GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government - Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)

#667 Urban Cooling and Climate Action with Brianne Fisher, Tempe, AZ Feb 28, 2025

Brianne Fisher, the Climate Action Manager for the City of Tempe, Arizona, joined the podcast to discuss sustainability and climate action. She talked about the importance of urban cooling to reduce risk from extreme heat and how green infrastructure plays a roll. She also shared key elements of the City's Climate Action Plan and the role of resiliency hubs.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#666 Civic Match with Caitlin Lewis, Work for America Feb 21, 2025

Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director for Work for America, joined the podcast to discuss her work in tackling the government staffing crisis in communities nationwide. She shared information about their Civic Match program, opportunities the transition of federal administrations presents for local governments, and why she wants to ban the term ‘bureaucrat’.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#665 Data and AI for Public Good with Amy Edwards Holmes, Center for Government Excellence Feb 14, 2025

Amy Edwards Holmes, former Executive Director for the Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University joined the podcast to discuss data and artificial intelligence (AI) for the public good. She discussed use cases for AI for local government, how to safely use AI, and information about the GovEx City AI Connect. She also discussed how organizations can prepare their employees and why a good data approach can enhance the ability of the public sector to use AI.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#664 Reflections of a Former Mayor with Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh, PA Feb 07, 2025

Bill Peduto, former Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to reflect on his service as Mayor. He discussed the accomplishments that he is most proud of and advice he would give to young folks interested in local government or early career professionals. He also talked about his current role as a Distinguished Executive in Residency at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#663 Connecticut Communications with Marissa Baum, East Hartford, CT Jan 31, 2025

Marissa Baum, Head of Communications for the City of East Hartford, Connecticut joined the podcast to discuss her role in communications. She shared her transition from museums to local government, how she made an award winning video for #CityHallSelfieDay, and provided insight on going viral in the national media.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#662 Sustainable Energy Utility and Climate Action Progress with Dr. Missy Stults, Ann Arbor, MI Jan 24, 2025

Dr. Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director with the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, returned to the podcast to give an update on the implementation of the A2ZERO Climate Action Plan and discuss the recent referendum where voters created a Sustainable Energy Utility. She shared how the sustainable energy utility will improve resilience and benefit residents, and what it will take to actually implement the new utility. She also discussed geothermal energy, an upcoming green rental housing program, and other initiatives to address climate change.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#661 The Real Ice Town with Tim Blakeslee, Plymouth, WI Jan 17, 2025

Tim Blakeslee, the City Administrator for the City of Plymouth, Wisconsin joined the podcast to discuss the trials and tribulations of a past ice rink project and how it almost became an episode of Parks and Rec. He shared how the public-private partnership was formed to build the ice rink, what issues occurred and how they were addressed, and how he is using the experience to apply it to a ski hill that is currently being built.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#660 Modernizing Transportation Design Standards in Durham, NC with Nate Baker and Lauren Grove Jan 10, 2025

Two guests from the joined the podcast to discuss transportation standards and how they shape the built environment. Nate Baker is an At-Large City Council Member for the City of Durham, North Carolina and Lauren Grove is the Vision Zero Coordinator for the City of Durham, North Carolina. Nate shared why a change was needed and building support for the resolution that Durham City Council adopted. Lauren talked about implementing the new standards including working with other departments in the City. They also discussed the impact of the new standards, the role of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and how to work with other agencies to design right-of-way within your city that you do not control.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#659 Social Media 2.0 with Cathedral City, CA and CiviSocial Jan 03, 2025

Three guests joined the podcast to discuss a new approach to managing and creating social media. Sam Toles is the Founder and CEO at CiviSocial. Ryan Hunt is the Communications and Events Manager and Anne Ambrose is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Cathedral City, California. They shared their new and innovative approach to social media, how they track success, and the importance of video content.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#658 The 2024 GovieLovies Dec 27, 2024

It's the most wonderful time of year! From artificial intelligence and traffic engineering to recruiting and planning, our episodes covered a wide array of all that goes into local government. To celebrate 2024 and look forward to 2025, the GovLove co-hosts teamed up to give out the most prestigious award in local government podcasting. Lauren, Dan, Meredith, and Ben each selected three of their favorite episodes to award a GovieLovie.

Hosts: Lauren Palmer, Dan Bolin, Meredith Reynolds, & Ben Kittelson

The 2024 GovieLovies Lauren

Dan

Meredith

Ben

#657 All About the Inspector General with Deborah Witzburg, Chicago, IL Dec 20, 2024

Deborah Witzburg, the Inspector General for the City of Chicago, Illinois, joined to the podcast to discuss her current role. She shared the difference between an inspector general and auditor, how she determines which programs of the City to evaluate, and important changes she has implemented related to criminal justice reform.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#656 Managing a Small Town and Returnships with India Adams-Jacobs, Bowling Green, VA Dec 17, 2024

India Adams-Jacobs, Town Manager of the Town of Bowling Green, Virginia, joined the podcast to talk about her career path and managing a small town. She talked about taking on her current role managing her hometown, the transition to get to know the organization, and how her previous roles prepared her for this role. She also discussed a "returnship" program she started in Colonial Beach that brought retirees in to help add capacity and skills to that small town.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#655 Civic User Research with Ryan Kurtzman and Gati Wankyo, Long Beach, CA Dec 13, 2024

Two guests from the City of Long Beach, California joined the podcast to discuss civic user research. Ryan Kurtzman is the Technology Partnerships Officer and Gati Wankyo is a Training Coordinator. They discussed how civic user research helps the City to improve digital services and technology. They also shared examples of the research in practice and information on the learning cohort.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#654 ICMA Governance Review with Andy Pederson, Bayside, WI Dec 06, 2024

Andy Pederson, the Village Manager for the Village of Bayside, Wisconsin joined the podcast to discuss his work on the ICMA Governance Task Force. He shared why the Task Force was formed, the need to rebalance the regions, and how the Code of Ethics influenced the work of the Task Force.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#653 Innovation Officer to City Manager with Dan Hoffman, Winchester, VA Nov 29, 2024

Dan Hoffman the City Manager for the City of Winchester, Virginia joined the podcast to discuss his career path of Innovation Officer to the role of City Manager. He shared how changing jobs allowed him to implement projects at scale and how innovation principles have prepared him for leadership roles. He also discussed transitioning from Assistant to City Manager to City Manager and taking on his first City Manager role. Then he shared the City's new strategy for public transportation.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#652 Deepening the Understanding of Cities with Allison Laskey, Nature Cities Nov 22, 2024

Allison Laskey, Associate Editor for Nature Cities joined the podcast to discuss her academic journal, Nature Cities. The journal aims to deepen and integrate basic and applied understanding of the nature of cities, including their roles, impacts and influences — past, present and future. She shared what is like to be an editor of an academic journal, emerging topics, and the importance of collaboration between academics and practitioners.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#651 Distinguished Service with Tony Gardner, Commonwealth Center for High-Performance Organizations Nov 15, 2024

Tony Gardner, Senior Vice President for the Commonwealth Center for High-Performance Organizations joined the podcast to discuss his ICMA Distinguished Service Award. He shared his work aboard in Poland, innovations in local government, and provided advice to the next generation.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#650 Sustainability and Resilience in Parks and Recreation - Live from NRPA! Nov 08, 2024

Three guests joined the podcast for a very special session of GovLove and Open Space Radio. Ali Rhodes is the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Boulder, Colorado, Bernita Reese is the Recreation and Parks Director for the City of Columbus, Ohio, and Michele White is a Senior Program Manager for the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). They joined to talk about environmental resilience and sustainability strategies in the parks and recreation sector. Ali and Bernita shared the work they have done in their organizations to mitigate and manage the impacts of climate change, as well as in collaborating with other departments in their cities. Michele talked about NRPA's recent Sustainability in Practice program focused on helping organizations take the next step in environmental resilience.

This episode was produced in partnership with NRPA's Open Space Radio Podcast and recorded live at the 2024 NRPA Conference in Atlanta, GA.

Hosts: Ben Kittelson and Cort Jones

#649 Across the Generations with Sam Badger and Decker Ploehn Nov 01, 2024

Two guests joined the podcast to share their generational perspective on local government. Sam Badger is the City Manager's Office Marvin Andrews Fellow at City of Scottsdale, Arizona and Decker Ploehn is the City Administrator for the City of Bettendorf, Iowa. They each shared their career path, talked about the importance of relationships, and asked each other questions to gain knowledge from the others perspective.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#648 Student Engagement and Starting in Local Government with Olivia Perfetti and Lily Neilsen Oct 29, 2024

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about starting their careers in public service. Olivia Perfetti is the Municipal Engagement Manager for Allegheny County Conservation District and Lily Neilsen is an Environmental Justice Intern for a non-profit, New Sun Rising. They both attended, or are attending, Carnegie Mellon University for their Master's in Public Policy program and were part of a fellowship program to connect students to local government. They discussed what brought them to public service, what they have learned in their roles so far, and what they are looking for from their employers.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#647 An Actionable and Transformative Comprehensive Plan in North Chicago, IL with Taylor Wegrzyn and Siraj Asfahani Oct 25, 2024

Taylor Wegrzyn, Director of Economic and Community Development at the City of North Chicago, Illinois and Siraj Asfahani, Vice President at The Lakota Group joined to podcast to discuss the City of North Chicago's award-winning Comprehensive Plan. They discussed the need for more frequent revisions of a comprehensive plan and the unique opportunities of coordinating with the federal government. They also discussed the robust community outreach and resident engagement that informed the development of the plan.

This episode was recorded at the American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter Annual Conference.

Host: Dan Bolin and Andy Cross

#646 Climate Action and Building a Resilient Community with Kara Silbernagel, Pitkin County, CO Oct 18, 2024

Kara Silbernagel, Deputy County Manager for Pitkin County, Colorado joined the podcast to discuss climate action planning. She talked about how the County's work is impacted by Federal land, emergency management, and affordability. She shared the importance of engagement in climate action planning and discussed the elements of the County's plan, especially in building resilience.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#645 Empowering Women and Employment Contract Negotiations with Jessica Kinser, Fairibault, MN Oct 11, 2024

Jessica Kinser, City Administrator for the City of Faribault, Minnesota, joined the podcast to discuss empowering women and employment contract negotiations. She shared her unique experience negotiating contracts as a city's first manager, an internal candidate, and a manager in transition. She also highlighted common mistakes to avoid, the importance of using data in a negotiation, and the value of a good professional network.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#644 Data Driven Health Organizations with Erin Dalton and Mariana Escallón Barrios Oct 04, 2024

Erin Dalton, Director of the Department of Human Services at Allegheny County, Pennslyvania and Mariana Escallón Barrios, an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy joined the podcast to discuss data driven health organizations. They shared how the County integrates data to predict outcomes better, the partnership between the County and the University, and what projects they are looking forward to in the future.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#643 Ethics and Economic Development with Nancy Hill and Geoffrey Dickinson Oct 01, 2024

Nancy Hill, Community Development Director at the Village of South Elgin, Illinois and Geoffrey Dickinson, Senior Vice President at SB Friedman Development Advisors joined the podcast to discuss ethics and economic development. They discussed different ethical scenarios in economic development as they related to the ICMA and APA code of ethics.

This episode was recorded at the 2024 Illinois Tax Increment Association Conference.

Host: Dan Bolin

#642 Community Leadership, AI, and Engagement an ICMA Conference Recap - GovLove Island Sep 27, 2024

GovLove Co-hosts Meredith, Lauren, and Ben were joined by Brent Stockwell, Assistant City Manager at the City of Scottsdale, AZ and Amie Hendrix, City Manager at the City of Geneva, NY to recap the recent ICMA Conference. They discussed AI, community engagement, a case study in managing homelessness, the role of the manager in community leadership, and the ELGL Analyst Academy. They shared insights on lessons learned, their favorite sessions, and key takeaways.

This episode was recorded from the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Panel: Meredith Reynolds, Lauren Palmer, Ben Kittelson, Brent Stockwell, and Amie Hendrix

#641 Local Government Recruiting with Teri Black, Teri Black & Company Sep 20, 2024

Teri Black, Founder and CEO of Teri Black & Company joined the podcast to discuss local government recruitment. She outlines the process of local government recruiting, building candidate pools, and trends in recruiting.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#640 Adaptive Recreation and Outdoor Programs with Elena Christopher, Austin, TX Sep 13, 2024

Elena Christopher, a Recreation Programs Specialist at the Camacho Activity Center in the City of Austin, Texas, joined the podcast to discuss adaptive recreation. She shared the difference between accessible and adaptive programs. She talked about the unique outdoor programs they offer to participants with disabilities and the additional risk management factors to consider in adaptive outdoor programs. The also talked about the importance of partnering with local community groups and how to source adaptive equipment.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#639 Killed by a Traffic Engineer with Dr. Wes Marshall Sep 06, 2024

Wes Marshall, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado - Denver joined the podcast to discuss his book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer. He talked about the history of the traffic engineering field and it's relationship to data and science. He shared the problem with current traffic safety metrics and the importance of prioritizing safety over reducing congestion. He also shared how he would improve traffic safety and how the traffic engineering field needs to change.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#638 Customer Service and Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell Aug 30, 2024

Lee Cockerell is a retired Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World Resort and has consulted local governments and companies all over the world. He joined the podcast to discuss leadership, customer service, and creating Disney magic. He shared his definition of customer service, the importance of clear expectations, and how to build a culture of customer service. He also talked about managing large teams and achieving work-life balance.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#637 Back to City Hall with Kristen Dorman, Warrensburg, MO Aug 23, 2024

Kristen Dorman, Assistant City Manager for the City of Warrensburg, Missouri, joined the podcast to discuss her new position and family ties to local government. She shared her transition from remote to in-person work and from working for the Alliance for Innovation to returning to City Hall. She also discussed her ties to local government with both her mom and husband and what projects she is excited to tackle in her new position as an Assistant City Manager.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#636 Being Real and Authentic with Quinn Cole, Topeka, KS Aug 16, 2024

Quinn Cole, Management Analyst - Economic Development for the City of Topeka, Kansas joined the podcast to share the importance of being real and authentic. He shared her work on the Topeka Land Bank, dealing with negativity at City Hall, being named the Number Two Top Influencer in Local Government for 2024, and why she wears pink everyday.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#635 Sustainability and Community Climate Action with Amy Eckberg, Orange County, NC Aug 09, 2024

Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs Manager for Orange County, North Carolina joined the podcast to discuss climate action and sustainability. She talked about the background and elements of the County's Climate Action Plan and highlighted the Community Climate Action Grant Program which funds local sustainability projects. She also discussed piloting an agrivoltaics program and her career path from working in parks to climate action.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#634 Save Your City with Diane Kalen-Sukra Aug 02, 2024

Diane Kalen-Sukra, author of Save Your City, joined the podcast to discuss toxic culture and how it can erode a sense of belonging, community and well-being. She also argues that the capacity to collaborate and innovate is undermined by the rising incivility and divisiveness local governments are seeing. She shared her own experience of tackling toxic culture, the importance of cultivating civility, and information on the Global Civility Summit 2024.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#633 Recovering from Violence with Vince DiPiazza, Uvalde, TX Jul 26, 2024

Vince DiPiazza, City Manager for the City of Uvalde, Texas joined the podcast to share his experience from the tragic shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022. He shared what happened that day of the tragedy, lessons learned, and highlighted the importance of mental health.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#632 Investing in Community with Halee Ratcliff, Wilkesboro, NC Jul 23, 2024

Halee Ratcliff, Finance Director for the Town of Wilkesboro, North Carolina joined the to podcast to discuss community investments. She shared how the town used American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to invest in a community park and support economic development. She talked about how the Town's outdoor action plan informed the investments and shared the exceptional healthcare benefits the Town provides.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#631 Growing Up in City Hall with Monica Davis and Poonam Davis Jul 19, 2024

When public administration is a family business. Monica Davis, Deputy City Administrator for the City of Oakland, California, and Poonam Davis, Retired City Clerk for the City of Long Beach, California, joined the podcast to talk about their careers in local government. Monica shared what she learned growing up with parents in public service, Poonam shared her path to local government, and they both discussed balancing work and life.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#630 Culture of Innovation in Local Government with Brian Elms, Change Agents Training Jul 12, 2024

Brian Elms is the Founder of Change Agents Training, author of Peak Performance, and the former Director of Peak Academy and Analytics for the City and County of Denver. Brian joined the podcast to discuss innovation in local government. He shared how to start the process of innovation, the importance of subtraction in processes, and strategies to lead your team in change management.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#629 Grants Pass v. Johnson and a Utopian California City - GovLove Island Jul 10, 2024

Housing and homelessness. The GovLove Co-hosts joined together in a grand experiment they are calling GovLove Island to discuss two of the latest topics in the local government world. First, they discussed the recent Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling from the Supreme Court. They chatted about what the court ruled, how it impacts local governments, and the complicated problem of homelessness for communities. Then, the panel chatted about a utopian proposal for a new city in California's Solano County. They talked about the proposal, what it might mean for some of the housing challenges in California, and the tradeoffs with investing in other communities.

Grants Pass v. Johnson:

East Solano Plan:

Panel: Dan Bolin, Meredith Reynolds, Lauren Palmer, and Ben Kittelson

#628 Parks Make Life Better with Lydie Gutfeld, San Bernadino, CA Jul 05, 2024

Lydie Gutfeld, Director of Park, Recreation, and Community Services for the City of San Bernardino, California joined the podcast in honor of Parks Make Life Better month. She talked about her career path getting into parks, career accomplishments, and the transition to being a Director. She also discussed emerging trends in the parks and recreation field and cheerleading.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#627 From Elected Official to Staff with Sandy Spang, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments Jun 28, 2024

Sandy Spang, Executive Director at the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, joined the podcast to discuss her transition from elected official to local government staff. She shared her career journey from small business owner to an elected City Council member to working in economic development for the City of Toledo. She discussed her career accomplishments and how each career has impacted her current role as an Executive Director at the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#626 Youth-Centric Neighborhood Planning with Dave Walker, Detroit, MI Jun 21, 2024

Dave Walker, Design Director for the City of Detroit, Michigan, joined the podcast from the APA National Planning Conference to discuss the award-winning Cody Rouge and Warrendale Neighborhood Plan. This neighborhood is home to the largest concentration of children in Detroit and the City wanted the next generation to shape the neighborhood plan. He shared important elements of the plan, how the planning process incorporated youth, and the desired outcomes of the plan.

Host: Dan Bolin

#625 Curating Professional Development with Jessica Deakyne and John Stefanski Jun 14, 2024

Curating Professional Development with Jessica Deakyne and John StefanskiTwo guests joined the podcast to discuss curating professional development. Jessica Deakyne is the Assistant City Manager at the City of Novato, CA and John Stefanski is the Assistant City Manager at the City of San Rafael, CA. They discussed the importance of professional organizations, the UpNext professional development program, and why local government should invest in professional development.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#624 Rethinking Budgeting with GFOA's Chris Morrill and Shayne Kavanagh Jun 07, 2024

Two guests rejoined the podcast to discuss rethinking municipal budgets. Chirs Morrill, Executive Director, and Shayne Kavanagh, Senior Manager of Research, at the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) discussed why it is time to rethink the budgeting process and GFOA's Rethinking Budgeting initiative. They also talked about why it is more important to be a chef rather than a cook and how GFOA plays an integral role in local government.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#623 Planning Law Careers in Law Firms May 31, 2024

A panel of planning lawyers joined the podcast to share their experiences in planning law while working at law firms. They shared their career paths along with what they do in their current positions. The panel included: Sean Suder, Lead Principal & Founder, ZoneCo; Deborah Rosenthal, Senior Attorney, FitzGerald Kreditor Bolduc Risbrough LLP; Taylor Palmer, Partner, Cuddy & Feder LLP; and David Silverman, Equity Partner, Ancel Glink, P.C.

Host: Dan Bolin

#622 Free Speech, Social Media, and the Lindke v. Freed Case with Robert Hagemann, Poyner Spruill LLP May 24, 2024

Can public officials block you on social media? Robert Hagemann, a Partner at Poyner Spurill LLP, joined the podcast to discuss Lindke v. Freed and its impact on free speech and the use social media in local government. He shared the First Amendment landscape prior to the Supreme Court ruling, what the outcome of the most recent ruling means for local governments, and unanswered questions regarding the First Amendment and social media.

Host: Dan Bolin

#621 Evidence-Based Decision Making in Government with Sam Quinney and Ryan Flynn, the Lab at DC May 17, 2024

Two guests joined the podcast to discuss using applied science in public policymaking. Both guests work at The Lab at DC. Sam Quinney is the Director and Ryan Flynn is a Civic Design Researcher. They shared how The Lab at DC was formed, improving housing vouchers, and how other local governments can use applied science in policymaking.

This episode was hosted by guest host Danno Lemu as part of a special series allowing up and coming local government professionals to host the podcast.

#620 City Planning from Waaaay Downtown with Caitlin Clark, Scottsdale, AZ May 15, 2024

The Real Deal Caitlin Clark. The most famous planner in the nation joined the podcast to talk about her work and starring in a television commercial. Caitlin Clark, Planning Specialist for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, shared her career path to working in local government and how she ended up in a commercial with the basketball star of the same name. She also shared her advice for people transitioning into a local government career and what she finds inspiring about the planning field.

Host: Dan Bolin

#619 Celebrating Public Service Recognition Week with Sarah Mondesire and Jessie Brown May 10, 2024

In anticipation of the 2024 Top Influencers in Local Government, two guests joined the podcast to discuss their work in local government after being awarded an ELGL Top Influencer in Local Government in 2022. Sarah Mondesire is the Community Well-Being Manager for the City of Commerce City, Colorado and Jessie Brown is a Social Media and Communications Specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. They shared key learning moments in their career, who has influenced them, and the values they hold.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#618 Guiding Growth and Economic Development with Robert Sturns, Fort Worth, TX May 03, 2024

Robert Sturns, Economic Development Director for the City of Fort Worth, Texas, joined the podcast to discuss his role and how the City works to guide growth and development. He talked about the importance of strategically growing during rapid population rise and Fort Worth's downtown development. He discussed the value of small business and entrepreneurs, as well as how the City supports that sector of the economy. He also shared the City's role in revitalization and in bringing new industries to the region.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#617 Revisiting Minneapolis 2040 with Heather Worthington, Urban3 Apr 26, 2024

Heather Worthington, Principal for Urban3, rejoined the podcast to discuss the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which was passed when she was the City's Director of Long Range Planning. She talked about the ambitious objectives Minneapolis 2040 was trying to solve regarding climate change and racial inequity. She discussed how the implementation of the plan has been in litigation for several years due to a challenge under the Minnesota Environmental Review Act. She also talked about her new role at Urban3.

Host: Dan Bolin

#616 Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation with Danielle Arigoni, National Housing Trust Apr 19, 2024

Achieving true resilience. Danielle Arigoni, Managing Director for Policy and Solutions at the National Housing Trust, joined to podcast to discuss her book Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation. She talked about the demographic trends that lead to an aging population and how vulnerabilities from aging intersect with risks from climate change. She shared interventions that work to meet the needs of older residents and the need to break down silos between caregivers, emergency managers, and local governments. She also discussed examples of cities that are implementing age-friendly climate policies.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#615 Being a Parks and Rec Enthusiast with Anthony Iracki, PlayCore Apr 12, 2024

Experiencing parks and recreation from behind the desk and out from under it. Anthony Iracki, CORE Professional Development Manager at PlayCore, joined the podcast to discuss being an enthusiast in your own profession. He shared his career path, how he came to love parks and recreation, and his transition into his new role at PlayCore.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#614 Leadership and the Deputy Manager Role with Chelsea Jackson, Douglasville, GA Apr 05, 2024

Chelsea Jackson, Deputy City Manager for the City of Douglasville, GA joined to podcast to discuss her role and leadership approach. She talked about the importance of building a pipeline for new talent, her career transition to Deputy City Manager, and provided advice for those looking to make the leap to management positions. She also shared her career path which started as a local government management fellow.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#613 Guiding Leadership Principles with Jeff Richardson, Albemarle County, VA Mar 29, 2024

Jeff Richardson, County Executive for Albemarle County, VA, joined the podcast to discuss his management principles. He shared how to manage a high performance organization, the benefit of being a "needs improvement" organization, and tips for aspiring managers.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#612 Storm Resilience and Mitigation with Caleb Stratton, Hoboken, NJ Mar 22, 2024

Building a better Hoboken. Caleb Stratton, Assistant Business Administrator and Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Hoboken, NJ joined the podcast to talk about storm resilience and infrastructure. He shared what improvements the City has made after Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, how parks can be used to improve stormwater infrastructure, and how the City has coordinated with other governmental partners to improve flood mitigation. He also discussed the City's Rebuild By Design project which aims to improve resilience through four integrated elements: resist, delay, store, and discharge.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#611 Planning Law Careers in Local, State, and Federal Government Mar 15, 2024

A panel of government planning lawyers joined to podcast to share their experiences in local, state, and federal planning law. They shared their career paths along with what they do in their current positions. The panel included: Tina Axelrad, Zoning Administrator for the City and County of Denver, CO; Samuel Capasso, Community Infrastructure Resilience Branch Chief for FEMA; Nestor Davidson, Professor of Real Estate, Land Use and Property Law at Fordham University; Daniel Arking, Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit, MI; and Kimberly Mickelson, Chair for the Government Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Host: Dan Bolin

#610 Herocrats and Leading Change with Allison Bell, Bellwether Consulting Mar 08, 2024

Government workers leading change. Allison Bell, Founder and CEO of Bellwether Consulting, joined the podcast to discuss her book, Herocrats: A Guide for Government Workers Leading Change. She shared the definition of a Herocrat, the three main sections of the book, and how you can nominate the monthly Herocrat.

Host: Meredith Reynolds

#609 Inclusive Transportation with Veronica O. Davis Mar 01, 2024

Empathy and change. Veronica O. Davis joined the podcast to talk about her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities. She discussed a different way to center equity in transportation, the importance of centering people in the planning process, and how the history of a community impacts their current transportation needs. She also shared her career path in local government and what made her want to write the book.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#608 Innovation in Economic Mobility with Jose Landeros, El Paso County, TX Feb 23, 2024

Early investments. Jose Landeros, Director of Strategic Development for El Paso County, Texas joined the podcast to discuss innovation in economic mobility. He discussed participating in ICMA's Economic Mobility and Opportunity Cohort, the needs assessment conducted related to after-hours child care, and why local government has a vested interest in this issue.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#607 Sustainable Buildings and IRA Funding with Sabine Rogers, USGBC Feb 16, 2024

Sabine Rogers, Federal Policy Project Manager for the U.S. Green Building Council, joined the podcast to discuss Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding, building energy codes, and performance standards. She provided an update on energy reductions in commercial buildings, how local governments can benefit from Inflation Reduction Act funding related to updated building and energy codes, and how to stay up to date with the work of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#606 Regional Vision with Lauren Palmer, Mid-America Regional Council Feb 09, 2024

In this special episode, Lauren Palmer, Director of Local Government Services for the Mid-America Regional Council joined the podcast to discuss working for a regional government. She shared her GovLove in Love story, what services a Regional Council provides, and the projects she is currently working on.

Host: Dan Bolin

#605 Infrastructure and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety with Lara Biggs, Evanston, IL Feb 02, 2024

Lara Biggs, Capital Planning Bureau Chief and City Engineer for the City of Evanston, Illinois, joined the podcast to discuss capital planning, infrastructure, and improving bicycle and pedestrian safety. She shared the City's engagement strategy to design projects with the community and stakeholders. She also talked about what data points are used when prioritizing projects, how to handle reduction in parking spaces with safety improvements, and how to get public buy-in on new safety design elements.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#604 Financial Empowerment and Wealth Building with Tamara Lindsey and Janae Bradford Jan 26, 2024

Two guests joined the podcast to discuss financial empowerment. Tamara Lindsay is Chief of Strategy for the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Janae Bradford is the Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment and Community Wealth at the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma. They shared what financial empowerment centers are, what programs the centers offers, and how a local government can start their own center.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#603 Strategic Planning and Leadership with Josh Edwards, Athens-Clarke County, GA Jan 19, 2024

Drawing ideas out of people and implementing those ideas. Josh Edwards, Assistant Manager for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, joined the podcast to talk about leadership, the role of an Assistant Manager, and strategic planning. He discussed how the organization created its first organization-wide strategic plan, how to get departments to buy into strategic planning, and the importance of building capacity to implement a strategic plan. He also shared how Athens-Clarke County is planning for growth and dealing with affordability.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#602 Putting Assets to Work with Kimberly Olivares and Ben McAdams Jan 12, 2024

Digging around in your municipal couch cushions. Kimberly Olivares, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the City of Austin, Texas, and Ben McAdams, Senior Fellow at the Government Finance Offers Association (GFOA), joined the podcast to discuss GFOA's Putting Assets to Work program which explores how local governments can utilize their assets differently or monetize their assets to create revenue. Ben talked about the program as a whole and the opportunity using assets differently can be for municipalities. Kim shared the City of Austin's experience in reviewing their real estate assets and why it is a necessary strategy for the City.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#601 The Public Administrator's Guide to Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Dylan Hayden Jan 05, 2024

Dr. Dylan Hayden, author of The Public Administrator's Guide to ChatGPT, joined the podcast to discuss all things artificial intelligence (AI) and local government. He shared why you should consider using AI, uses for AI in local government, and the importance of prompts. He also talked about the importance of the ethical use of AI and things to keep in mind when developing an AI policy.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#600 The 2023 GovieLovies Dec 29, 2023

The most prestigious award in local government podcasting. The GovLove co-hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap another year of a podcasting about local government. Lauren, Dan, Meredith, and Ben selected three of their favorite episodes to award a GovieLovie. They also shared their highlight from 2023, dream guests for 2024, and what they are obsessed with. Hosts: Lauren Palmer, Dan Bolin, Meredith Reynolds, & Ben Kittelson

The 2023 GovieLovies

Lauren

Dan

Meredith

Ben

Rafael: Performance and Process Improvement with Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Brighton, CO

Toney:Inclusive Recovery Toolkit with New Growth Innovation Network

Producer Pick from Pizza Mike:Small Town Management and Tourism with Greg LeBlanc, Snowmass Village, CO

#599 Addressing Climate Change in Olympia, WA with Dr. Pamela Braff Dec 15, 2023

High impact, not low-hanging fruit. Dr. Pamela Braff, the Director of Climate Programs for the City of Olympia, Washington, joined the podcast to discuss prioritizing climate initiatives and building climate action into the way the City does business. She talked about the Energize Olympia program which subsidizes the cost of installing heat pumps for residents and climate action planning at the regional level. She also shared the City's multi-agency sea level rise response plan.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#598 Transitioning from Military to Local Government with Ben Effinger, Los Angeles County, CA Dec 08, 2023

Ben Effinger, Cash Management Operations Chief for the Treasurer and Tax Collector in Los Angeles County, CA joined the podcast to discuss transitioning from the military to the local government. He shared how military roles can transition to local government, what local governments can do to help military members, and the importance of men's mental health.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#597 Community Wellness Hubs with NRPA and Shawnee, KS Dec 01, 2023

Outcomes and processes. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss community wellness hubs. Kristine Stratton is the President and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Matt Mann, Recreation Program Manager, and Sean Kennan, Recreation Superintendent, both work for the City of Shawnee, Kansas. They shared what defines a community wellness hub and an in-depth example of the Shawnee Community Wellness Hub. They also discussed the role of health equity in hubs and the NRPA Community Wellness Hubs toolkit.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#596 Demystifying Development Finance with Jed Byrne, Oak City CRE Nov 24, 2023

Jed Byrne, Editor at Oak City CRE, joined the podcast to discuss development finance. He shared the important role of developers, the lifecycle of a project, and shared examples of how projects are financed.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#595 Improving Roadway Safety and Meeting Community Priorities with Conor Semler, Kittelson & Associates Nov 17, 2023

Helping communities weigh tradeoffs on their roadways. Conor Semler, Principal Planner for Kittelson & Associates, joined the podcast to talk about a new tool that will help communities make streets safer. He shared his recent research into roadway cross-section reallocation and how cities can use the tool to balance community priorities with roadway usage. He also discussed the issue with outdated standards and the tradeoffs communities should consider when designing streets

Host: Ben Kittelson

#594 Community Building and Agricultural Urbanism with Tim Maslow, Groveland, FL Nov 10, 2023

Planning with natural charm. Tim Maslow, Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Groveland, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about planning and urbanism. He shared how Groveland is working to manage population growth, retain natural amenities, and create walkable places. Tim talked about creating the City's new form-based code and establishing pre-approved plans in the Florida Vernacular style to streamline the development process.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#593 Building a Customer Service Culture with Melissa Cantarero Weiss, Wauwatosa, WI Nov 03, 2023

Strategy and service. Melissa Cantarero Weiss, Deputy City Administrator for the City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, joined the podcast to talk about building a customer service culture. She shared how they engaged employees in developing customer service values and integrating customer service into training, employee evaluations, and awards. Melissa also discussed the City's strategic plan, community engagement, the City's 2024 budget, and her career path in local government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#592 Strangers and Angels with Gabe Reaume, Saginaw, TX Oct 27, 2023

Go get 'em, tiger. Gabe Reaume, the City Manager for the City of Saginaw, Texas joined the podcast to discuss his new book, Strangers and Angels. Gabe shared stories growing up in rural Michigan, his unique path to city management, and how a friendship with a woman old enough to be his grandmother impacted his life.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#591 State of ELGL with Maggie Jones, Tarrant County, TX Oct 20, 2023

The state of ELGL is strong. Maggie Jones is the Chair of the ELGL Board of Directors and Assistant Director of Community Development for Tarrant County, Texas. Maggie joined the podcast to provide listeners with an update on ELGL. She shared what makes the organization special, how members can maximize their membership, and a preview of ELGL 24. Maggie also talked about her career path and is rumored to have shared a membership promo code during the episode for listeners.

Host: Rafael Baptista

#590 Housing Choices and Building Opportunity with Spencer Gardner, Spokane, WA Oct 13, 2023

Choices for all. Spencer Gardner, the Planning Director for the City of Spokane, Washington joined the podcast to discuss their innovative Building Opportunity and Choices for All program. He discussed the use of an interim zoning ordinance, what things in the city code need to be addressed to achieve more equitable housing, and tax credit programs the City offers to support their housing goals.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#589 Artificial Intelligence in Local Government with Polimorphic and Lowell, NC Oct 06, 2023

The future is now. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in local government. Parth Shah is the CEO and co-founder of Polimorphic and Scott Attaway is the City Manager for the City of Lowell, North Carolina. They shared the use case and benefits of AI, how AI can improve local government processes, and how employees feel about the implementation of AI.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#588 Police Recruitment and Prospect Days in South Bend, IN with Lt. Kyle Dombrowski Sep 29, 2023

Condensing the process. Kyle Dombrowski, a Lieutenant with the City of South Bend, Indiana Police Department joined the podcast to talk about police officer recruitment and Prospect Days. He shared the department's old hiring process and how they streamlined the process from a six to nine month process to completing most of the process in one day. He discussed Prospect Days where potential candidates can complete the physical agility, written test, oral board, and personal interview in one day. He also talked about the importance of sharing the story of proactive policing and ongoing recruitment.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#587 Award Winning Planning in Stockton, IL with All Together Sep 22, 2023

Adventures in Stockton. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about their award-winning planning project in Stockton, Illinois. Both guests work for All Together, Marisa Schulz is the Principal and Abigail Rose is the Senior Planner and Designer. They shared what made the project special, lessons learned, and the importance of creative placemaking. They also responded to audience questions.

This episode was recorded at the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter Annual Conference.

