The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Never Split the Difference
Episode 324 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> Most local government leaders walk into their hardest conversations armed with data, logic, and well-prepared arguments and still walk out without what they needed. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces this week's MLDC book of the week: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, a former lead FBI hostage negotiator and founder of The Black Swan Group.
Voss spent 24 years negotiating in life-or-death situations, and what he learned turned conventional negotiation wisdom on its head. His core argument: people don't make decisions based on logic. They make decisions based on emotion...and the leaders who understand that get better outcomes in every difficult conversation, from council chambers to union halls to community meetings.
This episode breaks down why Voss's framework is unusually powerful for local government leaders, what the book's central reframe means in practice, and how the MLDC is helping members apply these ideas to the specific pressures and constraints of public service leadership.
If you want to go deeper on this week's content (daily podcast episodes, implementation guides, and the full framework translated into the local government context), head over to HaltingWinter.com/MLDC to learn more about the MLDC.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Helen Ramirez: Built in Silos, Stuck in Complexity
Why Projects Stall, Teams Disconnect, and Progress Slows
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 323 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Local government doesn't lack effort. It doesn't lack talent. And it certainly doesn't lack good ideas.
So why do so many projects stall? Why do teams struggle to stay aligned? And why does progress feel slower than it should?
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Helen Ramirez, former City Manager of Brownsville, Texas, and now Director of Economic & Local Business Development in San Marcos, to unpack what's really happening behind the scenes.
From managing rapid growth and leading through crisis to breaking down silos and building true cross-department collaboration, Helen shares what it actually takes to move a city forward when complexity is unavoidable.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://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 https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Jesse Muñiz: The Budget Translation Problem
Why Local Government Struggles to Translate Spending into Impact
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 322 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Local government leaders don't lack data. They lack clarity on what that data actually means.
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Jesse Muñiz, Head of Customer Success at Tyler Technologies, to unpack a challenge hiding in plain sight: Most leaders struggle to clearly explain where their money is going or what impact it's actually creating.
Not because they're unqualified, but because the system wasn't built for clarity.
Jesse shares his journey from auditing local governments to working inside the City of Albuquerque, and now helping cities across the country rethink how they understand, communicate, and align their budgets with what truly matters.
This conversation moves beyond theory and into a practical shift: From funding departments to investing in the services that actually drive outcomes.
Learn more about Priority Based Budgeting here: TylerTech.com/WINTER
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://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 https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Culture Renovation
Episode 321 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> Most culture change efforts in local government fail, not because leaders don't care, but because they're using the wrong approach. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the key insights from the Culture Renovation by Kevin Oakes, the MLDC book of the week, and why the difference between transforming a culture and renovating one might be the most important leadership distinction you haven't thought enough about.
Oakes built this framework on research from nearly 7,700 business professionals across thousands of organizations. What he found is that the leaders who successfully change their cultures don't start from scratch; they keep what's working, deliberately shift what isn't, and do all of it while the organization is still running. For local government leaders working within civil service systems, council oversight, and long-tenured workforces, that's not just a preference. It's the only realistic path forward.
In this episode, we get into why the renovation metaphor fits local government better than anything else out there and what it actually looks like to start a culture renovation the right way, before you announce anything, before you launch anything, and before you assume you know what your organization is actually experiencing.
If you want to go deeper on this week's content (daily podcast episodes, implementation guides, and the full framework translated into the local government context), head over to HaltingWinter.com/MLDC to learn more about the MLDC.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Culture Renovation by Kevin Oakes
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Dwight Boddorf: The Municipal Battlefield
What It Takes to Lead, Survive, and Win in Local Government
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 320 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does it take to lead when there's no playbook, no margin for error, and the stakes impact thousands?
In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Dwight Boddorf, Borough Manager in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, author of The Municipal Battlefield, and a recent National Academy of Public Administration LocalGov250 Champions Honoree, to explore the realities of leadership in local government, where pressure is constant, resources are limited, and every decision carries incredible weight.
Dwight shares his journey from homelessness to the Marine Corps, through combat injury and recovery, and into municipal leadership, offering a perspective shaped by resilience, discipline, and a deep commitment to service.
Together, they unpack what it really looks like to lead inside systems that don't always work, how to navigate the uncertainty that defines local government, and why communication, adaptability, and mission clarity are more important than ever.
Whether you're a city manager, department head, or aspiring leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership and what it takes to sustain it.
Check out Dwight's new book: The Municipal Battlefield
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://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 https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com