The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: Atlas of the HeartEpisode 384 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

This week, Seth Winterhalter looks at why local government leadership is an emotional profession that almost nobody trains for and how a lack of precise language for what you're feeling in the moment quietly costs leaders their ability to respond well. The conversation centers on Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown, a researcher who has spent nearly two decades studying vulnerability, shame, courage, and connection, and who maps 87 distinct emotions and experiences in this book.

The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

• Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

→ Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

David G. Brown II: Teach Me How This WorksWhy Curiosity May Be a Leader's Greatest AdvantageEpisode 383 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

David G. Brown II has built a career in local government by being willing to walk into unfamiliar territory and ask a simple question: Teach me how this works.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with David, Township Manager for the Township of Ocean, New Jersey, to explore a career that has taken him through economic development, redevelopment, public works, municipal administration, major construction projects, and even the challenges of leading a beach community through COVID.

Along the way, David discovered that great leadership isn't about knowing everything. It's about staying curious enough to learn, driven enough to keep growing, and willing to apply what each new experience teaches you.

David and Seth also discuss why local government careers rarely follow a perfectly straight line. A role that looks like a detour may be adding exactly the skill you'll need later. David describes experiences that gave him capabilities he didn't even realize he had, including project management, and how each opportunity added something new to his leadership toolbox.

The conversation also gets into one of the harder realities of municipal leadership: you can do good work and still lose your job. Political environments change. Elected officials change. Sometimes your position changes with them. But how you conduct yourself through those difficult seasons matters. David knows that firsthand: the mayor who once fired him eventually became the mayor who hired him back.

About David G. Brown IIDavid G. Brown II serves as Township Manager for the Township of Ocean, New Jersey. His diverse career in public service has spanned municipal administration, economic development, redevelopment, public works, and major community development projects. From discovering public administration through the encouragement of a college professor to leading communities through political transitions, complex projects, and the COVID-19 pandemic, David has built his career by continually embracing new challenges, learning how things work, and adding each experience to his leadership toolbox.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Randy Murphy: Leading Without ControlWhy Influence Matters More Than Authority Episode 382 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

What does leadership look like when you realize you were never really in control to begin with?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Randy Murphy, City Manager of Solvang, California, for a conversation about influence, resilience, culture, communication, and the lessons learned through a career that has taken almost every imaginable turn in local government.

Randy didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a city manager. In fact, he entered public service nearly by accident, taking a county position because it shortened his commute and gave him more time with his family. But once inside local government, he discovered work that gave him something his private-sector career hadn't: a deep sense of purpose.

Today, as City Manager of Solvang, Randy has helped rebuild an organization following years of leadership turnover, earning recognition from his own staff and peers with the John H. Nail Memorial Award for exceptional leadership.

Seth and Randy discuss why leaders can't overcommunicate difficult decisions, how delaying necessary action often makes the eventual pain worse, why serious work should still be fun, and how trust is rebuilt one relationship at a time.

They also explore one of Randy's most important realizations from both life and leadership: control is largely an illusion. Leaders cannot control every employee, elected official, resident, circumstance, or outcome. What they can control is how they respond and how effectively they influence what happens next.

About Randy MurphyRandy Murphy is the City Manager of Solvang, California, and a longtime public servant whose career has spanned city and county administration, public works, parks and recreation, and executive leadership. Known for his people-first approach, Randy has helped rebuild trust and culture in Solvang while embracing a leadership philosophy centered on influence, resilience, communication, and finding joy in the work of public service.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: The Road Back to YouEpisode 381 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Seth introduces The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile, a practical primer on the Enneagram, a framework that maps nine distinct ways people are wired, including their core motivations, fears, and blind spots. Seth unpacks why this book lands differently for local government leaders than it does for a typical corporate audience: you don't get to build your team from scratch. You inherit a council or board, career staff, and residents you didn't choose, and you have to lead all of them well anyway.

