Everything Is Local

Everything Is Local

By Mike BurkonsBusinessEntrepreneurshipGovernment
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Everything Is Local episodes

  • Ep. 60 - Tax Hikes, New Cars, and Beachwood Budget Battles

    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

    • The City of Beachwood's proposed vote to re-levy charter mills and what it could cost the average homeowner each year.
    • Why Mike believes City Council should publicly justify any tax increase and let residents vote on it instead of approving it directly.
    • Beachwood's growing revenues compared to neighboring cities and whether the city truly needs additional tax dollars.
    • The proposed replacement of Mayor Justin Berns' city vehicle and broader concerns about city spending priorities.
    • Discussions about a possible new Beachwood Police Station and whether renovations would make more sense than a costly replacement.
    • Mike and Shana's thoughts on government transparency, public accountability, and how major spending decisions should be explained to residents.
    • A lighter conversation about Mike's upcoming trip to Columbus, Nikki and Ellie's trip to Los Angeles, and Mike's concerns about handling baseball uniform laundry while they're away.

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      29 min
    • Ep. 59 - Sunburns, Sports Parents, and the Coach Perk Fan Club

      This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

      • Jack’s eighth-grade graduation, winning Athlete of the Year, and the emotions that come with watching your kids grow up.
      • The impact of great coaches, why Coach Perk has become a local legend, and how strong mentorship can shape kids far beyond the playing field.
      • Travel baseball tournaments, sports-parent culture, and the friendships that develop when families spend years together on the same teams.
      • A controversial local basketball coaching incident and a discussion about accountability, leadership, and expectations in youth sports.
      • The Cleveland Cavaliers playoff run, the Browns, Myles Garrett, and the never-ending roller coaster of being a Cleveland sports fan.
      • Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, celebrity culture, and what it must be like to live under a constant spotlight.
      • Summer homework, AI-assisted cheating, and the challenges parents face trying to keep kids engaged academically during break.
      • Sunburns, farmer’s tans, motorcycle stories, and all the little moments that make Northeast Ohio summers memorable.

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        54 min
      • Ep. 58 - Beachwood Shooting Mystery, Pool Hot Dogs, and City Hall Frustrations

        This is a great episode where Mike and Shana are joined by Beachwood resident Joanna Henze to talk about:

        • The mysterious early morning shooting in Beachwood, the confusing details surrounding the incident, and why many residents feel communication from the city was lacking.
        • The rumors, theories, and neighborhood reactions after shell casings, police tape, and investigators flooded the area.
        • Questions about public safety, emergency alerts, and whether residents should have been warned to keep kids inside before school started.
        • Past Beachwood incidents that residents still feel never received proper public explanation or transparency.
        • The ongoing debate over speeding enforcement, traffic cameras, and whether Beachwood is prioritizing the wrong public safety concerns.
        • Funny side conversations about old TV shows like Hunter, neighborhood gossip, and what actually makes a front porch great.
        • Opening weekend at the Beachwood pool, hot dog reviews, and classic summer nostalgia.

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          1 hr 8 min
        • Ep. 57 - Jury Duty, Traffic Camera Chaos, and Why Everyone’s Fighting in Beachwood

          This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

          •  Mike getting called for jury duty on a double murder case and the comments that quickly got him dismissed from the jury pool.
          • The growing controversy surrounding proposed automated traffic cameras in Beachwood and whether they are really about safety or generating revenue.
          • Frustration with city council transparency, emergency legislation, and how major decisions are being communicated to residents.
          • The proposed new library project, concerns over losing baseball and softball fields, and larger questions about city planning and priorities.
          • The Fairmount Temple TIF discussion and ongoing debates over development, taxes, and the future direction of Beachwood.
          • Parenting middle schoolers, academic struggles, sports pressure, and learning how to handle failure and adversity.
          • Youth baseball tournaments, soccer debates, Cleveland sports frustrations, and the chaos of raising competitive kids.

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            56 min
          • Ep. 56 - Traffic Cameras, Parenting Fails, and Why Everyone’s Mad at City Hall

            This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

            •  The disastrous Cleveland Cavaliers playoff performance, Dan Gilbert sending buses of fans to support the team, and why Cleveland sports continue to emotionally destroy everyone involved.
            •  Parenting teenage athletes, handling failure on the baseball field, body language, leadership, and the brutal reality of youth sports pressure.
            •  The difference between harmless trash talk and genuinely hurting someone’s feelings, plus the unwritten rules of teenage boy humor.
            •  Volunteer work with the Akron Woman's City Club, rebuilding community organizations after COVID, and mentoring younger women in leadership and nonprofit spaces.
            •  Gaming culture, kids cursing online, awkward parent phone calls, and trying to figure out what’s actually appropriate behavior in modern multiplayer games.
            •  Why every parent eventually becomes “the house where all the kids hang out” and the chaos that comes with it.
            •  The massive controversy surrounding proposed automated traffic cameras in Beachwood, including concerns about privacy, surveillance, revenue generation, and whether the cameras are actually about safety at all.
            •  Arguments over emergency ordinances, transparency in local government, and frustration with how city council communicates major decisions to residents.
            •  Why critics believe traffic cameras unfairly target working-class drivers and commuters while generating millions of dollars for municipalities.
            •  Speed bumps, sidewalks, school zones, and whether cities are genuinely solving safety problems or just creating new ways to collect money.
            •  Sports betting parlays, irrational Cleveland sports optimism, and how a $10 bet somehow turns into a 50-minute discussion.
            •  The Browns, Deshaun Watson controversy, separating athletes from personal behavior, and whether fans should care about the morality of professional sports stars.

