Bikes And The Good Life: Melissa & Chris Bruntlett on Designing For Vitality & Freedom Around the World | Ep 55

In this episode, Mickelle welcomes Melissa and Chris Bruntlett - urban storytellers, authors, and advocates for human-centered cities. Together, they unpack how a bold decision to ditch their car in Vancouver sparked a global journey toward urban vitality. As parents, they saw firsthand how city design affects daily life and mobility, especially for women, children, and caregivers - and their experience blossomed into a mission: to show the world that cities can be vibrant, connected, and livable for all.

The Bruntletts share their evolution from curious citizens to published authors and global consultants, weaving stories from their life in the Netherlands with lessons from cities worldwide. From the Dutch resistance to car-centric planning to their upcoming book on women-led urban transformation, they explore how storytelling and empathy can spark cultural shifts in urban design.

Throughout, Mickelle and her guests reflect on the deep connections between mobility, independence, and collective well-being. It’s not just about bikes - it’s about creating spaces where people thrive.

Highlights:

• Ditching the Car: How it all started in Vancouver
  
  
  
• Falling in Love with Dutch Urban Life
  
  
  
• The Power of the Collective in Shaping Streets
  
  
  
• Bikes as Symbols of Care and Connection
  
  
  
• Vitality as the Real Measure of a City
  
  
  
• Their New Book on Women Leading Urban Change
  
  
  

This episode is a love letter to cities - and to the people bold enough to reimagine them. To follow Melissa and Chris’s work, visit modacitylife.com or connect with them on social media @modacitylife.

Send us a text, we'd love to hear from you and hear what you're enjoying and what you'd like to hear about.

Discover more resources and exclusive perks for internationals with the House of Peregrine app. Visit HouseofPeregrine.com to download and start living a more connected, intentional life today.

House of Peregrine is for international life.

Join a global circle of thinkers, creators, and doers. We create software, host events, publish guides, produce podcasts, offer rewards and curated products — all within a vibrant ecosystem of experts and businesses all living their lives abroad.

Get started with a FREE account today to unlock exclusive connections, and opportunities:

houseofperegrine.com/auth/signup

Stay connected:

Subscribe: houseofperegrine.com/subscribe

Join our WhatsApp Group: HOP Community

Explore Memberships: houseofperegrine.com/memberships

Install the App: houseofperegrine.com/install

Follow us for daily inspiration and updates:

Instagram: @houseofperegrine

YouTube: @HouseofPeregrineofficial

LinkedIn:@company/house-of-...