The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: Book of the Week - "Conscious Business" Episode 156 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: "Conscious Business" Series) Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter kicks off a 5-part series exploring Fred Kofman's book "Conscious Business" and its critical applications for municipal leadership. This first episode introduces the powerful concept of conscious leadership - blending decisive ac...

Show Notes: De'Carlon Seewood: From Crisis to Community Renewal Episode 155 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this powerful episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with De'Carlon Seewood, City Manager of Columbia, Missouri. De'Carlon shares his extraordinary journey from witnessing urban decay in East St. Louis to leading Ferguson through national crisis, and finally...

Show Notes: Nichole Rutherford: Finding Courage When Opportunity Calls Episode 154 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this inspiring episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Nichole Rutherford, City Manager of Coos Bay, Oregon. From her beginnings as a finance assistant to becoming city manager, Nichole shares her remarkable journey through municipal leadership....

Show Notes: "No One Else to Blame" Episode 153 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: "Extreme Ownership" Series Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter starts a 5-part series to tackle the primary principle that's sorely lacking in many municipal organizations today: ownership . Drawing from Jocko Willink's powerful books "Extreme Ownership" and "The Dichotomy of Leadership," Seth addresses how the...

Show Notes: Danielle Dulin: Working in Generations, Not Election Cycles Episode 152 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this inspiring episode of the HaltingWinter podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Danielle Dulin, City Manager of Manhattan, Kansas. From growing up on a farm in western Kansas to becoming the city manager of her alma mater, Danielle shares her remarkable journey through...

Show Notes: Michael Paulhus: Biology, Banking, and Better Government Episode 151 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this captivating episode of the HaltingWinter podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with Michael Paulhus, Town Manager of Plainville, Connecticut. From Tanzania with the Peace Corps to wealth management at RBC to pioneering municipal social media strategies, Michael's diverse caree...

Show Notes: "The Municipal Leader's Paradox" Episode 150 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: "Leaders Eat Last" Series Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter explores how Simon Sinek's "Leaders Eat Last" principles apply uniquely to municipal leadership. This episode delves into the paradox city managers face: being expected to project strength and control while creating environments of safety a...

Show Notes: Zach Walker: Identity, Purpose and Impact in City Management Episode 149 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode of the Halting Winter podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Zach Walker, City Manager of Independence, Missouri. Through their conversation, Zach shares his unique journey into city management, the challenges of balancing life on the municipal tightrope, an...

Show Notes: "The Energy-Driven Municipal Leader" Episode 148 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: "The Power of Full Engagement" Series Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter begins a 5-part exploration of the concepts from "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, revealing why managing energy—not time—is the key to high performance and personal renewal. Learn how to build c...

Show Notes: Amanda Mack: Finding Your Leadership Shoes Episode 147 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter for an insightful conversation with Amanda Mack, City Administrator of Harrisburg, South Dakota. From her background in political organizing to becoming a city manager, Amanda shares her journey through municipal leadership, including the challenges of being the f...

Show Notes: "Navigating Two Minds in Municipal Leadership" Episode 146 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: "Thinking Fast and Slow" Series Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter explores how Daniel Kahneman's fascinating research on decision-making applies directly to municipal leadership. Discover how understanding the two thinking systems in your brain can transform your effectiveness as a cit...

Show Notes: Joe Irvin: Culture Change at 6,000 Feet Episode 145 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter for a fascinating conversation with Joe Irvin, City Manager of South Lake Tahoe, California. From his entrepreneurial beginnings selling snowboard wax to leading a complex tourist destination city, Joe shares powerful insights about transforming organizational cultur...

Show Notes: "The Purpose-Driven City Hall" Episode 144 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: "Start With Why" Series Episode Overview Seth Winterhalter explores how Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" principles can transform municipal leadership, examining how purpose-driven leadership can turn good departments into exceptional city governments. Learn how to move beyond bureaucratic processes to c...

Show Notes: Steve Pauken: Finding Your Way to Yes Episode 143 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter for an insightful conversation with Steve Pauken, City Manager of Bisbee, Arizona, who shares his amazing journey in local government. From his early days as a councilman and mayor in Maumee, Ohio to his current post-retirement role, Steve offers unique perspectives on...

Show Notes: "Breaking the Silence: Your Municipal Team's Hidden Potential" Episode 142 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: The Five Dysfunctions Series Episode Overview In this powerful opening episode, Seth Winterhalter explores how Patrick Lencioni's "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" directly applies to municipal leadership, revealing how the 'municipal mask' often prevents teams from reac...

Show Notes: Dustin Stambaugh: Building Trust Through Vulnerability in Municipal Leadership Episode 141 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter as he interviews Dustin Stambaugh, City Administrator of Fairfax, Iowa, for an authentic conversation about navigating the challenges of being a city's first administrator. From military service to municipal leadership, Dustin s...

Show Notes: "Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction" Episode 142 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: The Deep Work Series Episode Overview In this opening episode of our Deep Work series, Seth Winterhalter explores how Cal Newport's fascinating work on focused productivity specifically applies to municipal leadership, revealing why the ability to engage in deep work is crucial for city mana...

Show Notes: Phil Kiraly: Finding Purpose in Public Service Episode 139 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter as he interviews Phil Kiraly, Village Manager of Glencoe, Illinois, for a compelling conversation about finding purpose in public service. From his family's refugee story to innovative municipal leadership, Phil shares insights on thoughtful change management,...

Show Notes: "Mindset and Municipal Leadership" Episode 137 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: The Mindset Series Episode Overview In this first episode of our Mindset series, Seth Winterhalter explores how Carol Dweck's fascinating research on mindset applies specifically to municipal leadership, revealing how city managers' beliefs about growth and adaptation fundamentally shape their effe...

Show Notes: Travis Rothweiler: From Department Silos to 'One City' Episode 137 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter and Travis Rothweiler, City Manager of Twin Falls, Idaho, for an inspiring discussion about transformational leadership and organizational culture. From his early start as a city administrator at age 28 to implementing the innovative "One City" initiat...

Show Notes: Episode 136 of The HaltingWinter Podcast "From Good to Great in Municipal Leadership" Episode Overview In this first episode of our Good to Great series, Seth Winterhalter explores how Jim Collins' groundbreaking research in his best-selling book, "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't," applies specifically to municipal leadership, revealing how city manager...

Show Notes: Sam Toles: From Hollywood to City Hall: Transforming Municipal Social Media Episode 135 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter and Sam Toles, CEO of CiviSocial , for an innovative exploration of municipal communications in the digital age. Drawing from his extraordinary career spanning Hollywood studios, social media platforms, and local government, Sam sh...

Show Notes: Episode 134 "Breaking Free from Carrot-and-Stick Leadership: Motivation That Works" Part 1 of 5 The Drive Series The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview In this first episode of our series exploring Daniel Pink's "Drive," Seth Winterhalter challenges traditional approaches to motivation in municipal government, revealing why the most successful city managers aren't those with the bi...

Show Notes: Monte Walker: Broadcasting, Business & Building the Future Episode 133 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter and Monte Walker, City Administrator of Howe, Texas, for a fascinating journey through municipal leadership from a uniquely multi-dimensional perspective. From his 30-year career as a sports broadcaster to owning the local newspaper and now leading...

Show Notes: Episode 132: The Effective Executive The HaltingWinter Podcast In this episode and the first of a new five-part series (for MLDC members) on Peter Drucker's book, "The Effective Executive," Seth Winterhalter challenges our fundamental understanding of leadership effectiveness. Through the compelling story of a dedicated city manager, discover why being productive might actually be hold...