The HaltingWinter Podcast

David Cameron: It's Okay Not to Be Okay Transparency, Mental Health, and Leading When Success Hides the Struggle Episode 274 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies This episode is a Reconnect, a return to one of the most impactful conversations in the history of The HaltingWinter Podcast. David Cameron was the very first full-length interview of a local government leader on this show (Episode 107). At the time, he was serving as City Administrator in Republic, Missouri. Since then, David has stepped into a much larger role as City Manager of Springfield, Missouri—leading a city of more than 170,000 residents and a workforce of over 2,200 employees. Before replaying his original episode, Seth and David sit down for a candid reconnection that goes deeper into the realities of leadership that often go unseen. This conversation explores the weight of local government leadership, the hidden cost of always "having it together," and why success can sometimes mask deep internal struggle. David speaks openly about mental health, the stigma leaders face around vulnerability, and the importance of creating safe spaces where leaders don't have to carry the burden alone. Watch David's Video: "Stories of Hope" They also discuss David's leadership philosophy as he transitions into a larger, more complex organization—empowering teams, decentralizing decision-making, and building trust at scale while maintaining strong regional relationships across Southwest Missouri. Sponsored by: 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

Bret Prebula: Leading Through Resistance Why Long-Term City Building Requires Courage, Clarity, and Conviction Episode 273 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies In this special episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth reconnects with Bret Prebula, City Manager of Suisun City, California, before revisiting one of the most compelling leadership stories ever shared on the show. Bret's original appearance in Episode 182 explored his unconventional path into city management, his willingness to take calculated risks, and his belief that local government must move beyond maintenance mode to truly serve future generations. Since that conversation, Bret's leadership has been tested on a much larger stage. In this brief catch-up conversation, Seth and Bret discuss what it looks like to lead transformational change amid public resistance, emotional volatility, and national-level attention. Bret shares how Suisun City is navigating historic annexation efforts, polarized community response, and the personal cost of leading boldly when the pressure is real. Following the update, we replay Episode 182 in full—because the insights shared then are even more relevant now. Sponsored by: 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

Max Fisher: Finding the Calling Why the Future of City Management Depends on How We Develop Emerging Leaders Episode 272 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies What does it take to discover a calling to local government, and how do today's leaders shape whether the next generation steps forward or walks away? In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Max Fisher, an MPA student and Assistant to the City Manager's Office in Levelland, Texas, whose journey into city management challenges common assumptions about leadership, experience, and preparation. Max didn't set out to become a city manager. He set out to study history, law, and political theory. But along the way—through internships, mentorship, small-city experience, and hands-on exposure to the real work of local government—he discovered something deeper: a calling to steward places and serve people. This conversation is as much a message to seasoned city managers and department heads as it is to emerging professionals. Max offers a rare, honest look at how internships, visibility, mentorship, and intentional development either ignite passion—or quietly extinguish it. Sponsored by: Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter Connect with Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Art of PossibilityEpisode 271 of The HaltingWinter Podcast What story are you telling yourself about your biggest leadership challenge right now? That your council is impossible? That your budget situation is hopeless? That your community won't support what needs to happen? Those stories feel like facts. They feel like reality. But what if they're just frames you've created, and those frames are defining what you see as possible? This week in the MLDC, we're exploring The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the book's core concepts and invites you to join a community of local government leaders who are committed to leading from possibility instead of just managing scarcity. Because the constraints are real, but the meaning you make of them is invented. 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: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Stone Zander MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc Connect with Seth LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Intashan Chowdhury: The Young Disruptor Rethinking Risk, Reinventing Culture, and Redefining What's Possible in Local Gov Episode 270 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies What happens when the youngest city manager in New Jersey refuses to accept "the way it's always been done"? You get a leader like Intashan Chowdhury—curious, principled, resilient, and unafraid to push the boundaries of what local government can be. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Intashan, who shares his journey from a Bangladeshi-American immigrant household in Patterson, NJ, to becoming Borough Administrator of Englewood Cliffs. His story is one of early opportunity, relentless curiosity, and the kind of mentorship that shapes a career and a person. Sponsored by: Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software designed specifically for the public sector. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter Connect with Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com