Civil Conversations

What do New Yorkers really want their next mayor to know? In this special transition-season episode, Liz and returning guest John open a heartfelt and unfiltered conversation directed at incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Together — and with contributed reflections from listeners, civil servants, and lifelong New Yorkers — they examine what it means to lead a city through change while honoring the peo...

In this episode of Civil Conversations , Liz sits down with Marc Williams — lifelong New Yorker, proud Brooklynite, award-winning Toastmaster, educator, coach, author, and co-founder of Speaker Skills Academy . With nearly three decades in the NYC public school system, Marc reflects on his journey from English teacher to administrator to leadership coach. Together, Liz and Marc dive into the conce...

In this episode of Civil Conversations , Liz and John unpack the recent Democratic primary in New York City, highlighting the unexpected rise of Zoran Mamdani and what it signals for the city’s political future. They reflect on the shifting landscape of local politics, the power of grassroots engagement, and the tension between visionary platforms and the realities of real-world implementation. Th...

In this episode of Civil Conversations , Liz is joined by fellow public servant Tiffany to reflect on the complexities of leadership in New York City government—especially as we enter another mayoral election cycle. With over 40 years of combined experience , they unpack the enormous responsibilities tied to NYC’s top executive role and question whether we are doing enough to prepare future leader...

In this episode of Civil Conversations , we bring back the Civil Service Hero Spotlight to introduce our recurring guest—and now official cohost—John. Host Liz reflects on the inspiration behind the podcast, sharing why it’s crucial to elevate the voices of New York City’s civil servants. From her father’s career in city government to the incredible colleagues she’s worked alongside, Liz highlight...

Civil Conversations is back! In this episode, host LizRodriguez-Perez is joined by her colleague and friend, John, who will now be a recurring guest after appearing in past episodes. Together, they discuss the return of the podcast, our commitment to a more regular releaseschedule, and the topics we’ll be exploring in the months ahead. We dive into the current state of New York City politics ,touc...

Civil Conversations is back after a long hiatus! In this episode, titled "Raids, Resignations, & Indictments, Oh My!", I sit down with a former colleague to discuss the recent indictment of Mayor Eric Adams and the wave of resignations that have shaken the NYC government. We reflect on the potential impacts this upheaval could have on city agencies and propose some philosophical changes needed...

Thanks for following my podcast and for continuing to tune in!  In this episode, I host a discussion with a civil servant working for the New York City Police Department, the largest and oldest police department in the country. He shares his story, experiences, and perspectives on a series of topics based on his encounters working in this field for nearly 20 years. This is one of many discussions...

In this episode, I chat with a colleague, who is a child of immigrants and a first-generation New Yorker, that has worked in public service over the last decade, supporting Dreamers, working in education, and in immigrant services, about the migrant crisis here in New York City. We explore what it's like to be an immigrant (it's not an experience that we all know intimately or firsthand),...

In this episode, I preview something that we’ll be exploring with guests during upcoming conversations, and that’s analyzing the side effects of mayoral transitions, and the detriment they can play on long term success of initiatives, and positive outcomes for our communities and city overall. Listen in to hear my argument as to why the current leadership structure and practices may not be serving...

There has been a lot of coverage in the news as of late about the staggering vacancy rates in NYC agencies, and the growing effect it’s having on NYC services. The newly formed 5 Boro Institute released a report giving a more comprehensive snapshot of the staffing issue, the contributing factors, its impact, and recommendations to address this challenge, which is very real. Join me, and two other...

Join me and a former colleague as we share our reactions to the Mayor’s 2023 State of the City Address. If you’d like to catch the speech, it’s available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/live/xpdsCGEVBaI?feature=share). Don't forget to follow the podcast to get alerts when we drop new episodes, and to follow my pages on LinkedIn or Facebook. While you're at it, share it with a coworker or someo...

Welcome back to Civil Conversations! I interviewed my dad as one of my civil service heroes, and talked about his journey to, and journey through his civil service years. I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to share feedback by visiting civilconversationsnyc.com, and please follow and share the podcast with others 🙌

Thanks for listening! This is my introductory episode where I share some context about why this podcast has been created and what I hope to accomplish through these conversations. Follow our podcast, rate it, share it with others, and feel free to reach out on civilconversationnyc.com.