The HaltingWinter Podcast

Kevin Robinson: Called When the Water Rose Floods, Crisis Leadership, and Carrying a City Forward Episode 281 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What does leadership look like when the plan collapses, the water keeps rising, and an entire city is depending on steady hands? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , Seth Winterhalter sits down with Kevin Robinson...

Troy Body: When You've Seen the World, You Lead Differently Perspective, Pressure, and the Power of Local Government Episode 280 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What changes when you've led through war zones, natural disasters, political upheaval, and then step into city management? For Troy Body , City Administrator of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, leadership didn't c...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry Episode 279 of The HaltingWinter Podcast This week's MLDC book addresses what might be the most important leadership challenge you're not talking about: hurry . Not busyness...hurry. The frantic, reactive pace that's destroying your effectiveness, your relationships, and your sustainability. Seth Winterhalter introduces John Ma...

Jamie Gwynn: Leading Without Losing Yourself Work, Family, and the Hidden Cost of Municipal Leadership Episode 278 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies Municipal leadership doesn't just test your competence; it tests your identity. In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , Seth sits down with Jamie Gwynn , Township Manager of New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, f...

Andy Pederson: Called to the Chaos Leadership, Longevity, and Managing What Never Stands Still Episode 277 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies City management isn't a job you stumble into with a master plan. It's a calling you discover, often in the middle of uncertainty, pressure, and moments that demand more than you thought you had to give. In this episode of The...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  Balance is BS Episode 276 of The HaltingWinter Podcast If you've ever felt stretched between work and home, purpose and exhaustion, service and sustainability, well, you're not alone. And more importantly: you're not failing. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the MLDC Book of the Week: Balance Is BS: How to Thrive in the Tension of Municipal Life &...

Mike Land: Why We Don't Lead Alone Culture, ICMA, and Finding Renewal in a Demanding Profession Episode 275 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What does it take to sustain organizational culture and your personal well-being when the pressure of municipal leadership never truly eases? In this Reconnect episode, Seth Winterhalter catches up with Mike Land , City Manag...

David Cameron: It's Okay Not to Be Okay Transparency, Mental Health, and Leading When Success Hides the Struggle Episode 274 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies This episode is a Reconnect, a return to one of the most impactful conversations in the history of The HaltingWinter Podcast . David Cameron was the very first full-length interview of a local government lead...

Bret Prebula: Leading Through Resistance Why Long-Term City Building Requires Courage, Clarity, and Conviction Episode 273 of  The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies In this special episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , Seth reconnects with Bret Prebula , City Manager of Suisun City, California, before revisiting one of the most compelling leadership stories ever shared o...

Max Fisher: Finding the Calling Why the Future of City Management Depends on How We Develop Emerging Leaders Episode 272 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What does it take to discover a calling to local government, and how do today's leaders shape whether the next generation steps forward or walks away? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Max Fisher...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  The Art of Possibility Episode 271 of The HaltingWinter Podcast What story are you telling yourself about your biggest leadership challenge right now? That your council is impossible? That your budget situation is hopeless? That your community won't support what needs to happen? Those stories feel like facts. They feel like reality. But what if they're just fra...

Intashan Chowdhury: The Young Disruptor Rethinking Risk, Reinventing Culture, and Redefining What's Possible in Local Gov Episode 270 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What happens when the youngest city manager in New Jersey refuses to accept "the way it's always been done"? You get a leader like Intashan Chowdhury —curious, principled, resilient, and unafraid to...

Jenny Haruyama: High Stakes, Human Stories Balancing Politics, People, and Progress in Municipal Leadership Episode 269 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with  Jenny Haruyama , City Manager of Beaverton, Oregon, a leader shaped by public service, grounded in humility, and forged through some of the most complex governanc...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  The Second Mountain Episode 268 of The HaltingWinter Podcast You've earned the promotions. Built the resume. Gained the respect. So why does something still feel missing? This week's MLDC book is David Brooks' The Second Mountain , and it addresses the question many accomplished local government leaders are quietly asking: I've achieved success, so why do I sti...

Stan Reno: Leading Through the Noise Navigating Protests, Politics, and Public Pressure Episode 267 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Stan Reno , City Manager of Carbondale, Illinois, whose leadership journey spans nearly three decades, from patrol officer to narcotics investigator, to police chief, and now to city...

Rebecca Grill: Running Toward the Storm The "Be the Buffalo" Approach to City Management Episode 266 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies When you meet a city manager who has served inside youth correctional facilities, rebuilt broken licensing systems, modernized city hall after a cybersecurity crisis, and navigated budgets where every dollar feels political, you qui...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  Meditations Episode 265 of The HaltingWinter Podcast What can a Roman Emperor from 2,000 years ago teach you about leading through budget battles, difficult council members, and relentless community pressure? More than you'd think. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter explores "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius—a leadership book that wasn't supposed to be a book at...

Daniel McDonald: Rethinking Policing, Rebuilding Lives Inside the Radical Shift That Helped Tampa Tackle Homelessness with Trust Instead of Tickets Episode 264 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies For two decades, Daniel McDonald served with the Tampa Police Department. But his most consequential work came when his chief handed him a job no one had done, no one unders...

Mark McAvoy: The Purveyor of Possibility Why Modern City Management Requires Courage, Creativity, and a Culture of Listening Episode 263 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Mark McAvoy , City Administrator of Liberty Lake, Washington, to explore a leadership journey shaped by storms, service, and a deep commitment to...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  Man's Search for Meaning Episode 262 of The HaltingWinter Podcast If you've worked in local government leadership for more than a week, you've had that moment. Sitting in your office, your car, or your kitchen at midnight...asking yourself: "Why am I doing this?" In this episode, Seth Winterhalter explores Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and its prof...

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 morn...

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,...

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  Made to Stick Episode 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, showi...

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 borde...

Matt Stiles: The Grace to Leave and the Grit to Return Reclaiming 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...