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GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)
Local Government
Community Engagement
Public Administration
Economic Development
Public Service
Urban Planning
Sustainability
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Leadership
Covid-19
ICMA Conference
Public Safety
Public Policy
North Chicago
California
Housing Affordability
Zoning
Affordable Housing
East Hartford

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).

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes737Founded11 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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 go... more

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 ... more

YouTube

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. Th... more

YouTube

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 pro... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Michael Baskin
Chief Innovation Officer, Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County Government
Episode: #735 Government is People and Culture in Action with Michael Baskin, Montgomery County, MD
Dianne Miller
City administrator of Eagan, Minnesota
City of Eagan
Episode: #734 Managing Growth with Dianne Miller, Eagan, MN and Justin Miller, Lakeville, MN
Justin Miller
City administrator of Lakeville, Minnesota
City of Lakeville
Episode: #734 Managing Growth with Dianne Miller, Eagan, MN and Justin Miller, Lakeville, MN
James Childers
Town Manager, Flower Mountain, Texas
Flower Mountain, Texas
Episode: #733 Building an Empowering Culture with James Childers, Flower Mound, TX
Scott Neal
City Manager, Edina, Minnesota
Edina, Minnesota
Episode: #732 Developing Talent and Reflections Before Retirement with Scott Neal, Edina, MN
Anthony Flint
Senior fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; host of Land Matters; author and policy advisor on smart growth
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Episode: #731 One Hundred Years of Euclid v. Ambler and Local Zoning Power with Anthony Flint, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Tony Thompson
State Director of Strategy for North Carolina, ELGL board member
ELGL Board
Episode: #730 No One Leads Alone - Serving on the ELGL Board of Directors
Mike Ekey
Assistant City Manager, City of Belton, Missouri; ELGL Board Vice Chair
ELGL Board
Episode: #730 No One Leads Alone - Serving on the ELGL Board of Directors
Cassie Johnson
Deputy Director for the City of Scottsdale; ELGL Board Treasurer
ELGL Board
Episode: #730 No One Leads Alone - Serving on the ELGL Board of Directors

Hosts

Lauren Palmer
Host of GovLove; on-location host in several episodes; associated with EverStrive Solutions and the GovLove/ELGL network
Tony Thompson
Host of GovLove; interviewer; affiliated with state and local government leadership

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 225 ratings
  • I love learning about local gov!

    This podcast is so fun and informative. It’s so interesting to hear about local gov topics you don’t typically think about and learn more about the ones you do. I appreciate the host easing the interviewees into the interview portion with the lightening round—it’s always fun to hear how those answers vary (sometimes widely!) from person to person!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KKittels
    United Statesa year ago
  • This is in my wheelhouse

    As a public administrator I thoroughly enjoy these conversations. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cnacious
    United States3 years ago
  • Stop w/the long lightning rounds pls

    Many of the topics have shared pertinent info, but I question why so much time is spent on the long winded multiple question lightning rounds. I believe the meat of the topics often times is a long wait, and the lightning rounds lead onto longer discussions that are often awkward and not pertinent.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    us2centralAm
    United States4 years ago
  • Pretty good

    I’ve been exposed to a lot of good information via this podcast. I’m a council member in a small city, and this is a great resource to expand the professionals, and their thinking, that I’m exposed to. That said, the interviewers could sometimes ask more critical questions. For example, a recent guest posited that adjoining use conflicts could be better resolved by one-on-one arbitration by planners, or civil litigation between the parties, rather than preemptive but sometimes-blunt traditional ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Councilmember2
    United States4 years ago
  • Way too WOKE

    One guest mentioned “equity” about thirty times. He hit all the blue check marks: Climate Change (not global warming), Red lining, George Floyd, infrastructure funding, climate action, BLM, environmental justice, climate…

    If he had said “orange man bad” he would be a full fledged Woke-alist.

    Can’t you just discuss policy without the elitist slant?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    OG dnb
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners want tighter lightning rounds or deeper critique, but still valuable
Great for local government insights and practical takeaways
Positive, energetic hosts with a strong local gov focus

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#80
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#214
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Arab Emirates/Government
Apple Podcasts
#142
Philippines/Government
Apple Podcasts
#158
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#160
South Africa/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#734 Managing Growth with Dianne Miller, Eagan, MN and Justin Miller, Lakeville, MN
Q: Tell us about your background and career trajectory.
Dianne describes growing up in Minnesota and pursuing city management through the University of Kansas, starting as an intern in Eagan, and progressively moving up to chief administrator roles; Justin shares a path through Texas, the University of Kansas, Des Moines, and Minnesota, with a long-distance relationship before joining Lakeville.
#735 Government is People and Culture in Action with Michael Baskin, Montgomery County, MD
Q: What is the Accelerator program and how does it change organizations?
The Accelerator is a nine-step, three-day cycle that teaches structured problem solving and community collaboration, followed by a bright spots showcase to scale what's working, all delivered with no new budget or hires.
#735 Government is People and Culture in Action with Michael Baskin, Montgomery County, MD
Q: How has innovation in government evolved for you over the years?
Innovation is less about shiny tools and more about culture, trust, and the capacity to experiment; it requires changing processes and empowering staff to act, not just pushing new apps.
#735 Government is People and Culture in Action with Michael Baskin, Montgomery County, MD
Q: What was your path to this career?
I started in Boston through the Mayor's Youth Council, learned from mentors, then shifted through roles in policy and community work, eventually moving into innovation leadership in Chattanooga and then Montgomery County.
#731 One Hundred Years of Euclid v. Ambler and Local Zoning Power with Anthony Flint, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Q: How did Euclid v. Ambler reshape the built environment and what long-term effects did it have?
It affirmed local police power to establish zoning, promoted single-use districts and sprawl through automotive-enabled suburbanization, and laid groundwork for widespread single-family zoning while also enabling later discussions about density, mixed-use, and affordability.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About GovLove

What is GovLove about and what kind of topics does it cover?

GovLove focuses on the people, policies, and profession of local government, featuring city managers, department leaders, and public sector innovators. Episodes cover leadership journeys, governance challenges, and innovations—from data-center policy and guaranteed income pilots to accessibility, equity, and community engagement. A notable thread is how local governments navigate complex cross-agency collaboration, funding, and public trust, often highlighting practical takeaways for practitioners, vendors, and elected officials. The show stands out for its hands-on conversations with real-world public servants and a consistently optimistic, mission-driven tone that emphasizes tangible improvements in communities.

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Which podcasts are similar to GovLove?

These podcasts share a similar audience with GovLove:

1. Consider This from NPR
2. Life Kit
3. Hidden Brain
4. The Strong Towns Podcast
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of GovLove are there?

GovLove launched 11 years ago and published 737 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact GovLove?

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What guests have appeared on GovLove?

Recent guests on GovLove include:

1. Michael Baskin
2. Dianne Miller
3. Justin Miller
4. James Childers
5. Scott Neal
6. Anthony Flint
7. Tony Thompson
8. Mike Ekey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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