City Share: Meet the Host

What inspired the podcast?

While shared micromobility statistics, like annual trip numbers, are impressive, they don’t really tell the story of shared micromobility– why it really matters to people in their everyday lives. We wanted to create something that would capture that and be able to share the joy and functionality of riding shared micromobility in places– how it connects you to community, offers a sense of adventure, and how it can be an accessible and fun way to explore cities when traveling or living there. City Share is a celebration of those things for those of us who work to make it happen or already love to ride, and like a friend chatting it up and showing you the ropes for those who haven’t yet tried it, but might with a little nudge. For those less familiar, we wanted to show how shared micromobility is part, and can be part, of peoples’ everyday lives.

What did you learn while making the podcast?

I knew this going in, but over and over it was confirmed to me how awesome everywhere is. There are so many cool little spots to know about and stories about the built environment and how it is the way it is in every place. It’s so fun to ride along and experience with someone what they love about their city and why. And going somewhere else can also help you see your own community in a new way. So, I feel like everyone should just grab a friend to be their local guide, and go do this in their city.

What did a typical day look like when creating the podcast?

Well, it’s more of a process with many stages. For each episode, we had to find an experienced rider in the community that was also willing to not only take us on a ride, but be featured on a public podcast. (Thank you NABSA/BBSP network!) Then we did a lot of planning of the route and stops and what we might want to talk about at each of them and the themes. Then I had to prepare the reporting plan and all the gear and equipment to do it. Then I showed up and we did the ride, and then after that comes all of the stages of processing that tape and creating and drafting the story, and writing the script, and all of the editing, and recording all of the narration, and re-doing the steps as you figure out what’s working and what isn’t, and what’s going to be better, and then all of the sound design, and then mixing and mastering, and preparations for distribution, like the show art, and then voila!

If you were to create an episode where you live, where would you take us?

Oh, I don’t know if I want to give that away yet! Of course, I’ve thought about it a lot, and who knows, maybe there will be an episode of Portland, Maine at some point. 

What would your favorite ride include?

I love a ride that includes nice protected bike lanes separate from cars and pedestrians, a beautiful view or way to connect to nature at least a little bit, and a food stop! … Are you seeing a resonance with the episode rides? 🙂

What do you hope people ride away with after listening to City Share? 

I hope people have fun listening, feel like they’ve experienced a nugget or two of a place, and that they feel like hopping on a shared bike or scooter and going for a ride!