Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

How does local government actually work — and what does it take to turn around a neighborhood like Venice? In this episode of How Government Really Works, Evan Meyer sits down with Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park for a candid conversation about Venice, public safety, homelessness, business recovery, the 2028 Olympics, AI in government, and the realities of getting things done inside LA City H...

Homelessness in Santa Monica is an issue everyone has an opinion on, and the numbers went the wrong way last year: up, while the county and the rest of the West Side went down. On this episode of Meyerside Chats, three guests bring three lenses to the same problem. Doug Trussler co-founded Bison Capital, owns a small business on Pico, and is running for City Council — he brings the economic lens....

Why is politics so broken — and why do we keep blaming our presidents for everything? Is dark money the real problem… or is it the incentive structure behind the system? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Neil Thanedar — Executive Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, author of Positive Politics, and a founder who went through Y Combinator — to explore campaign financ...

Are we truly as divided as we’re told — or are we being conditioned to believe we are? In this episode of Meyerside Chats , Evan sits down with Adam Mizel — longtime CEO, investor, and co-founder of US United — to explore how media incentives, cognitive bias, and social algorithms amplify division while drowning out unity. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful idea: we can change the alg...

In this episode of Meyerside Chats , I sit down with Mark Pinsley , the elected Controller of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a wide-ranging conversation on transparency, public trust, and how government financial systems really work when you look under the hood. Mark explains why his office uncovered unpaid rent tied to ICE’s use of county buildings, how a simple breakdown in contracts and overs...

Cincinnati City Councilmember Mark Jeffreys joins Meyerside Chats for a grounded, wide-ranging conversation on how cities actually govern during moments of national tension. Drawing on his background as a Procter & Gamble executive, entrepreneur, and public servant, Jeffreys explains how local governments balance housing shortages, public safety, federal immigration enforcement, media narrativ...

What really changed after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—and why do most Americans believe it broke democracy? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Tiffany Muller, President and Executive Director of End Citizens United, for a deep, practical conversation about money in politics, dark money, corporate influence, and what can actually be done to fix it. Tiffan...

What do paid protests actually represent in modern society? In this episode of Meyerside Chats , Evan Meyer sits down with Adam Swart , founder of Crowds on Demand , for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about how public demonstrations are organized, funded, perceived, and often misunderstood. Rather than debating headlines, this discussion explores the mechanics , tradeoffs , and philoso...

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Dr. Nelva Lee, healthcare executive, former gubernatorial appointee, and candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools, to unpack why the system is failing — and what practical reforms could actually work. Dr. Lee shares firsthand insight from: Serving on Georgia’s Department of Community Health board Running a medical & court int...

Most Americans feel unrepresented — trapped between “the lesser of two evils,” media narratives, and party gatekeeping. In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Travis Misurell, founder of FiNC (Future Is Now Coalition), to explore a radically different idea: a citizen-owned digital democracy. We unpack how money, media concentration, and party infrastructure shape elections l...

In this conversation, Evan Meyer and Alexander Rogan discuss the critical issues surrounding cybersecurity, particularly in government and public systems. Rogan shares his background and the innovative approach of his company, Abatis, which aims to prevent cyber attacks before they occur. They explore the challenges faced by government agencies in securing their systems, the financial implications...

What if modern politics is failing for the same reason bad parenting fails? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with political psychologist Lura Forcum, President of the Independence Center, to explore a powerful and uncomfortable truth: you can have control, or you can have a relationship—but not both. Using insights from psychology, public policy, and real-world governance,...

Ever wonder who actually shapes our elections — the candidates, the parties, or the consultants behind the scenes? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Eva Posner, founder of Evinco Strategies, a full-service Democratic consulting firm helping first-time and underrepresented candidates run and win all over the country. From county assessor races to million-dollar campaigns...

Guest: Crom Carmichael – investor in 60+ startups, host of From Our Generation, and creator of Giants of Political Thought In this episode, Evan Meyer and Crom dig into why healthcare in America costs what it does — and what could truly fix it. They unpack how price transparency, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and market-driven competition could bring down costs by up to 70%, and why innovation i...

Support the show About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org , a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com , a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com , a platform that optimizes...

How do bills really get passed — or stopped — in California? 🏛️ In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with California State Senator Roger Niello (6th District, Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee) to discuss: - The real process behind passing legislation — and why some bills never see a vote. - The Title & Summary Bill and efforts to reduce bias in ballot measures. - C...

In this episode of Meyerside Chats , I sit down with Vijay Luthra —a UK-based public service reformist, ex-councilmember, and management consultant—to explore the future of government, the crisis in public trust, and why systems must evolve to meet 21st-century challenges. We dive into small “p” vs. big “P” politics, the transformation of the NHS, trade unions, and lessons from Brexit for the U.S....

Support the show About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org , a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com , a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com , a platform that optimizes...

Support the show About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org , a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com , a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com , a platform that optimizes...

In this powerful episode, Evan Meyer sits down with Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete and Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park to explore how two neighboring cities are breaking down silos to address homelessness, emergency response, and community safety. From invisible borders on the beach to upcoming global events like the Olympics, this conversation unpacks what effective local collaboration real...

Join us for an insightful conversation with California State Senator Ben Allen as he discusses the complexities of governing through crises, including the devastating wildfires affecting California communities. Senator Allen shares his firsthand experiences and challenges of managing disaster recovery, addressing bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the role entrepreneurs can play in supporting these...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with the Mayor of San Jose, as he discusses his journey from the private sector to public office. Discover the nuances between running a business and managing a city, and learn about the challenges and strategies in tackling issues like homelessness, public safety, and civic engagement. Get an inside look at the importance of performance management, the rol...

Navigating Civility: A Deep Dive with Shola Richards Join me and special guest Shola Richards as we discuss the importance of civility in today's world. Shola shares insights from his latest book, 'Civil Unity,' and reflects on its relevance to relationships, workplace environments, and social media conduct. We touch on Shola's testimony before Congress, the impact of the LA fi...

Join me as I sit down with visionary artist and activist Ruben Rojas to explore how we can bridge divides, embrace new perspectives, and bring a spirit of civility into our polarized world. In this candid conversation, we discuss the power of reframing narratives, fostering empathy, and focusing on actionable ways to create meaningful change in our communities and beyond. From the challenges of na...

The Journey of Rocky Rhodes - From Tech to Coffee and Public Service Join us for an engaging conversation with Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Rhodes of Simi Valley, California, as we explore his unique journey from the high-tech industry to founding a coffee business and eventually delving into public service. This episode dives into the principles of compassionate capitalism, the challenges of urban vs. rur...