TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Government

    The HaltingWinter Podcast

    The HaltingWinter Podcast tells the stories of the people who keep our communities running.

    Hosted by Seth Winterhalter, keynote speaker, storyteller, and founder of HaltingWinter Media, the podcast features candid conversations with city managers, county administrators, department directors, elected officials, and public servants from across the country.

    Each episode goes beyond policies and procedures to explore leadership, culture, innovation, public service, and the personal journeys of those entrusted with serving their communities. You’ll hear stories of resilience, purpose, difficult decisions, meaningful impact, and the lessons that shape exceptional leaders.

    Whether you work in local government, aspire to public service, or simply want a deeper appreciation for the people behind the places we call home, The HaltingWinter Podcast offers thoughtful conversations that inform, challenge, and inspire.

    Because America runs on local government. We’re here to tell its story.

    Advertise

    Copyright: © All rights reserved

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    302: Travis Coenen: Leading Where Everyone Knows Your Name Mar 05, 2026
    Show notes

    Travis Coenen: Leading Where Everyone Knows Your NameBuilding Systems That Turn Small-Town Pressures Into Sustainable Growth

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 302 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What does leadership look like when everyone in town knows you and isn't afraid to tell you what they think?

    In this episode, Seth sits down with Travis Coenen, Village Administrator of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, to explore the weight and reward of leading in a small community. From growing up in a town of 1,200 people to overseeing its expansion to more than 4,000 residents, Travis shares how intentional systems, transparent communication, and long-term stewardship transformed both infrastructure and community trust.

    Before becoming an administrator, Travis worked in utility construction, served as a wastewater operator, and was once told he wouldn't even make the interview process for Director of Public Works. He applied anyway.

    This conversation is a reminder that local government isn't small work; it's personal, visible, and generational.

    If you lead in a community where your reputation lives next door, this episode is for you.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    301: Brian Heck: Thick Skin, Soft Heart Mar 03, 2026
    Show notes

    Brian Heck: Thick Skin, Soft HeartAbsorbing Criticism While Building Communities That Last

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 301 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What does it take to lead in local government for nearly four decades?

    In this episode, Seth sits down with Brian Heck, City Administrator of Montgomery, Minnesota, who was recently named one of the Top 10 City Administrators for 2026. After 38 years serving in city, county, and state government, and now preparing for retirement, Brian reflects on the realities few people see behind the title.

    He shares candidly about being fired twice, learning resilience the hard way, and discovering that city managers are "all interim…it just depends on how long."

    From rebuilding infrastructure and restructuring failing utility finances to revitalizing a historic downtown, Brian walks through the long-game work of municipal leadership: work that rarely makes headlines but shapes communities for generations.

    He also speaks honestly about the personal cost of constant availability, the lesson of putting the oxygen mask on yourself first, and why thick skin must be paired with a soft heart.

    Leadership in a small city isn't glamorous. It isn't always secure. It won't make you wealthy.

    But it can make you impactful.

    And if you do it well, you leave your community stronger than you found it.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    300: Book of the Week: Essentialism Mar 02, 2026
    Show notes

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – EssentialismEpisode 300 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">

    This week inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, we're exploring Greg McKeown's "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less," and it will challenge everything you think you know about effective leadership.

    In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the core concepts from Essentialism and why they matter specifically for local government leaders. If you're exhausted from trying to do everything, drowning in good opportunities, and spread too thin to make meaningful progress on anything, this book offers a radically different approach.

    Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

    ➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    299: Abbie Ogborn: Leading Before You Feel Ready Feb 26, 2026
    Show notes

    Abbie Ogborn: Leading Before You Feel ReadyGrowth, Grit, and Guiding a Small City Through Big Change

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 299 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    Abbie Ogborn didn't set out to become a city manager.

    She started as a softball umpire in her hometown of Wright City, Missouri. From there, she moved into the parks department, accounts payable, and in February 2020, she was sworn in as the City Clerk.

    Three weeks later, City Hall shut its doors.

    In this episode, Abbie shares what it was like to step into leadership just before the pandemic and how the crisis accelerated modernization, strengthened regional partnerships, and reshaped how her city serves its residents.

    Now serving as both City Manager and City Clerk, Abbie is helping guide Wright City through one of the most significant growth seasons in its history. With nearly 1,900 residential units approved and major infrastructure changes underway, including the expansion of Interstate 70, the pressure to plan well, protect identity, and prepare for the future is right in front of her.

    This is a conversation about stepping up when the opportunity arrives, even if you don't feel completely prepared.

    It's about learning fast. Listening well. And building a city that can carry its future.

    If you lead in local government, especially in a growing community, this episode will feel familiar and encouraging.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    298: Craig Honeycutt: Why Compromise Isn't Weakness Feb 24, 2026
    Show notes

    Craig Honeycutt: Why Compromise Isn't WeaknessThe Emotional Resilience Required to Lead in Local Government

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 298 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    After more than three decades in municipal leadership, serving as town manager, city manager, county manager, and ultimately retiring as City Manager of Burlington, North Carolina, Craig Honeycutt has learned something many leaders only discover the hard way:

    Compromise is not weakness. And criticism is rarely personal.