Host: Dan Bolin and Andy Cross

#586 Community Trust and Engagement with Zencity and Cary, NC Sep 15, 2023

The civic infrastructure of the futrure. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about using technology to better engage residents and improve trust in local government. Dan Ault is the Assistant Town Manager and Chief Innovation Officer for the Town of Cary, North Carolina. Eyal Feder-Levy is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zencity, a community engagement platform. Dan discussed using community engagement data to inform decision-making - even the decision not to act. Eyal talked about the launch of Zencity 360 and expanding the number of people that participate in local government.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#585 Trends in Parking Reform and Housing with Catie Gould, Sightline Institute Sep 08, 2023

The case against required parking. Catie Gould, Climate and Transportation Researcher for the Sightline Institute, joined the podcast to talk about trends in parking reform. Catie shared the problem with minimum parking mandates and how abolishing them impacted the cities of Seattle and Buffalo. She also discussed how parking regulations impact housing supply and how State legislatures have been getting involved with challenging parking mandates.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#584 Activating the Memphis Riverfront with Carol Coletta, Memphis River Parks Partnership Sep 01, 2023

Great design for a great river. Carol Coletta, President and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership, joined the podcast to talk about managing the City of Memphis Riverfront and the grand opening of Tom Lee Park. Carol shared the background about the redevelopment of Tom Lee Park, mitigating flood risk at the park, and ensuring equal access and programming for all.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#583 Addressing the Workforce Needs of Transit Agencies with Laurel Paget-Seekins, TransitCenter Aug 25, 2023

Getting the job done for the future. Laurel Paget-Seekins, author of People First a report from TransitCenter, joined the podcast to talk about how transit agencies need a more strategic human resources function to attract and retain talent. Laurel shared the workforce challenges transit agencies are experiencing, how staffing is impacting operations, and what strategies agencies can pursue to address these challenges. She discussed the need for human resources to be more than transactional and the importance of retention and organizational culture.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#582 Inclusive Recovery Toolkit with New Growth Innovation Network Aug 18, 2023

Committed to inclusive economic growth. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about a new inclusive recovery toolkit, Deirdre Shaw is an Inclusive Economic Growth Associate and Betsey Suchanic is an Inclusive Economic Development Advisor both with the New Growth Innovation Network. They shared what is in the toolkit, the target audience, outcomes for the toolkit, and what other additional resources can be used.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#581 Family Focused Urbanism with Barry Greene Jr., Density Dad Aug 11, 2023

Fresh urbanism takes with a side of dad. Barry Greene Jr., Transportation Justice Fellow for the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and author of Density Dad joined the podcast to talk about family-focused urbanism. He shared why he started writing about urbanism, how the built environment affects families, and shared advice for new parents.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#580 The Evolving Nature of Equity in Practice with Dr. Benoy Jacob, University of Wisconsin Aug 04, 2023

Governing for equity. Dr. Benoy Jacob, the Director of the Community Development Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Division of Extension, joined the podcast to talk about bridging the theory and practice of equity in local government. He shared his research into equity in public administration and the understanding of equity as a field versus a value. He also discussed building partnerships to address issues related to equity.

This episode was recorded at the 2023 Social Equity Leadership Conference in Kansas City, MO.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#579 Equity and Racial Justice in Chicago, IL with Candace Moore, Nneka Onwuzerike, and Anton Seals Jr Jul 28, 2023

Outcomes and processes. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss equity and racial justice in the City of Chicago, IL. Nneka Onwuzurike is the Community Wealth Building Lead with the City of Chicago. Anton Seals, Jr. is the Lead Steward for Grow Greater Englewood. Candace Moore is the Chief Equity Officer for the City of Chicago They shared their definitions of equity and racial justice, the work of the Office of Equity and Racial Justice, and community wealth building.

Host: Toney Thompson

#578 I-NAPA and Inclusion in Local Government with Aishwarya Kumar, International Network of Asian Public Administrators Jul 21, 2023

Encouraging excellence among public administrators of Asian heritage. Aishwarya Kumar, President of the International Network of Asian Public Administrators (I-NAPA) and Management Analyst at the City of Elk Grove, CA, joined the podcast to talk about her role with I-NAPA and her work in Elk Grove, CA. Aishwarya shared her work in performance management, the importance of I-NAPA, and emerging trends in local government. Host: Ben Kittelson

#577 Equity in Policing with Max Markham, Center for Policing Equity Jul 14, 2023

Science to promote justice. Max Markham, Vice President, Policy & Community Engagement for the Center for Policing Equity, joined the podcast to talk about building equity in police departments. He shared the work of rebuilding the St. Louis Police Department, the role of administrators and equity officers have in implementing change, and offered tools and techniques for advancing social equity goals.

This episode was recorded at the 2023 Social Equity Leadership Conference in Kansas City, MO.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#576 Parks and Recreation for All with Commissioner Justin Cutler, Atlanta, GA Jun 30, 2023

Activate ATL. Justin Cutler, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, joined the podcast to talk about parks and recreation. Justin shared how he is building the culture with his staff and why he chose to move to the City of Atlanta. He also discussed tackling the challenge of providing equal access to parks and green space to all residents, including how they use the City's Parks and Recreation Equity Data Tool.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#575 Inclusionary Retail with Julia Duranti-Martinez, Andres Sevtsuk, and Mikeya Griffin Jun 23, 2023

Action for the future. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss inclusionary retail. Julia Duranti-Martinez is the Senior Program Officer for Community Impact and Research at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Andres Sevtsuk is an Associate Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mikeya Griffin is the Executive Director of the Rondo Community Land Trust. They shared the concept of inclusionary retail, the benefits of community land trusts, and the legal tools used to accomplish community ownership.

Host: Dan Bolin

#574 Budgeting for Equity and Inclusion with Craig Owens, Lawrence, KS Jun 16, 2023

Listening to the Community. Craig Owens, City Manager for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, joined the podcast to talk about budgeting for equity and inclusion. He shared the city's budget process, measuring key performance indicators, and equity and inclusion progress indicators.

This episode was recorded at the 2023 Social Equity Leadership Conference in Kansas City, MO.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#573 Performance and Process Improvement with Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Brighton, CO Jun 09, 2023

Identifying, analyzing, and solving pain points in day-to-day work. Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Budget and Performance Manager for the City of Brighton, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about performance and process improvement. Kayla shared an in-depth look into the City's five-week Performance and Leadership Academy highlighting building a culture of continuous improvement and executing change. She also shared what led to the creation of the Academy and the organizational changes it has led to.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#572 Local Government 2030 with Megan Caron, Elizabeth McDonald, and Ryan Webb Jun 02, 2023

Action for the future. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss their involvement with Local Government 2030, a convening of local government practitioners working on the grand challenges facing public administration. Megan Caron is a Strategic Initiatives Analyst for the City of Nashua, New Hampshire. Elizabeth McDonald is a Senior Civil Engineer for the City of Savannah, Georgia. Ryan Webb is the Engineering and Community Development Director for The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. They shared what Local Government 2030 is trying to accomplish, different initiatives, and what is coming next for the group.

Host: Dan Bolin

#571 Sustainable Development Standards in Lakewood, CO May 26, 2023

Points for the planet. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Lakewood, Colorado has used sustainable development standards to implement their Sustainability Plan. Caitlin Long, Senior Sustainability Planner, and Jonathan Wachtel, Sustainability Manager, discussed the City's enhanced development menu, greenhouse gas mitigation program, and waste diversion program. They also shared how they engaged the community and how developers have reacted to the standards.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#570 The Fight to Save the Town with Michelle Wilde Anderson May 19, 2023

Reimagining Discarded America. Michelle Wilde Anderson, author and Larry Kramer Professor of Law at Stanford School of Law, joined the podcast to talk about her book, The Fight to Save the Town. She highlighted and discussed the chapters related to Stockton, CA; Josephine County, OR; Lawrence, MA; and Detroit, MI.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#569 Alternative 911 Responses with Gabriela Solis, Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab May 10, 2023

A New 911. Gabriela Solis, a Project Leader for the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, joined the podcast to talk about alternative 911 responses. She shared the work of the Government Performance Lab, the current initiative surrounding alternative 911 responses, and some case studies involved with the initiative. Gabriela discussed how data is used in the program and how local governments can get involved.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#568 Strategy and People with Jackie Wehmeyer, Parkland, FL May 05, 2023

Balancing new ideas with institutional knowledge. Jackie Wehmeyer, Senior Director of Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Parkland, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about local government strategy and employees. She shared how employee needs by department differ, her work in strategy and intergovernmental affairs, and the importance of succession planning.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#567 Small Town Management and Tourism with Greg LeBlanc, Snowmass Village, CO Apr 28, 2023

The s'more-iest season on record. Greg LeBlanc, Assistant Town Manager for the Town of Snowmass, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about small town management and tourism. He discussed preparing for the role of Assistant Town Manager and the challenges unique to resort communities. He also shared how the work of the Town changes around the tourism cycle and how the Town pursues communication and engagement.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#566 Human Centered Design in Chicago Public Schools Apr 21, 2023

Putting people first. Four guests joined the podcast to talk about human centered design in Chicago Public Schools. They discussed the CPS community toolkit, building strong design teams, and gaining leadership buy-in. They also shared how other local governments can implement human centered design. Adrian Segura is the Chief Officer for Family and Community Engagement at Chicago Public Schools. Kathleen Carlson works on special projects for Bloomberg Philanthropies. Laura Biltz is a Design Consultant and Manager at Conic. Ruben Ocampo is the Founder of Conic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#565 Humans of Public Service with Brian Whittaker Apr 14, 2023

Stories of Public Servants. Brian Whittaker, Founder of Humans of Public Service and the Chief Innovation Officer for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, joined the podcast to talk about Humans of Public Service, which shares the stories of public servants that reflect the diversity in America in an effort to humanize public servants and create a more positive perception of government. He discussed starting and launching Humans of Public Service, lifting up others in public service, and how to nominate someone in public service.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#564 GovLove in Love with Onyinye Akujuo, Houston-Galveston Area Council Apr 07, 2023

Texas Two Step. Onyinye Akujo, Chief Operating Officer for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, joined the podcast to talk about her work with the Houston-Galveston Council and being in a local government relationship with her partner, William Johnson, Assistant City Manager for the City of Fort Worth.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#563 Improving Technology with Santi Garces, Boston, MA Mar 31, 2023

Embrace the uncertainty. Santi Garces, Chief Information Officer for the City of Boston, Massachusetts, joined the podcast to talk about improving technology in local government. He shared insights on balancing technology projects, shrinking the digital divide, and data use as a platform and product.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#562 Implementing Green Plans with Oliver Kroner, Cincinnati, OH Mar 24, 2023

Building a sustainable and equitable city. Oliver Kroner, Director of Environment and Sustainability for the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, joined the podcast to talk about implementing the Green Cincinnati Plan. He shared the work of the Office of Environment and Sustainability, measuring environmental impacts, and community activation and equity around the Green Cincinnati Plan.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#561 Vision Zero and Tactical Urbanism with Barkha Patel, Jersey City, NJ Mar 17, 2023

Infrastructure feedback in real-time. Barkha Patel, Director of Infrastructure for the City of Jersey City, New Jersey, joined the podcast to talk about infrastructure and vision zero. She shared how the City implements tactical urbanism, the creation of the Department of Infrastructure, equity work in infrastructure, and the City's Vision Zero plan.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#560 Hiring a 21st Century Workforce with Alex Lawrence, Boston, MA Mar 10, 2023

Human-centered local government. Alex Lawrence, Chief People Officer for the City of Boston, Massachusetts, joined the podcast to talk about hiring a 21st-century workforce. She discussed new recruitment strategies, managing change, updating personnel policies, and innovative benefits.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#559 Mindful Public Management with Ian Coyle, Livingston County, NY Mar 03, 2023

Grateful government. Ian Coyle, County Administrator for Livingston County, New York, joined the podcast to talk about mindfulness in local government. He discussed the mindfulness framework, what makes it unique to local government, and incorporating mindfulness tactics into your everyday work.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#558 Digital Innovation with Sara Hall, Philadelphia, PA Feb 24, 2023

Phila Dot Gov. Sara Hall, Director of Digital Services with the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about digital innovation. She discussed the work of the Digital Services team she leads, improving the City's website, and best practices for managing change. She also shared what skills are needed to work in digital services in local government.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#557 Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency with Grace Rink, Denver, CO Feb 17, 2023

Urgently responding to the climate crisis. Grace Rink, Chief Climate Officer and Executive Director of the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency with the City of Denver, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about Denver's climate action work. She discussed the origins of the office, including how the community drove its creation and pushed the City to do more. She also talked about the Denver Climate Protection Fund and how the funds can be spent, plus the City's electric bike rebate program.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#556 Strategy and Confronting Complex Challenges with Jacques Colon, Tacoma, WA Feb 10, 2023

A better Tacoma for tomorrow. Jacques Colon, Chief Strategy Officer with the City of Tacoma, Washington, joined the podcast to talk about strategy and confronting complex challenges. He discussed the role of the new Office of Strategy, the City's Equity Index, and the City's Strategic Plan. He also discussed affordable housing and displacement strategies.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#555 Equity and Engagement in Decatur, GA with Renae Jackson Feb 03, 2023

Transformative action in equity. Renae Jackson, Equity and Engagement Director with the City of Decatur, Georgia, joined the podcast to talk about her work in equity and engagement. She shared lessons learned in her previous role in communications, detailed her new role, and how the city is achieving organizational buy-in. Renae also highlighted the upcoming Racial Equity Action Plan and shared engagement strategies.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#554 Community Carbon Neutrality in Ann Arbor, MI with Dr. Missy Stults Jan 27, 2023

Addressing climate change, now. Dr. Misty Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director with the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, joined the podcast to talk about climate action and sustainability. She shared details from the City's A2ZERO Climate Action Plan, including electrification and incorporating equity into the plan. She also discussed the City's new climate action millage, which was passed by voters in November 2022, and how the funding will be used, as well as her career path into local government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#553 Integrating Data with Justin Elszasz, Baltimore, MD Jan 20, 2023

Incorporating data into local government. Justin Elszasz, Chief Data Officer with the City of Baltimore, Maryland, joined the podcast to talk about integrating data into local government. He shared the role of the digital services team, how the team work with other departments, what projects they are working on, and how to prepare the next generation of data scientists.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#552 High Performance Organizations with Hannes Zacharias, University of Kansas Jan 13, 2023

Culture eats strategy. Hannes Zacharias, Professor of Practice at the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration, joined the podcast to talk about high performance organizations. He shared the traits of high performance of organizations, the importance of culture, and how to constantly improve an organization.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#551 Hack Your Bureaucracy with Marina Nitze Jan 06, 2023

Ask simple questions. Marina Nitze, co-author of Hack Your Bureaucracy and Fellow at New America, joined the podcast to talk about the book and getting things done in government. She shared strategies people at any level of an organization can use to have an impact. She discussed her paperclip story, the importance of looking between silos, and the problem with "just."

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#550 The 2022 GovieLovies Dec 30, 2022

Another year, another snake draft. The GovLove co-hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap the seventh full year of a podcast about local government. Kirsten, Toney, Lauren, Dan, and Ben all selected three of their favorite episodes to honor with the most prestigious award in local government podcasting, a GovieLovie! They also shared their favorite highlight from 2022, their favorite holiday tradition, and what they are obsessed with from 2022.

Hosts: Kirsten Wyatt, Ben Kittelson, Toney Thompson, Lauren Palmer, & Dan Bolin

The GovieLovies

Kirsten

Ben

Toney

Lauren

Dan

Producer Pick from Pizza Mike - From Librarian to City Manager with Abigail Elder, Hood River, OR

#549 Facilitating Public Deliberation with Nicole Hunter and Keith Greaves Dec 23, 2022

Behind the scenes of public deliberation. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about their book, Facilitating Deliberation - A Practical Guide. Nicole Hunter, Co-Founder & Managing Director at MosaicLab, and Keith Greaves, Co-Founder & Director at MosaicLab, discussed core concepts, processes, and meeting formats for deliberation. They also provide strategies for addressing unconscious bias and polarization.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#548 Using Data to Prevent Homelessness with John Littlemore and Helen Sunderland Dec 16, 2022

Practical data to reduce homelessness. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how they are using data to prevent homelessness. John Littlemore, Head of Housing & Community Service at the Maidstone Borough Council, and Helen Sunderland, a Partner of Local Public Services at EY Consulting, discussed their data-driven preventative approach to homelessness, indicators of risk, and success stories in reducing homelessness.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#547 Resilience and Sustainability in Charleston, SC with Dale Morris and Katie McKain Dec 09, 2022

Planning for a safer and greener Charleston. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Charleston, South Carolina has worked to make the city more resilient and sustainable. Dale Morris, Chief Resilience Officer, and Katie McKain, Director of Sustainability & Deputy Resilience Officer, discussed the differences between sustainability and resiliency, the City's All Hazards Vulnerability & Risk Assessment Plan, and regional partnerships.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#546 Local Government Engagement with Warren Kagarise, King County, WA Dec 02, 2022

Better engaging residents. Warren Kagarise, Digital Engagement Manager for the King County, Washington, returned to the podcast to talk about engagement strategies in local government. He shared the pros and cons of working full-time remote, how local governments can better engage their residents, and what he hopes to accomplish on the ELGL Board of Directors.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#545 Managing Phoenix with Jeff Barton, Phoenix, AZ Nov 18, 2022

Leading the largest council-manager government. Jeff Barton, City Manager for the City of Phoenix, Arizona, joined the podcast to talk about his first year on the job as a City Manager. He discussed his career path with the City, which began as an Auditor, and how he advanced in the organization. He also shared the work behind a City Manager's dashboard, the City's new bond program, and shaping organizational culture.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#544 Advancing Data in Local Government with Ruth Puttick, Lauren Su, & Lisa Mae Fiedler Nov 11, 2022

Improving data-driven efforts. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss their research and insight into the advancement of data in local government. They shared their new definition of data-driven local government and the methodology of their research. Ruth Puttick is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Open Innovation Team. Lauren Su is the Director of Certification for What Works Cities. Lisa Mae Fiedler is the Acting Manager of Data and Analytics at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Host: Toney Thompson

#543 From Librarian to City Manager with Abigail Elder, Hood River, OR Nov 04, 2022

Books to Boardroom. Abigail Elder, City Manager for the City of Hood River, Oregon, joined the podcast to talk about her first year on the job as a City Manager. She detailed her career path in local government, which started as a librarian. She also shared what she is working on including affordable housing, improving infrastructure, and homelessness.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#542 Reducing Crime in Danville, VA with Chief Scott Booth and Robert David Oct 28, 2022

Bigger than black and blue. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Danville, Virginia has worked to reduce violent crime. Scott Booth, Chief of Police, and Robert David, Youth and Gang Violence Coordinator, discussed the challenges Danville faced when they came to the City, engaging with the community, and the reforms and initiatives they implemented. They shared the City's approach to community policing and Project Imagine, an intervention program for at-risk and gang affiliated youth.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#541 Recruitment for Local Government Careers with Hannah Lipman and Moses Amidei Oct 21, 2022

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about recruiting for local government. Hannah Lipman, the Assistant Village Manager for the Village of Tinley Park, IL, and Moses Amidei, Village Administrator for the Village of Forest Park, IL, discussed how they are working with the Illinois City County Manager Association to create marketing materials to promote and recruit potential applicants to local government.

Host: Dan Bolin

#540 Local Autonomy and COVID-19 Response with Dr. Dana Patton and Joshua Pine Oct 07, 2022

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about a research paper in the State and Local Government Review that examined local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dana Patton, an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama, and Joshua Pine, Program Manager of City Innovation and Data at the National League of Cities, discussed how the power of local governments varies by state, data collection and categorization for their research, and the types of policy actions made by local governments during the pandemic.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#539 Building a Culture of Strategy and Innovation with Rafael Baptista, Buncombe County, NC Sep 30, 2022

Incremental steps to improvement. Rafael Baptista, Director of Strategy and Innovation for Buncombe County, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about the work of his team and how they support the County organization as internal consultants. He shared how they support the County's strategic plan, transparency efforts, and policy initiatives. Rafael also discussed his career path into local government and why he is excited to join the ELGL Board of Directors.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#538 A Community-Centered Approach to Public Safety with Ryan Smith, Durham, NC Sep 23, 2022

Sending the right response. Ryan Smith, Director of Community Safety for the City of Durham, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about a new approach to public safety. He shared why and how the Community Safety Department was formed. Ryan outlined all of the pilot programs they are currently testing and how they are developing a first responder culture. Ryan also described what metrics they are tracking.

Host: Toney Thompson

#537 Diversity and Inclusion in Peoria, IL with Melodi Green Sep 16, 2022

Advancing equity in government systems. Melodi Green, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the City of Peoria, Illinois, joined the podcast to talk about diversity and inclusion. She shared her path to her current role and how her legal background guides her work today. Melodi shared her work on the Peoria Equity Accountability Program. She also talked about why it was an important initiative and how metrics from the program can be used in the future.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#536 An 11-year-old talks Parks and Ice Rinks with Zach Navin, Waukesha County, WI Sep 13, 2022

Kids need to know about local government too! To celebrate the start of the new school year, we gave the hosting duties to Mason Zeemering an 11-year-old in Athens, Georgia. Mason talked with Zach Navin, the Parks Supervisor for Waukesha County, Wisconsin all about managing parks and ice rinks. Zach shared his career background, how kids can learn about parks and recreation activities, and what it takes to manage ice arenas.

Host: Mason Zeemering

#535 Using Education to Reduce Trash in DC Waterways with Layne Marshall and Julie Lawson Sep 09, 2022

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about reducing litter and trash in waterways. Layne Marshall, a Biologist at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Trash Free Waters Program, and Julie Patton Lawson, Workforce Program Analyst for the DC City Government, joined the podcast to discuss a pilot study that used an education campaign to reduce trash leakage associated with curbside municipal trash collection. They shared why this education campaign was initiated, how the neighborhoods in DC were chosen, and what the impact was, as well as lessons for other local governments.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#534 Improving Traffic and Pedestrian Safety with Victoria Barrett, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Sep 02, 2022

Better biking, walking, and public transit. Victoria Barrett, Transportation Planner for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, joined the podcast to talk about improving traffic and pedestrian safety. She shared how the inputs into roadway design affect non-vehicular traffic and the other approaches that can improve pedestrian safety. Victoria also discussed how technology can help with improvements too.

Host: Dan Bolin

#533 Leadership & Career Development with Eric Marsh, Rolesville, NC Aug 26, 2022

From doer to leader. Eric Marsh, Assistant Town Manager of the Town of Rolesville, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about his work and career path. He discussed the transition into leadership and how he learned about his own leadership style. He also shared how he got to know the Rolesville organization and how the Town is managing growth and development.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#532 The Job of a Prothonotary with Noah Marlier, Montgomery County, PA Aug 19, 2022

Noah Marlier, Prothonotary for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about what a Prothonotary does. Noah shared what being the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas means, the kind of procedures his office processes, and how he runs his office. He also shared how the pandemic affected operations within the office.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#531 Communication & Sharing the Work of Local Government with Jessica VanderKolk, Battle Creek, MI Aug 12, 2022

Being a liaison between local government and the community. Jessica VanderKolk, Communications Manager for the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, joined the podcast to talk about local government communications. She shared how staff can help share their stories with the community and highlight the work of their organization. She also talked about her career path into local government from journalism and her new role on the ELGL Board of Directors.

Host: Toney Thompson

#530 Returning to the Politics vs. Administration Debate with Dr. Kimberly Nelson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Aug 05, 2022

Dr. Kimberly Nelson, Professor of Public Administration and Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, returns to the podcast to talk about her most recent article about the politics versus administration debate. She provides an in-depth explanation of the role of the Local Government Manager in policymaking as it relates to the politics vs. administration dichotomy.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#529 Inclusive Prosperity in Economic Development with Jessica L. González Martínez and Sterling Johnson Jul 29, 2022

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about inclusive prosperity in economic development. Jessica L. González Martínez is an Inclusive Economic Development Advisor for the New Growth Innovation Network. Sterling Johnson is the Just Opportunity Portfolio Director for the Partnership for Southern Equity. They discussed the joint partnership between their organizations to produce the Communication Resource Guide for Inclusive Economic Development and how local governments can integrate equity and inclusion into economic development strategies.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#528 ADA Compliance & Improving Accessibility with Linda Mastandrea, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Jul 22, 2022

Linda Mastandrea, Director of Regional ADA Planning and Local Safety for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, joined the podcast to talk about the Americans with Disabilities Act and creating more accessible communities. She shared some of the history of the ADA, how compliance can help cities, and what cities should be doing to create an ADA transition plan. Linda also shared her career path from Paralympic athlete to working with local governments to create a more equitable region.

Host: Dan Bolin

#527 Infrastructure & Leadership Training with Denise Bevan, Palm Coast, FL Jul 15, 2022

Preparation and service. Denise Bevan the City Manager of the City of Palm Coast, Florida joined the podcast to discuss her career path from environmental planner to City Manager. She talked about the history of Palm Coast and the infrastructure challenges the City deals with. She shared an internal leadership training program used to develop and retain staff. She also discussed her time as interim City Manager and the transition to taking on the role permanently.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#526 Employee Engagement & Culture with Dan Biles, Pasco County, FL Jul 08, 2022

People, purpose, and performance. Dan Biles, County Administrator for Pasco County, Florida, joined the podcast to discuss employee engagement and culture. He shared what makes a place great to work at and tools to get organizational buy-in. Dan outlined the robust training the County offers to build leaders and shared employee retention strategies.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#525 Resilient Building Codes with Jennifer Carpenter, U.S. HUD Jul 01, 2022

Helping communities better withstand natural hazards and severe weather events. Jennifer Carpenter, Assistant Director of Policy for the Disaster Recovery & Special Issues Division at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, joined the podcast to discuss resilient building codes. She outlined the work of the Disaster Recovery & Special Issues Division and the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. She also shared the benefits and how cities can get started to modernize building codes.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#524 Management & Leadership with Scott Neal, Edina, MN Jun 24, 2022

Building the future of city management. Scott Neal, City Manager for the City of Edina, Minnesota, joined the podcast to discuss his career in city management. He shared how the City's Management Fellowship works and his goal of creating leaders for the profession. He talked about affordable house and equity work happening in Edina and he provided an in-depth look at his career path along with many lessons learned along the way.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#523 Equity in the Library with Christy Mulligan & Ayanna Muata, Hennepin County, MN Jun 17, 2022

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion work in libraries. Christy Mulligan is the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator for Hennepin County Library. Ayanna Muata is the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Project Manager for Hennepin County Library. They talked about how they have integrated equity into programs, the origins of their work, and the impact of COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd on their work.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#522 Arbitrary Lines, the Case Against Zoning with M. Nolan Gray, UCLA Lewis Center Jun 10, 2022

What do we want city planning to do? M. Nolan Gray, author and researcher at the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, joined the podcast to talk about his new book, Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It. Nolan provides an in-depth history of zoning including the impacts and ways zoning has distorted American cities. He shared ways that cities can reform zoning and what a city without zoning might look like. He also discussed what the future of planning profession would be without zoning.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#521 Tulsa Community Partnerships & ARP Funding with Jen Tolentino & Alisa Dougless Jun 04, 2022

Alisa Dougless, Program Manager at the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Jen Tolentino, Director of Local Practice at Results for America, joined the podcast to talk about spending federal funding from American Rescue Plan. They discussed best practices in managing and spending funds as well as working how the City of Tulsa worked with local partners.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#520 Ocean Protection & Climate Action with Dr. Tiffany Wise-West, Santa Cruz, CA May 27, 2022

Sustainability steps for the future. Dr. Tiffany Wise-West, Sustainability and Climate Action Manager for the City of Santa Cruz, California, joined the podcast to talk about local government ocean protection and planning for sea level rise. She discussed the City's Climate Action Plan, their sea level rise explorer app, and how the City earned the "Blue City" recognition for being committed to clean oceans. She also highlighted what steps the City is taking to grow its green economy.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#519 Building Organizational Culture with Scot Simpson, River Falls, WI May 24, 2022

One City, one team. Scot Simpson, City Administrator for the City of River Falls, Wisconsin, joined the podcast to talk about strategies for shaping organizational culture. He shared how they prioritized employee engagement and created opportunities to build relationships between employees across departments. He discussed the importance of onboarding, recognizing long serving employees, and how they focused on culture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Ashley Copeland

#518 Troubling Signs at the Supreme Court with Amanda Karras, Lisa Soronen, & Brian Connolly May 20, 2022

Three guests joined the podcast to discuss the City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising Supreme Court case. They provided in-depth analysis of the case and how the decision will impact local government sign regulations. Amanda Karras is the Executive Director and General Counsel for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Lisa Soronen is the Executive Director of the State and Local Legal Center. Brian Connolly is a land use Attorney at Otten Johnson.

Host: Dan Bolin

#517 The Hidden World of Deathcare with Staci Zavattaro, University of Central Florida May 17, 2022

What cities should think about related to deathcare. Staci Zavattaro, Professor of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida, joined the podcast to talk about deathcare and its relationship to local government. She outlined the elements of deathcare and how she became involved in the field. Staci highlighted the role and importance of local government cemeteries and the impact of COVID-19 on deathcare.

Host: Toney Thompson

#516 Mayors & Local Political Violence with Heidi Gerbracht & Sue Thomas May 13, 2022

An assault on local democracy. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about a new report on political violence toward mayors. Heidi Gerbracht is the Founder of the Equity Agenda and Sue Thomas is a Senior Research Scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The report founds that political violence against mayors is common and more prevalent for women mayors and mayors of color.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#515 Climate Action & Heat Mitigation in Phoenix, AZ with Nancy Allen & David Hondula May 11, 2022

Becoming a sustainable desert city. Two guests from the City of Phoenix, Arizona joined the podcast to talk about the City's climate action plan and addressing urban heat. Nancy Allen is the Environmental Programs Manager and David Hondula is the Director of Heat Response and Mitigation. They talked about developing the City's first community-wide climate action plan and implementing actions to combat heat.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#514 Elevating Analysis in Fire & Emergency Services with Preet Bassi, Center for Public Safety Excellence May 06, 2022

Data-informed decision making. Preet Bassi, the Chief Executive Officer at the Center for Public Safety Excellence, joined the podcast to talk about elevating analysis in fire and emergency services. She discussed the Center for Public Safety Excellence's accreditation process and benefits. She also shared how fire analysts can provide public comment on the new standard from the National Fire Protection Association on the job requirements for staff who use, analyze, or evaluate public safety data.

Host: Toney Thompson

#513 Sustainability & Building IQ with Tessa Schreiner, Aspen, CO May 03, 2022

Leading by example. Tessa Schreiner, Climate Action Manager for the City of Aspen, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about sustainability and energy use. She highlighted the City's Building IQ program, the logistics behind it, and the importance of data collection and benchmarking for building performance standards. She also shared how the City approaches climate change policy through an equity lens.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#512 Navigating as a Leader with Daniel Roberts, BrightDrop Apr 29, 2022

Being bold and pushing boundaries. Daniel Roberts, the Head of Communications at BrightDrop, joined the podcast to talk about lessons he's learned as a leader early in his career. He discussed his leadership philosophy, developing staff, and working in both the public and private sectors.

This episode was recorded from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Forum 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host: Toney Thompson

#511 Starting a Public Service Career with Jonathan Henry, NFBPA Student Representative Apr 26, 2022

Step up and stand out. Jonathan Henry, the Student Representative on the NFBPA Board of Directors, joined the podcast to talk about starting his career, his interest in accounting and information technology, and the value of internships. He discussed how students can position themselves for success in the workplace and in their job and internship searches.

This episode was recorded from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Forum 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host: Toney Thompson

#510 Becoming a City Manager with Tanisha Briley, Gaithersburg, MD Apr 22, 2022

Sharing experiences and learning from each other. Tanisha Briley, the City Manager of the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, rejoined the podcast to talk about how to become a City Manager. She explained her leadership style along with obstacles faced in her career. Tanisha shared skills needed and advice for those who want to become a City Manager.

This episode was recorded from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Forum 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host: Toney Thompson

#509 Innovative City Planning with Paul Lewis, Orlando, FL Apr 19, 2022

Planning for the future. Paul Lewis, Chief Planning Manager for the City of Orlando, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about the innovative planning practices in the City of Orlando. He shared the City's tables of connection initiative that was completed as part of the AARP Community Challenge program. Paul also detailed how Orlando incorporates age-friendly and future ready concepts into their planning practices as well as several past master planning projects and their impact on the City.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#508 The Impact of the Great Resignation with Ronnie Dampier, Melody Lenox, & Margarita Hudgins Apr 15, 2022

Three guests joined the podcast to talk about the Great Resignation, the impact on the local government workforce, and how to engage staff. Ronnie Dampier is the Chief of Staff for the District Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. Melody Lennox is the Senior Vice President of People Operations for Axxess. Magarita Hudgins is the Assistant Vice President of Colonial Life. They shared challenges and best practices regarding retention.

This episode was recorded from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Forum 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Host: Toney Thompson

#507 Data and Longmont CAReS with Becky Doyle & Sandi Seader, Longmont, CO Apr 12, 2022

Slaying the data dragon. Two guests from the City of Longmont, Colorado joined the podcast to discuss the City's use of data and recent What Works Cities Certification. Becky Doyle is the Executive Director of Consolidated Services and Sandi Seader is the Assistant City Manager. They discussed the Longmont CAReS program, which makes it easier for community members to receive assistance, and how they are shifting the conversation around data and decision making. They also talked about the assistance the City provided to their neighboring community, Louisville, to help with disaster recovery after a fire.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#506 Improving Fiscal Strategy with Lawrence Greenspun & Mark Funkhouser Apr 08, 2022

Creating a better functioning society. Two guests joined the podcast to discuss their partnership to improve fiscal strategy for local governments. Mark Funkhouser, President of Funkhouser & Associates, and Lawrence Greenspun, Director of Public Sector Engagement at the Drucker Institute, discussed a combined learning approach to fiscal strategy. They also discussed making public finance more relatable and a new approach to citizen engagement.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#505 Urban Forestry & Sustainability in Eugene, OR with Scott Altenhoff & Marisa Repka Apr 05, 2022

Keeping carbon captured. Two guests joined the podcast to discuss urban forestry and sustainability. Scott Altenhoff, an Urban Forestry Management Analyst with the City of Eugene, OR, and Marisa Repka, the Co-Founder and CFO of Cambium Carbon, discussed more sustainable ways of disposing of deceased trees. They covered end users, implementation, and data tracking for the City's new Reforestation Hub Assessment.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#504 Outreach & Education on Building ADUs in Salinas, CA Apr 01, 2022

Livable communities for people of all ages. Three guests from the City of Salinas, California joined the podcast to talk about creating an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) educational campaign that included brochures, bilingual workshops for the public, and a technical workshop for contractors and other professionals that develop ADUs in the City. Raul Ortega is a Junior Engineer in Permit Services, Adam Garrett is an Assistant Planner, and Holly Hodge served as an Housing Production Coordinator VISTA. They shared the common questions they get from the community and the impact of the outreach.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#503 Technology & Digital Self-Service with Tyler Douthit, Lawrence, IN Mar 29, 2022

Improving access for utility payments. Tyler Douthit, City Controller / Utilities CFO for the City of Lawrence, Indiana, joined the podcast to talk about how the City worked to increase customer options for making utility payments. He discussed implementing a kiosk and online self-service payments. He also shared how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted this work and how they reallocated staff time after implementing digital payment options.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#502 Women in Fire Service with Anna Koons & Danielle Dulin, Warrensburg, MO Mar 25, 2022

She leads the way. Two guests from the City of Warrensburg, Missouri joined the podcast to discuss women in the fire service. Danielle Dulin, City Manager, and Anna Koons, Fire Department Captain, discussed recruitment and retention strategies for firefighters and how they have achieved a fire department comprised of over 30% women. Danielle and Anna also shared advice for how women can move into local government leadership roles along with messages to young women interested in the profession.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#501 Building a Culture of Equity with Danya Perry, Wake County, NC Mar 22, 2022

Reach In, Reach Out, Reach Over. Danya Perry, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Wake County, North Carolina, joined the podcast to discuss his work in local government diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He provided a definition of DEI along with what change looks like in local government. Danya highlighted the common mistakes of DEI work and what we can do day to day to improve DEI.

Host: Toney Thompson

#500 GovLove Moments, Producer Picks, & ELGL History Mar 18, 2022

A very special episode of GovLove. To mark the occasion of 500 episodes of a podcast about local government, the team looks back at some of their favorite moments of the podcast. Kirsten Wyatt and Kent Wyatt talked about the origins of ELGL and how the organization has grown (00:02:53). The GovLove Producers, Ben Kittelson and Michael Montgomery, share their favorite segments of the podcast (00:44:22). All of the GovLove Co-Hosts discussed moments that have stuck with them from the podcast (01:26:13).

Hosts: Kirsten Wyatt, Ben Kittelson, Alyssa Dinberg, Toney Thompson, Lauren Palmer, Dan Bolin, & Ashley Copeland

Producers: Michael Montgomery & Ben Kittelson

#499 Making Zoning Easier to Understand with Sara Bronin, Cornell University Mar 15, 2022

Sara Bronin, Professor of Architecture and Planning at Cornell University, joined the podcast to discuss a recent article she wrote about the need for a zoning atlas. She talked about her time on the Planning Commission in the City of Hartford, Connecticut and how they updated the City's zoning code. She discussed founding Desegregate Connecticut and creating the Connecticut Zoning Atlas as well as how better information about zoning affects the conversation about reform.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#498 Data and Coding It Forward with Eva Pereira, Los Angeles, CA Mar 11, 2022

Empowering the next generation of mission-driven technologists. Eva Pereira, Chief Data Officer for the City of Los Angeles, California, joined the podcast to discuss hosting a Fellow from Coding it Forward. She shared the positive experience she had with the program including the work they completed and the talent that the Fellow brought to the City. She also talked about the work of her team and her career path into local government.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#497 COVID-19 Sniffing Dogs with Captain Paul Douglas, Bristol County, MA Mar 08, 2022

Using K9s to fight COVID-19. Paul Douglas, Sheriff's Office Captain for Bristol County, Massachusetts, joined the podcast to discuss using the K9 unit to detect COVID-19. He shared how the program started and how the dogs are trained. Paul discussed the partnership between the Sheriff's Office and local school districts to better detect positive COVID-19 cases.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#496 Engagement and Service Delivery in Augusta and Atlanta with Odie Donald Mar 04, 2022

Odie Donald, Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, joined the podcast just before his transition to his current job to talk about his time as the Administrator for the consolidated government of Augusta–Richmond County, Georgia. He discussed the City's work engaging the community and incorporating feedback into the budget process. He also talked about leading the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic and the incentive program the City offered to encourage vaccinations. Odie also shared his career path and his new role with the City of Atlanta.

Host: Ashley Copeland

#495 Green Building Standards and Recruiting Architects to Local Government with Farah Ahmad Mar 01, 2022

Sustainable design. Farah Ahmad, Architect for the City of New York City, NY, joined the podcast to talk about green building standards and sustainability. She shared some of the trends in the architecture and design fields as well as initial steps into implementing sustainable design. She also shared her career path into local government and how organizations can do a better job recruiting architects.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#494 Equity and Inclusion in Ottawa County, MI with Robyn Afrik and John Shay Feb 25, 2022

Identifying and correcting bias in County operations and service delivery. Two guests from Ottawa County, Michigan joined the podcast to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. Robyn Afrik, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and John Shay, Acting County Administrator, discussed the history of how the DEI Office was formed, the goals, and what equity looks like internally with with employees and externally with the public. They also highlighted two DEI programs and the importance of communicating about the intention of equity efforts.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#493 Housing First with Cathy Alderman, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Feb 22, 2022

Joining together to reduce homelessness. Cathy Alderman, the Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, joined the podcast to talk about putting housing first to reduce homelessness. She shared the work of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and what Denver’s innovative Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond initiative is doing to help. Cathy discussed the advantages of putting housing first for those who are homeless and the data to support it.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#492 Transforming the 911 System with Rebecca Neusteter, University of Chicago Health Lab Feb 18, 2022

Examining the equity and effectiveness of emergency communications systems. Rebecca Neusteter, the Executive Director of University of Chicago Health Lab, joined the podcast to talk about the Transform911 initiative which is exploring how the nation’s 911 system can better prioritize health and safety and ensure the right responder is dispatched at the right time. She shared the history of emergency response services in America, ways to build trust in the 911 system, and ensuring staff have the appropriate support and capacity. She also discussed new approaches and best practices that local governments are testing out to improve 911 response.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#491 Rethinking Local Government Revenue with Shayne Kavanagh & Jason Loya Feb 15, 2022

Aligning revenues with a modern economy. Shayne Kavanagh, Senior Manager of Research for GFOA, and Jason Loya, Management Analyst for the City of Monrovia, CA, joined the podcast to talk about GFOA's Rethinking Revenue initiative. The initiative poses that local government revenues have not kept up with the times and need to be rethought to make them more equitable. Shayne and Jason gave background on the initiative and examples of new revenue strategies like urban wealth funds, entrepreneurial thinking, segmented pricing, and legal financing.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#490 Bereavement Leave for Loss of Pregnancy with Bobby Wilson, Pittsburgh, PA Feb 11, 2022

Shining light on the invisible loss. Bobby Wilson, Council Member for the City of Pittsburgh, PA, joined the podcast to talk about bereavement leave for loss of pregnancy. He shared how the City of Pittsburgh came up with the idea and formed to policy to enact this leave for City employees. Bobby explained the different types of pregnancy losses included in the leave. He also let listeners know the first steps they can take to enact a similar policy at their organization.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#489 GovLove in Love with Derek Burnham, Burnham Planning & Development Feb 08, 2022

Being a sounding board. Derek Burnham, Principal at Burnham Planning & Development and who's partner Meredith Reynolds is Deputy City Manager of Long Beach, CA, joined the podcast to discuss how he supports his partner in local government. Derek highlighted the need for work-life balance and how his knowledge of local government has helped him better understand the work of his partner.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#488 Organizational Rules, Green Tape, and Employee Turnover with Erin Borry & Leisha DeHart-Davis Feb 04, 2022

Can effective organizational rules reduce turnover? Dr. Erin Borry, Associate Professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis, Professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, joined the podcast to talk about research into the impact of runes on employee turnover. Their article uses survey and administrative data to show that that effective organizational rules are associated with lower turnover intention. They discussed what green tape is, the different types of green tape, and how it impacts innovation. Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#487 GovLove in Love with Joe Walters, West Linn, OR Feb 01, 2022

Supporting local government. Joe Walters, who's partner Jules Walters is the Mayor of the City of West Linn, OR, joined the podcast to talk about how public service impacts their family. He discussed what it was like to support her through the campaign and how they have shared a love for public service with their children. He also shared his thoughts on work-life balance in local government and attracting more people to elected office.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#486 Workforce Development & Procurement Challenges with Ellory Monks, The Atlas Jan 28, 2022

Essential inputs for modernizing American infrastructure. Ellory Monks, Co-Founder at The Atlas, joined the podcast to talk about workforce development and procurement challenges as it relates to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). She shared issues facing local government and strategies for tackling both of these problems. Ellory also highlighted how local governments can prepare for IIJA funding.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#485 Texas Target Communities with Texas A&M University and Nolanville, TX Jan 25, 2022

Big ideas in small cities. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about the Texas Target Communities program. Kara Escajeda is the City Manager of Nolanville, Texas. Dr. Wei Li is an Associate Professor and Jaimie Masterson is the Director at Texas Target Communities, both from Texas A&M University. They outlined the innovative partnership between the city and university. They shared the greatest outcomes of the partnership along with how to get involved.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#484 Arts Data in the Public Sector with Erin Harkey and David Andersson Jan 21, 2022

Strategies for local arts agencies. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about a new guide from Bloomberg Associates on data and art. Erin Harkey is the Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for the City of Chicago, IL. David Andersson is part of Arts Team for Bloomberg Associates. They shared how arts-minded cities can better leverage data to help local arts organizations.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#483 Small-Scale Manufacturing as Economic Development with Ilana Preuss Jan 18, 2022

Recast your city. Ilana Preuss, author and CEO of Recast City, joined the podcast to talk about her new book Recast Your City, about how small-scale manufacturing is a better way to create thriving communities and strong economic development. She shared what small-scale manufacturing is and how cities can embrace it as an economic development tool.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#482 Living in One Neighborhood with Penn State and State College, PA Jan 14, 2022

An invitation to engage. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about the Living in One Neighborhood (LION) program between Pennsylvania State University and State College, PA. Kevin Kassab, Community Engagement Manager, and Douglas Shontz, Assistant to the Manager, from the Borough of State College, PA highlighted key elements of the LION program as well as how State College partnered with Pennsylvania State University during the pandemic.

This is part of a series with the International Town Gown Association looking at how college and university communities have worked together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#481 Addressing the Rise of Local Official Harassment with Brooks Rainwater, National League of Cities Jan 11, 2022

From harassment to a more civil discourse. Brooks Rainwater, Senior Executive and Director of Center for City Solutions at the National League of Cities, joined the podcast to talk about his recent report, On the Frontlines of Today's Cities: Trauma, Challenges, and Solutions. He explained the purpose of the report along with the root causes of harassment toward local elected officials. Brooks shared what can be done to combat polarization and the importance of allowing elected leaders to share the harassment they are facing. He highlighted how to restore civility in 2022.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#480 Leadership and Organizational Change with Brian Bosshardt, Clear Creek County, CO Jan 07, 2022

Culture change and engaging employees. Brian Bosshardt, County Manager of Clear Creek County, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about taking on his current role and the transition as a new manager. He discussed his leadership philosophy, facilitating conversations with County staff, and organizational development. He also shared his approach to engaging a leadership team and making decisions as a team.

Host: Toney Thompson

#479 UniverCity Alliance with Waunakee, WI and Ho-Chunk Nation Jan 05, 2022

Better places, together. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about the UniverCity Year partnership between the Village of Waunakee, WI, the Ho-Chunk Nation, and students from the University of Wisconsin. Todd Schmidt is the Village Manager of Waunakee and Bill Quackenbush is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation. They shared how the partnership came about and what the organizations worked on together.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#478 The 2021 GovieLovies Dec 31, 2021

Awarding the best of the best. The GovLove co-hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap the sixth full year of a podcast about local government. Kirsten, Toney, Lauren, Dan, Ashley, and Ben all selected three of their favorite episodes to honor with the most prestigious award in local government podcasting, a GovieLovie. They also shared their favorite lightning round question, the most embarrassing thing they've done in an interview, and the one thing they can't let go of from 2021.

Hosts: Kirsten Wyatt, Ben Kittelson, Toney Thompson, Lauren Palmer, Dan Bolin, & Ashley Copeland

The GovieLovies Kirsten

Ben

Toney

Lauren

Dan

Ashley

#477 Rapid Community Innovation with Geneva, NY and Hobart and William Smith Colleges Dec 28, 2021

Community resilience and COVID-19 response. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Geneva, New York and the Hobart and William Smith Colleges were affected by and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic Chris Annear is an Associate Professor and Craig Talmage is an Assistant Professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Emma Falkenstein is the Assistant Director of Development at BluePrint Geneva and was a student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. They published a paper titled, Rapid Community Innovation: a Small Urban Liberal Arts Community Response to COVID-19.

This is part of a series with the International Town Gown Association looking at how college and university communities have worked together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Toney Thompson

#476 Investing in Women and Minority Businesses with Angela Rollins, Rochester, NY Dec 21, 2021

Entrepreneurship opportunities for all. Angela Rollins, Coordinator of Financial Empowerment Initiatives for the City of Rochester, New York joined the podcast to talk about their women and minority owned business program. She discussed why Rochester is focusing on women and minority owned businesses along with what steps they are taking to grow these businesses in the community. Angela detailed the role of the Office of Community Wealth Building and goals for moving the program forward.

Host: Toney Thompson

#475 COVID-19 Ambassadors Program with UMass Amherst & Amherst, MA Dec 17, 2021

Coming together to fight COVID-19. Two guests from the Town of Amherst, MA joined the podcast to talk about their COVID-19 Ambassadors Program. Joseph Maspo, COVID-19 Ambassador Coordinator, and Bill Laramee, Neighborhood Liaison Officer, discussed the creation of the program and the role of the ambassadors. Joseph and Bill shared details about funding the program and how they worked with UMass Amherst students. They also highlighted data collection and the future of the program.

This is part of a series with the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) looking at how college and university communities have worked together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#474 Planning Commissioner Training with Michael Blue, APA & Teska Associates Dec 14, 2021

Ensuring effective commissioners. Michael Blue, Principal at Teska Associates, joined the podcast to talk about planning commissions. He discussed the purpose of Planning Commissions along with common issues they address. Michael shared what the American Planning Association is doing to assist cities with training their Planning Commissioners. Lastly, he gave strategies for how to engage members of the public in the Planning Commission process.

Host: Dan Bolin

#473 Community & COVID-19 Response with Grinnell College & Grinnell, IA Dec 10, 2021

Derechos and #GrinnTogether. Russell Behrens, City Manager of the City of Grinnell, IA, and Monica Chavez-Silva, Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning at Grinnell College, joined the podcast to talk about their community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They talked about the early coordination and communication involved in the response, working together to help local businesses, and how they will continue partnering to support the community.

This is part of a series with the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) looking at how college and university communities have worked together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#472 The Peoples Academy with Sarah Poulton, Chapel Hill, NC Dec 08, 2021

Learn, connect, and lead. Sarah Poulton, Downtown Special Projects Manager for the Town of Chapel Hill, NC, joined the podcast to talk about the Town's People's Academy, which is for anyone who lives, works, plays, prays, or studies in Chapel Hill. She shared how they worked to make it accessible, how their academy is formatted, and how they engage with UNC students. Sarah also discussed the recruitment and communications strategies they used to attract participants.

Host: Toney Thompson

#471 Responding to COVID-19 & Off Campus Issues with the Manchester Student Partnership Dec 03, 2021

Proactively responding to off campus issues. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Manchester, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Greater Manchester Police partnered to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Poppy Humphrey is the Off Campus Student Affairs Officer at the University of Manchester. Cooper Healey is the Manager at Manchester Student Homes. Richard Timson is the South District Commander for the Greater Manchester Police. They shared how a student strategy partnership originally formed to deal with community concerns around students living off campus was used to share information and employ strategies to deal with the pandemic.

This is part of a series with the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) looking at how college and university communities have worked together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#470 The Opportunity Project, Open Data and Technology Dec 01, 2021

Open innovation for all. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about The Opportunity Project, or TOP, which is a framework for agencies to facilitate collaboration between technologists and community advocates. Haley Ashcom is a Communications Strategist for the US Census Open Innovation Labs. Katya Abazajian is a Fellow at Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation. Rebecca Ierardo is a Senior Associate at Centre for Public Impact.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#469 Recreation Programming and Behavioral Health with Cameron Marlin, Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District Nov 23, 2021

Holistic wellness. Cameron Marlin, the General Manager of the Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District, joined the podcast to talk about how they offered new recreation programming to meet the community's mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared how they identified instructors, partnered with Clear Creek County to use CARES Act funding, and are measuring success. She also talked about how this wellness programming has changed CCMRD and their plans for this programming in the future.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#468 Strategies for Affordable Housing with Jerrah Crowder and Namon Freeman Nov 19, 2021

Building a foundation. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about strategies for affordable housing. Jerrah Crowder is a Manager for the Office of Affordability and Sustainable Housing for the City of Newark, New Jersey, and Namon Freeman is a Manager for Housing Affordability at Bloomberg Associates. They discussed housing goals in Newark, the effects of COVID-19 on affordable housing, and what other cities can do to get started to address the issue.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#467 Techno-Resiliency in Organizations with Dr. Rob Graham Nov 17, 2021

Mandate to be great. Dr. Rob Graham, the Founder & CEO of Techno-Resiliency.com, joined the podcast to talk about his book, Mandate to be Great: The 5 Traits of Techno-Resilient People and Organizations. He shared the definition of Techno-Resiliency and how it relates to organizations. He discussed pockets of resiliency and how to find them. Lastly, he provided in-depth information on the five traits of techno-resiliency.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#466 Zoning Reform with Jake Seid, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Nov 12, 2021

Housing for all. Jake Seid, a Senior Planner with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, joined the podcast to talk about zoning reform. He shares why zoning reform is needed and why there is an increased interest in the topic. Jake discussed the limitations of traditional single-family zoning and exclusionary zoning. Lastly, he shared four solutions local governments can implement for more equitable zoning.

Host: Dan Bolin

#465 Innovation, Procurement, and Technology with Nick Lyell, CivStart Nov 10, 2021

Honest and inclusive ecosystems. Nick Lyell, the Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer for CivStart, joined the podcast to talk about connecting startups with local governments. He discussed the programs that CivStart runs including challenge-based procurement and pilot programs. He also talked about the mission of CivStart and how they help local governments and startups solve challenges.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#464 Planning for Advanced Air Mobility Impacts on Local Government Nov 05, 2021

Urban air mobility. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about advanced air mobility and how it could change the transportation landscape for cities. Robert Pearce is the Associate Administrator for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and Davis Hackenberg is the Integration Manager for Advanced Air Mobility at NASA. They discussed the types of aircraft this sort of travel would involve, how it might be used, and the impact on local governments.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#463 Planting Trees to Cool Down Milan with Adam Freed, Bloomberg Associates Nov 03, 2021

Urban design and sustainability. Adam Freed, Principal with Bloomberg Associates, joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Milan, Italy is working to plant 3,000,000 trees by 2030. He shared how the City is accelerating planting, changing process, and partnering to fund the tree initiative. He also talked about the importance of trees in controlling temperature in a city and how cities can do similar work.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#462 Bringing Great People into Government in the Age of COVID-19 with Eliza Edwards & Joy Ruff Oct 29, 2021

Improving internships. Eliza Edwards, a Policy Analyst for the State of North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships, and Joy Ruff, the Executive Director of the Local Government Academy, joined the podcast to talk about strategies for recruiting people into government. They discussed the talent needs of government during the pandemic along with innovative talent interventions that have taken place. They also shared important strategies for interns and internships.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Peter Morrissey

#461 Effective Messaging to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy with Crystal Son Oct 26, 2021

Creative messaging for local governments. Crystal Son, the Healthcare Analytics Director at Civis Analytics, joined the podcast to talk about COVID-19 vaccination messaging for those who are hesitant to receive the vaccination. She outlined the scientific approach to studying vaccine messaging as well as effective and ineffective vaccine messages. She also shared tips for employers on how they can provide the best messages to their employees.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#460 Planning, Transportation & Economic Mobility in Memphis & South Bend Oct 22, 2021

Connecting people and jobs. John Zeanah, the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, joined the podcast to talk about providing opportunities for economic mobility. He discussed the City's new comprehensive plan and how they are working to make it easier for residents to get to their workplaces through both land use and the transportation system. Then Denise Linn Riedl, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of South Bend, Indiana, joined to talk about transportation insecurity and their Commuters Trust initiative.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Toney Thompson

#459 Recruiting Diverse & Talented Workforces in Georgia and Southern California Oct 20, 2021

Attracting talent. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about two different partnerships to measure local government workforce needs and the methods for recruiting talented staff. Greg Wilson, Unit Manager at the University of Georgia, and Charles Goldman, Senior Economist at the RAND Corporation, discuss the “Jobs with Purpose” Initiative in Georgia and a new report studying barriers to a diverse government workforce in Southern California.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#458 Equity and Data in Climate Action Planning in Fort Collins, CO and Norfolk, VA Oct 15, 2021

Putting people in the process. Four guests from the City of Fort Collins, Colorado and the City of Norfolk, Virginia joined the podcast to talk about equity and data in climate action planning. They discussed how the Cities are modifying their climate actions plans to be more equitable and the What Works Cities certifications. John Phelan is the Energy Services Manager in Fort Collins, Molly Saylor is the Senior Sustainability Specialist in Fort Collins, Pete Buryk is the Chief of Staff in Norfolk, and Lori Crouch is the Director of Communications in Norfolk.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#457 Pandemic and Beyond, Engaging a Larger, More Diverse Population with Graham Stone Oct 12, 2021

A year to try new things. Graham Stone, the Vice President of Government Relations at Public Input, joined the podcast to talk about citizen engagement. He shared how to simultaneously handle virtual and in-person engagement. Graham discussed the impact of COVID-19 on citizen engagement along with ways to implement successful virtual tools. He also talked about what to do with increased engagement and the importance of making sense of it all.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#456 Implementing a COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate with Craig Talsma, Hoffman Estates Park District, IL Oct 08, 2021

Challenges and lessons learned. Craig Talsma, the Executive Director of the Hoffman Estates Park District in Illinois, joined the podcast to talk about how his organization implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. He shared how he engaged staff and legal resources to design a policy as well as the other pandemic precautions that the District has implemented. He also discussed his career path and the work of the park district.

Host: Dan Bolin

#455 Monuments & Racial Justice in Newark, NJ Oct 06, 2021

Public memory and public art. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about the process the City of Newark, New Jersey went through to replace a Christopher Columbus statue with a monument to Harriet Tubman. The City conducted a national open call for artists to replace the statue and artist Nina Cooke John was selected to begin working on the monument. Fayemi Shakur is the Arts and Cultural Director for the City of Newark and David Andersson and Tracey Knuckles are part of the Arts Team at Bloomberg Associates.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Ashley Copeland

#454 Everything You Need to Know about ARPA with Emily Brock & Mehreen Haroon, GFOA Oct 01, 2021

All your ARPA questions answered. Emily Brock, Director of Federal Liasion Center at Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and Mehreen Haroon, Federal Policy Associate at GFOA, joined the podcast to discuss the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. They detailed the four eligible expense categories. Emily and Mehreen talked about the most common questions and challenges they receive from local governments. They also shared the reporting requirements and highlighted best practices for administering the funds.

Host: Toney Thompson

#453 Addressing Homelessness in Ten Global Cities with Linda Gibbs and Tamiru Mammo Sep 28, 2021

Innovations that work. Linda Gibbs, Principal with Bloomberg Associates, and Tamiru Mammo, Consultant with Bloomberg Associates, joined the podcast to talk about their new book, How Ten Global Cities Take on Homelessness. They shared what led to writing the book, how the issue of homelessness and housing differed between the ten cities, and the common struggles that individuals experiencing homelessness were dealing with. They also discussed the interventions that help address homelessness and the management solutions to administer them.

This episode was recorded live at the #ELGL21 Annual Conference.

Host: Dan Bolin

#452 Creating Community Schoolyards with Danielle Denk, Trust for Public Land Sep 24, 2021

Addressing park equity. Danielle Denk, Community Schoolyard Initiative Director for the Trust for Public Land, joined the podcast to discuss the initiative to turn schoolyards into community parks that are more welcoming, sustainable, and accessible. She talked about the problem with current schoolyards that are often not open to the community after school hours and made up of asphalt. She also shared how opening schoolyards can provide public space to more families and how creating greener schoolyards can address heat islands.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#451 Engaging the Entire Community on Planning & Middle Housing Sep 17, 2021

Connecting with Gen Z and underrepresented populations. Sophie McGinley, Assistant Planner for the City of Eugene, OR, and Cody Kleinsmith, Climate Resiliency Analyst with Lane County, OR, joined the podcast to discuss how local governments can engage their entire community. Sophie and Cody shared how they engaged on the topic of middle housing. They talked about how local governments can engage unrepresented populations in their community and especially the Gen Z population.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#450 Past & Future of Transparency with Tom Spengler, Rock Solid Technologies Sep 10, 2021

Resident-centric government. Tom Spengler, Chief Executive Officer of Rock Solid Technologies, joined the podcast to discuss how local governments use technology to improve access and transparency. He talked about his time leading Granicus and the early days of getting organizations to stream and archive their meetings. He also shared his thoughts on future trends and technology to encourage resident engagement with local government meetings.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#449 Transportation for a Strong Town with Charles Marohn Sep 07, 2021

Designing streets for neighborhoods. Charles Marohn, the President and Co-Founder of Strong Towns, joined the podcast to talk about his new book on transportation, Confessions of a Recovering Engineer. He discussed streets, roads, and stroads, as well as the importance of designing streets for the speeds and outcomes communities want to see. He also shared his thoughts on speed design, traffic signals, and departments of transportation.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#448 Managing Rapid Growth with Julie Karins, Goodyear, AZ Sep 03, 2021

Preparing for growth through thoughtful planning. Julie Karins, City Manager for the City of Goodyear, Arizona, joined the podcast to discuss managing rapid growth. She talked about the strategies for overseeing population expansion in a city that is close to 200 square miles. She also highlighted the background and importance of water rights as well as adapting to growth internally within the organization.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#447 Equity & Economic Inclusion with Aleea Slappy Wilson, Norfolk, VA Aug 31, 2021

Championing equity and inclusion. Aleea Slappy Wilson, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and LGBTQ Liaison for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, joined the podcast to discuss the City's equity initiative. She shared how the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts started in Norfolk and the focus areas for the work. She also talked about her background in economic development and the work the City is doing to create a more inclusive economy.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#446 Best Practices in Animal Welfare and Shelter Operations Aug 27, 2021

Improving animal safety and health. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss a recent article in the State and Local Government Review journal on animal control ordinances and how local governments approach animal services. Laura Reese is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Michigan State University and wrote the article, which focused on animal control in Detroit, Michigan. Casey Smith is the County Manager of Davidson County, North Carolina and he led a revamp of operations at the County's animal shelter. Aimee Wall is a Professor of Public Law and Government at the University of North Carolina and wrote a book on animal services law in North Carolina.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#445 Creating More Affordable Cities with Shane Phillips, UCLA Lewis Center Aug 25, 2021

Strategies to put housing within reach. Shane Phillips, Housing Initiative Project Manager at the UCLA Lewis Center, joined the podcast to discuss his book, The Affordable City. He shared strategies around supply, stability, and subsidy that local governments should pursue to create more affordable housing. He discussed why cities should be pursuing affordable strategies even if affordable housing isn't an issue in their market. Shane also talked about the UCLA Housing Voice Podcast he co-hosts that discusses research on housing topics.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#444 Curb Management with Chrissy Mancini Nichols, Walker Consultants Aug 20, 2021

Maximizing the curb. Chrissy Mancini Nichols, National Director of Curb Management and New Mobility at Walker Consultants, joined the podcast to discuss curb management policy. She shared the difference between the analog curb and the digital curb. Chrissy talked about how local government can best determine pricing, equity, and access for curb space. She also shared how the pandemic has changed curb management.

Host: Toney Thompson

#443 Peer Support for Public Safety Command Staff with Matthew Kelly & Dan Davis Aug 18, 2021

Supporting first responders. Matthew Kelly, Captain with Miami County, Kansas Sheriff's Office, and Dan Davis, Lieutenant with the City of Belton, Missouri Police Department joined the podcast to discuss the Mid-America Regional Council's Peer Support Program for command staff. They talked about the stressors that command staff deal with and the importance of having someone to talk to. They also their personal connection to this work and their experience with the peer support program.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#442 Peer Support for 911 Dispatchers with Kristin Boyes, Lenexa, KS Aug 13, 2021

Supporting first responders. Kristin Boyes, Dispatcher for the City of Lenexa, Kansas, joined on the podcast to discuss the Mid-America Regional Council's 911 Peer Support Program. She shared why it is important for dispatchers to get that support and how 911 calls affect call takers. She also talked about the training that peer supporters receive and how they work with people seeking help.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#441 GovLove in Love with Holly Krejci, Seattle, WA Aug 10, 2021

Finding your greatest self. Holly Krejci, Talent Management Partner for the City of Seattle, Washington came on the podcast to discuss her love and support of Kathy Nyland, Assistant City Manager for the City of Tigard, Oregon. She shared her insights on job transitions, work-life balance, and the return to the workplace after the pandemic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#440 Onboarding New Employees with Benjamin Mead-Harvey Aug 06, 2021

Making onboarding successful. Benjamin Mead-Harvey, Adjunct Instructor for the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, came back to the podcast to discuss onboarding. He shared tips on how to improve in three areas: welcome elements, training with the team, and onboarding check-in meetings. He also talked about the outcomes of onboarding that employers should be looking for and the details that matter for employees.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#439 Distraction Free Messaging with Brad Dunn, Whispir Aug 03, 2021

Making messaging more effective. Brad Dunn, Chief Product Officer at Whispir, joined the podcast to talk about distraction-free messaging. He shared how local governments can better craft messages to members of the public. He also discussed the difference between prediction and engagement in messaging.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#438 Fires, Floods, & Taxicabs with Jeffrey Roth, New York, NY Jul 30, 2021

Taking a bite out of big apple bureaucracy. Jeffrey Roth, Deputy Commissioner of the Veterans Services Department for New York City, New York, joined the podcast to talk about his career in local government and his new book Fires, Floods, and Taxicabs. He shared his lessons learned and how he earned trust and buy-in from large organizations. He also discussed his experience going through a mayoral appointment process.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#437 Service Design & Innovation with Anna Chung, MBTA Jul 28, 2021

A celebrity interview. In this special episode we're partnering with Montgomery County, Maryland to share one of their innovation celebrity interviews, part of their open innovation events which are internal learning sessions for staff. Anna Chung, a UX Designer at Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), talked with Michael Baskin, Chief Innovation Officer for Montgomery County, about the work of innovation and design. She shared a project she worked on with the County's 311 team, using plain language, and her career path.

#436 Government-to-University Initiative with Peter Morrissey, Volcker Alliance Jul 23, 2021

Regional networks of governments and universities. Peter Morrissey, an Associate Director at the Volcker Alliance, joined the podcast to talk about the Government-to-University Initiative, which is an innovative approach to addressing critical governance challenges by building government and university partnerships. He shared how governments can make targeted connections and lasting relationships. He also discussed the work the Alliance is doing to help students navigate the state and federal government hiring processes and how local governments do a better job recruiting.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#435 Preemption & Taxation with Alexandria Zhang, Pew Research Center Jul 20, 2021

Improving budget flexibility. Alexandria Zhang, a Research Officer at the Pew Research Center, joined the podcast to talk about her research on local tax limitations. She shared how limits on local government revenue imposed by state governments affect localities. She also makes the case that state governments need to reevaluate limitations they currently have in place.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#434 Good Governance & Leadership with Ian McCormack Jul 16, 2021

Local governance done well. Ian McCormack, the President of Strategic Steps, Inc. a local government consulting firm, joined the podcast to talk about his new book Who's Driving the Grader? He discussed what led to the writing of the book and who he wrote the book for. He also shared his career path and his perspectives on leadership and governing.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#433 Resilience & Sustainability with Sarah Hazel, Charlotte, NC Jul 13, 2021

Resilient Queen City. Sarah Hazel, the Chief Sustainability & Resiliency Officer for the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about how the City is working to be more environmentally sustainable. She discussed the City's Strategic Energy Action Plan, working with Duke Energy, and electrifying the City's fleet. She also shared a workforce training program for sustainability jobs that the City has implemented and her career path into the role.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#432 Testing a Guaranteed Income Program in Durham, NC Jul 09, 2021

Helping the justice-involved. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about a guaranteed income pilot program in the City of Durham, North Carolina. Amber Wade, Assistant to the Mayor, and City Council Members Mark-Anthony Middleton and Pierce Freelon shared why Durham is doing the pilot and how the pilot will be administered. They also discussed the target population and what they hope to see come from the pilot.

Host: Toney Thompson

#431 The Public Sector Pivot with Kaitlyn Rentala Jul 06, 2021

A renaissance in public service. Kaitlyn Rentala, an author and student at the University of Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about her new book, The Public Sector Pivot: How Gen Z Will Lead a Renaissance in Public Service. She shared strategies for how government agencies can better attract people to public service. Kaitlyn also discussed how government can market its strengths compared to the private sector and what government can do to retain workers once hired.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#430 Building Socially Connected Communities with Oswaldo Mestre & Risa Wilkerson Jul 02, 2021

Solutions for social isolation. Oswaldo Mestre, Chief Service Officer & Director of Citizen Services for the City of Buffalo, NY, and Risa Wilkerson, Executive Director of Healthy Places by Design, discussed a new report on creating socially connected communities. They shared why social isolation is an issue that cities need to pay attention to as well as strategies to address it. Oswaldo shared what the City of Buffalo did to create community, even during hard winters, and Risa talked about the work of Healthy Places by Design and the different aspects that contribute to social isolation.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#429 Wastewater Monitoring for COVID-19 & Opioids with Stephanie Deitrick, Tempe, AZ Jun 29, 2021

Data and public health. Stephanie Deitrick, Enterprise GIS & Analytics Manager for the City of Tempe, Arizona, joined the podcast to talk about monitoring wastewater to understand public health trends. She shared how the City partnered with Arizona State University to begin monitoring for opioid usage, which they then pivoted to use for the response to COVID-19 pandemic. She also discussed how the City set up their open data policy and approach with support from What Works Cities.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#428 Community Resilience & Climate Response with Jennifer Jurado, Broward County, FL Jun 25, 2021

Sharing resources and expertise. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer for Broward County, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about resiliency and climate response. She talked about resiliency and climate response plans as well as the County's resilience and environmental dashboards. She also discussed the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

This episode was recorded from the Florida City/County Managers Association (FCCMA) 2021 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#427 Mayors for a Guaranteed Income with Michael Tubbs Jun 22, 2021

Ending economic insecurity. Michael Tubbs, Special Adviser for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to California Governor Gavin Newsom, joined the podcast to talk about guaranteed income. He shared his path to becoming one of the youngest mayors in America and the programs he implemented to try and end poverty in Stockton, California. He also discussed how he helped create Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and their partnership with the Center for Guaranteed Income at the University of Pennsylvania.

Host: Toney Thompson

#426 Supporting the Nighttime Economy with Sarah Hannah-Spurlock, Fort Lauderdale, FL Jun 18, 2021

Economy after dark. Sarah Hannah-Spurlock, the Nighttime Economy Manager for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about how the City manages the nighttime economy. She shared what her job looks like day to day, how she engages with business owners, and the policy changes they have made to help the nighttime economy. She also discussed the goal of building an 18-hour City and why cities around the world have created similar roles.

This episode was recorded from the Florida City/County Managers Association (FCCMA) 2021 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#425 Designing Effective Interview Questions and Processes with Benjamin Mead-Harvey Jun 16, 2021

Get a little better every week. Benjamin Mead-Harvey, Adjunct Instructor for the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, joined the podcast to discuss interview processes and reducing bias in hiring. He discussed types of interview questions including behavioral and situational questions. He also shared his career path and passion for management problems, which he writes about on his website Better-Boss.com.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#424 Management & Neighborhood Engagement with Cynthia Barber, Tallahassee, FL Jun 11, 2021

Making a difference. Cynthia Barber, Deputy City Manager for the City of Tallahassee, Florida, joined the podcast to discuss infrastructure projects and how the City involves the community through their Neighborhood First program. She shared how Tallahassee earned LEED certification and how hurricane plans were used during COVID-19. She also highlighted two youth leadership and development programs, TEMPO and TFLA, that have made an impact on youth in the community.

This episode was recorded from the Florida City/County Managers Association (FCCMA) 2021 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#423 Truth and Reconciliation with Gina Peebles, Alachua County, FL Jun 08, 2021

A path forward. Gina Peebles, Chief of Staff for Alachua County, Florida, joined the podcast to discuss Alachua County's truth and reconciliation initiative. This work was driven by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) museum and memorial for lynching victims. Gina shared how the process was community-driven and how other local governments can start a similar effort.

