Generation on the Rise Podcast

About Generation on the Rise Podcast

Generation on the Rise is where local government’s next generation of municipal managers wrestle with what’s changing in the work, what’s hard, and why it’s still worth doing. Join hosts: Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff, and Executive Producer Nancy J. Hess as they find the new normal — not the one we’re used to, but the one we create. This is an audio stream of the podcast. In addition to our MuniSquare YouTube channel, we have recently started a new stream with video on Spotify. If you like this, please check out: https://open.spotify.com/show/4PyJy4Btzw1MrYI9FE3Z8Q?si=c226374f75e04b24 munisquare.substack.com (https://munisquare.substack.com/s/generation-on-the-rise-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff & Brandon Ford (with Executive Producer, Nancy J Hess)

Category

government · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Oct 2025

Latest episode

14 May 2026

Latest episodes

13 of 17 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   14 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   So this is goodbye....

   Host reflects with guests Dave and Brandon on the podcast's conclusion and the departure of Eden, exploring leadership challenges and professional growth.

2. 

   8 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Marbles in the Pocket

   Brandon Ford (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjhford/) rejoins Dave Pribulka (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pribulka/)and Eden Ratliff (https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenratliff/) and wastes no time stepping back into the role of host. He deftly guides the conversation from how have expectations changed for managers to something much deeper that touches on what it means to be apolitical in this new reality and how compartmentalization may or may not serve the profession going forward. This is a genuinely important episode for anyone wondering where the profession is headed. What are your thoughts? Leave us your comments and the crew will respond in a future episode. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “We have to hold the line—apolitical, professional management. Period.” - Brandon “Politicization of local government … it’s your ink on that resolution condemning, promoting whatever social issue … and when the board change is over, they know you wrote that.” - Dave But with time, you know, each thing you compartmentalize … it’s like a marble, right? If you put one marble in your pocket, that’s not so bad. But if you put a marble in your pocket every day I mean, how is that that box you’re compartmentalizing going to feel in  15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years? - Eden Chapters 00:00 Sports and Local Engagement 03:56 International City Management Association Insights 09:30 Expectations of Local Government 18:44 The Role of Technology in Local Governance 23:13 Navigating Civic Engagement and Emotional Appeals 25:13 The Complexity of Local Governance 28:35 Engaging the Next Generation of Managers 30:26 The Balance of Politics and Management 32:34 Compartmentalizing Personal Beliefs in Governance 36:34 The Future of Political Neutrality in Local Government 40:18 Maintaining Professional Standards Amidst Political Pressures Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   1 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Connectivity in Community

