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    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:
    261: Thanksgiving Special: The Table That Serves Us All Nov 27, 2025
    Show notes

    The Table That Serves Us All Thanksgiving Special 2025

    Episode 261 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    For most people, Thanksgiving centers around one table—the one filled with family, food, and the stories we share. But there's another table that rarely gets noticed. A table that holds up entire communities. A table built—not with wood and nails—but with early mornings, late nights, and the steady commitment of public servants who choose to show up every single day.

    In this Thanksgiving Special, Seth Winterhalter steps away from the interview format to speak directly to the people who keep cities and counties running. From public works crews in the trenches to clerks safeguarding democracy, from utility teams keeping water flowing to city managers carrying the weight of constant decision-making, this episode is a heartfelt tribute to every role that makes public life possible.

    If you're a local government leader or someone who serves behind the scenes, this episode is for you. It's a thank you—long overdue and deeply earned.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    260: Paul Nerland: The Leader Who Never Stopped Listening Nov 25, 2025
    Show notes

    Paul Nerland: The Leader Who Never Stopped Listening The Hidden Power of Paying Attention

    Episode 260 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What happens when a leader treats listening not as a courtesy, but as a strategy? In this episode, Paul Nerland—CEO of Fresno County—opens the door to a different kind of public-sector leadership: one grounded in humility, clarity, and a deep respect for the people who make local government work.

    Paul shares his journey from Calgary to California, from HR to CAO, and the lessons that shaped how he leads one of the largest and most complex counties in America. His approach is simple but rare: pay attention, ask better questions, and don't pretend you already know the answers.

    Sponsored by:

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

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    259: Book of the Week: Made to Stick Nov 24, 2025
    Show notes

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Made to StickEpisode 259 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    Ever leave a meeting absolutely convinced your message was crystal clear, only to find out no one remembers it two weeks later? The problem isn't attention. It's stickiness.

    In this episode, Seth Winterhalter translates the insights from Chip and Dan Heath's Made to Stick to public sector realities, showing why even brilliant ideas die when buried under complexity. From city hall presentations to community engagement plans, he explores the six traits that make ideas memorable—Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Stories—and why mastering them can turn your communication into culture.

    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

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath
    • MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

    Connect with Seth

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

    258: Micah Gaudet: From Accidental MPA to Intentional Leader Nov 20, 2025
    Show notes

    Micah Gaudet: From Accidental MPA to Intentional Leader When your next step isn't planned but is still purposeful

    Episode 258 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    Micah Gaudet never set out to work in city management. He "accidentally" earned an MPA on his way to a career in intelligence. But from the Army to Ohio's Department of Public Safety to a small Arizona border town, each unexpected turn shaped his perspective on leadership, culture, and purpose.

    Now serving as Deputy City Manager in Maricopa, Arizona, Micah shares how self-awareness, humility, and faith turned career detours into a deliberate path toward impact. His story is both a mirror and a map for leaders navigating their own unpredictable journeys in local government.

    Micah's New Book: Fragile Systems: An Ecological Approach to AI in Government

    Micah's AI Company: Civic Innovation AI

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    257: Matt Stiles: The Grace to Leave and the Grit to Return Nov 18, 2025
    Show notes

    Matt Stiles: The Grace to Leave and the Grit to ReturnReclaiming Purpose and Possibility in the Middle of Municipal Chaos

    Episode 257 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    Matt Stiles' story isn't polished; it's powerful. Raised in poverty, shaped by hardship, and driven by a deep sense of purpose, Matt's journey from a small Kansas town to city administrator reveals what it really means to serve with heart.

    In this episode, Matt shares how growing up with a mother battling mental illness and living through poverty gave him an empathy that now defines his leadership. From the challenges of managing debt-heavy development projects to rebuilding trust after political fallout, he's learned that leadership isn't about perfection; it's about perseverance.

    After walking away from city management to protect his health and family, Matt found a way back—refreshed, refocused, and ready to lead again. His story is a masterclass in humility, recovery, and rediscovering why public service still matters.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    256: Book of the Week: Radical Candor Nov 17, 2025
    Show notes

    Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Radical CandorEpisode 256 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    Most leaders mistake being nice for being kind, and that confusion quietly destroys trust, performance, and culture. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter reframes honesty as the truest form of care. Drawing from Kim Scott's Radical Candor, he explores how courageously combining empathy with accountability transforms teams and rebuilds credibility in local government leadership.