This episode was recorded from the Florida City/County Managers Association (FCCMA) 2021 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#422 Regional Climate Action Plans with Lindsey Constance & Mike Kelly Jun 04, 2021

Climate action from the heart of America. Lindsey Constance, President of Climate Action KC, and Mike Kelley, Mayor of Roeland Park, KS, joined the podcast to talk about Climate Action KC. They shared the origin story and how local leaders came together to take regional action on climate change. Lindsey and Mike also discussed how they worked across state lines to form the KC Regional Action Climate Plan and key components of the plan.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#421 Digital Hiring Best Practices with Lauren Duncan, Mallory Verez & Sam Cathcart May 28, 2021

From recruitment to onboarding. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about their research into effective ways that local governments have hired staff in a remote or virtual environment. Lauren Duncan, Mallory Verez, and Sam Cathcart, MPA Candidates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, highlighted their research methods and the various aspects of the hiring process. They shared their key findings, best practices, and recommendations for local governments who need to attract, recruit, and hire staff virtually.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#420 Data & Engagement During COVID-19 with Brianna Sunryd, Amherst, MA May 25, 2021

Using data to improve engagement. Brianna Sunryd, Communications Manager at the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts, joined the GovLove Phonebooth from the CivicPlus Summit conference to discuss how communication changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared which engagement strategies that the Town used during COVID-19 will stay around and how data collection is used to improve the City's website.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#419 Mobility & Equity with Charles T. Brown, Equitable Cities May 21, 2021

Arrested mobility. Charles T. Brown, the Founder & CEO of Equitable Cities and Professor of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University, joined the podcast to talk about the connection between mobility and equity. He discussed the concept of arrested mobility and how the movement of marginalized communities is overly policed. Charles also shared how planners and planning departments should understand how their work intersects with other issues and policies.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#418 Regional Benchmarking Initiative with Kate Bender, Stephen Wade & Reagan Mitchell May 18, 2021

Using data to make better decisions. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about how the Regional Benchmarking Initiative in the Kansas City metro area. Kate Bender, Deputy Performance Officer for the City of Kansas City, Missouri; Stephen Wade, Budget and Performance Manager for the City of Topeka, Kansas; and Reagan Walsh, Former Budget & Performance Intern for the City of Olathe, Kansas highlighted the relationship between the Regional Benchmarking Initiative and the University of Kansas Masters of Public Administration students. They also shared what benchmarks the students explored and capacity issues with data collection.

Host: Toney Thompson

#417 Civil Rights & Racial Equity with Joshua Barr, Des Moines, IA May 14, 2021

Breaking bread, building bridges. Joshua Barr, Director of Civil & Human Rights at the City of Des Moines, Iowa, joined the podcast to discuss his work with the City, including his Emmy Award-winning documentary. He talked about the engagement and policy work the City has done around equity, including their Bridging the Gap initiative and a cultural competency training for employees. Joshua also gave a sneak preview of his #ELGLPopUps keynote session.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#416 Land Use & Sprawl in Houston with William Fulton, Rice University May 11, 2021

Building better cities. William Fulton, the Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, joined the podcast for a wide ranging conversation about development, planning, and land use in Houston, Texas. He talked about the market forces in an environment with low regulation and sprawl, plus how gentrification is occurring in Houston. He also discussed how the City is planning for resilience, what other cities can learn from Houston, and his new book about the Texas Triangle.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#415 Investing in Infrastructure with Kip Eideberg, Association of Equipment Manufacturers May 07, 2021

Rebuild with purpose. Kip Eideberg, Sr. Vice President at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), joined the podcast to talk about infrastructure and manufacturing. He shared results from AEM's recent Infrastructure Vision 2050 report and the need for federal infrastructure investments to be targeted at States and local governments. He also discussed rural broadband and building the manufacturing workforce.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#414 Sustainability & Energy Management with John Morrill, Fairfax County, VA May 05, 2021

Audacious goals and clean energy. John Morrill, Division Manager for Innovation & Sustainability at Fairfax County, Virginia, joined the podcast to talk about sustainability and energy efficiency. He discussed the strategies needed to implement local government sustainability plans and the goals associated with them. John also talked about the energy grid, the need for electrification to meet energy goals, and power purchase agreements.

Host: Toney Thompson

#413 Student-Led Sustainability Action Planning with Victoria Castor & Steve Russell Apr 30, 2021

Students helping cities. Victoria Caster, Water Conservation and Sustainability Coordinator at the City of Peoria, AZ, and Steve Russell, Program Manager of Project Cities at Arizona State University, joined the podcast to talk about student-led sustainability plans. They discussed projects that students with Project Cities have completed, like in the City of Peoria, and the impact of those projects on the communities they worked with. They shared how communities in Arizona could partner with Project Cities and how cities across the nation can partner with EPIC-N to bring students into their organization.

Host: Javon Davis

#412 COVID-19 Relief Spending with Michael Hotard and Kevin Kearney Apr 27, 2021

How relief funds are being spent. Michael Hotard, Director of Operations at CivicPulse, and Kevin Kearney, City Manager of the City of Bradbury, California, joined the podcast to talk about COVID-19 relief funding for local government. They discussed the key findings of CivicPulse's survey on past and future COVID-19 relief spending. They also shared how local governments can use these results in their own community.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#411 Expanding Housing Options for the Unhoused Community with Brian Platt, Kansas City, MO Apr 23, 2021

The Land Bank Dollar Sale. Brian Platt, City Manager for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, joined the podcast to talk about the Land Bank Dollar Sale. He shared other creative things the City is doing to expand housing options for the unhoused community. Brian discussed starting a new Housing Department within the City. He also shared lessons learned while working with the unhoused community and the next steps for others looking to start this work.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#410 Restorative Housing Reparations with Nicholas Cummings, Evanston, IL Apr 21, 2021

Redressing institutional racism and redlining. Nicholas Cummings, Corporation Counsel for the City of Evanston, Illinois, joined the podcast to talk about the new program approved last month to address the historic impacts of housing discrimination. He shared the details of the program and the City's Local Reparations Fund. Nicholas also discussed the legal limits of reparations programs in local government and how the program fits into the broader racial equity conversation.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#409 American Rescue Plan Act FAQs with Ryan Gallant, SLATE Research & Consulting Apr 16, 2021

The impacts of the Federal funding. Ryan Gallant, CEO & Founder of SLATE Research & Consulting, joined the podcast to dive deep on the American Rescue Plan Act and answer questions about how it will impact local government. He discussed what the funding could be used for and how it differs from the CARES Act funding. He also makes the case for using ARPA funding for IT needs and digitizing services.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#408 The Promise of Public Interest Technology with Tara Dawson McGuinness & Hana Schank Apr 13, 2021

Power to the public. Two guests join the podcast to talk about their new book, Power to the Public: The Promise of Public Interest Technology. Tara Dawson McGuinness, Fellow at New America and Founder of the New Practice Lab, and Hana Schank, Director of Strategy for Public Interest Technology at New America, explain the process of writing their book and explain public interest technology. They shared the importance of data, design, and delivery to public services and in implementing policies in government. They also discuss what must happen for successful change to occur as well as the role of technology.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#407 The First 100 Days as a New City Manager with Tanisha Briley, Gaithersburg, MD Apr 09, 2021

Leadership lessons. Tanisha Briley, the City Manager of the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, joined the podcast to talk about her first 100 days on the job. She shared how she prioritized her time and focus as well as how she approached change management in a high performing organization. Tanisha talked about what it was like to take over a leadership position virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discussed her career path and her time as City Manager of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#406 Building and Construction Services with JC Hudgison, Tampa, FL Apr 06, 2021

Permitting and inspections. John (JC) Hudgison, the Chief Building Official and Construction Services Center Manager for the City of Tampa, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about development services. He discussed the work of a Chief Building Official in enforcing the building code and working to provide good customer service. He also shared what it was like to transition to a new job during the pandemic and his recent article for ELGL on having a seat at the table.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#405 The American Rescue Plan Act with Chris Fabian, ResourceX Apr 02, 2021

Spending stimulus dollars responsibly. Chris Fabian, the CEO and Co-Founder of ResourceX, joined the podcast to talk about the funding for local governments within the recently passed federal stimulus package, the American Rescue Plan Act. He shared best practices for local governments to spend and allocate the stimulus funds along with how to distribute the money equitability. He also gave guidance on budget development for the coming year.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#404 Creating a State of the City Event with Kent Wyatt, Tigard, OR Mar 30, 2021

Late night in Tigard. Kent Wyatt, Communications Director for the City of Tigard, Oregon, joined the podcast to talk about the City's creative approach to the annual State of the City address. He discussed how to make the State of the City more authentic and relatable to members of the public, the importance of partnering with a community media center to produce a video, and where to find inspiration. He also stressed the importance of making communications from your city accessible to all members of the community.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#403 The Role of a County Clerk with Brianna Lennon, Boone County, MO Mar 26, 2021

Elections administration. Brianna Lennon, County Clerk for Boone County, Missouri and Co-Host of High Turnout Wide Margins, joined the podcast to talk about the work of County Clerks and what it takes to administer elections. She shared how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted elections, the experience of running the 2020 election, and engaging with the public. She also discussed her career path and how she thinks elections administration will change.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#402 Civic Technology and Public Service with Cyd Harrell Mar 23, 2021

Move carefully and fix things. Cyd Harrell joined the podcast to talk about her new book, A Civic Technologist's Practice Guide. She shared her perspective on working in civic technology as a volunteer and as part of the Federal Government for 18F. She discussed lessons for government and civic technologists as well as the importance of user research.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#401 Changing Culture & COVID-19 Response with Raymond Gonzales, Adams County, CO Mar 19, 2021

Driving culture and the pandemic one year later. Raymond Gonzales, County Manager at Adams County, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about changing the culture in Adams County. He outlined how he scrapped the traditional Human Resources Department and implemented a People & Culture Services Department. Raymond also reflected and detailed the County's response to COVID-19. He shared what changes he thinks will stay after the pandemic and what challenges lie ahead.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#400 Educational Local Government Partnerships at Indiana University Mar 16, 2021

Sustaining Hoosier Communities. Two guests join the podcast to talk about the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities – Network (EPIC-N). Jane Rogan, Director of Sustaining Hoosier Communities at Indiana University, and Barry Jeskewich, former Parks and Recreation Director at the City of Bedford, Indiana, discussed how the university and local government worked together to serve communities and how students at Indiana University used a local fish hatchery to enhance their learning. They also shared how other communities can get involved with EPIC-N.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#399 Community Partnerships to Address Human Trafficking Mar 12, 2021

Recognizing trafficking. Two guests join the podcast to talk about how local government staff can be part of the effort to eliminate human trafficking. Margaret Henderson, Director of the Public Intersection Project at the UNC School of Government, and Angela Sowers, Environmental Health Specialist at Orange County, North Carolina, discussed the signs of trafficking and how local governments can prepare staff in different departments to be part of the solution.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#398 Harnessing Public Entrepreneurship with Mitchell Weiss, Harvard Business School Mar 09, 2021

Possibility government. Mitchell Weiss, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, joined the podcast to talk about his new book We the Possibility. He discusses how bringing entrepreneurship into government can help solve complex problems and improve services. He also shared how public entrepreneurship is different than starting a pilot program.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#397 From Deputy to City Manager with Marlon Brown, Sarasota, FL Mar 05, 2021

Mentors matter. Marlon Brown, City Manager for the City of Sarasota, joined the podcast to discuss his career path, including his recent transition from Deputy City Manager to City Manager. He talked about working with the City Commission and his plans for his first few months in his new role. He also shared the importance of finding a mentor and how the City has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#396 Solving Complex Problems with Salimah Samji, Harvard Kennedy School Mar 02, 2021

A new way to solve problems. Salimah Samji, the Director of Building State Capability at the Harvard Kennedy School, joined the podcast to talk about a step by step process that allows for flexible learning and adaptation called Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA). She shared how this process allows stakeholders to determine what the problems are rather than outsiders. Salimah also discussed examples of PDIA in local government, training, and how data is used in the process.

Host: Toney Thompson

#395 Electric Vehicles & Infrastructure with Kevin Miller, ChargePoint Feb 26, 2021

The electric revolution. Kevin Miller, the Director of Public Policy for ChargePoint, joined the podcast to talk about electric vehicles and the infrastructure to support them. He shared how electric vehicles and charging stations can be integrated into the built environment. Kevin also discussed how cities can support the adoption of electric vehicles such as by making changes to building codes.

Host: Javon Davis

#394 Supporting Small Business Recovery in Mesa, AZ with Jaye O'Donnell & Jenny Poon Feb 23, 2021

Mesa Cares. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about supporting entrepreneurship and economic development using an online tool and technical assistance. Jay O'Donnell, Assistant Economic Development Director for the City of Mesa, Arizona, and Jenny Poon, Founder & CEO of CO+HOOTS, discussed how the City worked with CO+HOOTS to support small businesses. Jaye shared what the City was looking for in providing technical assistance to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenny talked about how CO+HOOTS got involved and the creation of the online HUUB platform.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#393 Public Health & Equity in Lawrence, KS with Dr. Farris Muhammad & Ruaa Hassaballa Feb 19, 2021

Maintaining equity during a pandemic. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how they promote equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Farris Muhammad, Director of Equity and Inclusion for the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and Ruaa Hassaballa, COVID Testing Equity Project Manager for Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, shared how the partnership between the City and Public Health Department has helped promote equity in testing and vaccine distribution. They also discussed other equity and inclusion efforts and how Dr. Muhammad has worked to start a equity and inclusion program in Lawrence.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#392 The Future of Public Administration with University of Alabama at Birmingham Students Feb 16, 2021

Learning about public administration. Three undergraduate students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Faiza Mawani, Mary Gilmore, & Kyle Adams, joined the podcast to discuss what they learned from a class about public administration. The students shared their notions of the profession before and after the class. Each guest highlighted their favorite GovLove episode and how it helped form their public service portfolio, an assignment in which each student created a vision and mission for public service. Lastly, they commented on what they are seeking from future employers.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#391 The Future of Public Administration with Professor Peter Jones Feb 12, 2021

Teaching local government. Dr. Peter Jones, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, joined the podcast to talk about his classes teaching students about public service careers. He discussed how he teaches students about different government government careers and ways to be a public servant. He also shared what students are interested in and might be helpful in recruiting and retaining the next generation of leaders. Dr. Jones even talked about how he has used GovLove Podcast episodes in his classes.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#390 Showing GovLove with Catie Miller, General Services Administration Feb 09, 2021

Celebrating public service. Catie Miller, Strategic Communications Manager for the General Services Administration, joins the podcast to discuss the Federal agency's #GovLove campaign to highlight success stories in government. She shared the types of successes they are highlighting and how other organizations can participate. She also talked about the work of the Office of Shared Solutions & Performance Improvement within GSA.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#389 Assisting the Recently Homeless with Claire Elizabeth Williams, Foundations for Social Change Feb 05, 2021

Consult early and consult often. Claire Elizabeth Williams, CEO & Co-Founder of Foundations for Social Change, joins the podcast to discuss the New Leaf Project. She outlined how the New Leaf Project distributed a direct cash payment of $7,500 (CAD) to 50 recipients who recently became homeless in Vancouver, British Columbia. Claire shared the results of the project as well as lessons learned and how other local governments could implement a similar program.

Host: Toney Thompson

#388 Common Community Engagement Mistakes with Kevin Lyons, FlashVote Feb 02, 2021

Pizza, beer, & public input. Kevin Lyons, CEO & Co-Founder of FlashVote, joins the podcast to discuss community engagement. He highlights common mistakes made with various types of communication channels as well as mistakes organizations make in town halls, social media, online forums, and surveys. Kevin also shares with resources to improve community engagement.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#387 Placemaking in Native Communities with Joseph Kunkel, MASS Design Group Jan 29, 2021

Sustainable planning and design. Joseph Kunkel, Principal at MASS Design Group and Director of the Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab, joined the podcast to talk about planning projects with Native communities. He discussed his work on affordable housing in Indian Country and engaging with the community to incorporate local context and art. He also shared examples of projects incorporating placemaking.

This episode is part of ELGL’s Creative Community series, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#386 Community Engagement During COVID-19 with Ashley Traynum-Carson & Jay Dawkins Jan 26, 2021

From public meetings to communications. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about how communication and engagement has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashley Traynum-Carson, Communication Specialist for the City of Asheville, North Carolina, and Jay Dawkins, CEO of Public Input, shared their perspectives and lessons learned. They discussed how receiving comments changed and how local governments are using technology. They also shared how the changes made make participation more accessible for residents.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#385 Consumer Safety & COVID-19 with Commissioner Nikki Fried, State of Florida Jan 22, 2021

Adapting the Agriculture and Consumer Services Department. Nikki Fried, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the State of Florida, joined the podcast to talk about her journey to becoming Commissioner and what her Department does. She discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the work of the Department and how they have adapted, highlighting the Be SMART Florida campaign. She also shared advice to other women considering running for office or applying for executive-level positions in government.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#384 Using Behavioral Nudges in Local Government with Alissa Fishbane & Aurélie Ouss Jan 19, 2021

Reducing unnecessary warrants and jail time. Alissa Fishbane, Managing Director at ideas42, and Dr. Aurélie Ouss, Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about their study to reduce the number of arrest warrants for failure to appear in court in the New York City criminal justice system. The guests highlighted the use of behavioral interventions, or nudges, that were low cost and easy to implement. They also shared how other local governments can apply behavioral science practices.

Host: Toney Thompson

#383 Community Court for Homelessness with Christopher Leonard, Fort Lauderdale, FL Jan 15, 2021

Social services, not jail. Christopher Leonard, Administrative Supervisor for the City of Forth Lauderdale, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about the City's community court that serves individuals experiencing homelessness. The program focuses on the root causes of each defendant’s issues and applies mandates such as community service, drug treatment, or social services to have their cases dismissed. He also explained how the court has continued to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#382 Managing Your Hometown with Nick Edwards, Joplin, MO Jan 12, 2021

Who says you can't go home? Nick Edwards, City Manager of the City of Joplin, Missouri joined the podcast to talk about his career path in local government and coming home to Joplin to become the City Manager. He talked about building new relationships during COVID-19 and how the City has responded to the pandemic. Nick also shared the City's strategic planning process and his plans for 2021.

Host: Lauren Palmer

#381 COVID-19 Vaccine Public Sentiment with Eyal Feder-Levy, Zencity Jan 08, 2021

Building community trust. Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO & Founder of Zencity, joined the podcast to talk about the work Zencity is doing to track the public sentiment of the COVID-19 vaccine in cities across America. He shared there is currently twice as much negative sentiment towards the vaccine as positive. He also outlined the impact local governments and leaders can have on the sentiment of the vaccine for their community. Zencity recently published a guide to help local governments build trust in the vaccine.

Host: Toney Thompson

#380 The Kinston, NC Arts & Cultural District with Raney Rogers, Adam Short, & Sarah Arney Jan 05, 2021

Redevelopment through arts and culture. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Kinston, North Carolina has redeveloped their community through the implementation of a arts and cultural district. Raney Rogers, Executive Director of smART Kinston, details the 12-block residential area in downtown Kinston where artists live and work by long-term residents in colorful houses. Adam Short, Planning Director, and Sarah Arney, Community Development Planner, for the City of Kinston outline the positive impact this district has had on the City, highlighting increased tourism and lower vacancy rates.

This episode is part of ELGL’s Creative Community series, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#379 Equity and Workforce Diversity with Nefertiri Sickout, Philadelphia, PA Jan 01, 2021

Building an inclusive government. Nefertiri Sickout, the Acting Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about the work of advancing equity and improving the diversity of the City's workforce. She shared how the City has changed specific hiring practices and methods to improve the diversity of candidates and how the City is working to improve the diversity of businesses that participate in the procurement process. She also shared her career path into local government and how COVID-19 and the protests in 2020 impacted her work.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#378 The 2020 GovieLovies Dec 24, 2020

It's been a year. The GovLove co-hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap the fifth full year of a podcast about local government. Kirsten, Kent, Alyssa, Javon, and Ben all selected four of their favorite episodes to honor with the most prestigious award in local government podcasting, a GovieLovie. They also debated the best holiday movie, made up local government themed songs, and shared a memory from the first five years of GovLove. Plus meet some new GovLove contributors for 2021 in Lauren, Toney, & Mike.

Hosts: Kirsten Wyatt, Kent Wyatt, Ben Kittelson, Alyssa Dinberg, & Javon Davis

The GovieLovies

Kirsten

Ben

Javon

Alyssa

Kent

Exit music: The 12 Clogs of Christmas by NEORSD

#377 Communications and Podcasting with Christine Martindale, Port Orange, FL Dec 18, 2020

The Port Orange Government Show. Christine Martindale, Public Information Officer for the City of Port Orange, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about her new podcast for the City of Port Orange. She shared her transition from the private sector into local government as well as all of the work she does as a department of one. Christine and Ben discuss the benefits of podcasting and how easy it is to start a podcast of your own.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#376 Rural Placemaking in the Kentucky Highlands with Sandi Curd Dec 11, 2020

Placemaking and economic development. Sandi Curd, Promise Zone Coordinator for the Kentucky Highland Investment Corporation, joined the podcast to talk about her work supporting communities and small businesses through placemaking. She shared how the Promise Zone impacts the 22-county service area in southeastern Kentucky and how placemaking can serve as an economic incubator. Sandi also discussed placemaking examples and how the community drives what they do.

This episode is part of ELGL’s Creative Community series, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#375 Community Engagement & Video Etiquette with Becky Hirst Dec 04, 2020

Tips for video conferencing. Becky Hirst, Community Engagement Consultant from McLaren Vale, South Australia, joined the podcast to talk about her work as a community engagement consultant and her new e-book covering video conferencing etiquette. She discussed how she works with communities to inform the decision-makers by connecting with the community. She also shared the 10 tips for video conferencing in her new e-book such as testing your equipment, rules of engagement, and how to minimize distractions during meetings.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#374 Technology & Change Management with Jamie Hellen, Franklin, MA Nov 27, 2020

Doing it all. Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator for the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, joined the podcast to talk about innovation, change management, and responding to COVID-19. He shared how the Town takes a customer focused approach to their work and the freedom departments have to implement new technology. He also discussed how smaller local governments have to manage large issues with fewer resources.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#373 Historic Preservation in Brooklyn with Rebecca Bellan Nov 24, 2020

Preserving black history. Rebecca Bellan, Freelance Reporter for Forbes and CityLab, joined the podcast to tell the story of 227 Duffield in Brooklyn, New York. This home has ties to New York's abolitionist movement and is believed to have been part of the underground railroad. In two articles this year she's detailed the battle over preserving the home and the fight to preserve black history. Articles: What It Takes to Preserve a Building Tied to Black History and Did a Brooklyn Home’s Tunnel Provide Passage to Escaped Slaves?

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#372 Community Media Centers with Dana Healy, CTV North Suburbs Nov 20, 2020

Don't make videos, make an impact. Dana Healy, Executive Director of CTV North Suburbs, joined the podcast to talk about the benefits of local community media centers. She discussed CTV North Suburbs which is a collaboration between nine cities in the Minneapolis area that creates video content on behalf of those local governments. The core function of the non-profit is to can help local governments promote and amplify their message. Dana also shared the upcoming content series with ELGL on effective relationships with community media centers and local governments.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#371 Micromobility and Urban Transportation with Kyle Rowe, Spin Inc. Nov 13, 2020

Freedom to move. Kyle Rowe, Global Head of Partnerships for Spin, joined the podcast to talk about the role of micromobility in transportation. He discussed how micromobility helps people travel the last mile to their destination and how Spin, Inc. works with local governments to improve the experience of traveling by bike or scooter. He talked about how COVID-19 has impacted micromobility programs. Kyle also shared his career path which included time in the City of Seattle Department of Transportation.

Host: Javon Davis

#370 The Future of Government Communications & GovComms Festival with David Pembroke Nov 10, 2020

Government after shock. David Pembroke, Founder & CEO of contentgroup, joined the podcast to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic is changing communications and digital tools in the public sector. He is the host of the upcoming GovComms Festival, which is an online event exploring how government communications is changing around the world. He talked about how COVID-19 has shown that communications needs to be a central, strategic function of government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#369 Greedy Bastards with Sheryl Sculley, San Antonio, TX Nov 06, 2020

A Texas-sized struggle to avoid financial crisis. Sheryl Sculley, former City Manager for the City of San Antonito, Texas, joined the podcast to discuss her book Greedy Bastards, which tells the story of her time leading San Antonio and dealing with financial challenges. Sculley was at the center of renegotiating public union safety contracts, which if not changed, would have bankrupted the City. She also talked about her career path and leadership style.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#368 Recruiting in the City of Bend, OR with Eric King & Stephanie Betteridge Nov 03, 2020

Attracting aspiring local government leaders. Eric King, City Manager, and Stephanie Betteridge, Chief Innovation Officer, joined the podcast to talk about a new recruitment in the City of Bend, Oregon. The City is hiring for a Strategic Initiatives Manager (and other roles) and they shared what led to creating this position, what skills they are looking for, and what the first few months on the job will be like. Eric and Stephanie also shared their own career paths in local government and what makes Bend unique.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#367 Food Access and Public Art in Jackson, MS with Salam Rida and Travis Crabtree Oct 30, 2020

Inspiring dialogue through art. Salam Rida, Project Director, and Travis Crabtree, Project Manager, discuss the Fertile Ground Project in Jackson, Mississippi. This project uses public art to talk about urban farming, the availability of healthy food, and the history of land use in the City of Jackson. Salam and Travis shared what led to the project and how food access intersects with history, class, race, and planning.

This episode is part of ELGL’s Creative Community series, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#366 Developing Data-Driven Insights with Nathan Lee, Civic Pulse Oct 27, 2020

Empowering local governments. Nathan Lee, the Founder and Managing Director of Civic Pulse, joined the podcast to talk about their research and data analysis into local governments. He shared how he started Civic Pulse and the partnership with ELGL on the Diversity Dashboard measuring the diversity of the local government profession. He also discussed Civic Pulse's research into COVID-19 efforts by local governments on compliance and budget impacts.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#365 Civic-Minded Journalism with Lucas Grindley, Next City Oct 23, 2020

Inspiring equitable cities. Lucas Grindley, the Executive Director of Next City, joined the podcast to talk about local journalism and the role Next City is filling by covering issues that impact cities. He discussed non-profit news organizations and solutions journalism. Lucas also shared he career path into journalism and the topics Next City has covered that local governments can learn from.

Host: Javon Davis

#364 Empowering Women in Local Government with Pamela Antil Oct 16, 2020

Encouraging diversity. Pamela Antil, the City Manager of the City of Encinitas, California and Founder of the League of Women in Government, joined the podcast to talk about diversity in local government. She shared what the League of Women in Government does and why they were founded as well as the value of diversity. Pamela also talked about her new position, why data is important to the conversation, and ELGL's Diversity Dashboard.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#363 Building a Successful Internship Program with Pat Madej and Molly Gaskin Oct 09, 2020

Creating meaningful experience. Pat Madej, Senior Budget & Management Analyst for the City of Durham, NC, and Molly Gaskin, Graduate MPA Student at the University of North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about the City of Durham's internship program. Pat discussed how the Budget Department established its internship program. Molly shared what it was like to be an intern during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed the project Molly worked on this summer which added a performance measurement and equity lens to evaluating budget requests.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#362 Responding to Financial Crisis with Shayne Kavanagh & Greg Devereaux Oct 02, 2020

GFOA Fiscal First Aid. Shayne Kavanagh, Senior Manager of Research for GFOA, and Greg Devereaux, retired Chief Executive Officer of San Bernardino County, CA, joined the podcast to talk about recovering from a financial crisis. GFOA has identified a 12 step process for dealing with any crisis. Even the best-prepared local governments can be impacted by situations where there isn't enough money to do everything that people expect to get done.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#361 COVID-19 Exposure Notification in Colorado with Sarah Tuneberg Sep 29, 2020

Technology and emergency response. Sarah Tuneberg, the Innovation Response Team Lead for the State of Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about a new COVID-19 exposure notification app that uses bluetooth to alert people if they have exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. She described how the technology works and how it helps as another tool in the State's response to the coronavirus. Sarah also shared how she ended up working on the Innovation Response Team and what else the group is working on.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#360 Public Power and COVID-19 Response with Joy Ditto, APPA Sep 25, 2020

Powering communities. Joy Ditto, the President and CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA), joined the podcast to talk about public power utilities and how the electric industry has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. She discussed how APPA shared best practices to keep employees safe and how incorporating pandemic response measures fits with the safety culture in the electric industry. She also talked about the role of public power agencies.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#359 Civic Hacking with Amanda Renteria, Code for America Sep 22, 2020

Reimagining government. Amanda Renteria, the CEO of Code for America, joined the podcast to talk about using technology to serve communities and use technology for good. She discussed how Code for America wants to encourage a delivery driven government that starts with people it serves. She also shared her career path in public service and example projects completed by Code for America brigades.

Host: Javon Davis

#358 Data Driven Road Maintenance in Savannah, GA Sep 18, 2020

Using data and technology to monitor streets. Three guests joined the podcast to talk about how the City of Savannah, Georgia is using new technology to understand the condition of their road infrastructure and more efficiently maintain their roads. Heath Lloyd is the Chief Infrastructure & Development Officer for the City of Savannah, Joe Shearhouse is the Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Savannah, and Stuart Frick is a Partner Success Lead for RoadBotics. They talked about how Savannah adopted RoadBotics to measure road condition more effectively and use data to better invest road maintenance funding.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#357 Equity and Engagement with Manisha Paudel, Des Moines, IA Sep 15, 2020

Inequity eliminator. Manisha Paudel, Equity Coordinator for the City of Des Moines, Iowa, joined the podcast to talk about implementing racial equity work and engaging with the community. She shared her career path doing equity and engagement work as well as how she works to normalize racial equity concepts and identify inequities in the City.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#356 Growing Up in City Hall with Meredith Reynolds and Jan Reynolds Sep 11, 2020

City management as a family business. Meredith Reynolds, Park Planning & Partnership Manager for the City of Long Beach, California, and Jan Reynolds, Retired City Manager for the City of Hanford, California, joined the podcast to talk about their careers in local government. Meredith shared what she learned from growing up with a father who was a City Manager and how it has impacted her career choices. Jan shared what he learned in his career and his advice for people that want to become City Managers.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#355 Public Art & Black Lives Matter with Amina Cooper, Arts & Science Council Sep 08, 2020

Authentically reflecting community values. Amina Cooper, Program Director of Public Art CLT for the Arts & Science Council, joined the podcast to talk about creating more equitable and diverse public art. She discussed the recent efforts by communities across the country to rethink their public art and what it emphasizes or honors. Amina also talked about how the way public art programs are administered can exclude artists from marginalized backgrounds.

This is part of ELGL’s Creative Community, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Javon Davis

#354 Reducing Reliance on Police with Alex Vitale, Brooklyn College Sep 04, 2020

Making communities safer. Alex Vitale, Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College, joined the podcast to talk about rethinking public safety and his book, The End of Policing. He discussed how past policing reforms have not been successful at changing outcomes and the need to solve community problems in new ways rather than just using the criminal justice system. He also shared examples from across the country of how cities are reducing the role of police (Examples: The Ithaca Plan, CAHOOTS, Cure Violence, and City of Berkeley).

Host: Ben Kittelson

#353 Supporting Akron Businesses During COVID-19 with James Hardy and Michael Mazur Sep 01, 2020

Rewards for shopping local. James Hardy, Deputy Mayor for Integrated Development at the City of Akron, Ohio, and Michael Mazur, Vice President for Business Development for Colu, joined the podcast to talk about an app that connects Akron residents with local businesses. The Akronite app gives retailers marketing tools and incentivizes shopping local by providing rewards at participating Akron businesses to residents.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#352 Effects of Carceral Contact on Civic Participation with Brandon Davis, University of Kansas Aug 28, 2020

Feeling politics. Brandon Davis, Assistant Professor of Law and Society for the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration, joined the podcast to discuss a recent paper he published titled, Feeling Politics: Carceral Contact, Well-Being, and Participation. His paper is about the impact that contact with police and the criminal justice system have on civic participation. Brandon discussed what his research found and how local governments can address this issue.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#351 Bendable in South Bend, IN with Rick Wartzman & Jennifer Henecke Aug 21, 2020

Creating a City of lifelong learning. Jennifer Henecke, the Communications Manager for the St. Joseph County Public Library, and Rick Wartzman, Head of the KH Moon Center for a Functioning Society, joined the podcast to talk about a new online learning resource developed for South Bend residents. The Drucker Institute partnered with the Library and the community to create Bendable, a platform with curated resources for professional development and training. They also designed community collections with local experts on topics like buying your first house, coding, and film making.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#350 Data Collaboration & Responsible Use with Natalie Evans Harris, BrightHive Aug 14, 2020

Increasing impact through data. Natalie Evans Harris, the Co-Founder and Head of Strategic Initiatives at BrightHive, joined the podcast to talk about using data to improve local government's response to COVID-19. She shared how BrightHive is partnering with public sector agencies and their recently released Responsible Data Use Playbooks. Natalie also discussed trends she's seeing in public sector data use.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#349 Equity and Neighborhoods with Majestic Lane, Pittsburgh, PA Aug 07, 2020

Focusing on people, not just place. Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff for the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about the creation and work of the City's Office of Equity. He discussed gentrification and how cities need to focus on people and impacts of who is served by new investments. Majestic also talked about workforce development efforts and the work Pittsburgh is doing to improve the diversity of businesses it works with.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#348 Engaging through Art with Carrie Christensen, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Aug 04, 2020

Meaning making and synthesizing. Carrie Christensen, Senior Planner for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, joined the podcast to talk about how she has used art and artists in engagement. Using artists has improved the quality of engagement and brought more diverse residents to the table.

This is part of ELGL’s Creative Community, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#347 Embracing Failure in Local Government with Andi Mirviss Jul 31, 2020

Linking innovation and impact. Andi Mirviss, Program Manager for the Centre for Public Impact, joined the podcast to talk about failure in government. She shared how failure is key to innovation and embracing it allows people to embrace new ideas. The Centre for Public Impact has a new report about Failing Forward and understanding how local governments can fail forward and create a culture of innovation.

Host: Javon Davis

#346 Supporting Main Street with Richard Berry, Kauffman Mayors Council Jul 28, 2020

Lessons from the Great Recession. Richard Berry, former Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the podcast to talk about the work of the Kauffman Mayors' Council and the long term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared what it was like to go through the Great Recession and the need to support local businesses. He also discussed how Albuquerque supported entrepreneurs through accelerator programs and changing the regulatory environment.

This interview is part of a four part series with the Kauffman Mayors' Council. The Mayors' Council harnesses the knowledge and experience of former mayors to support cities across the county in efforts to build equitable community wealth.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#345 Workforce Equity with Ben Duncan, Multnomah County, OR Jul 24, 2020

Community organizing in government. Ben Duncan, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer for Multnomah County, Oregon, joined the podcast to talk about his career working on equity issues which began with environmental justice and health issues. He discussed the County's Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and how employees have been engaged to improve their workplace. He also shared the work he's done on the strategies Multnomah County is implementing to improve the diversity of their workforce and how the organization uses an equity lens.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#344 Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Sly James, Kauffman Mayors Council Jul 21, 2020

An entrepreneurial mayor. Sly James, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, jointed the podcast to talk about the work of the Kauffman Mayors' Council and attracting talent and supporting entrepreneurs. He shared two programs led by the City of Kansas City, an innovation partnership program and a startup in residence program. He also discussed the racial gap in entrepreneurship and the need to incorporate equity in economic development.

This interview is part of a four part series with the Kauffman Mayors' Council. The Mayors' Council harnesses the knowledge and experience of former mayors to support cities across the county in efforts to build equitable community wealth.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#343 Community Safety & Innovation with Sarita Nair, Albuquerque, NM Jul 17, 2020

One Albuquerque. Sarita Nair, the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the podcast to talk about a new approach to public safety and implementing innovation. She discussed the City's new Community Safety Department, the impacts of COVID-19, and creating a fund to support the Black community in Albuquerque. She also shared how innovation training has changed culture and her career path into local government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#342 Leadership Through Crisis with Betsy Hodges, Kauffman Mayors Council Jul 14, 2020

Managing ongoing uncertainty. Betsy Hodges, former Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, jointed the podcast to talk about the work of the Kauffman Mayors' Council and leading during a time of crisis. She discussed the importance of communication, understanding what's right, and self care. She also shared why she ran for Mayor and what it was like dealing with the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting.

This interview is part of a four part series with the Kauffman Mayors' Council. The Mayors' Council harnesses the knowledge and experience of former mayors to support cities across the county in efforts to build equitable community wealth.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#341 Local Matters with Janice Allen Jackson Jul 10, 2020

Public service and voter education. Janice Allen Jackson, Principal at Janice Allen Jackson & Associates and Host of Local Matters, joined the podcast to talk about her career path in local government and her current efforts to engage and educate voters through her podcast. She discussed how the conversation about defunding police should shift to interdisciplinary public safety. Janice also shared stories from her time leading the cities of Albany and Augusta, Georgia.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#340 Encouraging Entrepreneurship with Mark Stodola, Kauffman Mayors Council Jul 07, 2020

Thinking outside the box about economic development. Mark Stodola, former Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas and attorney, jointed the podcast to talk about the work of the Kauffman Mayors' Council and the importance of entrepreneurship. He talked about his work as Mayor including his time as President of the National League of Cities (NLC). He also discussed the work of the Kauffman Foundation to support small businesses.

