prof Sara FL Kirk
Sara Lind
Co-Executive Director of Open Plans
Open Plans, New York City
Episode: Opening Up about Open Plans with Sara Lind
Ashton Rohmer
PhD candidate in Peace and Conflict Resolution
George Mason University
Episode: Peace and Conflict Resolution meets Car Supremacy w/ Ashton Rohmer
Michael Pollack
Professor of Law, Cardozo School of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Episode: Sidewalk Nation with Prof. Michael Pollack
Chris Bruntlett
International Relations Manager for the Dutch Cycling Embassy; co-author of multiple books
Dutch Cycling Embassy
Episode: Dutch Cycling in China 2.0 with Chris Bruntlett
Doorae Shin
Youth climate and transportation activist, part of Hawaii Youth Transportation Council
Hawaii Youth Transportation Council / Our Children's Trust / Earthjustice
Episode: Why Did These Kids Sue the State DOT?
Luca Cuniberti
Youth council member and transit advocate in Hawaii
Hawaii Youth Transportation Council
Episode: Why Did These Kids Sue the State DOT?
Sam Johnson
Sustainable transport specialist at the World Bank
World Bank
Episode: Livable Communities Require Livable Streets w/ Sam Johnson
Ben Wolfe
New York City-based filmmaker and director of Changing Lanes
Director of Changing Lanes
Episode: Changing Lanes: A safer street transformation documentary

Host

John Simmerman
Host focused on active towns, urbanism, and storytelling around livable streets.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 104 ratings
  • Speakerphone audio bites

    I really want to listen to the show, but I can’t stand the low quality audio. Please have your guests pick up the phone and talk on it, not on the speakerphone. Better still, have them use an actual microphone instead of a cell phone. Isn’t your content worth a little effort?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    SuperGlideFX-E
    United Statesa year ago
  • Original, in depth, diverse discussions on Urbanism

    This podcast adds a lot to the urban issues space. These are conversations with a lot of figures which don’t necessary always receive the internet spotlight and it’s great to hear from them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joshlemer
    Canada3 years ago
  • Good motives, but some dangerous misconceptions.

    I like the show for advocating for better bike transportation infrastructure, but dislike some undercurrents that keep popping up. One is that you shouldn’t wear a helmet, because that makes people think cycling is dangerous and that you need protection from cars. Well, the helmet is to protect your head from hitting the road which can result from any number of incidents other than being struck by a car. Helmets are not terribly expensive or uncomfortable either. Maybe some day the fantasy ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    M@ttM
    United States3 years ago
  • Get inspired about ACTIVE transportation

    John Simmerman hosts some of the most engaging and inspiring people in the active transportation advocacy and leadership spaces. This sort of deep and substantive conversation is a bit unusual for the broader podcast world, but is such a resource for people new to biking, walking and livable communities(they are possible ! they exist !) I have no doubt that John is inspiring more transportation and mobility nerds, and I am here for it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BikingInSeattle
    United States3 years ago
  • It got me on my bike!

    Awesome interviews with active transportation movers and shakers. You’ll learn something new, be inspired to dig deeper, and have a good time! It’s inspired me and my family to get out and ride around our city!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cometpants
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise in-depth, diverse discussions with senior figures in urbanism.
Audience appreciates the focus on child-friendly streets and real-world case studies.
Shows practical, transferable ideas for city streets and sidewalks.
Fans note high-quality, inspiring conversations that broaden perspectives on active transportation.

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The Ezra Klein Show
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Stuff You Should Know
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If Books Could Kill
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This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Radio Rental
Radio RentalTenderfoot TV & Audacy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Opening Up about Open Plans with Sara Lind
Q: What haven't we covered that you want to make sure to share with the audience?
Sara emphasizes that reducing vehicle miles traveled involves a toolbox of approaches (congestion pricing, low emission zones, low-traffic neighborhoods, bus rapid transit) and that there is no single solution, but a suite of tools to apply creatively depending on city context.
Opening Up about Open Plans with Sara Lind
Q: Walk us through the origin story of this organization and how long has it been around?
Open Plans started over 20 years ago focusing on livable cities and open data, evolving into an umbrella that includes Streetsblog and Streetfilms, with a shift toward advocacy, daylighting, and community-driven campaigns.
Opening Up about Open Plans with Sara Lind
Q: Talk a little bit about the current situation and your analysis of where you're at with your new mayor.
Sara explains that there is real momentum under the current mayor and DOT leadership, with concrete changes and groundbreakings already underway, even if the full transformation will take time. She highlights an attitude shift and ongoing campaigns under the new administration, including the DOT Commissioner's vision.
Why Did These Kids Sue the State DOT?
Q: What's the origins? How did this group of youth decide to come together to try to sue the state government?
Our Children's Trust uses a new legal theory that youth have rights to a healthy climate, which has allowed them to pursue cases across the country; Hawaii was a natural fit given its vulnerability to climate impacts and the communities' experiences.
Killed By Traffic Engineer Again with Wes Marshall
Q: What surprises me is that the DOTs are not held liable for the construction of dangerous roads, poor maintenance?
It depends on the state. Some have immunity from design stuff, and others allow lawsuits if there's a known safety issue.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Active Towns

What is Active Towns about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Explores how cities can become more active, walkable, and people-centric through policy, design, and culture. Episodes frequently cover urban mobility, sidewalk governance, child-friendly streets, and the politics of street space, with guests ranging from planners and researchers to filmmakers and advocates. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on practical, transferable ideas—such as funding approaches for sidewalks, low-car urbanism, and cross-border lessons in cycling infrastructure—and a willingness to challenge car-centric planning while elevating community voices. The show tends to feature globally informed perspectives, hands-on case studies, and advocacy-focused storytelling that translates complex urban concepts into actiona... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Active Towns has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Active Towns?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Active Towns:

1. The War on Cars
2. The Strong Towns Podcast
3. The Urbanist Agenda
4. Your Undivided Attention
5. The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast

How many episodes of Active Towns are there?

Active Towns launched 6 years ago and published 348 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Active Towns?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Active Towns?

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What guests have appeared on Active Towns?

Recent guests on Active Towns include:

1. Sara Kirk
2. Sara Lind
3. Ashton Rohmer
4. Michael Pollack
5. Chris Bruntlett
6. Doorae Shin
7. Luca Cuniberti
8. Sam Johnson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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