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 Tyler Technologies 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 government. In this conversation with our host, Seth Winterhalter, Troy shares how global experience reshaped his understanding of pressure, responsibility, and perspective and why those lessons matter deeply in city management today. This episode is a powerful reminder that there is no single path into local government leadership, and that perspective, earned through hardship, service, and lived experience, changes how leaders show up when the work is heavy and the criticism is loud. Sponsored by: Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. 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

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Ruthless Elimination of HurryEpisode 279 of The HaltingWinter Podcast This week's MLDC book addresses what might be the most important leadership challenge you're not talking about: hurry. Not busyness...hurry. The frantic, reactive pace that's destroying your effectiveness, your relationships, and your sustainability. Seth Winterhalter introduces John Mark Comer's powerful framework and invites you to join the MLDC for a week exploring how to eliminate hurry from your leadership. 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 Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc Connect with Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Jamie Gwynn: Leading Without Losing YourselfWork, Family, and the Hidden Cost of Municipal Leadership Episode 278 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies Municipal leadership doesn't just test your competence; it tests your identity. In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth sits down with Jamie Gwynn, Township Manager of New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, for a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to lead over the long haul without losing yourself in the process. Jamie's path into city management wasn't linear or polished. From being raised in a pizza shop that doubled as a political crossroads, to struggling academically, to teaching in Baltimore through Teach for America, to stepping into the manager's chair at just 29 years old, his story mirrors the reality many local government leaders live but rarely articulate. Together, Seth and Jamie unpack the hidden costs of municipal leadership: the pressure to always be on, the temptation to define yourself by the job, and the quiet toll leadership can take on health, relationships, and presence at home. This is not a conversation about "balance" as a buzzword. It's about intention, sustainability, and staying human in a profession that constantly asks for more. 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

Andy Pederson: Called to the Chaos Leadership, Longevity, and Managing What Never Stands Still Episode 277 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies City management isn't a job you stumble into with a master plan. It's a calling you discover, often in the middle of uncertainty, pressure, and moments that demand more than you thought you had to give. In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Andy Pederson, Village Manager of Bayside, Wisconsin, and President-Elect of the ICMA, to explore a leadership journey shaped not by ambition, but by presence, persistence, and purpose. With more than 20 years leading the same community, Andy reflects on what it means to steward a city through constant change: natural disasters, infrastructure challenges, regional collaboration, and moments of tragedy that redefine perspective. He shares how small communities can move fast, why relationships matter more than structure, and how leadership is often forged in moments no one prepares you for. This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply human, serving as an affirmation for leaders carrying unseen weight and navigating work that never stands still. 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 – Balance is BSEpisode 276 of The HaltingWinter Podcast If you've ever felt stretched between work and home, purpose and exhaustion, service and sustainability, well, you're not alone. And more importantly: you're not failing. In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces the MLDC Book of the Week: Balance Is BS: How to Thrive in the Tension of Municipal Life & Leadership, based on his most requested keynote and the book he's currently writing. This conversation challenges the deeply ingrained idea that healthy leadership requires "work–life balance." For municipal leaders, that myth often creates guilt instead of clarity and pressure instead of peace. In this episode, we explore: Why balance doesn't fit the realities of local government How the balance myth fuels shame for leaders who care deeply Why tension is not a sign of failure but significance The shift from chasing balance to leading with intention Seth also shares how this week's theme is being explored more deeply inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) through daily podcasts, blog reflections, and a private community of local government leaders across North America. 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      ✔ Live, virtual mastermind sessions      ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders ➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC Resources Mentioned Book: Coming Soon!!! MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc Connect with Seth LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com