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Everything Is Local

Mike Burkons
Everything Is Local
Latest episode

61 episodes

  • Everything Is Local

    Ep. 60 - Tax Hikes, New Cars, and Beachwood Budget Battles

    06/16/2026 | 28 mins.
    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
    The City of Beachwood's proposed vote to re-levy charter mills and what it could cost the average homeowner each year.
    Why Mike believes City Council should publicly justify any tax increase and let residents vote on it instead of approving it directly.
    Beachwood's growing revenues compared to neighboring cities and whether the city truly needs additional tax dollars.
    The proposed replacement of Mayor Justin Berns' city vehicle and broader concerns about city spending priorities.
    Discussions about a possible new Beachwood Police Station and whether renovations would make more sense than a costly replacement.
    Mike and Shana's thoughts on government transparency, public accountability, and how major spending decisions should be explained to residents.
    A lighter conversation about Mike's upcoming trip to Columbus, Nikki and Ellie's trip to Los Angeles, and Mike's concerns about handling baseball uniform laundry while they're away.
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  • Everything Is Local

    Ep. 59 - Sunburns, Sports Parents, and the Coach Perk Fan Club

    06/09/2026 | 53 mins.
    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
    Jack’s eighth-grade graduation, winning Athlete of the Year, and the emotions that come with watching your kids grow up.
    The impact of great coaches, why Coach Perk has become a local legend, and how strong mentorship can shape kids far beyond the playing field.
    Travel baseball tournaments, sports-parent culture, and the friendships that develop when families spend years together on the same teams.
    A controversial local basketball coaching incident and a discussion about accountability, leadership, and expectations in youth sports.
    The Cleveland Cavaliers playoff run, the Browns, Myles Garrett, and the never-ending roller coaster of being a Cleveland sports fan.
    Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, celebrity culture, and what it must be like to live under a constant spotlight.
    Summer homework, AI-assisted cheating, and the challenges parents face trying to keep kids engaged academically during break.
    Sunburns, farmer’s tans, motorcycle stories, and all the little moments that make Northeast Ohio summers memorable.
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  • Everything Is Local

    Ep. 58 - Beachwood Shooting Mystery, Pool Hot Dogs, and City Hall Frustrations

    06/02/2026 | 1h 7 mins.
    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana are joined by Beachwood resident Joanna Henze to talk about:
    The mysterious early morning shooting in Beachwood, the confusing details surrounding the incident, and why many residents feel communication from the city was lacking.
    The rumors, theories, and neighborhood reactions after shell casings, police tape, and investigators flooded the area.
    Questions about public safety, emergency alerts, and whether residents should have been warned to keep kids inside before school started.
    Past Beachwood incidents that residents still feel never received proper public explanation or transparency.
    The ongoing debate over speeding enforcement, traffic cameras, and whether Beachwood is prioritizing the wrong public safety concerns.
    Funny side conversations about old TV shows like Hunter, neighborhood gossip, and what actually makes a front porch great.
    Opening weekend at the Beachwood pool, hot dog reviews, and classic summer nostalgia.
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  • Everything Is Local

    Ep. 57 - Jury Duty, Traffic Camera Chaos, and Why Everyone’s Fighting in Beachwood

    05/26/2026 | 55 mins.
    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
    Mike getting called for jury duty on a double murder case and the comments that quickly got him dismissed from the jury pool.
    The growing controversy surrounding proposed automated traffic cameras in Beachwood and whether they are really about safety or generating revenue.
    Frustration with city council transparency, emergency legislation, and how major decisions are being communicated to residents.
    The proposed new library project, concerns over losing baseball and softball fields, and larger questions about city planning and priorities.
    The Fairmount Temple TIF discussion and ongoing debates over development, taxes, and the future direction of Beachwood.
    Parenting middle schoolers, academic struggles, sports pressure, and learning how to handle failure and adversity.
    Youth baseball tournaments, soccer debates, Cleveland sports frustrations, and the chaos of raising competitive kids.
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  • Everything Is Local

    Ep. 56 - Traffic Cameras, Parenting Fails, and Why Everyone’s Mad at City Hall

    05/19/2026 | 56 mins.
    This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
    The disastrous Cleveland Cavaliers playoff performance, Dan Gilbert sending buses of fans to support the team, and why Cleveland sports continue to emotionally destroy everyone involved.
    Parenting teenage athletes, handling failure on the baseball field, body language, leadership, and the brutal reality of youth sports pressure.
    The difference between harmless trash talk and genuinely hurting someone’s feelings, plus the unwritten rules of teenage boy humor.
    Volunteer work with the Akron Woman's City Club, rebuilding community organizations after COVID, and mentoring younger women in leadership and nonprofit spaces.
    Gaming culture, kids cursing online, awkward parent phone calls, and trying to figure out what’s actually appropriate behavior in modern multiplayer games.
    Why every parent eventually becomes “the house where all the kids hang out” and the chaos that comes with it.
    The massive controversy surrounding proposed automated traffic cameras in Beachwood, including concerns about privacy, surveillance, revenue generation, and whether the cameras are actually about safety at all.
    Arguments over emergency ordinances, transparency in local government, and frustration with how city council communicates major decisions to residents.
    Why critics believe traffic cameras unfairly target working-class drivers and commuters while generating millions of dollars for municipalities.
    Speed bumps, sidewalks, school zones, and whether cities are genuinely solving safety problems or just creating new ways to collect money.
    Sports betting parlays, irrational Cleveland sports optimism, and how a $10 bet somehow turns into a 50-minute discussion.
    The Browns, Deshaun Watson controversy, separating athletes from personal behavior, and whether fans should care about the morality of professional sports stars.
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About Everything Is Local
Have you ever wondered what really goes on in local government? I’m Mike Burkons, your host and a former city council member. Some people loved me, some… well, let’s just say they weren’t fans but I’m here to pull back the curtain on the decisions that shape local communities. Every week, I’ll share insights from my time in office and break down local issues,controversies and dramas occurring in local governments in the area, not just in Beachwood, in a way that’s easy to understand and maybe even a little entertaining. Whether you’re interested andpassionate about small town politics and its drama that comes with it, and the local issues that affect your quality of life on a daily basis, this show is for you. We’ll cover these types of issues occurring in Beachwood and other local suburbs, chat with local experts and residents, and—who knows—go off-topic if the conversation gets interesting. Because here, it’s not just about government, it’s about what matters to you. So join me on “Everything is Local”—where understanding your community starts with listening.
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