GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government

It's the most wonderful time of year! From artificial intelligence and traffic engineering to recruiting and planning, our episodes covered a wide array of all that goes into local government. To celebrate 2024 and look forward to 2025, the GovLove co-hosts teamed up to give out the most prestigious award in local government podcasting. Lauren, Dan, Meredith, and Ben each selected three of their favorite episodes to award a GovieLovie. Hosts: Lauren Palmer, Dan Bolin, Meredith Reynolds, & Ben Kittelson   The 2024 GovieLovies Lauren Killed by a Traffic Engineer with Dr. Wes Marshall Community Leadership, AI, and Engagement an ICMA Conference Recap - GovLove Island Youth-Centric Neighborhood Planning with Dave Walker, Detroit, MI Dan Recovering from Violence with Vince DiPiazza, Uvalde, TX Across the Generations with Sam Badger and Decker Ploehn The Public Administrator's Guide to Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Dylan Hayden Meredith Local Government Recruiting with Teri Black, Teri Black & Company Leadership and the Deputy Manager Role with Chelsea Jackson, Douglasville, GA City Planning from Waaaay Downtown with Caitlin Clark, Scottsdale, AZ Ben Rethinking Budgeting with GFOA's Chris Morrill and Shayne Kavanagh Revisiting Minneapolis 2040 with Heather Worthington, Urban3 Growing Up in City Hall with Monica Davis and Poonam Davis  

Deborah Witzburg, the Inspector General for the City of Chicago, Illinois, joined to the podcast to discuss her current role. She shared the difference between an inspector general and auditor, how she determines which programs of the City to evaluate, and important changes she has implemented related to criminal justice reform. Host: Lauren Palmer

India Adams-Jacobs, Town Manager of the Town of Bowling Green, Virginia, joined the podcast to talk about her career path and managing a small town. She talked about taking on her current role managing her hometown, the transition to get to know the organization, and how her previous roles prepared her for this role. She also discussed a "returnship" program she started in Colonial Beach that brought retirees in to help add capacity and skills to that small town. This episode was recorded at the 2024 ICMA Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Host: Ben Kittelson

Two guests from the City of Long Beach, California joined the podcast to discuss civic user research. Ryan Kurtzman is the Technology Partnerships Officer and Gati Wankyo is a Training Coordinator. They discussed how civic user research helps the City to improve digital services and technology. They also shared examples of the research in practice and information on the learning cohort. Host: Meredith Reynolds