Livable City

What happens when you start using your bike to get to places? Turns out, a lot of unexpected things.

In this fifth episode, I interview Lauren Crabtree where we talk about her “gateway drug,” the humble bicycle and how that got her to noticing how neighborhoods, towns and cities are built for or against people. Lauren is fascinating to talk to since she’s got a wealth of real world experience advocating for more walkable and bikeable places through her day jobs with Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, IL and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative in Memphis, TN.

Lauren has a lot of practical (and professional) advice and inspiration for anyone wanting to lead change for their neighborhood.

How do you begin to get involved where you live? Our guest today, Dawn Olsen, just can't keep quiet about the details of where she lives. She just can't help but notice many things that could be better about her neighborhood in Indy and that has meant she has become a trusted voice as the neighborhood president. Dawn will inspire you with practical advice on how to do the same where you live by beginning to notice what matters to you and then get busy doing!

Dawn works as the director of communications for Indianapolis-based Axis Architecture + Interiors

You can find Dawn on Twitter and Instagram, both at: @dmarieolsen

Questions should go into our Facebook Group or DM me on Twitter @livable_city. Also join our Facebook Group to participate in group discussion around this episode with some set discussion questions.

As always, thanks for listening and pass this podcast along to someone else!

Laura Giffel, licensed clinical therapist, Bates Hendricks neighborhood president and advocate, and candidate for Indianapolis city council seat of the 16th district. Laura shares with us about her advocacy work in her neighborhood and will inspire you with practical advice on how to do the same where you live.

Find Laura on Twitter @giffel4council

Questions should go into our Facebook Group or DM me on Twitter @livable_city. Also join our Facebook Group to participate in group discussion around this episode.

Thanks for listening!

In this first full length episode of Livable City, my friend and first guest Allan LeSage interviews me, Jim Hodapp.

In this episode you'll hear from Allan on his views for what makes Chicago livable to him and what he feels is pretty special about this city. Then you'll hear some of the highlights of my story, how I got to caring about cities and how they're made. Finally, how on earth did I come to starting a podcast - I tell that story too.

It's a great episode and you won't want to miss this one!

Questions should go into our Facebook Group or DM me on Twitter @livable_city.

Introducing the Livable City podcast!

Love your city or your town? Want to learn how to make it even better? A brand new bi-weekly podcast that seeks to explore this question deeply and get highly practical.

Episode length will be between 30 and 60 minutes. New full-length episodes coming soon that include in-depth interviews from people just like you and me trying to lead their city or town into more livable versions of themselves.

Join our Facebook group for a community that you can make friends in and learn from in that will inspire you to take action in your place.

Also follow us on Twitter @livable_city

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode. And please do me a huge favor and leave a rating in iTunes and the Google Play store and also share this podcast with a friend.