The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week –  Radical Candor Episode 256 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Most leaders mistake being nice for being kind, and that confusion quietly destroys trust, performance, and culture. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter reframes honesty as the truest form of care. Drawing from Kim Scott's Radical Candor , he explores how courageously combining empathy with accountability t...

José Madrigal: Effort and Intent:  Two Principles That Redefine Municipal Leadership Episode 255 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies When José Madrigal became City Manager of Durango, Colorado, he inherited a city recovering from internal scandal, cultural fatigue, and the isolation of the pandemic. Instead of pushing rapid change, he started with two words that woul...

Craig Owens: When "Doing Good Work" Isn't Enough:  The Call for Conscience, Equity, and Humility in Local Leadership Episode 254 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies In this episode, Seth Winterhalter travels to Lawrence, Kansas , to sit down with Craig Owens , a city manager whose journey through Clayton, Ferguson, and now Lawrence reveals one of the most important t...

Show Notes: Book of the Week –  Just Listen Episode 253 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Ever watched a solid proposal die in a council meeting? Dealt with a staff member who just won't engage? Faced a room full of angry residents who stopped listening before you started talking? If you're a leader in local government, you're not alone. This week in the MLDC, we're exploring "Just Listen: Discover the...

Stephanie Hirsch: The Systems and the Souls: How Municipal Leadership Bridges Data and Humanity Episode 252 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What happens when a brilliant data-driven mind decides that logic alone can't solve human problems? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Stephanie Hirsch , City Manager of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to explore the ra...

Enrico Villegas: From Manual Labor to Municipal Leadership: The Journey from Doing to Leading Episode 251 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What does it take to go from digging trenches in the summer heat to leading a full-service city? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter explores the remarkable journey of Enrico Villegas , City Manager of Hutchinson, Kansas , and a...

Show Notes: Book of the Week –  Crucial Conversations Episode 250 of The HaltingWinter Podcast You know the conversation needs to happen. The underperforming department head. The contentious council member. The angry community meeting. But you're not sure how to navigate it without making things worse. In this week's MLDC Book of the Week episode, Seth Winterhalter explores  Crucial Conversations:...

David Dillner: From Feral Cats to $100 Million Deals: The Beautiful Chaos of City Management Episode 249 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What do you do when your neighboring city walks away from the biggest economic development project in state history and the future of your community hangs in the balance? For David Dillner , City Manager of El Dorado, Kansas , t...

Paula Schumacher: From Intern to Administrator: The Power of Staying, Serving, and Shaping What Lasts Episode 248 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What does it look like to build a career and a legacy in the same community for more than three decades? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Paula Schumacher , Village Administrator of Bartlett, Illinois ,...

Show Notes: Book of the Week –  The Coaching Habit Episode 247 of The HaltingWinter Podcast This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter introduces "The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever" by Michael Bungay Stanier, and it's one of the best-selling coaching books of this century for a reason. Drawing on research with over 10,000 managers, Seth explores why the instinc...

Tansy Hayward: The Power of a Day: The Transformational Power of Mentorship in Public Service Episode 245 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies What if one day could change the entire trajectory of your life and your city? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Tansy Hayward , City Manager of Thornton, Colorado, to explore how a single day shadowing an assis...

Ifo Pili: From Gridirons to Government: Building Cities and Culture with Cariño Episode 245 of  The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies What happens when an NFL player trades the gridiron for city hall and discovers his true calling in public service? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ifo Pili , City Manager of West Valley City, Utah , whose extraordinary jou...

Show Notes: Book of the Week –  The Ideal Team Player Episode 244 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Why do some technically competent local government leaders struggle while others thrive? This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter explores Patrick Lencioni's "The Ideal Team Player" and reveals the three character virtues that matter more than credentials in determining leadership success. Seth unpacks w...

What does it look like to lead a city when national politics dominate the headlines, communities are increasingly polarized, and residents arrive at city hall with deep mistrust of government? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , Seth Winterhalter sits down with Graham Mitchell , City Manager of El Cajon, California, to explore the lessons of a career that's spanned small towns, growing...

What happens when you gather Kentucky's municipal leaders under one roof? You get stories that remind us why local government matters. In this special episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , recorded live at the Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference, Seth Winterhalter sits down for a series of short conversations with leaders serving on the frontlines of municipal life. You'll hear from: Mayo...

What happens when the clerk in the back office becomes the city's CEO? In this episode, Amber Vogan, City Manager of Bonner Springs, Kansas, shares her unexpected journey from utility billing to the city manager's chair and what it feels like to lead when you don't believe you're ready. From fighting imposter syndrome to juggling three counties, nine councilmembers, and an amphitheater that seats...

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Episode 240 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Summary Why do your best appreciation efforts seem to fall flat with your team? In this episode, Seth explores the hidden reason behind employee disengagement and turnover in local government and introduces the solution that's transforming teams across North America usin...

Show Notes: Ghida Neukirch When Leadership Meets Tragedy: Resilience, Recovery, and the Burden of City Management Episode 239 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview What happens when the unimaginable strikes your community? For Ghida Neukirch, City Manager of Highland Park, Illinois, that question became reality on July 4, 2022, when a mass shooti...

Show Notes: Lori Curtis Luther The Messy Truth of City Management: Power Struggles, Public Pressure, and Daily Firestorms Episode 238 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview City management isn't just budgets, ordinances, and long-range planning. It's navigating crises, absorbing public pressure, and making decisions that can end careers overnight....

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The 8 Dimensions of Leadership Episode 237 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Community, we're exploring "The 8 Dimensions of Leadership" by Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm. Discover why your biggest leadership challenges come from people who think completely differently than you and what...

Show Notes: Lee Feldman: When to Walk Away Heart Attacks, Politics, and Permission to Leave Episode 236 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview What does it take to lead a city for decades, and how do you know when it's time to step away? In this episode, I sit down with Lee Feldman , past ICMA President and city manager in multiple Florida cities,...

Show Notes: Kiel Mangus: From Imposter Syndrome to Impact The Realities of City Management in Times of Uncertainty Episode 235 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview What does it take to step into leadership when you don't feel ready, and how do you grow into impact while navigating floods, growth, and public pressure? In this episode, I sit down...

Show Notes: Book of the Week –  Leading with My Glass Half Full Episode 234 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Municipal leaders face relentless pressures: staff turnover, budget constraints, political tensions, rising community expectations, and constant media scrutiny. In this environment, optimism can feel like a luxury you can't afford. But what if optimism is actually the key to so...

Show Notes: Sean Grayson: From Sirens to Strategy: A Fire Chief's Unlikely Path to City Hall Episode 233 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast , Seth Winterhalter sits down with Sean Grayson , City Manager of Nevada City, California. Sean's path into municipal leadership didn't begin in planning or fin...

Show Notes: Regan Bolli: People Before Performance: The Culture Shift That Changed a City Episode 232 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by  Tyler Technologies  and  Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Regan Bolli , a city manager whose journey from law school and private-sector practice to local government reshaped his entire view of leadership. What began...