Do The Thing: Recent Episodes
Samantha Morgan and Mika Torkkola
Two friends separated by an ocean learn how to stay in touch by talking about their shared loved for bikes, the environment, and all things that connect the two.
You can breathe, we’re back! Oh, I know it’s been far, far, too long. But here’s the problem, we’ve both been out doing the thing, which is kinda our thing.
In this episode - which we’re calling episode one of season 3, because we can - I update Mika on the fun project I’ve been working on that’s kept me too busy to finish editing anything else. Guess what, it’s another podcast!
Remember when I went and quit my job? No? Sheesh, you have some catching up to do. For the rest of you loyal listeners, I went to work for an organization called The Walls Project, and they have given me the support to launch a podcast of my own.
A couple months ago I released the first episode of Walls Plus One. It’s a lighthearted look at the symptoms of poverty and the systemic policies that disproportionately impact people in our community. Okay, it’s not lighthearted at all, but there are a few laughs, I swear.
Listen to the season summary of Walls Plus One
I’m in the middle of creating the second season, among all the other things I do, which is not a small list. As for Mika, he’s going to be spending more time traveling! Listen to the episode and you’ll find out what this is all about. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but I was legit shocked and have been telling everyone who will listen, including the lifeguard at the YMCA.
As for Mika, he was given an offer he couldn’t refuse at his job, which further legitimizes his reason for uprooting and moving to Finland.
Oh, and, THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND!!!!! Listen to the end, you’re not going to want to miss it.
Mika's move to Finland was certainly a shock to a lot of people, but the bigger shock was learning his beautiful wife, Jennifer, was not going to go with him and they were not getting divorced.
The decision was actually a very wise one, but is still nonetheless difficult to understand. Although Mika's already talked about his reason, her perspective is way more interesting, as is typically the case.
Oh, and if you're wondering about the photo for the episode, that's Jennifer participating in the Mid City Gras parade! She was dressed as a flying squirrel and was riding a trike. Ain't she the coolest!
When daylight is in short supply, it’s a good reminder of how important it is to have great lights for your bike. On this episode of "Do The Thing," Samantha tells a story about how she learned the importance of having a bright light. Mika also explains a bit about the types of lights that are available.
Bike Baton Rouge has a fantastic program that helps get lights on bikes. Your annual membership fee helps to keep programs like that going. CLICK HERE to become a member to help keep people on bikes safe!
It’s important to celebrate victories, especially when they involve bicycling in Baton Rouge. The wins don’t come around too often, but last week the passing of a new ordinance has the Red Stick standing out for a good reason.
Introduced by District 11 Councilwoman Laurie Adams, the ordinance requires businesses to serve people if their lobby is closed. Basically, if you provide a service to someone in a car, you have to provide that same service to anyone, no matter how they arrive at your business.
Why does this matter? Former Bike Baton Rouge president Doug Moore breaks it all down in this special episode. The recording occurred at the public Bike Baton Rouge meeting held the night before the vote.
Welcome to 2022! It’s time to kick out the old bad habits and start some new, healthy ones. We have a suggestion for you…
RIDE A BIKE!
Okay, easier than it sounds, I know, especially if you do not already have a bike. Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast, you already have a bike. But that’s why you’re going to need to share this episode with friends.
When people are ready to buy a bike, I always get asked, “What should I buy?” Every bike is not the same, and there are a few things you should know, or else you might end up getting a BSO. Find out what that means in this episode of Do The Thing!
Who doesn't love curling up with a good book focused on the pitfalls of city planning that creates urban sprawl and thereby relegates its tenants to a life of needless travel by vehicles that are polluting the earth and causing at least a portion of the climate crisis?
We've referenced the book Happy City a couple times in the past but this is our first "book review." We thought it was a fitting way to begin SEASON 2!
My bestie is back in town for a visit, so you know we’ve been out on some bike rides. In fact, we recorded one of them for you!
This week’s episode is coming to you straight from the saddle. We went for an extended bike ride from my house to his and along the way we talked about what cars can do to be kinder to bicyclists, what bicyclists should know about wearing helmets, and a few other random things along the way.
Get ready, this episode has a lot less editing, but it’s not completely raw. I did cut it down to half the length of the original recording. You’re welcome.
On this episode Mika talks about his trip to bike Mecca with our good buddy Dominic. He shared some of the really neat things Copenhagen did to make the city more bike friendly.
I made some comparisons to the Government Street project in Baton Rouge. Lots of people believe bikes were the reason for the change to the road, but in reality the bike lanes were an afterthought.
Also, find out why a German guy decided to come to Baton Rouge and my former boss called to tell me about it. Oh yeah, it’s a rather interesting story.
I quit my job! Well, not just my job, but I quit my career, too! I'm leaving traditional media and I'll announce my future employer at a later date. For now, Mika and I talk about my decision to leave the industry I've been working in for the last 20 years and he talks about why he moved 3,000 miles away from home to leave his old job for a new one. If you have any kind of feelings about jobs, you're probably going to enjoy this episode.
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We’ve spent so much time talking about biking in America, but Mika has been living in Finland so I thought it was about time we finally talked about that. It should come as no surprise that the bike riding is pretty great.
Because both Mika and I have started/led group bike rides, we were nominated to tell all you folks how to start your OWN group bike ride. And let me tell you, if THIS doesn't inspire you, then you probably have better things to do with your free time. I'm going to guess probably not if you're listening to this in the first place. YEAH BIKE!
Is friendship important? Duh! But what does modern day friendship look like? Thanks to technology, friends can remain friends even if they decide to put 5,160 miles of distance between you.
“Do The Thing” is our excuse to keep the wheels turning and the conversation going. Obviously, we’re not on bikes when we do this, but what we talk about is pretty much the same.
In this week’s episode, we talk about what friendship looks like nowadays. Don’t blame me, this was Mika’s idea! And I have to give it to him, it ended up being a pretty great chat.
This episode starts with a discussion about the book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates and ends with an explanation about the concept of energy slaves. Buckle up because this episode is full of environmental goodness. Subscribe to the Downtown East Newsletter to get the full show notes with links.
In this episode we discuss our origin story, which begins with a bang... literally! Mika discovers his hidden rage, and Samantha uncovers she is full of terrifyingly bad ideas - it's all in a day's work, really. So come along for the ride! DING, DING!