Best Joe Toles Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 7: A Roll of the Dice 46:50

19h ago46:50

46:50

Join the conversation and submit a question or request a topic. “Not all families are made the same way. Some are built by blood, others by circumstance—and sometimes, by a little bit of both. In this episode, Joe takes us back to the family where he spent most of his time in foster care. It was a home shaped by complexity, care, and quiet tensions…

1
We Carry the Trauma to Our Next Job with Tim Rundel | Ep. 111 1:03:10

5d ago1:03:10

1:03:10

We continue our conversation with the always entertaining Tim Rundel in this second installment. Tim has not just seen a thing or two, he has personally endured some incredibly challenging and professionally traumatic situations. In this powerful episode, he talks about how we as city managers carry the trauma of abuse and betrayal to our next posi…

1
It Just Takes One to Ruin It with Tim Rundel | Ep. 110 1:07:16

12d ago1:07:16

1:07:16

One new council member can turn everything on its head and send you heading for the exits when you are a city manager. Tim Rundel, the former city manager for the City of Weed, recounts his experience with this elected official who also happened to be married to one of his employees. We talk about the importance of building relationships with your …

1
“The Pause That Made Us Stronger” 16:33

14d ago16:33

16:33

Join the conversation and submit a question or request a topic. In this heartfelt update, Joe and Renee sit down for an open conversation about the unexpected pause in their podcast journey. They share the reasons behind stepping back, what life taught them during the break, and how that time away has only made their message—and their mission—stron…

1
Brian Daily: You're Getting Screwed on Your Property Insurance | Ep. 109 57:55

19d ago57:55

57:55

Brian Daily was the first person I ever hired as a city manager and it was one of the most impactful decisions I have ever made in my professional career. He is an amazing, inquisitive public servant who continually seeks to provide value to taxpayers. He is insanely curious and truly embodies the ethos of a "working executive" who is not afraid to…

1
Social Media Training for Elected Officials with Sam Toles | Ep. 108 54:42

26d ago54:42

54:42

Picture this scenario. Staff have worked for a year to bring a project or initiative to the finish line. There have been public meetings and notices, multiple discussions at council meetings, and even some news articles published in the local paper. Out of the blue, a handful of vocal social media commenters start lighting up the city's social medi…

1
Sam Toles: The Social Media Playbook for City Managers | Ep. 107 58:34

1M ago58:34

58:34

What is the purpose of social media and why does your organization have a social media presence? In this episode, Sam Toles of CiviSocial and I discuss this issue at length and make a powerful case for why every city and county manager should make sure their organization is doing social media correctly. Not only are there personal and professional …

1
Sacramento Cesspool & Putting Recruiters on Notice | Ep. 106 44:34

1M ago44:34

44:34

Recent comments attributed to executive recruiters handling the Sacramento, California and Palm Coast, Florida recruitments must be addressed. A Sacramento Bee article alleged that CPS HR recruiter Pamela Derby has "suggested modifying certain incentives in a potential contract, including supplemental leave and severance, to ensure the new hire doe…

1
Part 3: Conducting a Fire/EMS Needs Assessment with Tim Nowak | Ep. 105 42:31

2M ago42:31

42:31

This is the third and final installment of my three part interview series with Fire/EMS consultant Tim Nowak. The primary purpose of this series is to create an introductory primer and give local elected officials and taxpayers a 30,000 foot level overview of the major issues that must be considered when evaluating fire/EMS service in your communit…

1
Part 2: Fire/EMS Staffing & Deployment Models with Tim Nowak | Ep. 104 47:51

2M ago47:51

47:51

This is the second installment of my three part interview series with Fire/EMS consultant Tim Nowak. The primary purpose of this series is to create an introductory primer and give local elected officials and taxpayers a 30,000 foot level overview of the major issues that must be considered when evaluating fire/EMS service in your communities. My h…