   Recorded on Opening Day for baseball! Today the Generation on the Rise crew (minus Brandon Ford (https://substack.com/profile/401122608-brandon-ford) who is galavanting around Ireland with an ICMA team) steps up to bat and the field is wide open on the topic of connectivity. Although the vision is alluring, it is also a technical rabbit hole. But well worth the effort if you are interested in taking on connectivity in your community. Host Eden Ratliff (https://substack.com/profile/401121677-eden-ratliff) goes toe to toe with Dave Pribulka (https://substack.com/profile/357546209-dave-pribulka) and Nancy J Hess (https://substack.com/profile/59637120-nancy-j-hess) on how and when we see connectivity happening in local government. Eden, Dave, and Nancy dig into the Strong Towns movement, multimodal transportation, and the tension between walkability ideals and the hard economics of development. From Nancy’s memory of walking to work in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to Dave’s Vancouver revelation, from Greencastle sidewalks to Charlottesville’s radical parking-free experiment, this conversation travels far to make a local point: the decisions managers and elected officials make about streets, sidewalks, and parking minimums are fundamentally decisions about who gets the advantage and and how connectivity impacts the larger system. Part urban planning seminar, part management mentorship, all great conversation. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. QUOTES: "The essential tension is: how does local government policymaking actually shape the community and the culture?" - Nancy "This is a car-centric country, but that doesn't mean we need to be a car-centric community. That's a hot take. You can really start to unpack that." - Eden "The more we invest in this connectivity and infrastructure, the higher it drives housing prices and the more it's gonna push out the people that need it the most — 'cause they don't have cars or other means of transportation." — Dave "They did not (by the way) ruin the city because there's no parking requirements. People work it out." - Eden "It's a chicken-and-egg kind of thing. You've gotta really be partnered with a developer that's gonna be willing to take a little risk." — Dave "In the comprehensive plan it talks about trails and connectivity a lot, and it was very community led — the community was all for it. But when it comes time to build that trail in front of your house, all of a sudden your opinion changed. So he would say: sell the romance." - Eden "Always be thinking five, ten years down the road. Because if we are so laser-focused on the issues in front of our nose today, we're not going to be setting our communities up for success in the years ahead." - Dave I went back to OhioBut my pretty countrysideHad been paved down the middleBy a government that had no pride The farms of OhioHad been replaced by shopping mallsAnd Muzak filled the airFrom Seneca to Cuyahoga Falls Said, ay, oh, way to go, Ohio - Lyrics to OHIO by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders -Nancy’s experience of returning to her home in Ohio. " ‘They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’ That was our mantra. We saw it coming and we didn't do our part. I wish we would've done more to protest — but here we are." - Nancy, referring to Joni Mitchell’s 1970 folkson 🚗 Hot Takes for Managers | Connectivity * “Car-centric country ≠ car-centric community.” You don’t have to accept the infrastructure you inherited. Even small towns with tiny budgets can move the needle — painted crosswalks, one sidewalk, one park trail. Start somewhere. * The parking minimum is a small business killer. Every space you require a developer to build is real estate that priced out the coffee shop that would have made your downtown worth visiting. Know your ordinance. Consider what you’re actually asking for. * Sell the romance, not the project. When your community loves trails in the abstract but hates the one going past their yard, stop arguing the specifics. Zoom out. Connect the project to the vision they already said they wanted in the comprehensive plan. * Onboard elected officials before they’re sworn in. Eden’s pre-election onboarding meetings include trying on fire gear, checking out police cars, a frank conversation about property rights law…. “You can’t just say no” is much easier to hear before the vote, not after. * If you think you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in trouble. Build your team of consultants, solicit, and engineers. Enable them to speak up. Your job is to grease the wheels — not to be the wheel. * Vancouver is the benchmark. Build toward it anyway. You can’t retrofit your nineteenth-century borough into a complete streets city overnight. But you can make one block more walkable this year. And the next. That’s how Phoenixville happened. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   26 Mar 2026

   Don't mind me...I am just an old man yelling at the cloud.

   The summary you are about to read is mostly from AI; however, I did take the time to create the prompt! And tell it that I wanted to emphasize that this is a serious, important but also, very funny podcast episode! I curated the moments that I thought stood out… and there so many, that my main recommendation, if you have a leadership team, is to have everyone listen to this episode and then come together and discuss what this all means for your work together. The mood shifts from utopian to dystopian to …. “wait, we are here in this moment as this whole thing is unfolding...how can we know?” MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Mike Baumwoll is the CEO and founder of Rep’d (short for Represented), the first AI communications platform built specifically for local government. Before launching Rep’d, Mike and his business partner spent a combined 15 years at Twitter, where they witnessed firsthand how misinformation, trolls, and social media dynamics corrode public trust in institutions. That experience led them to build something different — a tool designed to close the education gap between what residents think their government does and what it actually does, by humanizing the people who do the work. In this episode, Mike joins Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford to bat around how AI is already inside your organization whether you invited it or not, what it means to have a “human lens” on AI-generated work, the data integrity problem and the staggering scale of global data creation, and the difference between open AI systems (temperature 10 — the whole internet) and closed-circuit environments (temperature zero — only what you feed it). The episode is candid, curious, and occasionally very funny — exactly the conversation local government professionals need to be having right now. “If you are a manager and you’re not using AI and you’re not having that AI conversation with your teams, folks on your teams are using it. They’re paying for their own subscriptions. It’s happening whether you’re ready or not.” — Eden Ratliff "There should always be a human lens. The moment that we stop telling stories, stop informing and creating a human environment to connect, is where we lose." — Mike Baumwoll "And by the way, Mike — why should we trust you?" — Dave Pribulka (cutting to the heart of the AI vendor credibility question) “"You should probably ask AI how to integrate AI.” — Brandon Ford Chapters 00:00 – Reunion & Reset (Season 2… maybe?)The group reconnects after a hiatus 02:00 – Guest Introduction: Mike BaumwollAI, local government communication, and the “education gap” between residents and government. 04:30 – What Is AI (Really)?From Turing to today—framing the moment and the pace of change. 09:40 – The Reality: You Don’t Get to Opt OutAI is already embedded in operations whether leaders acknowledge it or not. 12:00 – Authenticity vs. AutomationEmails, reports, and the subtle erosion (or evolution) of human voice. 16:00 – What AI Communications Actually MeansMike explains practical applications: drafts, insights, and resident interaction tools. 18:00 – The Runaway Train QuestionSpeed, unpredictability, and whether local government can realistically “control” AI. 21:30 – The Human Element DebateCan AI enhance connection, or does it risk replacing it? 26:30 – AI as a Draft, Not a Decision MakerA key framing emerges: AI as a first pass, not the final word. 33:30 – Data, Trust, and the Scale ProblemMassive data growth and the challenge of filtering truth from noise. 42:00 – Training Fatigue & Trust GapsToo much information, not enough clarity on who or what to believe. 45:00 – Closed AI Systems & ControlWhat it means to limit AI to trusted data sources. 53:00 – Practical Use Case: Right-to-Know RequestsAI’s potential to transform labor-intensive work. 54:30 – The Future: Utopia or Skynet?Each host reflects on what the next 10 years could look like. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   25 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Finding Your Place: Why Boroughs Demand Everything — and Give It Back

