Latest Civictech Podcast Episodes
EP 81: Generative AI in Municipal Government
Municipal Equation Podcast - May 28, 2024 14:05 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsYou’ve heard of “artificial intelligence,” or AI, in one sense or another; we’ve been reckoning with the concept through books, movies and academic discussions since its earliest mentions in the 1950s. When you hear about it today, though, it’s typically in the context of “generative AI,” the rap...
EP 80: Comprehensive Planning in an Age of Change
Municipal Equation Podcast - April 29, 2024 15:15 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWhen a city's or town's governing board adopts a comprehensive plan -- a big document meant to guide or manage growth and other elements of the locality's future -- it's a pretty big deal. Sure, municipalities across North Carolina have them, with insistence from state law. But for an individual ...
EP 79: How Sister Cities Work
Municipal Equation Podcast - March 14, 2023 17:46 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsRecently, during a visit to North Carolina by municipal officials from the country of Moldova, they and fellow municipal officials from around Wake County discussed possible "sister city" arrangements, to learn from one another and possibly create mutual resource opportunties. But sister-city arr...
EP 78: Ideas from the Alley
Municipal Equation Podcast - February 03, 2023 23:35 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWhen you think of downtown alleys, what comes to mind? Bad associations, maybe? The place to avoid at night? Ever since childhood, Americans have had the general impression that alleyways are dark, dirty, dangerous -- the right setting for noir crime stories. And that might sometimes be the case....
EP 77: So You Want to Commission a Mural
Municipal Equation Podcast - January 04, 2023 00:47 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWelcome to a special LIVE episode of Municpial Equation, NCLM's podcast about cities and towns adapting to change, recorded in December with a panelists about HOW public art is achieved, with expert voices from the realm of local government. This episode was recorded at the N.C. Local Government ...
Episode 76: Town of Cary A Best Place to Work, Nationally
Municipal Equation Podcast - November 30, 2022 21:28 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsThe Town of Cary was recently recognized as one of the top three places to work, nationally, in terms of local government. What does that mean? How is something like that achieved? We speak with Cary Manager Sean Stegall to learn what they're doing differently. Municipal Equation is the podcast a...
Ep 75: Digital Service Teams at City Hall
Municipal Equation Podcast - October 31, 2022 20:28 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsAs various public and private services adapt to evolved consumer expectations, local governments around the country are themselves adapting with in-house "digital service teams" to deliver in a modern, convenient way. In fact, these teams are becoming ubiquitous. But let's back up. What is a digi...
EP 74: Preparing for the Future of Work
Municipal Equation Podcast - September 30, 2022 02:08 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWe talk with Lena Geraghty of the National League of Cities about in our cities and towns, and how municipal leaders can play a role in making it as good and inclusive as possible.
Episode 73: ARP in Action
Municipal Equation Podcast - August 31, 2022 15:58 - 41 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsLet's take a tour around this state we love so much. On this episode of Municipal Equation, NCLM's podcast about cities and towns adapting to change, we explore how municipalities from the mountains to the coast are programming their American Rescue Plan allocations -- federal funds with transfor...
EP 72: Dreaming Big in Small Towns
Municipal Equation Podcast - July 27, 2022 23:38 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsCities and towns so good that vacations become permanent stays. On this episode of Municipal Equation, we talk with VisitNC, the state's promotional and tourism outfit, about its Dream Big in Small Town NC initiative, which aims to connect travelers with the state's alluring small towns -- places...
EP 71: Flexing the River (with Weldon, NC)
Municipal Equation Podcast - June 30, 2022 22:49 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsOn this episode of Municipal Equation, the podcast about cities adapting to change, we talk with Mayor Hugh Credle of Weldon, N.C., to learn how his small town is thinking big with the help of the river -- the Roanoke -- running just alongside its limits.
EP 70: President Neisler Speaks
Municipal Equation Podcast - May 26, 2022 20:29 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsIn April, during his acceptance speech as the new president of the N.C. League of Municipalities, Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler emphasized that public service can be fun, that we can enjoy ourselves in working together, knowing our communities and their histories, charting how they've change...
Episode 69: Vision Zero
Municipal Equation Podcast - April 30, 2022 22:07 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsIn 2017, the City of Greensboro logged more than 40 vehicle crash fatalities, at the time a high mark that rattled officials enough to explore ways toward safer travels. This led city officials to a global movement in the form of a scalable initiative called Vision Zero. On this episode, City of ...
EP 68: Recruitment and Retention, Challenges and Ideas
Municipal Equation Podcast - March 31, 2022 01:01 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsIt seems inconsistent: pandemic-related, record-level job losses while employers report their own hardships in finding workers. But that’s the nature of what analysts have called one of the strangest labor shortages in memory. Nationally, employers have reported too-tight talent pools or general ...
EP 67: Boone Shifts to Renewables
Municipal Equation Podcast - February 25, 2022 15:41 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsThe Town of Boone appears to be the first in North Carolina to have shifted from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy for its municipal facilities, and many years ahead of its own timeline for doing so. But how? On this episode of Municipal Equation, the League’s podcast about cities and ...
