Next Stop #4 I Mental Health & Everyday Mobility with Shaimaa Refaat

This episode looks at mental health through the everyday realities of how we move. From car-centric cities to walkable neighborhoods, we explore how transport systems shape our stress levels, our sense of safety, and even our ability to feel connected to the world around us. Together with Shaimaa Refaat — a global health and development professional with experience spanning mental health, youth empowerment, and public policy — we unpack the quiet yet powerful ways mobility affects our well-being. From anxiety behind the wheel to the healing effect of walking, from social isolation to the need for inclusive public spaces, this conversation dives into the emotional life of our cities. We reflect on why mental health is more than the absence of illness, how movement can support resilience, and what it takes to design transport systems that help people feel grounded, safe, and supported. At its heart, this episode asks a simple but overlooked question: What would our cities look like if they were built to protect our minds as much as our bodies?