    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

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: Radical Candor by Kim Scott
    • MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

    Connect with Seth

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

    255: José Madrigal: Effort and Intent: Two Principles That Redefine Municipal Leadership Nov 13, 2025
    Show notes

    José Madrigal: Effort and Intent: Two Principles That Redefine Municipal Leadership

    Episode 255 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    When José Madrigal became City Manager of Durango, Colorado, he inherited a city recovering from internal scandal, cultural fatigue, and the isolation of the pandemic. Instead of pushing rapid change, he started with two words that would redefine his leadership and his organization: effort and intent.

    In this episode, José joins Seth Winterhalter to unpack his journey from Texas politics to the mountains of Colorado, tracing the lessons learned in cities like Cedar Park, Irving, and McKinney that shaped how he leads today. From building trust in turbulent times to transforming organizational culture through authentic listening, José shows what it takes to create belonging, resilience, and pride in local government.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    254: Craig Owens: When "Doing Good Work" Isn't Enough: The Call for Conscience, Equity, and Humility in Local Leadership Nov 11, 2025
    Show notes

    Craig Owens: When "Doing Good Work" Isn't Enough: The Call for Conscience, Equity, and Humility in Local Leadership

    Episode 254 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    In this episode, Seth Winterhalter travels to Lawrence, Kansas, to sit down with Craig Owens, a city manager whose journey through Clayton, Ferguson, and now Lawrence reveals one of the most important truths in public service: good intentions aren't enough.

    Craig shares how his early years in city management taught him to value results, but his time leading through the Ferguson unrest forced him to see the deeper work and how awareness, equity, and humility must shape every decision leaders make.

    From navigating billion-dollar development deals to building trust after a national crisis, Craig reflects on what it means to lead with conscience, see through new lenses, and build cultures that serve everyone in the community.

    Whether you're a city manager, department head, or public works leader, this conversation will remind you that leadership isn't just about policy—it's about perspective.

    Sponsored by:

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

    253: Book of the Week: Just Listen Nov 10, 2025
    Show notes

    Show Notes: Book of the Week – Just ListenEpisode 253 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

    Ever watched a solid proposal die in a council meeting? Dealt with a staff member who just won't engage? Faced a room full of angry residents who stopped listening before you started talking?

    If you're a leader in local government, you're not alone.

    This week in the MLDC, we're exploring "Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone" by Mark Goulston, a psychiatrist who trained FBI hostage negotiators and discovered techniques that work just as well in city hall as they do in crisis situations.

    The problem isn't your ideas. The problem is trying to persuade people who aren't ready to be persuaded.

    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

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: Just Listen by Mark Goulston
    • MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

    Connect with Seth

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

    252: Stephanie Hirsch: The Systems and the Souls: How Municipal Leadership Bridges Data and Humanity Nov 06, 2025
    Show notes

    Stephanie Hirsch: The Systems and the Souls: How Municipal Leadership Bridges Data and Humanity

    Episode 252 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

    What happens when a brilliant data-driven mind decides that logic alone can't solve human problems? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Stephanie Hirsch, City Manager of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to explore the rare intersection of intellect, empathy, and public service.

    From growing up just a mile from Eau Claire City Hall to serving as its city manager decades later, Stephanie's journey spans rural Georgia, Boston's City Hall, and the streets of Philadelphia during the AIDS and crack epidemics. Along the way, she's learned one profound truth: government works best when systems and souls are aligned.

    Her story is both analytical and deeply human, showing how data, incentives, and performance must ultimately serve people, not processes.

    We Talk About:
    • The heartbreaking inefficiency of government service delivery and what it takes to fix it.

    • Why aligned incentives matter more than good intentions in creating public impact.

    • Lessons from working in communities shaped by race, class, and history and how empathy changes leadership.

    • The difference between "old-school doers" and "new-school data" and why cities need both.

    • How longevity and professionalism can create cultures of excellence in local government.

    • Why knocking on doors and listening might be the most powerful leadership act of all.

    Show Some Love for Our Sponsor

    • Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter

    Connect with Seth Winterhalter
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

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