Episode 66: The American Rescue Plan and Local Infrastructure
Municipal Equation Podcast - January 20, 2022 21:32 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsNorth Carolina cities and towns will receive $1.3 billion in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds in 2021 and 2022. That is a staggering number, and it encompasses just a small piece of the ARP. More funds will be sent to North Carolina counties. Still more is going to the state itself. Never...
EP 65: DIRECT Talks on Race (and Equity vs. Equality)
Municipal Equation Podcast - December 09, 2021 14:17 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsA new program from the North Carolina League of Municipalities is convening frank talks with municipal officials about racial tensions and inequities in our communities. Learn how DIRECT (Diversity, Inclusion & Racial Equity for Cities & Towns) works for better lives through best practices and hi...
NCLM Fiscal Year 2019-20 Report Audio Companion
Municipal Equation Podcast - December 15, 2020 19:33 - 3 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsAudio companion to the North Carolina League of Municipalities' fiscal year 2019-20 annual report. Produced by the League's Communications team.
EP 64: Sick and Tired of Flooding
Municipal Equation Podcast - October 16, 2019 02:13 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsIowa Watershed Approach
EP 63: UFO Town
Municipal Equation Podcast - September 04, 2019 14:09 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWhat could aliens and flying saucers mean to a community and its government? Like, for real. Whether you believe we've actually been visited by interplanetary travelers or whether simple, Earthly explanations cover the sightings and stories, no community has a stronger association with extra terr...
EP 62: Cities Initiative on Climate Change
Municipal Equation Podcast - August 16, 2019 02:18 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsCalling climate change an intimidating issue may be understating it. It's massive, right? Being so global and often pulled into intense debate, climate change may have us individuals feeling helpless against it. But there are local-level approaches for making a difference, and municipal governmen...
EP 61: Actual Mask-Wearing Superheroes
Municipal Equation Podcast - January 30, 2019 01:09 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsSuperheroes exist. Yes, in real life. Just like in the comics, they wear masks and uniforms, they nab bad guys, and they spread peace across the city. On this episode, we talk to a couple of them, and their stories are absolutely amazing. Thanks to Sgt. Clint Ferguson and Officer Damon Cole for m...
EP 60: Inside the 2020 Census
Municipal Equation Podcast - January 03, 2019 04:22 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsIt's one of the biggest federal projects going, and it affects all of us. What do we need to know about the 2020 Census? It's different from any in the past. How private is the information being collected? What's it's used for? And how can we be sure it's accurate? We're joined by the U.S. Census...
EP 59: Street Photography, the City and You
Municipal Equation Podcast - December 12, 2018 03:04 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsAfter a little downtime, we're back -- and let's pick up with a fun one. On this episode, we continue our quest for ways to better connect with or figure out the city you're in -- whether it's your hometown or a place you've never been before. Here, we're documenting and learning the secrets of t...
EP 58: The Map Is Wrong
Municipal Equation Podcast - October 29, 2018 22:28 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsThe FCC's map of broadband availability in the U.S. is a basis for policymaking, funding decisions and planning to close service gaps for communities. But what if we told you that map, as many can testify, is pretty inaccurate? How? Why? What's the fallout, here? As fast internet service increasi...
EP 57: 'We Can't Arrest Our Way Out of This'
Municipal Equation Podcast - September 17, 2018 15:53 - 43 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsA little while back, we began talking with police chiefs for a video series on what they're doing to tackle the surging opioid problem locally -- and sat upright at the different approaches of chiefs Tom Bashore in Nashville, N.C., and Bill Hollingsed in Waynesville, N.C. They're seeing results, ...
EP 56: The Best Food Delivery Ever
Municipal Equation Podcast - September 04, 2018 21:47 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsWe revisit the intersection of drones, local government and public need with a trip to Holly Springs, North Carolina, a small town innovating nationally with a pilot project to see commercial food delivery by way of drone. As you can imagine, it's stuffed with logistical and policy questions. Su...
Empowering the People - Meu Rio & Nossas Co-Founder Alessandra Orofino
Revolution of Necessity - August 09, 2018 15:55 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsAlessandra Orofino grew up straddled between the two worlds of rich and poor Rio de Janiero. An early experience with a successful human rights campaign shows her how advocacy can improve people's lives. In New York she learns about New Power and how technology can be used to mobilize people. Wi...
EP 55: Games Over Gangs (Encore)
Municipal Equation Podcast - August 07, 2018 12:02 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsHere's an encore of a favorite: Games Over Gangs. Those dang video games. Can't pull the kids away from them. And there's one city using that to its advantage -- with an innovative partnership that's actually teaching video game development to local youths from a rough neighborhood (yes, they jum...
Doing Development Differently - Myanmar StartUp Koe Koe Tech Co-Founders Michael Lwin & Yarzar Minn Htoo
Revolution of Necessity - July 26, 2018 05:01 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsTwo cousins grow up on opposite sides of the world, but passionate about improving their country Myanmar (Burma), they join forces in 2012. A connectivity revolution gives them their chance. They build an award winning maternal health app, but how are they going to get it in the hands of the mill...
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