This interview is part of a four part series with the Kauffman Mayors' Council. The Mayors' Council harnesses the knowledge and experience of former mayors to support cities across the county in efforts to build equitable community wealth.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#339 Race and Equity in Minneapolis with Joy Marsh Stephens Jul 03, 2020

Planning for a stronger, more equitable Minneapolis. Joy Marsh Stephens, the Director of the Division of Race & Equity for the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, joined the podcast to talk about the work her team is doing to advance racial equity and the current moment of activism around structural racism. She discussed the City's Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan and the policies the City is pursuing to address racial equity. She also talked about the importance of cultural change and capacity building.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#338 US Digital Response and COVID-19 with Raylene Yung Jun 30, 2020

Support for crisis response. Raylene Yung, the Co-Founder and CEO of US Digital Response, joined the podcast to talk about how they are connecting technologists to work with governments in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. These volunteers with experience in software and technology help governments find creative ways to deliver services and operate during the pandemic. She shared examples of their work and how to work with US Digital Response.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#337 Innovation & Combating Poverty in Rochester, NY with Henry Fitts and Kate May Jun 26, 2020

Understanding the drivers of poverty. Two members of the Office of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives joined the podcast to talk about their work addressing poverty and working with departments to use data. Henry Fitts is the Grant Management and Research Coordinator and former Director of Innovation and Kate May is the City's Chief Performance Officer. They discussed the City's work in helping residents find employment and testing a micro loan program for entrepreneurs.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#336 Planning and Engagement with Christian Williams, Goodyear, AZ Jun 23, 2020

Making the career leap. Christian Williams, Planner for the City of Goodyear, Arizona, joined the podcast to talk about his recent career change to working in planning and his career path in local government. He shared how the City is engaging residents in the planning process and encouraging people to participate. Christian also discussed his recent post about his experience as a Black person and being vulnerable in sharing his stories.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#335 Leadership in Times of Crisis - The Drucker Playbook Jun 19, 2020

Don't be clever, be conscientious. Lawrence Greenspun, Director of Public Sector Engagement for the Drucker Institute, and Tanya Ange, Deputy City Manager of Boulder, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about leadership in times of crisis and the new Drucker Playbook for the Public Sector. Lawrence shared the story of Peter Drucker and the principles of leadership that inform their training and approach. Tanya discussed how the City of Boulder is using the Drucker Playbook to train staff and develop leaders.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#334 Passion and Public Works with Joey Garcia, Torrance, CA Jun 16, 2020

Keeping the fire lit. Joey Garcia, Senior Administrative Analyst for the City of Torrance, California, joined the podcast to talk about his career path and public works. He shared his experience finding that first job in local government, what he's learned from working in public works, and the impact of COVID-19 on their operations. Joey also discussed culture change and finding your passion.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#333 Reopening and COVID-19 Testing with Sean Knierim, SidePorch Jun 12, 2020

Creating a culture of health. Sean Knierim, the Co-Founder of SidePorch, joined the podcast to talk about resources for communities in reopening after COVID-19 shutdowns and expanding testing capacity. He talked about the need to be adaptive and flexible in procurement as well as being ready to scale small actions.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#332 The Experience of Black Social Media Managers with Christina Roach and Victor Henderson Jun 05, 2020

"Y’all, I’m hurt." Christina Roach, Digital Content Officer for the City of Dallas, Texas, and Victor Henderson, Communications Specialist for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, joined the podcast to talk about what it's like working in communications right now. They shared what they deal with as black government social media managers and managing social feeds with nonstop reminders of unjust and lethal treatment of people of color. They discussed how coworkers can be supportive and what led them to share their experience in a post to other government communicators.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#331 Creating a 21st Century Government with Rick Cole May 29, 2020

Do more of what works and less of what doesn't. Rick Cole, long time public servant and former City Manager of Santa Monica, California, joined the podcast to talk about his vision for how government needs to change to meet the new challenges it faces. He shared lessons on leadership and how to shift government from providing legacy services to solving problems. He also discussed his career path and departure from Santa Monica.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#330 Parks & Recreation During COVID-19 with Alison Rhodes, Boulder, CO May 22, 2020

Thinking creatively about being mission critical. Alison Rhodes, the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Boulder, Colorado, joined the podcast to talk about operating during COVID-19. She shared how the pandemic has affected the work of her department and what they are doing to creatively offer services. Alison also talked about her career path and how she sees the parks profession changing after the pandemic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#329 Building Strong Towns with Chuck Marohn May 15, 2020

A bottom-up revolution. Chuck Marohn, the Founder and President of Strong Towns, joined the podcast to discuss about his new book and the work he is doing to shape the conversation about development in cities. He shared what led him to leave the engineering and planning field to start Strong Towns and his new book, Strong Towns, A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity. He talked about how the way America has built cities since World War II has led to developments that do not generate enough tax revenue to pay for their infrastructure. He also shared the ways that local governments can change their approach and create stronger communities.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#328 Smart Cities & Government Technology with Jonathan Reichental May 12, 2020

Smart cities for dummies. Jonathan Reichental, is the CEO of Human Future, author, and former Chief Information Officer of Palo Alto, CA. He joined the podcast to talk about the role of government technology and his view on what makes a smart city. He also shared what he thinks the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on government technology will be and how organizations will change. Jonathan discussed a book on smart cities that he is writing and a new training for public sector leaders.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#327 Addressing Equity During COVID-19 with Shannon Hardin, Columbus, OH May 08, 2020

If it's not for all, it's not for us. Shannon Harding, the Council President for the City of Columbus, Ohio, joined the podcast to talk about how the City is responding to COVID-19 and the policy responses they are pursuing. He discussed the disparate impacts of the pandemic on marginalized communities and how they are bringing equity into the response, from providing a hotel for homeless community members to supporting black businesses. Shannon also shared his career path into public service.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#326 Human Resources Response to COVID-19 with Greg Preece and Matt Hartleib May 05, 2020

From preparation to reopening. Greg Preece, Human Resources Manager in Oakland, California, and Matt Hartleib, Human Resources Manager in La Porte, Texas, joined the podcast to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their organizations. They shared how each human resources office prepared and managed the crisis, as well as the unique leave and telework dynamics of their organizations. They also discussed the planning process for reopening each workplace as states begin to relax stay at home orders.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#325 Running for Office During COVID-19 with Josh Schoemann, Washington County, WI May 01, 2020

Becoming an elected official during a pandemic. Josh Schoemann, the County Executive of Washington County, Wisconsin, joined the podcast to talk about running for office and leading a County during the COVID-19 outbreak. The form of government changed from an appointed County Administrator to an elected County Executive, and Josh chose to run for office to keep his position leading the County. He talked about the experience of running for office and how they are navigating reopening after the shutdown.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#324 Library Operations During COVID-19 with Jamie Eustace, Baytown, TX Apr 28, 2020

Curbside pickup to digital story time. Jamie Eustace, the Library Director for the City of Baytown, Texas, joined the podcast to talk about how running the library has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared how staff have found creative ways to continue serving library patrons and how operations will change once they are allowed to open the library again.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#323 Budgeting During COVID-19 with Gregory Patrick, Norfolk, VA Apr 24, 2020

Strategic planning and managing resources during a crisis. Gregory Patrick, the Budget Director for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, joined the podcast to talk about how his office is putting together an annual budget during COVID-19. He shared how their process has changed and what the financial impacts of the crisis may be. Gregory also talked about budget engagement and his department's telework policy, which was in place before the pandemic and allowed their office to keep talented employees.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#322 Utility Operations & COVID-19 with Todd Danielson, Avon Lake Regional Water Apr 17, 2020

Providing water and wastewater during a pandemic. Todd Danielson, Chief Utilities Executive of Avon Lake Regional Water, joined the podcast to talk about how COVID-19 is impacting utility operations. He shared how they have changed shift schedules to protect staff and adjusted their billing to aid customers. Todd also talked about working with the Ohio EPA and how they have adjusted their planned capital projects.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#321 Policy and Management Response to COVID-19 with Blaine Williams, Athens-Clarke County, GA Apr 10, 2020

From economic resiliency to teleworking. Blaine Williams, the Manager of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, joined the podcast to talk about how his organization has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. He discussed preparation, issuing a stay at home order, and coordinating with the State of Georgia. He also talked about working with the Mayor and Commission in the response and enforcing social distancing guidelines through education.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#320 Census 2020 in an Age of COVID-19 with Lorena Molina Apr 07, 2020

Outreach and operations during a pandemic. Lorena Molina, the Director of Operations for the Census Open Innovation Labs, joined the podcast to give an update on how Census 2020 is being impacted by COVID-19. She also shared outreach tools and the value of continuing to share the importance of completing the Census during this time of uncertainty.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#319 Remote Public Meetings & COVID-19 with Lindsay Lara, San Rafael, CA Apr 03, 2020

From public comment to live broadcasting. Lindsay Lara, the City Clerk for the City of San Rafael, California, joined the podcast to discuss how the City Clerk and Digital Services teams set up public meetings in an age of social distancing. She talked about the changes to public meetings rules in California and how residents of San Rafael are still able to participate through YouTube comments.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#318 Digital Communications and COVID-19 Response in King County, WA Mar 27, 2020

Strategy and public health information. Warren Kagarise, Digital Engagement Manager, and Colette Cosner, Public Health Digital Lead, from King County, Washington joined the podcast to talk about communicating during COVID-19. King County has been one of the epicenters of the outbreak and has been dealing with cases since February. They shared their tips for communication strategy, keeping residents informed, and self-care in a time of pandemic.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#317 Public Health & COVID-19 Response with Sarah Martin, mySidewalk Mar 20, 2020

Data science for public service. Sarah Martin, the Vice President of Health Solutions for mySidewalk and former Deputy Director of the Kansas City Health Department, joined the podcast to talk about the role of public health and responding to disease. She talked about the policy role of public health departments and how they are responding to COVID-19. Sarah also discussed her work for mySidewalk and shared the resources for local governments they are providing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#316 Fiscally Sustainable Planning with Kevin Shepherd and AJ Fawver Mar 13, 2020

Changing how communities are built. Two people joined the podcast from Verdunity, a planning, engineering, and engagement firm focused on fiscal sustainability. Kevin Shepherd, the Founder and CEO, and AJ Fawver, Program Leader, talked about the mission of Verdunity, how cities can build better places, and the cost of maintaining infrastructure.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#315 Engagement, Arts, and Cities with Lynn Osgood, Civic Arts Mar 10, 2020

Intersection of community development and arts. Lynn Osgood, the Executive Director of Civic Arts Austin, joined the podcast to talk about bringing arts and culture into the way cities are built. She discussed some example projects of how artists have helped communities with visioning and design.

This is part of ELGL's Creative Community, a partnership with ArtPlace America and Civic Arts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#314 Building Inclusive Communities with Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Oregon Metro Mar 06, 2020

It does not happen by accident. Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez from Oregon Metro, the regional government for the Portland, Oregon area, joined the podcast to talk about his choice to run for office and how to build inclusive communities. He talked about engaging with residents to ensure local government meets their needs and a ballot measure for dealing with homelessness. Councilor Gonzalez also discussed how Metro is working on transportation and affordable housing.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#313 Local Politics is the Best Politics with Professor Emily Farris Feb 28, 2020

The best of American politics. Emily Farris, Associate Professor of Politics at Texas Christian University, joined the podcast to talk about teaching local politics. She shared how she includes local government in her courses and gets students to learn about what's going on in Fort Worth, Texas. Professor Farris also shared her career path and what influenced her to study this field.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#312 Performance Auditing to Kansas City Mayor with Mark Funkhouser Feb 25, 2020

Creating good government and fiscal sustainability. Mark Funkhouser, President of Funkhouser & Associates, joined the podcast to talk about his career as an auditor, running for Kansas City Mayor, and more. He talked about navigating the Great Recession as Mayor and the importance of an independent auditor. He also shared his career path into public service and his time as Publisher of Governing Magazine.

Host: Javon Davis

#311 Advocating for Public Records with Ginger McCall Feb 21, 2020

Improving transparency in government. Ginger McCall, the former Oregon Public Records Advocate, joined the podcast to talk about her time in the State of Oregon and the importance of providing transparency to the public. She discussed the events that led to her resignation and keeping the public records advocate independent. Ginger also shared best practices for providing public records and how local governments can meet the needs of requesters.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#310 State Chief Data Officers Network with Tyler Kleykamp Feb 18, 2020

Connecting leaders to improve policy and service delivery. Tyler Kleykamp, the Director of the State Chief Data Officers Network at the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University, joined the podcast to talk about how data can be used to inform policy decisions. He shared how he supports Chief Data Officers across the country and the skills needed to become a Chief Data Officer. Tyler also shared his career path, which included being the first Chief Data Officer for the State of Connecticut.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#309 Leadership and FireStat with Chief Reginald Freeman, Hartford, CT Feb 14, 2020

Data and fire service. Chief Reginald Freeman of the Hartford, Connecticut Fire Department joined the podcast to talk about his department's FireStat program and change management. Chief Freeman discussed how they monitor and evaluate performance measures, engaging with fire fighters, and his philosophy on leadership. He also discussed his career path into the fire service, including time in the military.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#308 Creative Placemaking in Local Government with Lyz Crane Feb 11, 2020

Using arts and culture to shape communities. Lyz Crane, the Deputy Director of Artplace America, joined the podcast to talk about the work strengthening the field of creative placemaking, which is about integrating arts into community planning and development. She gave examples of how communities can integrate artists in local government including using artists to improve engagement. Lyz also announced a new Creative Community partnership with ELGL around highlighting these local government stories.

This is part of ELGL's Creative Community, a partnership with ArtPlace America and CivicArts to write, explore, share, and learn about creative placemaking.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#307 Putting People First in Birmingham, AL with Ed Fields Feb 07, 2020

Engagement from campaigning to governing. Ed Fields, Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham, Alabama, joined the podcast to talk about how they engage residents in the work of local government. He also discussed transitioning a new mayoral administration and how he works to drive Mayor Woodfin's agenda.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#306 Reducing Evictions in Newark, NJ with Khabirah Myers Jan 31, 2020

Equitable growth and reducing displacement. Khabirah Myers, the Coordinator for the Office of Tenant Legal Services, joined the podcast to talk about her work aiding renters in the City of Newark.The City created an Office where residents facing eviction can turn for resources and even legal representation. Khabirah talked about the eviction issue in Newark, how her Office is working to combat the problem, and how reducing evictions is part of an equitable growth strategy.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#305 Mobility and Infrastructure in Pittsburgh, PA with Karina Ricks Jan 24, 2020

Economic development through transportation. Karina Ricks, the Director of the Mobility and Infrastructure Department in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, joined the podcast to talk about how Pittsburgh is working with transportation companies in a collaborative way and how her department emphasizes mobility. She also shared details of the City's new Bike Plan and her career path into local government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#304 Enhancing Public Services with the Google.org Fellowship Jan 17, 2020

Improving access to city programs online. Erin Hattersley, Manager at Google.org, and Maegen Fisher, Program Manager Fellow, joined the podcast to talk about how Google is partnering with the City of Boulder, Colorado and the goals of the Fellowship Program. Google.org launched the Fellowship Program to bring small teams of Google employees into nonprofits and local governments to provide six months of pro bono work. Fellows use their technical expertise in product management, software engineering and UX design.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#303 Trends in Human Resources with Kylie Bayer, McMinnville, OR Jan 10, 2020

Human Resources as a strategic partner. Kylie Bayer, the Human Resources Manager for the City of McMinnville, Oregon, joined the podcast to share the issues and trends that she sees affecting the human resources industry in local government. From pay equity to sabbaticals, and why City Managers should bring HR to the executive leadership team. Kylie also gave a preview of #ELGL20, ELGL's Annual Conference in Portland this May.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#302 Technology & Public Safety with Matt Polega, Mark43 Jan 03, 2020

Cloud-based first responder dispatch. Matt Polega, the Co-Founder and Head of Marketing at Mark43, joined the podcast to talk about how technology can improve public safety. He discussed the importance of computer aided dispatch and the flexibility that being cloud-based provides. Mark also talked about how public safety agencies can work better together and what he would change about the procurement process.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#301 The GovieLovies - Best Episodes of 2019 Dec 27, 2019

The year in review. Four of the regular GovLove hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap the fourth year of a podcast about local government. Kirsten, Alyssa, Javon, and Ben all selected five of their favorite episodes to honor with the most prestigious award in local government podcasting, a GovieLovie. The hosts also shared their favorite holiday desserts and what they are looking forward to in 2020.

Hosts: Kirsten Wyatt, Ben Kittelson, Alyssa Dinberg, & Javon Davis

The Picks

Kirsten

Ben

Javon

Alyssa

#300 Thinking Like a Designer with Patrick McDonnell Dec 20, 2019

Urbanist, Designer and Technologist. Patrick McDonnell joined the podcast to talk about his career path, which started in urban planning, to serving on Innovation Teams in Austin, Texas and Anchorage, Alaska. He talked about the role of a designer, skills that local government needs and the importance of user experience. Patrick also shared some of the projects he worked on like improving access to food stamps in Anchorage.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#299 Childcare for Public Meetings with Politisit Dec 13, 2019

Engaging families in civic activities. Rachel Sowray, the Founder of Politisit, joined the podcast to talk about encouraging parents to participate in public meetings. Politisit reimburses parents and other caregivers for child care costs while they attend meetings and activities. Rachel also talked about her time as a Federal Prosecutor in Oregon and what inspired her to start Politisit.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#298 Communicator Turned Candidate in Appleton, WI with Chad Doran Dec 06, 2019

Running for office as a city employee. Chad Doran, the Communications Coordinator for Appleton, Wisconsin, joined the podcast to talk about his decision to run for Mayor. He discussed why he thinks his current role has prepared him to be Mayor and what he wants to do once he's in office. Chad also shared his accomplishments as spokesman for the City and how he has to work with every department in Appleton.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#297 University Partnerships in Grand Forks, ND with Todd Feland Dec 03, 2019

Public works to city management. Todd Feland, the City Administrator for Grand Forks, North Dakota, joined the podcast to talk about partnering on projects with the University of North Dakota and the impact of the college on the city. He also shared his career path into local government, which started in public works.

This episode was recorded from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, TN.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#296 Health & Human Services in Houston, TX with Stephen Williams Nov 29, 2019

Working to protect the health and social well-being of Houstonians. Stephen Williams, the Director of the Health Department in Houston, Texas, joined the podcast to talk about the role of the health departments in the local government landscape and the services they provide in Houston, like their See to Succeed initiative. He shared how they work toward health equity and the root causes of health problems. Stephen also talked about the Health Department's role in responding to natural disasters.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#295 Short Term Rental Policy with Philip Minardi, Expedia Group Nov 27, 2019

Building a responsible vacation rental market. Philip Minardi, the Director of Policy Communications at Expedia Group, joined the podcast to talk about the short term rental industry and local policy regulating the vacation rental market. He shared what cities are doing it well, setting responsible limits and building a policy that ensures compliance and even collects taxes.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#294 Green Initiatives and Employee Engagement in King County, WA with Dow Constantine Nov 22, 2019

Making sure residents have the opportunity to thrive. Dow Constantine, the Executive of King County, Washington, shares his path to public service and the work King County has done to be an employer of choice. He also shared the initiatives they have undertaken to address the challenges of climate change and his love of the Seattle music scene.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#293 Managing Lewes, DE with Ann Marie Townshend Nov 15, 2019

First Town in the First State. Ann Marie Townshend, the City Manager of Lewes, Delaware, joined the podcast to talk about her career path and what it's like to manage the oldest community in Delaware. She talked about how she started her career in planning and what it took to get the experience she needed to take the step to become a City Manager.

This episode was recorded from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, TN.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#292 Life Coaching with Meredith Hauck, Merriam, KS Nov 12, 2019

Moving forward with confidence and clarity. Meredith Hauck, Assistant City Administrator in Merriam, Kansas, joined the podcast to talk about her side work as life coach. She shared her approach to leadership, self care and positive energy. She also talked about her career in local government and advice for communicating with people in the workplace.

This episode was recorded from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, TN.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#291 Chief Innovators Studio at CityLab DC Nov 08, 2019

Celebrating municipal innovation from California to Israel. Brent Stockwell and Amanda Daflos took over GovLove from the CityLab gathering in Washington, DC to talk innovation with four different guests. Beth Blauer is the Executive Director of GovEx at Johns Hopkins University (4:10). Tracy Colunga is the Chief Innovation Officer in Long Beach, CA (29:10). Itai Eiges is the Director of a new initiative called Hazira that will support innovation teams in Israel (51:50). Jason Reisdorfer is Director of Innovation & Technology for Sioux Falls, SD (77:30).

This episode was recorded from the Chief Innovators Studio at 2019 CityLab in Washington, DC.

Hosts: Brent Stockwell & Amanda Daflos

#290 Hiring a City Manager with Mayor Rick Rogers, Newberg, OR Nov 05, 2019

Behind the scenes of recruiting a City Manager. Mayor Rick Rogers from the City of Newberg, Oregon joined the podcast to talk about how they are approaching hiring a new City Manager. He describes the community and what the City Council is looking for in a new manager. Mayor Rogers also shared his path into public service.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#289 Starting as a City Manager & Unique Local Governments with Martha Bennett Nov 01, 2019

Transitioning into a new leadership role. Martha Bennett, the City Manager of Lake Oswego, Oregon, joined the podcast to talk about her first two months on the job. She also talked about her time leading two unique local government agencies Metro, a regional government for the Portland area, and the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#288 A Taste of Tennessee: Hot Chicken & Local Government Oct 29, 2019

Career advice, elected office and transportation all with a side of hot chicken. Four guests come on the podcast to talk about local government in the State of Tennessee and share a meal of Nashville Hot Chicken with GovLove. Eric Stuckey is the City Administrator of Franklin, TN. Brenda Wynn is the County Clerk for Davidson County, TN. Bill Purcell served as the Mayor of Nashville from 1999 to 2007. Felix Castrodad is the Director of Planning & Grants for the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority.

This episode was recorded live from the 2019 ICMA Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Hosts: Alyssa Dinberg & Kirsten Wyatt

#287 Shared Services & Consolidation with Ed Henschel Oct 25, 2019

Delivering services in a better, faster, and more efficient way. Author Ed Henschel joined the podcast to talk about his career in local government and his new book, which is a practical guide to municipal service consolidation. Ed describes the different types of consolidation and shared service delivery, real world examples and his experience with navigating consolidation.

Book: Municipal Shared Service and Consolidation Handbook

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#286 Healthy Democracy with Linn Davis Oct 18, 2019

Tackling tough policy questions with citizens. Linn Davis from Healthy Democracy joined the podcast to talk about the work of Healthy Democracy and how they use citizen juries to inform decisions. He also shared how they have worked with local governments like Milwaukie, Oregon to engage citizens on the decision on what to pay elected officials.

Host: Alyssa Davis

#285 Quality & Performance in El Paso, TX with Tommy Gonzalez Oct 11, 2019

Managing an international city. Tommy Gonzalez, the City Manager of El Paso, Texas, joined the podcast for a wide ranging interview. He talked about his career path, which started with 22 years in the US Army, how he revamped the El Paso budget process and the complexities of running a community on the border. He also shared how he has supported process improvement and what it took to win quality awards at two different organizations.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#284 Communication & Measuring Resident Opinion with Lisa Holder & Rachel Rembrandt Oct 08, 2019

Reliable insights for policy makers. Two guests join the podcast to talk about best practices in local government communications, using social media and finding better ways to measure resident opinion. Lisa Holder is the Communications Officer for the City of Sanford, Florida and shared her approach to keeping residents informed. Rachel Rembrandt the Head of Customer Success for ZenCity shared how their platform uses artificial intelligence and data from different social media platforms to gather insights for policy makers.

Host: Javon Davis

#283 Civic Innovation & Tech in Toronto with Paula Kwan Oct 04, 2019

Tackling complex challenges affecting Toronto residents. Paula Kwan the Director of the Civic Innovation Office for the City of Toronto joined the podcast to talk about leading an Innovation Team and driving culture change in an organization. Paula discussed her career path, which started in Toronto's technology sector, and working on issues like translation for residents that speak many languages.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#282 Data-Driven Approach to the 2020 Census with Civis Analytics Sep 27, 2019

Democratizing data science. Two members of the Civis Analytics team join the podcast to talk about their work and engaging with local governments around Census 2020. Mo Cheeks is a Sr. Business Development Manager, and former Madison, WI Council Member, and Christopher Dick is the Managing Director of Civis Analytics. They talked about using data in a Census outreach campaign.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#281 The All-American Cities Award with Rebecca Trout Sep 24, 2019

Recognizing communities for civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation. Rebecca Trout, the Program Director of the All-America City Award & Membership, joined the podcast to talk about the National Civic League's work. She shared the history of the All-America City Award and stories from some of the communities they have recognized.

Host: Javon Davis

#280 Priority Based Budgeting with Chris Fabian, ResourceX Sep 20, 2019

Reinventing fiscal analytics. Chris Fabian, the Co-Founder of ResourceX, joined the podcast to talk about his work with local governments and improving how they prioritize the services they provide. Chris shared why ResourceX was started and examples from communities doing priority based budgeting. He also talked about government as a platform and starting a city from scratch on the moon.

Host: Alyssa Dinberg

#279 Economic Development & Data with Dr. Eric Trevan Sep 17, 2019

Data equity and local solutions. Dr. Eric Trevan, public administration faculty at Evergreen State College, joined the podcast to talk about economic development and analytics. He talked about his career path, which included time in local government and leading an economic development agencies, as well as the perspective of Native American communities.

Host: Javon Davis

#278 A Librarian's Guide to Homelessness with Ryan Dowd Sep 13, 2019

An empathy-driven approach to solving problems and serving everyone. Ryan Dowd the Executive Director of Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora, Illinois joined the podcast to talk about serving people experiencing homelessness. Ryan talked about his book, A Librarian's Guide to Homelessness, and his training for libraries on how to work with challenging homeless patrons. He also dispelled myths around homelessness and discussed different policy approaches.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#277 Effective Local Outreach with Perla Ni, Census Outreach Project Sep 10, 2019

Using mobile messaging to connect with hard-to-count populations. Perla Ni is the Founder and CEO of CommunityConnect Labs, the Census Outreach Project, and GreatNonprofits. She joined the podcast to talk about how local governments can reach all of their residents for the upcoming census. She shared how it's important to meet people where they are and how the Census Outreach Project can help.

Host: Javon Davis

#276 Operationalizing Racial Equity in Austin, TX with Brion Oaks Sep 06, 2019

Building and sustaining a culture of equity. Brion Oaks, the Chief Equity Officer for the City of Austin, Texas, joined the podcast to talk about how they make racial equity actionable. He shared how they work to create a shared understanding around the history of segregation and discrimination in Austin and how old policies still impact the city today. Plus he described how the equity office works with departments to examine what they do with a racial equity lens and include that value in their work and budgets.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#275 Shoreline Management & Beach Renourishment in North Carolina Aug 30, 2019

Managing beaches in an era of climate change. Two guests joined the podcast to discuss shoreline management at the local level. First, Dr. Robert Young from the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines discussed a recent report that they published which did a cost-benefit analysis of buying out property owners in North Topsail Beach, NC versus maintaining the shoreline. Then Greg "Rudi" Rudolph, the Shoreline Protection Manager for Carteret County, NC, talked about his day to day work, the mechanics of beach renourishment, and his perspective on the report. Rudi also shared how they plan for sea level rise.

Read the report: Coastal Hazards & Targeted Acquisitions, A Reasonable Shoreline Management Alternative

Host: Ben Kittelson

#274 Transportation, Engagement & Libraries from the Code for America Summit Aug 23, 2019

Designing better government. Earlier this summer GovLove hosted a live recording at the Code for America Summit in Oakland, California. Three guests joined to talk about trends in local government and how they interact with data and technology in their organization. Warren Logan is the Policy Director of Mobility & Interagency Relations in Oakland, CA; Laura Biediger is a Community Engagement Strategist in Durham, NC; and Stephanie Chase is the Director of Libraries for Hillsboro, OR.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#273 Open Government & Innovation at Guilford County, NC with Jason Jones Aug 16, 2019

Analytics and open data. Jason Jones, the Analytics and Innovation Manager for Guilford County, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about his work and career path. Jason shared what it took to set up a data program at Guilford County, how they have partnered with universities on projects and the importance of adding context to data. He also talked about his career path, creating his current role and how working in human resources has informed his career.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#272 Local Government Workplaces Initiative with Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis, UNC School of Government Aug 09, 2019

Helping cities and counties listen to their employees. Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis joined the podcast to talk about the University of North Carolina School of Government's Workplaces Initiative. She shared her research into public sector organizational dynamics and how managers can make their employees feel valued and part of a community.

Host: Javon Davis

#271 Census 2020 & The Opportunity Project with Denice Ross, Lorena Molina-Irizarry & Drew Zachary Aug 02, 2019

Data for good. Three people joined the podcast to talk about the 2020 Census and ways that local governments can ensure their communities get counted. They are all working with the Census Opportunity Project a process for engaging government, communities, and the technology industry to create digital tools related to the Census. Denice Ross is a Fellow in Residence for the Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation; Lorena Molina-Irizarry is the Director of Operations of Census Open Innovation Labs; and Drew Zachary is the Co-Director of Census Opportunity Project.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#270 Family Ties in Charleston, SC with Former Mayor Joe Riley & Citibot's Bratton Riley Jul 26, 2019

Public service and civil rights. A father-son duo joined the podcast to talk about their different paths working with local government. Former Mayor Joe Riley led the City of Charleston, SC for 40 years and was involved in redeveloping downtown Charleston and starting the International African American Museum. Bratten Riley is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citibot, a software platform that allows residents to text their local government for information and for organizations to keep residents informed.

Host: Kent Wyatt

#269 Strategic Communications & Networking with Mac Prichard Jul 23, 2019

Sharing ideas, experiences and stories. Mac Prichard the President of Prichard Communications and Founder of Mac's List joined the podcast to talk about local government communications and job searching. He talked about how communications plans need to be strategic and align with the goals of the organization. Mac also discussed his "Find Your Dream Job" podcast and the skills of job searching.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#268 Legal Challenges to Parking Enforcement with ShawnTe Raines & Matthew DiCianni, Ancel Glink Jul 19, 2019

To chalk or not to chalk. Two lawyers from Ancel Glink joined the podcast to talk about the recent court ruling outlawing the use of chalk to enforce parking requirements. ShawnTe Raines, Partner, and Matthew DiCianni, Associate, walked through the case and the implications for local governments. They also touched on a few other legal issues at the local level that have their attention.

Host: Javon Davis

#267 Leadership & Scenario Planning with Matt Finch Jul 16, 2019

Strategy, planning, storytelling, innovation. Matt Finch joined the podcast to talk about his work with libraries and other government entities on planning for the future. In this wide ranging interview he shared his path into doing this work, becoming future ready and tools for growth and change.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#266 Public Service with Mayor Tara Campbell, Yorba Linda, CA Jul 12, 2019

The youngest female Mayor in the country. Mayor Tara Campbell from the City of Yorba Linda, California joined the podcast to talk about her two roles in local government, serving as Mayor of her hometown and working as Chief of Staff for Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner. Mayor Campbell talked about what led her to local government, why she wanted to run for office and what she works on as a Chief of Staff. She also shared how her two roles influence one another and the issues facing cities in Orange County, CA.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#265 The City Link Program in Springfield, OR with Niel Laudati Jul 09, 2019

Empowering new leaders. Niel Laudati,Legislative and Public Affairs Director for the City of Springfield, OR, joined the podcast to talk about how the City is working to empower under-represented leaders. Through their City Link program participants meet leaders from different departments, learn about local government and build their resume for serving on boards or running for office. Niel also shared his career path in local government and his passion for Springfield.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#264 Teaching Ethics through Parks & Rec with Dr. Erin Borry Jul 05, 2019

Linking theory to television. Dr. Erin Borry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham is teaching ethics in a creative way, by using the show Parks & Recreation. Scenes involving your favorite City of Pawnee employees are great case studies for understanding the dilemmas that public servants can face. Dr. Borry shares why she wanted to use the show in her classroom and examples of what students learn.

Host: Kirsten Wyatt

#263 Tackling Blight & Innovation with Terrance Smith, Mobile, AL Jun 28, 2019

Solving problems. Terrance Smith, the Director of the Innovation Team in the City of Mobile, Alabama, joined the podcast to talk about innovation, working with departments and taking on blight. Terrance shared the process the i-Team went through to get a handle on the problem of blight and then how to address it, which eventually led to a change in state law. He also talked about how they communicate about their work and how they bring in other city staff to explain their process.

Host: Ben Kittelson

#262 Food Waste & Government Consolidation with Mayor Liz Lempert, Princeton, NJ Jun 26, 2019

From borough and township to municipality. Mayor Liz Lempert joined the podcast for a wide ranging interview on consolidating governments and providing compost service in Princeton, New Jersey. Mayor Lempert shared her path into elected office and winning the 2018 Mayors Challenge for their composting initiative. She also walked through the process of consolidating Princeton Township with Princeton Borough and the impact it has had on both the community and government operations.

#261 The Municipal Equality Index with Xavier Persad, Human Rights Campaign Jun 21, 2019

Examining the inclusiveness of cities. Xavier Persad, Sr. Legislative Counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, joined the podcast to talk about the Municipal Equality Index. Each year cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer and the city leadership's public position on equality. He also shared what cities have made strides on the index and what policies cities should look at to improve how inclusive they are.

#260 High Performance Government with Nick Kittle, Cartegraph Jun 19, 2019

Sustainable innovation. Nick Kittle, Government Innovation & Performance Coach and author, shares his lessons on leadership, innovation and improving local government. He talked about his experience as a Chief Innovation Officer, his book Sustainovation and the work he's doing now for Cartegraph. From building momentum to not being afraid to get fired, Nick has great advice for those wanting to make a difference.

#259 CivicPRIDE with Pam Davis, Boulder, CO Jun 14, 2019

Advancing inclusive local government. In honor of Pride Month, Pam Davis, Sr. Management Analyst for the City of Boulder, Colorado and the Leader of CivicPRIDE joined the podcast to talk about empowering LGBTQIA+ leadership in local government. CivicPRIDE is the first nationally recognized LGBTQIA+ professional association for local government management. Pam shared her coming out story and why a group like CivicPRIDE is needed in local government. She also discussed what organizations can do to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community.

#258 The Myth of Bureaucratic Neutrality with Shannon Portillo, University of Kansas Jun 11, 2019

Institutionalized inequity in hiring. Dr. Shannon Portillo from the University of Kansas discusses how we have to challenge the assumption that merit-based hiring practices are "neutral." She and a co-author argue in a recent journal article that those practice can actually reinforce the preference of white men in public organizations. The article argues that if organizations want to encourage a diverse workforce they need to challenge these long standing hiring practices.

#257 Rethinking the Library in Hillsboro, OR with Stephanie Chase & Hillary Ostlund Jun 07, 2019

Leading (r)evolution in public libraries. Stephanie Chase, Library Director, and Hillary Ostlund, Library Manager, from the Hillsboro, Oregon public library joined the podcast. They talked about how they are adapting their expectations of employees and the service to patrons to improve customer service. In this wide ranging interview they covered everything from throwing out the organizational chart to night libraries and serving homeless patrons.