The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

• Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

→ Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Brent Trout: You Can't Do It AllHow the Manager's Job Changes as the Organization Grows

Episode 380 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

The skills that make you successful leading a small organization aren't necessarily the same skills you need as the organization grows.

Early in his career, Brent Trout was the city administrator of a community of roughly 900 people. Budget. Planning and zoning. Public works. Utilities. If something needed to happen, chances were Brent was involved.

Today, as County Manager of Harnett County, North Carolina, Brent helps lead an organization spanning 25 departments.

And somewhere along that journey, the job had to change.

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Brent joins Seth to explore what happens when a manager has to move from doing and knowing everything to creating the clarity, accountability, and communication that allow other leaders to lead.

Brent shares how Harnett County connects its strategic plan to performance measures and individual department business plans, why consistent communication is essential when leading a complex organization, and how he stays connected to department leaders without trying to run their departments for them.

They also discuss an often-overlooked part of local government leadership: the experience residents have when interacting with their government.

Because good customer service doesn't mean always saying yes. It means listening. Communicating clearly. Treating people with respect. And remembering that while local government professionals work with these issues every day, residents don't.

About Brent TroutBrent Trout is the County Manager of Harnett County, North Carolina, and was named the 2025 County Manager of the Year by the North Carolina City & County Management Association. His more than 30-year local government career has taken him from managing a town of fewer than 1,000 residents to leading increasingly complex cities and county government, including serving as City Manager of Topeka, Kansas.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Joe Ambrosini: Are We Hiring for the Future or Protecting the Past?Rethinking the systems standing between local government and great talent Episode 379 of The HaltingWinter PodcastSponsored by Tyler Technologies

Local government desperately needs talented people. But are the systems designed to protect our organizations actually making it harder for great people to get through the door?

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter talks with Joe Ambrosini, Director of Human Resources for Placer County, California, about local government hiring, public sector recruitment, and the systems standing between great candidates and careers in public service.

Joe knows the challenge from both sides. Before entering local government, he was repeatedly passed over because he lacked government experience. Years later, as an HR leader for the City of Long Beach, he helped tackle a 109-year-old civil service hiring system while the city faced nearly a 25% vacancy rate and an average hiring process of seven months.

Seth and Joe discuss why government experience can become an unnecessary barrier, how outdated hiring processes drive away talented candidates, why vacancies are ultimately a service-delivery problem, and how HR can become a strategic force for organizational transformation.

They also explore Joe's leadership journey across cities, counties, and special districts, the importance of organizational culture, and what leaders can do to build workplaces where talented people want to stay.

Are we hiring for the future of local government or protecting the systems of the past?

About Joe AmbrosiniJoe Ambrosini is the Director of Human Resources for Placer County, California, bringing nearly two decades of HR leadership experience across healthcare and local government. His public-sector career has included leadership roles with Butte County, Cosumnes Community Services District, and the City of Long Beach, where he helped lead significant reforms to the city's century-old civil service hiring system. Joe's work focuses on building stronger organizations by modernizing hiring practices, strengthening labor relationships, and positioning human resources as a strategic partner in organizational transformation.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: Leading ChangeEpisode 378 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Most change initiatives don't fail because the idea was wrong. They fail because the leadership conditions for change were never actually built.

That's the central argument of this week's book in the MLDC, Leading Change by John P. Kotter. Kotter spent decades at Harvard Business School studying organizations attempting major transformation. What he found wasn't a strategy problem. It was a leadership problem. And the eight-step framework he built from that research has shaped how leaders think about organizational change for nearly thirty years.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter walks through why Leading Change should be in your library as a municipal leader and why the constraints of local government make Kotter's framework more relevant, not less. Local government leaders don't have market pressure forcing urgency. They don't have a single building or a shared Slack channel to communicate across. They operate inside complex political environments where the people they most need to influence often don't report to them. Kotter's framework was written for the private sector, but the leadership principles at its core apply with surprising precision to city managers, county administrators, and department heads navigating real transformation in real communities.

The MLDCLeadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller.

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government.

Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through:

• Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year

You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community.

The MLDC is an investment in developing you.

→ Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Jennifer Wills: From Parks to PurposeWhy Community Builders Make Great City Managers Episode 377 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Sponsored by Tyler Technologies

What if one of the best paths to becoming a great city manager starts in Parks & Recreation?

In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jennifer Wills, City Manager of Longview, Washington, whose unconventional journey proves that leadership isn't about climbing a predetermined ladder; it's about saying yes to opportunities, building relationships, and creating places where people belong.

Jennifer shares how a childhood spent in municipal recreation programs, an adventurous career as a wilderness ranger, and years leading Parks & Recreation prepared her to lead an entire city. Along the way, she explains why local government is fundamentally about community building, why storytelling is essential to earning public trust, and how leaders can turn skeptics into advocates through vision, resilience, and results.

The conversation also explores Jennifer's transition into the city manager's office, the importance of organizational culture, and the emotional responsibility leaders carry when tragedy strikes their community.

Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned city manager, or someone passionate about strengthening your community, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and inspiring perspective.

About Jennifer WillsJennifer Wills is the City Manager for the City of Longview, Washington. After beginning her career in Parks & Recreation, she spent nearly two decades helping build stronger communities before becoming city manager in 2025. Known for her energy, relationship-centered leadership, and commitment to community engagement, Jennifer is passionate about creating places where people feel they belong while fostering a culture of service, innovation, and trust throughout local government.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Charlie Bush: The Trail to Better LeadershipWhy Every Leader Needs a Challenge Beyond Work

Episode 376 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Sponsored by Tyler Technologies

Charlie Bush returns to The HaltingWinter Podcast for a special conversation nearly three years after sharing his remarkable leadership and resilience journey in Episode 115.

This time, the conversation leaves City Hall and heads into the wilderness.

After months of preparation, Charlie set out to hike one of the most demanding sections of the Pacific Crest Trail: a personal challenge designed to stretch him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Along the way, he encountered fallen trees, washed-out trails, dangerous creek crossings, wildfires, and countless unexpected obstacles. But what emerged wasn't simply a story about hiking. It became a masterclass in leadership.

Charlie shares why every leader needs a challenge outside of work, how difficult experiences build resilience that carries back into the office, and why stepping away may be one of the best investments you can make in both yourself and your organization.

Whether you're leading a city, managing a department, or simply looking for a healthier and more sustainable way to lead, this conversation offers practical wisdom on resilience, perspective, and the power of intentional personal growth.

About Charlie BushCharlie Bush serves as the City Administrator for the City of Sedro-Woolley, Washington. A respected municipal leader and advocate for resilience, Charlie is passionate about helping public servants build sustainable careers through intentional leadership, personal wellness, and continuous growth. Outside of City Hall, he's an avid long-distance backpacker whose adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail continue to shape his perspective on leadership, resilience, and life.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software and technology solutions built specifically for local government. From artificial intelligence and resident engagement to budgeting, planning, and public service delivery, Tyler helps communities operate more efficiently and serve residents more effectively. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - The MLDC is a private leadership community designed exclusively for local government professionals. Through practical tools, meaningful conversations, and a nationwide network of peers, members gain the support and perspective needed to lead with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Obstacle is the WayEpisode 375 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Most leadership books are written for leaders who have meaningful control over their environment. Local government isn't that context. Budget constraints, council dynamics, civil service systems, public scrutiny, and inherited dysfunction mean municipal leaders operate inside conditions they cannot fully control, and probably never will. Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is the Way draws on Stoic philosophy to argue that this isn't a problem to solve. It's the point.

In this episode, Seth unpacks Holiday's three disciplines — Perception, Action, and Will — and makes the case for why Stoic philosophy may be the most directly applicable leadership framework for local government professionals. The constraint isn't in the way of the strategy. It's where the strategy happens.

Join the MLDC

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to:

✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our monthly virtual mastermind sessions ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training for local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at https://HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: https://HaltingWinter.com