   Borough Manager Maggie Dobbs discusses the realities of managing Narberth, Pennsylvania, including its unique challenges, staffing realities, and housing transformation, in an interview with Brandon Ford and Nancy Hess.

6. 

   17 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Free Agency in Local Government

   Brad Gotshall discusses the increasing fragility of local government management positions with Eden Ratliff and Dave Pribulka, exploring contracts, severance, and professional identity in this interview.

7. 

   11 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Crisis as the New Normal

   Eden and Dave are joined by guest Jeffrey Stonehill (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-stonehill-a01711126/), Borough Manager of Chambersburg Pennsylvania. They begin with an examination of how crises today differ from those Jeffrey encountered when he began in the field. Although they traverse the doom and gloom of dealing with crisis in the profession, they return to the core reasons they remain in the field. Contrasting generational perspectives and recognition of the vulnerability that comes with commitment and transitions make this episode a memorable one. “If everything is a crisis, nothing is.” - Eden You have to have a little bit of self-confidence. I will find the place, I will find the role, I will find the journey. It's like the actor—the Broadway play closes, what do they do the next day? You need to have confidence that it will work itself out. - Jeffrey "There is a lightness of being after you're gone that almost hits as you're walking out the door. That's when I realized how much pressure I'd been under. That feeling is quickly replaced by this feeling of not being a part of something bigger than yourself anymore. When that ends, especially if it ends abruptly, it's a hard realization to wake up one morning and your calendar is empty." - Dave Hot Takes: 🔥Crisis has always been part of the job. The pressure isn’t new — the speed is. 🔥Not every issue deserves full emotional escalation. 🔥Fire Suppression ≠ Fire Prevention. Be proactive. 🔥 The communities you serve will continue without you—and that's okay. 🔥Leaving a community requires a grieving process, even when it's your choice to leave. 🔥The work is meaningful. Despite the pressure, leaders would not trade the experience. Timestamps 00:00 - Cold open and greetings03:47 - Welcome and introduction to Generation on the Rise04:42 - Introducing first-time guest Jeffrey Stonehill06:32 - Jeffrey’s career journey: From SUNY grad to 40-year manager08:15 - The “crisis as normal” phenomenon in local government11:45 - Why municipalities attract constant crisis15:20 - The evolution of pressure: Then vs. now19:30 - Harrisburg bankruptcy and advisory board experience24:10 - The psychological toll of perpetual emergency management28:45 - Learning to disconnect (or trying to)33:20 - The loneliness of municipal management37:50 - Why managers struggle to share burdens42:15 - Transitioning between communities: The Disney tradition45:40 - The grieving process when you leave a community49:18 - Taking care of yourself and your family50:05 - Despite everything: Why we love this profession52:03 - Closing thoughts and next week’s preview MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   4 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Heavy Lies the Crown

   Hosts Dave and Eden examine the realities of professional isolation for managers, debating whether the profession's recruitment crisis stems from a lack of awareness or legitimate wariness about the job's inherent instability in this episode.

