#702 The Mayor Has a Hammer and Other Poetry with Jim Schutz, JMSB Strategies

#702 The Mayor Has a Hammer and Other Poetry with Jim Schutz, JMSB Strategies

Author: Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) November 14, 2025 Duration: 58:40

Jim Schutz, a Principal at JMSB Strategies joined the podcast to discuss his transition from a City Manager to poetry author. He shared how he decided to transition into consulting and how he got into local government poetry. Plus he talked about his favorite poem and other highlights from The Mayor Has a Hammer, a book of poetry on the everyday heroism of local government.

Host: Meredith Reynolds


Ever wonder who actually keeps your city running or what it takes to turn a policy idea into a reality on your street? GovLove-A Podcast About Local Government pulls back the curtain, offering genuine conversations with the people dedicated to public service. Produced by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL), this series moves beyond headlines and council meetings to focus on the human stories behind local governance. Each episode features a different voice from the civic ecosystem, whether it's a seasoned City Manager navigating a budget crisis, a Mayor championing a new initiative, or an intern bringing fresh perspective to a longstanding challenge. The discussions delve into the practicalities of their professions, the policies they craft and implement, and the personal motivations that drive their work. You'll hear about both the triumphs and the setbacks, providing a nuanced, ground-level view of how communities function and evolve. This isn't a theoretical lecture; it's a collection of candid interviews that reveal the problem-solving, passion, and occasional paperwork that define local government. Tuning into this podcast feels like grabbing coffee with someone who knows the inside story, offering listeners a deeper appreciation for the often-unseen efforts that shape our daily lives. If you're curious about civic engagement, considering a public sector career, or simply want to understand the mechanics of your own town, these conversations provide an essential and engaging listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

GovLove - A Podcast About Local Government
Podcast Episodes
#720 Making Government Smarter with Cori Zarek, Apolitical [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:55
Cori Zarek, Vice President for North America at Apolitical joined the podcast to talk about her career in public interest technology and helping make government smarter. She shared how Apolitical is working to support pe…
#717 Unifying Rural Fire Districts with Reno County, KS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:59
Two guests from Reno County, Kansas joined the podcast to talk about the process behind unifying rural fire districts. Randy Partington is the County Administrator for Reno County and Adam Weishaar is the Director of Eme…