1
Part 1: Fire/EMS Operational & Organizational Models with Tim Nowak | Ep. 103 51:29

2M ago51:29

51:29

This is the first installment of my three part interview series with Fire/EMS consultant Tim Nowak. The primary purpose of this series is to create an introductory primer and give local elected officials and taxpayers a 30,000 foot level overview of the major issues that must be considered when evaluating fire/EMS service in your communities. My ho…

1
Handling the Tsunami of Empty Churches with Rick Reinhard | Ep. 102 58:42

2M ago58:42

58:42

Richard "Rick" Reinhard is one of the leading experts when it comes to analyzing and repurposing church real estate in America. In this episode, Rick talks about the great emptying of churches and how this negatively impacts communities. In one of the undergraduate courses he teaches, he has referred to this epidemic as "spiritual brownfields." We …

1
Mike Grabianowski: Don't Get Screwed on Your CIP Projects (Part 2) | Ep. 101 1:07:05

3M ago1:07:05

1:07:05

In this two part series, I interview Mike Grabianowski who has many years of experience monitoring and auditing construction projects. As an employee of Georgia Pacific, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Mike was tasked with ensuring his company was not overbilled whenever it hired contractors to complete projects. These projects, which could exceed…

1
Mike Grabianowski: Don't Get Screwed on Your CIP Projects (Part 1) | Ep. 100 59:33

3M ago59:33

59:33

In this two part series, I interview Mike Grabianowski who has many years of experience monitoring and auditing construction projects. As an employee of Georgia Pacific, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Mike was tasked with ensuring his company was not overbilled whenever it hired contractors to complete projects. These projects, which could exceed…

1
Let's Talk About My Night in Jail | Ep. 99 1:04:27

3M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

In the previous episode, I discussed the circumstances surrounding my arrest related to the performance of my duties as an assistant county administrator in Florida In this episode, I discuss my night in a Walton County jail. AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and s…

1
Let's Talk About My Arrest in Florida | Ep. 98 1:06:19

3M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Two weeks ago, I drove across the country to turn myself in on an arrest warrant out of Walton County, Florida. I am facing two third degree felony charges related to carrying out my duties as the assistant county administrator. Though I am innocent until proven guilty and I am confident that I will prevail in court -- I also recognize that in the …

1
From Police Chief to City Manager with Matt Jensby | Ep. 97 59:54

4M ago59:54

59:54

After a lengthy and successful career in law enforcement where he served as the police chief for the fastest growing community in Kansas, Matt Jensby had a desire to become a city manager and serve the public in a different way. In this episode, Matt talks about this transition and becoming the city manager for Kechi, a small community north of Wic…

1
Donald Duncan: Lessons from Hurricane Helene (Part 2) | Ep. 96 1:19:57

4M ago1:19:57

1:19:57

Caldwell County Manager Donald Duncan and his team were about as prepared as one could be for a natural disaster the size and scope of Hurricane Helene. But even still -- there were lessons to be learned and shared in the aftermath of this storm. In Part 2 of this series, Donald talks about the personal toll this disaster had on him and his staff. …

1
Episode #13 – Big Wins: Trader Joe’s Coming | Crime & Homelessness Down | Road Maintenance Spending Up | Strong Fiscal Recovery Underway | City Hall More Transparent Than Ever 1:42:55

4M ago1:42:55

1:42:55

Many in the community, and in the local government profession, have noticed that the City of Yucaipa has had some tremendous successes in recent months. Over the past two years, the City Council and City administration have very intentionally re-focused City Hall on the priorities that matter most to residents (i.e., public safety, road maintenance…

1
Donald Duncan: Lessons from Hurricane Helene (Part 1) | Ep. 95 1:10:24

4M ago1:10:24

1:10:24

Caldwell County Manager Donald Duncan and his team were about as prepared as one could be for a natural disaster the size and scope of Hurricane Helene. But even still -- there were lessons to be learned and shared in the aftermath of this storm. In this riveting interview series, Donald gives us a rundown of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it…

