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The HaltingWinter Podcast

The HaltingWinter Podcast

By: Seth Winterhalter
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 The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revitalize their municipalities. Hosted by Seth Winterhalter, President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explore innovative approaches to balance personal well-being with professional growth while cultivating a vibrant workplace culture. Discover how to lead with purpose, navigate complex challenges, and deliver exceptional results for your community. Each episode provides actionable advice to help you thrive in the unique landscape of municipal leadership. Whether you're a seasoned city manager or new to municipal leadership, this podcast is your resource for personal and professional growth. Tune in and join our mission of making stronger cities through stronger leaders.All rights reserved Economics Management Management & Leadership Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 177: Book of the Week: The Hard Thing About Hard Things

    177: Book of the Week: The Hard Thing About Hard Things
    May 19 2025

    Show Notes: Book of the Week – "The Hard Thing About Hard Things"
    Episode 177 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
    The Hard Things About Municipal Leadership
    (Part 1 of 5: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" Series)

    Episode Overview

    This week inside the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter kicks off a new series exploring The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, reframed for the real-world realities of municipal leadership.

    This first episode introduces the concept of “the struggle”—those moments in leadership when everything seems to be going wrong, and there’s no playbook to follow. Whether it’s a budget collapse, political turmoil, or community crisis, municipal leaders face these hard things more often than most. As Seth explains, the solution isn’t found in easy answers—it’s found in clarity, transparency, resilience, and the ability to lead decisively through uncertainty.

    Key Takeaways

    • Why the hardest leadership moments offer no clear right answer

    • What “the struggle” feels like in city management and why it’s a normal part of the job

    • The power of transparency during difficult decisions

    • How to model “the right kind of ambition” focused on community, not ego

    • Peacetime vs. Wartime leadership: when to shift your style and how to know the difference

    • Leading with the truth even when the truth is unpopular or politically risky

    This Week’s Journey in the MLDC

    Monday: Introducing the struggle and the realities of leading without a script
    Tuesday–Thursday: Culture, communication, talent, and personal resilience
    Friday: Virtual Book Club – What’s your version of “the hard thing,” and how are you leading through it?

    Special: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial

    This week only, get full access to:

    • All five episodes in The Speed of Trust podcast series

    • Daily blog content and leadership tools

    • Live Friday Virtual Book Club discussion

    • A growing national network of municipal leaders inside the MLDC
      → Start your free trial today at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

    Resources Mentioned

    • Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

    • MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

    Connect with Seth

    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter

    • Website: www.HaltingWinter.com
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
  • 176: Christopher Garges: The Infrastructure of Trust: How to Lead Growth Without Losing Identity

    176: Christopher Garges: The Infrastructure of Trust: How to Lead Growth Without Losing Identity
    May 15 2025
    Show Notes: Christopher Garges – The Infrastructure of Trust: How to Lead Growth Without Losing Identity Episode 176 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, host Seth Winterhalter sits down with Christopher Garges, Township Manager of Solebury, Pennsylvania, to explore one of the most critical leadership tensions in local government today: how to manage rapid growth without sacrificing the identity and trust of a community. With a career that began in construction management and evolved through zoning, planning, and now township leadership, Christopher shares how his hands-on background, deep roots in Bucks County, and people-first philosophy help him lead with both strategic clarity and human empathy. Christopher opens up about the transition from private to public sector, the lessons learned in managing small towns with big challenges, and why customer service, humility, and consistent communication are non-negotiables for building a healthy culture in local government. This episode pairs perfectly with this week’s MLDC book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey—offering real-world application from the private sector straight to the public sector trenches. Episode Highlights: From Backhoes to Boardrooms: How growing up around construction sites laid the foundation for servant leadership Private vs. Public Sector: Lessons learned working both sides of infrastructure and what government can learn from business First Time in the Manager's Seat: The challenges of wearing every hat in small-town leadership (sometimes including snowplows!) Culture Starts with Listening: Why empathy, consistency, and responsiveness shape how residents perceive their local government Unreasonable Hospitality in Action: How Christopher’s team applies private-sector service principles to zoning, permitting, and even difficult conversations Managing Growth Without Losing Identity: How Solebury is balancing preservation, open space, and development pressure just outside Philadelphia Beyond Bureaucracy: Using volunteerism, cross-department collaboration, and culture-building events to build staff connection and community trust Serving Amid National Tension: How local leaders can buffer their communities from national division through transparency, humility, and people-first service Township Manager of the Year: What Christopher learned from being recognized by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber and how his team made it happen Connect with Christopher Garges LinkedIn: Christopher Garges on LinkedIn Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalterWebsite: www.HaltingWinter.com About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter as he keynotes the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd-26th. Register here: https://southcarolina.apwa.org/event/2025-annual-conference/ The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off an annual subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 45 mins
  • 175: Arthur Capello: From Bowling Alleys to Town Hall: How Customer Service Shaped a Town Manager

    175: Arthur Capello: From Bowling Alleys to Town Hall: How Customer Service Shaped a Town Manager
    May 13 2025
    Show Notes: Arthur Capello – From Bowling Alleys to Town Hall: How Customer Service Shaped a Town Manager Episode 175 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Overview In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Arthur Capello, Town Manager of Berwick, Maine, to explore how growing up in a family-run bowling alley unexpectedly prepared him to lead in local government. With a career that spans nonprofit leadership, building inspection, and town administration, Arthur brings a people-first perspective to the public sector, emphasizing service, humility, and community revitalization. Arthur’s story is a masterclass in leadership that listens. From handling late-night bar league bowlers to navigating brownfield redevelopment across state lines, Arthur shares how trust, adaptability, and genuine care for people have shaped his career. If you’ve ever wondered how someone breaks into city management—and stays rooted while doing it—this is the episode for you. Episode Highlights: Bowling Alley Beginnings: Why customer service at a bowling alley taught Arthur the fundamentals of leadership, conflict resolution, and communication Nonprofit to Public Sector: How two decades working with youth and adults with disabilities shaped Arthur’s empathy-driven management style Breaking Into the Club: What it really takes to make the leap into town administration and why Gilmanton took a chance on him The Power of Presence: From riding in plow trucks to library meet-and-greets, Arthur shares why visibility and humility matter in municipal leadership Rebuilding Berwick: How Arthur is helping revitalize a rural mill town through community engagement, public-private partnerships, and cross-state collaboration People-First Leadership: Why treating every staff member—from receptionist to department head—with dignity creates a thriving workplace culture Reimagining Policy: Arthur’s belief that municipal policies should be living, breathing tools that serve people, not block progress Avoiding Burnout: The importance of taking breaks, creating boundaries, and cultivating balance in a 24/7 leadership role Serving Across the Aisle: Lessons learned from being both a selectman and a town manager—and how it helps anticipate what elected officials really need Small Town, Big Impact: Why small-town leadership may be more demanding—and more rewarding—than most people think Connect with Arthur Capello LinkedIn: Arthur Capello on LinkedIn Connect With Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalterWebsite: www.HaltingWinter.com About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions: At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com. Upcoming Events: Don't miss Seth Winterhalter as he keynotes the 2025 APWA South Carolina Chapter Annual Conference in Spartanburg, June 23rd-26th. Register here: https://southcarolina.apwa.org/event/2025-annual-conference/ The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a community for city managers and administrators from around the country to find support personally and professionally as they lead thriving teams and communities. We're giving podcast listeners 20% off an annual subscription with a 7-day FREE trial to make sure it's the right fit for you. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you register today! --> JOIN HERE
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 22 mins

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