The Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast

Doug Linkhart on All-America Cities, Civic Engagement, and Building Trust in Local Government
 
Host Jim Hunt interviews Doug Linkhart, president of the National Civic League, about the All-America City competition and what it shows about communities working together.
 
Linkhart shares his background in Colorado state and local government and says the All-America City event is an uplifting celebration of what is good in America. 
 
He says he is encouraged by people's courage and by large numbers of residents showing up to help, sharing examples from Montgomery, Alabama (changing a flag with Confederate symbols) and Franklin, Tennessee (strong community turnout).
 
They discuss building trust through listening, follow-through, transparency, and more ways for people to give input beyond council meetings. 
 
Linkhart also describes the League's "Better Public Meetings" program and a democracy ecosystem map of 12,000+ groups on the League's website. He announces he will retire in November.
 
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:35 Meet Doug Linkhart
01:36 Doug's Public Service
03:34 All-America City Uplift
05:05 Hope Stories Winners
08:27 Culture of Engagement
10:21 Building Trust Locally
12:35 Anger Safety Meetings
17:51 Healing Through Crisis
23:43 Better Public Meetings
25:51 Civic League Beyond Awards
28:49 Welcoming Immigrants
31:21 Retirement Reflections
34:45 How Any City Applies
35:54 Final Closing Thanks

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Michael Pollack
·       A candid conversation about sidewalks in cities
·       And, much more
 7 Steps to an Amazing City:
 Attitude
Motivation
Attention to Detail
Zing
Inclusiveness
Neighborhood Empowerment
Green Awareness
 
Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.
 
Links Mentions During Show:
 
·       www.AmazingCities.org
·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast
 
About Michael Pollack
Michael Pollack is a business leader, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for the power of community, connection, and the places we share. Through his work and conversations, Michael brings a fresh perspective to the overlooked resources that shape everyday American life—from sidewalks and public spaces to the people and ideas that make communities thrive.
As the host of Sidewalk Nation, Michael explores the stories, challenges, and opportunities hiding in plain sight, engaging with thought leaders, innovators, and community builders to ask a simple but important question: What are we overlooking that could help make America stronger?
With curiosity, insight, and a focus on practical ideas, Michael invites listeners to look at their communities—and the country—with fresh eyes.
About Your Host, Jim Hunt:
Welcome to the "Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast" … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.
 
Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of "Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too" and his latest book, "The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City"
 
Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.
 
Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.
 
Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.
 
Amazing City Resources:
 
Buy Jim's Popular Books:
·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city
 
·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too
 
FREE White Paper:
·       "10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown"  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps
 
Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event:
·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking
 
Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town:
·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting
 
Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities:
·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development
 
A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the supp

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Michael Pollack  
·       A candid conversation about sidewalks in cities
·       And, much more
 7 Steps to an Amazing City:
 Attitude
Motivation
Attention to Detail
Zing
Inclusiveness
Neighborhood Empowerment
Green Awareness
 
Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.
 
Links Mentions During Show:
 
·       www.AmazingCities.org
·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast
 
About  Michael Pollack: 
 Michael Pollack is an award-winning legal scholar, professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and author of Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America's Most Overlooked Public Space. His work explores how sidewalks shape communities through law, public policy, accessibility, economic development, and civic life. Through his research and writing, Michael helps local leaders and policymakers rethink the role of public spaces in building safer, more vibrant, and more inclusive communities.
About Your Host, Jim Hunt:
Welcome to the "Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast" … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.
 
Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of "Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too" and his latest book, "The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City"
 
Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.
 
Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.
 
Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.
 
Amazing City Resources:
 
Buy Jim's Popular Books:
·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city
 
·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too
 
FREE White Paper:
·       "10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown"  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps
 
Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event:
·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking
 
Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town:
·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting
 
Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities:
·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development
 
A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Michael Pollack  
·       A candid conversation about sidewalks in cities
·       And, much more
 7 Steps to an Amazing City:
 Attitude
Motivation
Attention to Detail
Zing
Inclusiveness
Neighborhood Empowerment
Green Awareness
 
Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.
 
Links Mentions During Show:
 
·       www.AmazingCities.org
·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast
 
About  Michael Pollack: 
 Michael Pollack is an award-winning legal scholar, professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and author of Sidewalk Nation: The Life and Law of America's Most Overlooked Public Space. His work explores how sidewalks shape communities through law, public policy, accessibility, economic development, and civic life. Through his research and writing, Michael helps local leaders and policymakers rethink the role of public spaces in building safer, more vibrant, and more inclusive communities.
About Your Host, Jim Hunt:
Welcome to the "Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast" … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.
 
Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of "Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too" and his latest book, "The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City"
 
Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.
 
Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.
 
Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.
 
Amazing City Resources:
 
Buy Jim's Popular Books:
·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city
 
·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too
 
FREE White Paper:
·       "10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown"  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps
 
Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event:
·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking
 
Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town:
·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting
 
Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities:
·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development
 
A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Jannet Walker Ford 
·       A candid conversation about making transit work in your city.
·       And, much more
7 Steps to an Amazing City:
Attitude
Motivation
Attention to Detail
Zing
Inclusiveness
Neighborhood Empowerment
Green Awareness
Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.
 Links Mentions During Show:
https://www.wsp.com/en-us/profiles/jannet-walker-ford
 ·       www.AmazingCities.org
·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast
 
About Jannet Walker Ford:  
 
Jannet Walker-Ford is the Advisory and Planning Business Line Executive at WSP in the U.S. In this role, she is responsible for business performance, and integrating the firm's technical expertise in planning, engineering, program/construction management and operations with the strategic problem-solving and communications needed by owners, developers and operators to assess, fund, and organize around successful delivery of infrastructure programs and projects across all business lines.
Previously, she served as National Transit and Rail Leader, responsible for leading and growing the firm's business in national transit and rail markets including the national practices for transit and rail, freight delivery, passenger rail, systems, technical project delivery, bus rapid transit and zero emissions.
Jannet is a nationally recognized transportation industry executive, and a tireless advocate for equity in transportation and the power of public transit to transform communities. She has more than two decades of diverse expertise including management consulting, technology, mobility, and transportation systems.
Jannet is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in management information systems and Central Michigan University with a Master of Business Administration degree. Recognized by WTS International with the inaugural Jannet Walker-Ford Breaking Barriers Award in 2024, Jannet has received numerous awards and serves on multiple national boards. She is the Immediate Past Chair of WTS International, the APTA Executive Committee, the Eno Center for Transportation and Jacksonville Board of Trustees. The broad range of recognition for her success and advocacy includes 2023 Railway Age Women in Rail, 2022 American Public Transportation Association's Business Member of the Year, 2021 WTS Northeast Florida Woman of the Year, 2019 Transportation Diversity Council/Massachusetts Institute of Technology honoree for Services to the Transportation Industry, 2019 Women of Color STEM Technology All-Star Award, and a 2019 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials' Women Who Move the Nation honoree.
About Your Host, Jim Hunt:
Welcome to the "Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast" … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.
 
Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of "Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too" and his latest book, "The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City"
 
Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.
 
Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.
 
Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.
 
Amazing City Resources:
 
Buy Jim's Popular Books:
·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city
 
·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too
 
FREE White Paper:
·       "10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown"  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps
 
Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event:
·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking
 
Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town:
·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting
 
Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities:
·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development
 
A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net