#256 Strategy & Performance in Olathe, KS and Durham, NC Jun 04, 2019

Measuring success. A trio of strategic planning and performance measurement experts joined the podcast to talk about their work: Ed Foley the Performance Management Analyst for the City of Olathe, Kansas, Josh Edwards the Strategy & Performance Director for the City of Durham, North Carolina, and Laura Chandler a Director at Clearpoint Strategy. Ed and Josh both shared their organizations' journey and Laura added the perspective of a software platform geared for strategic plans and performance measures.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#255 Policing & Drones with Chief Gary Jenkins, Pullman, WA May 31, 2019

Public safety and collaboration. Gary Jenkins, the Police Chief for Pullman, Washington, shared how his department uses drones to enhance their police work and improve operations. Chief Jenkins talked about how they started their program, training staff and how they collaborate with other city departments and organizations. He also shared his career path to becoming a police chief and the unique challenges of policing in a college town.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#254 Entrepreneurial Mindset in Albuquerque, NM with Tom Darling May 28, 2019

Unleash employees. Tom Darling the Division Manager of Public Service University at the City of Albuquerque, NM joined the podcast to talk about training staff and changing culture. He discusses why "entrepreneurship" is a useful trait and why it's important to bring to local government. He also talks about motivation and inspiring employees int he workplace.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#253 Budgeting & War Eagle with Barrett Warren, Auburn, AL May 24, 2019

Budgeting in a college town. Barrett Warren the Budget & Strategic Planning Manager for the City of Auburn, AL joined the podcast to talk about her path into local government and working in a college town. She shared how Auburn is balancing the demands of housing a big college student population with maintaining its small town aesthetic. She also explained "War Eagle" and how the city is working to communicate about the budget.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#252 Law in Plain English with Jenny Kosek and David Silverman May 17, 2019

Writing legalese for residents. GovLove Legal returns with a discussion of how to write about complex legal topics in a way that is understandable for residents and elected officials. Jenny Kosek, Communications Strategist in West Allis, WI, and David Silverman, Partner at Ancel Glink Law Firm, share their perspectives and tips for taking complex legal topics and communicating them clearly.

#251 Data & NOLAlytics in New Orleans, LA May 14, 2019

Solving real-world problems with data. Three people from the City of New Orleans, Louisiana joined the podcast to talk about how the City uses data and earning a What Works Cities Certification. Melissa Schigoda is the Director of the Office of Performance and Accountability, Eric Ogburn is the Director of Enterprise Information and Jonathan Wisbey is the Chief Technology Officer. They shared how the certification process helped them improve their processes and transitioning their data program from Mayor Landrieu to Mayor Cantrell.

#250 Civic Lab in Sacramento with Adrienne Moretz & Monica Hernandez May 10, 2019

Testing innovative solutions. Adrienne Moretz, Civic Lab Project Manager, and Monica Hernandez, Director of Innovation & Partnerships, joined the podcast to talk about their work for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). They discussed Civic Lab, a program that works with teams from around their region to design and launch pilot projects aimed at regional challenges. In year one they took on "Smart Mobility" and had some innovative approaches to transportation that covered both downtown Sacramento and rural parts of their region. Both guests also shared their career path to local government and their plans for year two of the program.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#249 Game of Drones in Manatee County, FL with Diana Robinson May 07, 2019

Using new technology for sustainability. Diana Robinson, Energy Manager for Manatee County, FL, discussed how they are using drones to support their work on sustainable buildings, communications and more. Diana shared what it was like setting up a drone program and using different types of cameras.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#248 Community Healing with Melissa Glaser May 03, 2019

Lessons for recovery after a large-scale trauma. Author and psychologist Melissa Glaser joined the podcast to talk about how a community deals with traumatic events. She shared her experience working in Newtown, CT after the Sandy Hook shooting. She also discussed lessons for community leaders dealing with tragic events.

#247 Lead for America with Joe Nail Apr 30, 2019

Community service. Joe Nail the CEO and Co-Founder of Lead for America joined the podcast to talk about their two-year fellowship program for young leaders in local government. The program takes undergraduate students interested in public service and matches them with organizations in their community. Joe shared his background and why he wanted to start this program. He also explained how local governments can participate and what the experience is like for fellows.

#246 Right-of-Way Management: Cell Towers, Scooters & Free Speech Apr 26, 2019

Trends in planning. GovLove was recently at the National Planning Conference for a session all about right-of-way. Local governments hold the public right-of-way in trust for the benefit of the public; but rapid changes in technology, federal policy, and constitutional law are increasing demands for services and challenging local regulatory authority. Experienced local government attorneys, and industry professionals discuss best practices for right-of-way management in the face of emerging challenges. Panelists include: Alan Weinstein, Cleveland State University; Alicia Giudice, San Rafael, CA; Brandon Bordenkircher, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development; Daniel J. Bolin, Ancel Glink; Gail A. Karish, Best Best & Krieger LLP; and Isidro A. Jimenez, San Francisco, CA.

This episode was recorded from the 2019 National Planning Conference in San Francisco, CA.

#245 Code for America Summit with Dan Hon Apr 23, 2019

Designing better government. Dan Hon, the Co-Chair for the 2019 Code for America Summit, joined the podcast to talk about the work of Code for America, how he got involved and why technologists should work with governments. Dan also shared some of the agenda they are planning for the conference and tips for attendees.

#244 Innovate Durham & Faith with Eric Marsh, Durham County, NC Apr 19, 2019

Local government innovation and faith in public service. Eric March, Strategic Initiatives Analyst for Durham County, NC joined the podcast to discuss Innovate Durham, a partnership program between the County, City of Durham and local startups. Eric shared his path in public service from an engineer to an innovation office. He also discussed his work for a church and compared the similarities of the work to local government.

This interview was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#243 Strategic Planning in Lancaster, PA from Execution to Implementation Apr 16, 2019

Two Mayors and a Chief of Staff. Mayor Danene Sorace, former Mayor Rick Gray and former Chief of Staff Pat Brogan joined the podcast to talk about creating and advancing Lancaster's strategic plan. Mayor Gray and Pat Brogan shared the creation of the city's first strategic plan and current Mayor Sorace talked about embracing and continuing to advance the plan. They also shared their paths into public service, the role of Chief of Staff and both mayors' perspectives on leadership.

#242 McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, AZ Apr 13, 2019

ELGL Knope Award Winner. Brent Stockwell, the Assistant City Manager of Scottsdale, Arizona, discussed their award-winning park the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. He talked about the work that went into winning the ELGL Knope Award, stories from park staff and how they tried to improve their communications strategy during each round of the competition.

This podcast was recorded from the 2019 Transforming Local Government Conference in Reno, Nevada.

#241 Politics & Administration Careers with Sarah Moss Apr 05, 2019

Civic dreamer and doer. Sarah Moss joined GovLove to talk about her unique career path that has switched between campaign and political roles to administrative roles. She shared what led to her first role in politics and how she ended up in local government. Sarah also discussed her work as a consultant and her professional philosophy.

#240 Neighborhood Planning with Mercy Murguia, Dina Newman and AJ Fawver Mar 29, 2019

Engagement and shaping communities. Three guests join the podcast to discuss approaches to neighborhood planning and the work that goes into engaging residents. Mercy Murguia is a Commissioner for Potter County, TX; Dina Newman is the Director of the Center for Neighborhoods at the University of Missouri at Kansas City; and, AJ Fawver is the Planning Director for the City of Lubbock, TX. All three discussed their perspectives on planning and engagement as well as how each of their communities approach neighborhoods.

#239 Perspectives on Procurement with Chris Van Beke, Vendor Registry Mar 22, 2019

Purchasing and RFPs. Chris Van Beke the CEO and Co-Founder of Vendor Registry talks about improving the way vendors and governments work together, from updating paper processes to improving communication. Chris also shared his career path to leading a tech company focused on procurement.

#238 Managing as a Team in Iowa City with Geoff Fruin and Ashley Monroe Mar 15, 2019

Can't be neutral on a moving train. Two members of the leadership team in Iowa City, IA joined the podcast to talk management, recruitment and their path to public service. Geoff Fruin, City Manager, and Ashley Monroe, Assistant City Manager, shared their experiences going through hiring processes and what they look for in hiring leadership positions. Geoff and Ashley also talked about what they are working on, from data driven policing to engagement.

#237 Engagement in Local Government with Jay Dawkins, PublicInput Mar 12, 2019

Meeting people where they are. Jay Dawkins the CEO of PublicInput joined the podcast to talk about community engagement and reaching more people through engagement. Jay shared his career path to leading a software company and how they work with local governments. He talked about pitfalls in engagement like the "if you build it, they will come" mistake and why engagement matters.

#236 Near the Top Report with Leisha Dehart-Davis & Kimberly Nelson Mar 08, 2019

Diversity in the local government profession. Two professors from the University of North Carolina School of Government share findings from recent research on the diversity of city and county managers. Leisha Dehart-Davis and Kimberly Nelson talked about what they heard from interviewing managers for their "Near the Top" report and the importance of attracting women and people of color to local government management.

#235 Local Government Law: Drones Mar 01, 2019

Using and regulating drones in government. GovLove Legal is back. Derke Price and Erin Pell from the law firm Ancel Glink join the podcast to talk about the regulations around drones. From how the law varies from state to state to how the Federal government treats drones they cover what you need to know. Derke and Erin also share examples of how local governments are using drones to support their work.

#234 The Future of Government Websites with Ken Clark, Indianapolis, IN Feb 22, 2019

Shift Indy. Ken Clark the Chief Information Officer for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana discussed his career path and his work updating the organization's website. Ken shared how he got buy in for a new approach to the website, the work that went into bringing it into the 21st century and how they improved the user experience. Ken also talked about the importance of understanding finances and how he cut his departmental budget while also taking on this enormous project.

#233 Civic Imagination in Bologna, Italy with Deputy Mayor Matteo Lepore Feb 19, 2019

Engagement in Bologna, Italy. The Deputy Mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, talked about how his city won an Engaged Cities award for their work engaging residents with local government. By engaging with residents the City is able to bring people into the process of shaping public spaces. Learn more from their case study: Co-Creating Urban Commons.

#232 Empowering Residents to Solve Problems with James Wagner, Tulsa, OK Feb 15, 2019

Finding innovative ideas with residents not just for them. Tulsa, Oklahoma has been empowering their residents to address longstanding or emerging civic challenges in partnership with city staff. James Wagner, the Chief Financial Officer and former Chief of Performance Strategies and Innovation, talked about their Urban Data Pioneers and Civic Innovation Fellowship programs. Through these programs Tulsa residents can learn about data analysis or human centered design as they bring new ideas into City Hall. The city received an Engaged Cities Award for their efforts.

#231 Engaged Cities with Myung Lee, Cities of Service Feb 12, 2019

Celebrating the most effective solutions to engagement. Myung Lee, the Executive Director of Cities of Service, joins the podcast to talk about their Engaged Cities Award, spotlighting solutions from around the world and her winding career path. Myung also shared the work of Cities of Service and how they help Mayors build stronger cities.

#230 Fostering an Inclusive City with Mayor Steve Callaway, Hillsboro, OR Feb 08, 2019

Leading Hillsboro. Mayor Steve Callaway from Hillsboro, Oregon joined the podcast to talk about his path into public service, how his city works to attract people into local government and reaching out to the Latino community. Mayor Callaway also discussed his viral social media post on dealing with a racism and his love of the Hillsboro Hops.

#229 A 9-year-old talks Parks with Bobbi Nance, Recreation Results Feb 05, 2019

Cool things about parks. To celebrate the start of the #ELGLKnope Award contest for the best Park facility in the country we have an interview between Eleanor Wyatt and Bobbi Nance. Eleanor is a 9-year-old that has strong opinions about parks and Bobbi is the President of Recreation Results, a company that uses data and strategy to advise local governments in the parks and recreation sector.

#228 Innovation & Using Scrum with Michelle Thong, San Jose, CA Feb 01, 2019

Using scrum in local government. Michelle Thong, the Digital Services Lead at the City of San Jose, CA, joined the podcast to talk innovation, iteration and engaging the tech community. She shared the three innovation behaviors her office works to encourage in the organization and how she works to be a multiplier. Michelle also talked about starting the Code for San Jose brigade and how the City works with volunteers.

#227 Data-Driven Innovation in Los Angeles, CA with Miguel Sangalang & Amanda Daflos Jan 25, 2019

Transforming data into action. Miguel Sangalang, Deputy Mayor for Budget & Innovation, and Amanda Daflos, Innovation Team Director, joined GovLove to talk about their work at the City of Los Angeles, California. They discussed earning the top level of the What Works Cities Certification and how they are pairing budget with innovation. They also shared why they think data is important and how the City uses data to make decisions.

#226 The Business Case for Employee Engagement with Bob Lavigna Jan 18, 2019

Measuring employee engagement. Bob Lavigna the Director of the Institute for Public Sector Employee Engagement at CPS HR joined the podcast to talk about why organizations should take employee engagement seriously. He argues that there is a business case to keeping employees engaged at the workplace and that the best organizations have recognized this. He also shared his path into working with governments and the value of employee surveys.

#225 Why Local Governments need PIOs with Chris Floore, Macon-Bibb, GA Jan 11, 2019

Communications and media relations. Chris Floore, the Assistant to the County Manager for Public Affairs in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, joined the podcast to talk about his work and building relationships with the media. Chris discussed the importance of the public information officer role and how he prepares staff to work with the media. He also responded to a report from the Society of Professional Journalists says public information officers are making it more difficult to get access to interviews and information.

#224 Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan with Heather Worthington & Paul Mogush Jan 04, 2019

Battling disparities through planning. Two people from the City of Minneapolis, MN join the podcast to talk about the hottest comprehensive plan in the country, Minneapolis 2040. Heather Worthington is the Director of Long Range Planning and Paul Mogush is the Manager of Community Planning for Minneapolis. Heather and Paul discussed the goals of the new comprehensive plan, which put dealing with racial disparities at the center of their work, and how they engaged the public throughout the process. The new plan will make big changes to land use in the city including eliminating single family zoning and parking minimums.

#223 The GovieLovies - 2018 Year in Review Dec 28, 2018

The best episodes of the year. All five regular GovLove hosts teamed up to hand out awards and recap the year of GovLove. Kirsten, Alyssa, Javon, Kent and Ben all selected four of their favorite episodes to honor with the most prestigious award in local government podcasting, a GovieLovie. In addition to handing out awards, the hosts shared what they hope to cover on the podcast in the future, their favorite holiday food and highlights from ELGL’s 2018.

The Top Episodes of the Year:

Kirsten

Javon

Alyssa

Kent

Ben

#222 A New Way of Doing Things in Jersey City with Brian Platt Dec 21, 2018

Problem solving in government. Brian Platt the Business Administrator of Jersey City, New Jersey joined the podcast to talk about managing the day to day operations of the city, innovation in local government and being named a babe of Jersey City. Brian previously served as the Chief Innovation Officer and he shared the work of the city's i-Team and how they've approached problem solving.

#221 Pizza to the Polls with Scott Duncombe Dec 19, 2018

Hungry for democracy. The national non-profit, Pizza to the Polls, tries to make waiting in line to vote a little better. They take reports of long lines from people around the country and then find local pizza places to deliver slices to voters. Scott Duncombe is one of the founders of Pizza to the Polls, he tells the story of how it started and how they delivered over 10,000 pizzas in the 2018 election.

#220 PennDOT Connects with Secretary Leslie Richards & Brian Hare Dec 14, 2018

Transportation & engagement. The Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, Leslie Richards, and the PennDOT Planning Chief, Brian Hare, join the podcast to talk engagement and the future of transportation. They shared their PennDOT Connects initiative which works to engage Pennsylvania residents before they implement transportation projects. Secretary Richards and Brian also talked about their career paths and how the State works with local governments.

#219 Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor Dec 07, 2018

Economic development at the state level. Stefan Pryor, the Secretary of Commerce for the State of Rhode Island, joins the podcast to talk about his work attracting companies to the state. Stefan discussed the policies they've used to turn around Rhode Island's economy. He also shared his career path to the position, which included a stint as Deputy Mayor in Newark, NJ.

#218 Local Reporting in San Antonio with Iris Dimmick, The Rivard Report Nov 30, 2018

The City Hall beat. Iris Dimmick, Senior Reporter at The Rivard Report, talks covering local government in the City of San Antonio, Texas. She talked about the non-profit journalism that The Rivard Report conducts, her path to becoming a reporter and the future of local journalism. Then Iris discussed three propositions that were voted on by residents in November, each had a different impact on the City of San Antonio, including one that targeted the City Manager.

#217 Technology and Permitting in Shrewsbury, MA with John Covey Nov 28, 2018

Applying technology to make things better. John Covey, Chief Information Office of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, joined the podcast to talk about software, local government IT and improving processes. John shared his career path to working at the Town of Shrewsbury, his definition of a technologist and what he sees as trends in the field. He also shared their experience working with ViewPoint Cloud to improve the permitting process.

#216 Digital Services & Process Improvement with Mike Sarasti, Miami, Florida Nov 22, 2018

Putting people first. Mike Sarasti, the Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Innovation & Technology for the City of Miami, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about his role driving innovation and scaling solutions throughout the organization. He discussed his path to becoming a CIO, how they put users first through process design and working with Code for Miami. He also talked about how adding IT to his portfolio has impacted the innovation work in Miami, from training his employees on these tools to using tech as an entry point for process improvement.

#215 What Government Innovation Really Looks Like with Hana Schank Nov 16, 2018

Getting the work done. Hana Schank, Public Interest Technology Fellow for New America, joined the podcast to talk about her recently published report on innovation in government. She interviewed problem solvers working across Federal, State and local governments to learn how they are trying to make government services better for residents. From what this field of innovation should be called, what teams across the country look like and common projects that teams are working on, Hana gave more info on what she found in her report. She also talked about the necessity of buy-in from top leadership and the importance of process over technology.

Read the report: Getting the Work Done - What Government Innovation Really Looks Like

#214 The Best of Nextdoor with Jenn Takahashi Nov 13, 2018

Quality neighborhood drama. Jenn Takahashi, the chief lurker and founder of the parody account Best of Nextdoor, joined the podcast to talk about sharing the entertaining drama that happens on Nextdoor. Jenn shares what caused her to start the account, what the Nextdoor CEO thinks of it and what it's been like to have the account get so popular.

#213 City on the Line: Outcome Budgeting with Andrew Kleine Nov 09, 2018

Budgeting for Outcomes. In his new book Andrew Kleine, the former Budget Director for the City of Baltimore, MD, challenges how local governments budget. He writes about how he changed budgeting in Baltimore to focus on outcomes rather than line items. He joined the podcast to talk about how he learned about outcome budgeting, the process of writing a book, and his career path in government.

#212 Data and Continuous Improvement in Louisville, KY with Daro Mott Nov 06, 2018

LouieStat and changing culture. Daro Mott, the Chief of Performance Improvement for the City of Louisville, Kentucky, joined the podcast to talk about their use of data and focus on process improvement. Daro described Louisville's particular focus on professional development and training employees to change culture. He also shared his path into local government and their work to earn the What Works Cities Certification.

#211 Local Government Law: Unions and the Janus Decision Nov 02, 2018

Navigating the Supreme Court decision. Earlier this year the case of Janus v. AFSCME changed part of the relationship between local governments and unions. No longer can cities and counties collect union dues for non-union employees that benefit from union negotiations. Matthew DiCianni from the Chicago based law firm, Ancel Glink, joined the podcast to talk about the role of unions and the impact of the Janus decision.

#210 Crisis Ready, Building an Invincible Brand with Melissa Agnes Oct 30, 2018

Talking crisis management and communication. Melissa Agnes, the author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, joined the podcast to talk handling crises. Melissa shared her perspective on plans versus programs and the importance of communication.

#209 Government Communications for Super Bowl Sunday in Minneapolis, MN Oct 26, 2018

A lot of preparation and work goes into hosting a Super Bowl. Two communications professionals from the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota shared their story of hosting Super Bowl 52 in their city. Greta Bergstrom is the Communications Director and Jordan Gilgenbach is the Digital Media Relations Coordinator for the City of Minneapolis. They talked about the working with dozens of partners to keep residents and guests informed, how they prepared for cold weather and all the rowdy fans, plus they also described the training and support they got from the Federal government in preparation for the game.

#208 Economic Development in Providence, RI with Laurie White, Chamber of Commerce President Oct 23, 2018

The President of the Greater Providence, Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Laurie White, joined the podcast to share how Providence works to attract businesses and entrepreneurs. She talks about how important it is to know your workforce, what businesses are looking for and how she works together with the State Secretary of Commerce.

#207 Evaluation & Good Government in Washington, DC with Jenny Reed Oct 19, 2018

Good government for the people. Jenny Reed the Director of the Office of Budget & Performance Management for the City of Washington, DC joined the podcast to talk about how they use evaluation and performance management. She shared the work of the Lab @ DC, how they want to make a more data driven budget process and their use of low cost evaluations. Jenny also shared the process of earning the What Works Cities Certification and how that process helped her office and the City improve.

#206 University of Nebraska Game Day in Lincoln with Tom Casady, Public Safety Director Oct 12, 2018

College Football and Local Government. We continue our series on the relationship between local governments and universities. Tom Casady, Director of Public Safety, joined the podcast to talk about the game day atmosphere in Lincoln, the preparation it takes to get ready for the influx of fans and his favorite memories. On Saturdays enough people come to Lincoln to make it the third largest city in the state. Prior to being named Public Safety Director, Tom was the Lincoln Police Chief from 1994-2011.

#205 Changing the Local Government Workplace Oct 09, 2018

A panel of local government staff, an elected official and a tech company staffer discussed the changing workplace. They shared their opinions on what they want to see from their employers, how government can better engage with residents and how local government needs to deal with diversity and inclusion. The group also took questions from the audience that hit on the urban-rural divide, the role of elected officials and white male privilege. The panel included: Lacey Beaty, City Council President at Beaverton, OR; Kylie Bayer, Human Resources Manager at McMinnville, OR; Jose Esparza, Community Engagement Specialist at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District; Pat Rollens, Public Information Specialist at Corvallis, OR; and Casey Earp, Engagement Manager at Bang the Table.

This episode was recorded live from 2018 League of Oregon Cities conference in Eugene, OR.

#204 The Poisoned City: Flint's Water & the American Urban Tragedy with Anna Clark Oct 05, 2018

The author of a new book on the Flint water crisis joined the podcast to talk about what happened. Anna Clark, the author of "The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy," shared her perspective on the role of government in the crisis, the decline of local journalism and the importance of infrastructure. Anna also talked about instant replay, what a book tour is like and whether she still has trust in government.

#203 Building Trust through Strategic Planning with Kevin Knutson, Envisio Oct 02, 2018

Trust and accountability in local government. Kevin Knutson, the Vice President of Customer Success at Envisio, joined the podcast to talk about strategic planning, accountability and his view on the biggest challenges facing local governments. He also shared how Envisio, a software company, is helping organizations stick to and achieve their strategic plans.

#202 The Georgia-Florida Game Day in Jacksonville, FL Sep 28, 2018

Game day for one of college football's storied rivalries. Every year, the City of Jacksonville, Florida plays host to the Georgia-Florida Game (or Florida-Georgia, depending on the year) and welcomes two fanbases from rival schools for events, tailgating and more. Brent Fine, the Special Events Manager for the City of Jacksonville, and Rick Catlett, the President/CEO of Gator Bowl Sports, joined the podcast to talk about the planning it takes to pull off the annual event. They shared how they manage relationships with both universities, the unique history and tradition associated with the game, and the coordination on everything from parking enforcement to trash pickup.

#201 Karen Pinkos, ICMA President & City Manager, El Cerrito, CA Sep 25, 2018

Live from the 2018 ICMA Conference in Baltimore, MD. The new ICMA President, Karen Pinkos, joined the podcast to talk about her career path, leadership and her tips for young professionals. She answered questions from the audience and talked about her new role as ICMA's 4th female President. Karen was recently selected to serve as the next City Manager of El Cerrito, CA, where she has been the Assistant City Manager since 2001.

#200 Data Driven Decision Making in Kansas City, MO Sep 21, 2018

Transparency before it was cool. Three people from the City of Kansas City, Missouri joined the podcast to talk about how KCMO uses data to inform their decision making and how they hold themselves accountable to achieving their strategic plan. Kate Bender, Deputy Performance Officer, Bo McCall, Performance Analyst, and Chris Hernandez, Communications Director, shared the story of KC Stat, a monthly data and performance meeting. They also explained how the What Works Cities Certification helped them and what they learned from going through that process.

#199 Parkour & Parks with Colin MacDonald, Parkour Visions Sep 18, 2018

Parkour! Running, jumping and climbing through the urban landscape is catching on as a new form of play. Colin MacDonald the Design Director for Parkour Visions came on the podcast to talk about adding parkour elements to parks and teaching parkour. He explained how parkour can activate otherwise bland landscape and teaches people how to fall.

#198 Getting to Washington Game Day with Glenn Bartolome, King County Transit Sep 14, 2018

College Football and Local Government. GovLove is looking at how local governments across the country deal with game day. Glenn Bartolome, a System Impacts & Events Coordinator for King County Metro Transit, joined the podcast to discuss how they get thousands of fans to the University of Washington football stadium. The stadium is located in a dense urban neighborhood and both the University and the county encourage fans to take transit to the game, Glenn explains how they work together to provide that service, how it impacts operations and who pays to shuttle fans from across the city.

#197 Public Participation & Engagement with Kit Cole, IAP2 Board Member Sep 11, 2018

Getting outcomes from engagement. Kit Cole is a public engagement consultant and a board member of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). She discusses the value and types of engagement, plus the importance of engagement in local government. Kit also compares the approaches to engagement in big, urban cities like Los Angeles versus small, rural communities like Brownsville, Oregon. Prior to becoming a consultant Kit worked for public utilities, Waste Management Inc. and the California state government.

#196 The Shrink Smart Project: Managing Population Loss in Rural Communities Sep 07, 2018

Preserving quality of life in shrinking Iowa cities. A grant from the National Science Foundation is exploring how communities can protect quality of life and community infrastructure while they lose population. The Shrink Smart Project aims to develop data-driven tools to assist towns in actively planning for shrinkage. Three people from Iowa State University joined the podcast: Kimberly Zarecor is an Associate Professor of Architecture, Sara Hamideh is an Assistant Professor of Community & Regional Planning, and Eric Davis is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science. They discussed how they are using both data and qualitative research to figure out why some rural communities are maintaining their quality of life while they shrink and others don't.

#195 University of Alabama Game Day with Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox Aug 31, 2018

College Football and Local Government. Fall is here and that means football season, and at GovLove we are taking a look at how local governments across the country deal with game day. Mayor Walt Maddox from the City of Tuscaloosa, Alabama talked about how they handle the influx of fans filling the University of Alabama stadium, which seats over 100,000 people. From trash pickup and security to planning and transportation Mayor Maddox gives a behind the scenes look at one of the most raucous game day atmospheres in the county and how local government makes it possible.

#194 Changing Recruitment in Local Government with Ron Holifield Aug 28, 2018

Playing matchmaker and reducing implicit bias. The CEO of Strategic Government Resources (SGR), Ron Holifield, joined GovLove to talk about how they are pushing local governments to change how they recruit. He shared his career path from time as a City Manager to leading a recruiting firm. Ron talked about his company's philosophy, the hierarchy of leadership and the SGRecruiter tool, which will match passive job seekers with organizations and help reduce implicit bias.

#193 Innovation and Performance in Seattle, WA with Tina Walha Aug 24, 2018

Using data and design to creatively solve problems. Tina Walha the Director of the Innovation & Performance team at the City of Seattle, Washington joined the podcast to talk about her team's work. She shared her path into local government, which started with a stint in Mayor Bloomberg's administration in New York City. Tina discussed the work of Seattle's i-Team, how they are building on the use of data and what Seattle did to earn a What Works Cities Certification.

#192 Oregon's Most Wired Community - Independence Aug 21, 2018

A smart rural community. David Clyne the City Manager and Shawn Irvine the Economic Development Director join GovLove to talk about their work for the City of Independence, Oregon. This small city of about 9,000 people has used technology like municipal broadband to infuse a culture of technology into the work of the City and the culture of the community. They have worked on projects using a virtual situation room, agricultural technology and more.

#191 Stories from the National Day of Civic Hacking Aug 17, 2018

Code for America recently hosted a National Day of Civic Hacking as a call to action bringing together civic leaders, local governments, and community organizations. Groups across the country got together to work on some of our toughest challenges. ELGL Executive Director, Kirsten Wyatt, was down in San Francisco, California at the Code for America headquarters and talked to three participants in the National Day of Civic Hacking. Alex Gaesser discussed working on bike transportation, Connor English talked about a project dealing with foster care and Matt Castillon lead a group working with building inspections data to deal with affordable housing.

#190 Creating a Culture of Health with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Aug 10, 2018

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health Prize recognizes communities that have placed a priority on health and are creating powerful partnerships and deep commitments to provide everyone, especially those facing the greatest challenges, with a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. Katie Wehr from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Julie Willems Van Dijk from the University of Wisconsin's Institute of Public Health joined GovLove to talk about what a culture of health is, stories from communities that are doing it well and different approaches to public health.

#189 Filling Top Level Vacancies with Michael Brown, City Manager, Hillsboro, OR Aug 07, 2018

The City Manager of Hillsboro, Oregon, Michael Brown, joined GovLove to talk about his approach to recruiting for department directors and other top level vacancies. Michael shared how when his Assistant City Manager announced their retirement he spent time rethinking the position and allowing the departments and staff that will report to the new person to have input on what to look for. He also shared his career path into local government and his passion for the band Tool.

#188 The First Lady of Water Cathy Bailey, Greater Cincinnati Water Works Aug 03, 2018

The Director of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works Department, Cathy B. Bailey, joined GovLove to talk about her career path. Cathy started as a chemist in 1992 for the Cincinnati, OH water department and was named the director in 2015. She talked about how her department is removing lead lines by working with partners across the community, what her job is like day to day, and her perspective on diversity in local government.

#187 The Most Innovative City in the Nation, Fayetteville, NC with Rebecca Jackson Jul 27, 2018

In Governing and Living Cities' 2018 Equipt to Innovate survey the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina was chosen as the top overall performer. Rebecca Jackson, the Strategic Performance Analytics Director, joined the podcast to talk about her work and what it means to be chosen as the most innovative city in the nation. Rebecca shared Fayetteville's approach to strategic planning, how they include resident input and their process improvement work.

This interview was recorded from the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association (NCLGBA) 2018 Summer Conference in Atlantic Beach, NC.

#186 Get into Dodge City, Kansas with Melissa McCoy Jul 20, 2018

Why not Dodge? Melissa McCoy, Assistant City Manager/Public Affairs, joins GovLove to talk about the tourism industry and the old west. The City of Dodge City, Kansas turned around the old phrase "get the heck out of Dodge" into an effort to bring people to the queen of the cowtowns. In 1997 residents of Dodge City voted to approve a dedicated portion of the sales tax to fund projects to encourage tourism.

#185 Running Jackson, MS with Dr. Robert Blaine, Chief Administrative Officer Jul 13, 2018

Managing change and investing in dignity in Mississippi's state capital. Dr. Robert Blaine joined the podcast to talk about his role as the Chief Administrative Officer for Mayor Chokwe Lumumba in Jackson. He shared what it's like setting up an administration and what they've dealt with in the first year in office. Dr. Blaine described his path into local government, he was a trombonist, conductor and academic before making the leap into managing a city. He also talked about Jackson's strategic plan and taking over the Jackson Public Schools.

#184 Building a Mobile City Hall with Andrew Kirk, CitySourced Jul 06, 2018

Trends in civic technology. Andrew Kirk, the Chief Revenue & Operations Officer for CitySourced, joined the podcast to talk about civic technology from his vantage point as a vendor. Andrew shared his path to civic tech, how he sees government changing, and CitySourced's efforts to build a mobile City Hall.

#183 Data & Procurement in Boston, MA with Laura Melle & Stefanie Costa Leabo Jul 03, 2018

Two Innovation & Technology staff from the City of Boston, Massachusetts joined the podcast to talk about their work. Laura Melle is the Sr. Procurement Lead and Stefanie Costa Leabo is the Interim Chief Data Officer, both shared how they are using their positions to be a resource for city departments. They discussed how Boston is doing procurement differently (including more RFPs), how they are using data to make decisions, and how What Works Cities helped them do those things.

#182 Smart Sewers in Cincinnati, OH with Reese Johnson, Principal Engineer Jun 29, 2018

The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati was the inaugural winner of ELGL & The Atlas' Water You Waiting For Award, recognizing the best water project. Reese Johnson, Principal Engineer for the sewer district, came on the podcast to talk about their smart sewers project and his passion for wastewater. Reese explained how smart sensors are helping to keep wastewater out of local streams and rivers in Cincinnati. Plus he describes working with IT staff and gives tips to other people that want to change their industries.

#181 Managing Stockton, California with Kurt Wilson, City Manager Jun 26, 2018

From municipal bankruptcy to universal basic income. Kurt Wilson, the City Manager of Stockton, California, has managed the city through a lot of change. Kurt came on GovLove for a wide ranging conversation that covered his path into public service, principled policing in Stockton, working for Governor Schwarzenegger's administration and more. He described what it's like to manage a City through the bankruptcy process and how Stockton will be the first city to pilot a universal basic income program.

#180 Turning Buzzwords Into Reality in San Diego, CA with Almis Udrys & Maksim Pecherskiy Jun 22, 2018

Performance and analytics in the City of San Diego, California. Almis Udrys, Deputy Chief of Staff for Innovation & Performance, and Maksim Pecherskiy, Chief Data Officer, joined the podcast to discuss their work solving problems and improving customer service using data. Each talked about their path into local government, why pandas are their department's mascot, and what San Diego did to earn a What Works City certification.

#179 Civic Tech Chat with Ryan Koch Jun 19, 2018

A podcast on technology in the public sector. Civic Tech Chat is hosted by Ryan Koch and explores everything from open data to innovation. Ryan joined GovLove to talk about his path into public service, which started in the Army and included a deployment to Iraq. He also explained why he started the Civic Tech Chat podcast, what they are hoping to achieve with the podcast and even his dream guest.

#178 Local Government Law: Police Body Cameras Jun 15, 2018

From public records requests to emergency communications we talk with two local government attorneys about all the legal questions that come with Police body cameras. Dan Bolin and Ellen Emery, two Partners at the Ancel Glink law firm in Chicago, Illinois share their expertise and experience on the issue. They share common concerns from working with Police Departments, the hidden costs of body worn cameras and how the videos can help with getting information to the public.

#177 Innovation & Equity in Parks & Recreation with Kylie Bayer-Fertterer, Justin Cutler & Peter Cosmiano Jun 12, 2018

Three Parks and Recreation professionals from across the country joined GovLove to talk about their work. They talked about how they are working to be more equitable, from serving the Spanish speaking community to building parks for residents with disabilities or engaging young people. Learn how all three organizations are being innovative and using partnerships to provide better services. Kylie Bayer-Fertterer is the Equity Coordinator for Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District (THPRD) in the Portland metro area; Justin Cutler is the Recreation Services Manager for the City of Westminster, Colorado in the Denver metro area; and, Peter Cosmiano is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the City of Jasper, Alabama outside of Birmingham.

#176 Empowering the Use of Data in San Francisco with Joy Bonaguro, Chief Data Officer Jun 08, 2018

Building capacity and empowering employees through the use of data. Joy Bonaguro, the Chief Data Officer for the City and County of San Francisco, California discusses her path to local government, her approach to data and scaling solution. She also shared why San Francisco went for the What Works Cities Certification, which she describes as something that was missing from the field because it provides a framework for government, has political durability, and is externally validated.

#175 The Color of Law with Richard Rothstein Jun 01, 2018

Talking housing segregation and public policy. Richard Rothstein is the author of "The Color of Law," a book about a forgotten history of how the government segregated America. Rothstein discussed his book and how the segregation in our cities was caused by different government policies, not the preferences of residents. From the federal level down to local zoning and urban renewal decisions Rothstein argues that the government caused segregated neighborhoods in patterns that violate the Constitution and require remediation.

#174 Tear it Down & City Council Chronicles with Michael Karlik May 25, 2018

The genius behind City Council Chronicles, Michael Karlik, is back with a new podcast. Tear It Down tells the story of North College Hill, Ohio and a "small group of outsiders wanted to change their city for the better." Michael shares why he started the City Council Chronicles, what he's learned from watching Council meetings around the world, and why he spent 10 months looking into a small Ohio town.

