289: Becky Windt Pearson: Governing at the Edge of the World
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Becky Windt Pearson: Governing at the Edge of the WorldWhat Alaska Teaches Us About Leadership, Resilience, and Responsibility Episode 289 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What does leadership look like when your city is the end of the road...literally? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Becky Windt Pearson, City Manager of Anchorage, Alaska, to explore what municipal leadership looks like in one of the most demanding contexts in North America. Anchorage isn’t just Alaska’s largest city; it’s a hub for healthcare,...
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288: Book of the Week: The Burnout Epidemic
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Burnout EpidemicEpisode 288 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Your wellness program isn't fixing burnout, and Jennifer Moss explains why. This week's MLDC book, "The Burnout Epidemic," reveals that burnout isn't a personal problem requiring more yoga and meditation apps. It's an organizational design flaw that local government leaders have the power to fix. In this episode, Seth introduces the six root causes of burnout and why each one shows up uniquely in municipal and county government. Moss wrote this book during the pandemic while experiencing...
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287: Jennifer Bromeland: When Small Cities Carry Big Expectations
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Jennifer Bromeland: When Small Cities Carry Big ExpectationsCollaboration, Communication, and Community Trust Episode 287 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jennifer Bromeland, City Administrator of Eagle Lake, Minnesota, to explore what leadership really looks like in small cities: where expectations are high, resources are limited, and relationships matter more than titles. Jennifer shares her journey into local government, the realities of leading in small and rural communities, and why...
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286: Dennis Champine: Built for the Long Haul
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Dennis Champine: Built for the Long HaulHow One City Manager Outlasted Politics, Turnover, and Trend-Driven Leadership Episode 286 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What does it take to last in local government when the average city manager tenure is shrinking and the pressure keeps rising? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dennis Champine, City Manager of Center Line, Michigan, recently named one of the Top 10 City Managers of 2025. Dennis has served his community for more than a decade, not by chasing headlines or political...
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285: Book of the Week: Grit
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – GritEpisode 285 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Why do some municipal leaders thrive through decades of service while others burn out or quit internally? This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter is working through Angela Duckworth's "Grit" and finds the answer isn't about intelligence or charisma. It's about something you can actually develop in yourself and your team. The private sector recruits talent with money. You build capacity through mission and culture. Learn how to harness grit for incredible impact, both for yourself and your municipal...
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284: Rose Beverly: Holding the Line When a City Is Struggling
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Rose Beverly: Holding the Line When a City Is StrugglingFinancial Strain, Fragile Public Trust, and the Work No One Sees Episode 284 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What does leadership look like when you inherit financial strain, face fragile public trust, and are still expected to keep a city moving forward? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Rose Beverly, City Manager of Paris, Texas, for an honest and grounded conversation about the realities of municipal leadership when the work is weighty, the challenges feel overwhelming,...
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283: Elvin “EJ” Hardwick: Finding the Call Before the Title
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Elvin “EJ” Hardwick: Finding the Call Before the TitleYouth Councils, Public Service, and the Making of a Town Manager Episode 283 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What happens when someone discovers their calling before they ever hold the title? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Elvin “EJ” Hardwick, Town Manager of Somerset, Maryland, and one of Government Business Review’s Top 10 Town Managers to Watch. EJ’s journey into municipal leadership didn’t begin in graduate school or a corner office; it started as a teenager serving on a Youth City...
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282: Book of the Week: Deep Work
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Deep WorkEpisode 282 of The HaltingWinter Podcast This week in the Municipal Leadership Development Circle, Seth Winterhalter breaks down the key insights from Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, and it might be the most important book you read as a local government leader trying to produce impactful work. When was the last time you had three uninterrupted hours to think strategically? For most city managers, county administrators, and department heads, the answer is "I can't remember." That's the crisis Newport addresses: your most important work...
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281: Kevin Robinson: Called When the Water Rose
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Kevin Robinson: Called When the Water RoseFloods, Crisis Leadership, and Carrying a City Forward Episode 281 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What does leadership look like when the plan collapses, the water keeps rising, and an entire city is depending on steady hands? In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Kevin Robinson, City Manager of Spencer, Iowa, to explore a leadership journey shaped not by ambition, but by service, timing, and crisis. Kevin’s path into city management is anything but traditional. From nonprofit work and...
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280: Troy Body: When You’ve Seen the World, You Lead Differently
The HaltingWinter Podcast
Troy Body: When You’ve Seen the World, You Lead DifferentlyPerspective, Pressure, and the Power of Local Government Episode 280 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by What changes when you’ve led through war zones, natural disasters, political upheaval, and then step into city management? For Troy Body, City Administrator of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, leadership didn’t come through a straight line. His journey spans Appalachia, national media, state government, post-Katrina New Orleans, South Sudan, and multiple regions of Africa, before ultimately landing in local...
info_outlineMike Land: Why We Don’t Lead Alone
Culture, ICMA, and Finding Renewal in a Demanding Profession
Episode 275 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it take to sustain organizational culture and your personal well-being when the pressure of municipal leadership never truly eases?
In this Reconnect episode, Seth Winterhalter catches up with Mike Land, City Manager of Coppell, Texas, and newly installed ICMA President, to reflect on the past year and the realities facing local government leaders across the country.
From shrinking revenues and state-level constraints to growing public pressure and organizational fatigue, Mike shares how Coppell is addressing tough financial decisions without sacrificing culture. He offers a practical look at engaging the front line, creating shared ownership in hard conversations, and using clarity, language, and consistency to lead through uncertainty.
The conversation also widens to the role of the ICMA and professional associations, not as abstract institutions, but as essential spaces for connection, renewal, and a reminder that no city manager carries this work alone. Mike speaks candidly about isolation in the role, the need for intentional self-care, and why stepping away—truly stepping away—is not indulgent, but responsible leadership.
Sponsored by:
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Tyler Technologies – the nation’s leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter
- The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
- Website: www.HaltingWinter.com