1
Rob Boyer Faced Petition to Adopt Strong Mayor Form of Government | Ep. 94 50:21

4M ago50:21

50:21

In Illinois, Freeport City Manager Rob Boyer recently faced down a citizen's petition to move away from the council-manager form of government and revert back to the strong mayor form. Reeling from mismanagement and economic decline, Freeport abandoned the strong mayor form of government about a decade ago. Since that time, Rob and his two predeces…

1
Episode #12 - Public Safety Power Shutoffs with Southern California Edison Spokesperson Jeff Monford 1:01:36

4M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

Yucaipa experienced widespread power outages spanning several days in relation to a strong wind event in early January. These outages were not caused by downed power lines or planned rolling blackouts due to high demand. Rather, Southern California Edison (SCE) intentionally switched off the power to many circuits in the area as part of a program k…

1
What Does AAME Advocacy for City Managers Look Like? | Ep. 93 43:18

5M ago43:18

43:18

City managers deserve to have a professional association that will fight for them and help communicate their narrative in an environment where the deck is usually stacked against them. In this week's episode I wanted to unpack some various advocacy efforts the American Association of Municipal Executives is currently engaged in on behalf of city ma…

1
James Freed: Life After Victory Over ICMA | Ep. 92 56:27

5M ago56:27

56:27

Last September after mounting pressure, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) finally capitulated and settled the James Freed lawsuit a month before it was scheduled to go to trial. In this episode, we catch up with the Port Huron, Michigan city manager and see what life is like after his huge victory. Hint: Lots of vacations …

1
Episode #11 - The City Charges HOW MUCH to Use the Ballfield?! Enhancing Recreational Opportunities Through Effective Facility Use Agreements 1:16:04

5M ago1:16:04

1:16:04

Yucaipa is known as a baseball town, having produced 8 ballplayers who have made it to the Major Leagues. Over the years, demand for ball fields has grown as the population has increased and club/travel ball teams have risen in popularity. These organizations now compete with Little League for the usage of limited field space. To complicate matters…

1
Jeff Cantrell: Blindsided by Separation Due to Weak Contract | Ep. 91 1:08:23

5M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

When Jeff Cantrell uprooted his family and relocated for a city manager job in central Kansas, he never dreamed it would all come to an end two short years later. He was leaving Chanute (pop. 10,000), a Southeast Kansas town, for Hutchinson (pop. of 40,000) and replacing a well-respected manager who was retiring after holding the seat for 17 years.…

1
Ep. 90 | Economic Development the Right Way with Kevin Phelps 1:09:59

5M ago1:09:59

1:09:59

City Manager Kevin Phelps and his team in Glendale, Arizona have put on a clinic when it comes to leveraging economic development. Since his arrival in 2016, the city has figuratively backed up the Brinks truck and filled their bank accounts with cash. Residents pay lower property taxes per unit of valuation today than they did when he took over. A…

1
Episode #10 - Meet Yucaipa's Newest City Council Members with Bob Miller and Judy Woolsey 1:28:39

5M ago1:28:39

1:28:39

Every city election has the potential to change the face of local leadership and alter the direction of a community for years to come. The 2024 election cycle was unusually significant in Yucaipa. In addition to three of five city council seats being up for election, a fourth seat was subject to a recall, and there was a city sales tax measure on t…

1
City Detect is Revolutionizing Code Enforcement with AI | Ep. 89 50:38

6M ago50:38

50:38

Join Gavin Baum-Blake, Co-founder and CEO of City Detect, on City Manager Unfiltered, where he discusses how AI and computer vision technology are revolutionizing urban management. With a background as a US Army veteran, an attorney, and an entrepreneur, Gavin brings a unique perspective to the ethical application of cutting-edge technology in tack…

1
Joe Turner Interviewed by Yucaipa City Manager Chris Mann | Ep. 88 1:28:55

6M ago1:28:55

1:28:55

Yucaipa City Manager Chris Mann invited yours truly, and Calimesa City Manager Will Kolbow, to sit down for an interview on the Yucaipa 360 podcast. The three of us discussed a variety of issues and subjects related to the city management profession and local government. This episode is a rebroadcast of that interview for my audience of listeners. …

