Generation Reset with Kerry Rodríguez

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with Aubteen Pour-Biazar, co-founder and CEO of EffiGov, a Y Combinator-backed startup installing AI phone agents at the front desks of local governments, to discuss how his team is rethinking how local government agencies and residents interact.

Aubteen traces his path from a public school kid in a mid-sized Alabama town with no coding background, through stints at a local chamber of commerce, a political campaign, and a White House internship, to building EffiGov after two years of talking directly with civil servants about what they actually needed. What started as a "Nextdoor for politics" concept pivoted, once they listened to city and county staff, into an AI system that answers, routes, and resolves resident phone calls — now handling more than 20,000 calls a month across four states.

The conversation explores:

• why EffiGov scrapped its original civic engagement app idea after talking to actual government staff
• why framing AI as a "utility" rather than a "technology" changes how officials respond to it
• how interconnected department-specific agents eliminate the experience of being bounced between offices
• the built-in feedback loop that flags outdated information and helps staff keep answers accurate
• data privacy safeguards, zero data retention agreements, and the risks of "shadow AI" use by government staff
• and the real-world savings — in staff time and taxpayer dollars — governments are already seeing

Throughout the discussion, Aubteen argues that most of the nearly 20,000 cities and counties in the U.S. operate with far less infrastructure than big cities like New York or San Francisco, and that AI can close much of that gap without requiring large budgets or technical staff.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, government innovation, AI in the public sector, and what it takes to modernize how residents and their governments talk to each other.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with Danielle Avissar, a New York City community board member and brand marketing professional, to discuss how one unfair bus policy led her down a path to joining city politics.

Danielle traces her path from a frustrating run-in with MTA bus drivers over a stroller policy during COVID, to organizing mothers around a dog waste campaign on the Upper East Side, to being accepted onto Manhattan's Community Board 8 after a first rejection. Along the way, she built a hands-on understanding of how local advocacy actually moves — from media pressure and grassroots organizing to the more deliberative, consensus-driven work of serving on a city board.

The conversation explores:

• how a personal frustration with MTA stroller policy became a citywide media campaign
• why hitting local news outlets while "the iron is hot" can prove very effective
• what it's like sitting on a board with 50 ideologically diverse members and reaching majority consensus
• why community boards often serve as a launching pad into deeper political involvement
• how to prioritize which asks are realistic when pitching proposals to elected officials
• and why so few young people show up to serve on boards that shape their own neighborhoods

Throughout the discussion, Danielle argues that real, lasting change usually starts small — a clear ask, a coalition of people who back it, and a direct conversation with whoever actually has the power to act. She's candid about the limits of a community board's power, the generational gap among its members, and the outsized role local government plays in the day-to-day texture of city life, from stroller space on buses to sidewalks free of dog waste.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, local government, grassroots organizing, and how everyday frustrations can turn into civic power.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with Dr. Angela Myers, a 15-year veteran of the federal government and founder of Polymaths Place, to discuss what it's really like inside the machinery of the executive branch, and why she believes AI and automation will force a reimagining of federal government from the ground up.

Angela traces her path from a civically minded childhood — shaped by her family's history fleeing the Spanish Civil War and later Castro's Cuba — through internships in Governor Gray Davis's office and the White House, to nearly six years at the Executive Office of the President spanning the transition from the Bush to the Obama administration. Along the way, she built a rare inside view of how the 99.8% of government — the non-elected civil service — actually operates beneath the 0.2% of political appointees who come and go every four to eight years.

The conversation explores:

• what a presidential transition actually looks like from inside the Executive Office of the President
• why political appointees rarely succeed at changing the bureaucratic "machine" beneath them
• how AI and automation are already being embedded into federal operations, and what that means for jobs, costs, and taxpayers
• the case for looking abroad for best-in-class government models (like Norway's criminal justice system) and adapting them
• why "polymathic," versatile thinkers may matter more than narrow specialists in an AI-driven future
• and what young people considering a career in government or politics should actually weigh before choosing a path

Throughout the discussion, Angela argues that government at every level — federal, state, and local — should exist for one simple mission: reducing suffering and enhancing human thriving. She's candid about the scale of federal spending on war and incarceration relative to public health, housing, and education, and pushes back on the idea that loyalty to political parties serves citizens well. She closes with a call for leaders — and voters — who are willing to learn across ideological lines rather than treat politics like a team sport.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, federal bureaucracy, AI and the future of government, and what it takes to reimagine public service for a rapidly changing world.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with Joel Klemmer, Chief Procurement Officer at Gallup McKinley County Schools, to discuss how a career in business led him into federal procurement, and what it actually takes to make government systems work better for the people they're meant to serve.

Joel traces his path from entrepreneurial ventures and corporate leadership to a challenge from a retired Air Force colonel that pulled him into government — starting as a GS-4 federal employee, then through the U.S. Army Reserves, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, before landing at a K-12 school district in New Mexico.

The conversation explores:

• why he traded a senior leadership role in the private sector for a low-level government position
• how procurement, integration, and outdated technology quietly shape whether government actually delivers
• the difference between chasing federal contracts through SAM.gov versus local government co-ops
• why AI is "just a tool" and the real bottleneck is how agencies choose to use it
• the ethical lines around procurement integrity and why elected officials shouldn't be picking vendors
• how public servants build (or lose) public trust in government efficiency
• and what it takes to stay bipartisan while working across red and blue institutions

Throughout the discussion, Joel argues that cybersecurity, technology integration, and procurement aren't back-office details — they're the infrastructure that determines whether government can actually function for the people who depend on it, from veterans waiting on benefits to schoolchildren without reliable systems. He also reflects on the personal cost of holding a nonpartisan, results-first approach in an environment that often rewards loyalty over competence.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, government efficiency, public procurement, and what it takes to build trust in institutions from the inside out.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with Catherine Vaughan, co-founder of Abundance New York, to discuss how a former social impact consultant moved into electoral politics and began building a political ecosystem focused on making New York easier, faster, and cheaper to build.

Catherine traces her path from global health and agriculture work in Rwanda and Ethiopia to Stanford, McKinsey, the Hillary Clinton campaign, Flippable, Swing Left, and eventually Abundance New York. After entering politics in 2016, she became focused on the leverage of electoral work — especially state legislative races, donor strategy, and the political infrastructure needed to support candidates who want government to deliver more effectively.

The conversation explores:

• why nonprofit and social impact work can have limits compared to policy and electoral politics
• how the 2016 election pushed Catherine deeper into the political arena
• the “moneyball” approach to political giving and down-ballot races
• why state legislative campaigns can offer outsized political impact
• how Catherine and Ryder Kessler launched Abundance New York
• what it means to build a political home for pro-abundance candidates and voters
• and how listeners can begin building their own political power locally

Throughout the discussion, Catherine argues that housing, transit, clean energy, public space, and government delivery are not separate issues — they are connected by the question of whether government can actually meet people’s needs. She also explains why political power is built not only through campaigns, but through media, advocacy organizations, donors, voters, community boards, and local institutions.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, local government, housing, civic infrastructure, and what it takes to turn frustration with broken systems into organized political power.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with the podcast’s first featured voter — a 23-year-old Democratic Socialist from New Jersey whose political journey reflects both the frustrations and motivations of a generation coming of age during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American politics. 

As a child, voter #1 once dreamed of running for office, inspired by the election of Barack Obama and the belief that public service could be a force for positive change. But events such as Charlottesville, the rise of Donald Trump, and growing disillusionment with both major political parties ultimately pushed voter#1 away from pursuing elected office. Despite that, voter#1 remains politically active through organizing, voting, and advocacy for progressive candidates. 

The conversation explores:

• why some young Americans have become disenchanted with electoral politics
• the impact of Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and recent political events on a generation of voters
• whether Democrats have failed to use political power aggressively enough
• the growing divide between establishment and progressive wings of the Democratic Party
• how ideology shapes voting decisions more than personal background or professional experience
• New Jersey politics, political machines, and local frustrations with state leadership

Throughout the discussion, the guest offers an unapologetically progressive perspective on government, executive power, economic policy, immigration, foreign affairs, and the future of the Democratic Party. While deeply skeptical of many political institutions, voter#1 explains why they still believe participation matters — and why disengagement only guarantees that change never happens. 

