GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

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 City Manager of Pearland, TX and made the move from Novi, MI.

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 can work with them.

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 solutions for employers in any field or public sector organization.

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 International is hosted by John Allore, the assistant budget director of Durham, NC.

We talk running for City Council with Sara Eskrich, Alder for District 13 of Madison, WI, and Hannah Lebovits, candidate for University Heights, OH City Council. They discuss why they wanted to run for office, the challenges they have faced as women candidates and what they hope to accomplish. Sara shares her experience knocking on doors in a snow storm and Hannah talks about campaigning with her young children.

Chris Hamilton joins GovLove to talk all about car-free transportation, planning and paradise. Chris is the Car-Free Key West program manager and former Transportation Bureau Chief for Commuter Services in Arlington County, VA. He shares how small investments in marketing can impact transportation use, the value of bike share and more.

The Intern Files is back, this time Madison Thesing interviews Michael Lawson from the City of Aurora, Colorado. Michael leads the city's special projects office and he discussed how Aurora is taking a new approach to hiring, on-boarding and culture. The "Shift" program started in August 2015 and its goal is to help Aurora attract the next generation of local government leaders.

#127 Public Service Perspectives from Indonesia & Singapore

Ferki Ferati & Ben Speggan join GovLove to talk about their work with the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Jefferson Society has been active in creating civic dialogue, exposing residents and leaders to issues and work going on in the city as well as promoting pride in their home town of Erie.

The latest Intern Files is back to discuss the ICMA local government fellow experience and getting started in a local government career. Madison Thesing is joined by David Nash-Hernandez, Eli Ritchie, Hunter Harris, Micah Phillips, Maia Knox & Craig Dudek. The six guests shared what they learned in their fellowship.

Figuring out the best way to get residents involved and participating in local government has been a hot topic in cities across the country. Matthew Crozier from Bang the Table has been doing engagement work around the world and came on GovLove to discuss best practices, how cities can do better and more.