This is the first episode of the APMM 2025 podcast series featuring regional roundtables. We are joined by three municipal managers: Greg Primm from Lower Burrell, Kristen Denne from Bethel Park, and Seth Abrams from Forest Hills. We talk about emotional resilience and the personal toll of being the buffer when tensions arise, the importance of honest dialogue with peers, especially within a region and shifting expectations from the workforce and the public.

Contact info:

Greg Primm

Kirsten Denne

Seth Abrams

APMM - Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Management

Pioneering Change Community Newsletter

Key Topics:

• The erosion of professional advisory roles and ethical challenges when elected officials disregard legal codes.
• Legislation by social media" and the pressure for instant responses to public complaints
• Generational workforce challenges and the struggle to retain talent in an era of work-life balance expectations
• The impact of social media on decision-making and public expectations
• Balancing short-term political pressures with long-term municipal planning needs
• Regional cooperation strategies and emergency services challenges

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Greg's on professional standards erosion

00:03:30 - Kristen on "legislation by social media" concept

00:04:30 - Seth on zoning decision-making challenges

00:07:30 - Communication and social media strategy discussion

00:11:30 - Kristen - workforce and generational challenges

00:14:00 - Nancy asks about adapting work for younger employees

00:19:30 - Seth on staffing and resource constraints

00:22:00 - Nancy transitions to relationships with elected officials

00:29:00 - Magic wand section begins

00:35:30 - Nancy wraps up magic wand ideas

00:36:00 - Final thoughts and parting words begin

00:38:00 - Greg raises EMS crisis concerns

00:39:30 - Nancy introduces regionalization topic

00:44:00 - Positive ending with recruitment discussion

00:45:00 - Closing remarks and wrap-up

In this episode of PCC Local Time, Nancy Hess talks with Mike Baumwoll, co-founder and CEO of Rep’d, about how short-form video and authentic communication are transforming how local governments engage with their communities. From AI-driven script tools to lessons from Twitter and the entrepreneurial world, Mike shares actionable insights on how municipal leaders can overcome fear, speak with clarity, and build trust—both inside and outside their organizations. Whether you're a curious manager or a communications pro, this episode offers real-world examples and a hopeful path forward.

Themes: local government communication, community trust, short video strategy, AI for municipalities, civic engagement, human-centered leadership, government tech, authentic messaging.

Mike Baumwoll on LinkedIn

Rep'd Website

[00:00–02:00] Short Video Engagement: Local government videos show 70–80% completion rates, signaling residents prefer concise, authentic messages over long emails.

Core Lesson: Authenticity matters more than production quality.

[02:00–06:00] Building Relationships at Conferences: Trust in government tech starts with handshakes and real conversations. That’s how Rep’d connects with towns like Mount Jackson, VA.

[06:00–09:00]AI Readiness in Local Government: Mike describes three groups:

• Early adopters
• Hesitant or anxious
• Curious but cautious majority
• AI must be practical and easy to use to gain traction.

[09:00–12:00]Leadership Through Communication: Speaking clearly is a leadership skill. Residents don’t want perfect—they want real.

[12:00–17:00]Mike’s Background: From Lafayette College to Twitter, his career journey trained him in marketing, brand messaging, and client relationships. Entrepreneurship runs deep.

[17:00–20:00]Lessons from Twitter: The best communication meets people where they already are, taps into existing conversations, and feels organic—not forced.

[20:00–24:00]Crisis Communication: Whether it’s a flood, explosion, or school emergency, people need fast, clear updates from local officials—preferably via video, right on the homepage.

[24:00–27:00]Why Local Matters: Residents want to trust the people running their communities. It starts with knowing who they are.

[27:00–30:00]Coaching for Reluctant Speakers: Rep’d provides AI-generated scripts, teleprompters, and support to make recording simple—even for the nervous or tech-shy.

[30:00–32:00]Video as an Internal Leadership Tool: Skills gained through external communication translate to better internal communication and cohesion.

[32:00–35:00]From Twitter to Goverment: Mike didn’t imagine he’d end up in local government tech—but now he doesn’t want to be anywhere else.

[35:00–37:00]Advice for Entrepreneurs: Building for local government is different. You must care deeply and build trust first. It’s people work.

[37:00–End] Future of AI in Government: The entrepreneurial spotlight is shifting to government and AI. The investment is growing—but trust and simplicity must remain central.

This is a cross-over podcast episode from our Substack site MuniSquare. We hope you will enjoy and follow subscribe if you like what you see.

In this episode Nancy Hess and Mike Rowe from the University of Liverpool explore James C. Scott's groundbreaking book "Seeing Like a State" and its powerful implications for local government.

Discover how governments make society "legible" through mapping and regulation, why top-down planning often fails, and how everyday acts of resistance shape our communities. From Brasília's utopian architecture to contract farming's unintended consequences, this conversation reveals how Scott's insights help us understand everything from zoning disputes to the hidden knowledge that really keeps organizations running. Essential listening for anyone working in public administration, urban planning, or community development.

00:00 - 03:00 - Introduction and Context

Nancy introduces the episode structure and Scott's four key concepts; Mike explains discovering Scott's work at the intersection of public administration and anthropology

03:00 - 07:00 - Everyday Forms of Resistance

Explainer on hidden resistance in daily life; discussion of Indonesian flood management and animistic land practices

07:00 - 11:00 - From Job Descriptions to Legibility

Nancy's organizational development experience; Mike's story about the two women who "really ran" the university; introduction to legibility concept

11:00 - 16:00 - Legibility and Simplification

Explainer on cadastral mapping and forest management; immigration policy as example of complex simplification

16:00 - 20:00 - Planning and Local Knowledge

Discussion of urban sprawl, high-speed rail planning challenges, and Colin Ward's anarchist architecture

20:00 - 24:00 - Cadastral Mapping and Zoning

Historical context of land mapping for taxation; modern parallels in small business and cash economy

24:00 - 30:00 - High Modernism and Brasília

Explainer on Le Corbusier's influence; the story of Brasília's construction workers creating thriving informal settlements

30:00 - 36:00 - Agricultural Simplification

Contract farming as modern example; loss of generational farming knowledge; comparison to contracting out government services

36:00 - 42:00 - Local Government Applications

Lancaster County agriculture, mushroom farms vs. new developments, building on floodplains; practical advice for policy-making

42:00 - 43:00 - Conclusion

Reflections on Scott's political reception and continuing relevance