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PODCAST

The HaltingWinter Podcast

Seth Winterhalter

The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revitalize their municipalities. Hosted by Seth Winterhalter, President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explore innovative approaches to balance personal well-being with professional growth while cultivating a vibrant workplace culture. Discover how to lead with purpose, navigate complex challenges, and deliver exceptional results for

government management

All Episodes

01:40:12

218: Mike Goodrum: From Cutthroat to Culture-Builder:...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/21

Show Notes: Mike Goodrum: From Cutthroat to Culture-Builder: What Ambition Won’t Teach You About Leading People Episode 218 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview Michael Goodrum’s rise through local government was fast, relentless, and at times, ruthless. From living in his car outside a community college to becoming City Manager of Sugar Land, Texas, Michael built a reputation as the guy who could fix anything. But it came at a cost: people, trust, and even his own

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01:26:51

217: Jeff Meisel: From Embezzlement to Empowerment:...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/19

Show Notes: Jeff Meisel-From Embezzlement to Empowerment: Building a City That Trusts Again Episode 217 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jeff Meisel, City Manager of Bowling Green, Kentucky, for one of the most powerful and transparent leadership conversations to date. Jeff’s story isn’t polished—it’s lived. Born and raised in Bowling Green, Jeff never planned to lead the city he grew up in. But after uncovering a

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08:56

216: Book of the Week: The Advantage

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/18

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The AdvantageEpisode 216 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: The Advantage Series) Episode Title: Why Smart Cities Still Fail Episode Overview Your organization has hired the best department heads, balanced the budget, implemented cutting-edge technology, and created a strategic plan that reads like a masterpiece. Yet somehow, your city still feels stuck in quicksand—progress is slow, politics drain energy from prioritized work, and even your most talented

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01:43:17

215: Ed Barrett: No Magic Wand: What It Really Takes...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/14

Show Notes: Ed Barrett - No Magic Wand: What It Really Takes to Revive a City Episode 215 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ed Barrett—retired City Manager of Bangor and Lewiston, Maine—for a masterclass in what long-term, community-centered leadership really looks like. From his early days auditing performance metrics in Tucson to a 22-year tenure leading a full-scale downtown and riverfront revitalization in Bangor,

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01:31:09

214: Boone Bowling: Show Up, Listen, Lead: How to...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/12

Show Notes: Boone Bowling-Show Up, Listen, Lead: How to Build Trust from Scratch Episode 214 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview What happens when a 22-year-old with no political background or formal training decides to run for city council? In Middlesboro, Kentucky, it leads to transformation. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Mayor Boone Bowling to explore his unexpected rise from small-town kid to small-town CEO and the messy, meaningful leadership

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05:51

213: Book of the Week: Unleash the Power of Storytelling

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/11

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Unleash the Power of StorytellingEpisode 213 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: The Power of Storytelling Series) Episode Title: Why Your Best Data Falls on Deaf Ears Episode Overview Your presentations are packed with compelling statistics, your proposals are backed by bulletproof research, yet council members remain unconvinced and citizens continue to disengage from municipal priorities. In this kickoff episode of our Unleash the Power of Storytelling

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01:25:45

212: Steve Dalton: Debt-Free Isn’t Growth:...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/07

Show Notes: Steve Dalton: Debt-Free Isn’t Growth: Infrastructure, Integrity, and the Impossible Annexation Episode 212 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Steve Dalton, City Administrator of Branson West, Missouri—a small town with 500 residents, million-dollar infrastructure, and a story that defies every assumption about rural government leadership. From a childhood on a farm with no running water to a reluctant entry

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01:24:49

211: Kathy O'Nan: Beyond the Tornado: Presence,...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/05

Show Notes: Kathy O'Nan: Beyond the Tornado: Presence, Pressure, and the Power of Local Leadership Episode 211 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this powerful episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Kathy O’Nan, Mayor of Mayfield, Kentucky, a retired teacher turned public servant whose life was forever changed on December 10, 2021, when a catastrophic EF-4 tornado ripped through the heart of her city. What followed was a story of leadership under fire, community

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03:54

210: Book of the Week: Who Moved My Cheese?

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/08/04

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Who Moved My Cheese?Episode 210 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Who Moved My Cheese? Series) Episode Title: When Change Catches Municipal Leaders Off Guard Episode Overview The federal grant you've relied on for three years just got eliminated. Your most experienced department head announced retirement. The state passed new regulations that completely change how you deliver services. Your first instinct might be frustration, analysis, or hoping things

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01:22:00

209: Laura Philpot: Vision Over Ego: A Shift from Big...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/31

Show Notes: Laura Philpot: Vision Over Ego: A Shift from Big Projects to Real Impact Episode 209 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Laura Philpot, City Manager of Maple Valley, Washington, to explore how a career rooted in public works evolved into a leadership philosophy centered on people, not prestige. Laura’s journey began with a love for math, a concrete canoe competition, and a fascination with big infrastructure