1
Episode #9 - Communications and Transparency in Local Government with Social Media Guru Sam Toles 1:16:43

6M ago1:16:43

1:16:43

As residents expect and demand a greater level of transparency from all levels of government, cities everywhere are faced with a rapidly changing media and communications landscape. Local governments grapple with how to adjust to new challenges, such as the rampant spread of misinformation over social media and vicious personal attacks aimed at ele…

1
The Shared Administrator Experiment in Connecticut | Ep. 87 45:46

6M ago45:46

45:46

Three small towns in Connecticut are seeking to share an administrator -- the first time that something like this has ever been attempted according to the organization conducting the recruitment. Joining me on the podcast to discuss this innovative approach is Alex Torpey from the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management at the University of …

1
City Manager Wanted: Columbia Falls, Montana | Ep. 86 52:43

6M ago52:43

52:43

Stale, boring recruitment brochures are played out and offer little value for candidates seeking their next city or county manager opportunity. Many of them contain boiler plate language or rehash text used in a previous announcement for a different community. Isn't it time we re-imagine what a public sector executive recruitment should look like? …

1
Level Up Your Career Using Andrew Patton's Networking Hack | Ep. 85 52:36

6M ago52:36

52:36

Public sector human resources can be an incredibly challenging environment to operate in for even the most seasoned director. It is another level of difficult when your previous experience in HR was at Amazon, one of the largest and fastest growing companies in the world. When Andrew Patton left Amazon and became the human resources director for La…

1
Episode #8 - The City Management Profession with Joe Turner & Will Kolbow 1:26:44

6M ago1:26:44

1:26:44

What is a city manager? What role does a city manager play within a local government organization? How does someone become a city manager? Is city manager compensation too high, or perhaps not high enough? Yucaipa City Manager Chris Mann and Calimesa City Manager Will Kolbow sit down with city management professional Joe Turner, founder of the Amer…

1
My First 100 Days as City Manager with Chris Hoem | Ep. 84 52:22

6M ago52:22

52:22

Back in June, the City of Atwater hired Chris Hoem to be their next city manager. It was his first city manager gig and he was coming off of being terminated as a department head a few months before. This interview was conducted shortly after he had completed his first 100 days in the position in late October. We talked about his preparation and ho…

1
Episode 6: Invisible Man 1:16:37

7M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

Join the conversation and submit a question or request a topic. In this heartfelt episode, Joe reconnects with siblings he hasn't seen or spoken to in over three decades. Together, they reflect on the meaning of family, their individual struggles, and the shared goals that seem to unite them, even after years of separation. They open up about how t…

1
The Municipal Financial Crisis with Mark Moses | Ep. 83 1:12:49

7M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

Mark Moses is the author of "The Municipal Financial Crisis" where he lays out a "framework for understanding and fixing government budgeting." Mark has some strong opinions on how local governments have gradually increased and broadened their scope of services to an unsustainable level and he kills off some sacred cows along the way diagnosing the…

1
Episode #7 - Economic Development: Exciting New Shops and Restaurants Coming to Yucaipa 1:16:14

7M ago1:16:14

1:16:14

Yucaipa is experiencing significant growth, and the City is working hard to balance the need for economic development with the desire to hold on to a more rural feel. Housing and Economic Development Analyst Ryan Miller and City Manager Chris Mann discuss current and future commercial development projects bringing restaurants and shops residents wi…

1
Score an Easy Win with Inclusive Parks | Ep. 82 37:08

7M ago37:08

37:08

One of my goals with this podcast is to help you produce "wins" for your resume so that you can advance your career. When you can do the "right thing" and help those who need it most while also scoring a professional win -- it does not get much better. This is a great, relatively low cost idea that many communities will benefit from. Morgan Massera…

