High impact, not low-hanging fruit. Dr. Pamela Braff, the Director of Climate Programs for the City of Olympia, Washington, joined the podcast to discuss prioritizing climate initiatives and building climate action into the way the City does business. She talked about the Energize Olympia program which subsidizes the cost of installing heat pumps for residents and climate action planning at the regional level. She also shared the City's multi-agency sea level rise response plan.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Ben Effinger, Cash Management Operations Chief for the Treasurer and Tax Collector in Los Angeles County, CA joined the podcast to discuss transitioning from the military to the local government. He shared how military roles can transition to local government, what local governments can do to help military members, and the importance of men's mental health.

Host: Rafael Baptista

Outcomes and processes. Three guests joined the podcast to discuss community wellness hubs. Kristine Stratton is the President and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Matt Mann, Recreation Program Manager, and Sean Kennan, Recreation Superintendent, both work for the City of Shawnee, Kansas. They shared what defines a community wellness hub and an in-depth example of the Shawnee Community Wellness Hub. They also discussed the role of health equity in hubs and the NRPA Community Wellness Hubs toolkit.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Jed Byrne, Editor at Oak City CRE, joined the podcast to discuss development finance. He shared the important role of developers, the lifecycle of a project, and shared examples of how projects are financed.

Host: Rafael Baptista

Helping communities weigh tradeoffs on their roadways. Conor Semler, Principal Planner for Kittelson & Associates, joined the podcast to talk about a new tool that will help communities make streets safer. He shared his recent research into roadway cross-section reallocation and how cities can use the tool to balance community priorities with roadway usage. He also discussed the issue with outdated standards and the tradeoffs communities should consider when designing streets

Host: Ben Kittelson

Planning with natural charm. Tim Maslow, Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Groveland, Florida, joined the podcast to talk about planning and urbanism. He shared how Groveland is working to manage population growth, retain natural amenities, and create walkable places. Tim talked about creating the City's new form-based code and establishing pre-approved plans in the Florida Vernacular style to streamline the development process.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Strategy and service. Melissa Cantarero Weiss, Deputy City Administrator for the City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, joined the podcast to talk about building a customer service culture. She shared how they engaged employees in developing customer service values and integrating customer service into training, employee evaluations, and awards. Melissa also discussed the City's strategic plan, community engagement, the City's 2024 budget, and her career path in local government.

Host: Ben Kittelson

Go get 'em, tiger. Gabe Reaume, the City Manager for the City of Saginaw, Texas joined the podcast to discuss his new book, Strangers and Angels. Gabe shared stories growing up in rural Michigan, his unique path to city management, and how a friendship with a woman old enough to be his grandmother impacted his life.

Host: Rafael Baptista

The state of ELGL is strong. Maggie Jones is the Chair of the ELGL Board of Directors and Assistant Director of Community Development for Tarrant County, Texas. Maggie joined the podcast to provide listeners with an update on ELGL. She shared what makes the organization special, how members can maximize their membership, and a preview of ELGL 24. Maggie also talked about her career path and is rumored to have shared a membership promo code during the episode for listeners.

Host: Rafael Baptista

Choices for all. Spencer Gardner, the Planning Director for the City of Spokane, Washington joined the podcast to discuss their innovative Building Opportunity and Choices for All program. He discussed the use of an interim zoning ordinance, what things in the city code need to be addressed to achieve more equitable housing, and tax credit programs the City offers to support their housing goals.

Host: Ben Kittelson