#173 Changing Demographics - Live from the Kansas City-County Management Conference May 18, 2018

From data to policing, the impact of demographics. Three panelists shared their expertise on how Kansas is changing: Sergeant Amy Rhoads, from Lawrence, KS, Ileana Serrano, from the US Census Bureau, and Cathy Boyer-Shesol, from the Mid-America Regional Council. Each shared their perspective on how the workplace is changing, how Kansas is changing and more.

#172 Running for the Future with Aaron Rouse, Virginia Beach Council Candidate May 11, 2018

From the NFL to the campaign trail. Aaron Rouse, former Green Bay Packer, is running for City Council in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He talked about why he's running for office, how local government needs to change to be more inclusive and representative of the people it serves. Aaron shared his vision for Virginia Beach, collaborating regionally and serving all residents in the city.

#171 Palo Alto's Chief Technology & Information Officer, Jonathan Reichental May 04, 2018

Local Government IT in Silicon Valley. Jonathan Reichental the Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer in Palo Alto, California shared his perspective on procurement, recruitment and civic tech. He talked about his path into local government, how cities can do a better job of making technology a part of their strategy and what he sees as trends in the field.

#170 NFBPA & Diversity with Christine Edwards & James Gaston Apr 27, 2018

Christine Edwards, the Community Relations Coordinator for Mecklenburg County, NC, and James Gaston III, a Budget Analyst for Petersburg, VA, join the podcast to talk about the work of NFBPA and making local government more diverse. They discuss ELGL's diversity dashboard and the importance of measuring how diverse our workplaces are. They also share how to start a conversation about diversity and the importance of representation.

#169 The Parties vs. the People with Mickey Edwards, former Congressman Apr 20, 2018

Talking public service, partisanship and policy. Mickey Edwards is a vice president at the Aspen Institute where he leads a bipartisan fellowship program for elected officials. Mickey was a member of Congress for 16 years, serving on the House Budget and Appropriations Committees and as a chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. Mickey discussed his path into public service, the importance of writing and how political parties negatively impact democracy.

#168 Battling for Equality with Jenn Brown, Civic Nation Executive Director Apr 18, 2018

Organizing to solve our nation's problems. Jenn Brown the Executive Director of Civic Nation joined GovLove to talk about her work fighting for social change and organizing. Civic Nation runs organizing and public awareness campaigns to empower people to address some of our biggest problems. Prior to working at Civic Nation Jenn led Battleground Texas and the Obama campaign's efforts in Ohio. Jenn shares her path into public service and experience fighting for equality.

#167 Public Service in the NFL & City Management with Tom & Connor Barwin Apr 13, 2018

Making the world better. A father-son duo join the podcast this week, Tom Barwin is the City Manager of Sarasota, FL and his son Connor Barwin is an NFL defensive end and Pro Browler. They talked about their influences, giving back to the community and more. Connor also shared the work of his non-profit Make the World Better and how his father's career impacted him.

#166 What Works Cities Certification with Simone Brody & Jennifer Park Apr 06, 2018

A new program from Bloomberg's What Works Cities is recognizing and celebrating the local governments that are leading the nation in the use of data. Simone Brody, the Executive Director of What Works Cities, and Jennifer Park, the Associate Director, came on GovLove to talk about What Works Cities Certification. They share why cities should pursue certification, success stories from the first 9 certified cities and how it can be scaled to all sizes of cities.

Topics: Lightning round (3:05), What the certification program is and why it matters (6:05), The similarities between cities that applied (8:40), The blueprint for getting certification (10:35), Success stories from the certified cities (16:00), How certification helps with a cultural change toward data (24:30), Scalability of solutions for smaller cities (26:40), and How they want certification to be a national movement (31:10).

#165 Rethinking Procurement with Mariel Reed, CEO of CoProcure Mar 30, 2018

The procurement process often frustrates local governments and vendors alike, but it seems like a process that will never change. Mariel Reed the Founder and CEO of CoProcure wants to rethink that. CoProcure is a startup that helps local governments improve procurement to promote economic development. She came on GovLove to discuss her work, the potential for a 'Common App' for procurement and the work she did at the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation.

Topics: Lightning round (2:00), Mariel's career path (9:00), Her work at the San Francisco Mayor's Office (13:10), the Civic Bridge and Startup in Residence programs in San Francisco (16:25), the work of CoProcure (28:25), the case for the 'Common App' for government procurement (32:50), and what's next for CoProcure (43:50).

#164 Implementing Innovation with Ben Berkowitz, CEO of SeeClickFix Mar 27, 2018

The CEO and Co-Founder of SeeClickFix, Ben Berkowitz, joined GovLove to talk about civic technology and innovation. Ben described how the SeeClickFix story started with graffiti and has resulted in over 1,000,000 community members, 300 local governments and 3,000,000 issues fixed. Plus Ben and Kirsten reminiscence about how SeeClickFix helped give birth to the GovLove podcast.

#163 Local Government Workforce of the Future Mar 23, 2018

Balancing work and life, recruiting the best and brightest, and preparing future leaders. Three guests joined GovLove to talk about the workforce of the future and their perspectives. The panel included: Joey Garcia an Administrative Analyst in Torrance, CA; Peter Castro the Assistant to the City Manager in Indian Wells, CA; and Kristen Nelson a Sr. Executive Assistant in Indian Wells, CA and Director of Programming at MMASC.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the ELGL Roadshow in La Quinta, California on January 25, 2018.

#162 The National League of Cities with Clarence Anthony, CEO Mar 16, 2018

Clarence Anthony the CEO/Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC) joins GovLove to talk about the work of the organization and his path into elected office. Clarence ran for Mayor of South Bay, FL at the at of 24 and was elected by 33 votes. He shared the work being done at the NLC around infrastructure, smart cities and other issues facing cities both large and small.

#161 The Gatekeepers, Chiefs of Staff in Local Government Mar 02, 2018

The second in command and go-to person. Three Chiefs of Staff join GovLove to talk about the uniqueness of their job. From gatekeeper to stand in, Chiefs of Staff handle different things everyday. Samantha Harkins works for Mayor Andy Schor in Lansing, Michigan. Laura O'Sullivan works for Mayor Pete Buttigieg in South Bend, Indiana. James Hardy works for Mayor Dan Horrigan of Akron, Ohio.

#160 Technology & Innovation in San Antonio, TX Feb 23, 2018

Using tech and innovation to improve people's lives. Two CIOs, one city. Jose De La Cruz the Chief Innovation Officer and Craig Hopkins the Chief Information Officer from San Antonio, Texas joined the podcast to talk about how they work together to make the City better. They shared how San Antonio is approaching being a smart city, how they work with operational departments and more.

#159 Planning Peeps Feb 16, 2018

Finding a human way to talk about planning. Kyle Kingma the founder of Planning Peeps and a Planning Manager in Texas joined GovLove to talk about the memes and fun spirit behind the community for planners, by planners. Kyle discussed his path into planning as well as why he wanted to start Planning Peeps.

#158 NBC Parks & Rec Memories with Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich) Feb 09, 2018

A very Parks & Rec episode for you. Jim O'Heir the actor that played the lovable Jerry Gergich (or is Garry?) came on GovLove to talk about the hit NBC show, his career in the entertainment industry and more. Jim sat down with co-hosts Alyssa Dinberg and Javon Davis in Kansas City, MO City Hall to give a behind the scenes look at ELGL & GovLove's favorite show.

#157 Susan Brown, Chapel Hill Public Library Director Feb 02, 2018

Design thinking, pop-up coffee shops and open data in the library. Susan Brown the Director of the Chapel Hill Public Library joined GovLove to talk about running a local government library and prototyping. She also shared her Banned Books Trading Cards project, her career path into libraries and how the library engages with other local government departments in Chapel Hill.

Right now at ELGL we're running a contest for the best Library in the nation. Go to ELGL.org to vote for the Leslie B. Knope Award.

Topics: Lightning round (1:25), Susan's career path into public libraries (11:40), How the library works with other departments (22:15), What goes into running a library (24:00), Using user experience & design thinking (31:15), Pop-up coffee shops in the library (36:05), the Banned Books Trading Cards project (40:50), and programming and events in a library (44:50).

#156 Mayor Megan Barry, Nashville, TN Jan 26, 2018

Using power to make a difference in people's lives. Nashville, Tennessee's first female Mayor, Megan Barry, joins GovLove to talk about her path into public service and her time as Mayor. Mayor Barry discusses inspiring women and girls to run for elected office, diversity in local government, and Nashville's vision zero efforts.

Topics: Lightning round (2:55), The influence of her parents on her career (9:00), Her experience as a woman in politics (13:20), Inspiring women and girls to run for elected office (15:55), Women for Tennessee's Future (17:45), Diversity and inclusion initiatives in Nashville (22:10), Working with the Metro Council on issues like transportation, housing and MLS (25:35), Her career as a politician (37:25), Balancing work and life and the death of her son (42:30), and why she takes the bus to work (51:35).

#155 The New Localism with Bruce Katz & Jeremy Nowak Jan 19, 2018

The authors of a new book, The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism, Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak joined the podcast to talk urbanism and cities. Bruce and Jeremy share how localism isn't just local government solving problems, but bringing different stakeholders together to tackle big issues that cities face.

Topics: Lightning round (1:40), Mt. Rushmore of Mayors (8:15), Writing "The New Localism" after the 2016 election & Brexit (19:20), Writing as co-authors & the aim of the book (23:30), The story of Pittsburgh & localism (36:20), Dealing with homelessness through localism (39:40), Diversity in the workforce (44:55), and The issues that need to be addressed in 2018 (51:50).

#154 Smart City Coordinator Kate Garman, Seattle, WA Jan 16, 2018

The first Smart City Coordinator for the City of Seattle, Washington, Kate Garman, joined GovLove to talk about her role and her thoughts on tech and local government. Kate revealed what a day in her job is like, what makes a city "smart" and what working in Amazon's hometown is like. She also compared working for Kansas City, MO with Seattle and her advice for those entering the profession.

Topics: Lightning round (0:45), How Kate got started in local government (5:40), Her definition of a "smart" city (7:45), A day in the life of a Smart City Coordinator (9:35), Why Seattle created her position (12:40), Comparing Seattle to Kansas City (16:30), How small cities can also be smart (18:10), Kate's work on AirBnB policies in Kansas City (20:00), Thoughts on Amazon & its new headquarters search (27:05), and Kate's advice for people starting a career in local government (34:00).

#153 The City of Detroit's Chief Storyteller, Aaron Foley Jan 12, 2018

Aaron Foley is an author, journalist and now the Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit, MI. He joined GovLove to talk about his position, which was created by the Mayor last year, and the unique work he's doing as a city employee. Aaron discussed his career path in journalism, the decision to take a job in local government and the importance of telling Detroit's stories.

Topics: Lightning round (2:50), Aaron's career path & influence of his parents (7:55), Standing up for Detroit after its downturn (15:15), Best books on Detroit & his mixed feelings on Detroit's comeback (20:20), Taking the Chief Storyteller job with the City (27:50), The work they did in year one (35:00), How they work with the City's communications shop (45:35), and Navigating local government bureaucracy (52:30).

#152 City Manager Troy Schulte, Kansas City, MO Jan 05, 2018

Leading Kansas City. Troy Schulte, the City Manager of Kansas City, MO, joined GovLove to talk about leading an organization of 4,400 employees. He discussed the City's bond program, using performance and data in local government, and the Royals World Series chances. He also talked about the challenges Kansas City faces and investing in the future.

Topics: Lightning round (0:25), Troy’s career path in local government (10:20), Starting a performance office in Kansas City (15:55), The City's bond program (19:20), Using data in local government (23:20), His favorite part of his job (25:35), The challenges Kansas City faces (30:05), Importance of transportation (32:40), and The Kansas City Royals victory parade (35:35).

#151 The GovieLovie Awards & 2017 Year End Look Back Dec 29, 2017

We take the last episode of the year to recognize our favorite episodes and interviews of 2017. GovLove hosts Kent Wyatt, Kirsten Wyatt and Ben Kittelson all handed out awards in different categories to their 15 favorite episodes. The episode also covered the most listened to episodes of the year and plans for 2018.

Topics: 2017 recap (1:05), Most listened to episodes (4:05), Segments! Best gifts & funniest ELGL thing in 2017 (7:55), The GovieLovie Awards (16:30), Looking ahead to 2018 (1:00:20), and Can't let it go (1:06:00).

Awards:

Tee Hee: #155 Practical Innovation in Syracuse & Anchorage with Sam Edelstein & Brendan Babb

Data Download: #135 Harnessing the Power of Data with Leigh Tami, Cincinnati, OH

5 O’Clock Somewhere: #140 Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond, VA

Sticky: #160 Serving with Your Whole Heart in Little Rock, Arkansas with Melissa Bridges & Susan Langley

Mind Opener: #104 Empathy & Disruption in City Management with Kelly McAdoo

Tag Team: #147 Local Government Law: Are You Tweeting Into Trouble? With Dan Bolin & Julie Tappendorf

Hire Me Now: #122 Broadening Neighborhood Engagement in Seattle, WA with Kathy Nyland

Unexpected Magic: #154 Battling Homelessness in San Rafael, CA with Andrew Henning

Knope of the Year: #143 Commissioner Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County, OH

Brought Me To Tears: #158 Managing Crisis in Gatlinburg, TN with City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle

Dream Come True: #167 The New Urban Crisis with Richard Florida

Innovation, Baby! #105 The Wellbeing Initiative with Julie Rusk, Santa Monica, CA

Wonk: #162 Behavioral Insights & Benchmarking in Scottsdale, AZ with Brent Stockwell

Elephant in the Room: #132 Race & Diversity in the Planning Profession with Giovania Tiarachristie

I want you back again: #119 GFOA's New Executive Director, Chris Morrill

#150 Placemaking with the Project for Public Spaces Dec 22, 2017

Creating spaces for people. Two representatives from the Project for Public Spaces, Laura Torchio and Elka Gotfryd, joined the podcast to talk about how to shape and influences places. They discussed projects that they have worked on across the country, how engagement is important to placemaking and tools for people that want to do placemaking.

Topics include: Lightning round (1:20), How Laura & Elka got into placemaking (6:45), The work of Project for Public Spaces (12:55), Their definition of placemaking (15:05), Example projects (17:50), Importance of engagement & whether placemaking leads to gentrification (29:20), Examples of placemaking in small towns & rural areas (35:40), and Tools for placemaking (40:20).

#149 The New Urban Crisis with Richard Florida Dec 15, 2017

The acclaimed writer, urbanist and best selling author, Richard Florida joins the podcast to discuss his new book and the challenges cities face. Richard is a professor and Director of Cities for the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto, his most recent book "The New Urban Crisis" deals with the increases in inequality and segregation cities have experienced. He discusses the book, his love of Jimi Hendrix and the three T's of technology, talent and tolerance.

#148 Gathering a Tribe of Civic Innovators in San Jose, CA and The Atlas Dec 08, 2017

Improving collaboration and innovation in local government. Ellory Monks from The Atlas and Kip Harkness, the Deputy City Manager of San Jose, CA, join GovLove to talk about their work. The Atlas is a marketplace for local governments to work together and learn from each other on infrastructure projects. Kip leads the Office of Civic Innovation in San Jose. They discuss everything from juggling fire and celebrity look-a-likes to improving procurement and email management.

Topics Include: Lightning round (3:40), background from Ellory on The Atlas and how it was formed (12:25), what Kip learned working for PayPal (16:00), what Kip thinks innovation is (17:20), creating a place to fail forward (21:00), how Atlas and San Jose worked together (23:55), the office of innovation in San Jose (33:10), and what Kip and Ellory look for when they're hiring (43:20).

#147 Pay for Success Contracting with Brian Beachkofski, Third Sector Capital Partners Dec 01, 2017

Paying for the service outcome rather than the cost of implementation. Brian Beachkofski from Third Sector Capital Partners joins GovLove to talk about a new contracting model called Pay for Success contracting. He shares examples of local governments using the model and how it can be more effective in delivering services to people.

Topics: Lightning round (1:10), introducing the Pay for Success concept (3:25), examples of organizations like Los Angeles County using this model (4:40), the role of Third Sector in the process & implementing it in an organization (7:45), using data to make decisions (14:25), getting organization buy-in (19:50), and working with different levels of government (28:50).

#146 Player-Coach Management with Jestin Johnson, Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Nov 24, 2017

Managing in a consolidated city and county government. Jestin Johnson, the Assistant Manager of Athens-Clarke County, GA consolidated government, joins the podcast to talk about his career path and management philosophy. He shared his strong opinions on parking, being a player-coach type of manager and how important town-gown relations are in Athens.

Topics: Lightning round (0:30), Jestin's career background (4:45), what it's like working for a consolidated city-county government (10:50), skills it takes to manage very different job types (16:15), the Athens-Clarke County innovation ambassador program (18:55), working for a college town and town-gown relations (21:40), lessons from his career and Jestin's management style (24:10), and working in consulting (29:45).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#145 Trends in Human Resources with Heidi Voorhees, GovHR USA Nov 21, 2017

Recruiting & retaining talent in local government. Heidi Voorhees, the President of GovHR USA, joined GovLove to talk about the work of finding and attracting talented local government employees. Heidi discussed her experience as a Management Fellow in Kansas City, MO with current fellows Javon & Alyssa. She also talked about the importance of LinkedIn and the drawback of residency requirements.

Topics: Lightning round (0:35), Heidi's experience as a Kansas City Management Fellow (3:30), what drew her to human resources (5:45), tech in human resources (7:00), recruiting & retaining the next generation (8:55), GovHR USA's work (10:55), the challenge of finding and attracting talent (14:50), and her LinkedIn tips (22:25).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#144 Behavioral Insights & Benchmarking in Scottsdale, AZ with Brent Stockwell Nov 17, 2017

Brent Stockwell, Assistant City Manager of Scottsdale, AZ, joined GovLove to discuss his work on performance measurement, behavioral insights and his favorite color. Brent described how Scottsdale is taking a new approach to simplifying city reports. He also shared his thoughts on diversity in local government and how tourism has shaped Scottsdale.

Topics: Lightning round (1:20), using behavioral insights in Scottsdale (7:40), simplifying reports & communication (19:00), managing tourism (25:15), his work on benchmarking (29:55), his thoughts on diversity in local government (38:20), and how he got into local government (43:35).

This interview was recorded from the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#143 GovLaunch, Connecting Startups & Cities with Barry Greenfield Nov 14, 2017

What startups and local government can do to work better together. Barry Greenfield the Co-Founder of GovLaunch, a platform for local governments to compare and review technology solutions. Barry discusses his career path, which includes a stint as an elected official, and what local governments and startups can learn from each other.

Topics: Lightning round (0:45), why Barry ran for local office (3:00), how local government can better engage (4:00), the mission of GovLaunch (7:00), what cities and startups can learn from each other (13:10), and how the procurement and RFP process can be improved (16:40).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#142 Serving with Your Whole Heart in Little Rock, Arkansas with Melissa Bridges & Susan Langley Nov 10, 2017

Innovation, performance and public service in Little Rock. Two people from the City of Little Rock, AR join GovLove to talk about their work. Melissa Bridges, Performance & Innovation Coordinator, and Susan Langley, City Clerk, discuss the Commodores, their career paths and a cross-departmental quality of life group.

Topics: Lighting round (2:30), how children impacted their careers (7:45), challenges and innovations in Little Rock (10:20), communicating to the public (19:25), what they want to bring to Little Rock (23:00), thoughts on public service and balancing work and life (26:35).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#141 Leadership & ICMA with Peggy Merriss, City Manager, Decatur, GA Nov 07, 2017

Get to know the City Manager of Decatur, Georgia. Peggy Merriss joins GovLove to discuss her career in local government, which includes 24 years as City Manager and stints in leadership positions with ICMA. She talked about the projects going on in Decatur, her experience as a woman in local government and more.

Topics: Lightning round (0:50), Peggy's career background (1:45), road diets (4:30), what keeps her in Decatur and how it's changed during her career (6:40), her time as ICMA's first female president (12:30), the importance of local government (18:05), top speakers at ICMA (21:00), and advice to someone starting their career in local government (25:00).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#140 Managing Crisis in Gatlinburg, TN with City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle Nov 03, 2017

Forest fire and emergency response. Cindy Cameron Ogle the City Manager of Gatlinburg, Tennessee joins GovLove to discuss what it was like to manage the city through a forest fire that destroyed 2500 buildings last year. She shared her experience dealing with the crisis and how both her home and the Mayor's home were lost in the fire. Cindy also discussed her leadership style and her path to becoming a City Manager.

Topics: Lighting round (1:10), Cindy's path into local government and becoming a City Manager (3:30), the experience of the 2016 wildfires in Gatlinburg (8:15), losing her home in the fire and supporting employees (17:50), and rebuilding after the fire (27:40).

This interview was recorded at the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

#139 Lean Six Sigma & Roundabouts with Jennifer Teal, City Administrator, Gahanna, OH Oct 31, 2017

Leading Gahanna, Ohio and improving processes. City Administrator Jennifer Teal joins GovLove to discuss how she's used her black belt in Lean Six Sigma to improve operations and the unique way they taught residents to use roundabouts. Jennifer also shared her experience as a female City Administrator and how she balances her work and life.

Topics: Lightning round (1:30) including her celebrity look alike and top four mentors and concerts attended. Jennifer's career path and her experience being a woman in local government leadership (5:05), what she looks for when hiring (7:40), the issues she deals with in her job (8:45) like infrastructure, growth and personnel issues. Her work using Lean Six Sigma principles and changing culture to challenge the way things have been done (14:20). Teaching residents about roundabouts (25:25). Her thoughts on diversity in local government and supporting families in the workplace (29:35).

This interview was recorded from the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#138 Power to the People with Marc Ott, Executive Director of ICMA Oct 27, 2017

From City Manager of Austin, Texas to leading ICMA, get to know Marc Ott. The Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Marc Ott, joined GovLove to discuss his career path in local government and his first year on the job at ICMA. Marc also shared his thoughts on diversity in local government as well as the importance of cities in the age of ineffective federal and state governments.

Topics include: Lightning round (0:50) including what book he's reading & his role model. What got Marc into local government (6:20), his time at the City of Austin, TX (11:50), his role with ICMA (23:50) including his thoughts on diversity, reflections on his first year and comparing being a City Manager with being Executive Director. Working with strong mayor cities and the National League of Cities (37:15) and the importance of local government (40:15).

This interview was recorded from the 2017 ICMA Conference in San Antonio, TX.

#137 Practical Innovation in Syracuse & Anchorage with Sam Edelstein & Brendan Babb Oct 20, 2017

Open data and innovation from coast to coast. Brendan Babb, the Chief Innovation Officer of Anchorage, Alaska and Sam Edelstein, the Chief Data Officer of Syracuse, New York join GovLove. They answered questions from our listeners, talked about how innovation doesn't have to be fancy and the role of an innovation office in a city.

#136 Battling Homelessness with Andrew Hening, San Rafael, CA Oct 13, 2017

Local solutions to homelessness and practicing radical empathy. Andrew Hening the Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach for the City of San Rafael, California joins GovLove to discuss his work reducing the homeless population in Silicon Valley. He also discussed his career path into local government, from law school to Americorps Vista. Andrew Hening took the #1 spot in this year's ELGL Traeger List of local government influencers. This episode was hosted by Javon Davis and Alyssa Dinberg, two Cookingham-Noll Management Fellows in Kansas City, MO.

#135 Finding Your Role Model with John Keisler, Long Beach, CA Oct 06, 2017

He started as a management assistant and now he's the Director of Economic and Property Development for the City of Long Beach, California, get to know John Keisler. John was also the innovation team director in Long Beach. In this episode Kent talks with John about his career path, role models and his definition of innovation.

#134 The Opioid Epidemic & Reporting on Government with Ian Birrell Sep 29, 2017

An international perspective on reporting and government. We're joined by a columnist and foreign correspondent during his recent trip to Kettering, Ohio. Ian Birrell a contributing editor of The Mail on Sunday and writer for several papers in London, England talked about his work as an international reporter and adviser for speech writing and crisis management. This episode was guest hosted by Stacy Schweikhart.

#133 Responding to Hurricane Irma with Dan Biles, Pasco County, Florida Sep 22, 2017

Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida on September 10 but the preparation to weather the major storm started well before then. Dan Biles, the County Manager of Pasco County, FL joins the podcast to discuss all the work that went into preparing for Hurricane Irma and what they have left to do now. He also shared the key role social media played in the County's communications strategy before, during and after the storm.

#132 The Effect of Driverless Cars & Amazon on Local Government Sep 15, 2017

How cities will be adjusting to automated vehicles and e-commerce. Dr. Ben Clark & Dr. Nico Larco from the University of Oregon join the podcast to discuss the impact of driverless cars and online shopping. Local governments will be adjusting through their tax and revenue policies, land use and more. These changes are already here, many brick and mortar retail stores are closing and Uber and Lyft are impacting how the public uses streets and parking.

#131 A 2nd Grader Interviews a County Manager about Local Government with Phil Smith-Hanes Sep 08, 2017

Career day with the County Manager of Ellis County, Kansas. To celebrate the start of the new school year we have an interview between second grader Eleanor Wyatt and Phil Smith-Hanes, the County Manager of Ellis County, KS. They discuss his career path, what he likes about his job and the differences between a county and a city.

#130 Managing Waco, TX with City Manager Dale Fisseler Sep 01, 2017

Film permits, building applications and more. Dale Fisseler, the City Manger of Waco, Texas, joins GovLove to talk about his career and managing a college town. He also discussed the impact of the TV show Fixer Upper on the city's planning and inspections department, as well as his journey from the water department to the city manager's office.

#129 Local Government Law: Are You Tweeting Into Trouble? Aug 25, 2017

Local government law and social media. In a new series we're exploring the legal side of local government and this week it's all about social media. Dan Bolin and Julie Tappendorf from the Ancel Glink law firm in Chicago, IL join the podcast to discuss. They talk about the cases and trends they are seeing in the legal world around social media.

#128 Community Outreach in Saint John, New Brunswick with Jacqueline Hamilton Aug 22, 2017

Community development and managing growth in Saint John, Canada. Jacqueline Hamilton the Commissioner of Growth and Community Development joins GovLove to talk about the City of Saint John's one-stop development shop and planning for the future. She also discusses what it's like dealing with cruise ships coming to your city.

#127 Social Innovation in Las Vegas with Dr. Lisa Morris Hibbler Aug 18, 2017

Helping kids and creating social innovation. Dr. Lisa Morris Hibbler joins GovLove to discuss her work at the City of Las Vegas, NV. She talked about how the City works closely with the school system to improve educational achievement, attendance and graduation rates. She also explained what exactly social innovation is and ranked her favorite movies.

#126 Love in Public Administration, Married Couples in Local Government Aug 15, 2017

True love in local government. We talk with three people whose spouse also works in public administration. They discuss balancing two local government careers, discussing issues at the kitchen table and taking advantage of two networks. Justin Miller works in Lakeville, Minnesota; Dianne Miller works for Eagan, Minnesota; and Ashley Garcia works for Costa Mesa, California.

#125 Getting Women & Girls Involved in Government with Commissioner Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County, OH Aug 11, 2017

Encouraging women and girls to get involved with local government. Commissioner Denise Driehaus is the first woman to serve on the Hamilton County, OH Board of Commissioners in 25 years. She wants to make sure that doesn't happen again, so she's starting a Women and Girls Council. Commissioner Driehaus talked about her goals for that Council and what the county is doing to battle Ohio's opioid epidemic.

#124 Preparing for the Solar Eclipse in Oregon with Lili’a Uili Neville & Patrick Rollens Aug 08, 2017

Local government in the path of totality. Lili’a Uili Neville from Benton County, OR and Patrick Rollens from the City of Corvallis, OR join GovLove to talk about preparing for thousands of visitors for the coming solar eclipse. Patrick and Lili'a also share some of the disruptions to services they expect to happen during the eclipse and the strangest question they've gotten.

#123 All in the Family with Tom and Mike Bonfield Aug 04, 2017

Two brothers, two City Managers. Tom and Mike Bonfield join the podcast to discuss what led them to public service, how they motivate employees and the toughest decisions they've made on the job. Tom Bonfield is the City Manager of Durham, NC and Mike Bonfield is the City Manager of Creedmoor, NC. Both brothers have been in local government for over 30 years including previous stints as City Managers in the state of Florida.

#122 Leading Richmond with Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond, VA Jul 28, 2017

The youngest Mayor ever elected to serve the City of Richmond, VA joins GovLove. Mayor Levar Stoney talked about why he wanted to run for local office, what he's learned so far in his seven months on the job and how he's working to change the culture at City Hall. Mayor Stoney discussed his vision for improving education and how the City is working to deal with the history of Richmond's Monument Avenue.

#121 Civic Innovation in Calgary, Canada with Jonathan Veale Jul 25, 2017

GovLove International returns! Jonathan Veale from the City of Calgary, Alberta talked about how he works to inspire innovation and solve civic challenges. This includes a unique idea platform where residents submit ideas to improve their community and others vote to support them. This crowd sourcing platform, known as Civic Innovation YYC, has lead to over 600 ideas to improve efficiency and effectiveness of city government.

#120 Making the Move with Tanya Ange, Kristin Donald and Clay Pearson Jul 21, 2017

Moving for a job opportunity is often a reality for someone pursuing a local government career. Three professionals who recently moved for a job join GovLove to give their advice and perspective on making that move. Tanya Ange is the Deputy City Manager of Boulder, CO and moved from Mankato, MN. Kristin Donald is the Finance Director in Bozeman, MT and moved from Denver, CO. Clay Pearson is the City Manager of Pearland, TX and made the move from Novi, MI.

#119 Reimagine Phoenix with Ginger Spencer, Public Works Director Jul 14, 2017

Talking trash. Ginger Spencer, the Public Works Director of the City of Phoenix, AZ joins the podcast to talk about their ambitious waste diversion plans and the innovative programs they have to encourage economic development with trash. Ginger also shared the department's efforts to increase women in minorities in public works.

#118 The Role of Housing Authorities with Melissa Maddox-Evans, Charleston, SC Jul 07, 2017

The need for affordable housing is an issue that cities across the country are facing. Melissa Maddox-Evans joins the podcast to discuss the role of the local Housing Authority. She is the CEO of the Housing Authority in Charleston County, SC and the General Counsel of the City of Charleston, SC Housing Authority. Melissa discusses the services housing authorities provide and how local governments can work with them.

#117 Harnessing the Power of Data with Leigh Tami, Cincinnati, OH Jun 30, 2017

The Chief Performance Officer of the City of Cincinnati, OH, Leigh Tami, joins GovLove to discuss data and performance. She shares her background and path to local government, what she looks for when hiring and the importance of data. Leigh also shares her experience as a woman in local government and her theme song.

#116 Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell Jun 23, 2017

The legendary Malcolm Gladwell joins the podcast to discuss the education system in America, social justice and the second season of his podcast, Revisionist History. Gladwell has been a staff writer at the New Yorker since 1996 and is the author of several books including David & Goliath, The Tipping Point and Blink.

#115 Somebody is Everybody with Pete Haga, Grand Forks, ND Jun 20, 2017

Talking community relations, battling the opioid epidemic and the Uber of food trucks, meet Pete Haga from the City of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Pete joins GovLove to discuss his work as the Community/Government Relations Officer in Grand Forks and shares his experience with the Knight Foundation, being a dad in local government and more.

#114 Race & Diversity in the Planning Profession with Giovania Tiarachristie Jun 16, 2017

Giovania Tiarachristie argues that if planning was a room, the elephant in it would be race. Giovania is the author of an amazing report exploring the barriers to recruiting and retaining planners of color. In this episode she discusses her report, the hazards of colorblindness, the value diversity can bring, micro-aggressions and so much more. Her report on diversity in planning has lessons and solutions for employers in any field or public sector organization.

#113 Jane's Walk Toronto with Alia Scanlon Jun 13, 2017

The GovLove international team returns with the City Organizer of Jane's Walk Toronto, Alia Scanlon. She talks about the mission of Jane's Walk, an organization that puts on free, locally organized walking tours, in which people get together to explore, talk about and celebrate their neighborhoods. These walking tours celebrate the legacy of Jane Jacobs an urbanist, author and planner.

GovLove International is hosted by John Allore, the assistant budget director of Durham, NC.

#112 Reason for Running with Sara Eskrich & Hannah Lebovits Jun 09, 2017

We talk running for City Council with Sara Eskrich, Alder for District 13 of Madison, WI, and Hannah Lebovits, candidate for University Heights, OH City Council. They discuss why they wanted to run for office, the challenges they have faced as women candidates and what they hope to accomplish. Sara shares her experience knocking on doors in a snow storm and Hannah talks about campaigning with her young children.

#111 Car-Free Planning in DC & Key West, FL with Chris Hamilton Jun 06, 2017

Chris Hamilton joins GovLove to talk all about car-free transportation, planning and paradise. Chris is the Car-Free Key West program manager and former Transportation Bureau Chief for Commuter Services in Arlington County, VA. He shares how small investments in marketing can impact transportation use, the value of bike share and more.

#110 Attracting High-Quaility, Diverse Employees with Michael Lawson, Aurora, CO Jun 02, 2017

The Intern Files is back, this time Madison Thesing interviews Michael Lawson from the City of Aurora, Colorado. Michael leads the city's special projects office and he discussed how Aurora is taking a new approach to hiring, on-boarding and culture. The "Shift" program started in August 2015 and its goal is to help Aurora attract the next generation of local government leaders.

#109 Public Service Perspectives from Indonesia & Singapore May 26, 2017

This week we get an international perspective on public service from Indonesia and Singapore. Shaffira Gayatri and Jerry Lewis Ong are two Legislative Process and Governance Professional Fellows visiting the United States, and specifically Guilford County, NC. The program they are a part of is a partnership between ICMA and the U.S. State Department and allows fellows to spend four weeks in a local government learning about governance practices, accountability and transparency. Shaffira and Jerry tell GovLove about their work back home on gender equality and refugees, as well as what they have learned on their fellowship.

#108 Our Erie with the Jefferson Educational Society May 19, 2017

Ferki Ferati & Ben Speggan join GovLove to talk about their work with the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Jefferson Society has been active in creating civic dialogue, exposing residents and leaders to issues and work going on in the city as well as promoting pride in their home town of Erie.

#107 The Local Government Management Fellowship Experience May 12, 2017

The latest Intern Files is back to discuss the ICMA local government fellow experience and getting started in a local government career. Madison Thesing is joined by David Nash-Hernandez, Eli Ritchie, Hunter Harris, Micah Phillips, Maia Knox & Craig Dudek. The six guests shared what they learned in their fellowship.

#106 Citizen Engagement with Matthew Crozier of Bang the Table May 09, 2017

Figuring out the best way to get residents involved and participating in local government has been a hot topic in cities across the country. Matthew Crozier from Bang the Table has been doing engagement work around the world and came on GovLove to discuss best practices, how cities can do better and more.

#105 Lauren Lockwood Chief Digital Officer, City of Boston, MA May 05, 2017

Lauren Lockwood, the Chief Digital Officer for Boston, MA joined GovLove to talk about technology, communications and bringing new thinking to local government. She discussed redesigning the city's website and holding government to the same standard as the private sector when it comes to digital engagement.

#104 Broadening Neighborhood Engagement in Seattle, WA with Kathy Nyland Apr 28, 2017

Kathy Nyland the Director of the Seattle, WA department of neighborhoods joined GovLove to talk about rethinking neighborhood engagement. With the goal of getting more people involved her department is working to find new ways to engage residents of the city. Kathy also shares her path to local government, which started as an overly involved resident and led to her current appointment.

#103 Kick-Starting Local Government with Stephen Goldsmith, Harvard Kennedy School Apr 21, 2017

Stephen Goldsmith, Director of the Innovations Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the former Mayor of Indianapolis, IN joins GovLove to talk about data, innovation and more. He compared his role as Mayor with being Deputy Mayor at New York City, discusses social media in government and the work of Data-Smart Cities Solutions.