1
How to Calculate Your Mental Health Score | Ep. 81 56:48

7M ago56:48

56:48

In last week's interview about radical mental health transparency, Todd Hopwood broadly discussed the 10 questions he asks himself each day. In this follow up episode, we breakdown those 10 questions, how you should assess them, and how to calculate your score so that you can better track your mental health and mood. Here are the 10 questions: How …

1
Episode #6 - The Future of Ambulance Service in Yucaipa 1:01:25

7M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Ambulance service is changing in Yucaipa and throughout San Bernardino County. CONFIRE (Consolidated Fire Agencies) is a joint effort supported by cities throughout the County to provide emergency medical dispatch and now ambulance services. As CONFIRE prepares to take over the provision of ambulance services from American Medical Response (AMR), t…

1
Ep. 80 | Radical Mental Health Transparency with Todd Hopwood 1:03:19

7M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Todd Hopwood shocked me when he explained his radical approach to mental health transparency. We discuss a system he has implemented which is designed to help him when he is struggling and needs help the most. Frankly, it is not an approach that I would personally be comfortable practicing in my workplace. However, there is no question that his cou…

1
Work-Life Balance is Bullshit with Seth Winterhalter | Ep. 79 1:17:36

8M ago1:17:36

1:17:36

Seth Winterhalter has some thoughts on work-life balance, leaders needing chaos to thrive, and the let down that achievers can feel once they accomplish major goals. An executive coach and owner of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, Seth seeks to help city and county managers escape burnout, set boundaries, and experience breakthroughs in work-life…

1
Episode #5 - Election Day with State Assemblyman Greg Wallis and City Clerk Ana Sauseda 1:11:38

8M ago1:11:38

1:11:38

State Assemblyman Greg Wallis and Yucaipa City Clerk Ana Sauseda delve into campaigns and elections from both the political/candidate perspective and the government/Elections Official side of the equation. From the mechanics of the City Clerk's office planning for a fair and smooth election process and a candidate deciding to run for office, to Ele…

1
SHS: Using Leverage & Real Estate to Create Wealth with Noel Bernal | Ep. 78 1:05:31

8M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

In my first installment of my new "Side Hustle Sunday" series, I discuss the power of leveraging real estate to create wealth with Noel Bernal. Noel started his real estate investment journey in his early 20's before he became a public sector executive. He, along with his wife, have increased their real estate holdings over time and expanded into l…

1
Episode 5: Echoes of the Falls 46:05

8M ago46:05

46:05

Join the conversation and submit a question or request a topic. In this episode of Out of the Starting Blocks, Joe embarks on a profound exploration of his maternal family history, uncovering a legacy marked by deep-seated trauma and loss. As he pieces together stories and events from generations past, Joe reflects on the resilience embedded within…

1
Jorge Garcia Methodically Prepared for First City Manager Post in Pismo Beach | Ep. 77 1:00:23

8M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Confident. Certain. Poised. Prepared. Jorge Garcia, a first-time city manager in Pismo Beach, California, embodies all of these adjectives. He has spent many years readying himself for this moment -- his first assignment as a chief executive officer for a municipal corporation. He is only one year into his tenure, but as you listen to this intervie…

1
Daniel Rosemond Appeals Case to the Florida Supreme Court | Ep. 76 1:19:08

8M ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Our friend, Daniel Rosemond, visits the show to provide an update on his legal case against the City of Hallandale Beach. In February, he had a major set back and we talk about battling through this ordeal that has now stretched out more than 8 years. We also talk about his work with East to West Development and share some exciting news about his b…

1
Episode #4 - Halloween Special - Behind the Scenes at Yucaipa's Famous Pumpkin Patch 53:54

8M ago53:54

53:54

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the magic behind Yucaipa's famous Live Oak Pumpkin Patch! In this special Halloween episode of Yucaipa 360, City Manager Chris Mann chats with Chris Rameson, co-owner of the Pumpkin Patch, along with Tony Hicks and Willie Palmer, to explore its history and growth. Plus, Assistant City Engineer Landon Kern shares how …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Joe Toles Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide