GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

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.

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...

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.

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 St...

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, duri...

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...

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 epi...

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.

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 Manag...

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 A...

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 effe...

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 Ci...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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 s...

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 Int...