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc.

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with former Placentia Mayor and California State Senate candidate Rhonda Shader to discuss how an entrepreneur with no plans to run for office ended up helping lead a city on the verge of financial collapse.

Rhonda shares the story of being recruited into local government after community leaders encouraged her to help tackle her city's growing fiscal challenges. When she took office, Placentia's reserves had dwindled to just $49. Over the next eight years, she and her colleagues worked to restore the city's finances, grow reserves to more than $15 million, launch a new fire department, improve infrastructure, and attract new economic development.

The conversation explores:

• how entrepreneurs approach government differently
• what it takes to turn around a financially distressed city
• the challenges of economic development at the local level
• why business owners are increasingly frustrated with state regulations
• the relationship between local governments and Sacramento
• the future of California's water infrastructure
• how campaigns are adapting to AI and changing voter engagement
• and why more citizens should pay attention to local government

Rhonda also reflects on her transition from business owner to mayor, the lessons she learned governing through financial uncertainty, and what motivated her to launch a campaign for the California State Senate.

This episode is ultimately about political activation, public service, fiscal responsibility, and the role ordinary citizens can play in shaping the future of their communities.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast exploring political activation, civic engagement, and the forces that push people into — or away from — public life.

Produced by the ContraSearch Network, a division of ContraSearch, Inc..

In this episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez breaks down why ContraSearch Network is hosting inaugural Tech Week events in both Boston and New York — and why founders, creators, investors, candidates, and operators should be paying close attention to the growing opportunities emerging at the intersection of government, AI, and civic infrastructure.

Kerry previews conversations with Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén and New York City Council Member Julie Won, exploring how founders can build alongside government, where innovation is accelerating in the public sector, and why civic entrepreneurship may become one of the most important startup opportunities of the next decade.

The episode also explores:

• why AI startups focused on government workflows are rapidly growing
• the rise of civic data infrastructure and real-time sentiment analysis tools
• opportunities in public-sector innovation that founders are still overlooking
• why climate and public infrastructure startups face unique regulatory barriers
• the growing role of AI-generated civic engagement tools and AI “twins”
• how partnerships between government and innovators historically shaped technologies like the internet and GPS
• and why the relationship between founders and public institutions may become increasingly important in the AI era

Kerry also shares insights from the attendee ecosystem forming around ContraSearch’s Tech Week events — including founders, investors, students, operators, and creators building at the edge of civic technology and institutional change.

This episode is ultimately about more than startups. It’s about political activation, civic infrastructure, public trust, and the future relationship between technology and government.

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast from the ContraSearch Network, produced by ContraSearch, Inc..

For the first episode of Generation Reset, Kerry Rodriguez sits down with independent California gubernatorial candidate Reza Safarnejad to discuss political disillusionment, outsider campaigns, immigration, institutional trust, and what it means to challenge the modern party system.

Born in Iran and shaped by revolution, war, and immigration to the United States, Reza brings a perspective on governance that is deeply personal — and increasingly relevant in a political climate where many voters feel politically homeless.

The conversation explores:

• why independent candidates struggle to break through
• how party systems shape public discourse
• steps future candidates can take to increase their odds of winning office as an independent
• market needs that entrepreneurs can address to help all candidates compete more effectively

Generation Reset with Kerry Rodriguez is a podcast from the ContraSearch Network, produced by ContraSearch, Inc..

I’m your host, Kerry Rodriguez. This is a show about political activation: what pulls people into American politics, what pushes them away, and what happens when staying disengaged is no longer an option.

In an era where states may have more room to redraw voting maps and reshape political power, the stakes are changing for voters, campaigns, founders, and communities across the country. Whether you are tuned into politics or running from it, the reality is simple: at some point, the rules of government may reach your life — and you may need to engage to protect your lifestyle.

Join us every week on Generation Reset, where we explore the people, power shifts, and political forces shaping what comes next.