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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Alternative 911 Responses with Gabriela Solis, Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab
2. Family Focused Urbanism with Barry Greene Jr., Density Dad
3. Local Government 2030 with Megan Caron, Elizabeth McDonald, and Ryan Webb

Dan

1. Building a Customer Service Culture with Melissa Cantarero Weiss, Wauwatosa, WI
2. Housing Choices and Building Opportunity with Spencer Gardner, Spokane, WA
3. Performance and Process Improvement with Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Brighton, CO

Meredith

1. Humans in Public Service with Brian Whittaker
2. Vision Zero and Tactical Urbanism with Barkha Patel, Jersey City, NJ
3. State of ELGL with Maggie Jones, Tarrant County, TX

Ben

1. Community Carbon Neutrality in Ann Arbor, MI with Dr. Missy Stults
2. High Performance Organizations with Hannes Zacharias, University of Kansas
3. Hiring a 21st Century Workforce with Alex Lawrence, Boston, MA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

• Supreme Court Upholds Ordinance Prohibiting Camping & Sleeping on Public Property
• Supreme Court Overrules Martin v. Boise in Important Homeless Encampment Case
• City of Grants Pass v. Johnson

East Solano Plan:

• The Silicon Valley Elite Who Want to Build a City From Scratch
• Tech-billionaire promises for a new city, from roads to water, are worth hundreds of millions of dollars — if they're binding
• The East Solano Plan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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