    In this conversation, Craig reflects on a career built from the ground up, starting in small communities, learning operations firsthand, navigating political transitions, leading through natural disasters, and managing in an increasingly polarized climate.

    He shares why local government is truly the infrastructure of daily life…why young leaders should start small and "do everything," and why emotional resilience is the defining trait of successful managers today.

    This episode is a masterclass in steady leadership, especially in a time when incivility and polarization are testing public servants across the country.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    297: Book of the Week: Payoff Feb 22, 2026
    Show notes

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – PayoffEpisode 297 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">

    You can't compete on salary. Your pay scales are rigid. Your bonus structure is practically nonexistent. If motivation really came down to money, you'd be leading the most demoralized teams in America.

    Except you're not.

    This week inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), we're exploring "Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations" by Dan Ariely, and what we're discovering is going to change how you think about motivation in your organization.

    Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist at Duke University who has spent years running experiments on what actually motivates people. His research proves something revolutionary: we've been completely wrong about motivation. Meaning, acknowledgment, and a sense of accomplishment often work better than money, not just a little better, but dramatically better.

    In this episode, you'll discover why your constraints aren't liabilities once you understand what actually drives human motivation, and why the competitive advantage you've been searching for has been hiding in plain sight all along.

    Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

    ➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations by Dan Ariely

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    296: Lyndsay Mitchell: From Plans to Progress Feb 19, 2026
    Show notes

    Lyndsay Mitchell: From Plans to ProgressBuilding Cities and Preparing the Next Generation of Municipal Leaders

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 296 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What happens when great plans never turn into real progress?

    In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Lyndsay Mitchell, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the City of Arlington, Texas, for a grounded and candid conversation about what it actually takes to move cities forward and who will be left to do the work if we don't start preparing now.

    Lyndsay's journey into local government was anything but linear. She didn't set out to work in city leadership, and like many municipal professionals, she didn't even know these careers existed until late in college. That reality shapes how she thinks today about succession, workforce development, and the growing gap between planning and execution in local government.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    295: Jesse Thyes: Built Along the Way Feb 17, 2026
    Show notes

    Jesse Thyes: Built Along the WayHow Leaders Emerge Through Experience

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 295 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    Most municipal leaders didn't start with a clear plan to achieve their current role. They grew into the role through experience, responsibility, and the people who invited them to step forward.

    In this episode, Jesse Thyes, City Administrator of West Bend, Wisconsin, shares his journey from technical roles in planning and zoning to the administrator's chair. Along the way, we explore how early frontline work builds leadership capacity, how mentorship changes trajectories, and why effective municipal leadership is less about status and more about serving the moment.

    This conversation is a reminder that leadership isn't assigned early; it's formed over time, through trust, pressure, and the willingness to say yes before you feel ready.

    If you've ever questioned your path into leadership or wondered how to develop the next generation, this episode will resonate.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    294: Book of the Week: The Fearless Organization Feb 16, 2026
    Show notes

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Fearless OrganizationEpisode 294 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">

    When was the last time someone on your team told you something was failing before it became a crisis? This week's MLDC Book of the Week is "The Fearless Organization" by Amy C. Edmondson, and it addresses something every local government leader has felt but couldn't quite name: why your team stays silent when they should be speaking up.

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">

    In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces Edmondson's groundbreaking research on psychological safety: the belief that people can speak up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes without being humiliated, ignored, or blamed. You'll discover why the best teams actually report MORE problems (not fewer), and why local government's unique pressures create some of the biggest barriers to psychological safety.

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3">

    If you've ever wondered why your leadership team stays silent in meetings, why problems hide until they become crises, or why your talented people leave for other organizations, this episode reveals what's really happening and what you can do about it.

    Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

    The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

    ➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    293: Michael Hart: The Power of Being Known Feb 12, 2026
    Show notes

    Michael Hart: The Power of Being KnownHow Presence and Visibility Shape Community Identity and Impact

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

    Episode 293 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What does leadership look like when everyone knows your name and expects to see you at the grocery store, the park, and the coffee shop?

    In this episode, Seth sits down with Michael Hart, City Manager of La Junta, Colorado, whose path to municipal leadership defies the traditional résumé. From military service and small-town mayor to firefighter, banker, and ultimately city administrator, Michael's story reveals how trust is built not through titles, but through presence.

    They explore what happens when communities stop trying to be something they're not and instead lean fully into who they are.

    This conversation is a powerful reminder that visibility isn't performative in local government—it's relational. And that the identity of a community is shaped, reinforced, and protected by leaders who are willing to be known.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

    • The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

    Previous 1 9 10 11 12 13 41 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters

    1

    Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters Business
    WSJ Your Money Briefing

    2

    WSJ Your Money Briefing Business
    FORTUNE Unfiltered with Aaron Task

    3

    FORTUNE Unfiltered with Aaron Task Business
    FORTUNE OnStage Presents: The Most Powerful Women

    4

    FORTUNE OnStage Presents: The Most Powerful Women Business
    Slate Money

    5

    Slate Money Business
    In The Dark – The New Yorker

    6

    In The Dark – The New Yorker Business News
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights