Exploring Active Living in Germany's Black Forest
Channel: Active Towns
Date: 2023-03-29

In episode 181, I connect with Ashton & Jonathan Schottler, the dynamic duo behind the fabulous fast-growing Black Forest Family YouTube Channel. We discuss their desires to lead an active lifestyle, including modeling active mobility within their growing family, and how the built environment and German culture in their region help to support these goals.

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Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- The Black Forest Family new channel name: https://www.youtube.com/@TypeAshton 
- Black Forest Family website: https://www.blackforestfamily.com/
- Black Forest Family on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackforestfam/
- BFF vid: WHY GERMAN CYCLING CULTURE is Wonderful for Families https://youtu.be/rw4r31J7XDA
- BFF vid: Germany Changed My Mind About E-bikes And Yours Should Too https://youtu.be/HnoMnZisX-M
- BFF vid: Protest Culture in Germany https://youtu.be/r1HdCtzjvh4
-BFF vid: German Neighborhoods Illegal in America: https://youtu.be/aQxP_Ftz2RE
- BFF vid: Driving Germany vs America: https://youtu.be/1YCNTCRPPCg
- Not Just Bikes: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustBikes
- My Not Just Bikes Playlist: https://bit.ly/NotJustBikesPlaylist
- Landing page for this Episode: https://www.activetowns.org/2023/03/28/black-forest-family/

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1. Join our Patreon community. Contributions start at just $1 per month: https://www.patreon.com/activetowns
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Video Timeline/Chapters:
0:00:00 Cold Open
0:01:34 Start of Interview
0:05:37 Black Forest Location
0:12:11 Why Germany
0:16:59 Channel Launch
0:17:48 Not Just Bikes
0:24:10 E-bike Video
0:29:40 Riding as a Family
0:35:30 German Car Culture
0:36:22 Most Popular Video
0:40:24 Post WWII
0:43:33 German Protest Culture
0:48:29 Driving in Germany
0:53:29 Rule Following
0:58:08 Steps to Take
1:04:47 Closing Thoughts

Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman

Music via Epidemic Sound: https://bit.ly/3rFLErD

Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: https://bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: https://bit.ly/35DBDDU

For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
Website: https://www.activetowns.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActiveTowns
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/SubscribeActiveTownsNewsletter

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, 2023