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GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL)
Local Government
Climate Change
Public Service
Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan
Community Engagement
Economic Development
Public Administration
Local Government Services
Inclusive Transportation
Affordable Housing
Sustainability
Development Finance
Heat Pumps
Olympia, WA
Putting Assets To Work
Financial Stability
Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Mid-America Regional Council
Equity In Transportation
Oakland

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).

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes709Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentCareersBusiness

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Artwork for GovLove

Latest Episodes

It's moment you have been waiting for all year! From new forms of government, interesting case studies, and tales from local government leaders our episodes covered a wide array of all that goes into local government. To celebrate 2025 and look forwa... more

AI meets local government. Jorge Valens, Innovation Manager for Miami-Dade County, FL, joined the podcast to talk about the opportunities artificial intelligence represents for local government organizations and his recent article on the topic. He t... more

Jessica Carrero, Operations Project Manager for the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut joined the podcast to discuss project management and ensuring operations continue when organizations go through changes. She shared her experience during mayoral t... more

Amber Cabrera. Senior Assistant to the City Manager for City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Maylee De Jesús, City Clerk for the City of Boynton Beach, Florida joined to podcast to discuss increasing representation in local government. They shared re... more

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Recent Guests

Jorge Valens
Innovation Manager for the Communications, Information, and Technology Department at Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Miami-Dade County
Episode: #707 Using Artificial Intelligence to Empower Public Servants with Jorge Valens, Miami-Dade County, FL
Jessica Carrero
Project Manager at the Town of East Hartford, experienced in local government operations across multiple administrations
Town of East Hartford
Episode: #706 Maintaining Good Government During Transitions with Jessica Carrero, East Hartford, CT
JC Hudgison
Chief Building Official and Construction Services Center Manager for the City of Tampa, Florida
City of Tampa
Episode: #704 Development and Customer Service with JC Hudgison, Tampa, FL
Aarón Zavala
Assistant to the City Manager in Pleasanton, California, recognized for his leadership in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.
City of Pleasanton
Episode: #703 Staying Authentic with Aarón Zavala, Pleasanton, CA
Jim Schutz
Author of 'The Mayor Has a Hammer', a local government poet, and a consultant.
JMSB Strategies
Episode: #702 The Mayor Has a Hammer and Other Poetry with Jim Schutz, JMSB Strategies
Julia Novak
CEO and Executive Director of the International City County Management Association
ICMA
Episode: #701 Leading ICMA and the Roots of Professional Government with Julia Novak, ICMA
Tom Modica
City Manager of Long Beach, California
City of Long Beach
Episode: #700 An ICMA Conference Recap, Leadership, Urban Revitalization, and Hot Wings - GovLove Island
April Walker
Assistant City Manager for Long Beach
City of Long Beach
Episode: #700 An ICMA Conference Recap, Leadership, Urban Revitalization, and Hot Wings - GovLove Island
Jackie Wehmeyer
Senior Director of Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Parkland
City of Parkland
Episode: #700 An ICMA Conference Recap, Leadership, Urban Revitalization, and Hot Wings - GovLove Island

Hosts

Ben Kittelson
Co-host of GovLove and experienced in engaging local government leaders.
Meredith Reynolds
Deputy City Manager at the City of Long Beach and co-host.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 226 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 States4 months 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 States3 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 States3 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 States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative nature of the discussions and the unique insights into local government operations.
Many find the interviews engaging, with a good mix of lighthearted moments and serious topics.
Some feedback indicates that the pacing of episodes can vary, with certain segments feeling overly lengthy.
Overall, it is seen as an essential resource for local government professionals seeking new ideas and community engagement strategies.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#86
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#178
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#137
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#144
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#169
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#209
United Arab Emirates/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#702 The Mayor Has a Hammer and Other Poetry with Jim Schutz, JMSB Strategies
Q: What compelled you to write a book in poetry specifically?
Jim wanted to express the emotional depth of local government experiences in a way that traditional prose couldn't capture, especially as he was processing his own career as he prepared for retirement.
#702 The Mayor Has a Hammer and Other Poetry with Jim Schutz, JMSB Strategies
Q: What led you from city management to consulting?
After decades as a city manager, Jim wanted to try new things and found the transition to consulting more difficult than expected but ultimately rewarding.
#699 Parks Commissioner to City Council Member with Mitchell Silver, Raleigh, NC
Q: What advice would you give to someone that's considering making that kind of change or thinking about doing that as part of some point in their career?
You need to understand you have to form relationships, even if someone may not share your point of view, in order to get anything done. You also have to have tough skin and remain committed to protecting public interests.
#697 Leadership and Change Management with Kelly McAdoo, Santa Barbara, CA
Q: How do you handle the housing crisis in Santa Barbara?
McAdoo discussed the balance between maintaining Santa Barbara's character and addressing local housing needs amidst state mandates.
#697 Leadership and Change Management with Kelly McAdoo, Santa Barbara, CA
Q: How do you approach addressing budget shortfalls?
McAdoo noted how she supported a community conversation around a sales tax measure and acted as a fact-checker for community groups, reinforcing the staff's advocacy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About GovLove

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

Focusing on the complexities and impactful stories from the realm of local government, the content covers a diverse range of topics relevant to professionals in public administration. Episodes spotlight the unique challenges and achievements of city officials, public servants, and community leaders, emphasizing themes like community engagement, equity, and the evolution of local governance in today's dynamic political landscape. The discussions often highlight innovative strategies in public service aimed at enhancing the quality of life for constituents, making this a valuable resource for those working within, or interested in, local government affairs. The podcast stands out for its commitment to exploring the intersection of policy, lea... more

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Which podcasts are similar to GovLove?

These podcasts share a similar audience with GovLove:

1. The Strong Towns Podcast
2. Up First from NPR
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Conversation with Dasha Burns
5. The Daily

How many episodes of GovLove are there?

GovLove launched 11 years ago and published 709 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on GovLove?

Recent guests on GovLove include:

1. Jorge Valens
2. Jessica Carrero
3. JC Hudgison
4. Aarón Zavala
5. Jim Schutz
6. Julia Novak
7. Tom Modica
8. April Walker

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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