GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

Hosted by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)

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Episodes

742

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Aug 2026

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About the show

GovLove is a podcast about the people, policies and profession of local government. From Mayors and City Managers to interns and everyone in between, we interview the people making a difference in their communities to learn about the great work being done at the local level. GovLove is brought to you by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).

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60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 74256 min

#742 Transition to City Manager and into Local Government with Casey Lucius, Marco Island, FL

Casey Lucius, City Manager for the City of Marco Island, Florida joined the podcast to discuss her transition into the City Manager role and into local government. She talked about her career path which has included time as a Naval Intelligence Officer and in the State Department as well as serving as a City Council Member. She discussed her transition from being Assistant City Manager to the City Manager, changes she is implementing as City Manager, and the City's upcoming bond election. Host: Ben Kittelson

August 14, 2026Episode 74133 min

#741 Leading With Empathy with Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, North Andover, MA

Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, Town Manager at the Town of North Andover, Massachusetts joined the podcast to discuss leading with empathy. She talked about what leading with empathy actually looks like in government leadership and a powerful example involving North Andover's flag policy and what became an emotionally charged moment in the community. She also shared advice she would give about leading with empathy while still making tough decisions. Host: Marissa Baum

August 7, 2026Episode 74046 min

#740 Equity in Action and Supporting Small Businesses with Aleea Slappy Wilson, Norfolk, VA

Aleea Slappy Wilson, Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, rejoined the podcast to discuss the work of equity and economic inclusion through supporting small businesses. She shared the work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Norfolk including the City's Bon Appétit Initiative and Equity Ambassadors program. She talked about the scrutiny equity work has been under and the impact of the current political environment. She also reflected on local government trends from the last 10 years. Host: Ben Kittelson

July 31, 2026Episode 73947 min

#739 Celebrating America's 250 with Tim Reavis, Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission

Tim Reavis, Senior Multimodal Transportation Planner for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, joined the podcast to discuss celebrating America's 250th birthday. He shared the story behind the Washington County quilt, how he was able to get the other 29 counties and one parish on board, and the special history behind each quilt square. Host: Lauren Palmer

July 24, 2026Episode 73857 min

#738 City Management and Public Works with Ginger Spencer, Phoenix, AZ

Ginger Spencer, Assistant City Manager at the City of Phoenix, Arizona, rejoined the podcast to discuss leadership, public works, and her career path. She shared lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the creation of the City's Office of Accountability and Transparency, and the importance of water and conservation. She also reflected on local government trends from the last 10 years. Host: Ben Kittelson

July 17, 2026Episode 73754 min

#737 George Floyd Square, When Infrastructure Becomes Sacred Space with Alex Kado, Minneapolis, MN

Alex Kado, Senior Project Manager in the Office of Public Service for the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, jointed the podcast to share the history and process of creating a public memorial at the location of George Floyd's murder. He discussed the public process for creating George Floyd Square , including determining the use for Peoples' Way, the former gas station at the site. He also shared lessons learned from working on such a complex project. Host: Lauren Palmer

July 10, 2026Episode 73653 min

#736 Public Servant Pulse and the People of Government with Dr. Elizabeth Linos, Harvard Kennedy School

Dr. Elizabeth Linos, Professor of Public Policy and Management at the Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty Director at The People Lab, joined the podcast to discuss the Public Servant Project an effort to collect and analyze data about the people of government. She talked about the Public Service Pulse a survey for local and state government employees to understand their experience and perspective. She shared how the results will be shared and what kinds of analysis she's hoping to do. She also discussed a recent report on how government workers are viewed by the public, including the differences between different roles. Host: Ben Kittelson

June 26, 2026Episode 7341 hr 13 min

#735 Government is People and Culture in Action with Michael Baskin, Montgomery County, MD

Michael Baskin, Chief Innovation Officer for Montgomery County, Maryland joined the podcast to discuss the future of local government innovation and understanding organizational culture. He talked about the importance of process improvement and what our processes tell government employees. He discussed his perspective on the importance of people in local government and creating a culture where ideas can be challenged. He also shared how the County prioritizes leadership development and coaching. Host: Ben Kittelson

June 19, 2026Episode 73448 min

#734 Managing Growth with Dianne Miller, Eagan, MN and Justin Miller, Lakeville, MN

Two guests joined the podcast to talk about managing growth and a two-career local government household. Dianne Miller is the City Administrator at City of Eagan, Minnesota and Justin is the City Administrator for the City of Lakeville, Minnesota. They shared the impact of Operation Metro Surge, moratoriums on housing and data centers, and potential career changes. This episode was recoded at the 2026 MCMA Annual Conference in Brainerd, MN. Host: Lauren Palmer

June 12, 2026Episode 7331 hr 3 min

#733 Building an Empowering Culture with James Childers, Flower Mound, TX

James Childers, Town Manager for the Town of Flower Mound, Texas joined the podcast to discuss building an empowering organizational culture. He talked about his career path in local government and shared his family history in the city management profession. He discussed getting to know and then setting the culture as a new Town Manager. He also talked about the Town's strategic plan and how the Town approaches community engagement. Host: Ben Kittelson