#102 Trends & Topics in MPA Programs with Justin Marlowe & Alicia Shatteman Apr 18, 2017

Justin Marlowe from the University of Washington Evans School & Alicia Shatteman from Northern Illinois University join GovLove to discuss what they see as the trending topics in local government. From technology to communication and the use of the M-word Justin & Alicia share what they are seeing from their MPA students.

#101 GFOA's New Executive Director, Chris Morrill Apr 14, 2017

Chris Morrill, the City Manager of Roanoke, VA for one more day, joins GovLove to talk about his next career step. He discussed his career, which included a stint in the Peace Corps and consulting in South Africa, and how hard it was to make the choice to become the next Executive Director of GFOA. He discusses managing Roanoke through the Great Recession and how the city worked to revitalize its downtown. And learn about Chris' plans for GFOA and why he thinks it's a vital association.

#100 Water Works with David LaFrance, CEO of AWWA Apr 11, 2017

The CEO of the American Water Works Association, David LaFrance joins the podcast to talk about his work with the professional association, the challenges to Water service, Flint and more. David also discusses his career path, which includes a stint as the Finance Director at Denver Water.

#99 GovLove International with Gord Hume Apr 07, 2017

Welcome to the first episode of GovLove International! In this new monthly series we'll interview a local government professional from outside the US. This month John sat down with Gord Hume a speaker and advisor on local government in Canada. Gord is a former city councilor of London, Canada and has written several books on local government. In this interview he discusses his latest book, "The Leadership Crisis" an analysis of leaders in city halls. GovLove International is hosted by John Allore, the assistant budget director of Durham, NC and produced by Tony Reed, the assistant city manager of Mt. Angel, OR.

#98 City Attorney to City Manager with Jane Brautigam, Boulder, CO Mar 31, 2017

Jane Brautigam the City Manager of Boulder, CO joined GovLove to talk about her career path and making the leap from law to management. She also shared her perspective on diversity in local government, affordable housing in Boulder and dealing with prairie dogs. Jane has been the City Manager of Boulder since 2008 and prior to that was the manager of Dublin, OH, Loveland, CO and was an attorney for several local governments in Colorado.

#97 Leading Mecklenburg with Dena Diorio, County Manager Mar 24, 2017

The Manager of North Carolina's largest county joins GovLove to discuss her career path, building trust in government, communications and more. Dena Diorio has lead Mecklenburg County since 2014 and came to the south after starting her career in New York City and two cities in Connecticut.

#96 K-12 Leadership, Public Administration & Education with Chris Reykdal Mar 21, 2017

Chris Reykdal is a graduate of the North Carolina MPA program, former teacher and the new superintendent of public instruction for the State of Washington. Kirsten talks with Chris about his career path, how his public administration background helps him in his new position and why local government practitioners should think about running for office.

#95 The ICMA President & the Intern with Lee Feldman, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Mar 17, 2017

The latest installment of the Intern Files features the president! Lee Feldman, the City Manager of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, is the current president of ICMA. Madison asked him about his career path, his plans for his presidency and advice for someone new the profession.

#94 The City Hall Challenge Final - Peoria vs. Vancouver Mar 14, 2017

The City of Peoria, IL and the City of Vancouver, WA squared off last week in the championship round of the ELGL City Hall Challenge. This March Madness style bracket asked cities from across the country to compete for the best City Hall in the nation. Kent chatted with the two finalists right before the contest closed about what they learned, how they got the word out and more. The guests were Stacy Peterson from Peoria and Sophie Banner from Vancouver.

#93 There's No Perfect Path to Leadership Mar 10, 2017

The career ladder is becoming more of a career jungle gym, there's no one path to leadership in local government. To talk about a couple of non-traditional career paths Kirsten chatted with Amber Mathiesen, City Manager of Mt. Angel, OR, and AJ Fawver, Planning Director of Amarillo, TX. They shared how their backgrounds in records and planning prepared them for leadership positions.

#92 Leadership & Infrastructure with Dan Biles, Jefferson County, AL Mar 07, 2017

Dan Biles, the Deputy County Manager of Jefferson County, Alabama, joined GovLove to talk about his career path, perspective on leadership and rebuilding infrastructure after a municipal bankruptcy. We discussed his jump from the private sector to government and how he models the behavior he wants to see in his employees - like leaving at 1:00 pm. Dan also shared how his military experience shaped his career and how the deputy or assistant manager role is unique.

#91 Guided by Public Service with Cari Anne Cashon Mar 03, 2017

Cari Anne Cashon, entrepreneur and author, joined GovLove to talk about her passion for public service. She talked with Kent about her interest in local government, volunteering and You Go Girl her book that aims to inspire girls to pursue their dreams.

#90 Hometown Summit in Charlottesville, VA with Adam Klein and Carolyn Zelikow Feb 24, 2017

Coming to Charlottesville, VA in April is the Hometown Summit, a celebration of small and mid-sized cities across the country. The summit is a convention and celebration of leaders who have spearheaded some of the nation's most creative and successful campaigns for community change. To learn more about it and get the inside scoop GovLove chatted with one of the organizers, Carolyn Zelikow from the Aspen Institute, and a speaker, Adam Klein from American Underground in Durham, NC.

#89 Managing Themed Communities in Williamsburg, VA & Leavenworth, WA Feb 17, 2017

What's it like managing a community with a theme? Marvin Collins, the City Manager of historic colonial Williamsburg, VA, and Joel Walinski, the City Manager of the Bavarian themed Leavenworth, WA, join GovLove to talk about the unique challenges of managing a city with a theme. From code that requires use from the 1700s to reworking the McDonald's logo to make it Bavarian, they cover it all.

#88 Customer Service & Permitting How LocalGov Can Do Better Feb 14, 2017

Dan Ralley the Assistant City Manager of Upper Arlington, OH and Carl Anderson from ViewPoint Solutions joined GovLove to talk about how to better serve residents in permitting. They discuss Upper Arlington's approach to e-permitting and how it put customer service first.

#87 The Wellbeing Initiative with Julie Rusk, Santa Monica, CA Feb 10, 2017

Our fearless intern is back! The ICMA/ELGL Oregon Management Fellow, Madison Thesing talked with Julie Rusk, the Chief of Civic Wellbeing in Santa Monica, CA about their wellbeing initiative, what brought her into local government and the importance of community wellbeing.

#86 Empathy & Disruption in City Management with Kelly McAdoo, Hayward, CA Feb 07, 2017

Taking a Silicon Valley approach to city management, Kelly McAdoo discusses her innovative approach to leading the City of Hayward, CA. McAdoo describes how customer empathy and disruption are key to better serving residents of her city. She also talks about being a woman in a leadership position and how to attract more female city managers to the profession.

#85 Analyst Turned Candidate with Greg Clay, Atlanta, GA Feb 03, 2017

Atlanta City Council Candidate, Greg Clay, talked all about the ATL and public service. Greg earned his MPA from Kansas University and has worked in city hall as an administrator in Georgia and Kansas. He talked about the decision to leave administration behind and run for elected office, how he feels about the Falcons' new stadium and even his take on the FX show Atlanta.

#84 Preparing for the Snowpocalypse with Mark Vanderpool, Sterling Heights, MI Jan 27, 2017

What does it take to handle winter weather? From pre-treatment to salting and plowing the City Manager of Sterling Heights, MI talks about all the preparation and work that goes into keeping roads clear in even the harshest of winters. Mark talked about best practices and loving winter so much he has trouble sleeping before a big snowstorm.

#83 Disruptive Innovation with Ed Blayney, Louisville, KY Jan 24, 2017

The City of Louisville, KY is one of the leaders in local government innovation and we sat down with Ed Blayney, their innovation project manager. He discussed how they used civic hacking to cut down on fires in vacant homes, how they use data to solve problems and more. Ed also gave his recommendations for favorite barbecue and whiskey in Kentucky.

#82 Love and Community with Hyong Yi, Charlotte, NC Jan 20, 2017

We sat down with Assistant City Manager of Charlotte, NC and sock of the month club member, Hyong Yi. He shared his inspiring story of dealing with tragedy and finding the power of love and community. After the death of his wife, Hyong started a 100 Love Notes project to celebrate her life and spread love to other people. Now Hyong focuses on being a great parent and keeping love at the center of his local government work.

#81 Celebrating Mentor Month with Traca Savadogo Jan 17, 2017

January is Mentor Month! ELGL has been celebrating by telling the stories of mentor relationships and the best advice people have gotten over the years. To celebrate the month we sat down with Traca Savadogo from Tall Poppy Consulting to talk about how to mentor, what to look for in a mentor and more.

#80 You Can Run for Local Elected Office Jan 13, 2017

Beaverton, OR City Councilor Lacey Beaty and Roanoke, VA City Councilor Michelle Dykstra join GovLove for a wide ranging interview on what it takes to run for local office. We talk to each of them individually about their paths to public service and get them together to compare notes and give advice to anyone interested in how to run for city council.

#79 The Blue & You, Policing & Diversity with Dr. Brian Williams Jan 06, 2017

Dr. Brian Williams from the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs, joins GovLove to talk about policing. From community policing to representative bureaucracy we covered it all. Dr. Williams has worked with police departments and community groups across the country to improve relations between police and communities of color.

#78 The Year in Review with Kent, Kirsten & Ben Dec 30, 2016

The three GovLove hosts, Kent, Kirsten and Ben, got together to take a look back at 2016. They each picked their Top 5 episodes of the year and discussed their selections (43:50). Segments included: The most listened to episodes of the year (0:50); Three of a kind (7:20) featuring holiday movies, ELGL memories, holiday songs and books; Listener questions (22:40); Favorite iTunes reviews (28:30); Goals for 2017 (31:20); and the episode ended with "Can't Let it Go" where each host picked something they're obsessed with right now (1:14:50).

#77 A Bottomless Pit of Ideas, Leaders in LocalGov Podcasting Dec 23, 2016

Podcast on podcasting! Kent sat down with three leaders in local government podcasting: Dana Berchman of Gilbert, AZ host of Government Gone Digital; Benjamin Brown from the North Carolina League of Municipalities, host of Municipal Equation; and Matt Horn from Geneva, NY host of 47 Castle Street. They talked about what it takes to start a podcast, why it's a valuable communications tool and more.

#76 Get to Know the Queen City, Charlotte, NC Dec 20, 2016

Earlier this month, GovLove hit the road and explored Charlotte, NC thanks to an invite to the NCLGBA Winter Conference. We used the conference as an excuse to talk to two awesome administrators working for the City of Charlotte, JL Lawrence and Rob Phocas. We talked to JL about public transit in the region and citizen engagement, then we chatted with Rob about sustainability and Charlotte's smart district.

#75 Getting a Burgh's Eye View on Innovation in Pittsburgh, PA Dec 16, 2016

GovLove takes a visit to the Steel City in this week's episode. We chatted with two people from the Pittsburgh, PA Office of Innovation & Performance about their open data and innovation efforts. Debra Lam, the Chief of Innovation & Performance and Laura Meixell the Analytics & Strategy Manager discussed PGH Lab, the city's Burgh's Eye View app and more.

#74 Behind the Voting Booth with Tim Tsujii, Forsyth County, NC Dec 09, 2016

We take a deep dive on the administrative side of elections with Tim Tsujii the Elections Director of Forsyth County, NC. We talked what it takes to prepare for an election, common misconceptions and more.

#73 The Power of Story with Paul Leonard, Upper Dublin Township, PA Dec 02, 2016

Paul Leonard the Township Manager of Upper Dublin, PA came on the podcast to talk public safety, emergency response and his favorite podcasts. Paul has been in local government for 30 years and is still an active fire fighter.

#72 SimCity Influencing a Generation of Local Government Leaders Nov 25, 2016

The game that launched a thousand local government careers. From future planners to city managers, SimCity inspired lots of local government leaders to pursue their chosen career. We talked with Ocean Quigley, the Creative Director at Facebook and former Creative Director at EA in charge of SimCity.

#71 Let's Get Innovative with Nick Kittle Adams County, CO Nov 18, 2016

We sit down with Nick Kittle about his work with Adams County, CO on innovation and sustainability initiatives. Nick shares how he combats "energy vampires," and shares his definition of "innovation." Nick also gets real on the podcast, sharing his life experiences and how they have motivated him to serve the public and focus on his family.

#70 Swapcast with Archive Social CEO Anil Chawla Nov 15, 2016

We sat down with the CEO of Archive Social, Anil Chawla to talk civic technology and the GovTech Podcast. Then the tables get turned and Anil asks Kent Wyatt about the story behind ELGL and GovLove.

#69 Water Wise with George Hawkins, CEO of DC Water Nov 11, 2016

George Hawkins the CEO of DC Water comes on the podcast to talk about his path to local government, the innovative things the DC water system is doing and more.

#68 The League of Women in Government Nov 08, 2016

The League of Women in Government is an exciting new group working to bring attention to the issue of gender equality in local government. Specifically they've focused on raising the percentage of women in chief administrative officer positions from 13 percent, the rate it was in 1984 and 2014. GovLove interviewed three leaders involved with the group who spoke at a symposium before the ICMA conference in Kansas City.

#67 Between Two Interns with Anthony Hooper, Public Works DIrector Nov 04, 2016

The return of Between Two Interns! For their first episode they grill Anthony Hooper, the Public Works Director of Lake Oswego, OR. Our new interns, Ashley Sonoff and Madison Thesing, are both Fellows in the Portland, OR area. For the first part of the episode we get to know them and their path to local government. Then the interns talk with Anthony about being a manager, getting creative to advance and more.

#66 Election Season with the League of Minority Voters Oct 28, 2016

The 2016 Election season is in the home stretch with contests at every level of government. We sat down with Promise King the Executive Director of the Oregon League of Minority Voters to talk about voter turnout, issues important to minority voters and more.

#65 Recapping the ELGL16 Pop-Up Conferences Oct 25, 2016

On October 21st Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) held six pop-up conferences across the country involving more than 550 local government administrators. Organizers from each of the locations come on the podcast to talk about what they were inspired by and their favorite speakers and sessions.

#64 Twitter & Free Speech: What's mute got to do with it? Oct 22, 2016

How does blocking or muting someone on Twitter affect free speech? Angela Greben has been doing research into precisely this topic. She has been filing records requests across the country to find out who elected officials and public Twitter accounts have been muting to find out if it impacts your first amendment right.

#63 Local Government Website Do's and Don'ts Oct 18, 2016

What's it like to launch a new city website? In an interview from the 2016 ICMA Conference in Kansas City, Mike Ekey from the City of Raymore, MO and Ashley Fruechting from Vision Internet tell the story of Raymore's process and launch. From the bid process to the ribbon cutting (yes ribbon cutting of a website) Mike and Ashley give a behind the scenes look at the process.

#62 The Importance of Organizational Culture with Ron Holifield Oct 14, 2016

Ron Holifield from Strategic Government Resources comes on the podcast to discuss culture and how it can impact hiring and brand perception. The interview covers everything from servant leadership to how prepared local governments are for the "silver tsunami."

#61 Talking Kansas City, MO with Assistant City Manager Rick Usher Oct 07, 2016

We sat down with Assistant City Manager Rick Usher while we were in Kansas City, MO for the 2016 ICMA Conference. He discussed the city’s new streetcar, bringing Google Fiber to the region and supporting the start-up community. Rick also shed some light on KC’s ties to history and how the city has changed in his 30 year career at City Hall.

#60 Dad Talk, Balancing Diapers and Budgets Sep 30, 2016

It's all dad talk in this week's episode! Four guests come on the podcast to talk about balancing being a father and working in local government. Patrick Rollens (Corvallis, OR), Ryan Adams (Irving, TX), Ben McCready (Normal, IL) and Matt Yager (Plano, TX) talk about dealing with sick kids and what workplaces can do to be more family friendly.

#59 The Future of Libraries with Amy Garmer, Aspen Institute Sep 27, 2016

Live from #ICMA2016! GovLove was in Kansas City, MO for the annual conference and found some time to sit down with Amy Garmer from the Aspen Institute and the director of the Dialogue on Public Libraries. She talks how libraries are changing, "technology petting zoos" and more.

#58 Barn-Raising & Battling Incivility with Julia Novak Sep 23, 2016

As President of The Novak Consulting Group, Julia Novak helps cities across the country with everything from executive recruitment to strategic planning. She comes on the podcast to talk the rise of incivility in government and the need to think of public service as a "barn raising" effort.

#57 Michigan Municipal League with Bridget & Kirsten Sep 20, 2016

Reporting from the Michigan Municipal League conference from the top of the mitten, Bridget Doyle and Kirsten Wyatt talk about what they've learned at the conference and what they spoke on. They also end the episode with some classic jokes.

#56 Deciphering the New Labor Rules for Exempt Employees with Kristin Donald, Apex Park and Recreation District Sep 16, 2016

The Department of Labor released new rules for exempt and non-exempt employees. In this episode we sit down with Kristin Donald, the finance manager of Apex Park & Recreation District in Colorado, to talk about what organizations are doing to get ready.

#55 Smart Cities with Ed Krafcik from Soofa Sep 09, 2016

Soofa Benches' Ed Krafcik comes on GovLove to talk about smart urban furniture appliances. Soofa creates solar powered charging stations that double as park benches. He and Kirsten also discuss smart cities and the role of technology in government.

#54 Civic Tech with Chris Maddox, CEO of Seneca Systems Sep 06, 2016

Chris Maddox comes on the podcast to talk about local government and technology. The conversation covered everything from his career in the tech sector to engaging citizens and creating a business environment to encourage the technology industry.

#53 Impacting Florida with Matt Surrency, Mayor of Hawthorne, FL Sep 02, 2016

Mayor Matt Surrency joins Kent to chat about local government in Florida. They discuss his decision to run for elected office and his time as President of the Florida League of Cities.

#52 Modern Policing & Social Media with Captain Chris Hsiung, Mountain View, CA Aug 26, 2016

Kirsten, ELGL's Executive Director, talks with Captain Chris Hsiung from the Mountain View, CA police department about everything from affordable housing in Silicon Valley, to the challenges and opportunities of a modern police career.

#51 Reporting on Local Government with Kate Queram, News & Record Aug 19, 2016

Ben sits down with Kate Queram from the Greensboro News And Record to talk about media coverage of local government. Prior to her tenure covering Guilford County, NC, Ms. Queram worked as a reporter in Wilmington, NC and Madison, WI.

#50 Get to know ICMA with Rob Carty Aug 12, 2016

In this episode of GovLove, Kirsten talks with Rob Carty from ICMA, one of #ELGL16 sponsors. Learn about ICMA's work on local government management topics. Note: this episode of GovLove was taped before the announcement that ICMA has a new executive director, Mr. Marc Ott from Austin, Texas.

#49 Podcast on Podcast with Jim Hurley, McHenry County, IL Aug 09, 2016

In this bonus episode we return to Wisconsin for an interview with the Assistant to the County Administrator of McHenry County, Jim Hurley. He and Kent talk all things communications including Jim's own dive into the world of podcasting.

#48 A Day In The Life of Innovation Offices in Illinois, North Carolina & Florida Aug 05, 2016

So what does an innovation office do? Kirsten aims to answer just that question in this three part episode with Kate Green from Peoria, IL, Josh Edwards from Durham, NC and Sam Timko from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The three guests all share what they do each day and the goal of their organization when it comes to innovation.

#47 Standing Up to Gender Discrimination with Kirsten Wyatt Jul 29, 2016

Kent, Kirsten and Ben were together in Wrightsville Beach, NC and used the opportunity to talk together about Kirsten's gender discrimination tort claim notice and eventual departure from West Linn, Oregon. They talk about discrimination, the step-by-step process to stand up for yourself, and Kirsten's transition from local government practitioner to ELGL Executive Director.

#46 Leveraging Data to Improve Local Government with Zach Markovits, What Works Cities Jul 22, 2016

What does it take to make cities more innovative and efficient? What Works Cities is an organization that strives to answer that question. Kent Wyatt sat down with Director of City Programs for What Works Cities, Zach Markovits to find out more about the organization.

#45 The NIU Experience with Dr. Zeemering & Jon Pape Jul 19, 2016

In another report from Wisconsin, Kent Wyatt talks all things public administration. Joining him from Northern Illinois University, Dr. Eric Zeemering and Jon Pape talk about their experience at the school.

#44 Texas Sunset Commission with Jennifer Jones Jul 15, 2016

Deep in the heart of Texas. Kirsten Wyatt sat down with Jennifer Jones, the Deputy Director of the Texas Sunset Commission, to talk about her work improving the efficiency of State government. Their evaluation team takes a hard look at departments and programs asking the question, is this still needed?

#43 Recruiting Local Government with Heidi Voorhees Jul 12, 2016

Reporting from Wisconsin Kent Wyatt sat down with Heidi Voorhees of GovHR USA to talk about recruiting in local government. He also discussed the search for the new ICMA director.

#42 Participatory Budgeting in Greensboro, NC Jul 08, 2016

In honor of the New Fiscal Year we have a budgeting focused episode. Participatory budgeting is one of the latest trends sweeping cities across the country, we sat down with Karen Kixmiller from the City of Greensboro, NC to talk about their experience with participatory budgeting.

#41 Attracting Veterans to Local Government with Josh Schoemann, Washington County, WI Jul 04, 2016

To celebrate Independence Day we're sharing this interview with Josh Schoemann the County Administrator of Washington County, WI. He discussed how his experience in the military shapes his work in local government as both an administrator and elected official.

#40 Data Download: Examining Women in the Profession Jun 30, 2016

How many women lead local governments across the country? Is it still 13 percent, or is there more to the story? Kirsten Wyatt and Stacy Schweikart come on the podcast to discuss the latest ICMA data on women in the profession. Follow along with their article series at elgl.org.

#39 Charlotte, NC Open Streets & Community Engagement Jun 24, 2016

This week we profile an innovative community engagement effort from the City of Charlotte, North Carolina. Sarah Hazel and Monica Holmes come on to talk about Open Streets 704, an event where they shut down the streets to cars and opened them to people.

#38 Between Two Interns with Scott Lazenby, City Manager of Lake Oswego, OR Jun 17, 2016

The interns make their triumphant return! Roger Gonzalez and Mark Yager talked with Lake Oswego, OR city manager and Portland State professor, Scott Lazenby. Their conversation covered innovations in local government, getting rid of the performance review and more.

#37 The "Appycademy" & Communications in Appleton, WI Jun 10, 2016

We sat down with Chad Doran the communications coordinator for Appleton, WI. Recently he started a citizens academy to help residents learn more about the operations of the city and engage with their local government. Our conversation also covered the challenges of local government communications and the best pizza in Appleton.

#36 Tackling Minimum Wage at the Local Level Jun 03, 2016

Across the nation communities are dealing with the issue of minimum wage, especially in cities with rising rents. Cities and counties are taking the initiative to raise their own local wage in response. For this episode we have four California local government professionals talking about what their community has done. Guests are Kimbra McCarthy from Mountain View, CA; Matt Bronson from San Mateo, CA; and Andy Agle and Gigi Decavalles from Santa Monica, CA.

#35 Best Local Government Video Ever May 26, 2016

Kent is joined this week by Brian Ligon from Round Rock, TX and Scott McDonell from Dane County, WI. These two are the brains behind Ron Pitchman and Chad Vader, the stars of two of the most creative local government videos we've seen. They discuss local government communication and finding creative ways to get your message out.

#34 Annual vs. Biennial Budgeting Smackdown with Casey Camors & Haley Fish May 20, 2016

The Finance Directors of Milwaukie, OR and Canby, OR join Kirsten to discuss the pros and cons of annual budgeting and biennial budgeting. Casey Camors and Haley Fish share their experiences and trade jabs in this week's episode.

#33 Talking Finance & GFOA With Marc Gonzales May 13, 2016

Clackamas County, OR Finance Director and incoming GFOA President, Marc Gonzales, joins us this week. Marc discussed everything from how he got into local government accounting to joining GFOA and seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert.

#32 Parks and Planning with New York City Commissioner Mitchell Silver May 06, 2016

What's it like to manage a parks system for over 8.5 million people? For this week's episode we sat down with New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mitchell Silver. He's a planner with over 30 years of experience and took the helm of the big apple's parks system in 2014 after serving as the top planning official in the city of Raleigh, NC. We discuss everything from borderless parks to gentrification and Robert Moses.

#31 The Candidates with Josh Dukelow and Jon Stehle Apr 29, 2016

This week on GovLove Kent Wyatt sits down with Josh Dukelow and Jon Stehle on what it's like to run for local elected office. Everything from dealing with the pressure of debates to endorsements and fundraising. This episode was also streamed live on Periscope back on April 26th.

#30 Getting Millennials to Choose Government with Philip Joyce, University of Maryland Apr 22, 2016

This week we sit down with Professor Philip Joyce from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He recently wrote an article for Governing Magazine on what governments at every level need to do to attract millennials to the sector. We go through his five recommendations and explore how to make those changes.

#29 Between Two Interns with Michael Brown, City Manager of Hillsboro, OR Apr 15, 2016

Intern takeover! The Oregon local government fellows, Roger Gonzalez and Mark Yager take the reigns on this week's episode. They chatted with Hillsboro, OR City Manager Michael Brown on everything from his hatred of email and why he plays with fruit to attracting businesses and engaging youth.

#28 Talking Plainly about Infrastructure with Taylor Huckaby, BART Apr 08, 2016

This week's guest went viral recently with his honest and straightforward tweets about the state of public transportation in San Francisco, CA. Taylor Huckaby chatted with Kirsten Wyatt about the importance of transit, why local government needs to communicate more openly and more.

#27 The Start-Up City with Gabe Klein & Leah Treat Apr 01, 2016

Kent Wyatt sits down with Gabe Klein and Leah Treat to talk about their time in the City of Chicago Mayor's Office, Leah's work as Portland's director of transportation, and Gabe's book, "The Start-Up City." Their conversation covers everything from innovation in city government to balancing parenthood and a career.

#26 Public Service Alphabet Soup with Jenni Tan, City Councilor, West Linn, OR Mar 25, 2016

Kirsten Wyatt sat down with West Linn City Councilor Jenni Tan to talk about the work she's done as a member of several National League of Cities committees with emphasis on developing leaders both at home and abroad.

#25 Gaming Urban Design with GreaterPlaces Mar 25, 2016

Gaming and urban planning meet in this week's episode. Lisa Nisenson and Sarah Lewis from GreaterPlaces join GovLove to talk about how they are using a card game to help people talk about their communities. They are the minds behind 'Cards Against Urbanity' and their next project will work to help communities engage with citizens in their planning efforts through games and more.

#24 In Defense of Special Districts with Bobbi Nance and Cassandra Ulven Mar 18, 2016

By now you have probably heard John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" segment on special districts where he proclaimed them, among other things, ghost governments. On this week's episode we have two administrators that work for special districts to explain the benefits of this unique form of government. Cassandra Ulven from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in the Portland, OR metro region and Bobbi Nance from the Park District of Oak Park, IL lend their perspective and expertise.

#23 Kirsten and Bridget Get Frank from the 2016 Frank Conference Mar 11, 2016

Bridget Doyle and Kirsten Wyatt get together to recap their #Frank2016 experience. The Frank conference is all about public focused communication. Between quoting Damn Daniel and avoiding bats Kirsten and Bridget learned some communications tips and ideas for future ELGL conferences.

#22 Glass Ceiling Shattering Police Chiefs with Jeri Williams, Phoenix, AZ & Denise Turner, Gilroy, CA Mar 04, 2016

This week we have a throwback episode! Two glass ceiling shattering women joined GovLove back in 2016 to talk about policing. Chief Jeri Williams, who now leads the Phoenix police department, was the Chief in Oxnard, California during this interview. Chief Denise Turner, who is now retired after 31 years in law enforcement, lead the Gilroy, California department back when this episode first aired. They each shared their path into the field of policing, what it's like being a female police officer and how the field has changed during their career. This episode will make you laugh, will make you think, and will make you want to work for these two remarkable and inspiring chiefs.

Topics: Their career paths into policing (1:55), The importance of mentors (9:05), Recruiting women into law enforcement (15:15), The perspective & skills women bring to policing (26:15), Their first year as police officers (30:10), The value that female police officers bring to the department (34:40), and the lightning round (40:45).

#21 The Poll of Record with Dr. Kenneth Fernandez, Elon University Mar 03, 2016

It's polling season! With primaries across the nation underway and the national election coming this fall the news and internet have been flooded with poll results. Kent Wyatt talked with Dr. Kenneth Fernandez from Elon University to talk about the Elon Poll, which acts at the poll of record in North Carolina. They discussed everything from the presidential race to the nitty gritty of polling.

#20 Say Yes Guilford, Creating Opportunity Through Education with Mary Vigue Feb 19, 2016

What if there was a way to get local governments, school systems and non-profits all working toward the same goal of improving student achievement? That's precisely the mission of Say Yes to Education. This organization works to support kids so more of them graduate high school and go to college. Ben sits down with Mary Vigue, the executive director of the newest Say Yes community Guilford County, to learn more about the program and how it works.

#19 Between Two Interns with Pat Martel, ICMA President & City Manager, Daly City, CA Feb 12, 2016

The Oregon local government interns are back! Roger Gonzalez and Mark Yager sat down with ICMA president Pat Martel for an edition of Between 2 Interns. They chatted about everything from getting started in local government and standing out in a pile of resumes to Pat's goals for her ICMA presidency.

#18 Local Government Technology, Next Request and Seneca Systems Feb 05, 2016

A few months ago, ELGL Co-Founder and GovLove host, Kent Wyatt sat down with two people active in the local government tech scene. His guests were, Tamara Manik-Perlman, CEO of Next Request and Chris Maddox, CEO of Seneca Systems. Their conversation covered everything from transparency in government and user experience to the Warriors win streak and celebrity look-a-likes.

#17 A Regional Approach with Lee Worsley, Executive Director of the Triangle J Council of Governments Jan 29, 2016

This week GovLove sits down with Lee Worsley the Executive Director of the Triangle J Council of Governments in North Carolina. He explains what a COG does and the role they play in everything from elderly care to high speed internet. Lee also tells us about leading small and big counties and where he stands on the east vs. west Carolina BBQ debate.

#16 Resiliency In Joplin, Missouri with Sam Anselm, City Manager Jan 22, 2016

After one of the worst tornados on record, many thought the city of Joplin, Missouri would never be the same. But local residents, nearby agencies and volunteers from across the country banded together to help the battered town. City Manager Sam Anselm describes what the recovery was like and how far the city of 51,000 has come in the last 5 years.

#15 Navigating a Local Government Career Together, Meet Bo & Michelle Ferguson Jan 02, 2016

What's it like to balance a two career household when both people are in local government? Meet Bo and Michelle Ferguson, they've been doing just that for most of their careers and have found a way to make it work. Listen as they discuss their career paths, work-life balance and eggnog recipes.

#14 Veterans In Local Government with Will Doerfer and Darrin Tangeman Dec 11, 2015

Two local government administrators who also happen to be veterans. Will Doerfer (Hyde County, NC, Special Assistant County Manager and NCACC/ICMA Management Fellow) and Darrin Tangeman (District Manager, ‎Pueblo West Metropolitan District) discuss transitioning from a military career to a local government career. Learn how local government can be more proactive in reaching veterans.

#13 Lets Get Ethical, Local Government Staff Debating ICMA's Two Year Guideline Nov 28, 2015

Join Tim Wolff (Lake Isabella, MI), Matt Yager (Plano,TX), Mike Ekey (Raymore, MO) and Ben DeClue (Lebanon, MO) as they discuss the benefits and drawbacks of ICMA's Tenet 4, which includes a guideline directing ICMA members to serve a minimum of two years in a job. Tim, Matt, Mike and Ben bring their unique perspectives to this GovLove episode.

#12 Let's Get Ethical, Explaining ICMA's Two Year Guideline with Martha Perego & Julie Underwood Nov 20, 2015

This week the GovLove team sits down with Martha Perego from ICMA and Julie Underwood the Assistant City Manager of Daly City, CA to discuss one of the hotly debated guidelines for ICMA members, the two year job requirement. This is part of the ICMA code of ethics and essentially encourages members to stay in a position for at least two years before moving on.

#11 Halloween in Chapel Hill, NC Managing Large Downtown Crowds Nov 06, 2015

In honor of Halloween we’ve got a scary local government story. What would your town do if about 80,000 people descended upon it for a night? That isn’t a bad dream, it happened to the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2007 and even in the years since, with efforts to reduce crowd size, about 40,000 costumed revelers come to the town annually. GovLove talks with Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue and interim Fire Chief Matt Sullivan about all the work that goes on behind the scenes to put this event on.

#10 Between Two Interns, Meet Roger Gonzalez & Mark Yager, the Oregon Local Government Fellows Oct 23, 2015

We introduce a semi-recurring series called 'Between Two Interns,' and talk with the Oregon Local Government Interns. Roger Gonzalez and Mark Yager discuss everything from their impressions of Oregon to the term millennials and the projects they're working on.

#9 Millennials in the Workplace, a Conversation with Cam Marston Oct 09, 2015

In this episode of GovLove, we talk with Cam Marston, an expert on the impact of generational change and its impact on the marketplace. As an author, columnist, blogger, and lecturer, he imparts a clear understanding of how generational demographics are changing the landscape of business. Recently, Cam shook things up at the League of California Cities Conference during his presentation on generational differences. Several ELGL members took notice and engaged in a lively Twitter discussion focused around some of Cam’s research and comments.

#8 The Asheville Budget Explorer with Eric Jackson & Tony McDowell Sep 18, 2015

Anyone that works in local government knows that the annual budget is one of the most important efforts an organization goes through each year. But getting citizens involved can be challenging. Our two guests on today’s episode of GovLove has made efforts to make the City of Asheville, NC more open so that more citizens can get involved and be heard. Eric Jackson is the CEO of DemocracyApps and Tony McDowell is the Budget & Financial Reporting Manager for City of Asheville, NC.

#7 Tom Lundy, County Manager, Catawba County, NC Aug 28, 2015

From intern to County Manager. Tom Lundy has become a legend in Catawba County, NC. He's been the Manager at Catawba for 36 years as well as served as the President of ICMA, the National Association of County Administrators, and the North Carolina City-County Management Association. In this GovLove Episode, Lundy talks about his perspective on local government, how things have changed during his career, and some of his advice.

#6 We Love Local Government with Glen Ocsko Aug 20, 2015

"A computer beat me once at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing." Glen Ocsko is chock full of these kinds of equal parts hilarious and true -isms for local government folks. As the founder of WeLoveLocalGovernment.com and a private consultant for public sector digital solutions in the United Kingdom, he knows what he’s talking about.

#5 Reducing Domestic Violence with Catherine Johnson, Family Justice Center, Guilford County, NC Aug 14, 2015

Guilford County recently opened its own Family Justice Center with the vision, "To protect the vulnerable, stop the violence, restore hope, and make our community safer." This episode of GovLove is with Catherine Johnson the Director of the Guilford County Family Justice Center and the person who was tasked with getting the center up and running.

#4 Social Media in Local Government, Lori Hall, West Linn, OR Aug 06, 2015

How can governments up their Twitter followers? Increase traffic to parks? Lori Hall, the Citizen Engagement Coordinator at the City of West Linn, breaks down her social media strategy.

#3 Increasing Women in Leadership, Gender Equality in Local Government Jul 24, 2015

GovLove Co-Host Kirsten Wyatt and Bridget Kozlowski, Community Relations Director for Sterling Heights, MI, dive into the important issue of increasing the percentage of women in local government. These two women have been champions in leading the conversation on how to speed up the glacial pace of women entering into the local government space.

#2 Budgeting & Engagement in Durham, NC with Bertha Johnson & John Allore Jul 09, 2015

Two guests from the City of Durham, North Carolina join GovLove to discuss budgeting and engaging residents in the budget process. Bertha Johnson, Director of Budget & Management Services, and John Allore, Assistant Director of Budget & Management Services, share what's going on in the Bull City. From an E-Town Hall to Coffees with Council, learn about what they're up to.

#1 Local Government Finance with Casey Camors, Milwaukie, OR Jul 09, 2015

GovLove Co-Host Kirsten Wyatt interviews Casey Camors, the new Finance Director of Milwaukie, Oregon. They discuss her unique path to a leadership position in Finance plus her passion for working in local government.

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