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              57 min
            • Ep. 55 - RFK, Traffic Cameras, and the Battle Over the New Library

              This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

              •  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking in Cleveland, free speech, media outrage, and the debate over controversial public figures and public health messaging.
              •  Vaccines, autism claims, political “kookiness,” and whether people in positions of authority should be held to a different standard when discussing science and medicine.
              •  Music, politics, and why the hosts completely disagree on Kid Rock, Eminem, and celebrity culture in general.
              •  Mother’s Day stories, forgotten anniversaries, parenting moments, and the reality of long-term marriage.
              •  The failed Sheetz proposal, city council transparency, and why publicly taking a position on controversial votes actually matters.
              •  Unexpected praise for councilmember Pete Smith and a broader conversation about leadership, accountability, and having the courage to stake out unpopular positions.
              •  The proposed traffic camera expansion, debates over speeding enforcement, privacy concerns, and whether automated tickets are really about safety or just revenue generation.
              •  The controversial new library proposal, fears over losing youth baseball and softball fields, and questions about whether replacing a relatively modern library makes financial sense.
              •  Retail hiring struggles, bizarre no-show interviews, and what it’s like trying to staff hourly jobs in today’s economy.
              •  Hospital expansion rumors, men’s health clinics, colonoscopy stories, toenail fungus disasters, and surviving father-daughter ice skating performances.

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                53 min
              • Ep. 54 - Booze Wins, Sheetz Vote, and the Reality of Local Politics

                This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

                •  A big win at a local fundraiser, including a second “basket of booze” victory, and why timing that win right before COVID turned out to be perfect. 
                •  The upcoming Sheetz vote, behind-the-scenes conversations with council leadership, and predictions on how the decision will ultimately play out. 
                •  A candid discussion about authenticity in local politics, supporting friends versus standing on principle, and why some public arguments don’t feel genuine. 
                •  City council dynamics, titles, and whether formality and “pomp and circumstance” help or hurt real community engagement. 
                •  The reality of civic involvement, how much residents actually want to engage, and whether local government visibility is a good thing, or just noise. 
                •  Youth sports, indoor soccer memories, and how little some facilities have changed over the years (for better or worse). 
                •  Trading cards, kids, and the ongoing debate over whether any of it is actually an “investment.” 
                •  Vegas stories, getting older, and how what counts as a “great trip” changes a lot over time. 

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                  1 hr 5 min
                • Ep. 53 - Sheetz Showdown, Free Speech Firestorm, and Local Politics Exposed

                  This is a great episode where Mike and Shana are joined by returning guest Matt Hildebrand, and they talk about:

                  •  The heated battle over the proposed Sheetz location, why residents and businesses are pushing back, and predictions on how the city council vote could unfold. 
                  •  Transparency in local government, whether council members should publicly state their positions before voting, and frustrations with leaders avoiding accountability. 
                  •  Traffic studies, development talking points, and skepticism over claims that the proposed project would actually improve congestion. 
                  •  Neighborhood issues including the rejected cul-de-sac proposal, park improvements, tree removal, and how city spending priorities are being questioned. 
                  •  The controversy involving an Orange City School District employee’s social media post, and a broader discussion about the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, public employment, and accountability. 
                  •  Assisted dying legislation in Ohio, generational politics, and why some major public issues receive far less attention than they should. 
                  •  Sharp opinions, local drama, and the kind of honest conversation that keeps listeners coming back each week. 

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                    52 min
                  • Ep. 52 - Restaurant Fails, Cul-de-Sac Chaos, and a Free Speech Fight

                    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:

                    •  A local restaurant shutdown over health violations, what actually matters when it comes to food quality, and why soggy egg rolls might be the real dealbreaker. 
                    •  New restaurant spots, rising dining costs, and why eating at home is starting to feel like the better (and cheaper) option. 
                    •  Family dynamics, getting older, and the realization that roles start to shift when it comes to parents, money, and responsibility. 
                    •  A proposed cul-de-sac plan impacting multiple Beachwood neighborhoods, why residents are frustrated, and how local decisions can directly affect daily life. 
                    •  The ongoing Sheetz debate, traffic concerns, and skepticism around what “economic development” really means for the city. 
                    •  The Orange School District controversy involving a staff member’s social media post, free speech, and the line between criticism and discrimination. 
                    •  A broader conversation about Israel, antisemitism, public reaction, and whether institutions are overstepping when responding to personal opinions. 
                    •  Global politics, U.S. foreign policy, and how media narratives shape what people focus on versus what actually matters. 

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                      1 hr 3 min
                    • Ep. 51 - Local Leadership, Real Life, and Running for Change with Ebony Spano

                      This is a great episode where Shana is joined by guest co-host Wendy Leatherberry for a special interview with county council candidate Ebony Spann, and they talk about:

                      •  Ebony’s decision to run for County Council District 11, what the role actually entails, and why oversight and accountability at the local level matter more than people realize. 
                      •  Balancing campaign life with motherhood, including raising a son with autism and managing the stress and structure that comes with it. 
                      •  Her journey from growing up in poverty to joining the Navy at 17, building a business, and creating a life rooted in independence and resilience. 
                      •  The diversity of District 11 and how her lived experience across different economic and social environments shapes her approach to leadership. 
                      •  County-level challenges like budgeting, jail and wellness center issues, and ensuring qualified people are appointed to key positions. 
                      •  Mental health, economic disparity, and the reality that these issues affect every community regardless of income level. 
                      •  Leadership philosophy, decision-making, and what she hopes to accomplish in her first year if elected. 

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                        33 min

                      About Everything Is Local

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Have you ever wondered what really goes on in local government? I’m Mike Burkons, your host and a former city council member. Some people loved me, some… well, let’s just say they weren’t fans but I’m…