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01:10:29

208: Alan Keck: Leading Like an Entrepreneur: Risk,...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/29

Show Notes: Alan Keck: Leading Like an Entrepreneur: Risk, Resilience, and Reinventing Local Government Episode 208 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Alan Keck, Mayor of Somerset, Kentucky, to unpack what happens when you bring an entrepreneurial mindset into City Hall. From a teenage calling into public service to losing his first election by 24 points, Alan’s journey is anything but conventional—and that’s exactly why

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06:16

207: Book of the Week: Orbiting the Giant Hairball

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/28

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Orbiting the Giant HairballEpisode 207 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Orbiting the Giant Hairball Series) Episode Title: When Your City Hall Becomes a Giant Hairball: Breaking Free from Bureaucratic Gravity Episode Overview Your organization is accumulating policies faster than it's eliminating them, and this bureaucratic mass is quietly undermining your ability to serve your community effectively. In this kickoff episode of our Orbiting the Giant Hairball

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01:21:51

206: Sandra Fournier: Filling Potholes in Heels: What...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/24

Show Notes: Sandra Fournier: Filling Potholes in Heels: What it Takes for Bold Leadership in the Face of Bureaucracy Episode 206 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Sandra Fournier, the remarkable Town Manager of Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman, Maine. From a teenage mother without a high school diploma to leading not just one, but three municipalities at the same time, Sandra’s story is one of grit, growth, and

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01:31:22

205: Daron Jordan: Grants, Grit, and the Quiet Wins...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/22

Show Notes: Daron Jordan: Grants, Grit, and the Quiet Wins That Build Cities Episode 205 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Daron Jordan, City Manager of Paducah, Kentucky, to explore a career that started poolside and led all the way to the city manager’s seat. From selling boat stickers as a teenager to becoming the first full-time program and aquatics director in his hometown, Daron’s story is a masterclass in how

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05:16

204: Book of the Week: Reality-Based Leadership

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/21

Show Notes: Book of the Week – Reality-Based LeadershipEpisode 204 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Reality-Based Leadership Series) Episode Title: Beyond City Hall Drama: Leading with Reality Instead of Stories Episode Overview Your team's energy is being drained by something you can control, but most municipal leaders don't recognize it's happening. In this kickoff episode of our Reality-Based Leadership series, Seth Winterhalter explores how drama, blame, and resistance consume the

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01:45:03

203: Wesley Young: From Comfort to Calling: Choosing...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/17

Show Notes: Wesley Young: From Comfort to Calling: Choosing the Hard Path of Local Impact Episode 203 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter welcomes Wesley Young, City Administrator of Willard, Missouri, for a conversation that’s part memoir, part masterclass on finding purpose in public service. Wesley’s journey spans continents, careers, and courageous decisions, from growing up in England and overcoming dyslexia to building a life of service in the American

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01:56:01

202: Rachel Witherspoon: Stewarding Stories and...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/15

Show Notes: Rachel Witherspoon: Stewarding Stories and Small-Town Summers - Leading with Heart in Local Government Episode 202 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Zencity Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Rachel Witherspoon, the inspiring Village Manager of Pentwater, Michigan—a leader who reminds us that small towns carry big responsibilities, and often, even bigger stories. From her early fascination with city council meetings as a kid to navigating the dynamic

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06:00

201: Book of the Week: The Leadership Challenge

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/14

Show Notes: Book of the Week – The Leadership ChallengeEpisode 201 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Leadership Challenge Series) Episode Title: Five Practices That Transform Municipal Leadership Episode Overview Research-backed leadership isn't about charisma or authority—it's about five learnable practices that address your unique municipal challenges. In this kickoff episode of our The Leadership Challenge series, Seth Winterhalter explores how James Kouzes and Barry Posner's decades of

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01:15:40

200: Eyal Feder-Levy: From Noise to Insight: How...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/10

Show Notes: Eyal Feder-Levy – From Noise to Insight: How Zencity Helps Cities Truly Listen Episode 200 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview For our 200th episode, we’re honored to feature Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO and co-founder of Zencity—a company that’s redefining how local governments understand and serve their communities. Eyal’s journey began far from the city halls of the U.S. in the world of urban planning and civic tech in Tel Aviv. What started as a fascination with how cities grow and adapt

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01:57:40

199: Gabe Reaume: Farm Boy. Fiction Writer. City...

The HaltingWinter Podcast ·

2025/07/08

Show Notes: Gabe Reaume – Farm Boy. Fiction Writer. City Manager: An Unconventional Rise to Leadership Episode 199 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Gabe Reaume, City Manager of Saginaw, Texas—a fast-growing city northwest of Fort Worth—whose path into municipal leadership is anything but typical. Gabe’s story begins on a dairy farm in rural Michigan, winds through a nearly abandoned education degree, and takes shape thanks to the advice of an

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282 results

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