In this episode, I reconnect with Michael “Mike” Pasternock, who has catapulted the Strong Towns YouTube Channel to new heights in the past year. We discuss his journey from a high school teacher in the Midwest to a wedding video producer in the Phoenix area to the new face of the Strong Towns YouTube Channel based in Chicago.

Thank you so much for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and be sure to subscribe to the Podcast on your preferred listening platform, and don’t forget to check out and subscribe to the Active Towns Channel on YouTube for more content.

Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):

– Register for the Strong Towns National Gathering
For 10% off, use my personal Active Towns Coupon Code: JOHNS2024 at checkout

– Strong Towns on YouTube
– Strong Towns website

Featured Strong Towns videos:
– Fix It or Move? You Don’t Have To Move To Live In A Better Place
– Conversation with an Engineer
– This Experiment Undid Our Cities. How Do We Fix It?
– This Ponzi scheme Might END Suburban Prosperity
– Fayetteville: Are parking lots ruining your city?
– Why is it so hard to cross the street?

Channel Mentions:
– City Nerd
– Not Just Bikes
– Big Daws TV
– Steven Schapiro
– Colin and Samir
– City Beautiful
– Johnny Harris
– Cleo Abram
– Answer in Progress
– Film Booth
– Uytae Lee, About Here
– Ryan Van Duzer
– Faultline
– Flurf Design
– The Disneyfication of American Cities
– Studio Leonardo
– Nic Laporte
– StreetCraft
– Mr. Beast
– RM Transit

– Culdesac website
– Culdesac on YouTube
– My interesting ride to Culdesac from the airport
– A mini-tour of Culdesac w/ Alexys Still
– An interview w/ Culdesac CEO, Ryan Johnson
– My surprisingly awesome ride from Culdesac back to the airport
– My Livestream w/ Andy Boenau

If you are a fan of the Active Towns Podcast, please consider supporting the effort as an Active Towns Ambassador in the following ways:
1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $1 per month
(Note: Patron benefits include early, ad-free access to content and a 15% discount in the Active Towns Merch Store)
2. If you enjoyed this episode, you can also “leave a tip” through “Buy Me a Coffee”
3. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my store

Credits:
– Video and audio production by John Simmerman
– Music via Epidemic Sound

Resources used during the production of this video:
– My recording platform is Ecamm Live
– Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
– Equipment: Contact me for a complete list

For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
– Active Towns Website
– Active Towns on Twitter
– Periodic e-Newsletter

Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.

Since 2010,  I’ve been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving 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.”

The Active Towns Channel features my original video 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 once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.

Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2024