9. 

   28 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Crushing Boot of Reality

   Hosts Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff, and Dave Pribulka examine the challenges of maintaining idealism and driving innovation within the often cautious and bureaucratic environment of local government.

10. 

    9 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Inform, Respect, Deliver: Local Government Managers in the Policy Arena

    In this kickoff-to-2026 episode of Generation on the Rise, hosts Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, and Eden Ratliff tackle the question: what is the real role of a municipal manager in forming local government policy? They trade stories about leaf-blower bans, stormwater fees, single use plastic bags, and the emotional discipline it takes to “inform the process, respect the outcome, and then deliver with enthusiasm.” Along the way they talk about translating up (staff to board) and down (board to staff), how much emotion managers should bring to policy disagreements, and why this generation of leaders may be more willing to push the system. This is a great listen for anyone interested in the work of local government or just wants to understand how it really works. Be sure to leave your comments and questions for the crew to tackle in a future episode. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “Our job is to inform the process, respect the outcome, and then deliver with enthusiasm.” - Eden “We took ‘leaf blower ban’ as a goal and did what staff does—we turned it into options, wrote the ordinance, and recommended a seasonal ban. The board said, ‘Thanks, but we want a full ban.’ And that’s democracy.” - Brandon “Sometimes the textbook says, ‘The board sets policy, the manager administers.’ The real work is everything in between—the translation, the conflict, the opportunity costs.” - Dave * 00:00 – New Year banter & Y2K * 03:30 – First-week-back routines & “Purge Day” * 06:30 – Reorganization meetings as the “real” New Year * 09:00 – Setting up the topic: managers and policy formation * 10:00 – Textbook council–manager model vs reality * 12:00 – How Eden reads and frames board policy priorities * 13:30 – Who really sets the agenda? Chair vs manager * 14:30 – Is capital equipment a policy question? * 16:00 – Municipal vs nonprofit vs corporate boards * 17:30 – Disagreeing with the board and processing it at home * 21:00 – Culture, roles, and “no big emotions” about policy * 24:00 – Translating decisions up and down the organization * 28:00 – “Negotiation” vs expectations and culture * 29:30 – When managers do and don’t make recommendations * 33:00 – Budgets, tax policy, and whether a balanced budget is a recommendation * 36:00 – Assistant manager perspective: one functional unit * 38:00 – Preemption, home rule, and plastic-bag bans * 44:00 – Inertia, backlash, and revisiting policy after it “marinates” * 47:00 – What’s distinctive about the Generation on the Rise cohort? * 48:00 – When operations are failing and the manager must force the policy conversation * 49:00 – Closing reflections & takeaways Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    30 Dec 2025

    When Loyalty Gets Complicated in Local Government

    Summary: In this thought-provoking episode, Brandon, Dave, and Eden tackle the complex topic of workplace loyalty in local government. The hosts debate what loyalty means in practice, whether it’s connected to tenure, and how it differs from professionalism. The conversation takes an unexpected turn into residency requirements, sparking passionate disagreement about whether living in the community you serve impacts your work. As they wrap up 2024, the hosts announce exciting changes coming in 2025, including guest appearances. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. "Younger professionals are more mobile. The era where you grew up in the town you work for and you spend your entire life there is not necessarily the case." - Brandon "A number of years ago I worked for a small borough where the governing body said, 'Actually, we'd rather you not [live here]. We think there's gonna be a lot of pressure in this community with the things that we wanna accomplish... We don't really want you to be influenced by your neighbors, the friends you'll make, the social environment.'“ - Eden "I think if you can live in that jurisdiction, it helps you to cultivate that loyalty, that commitment... It gives you a little more skin in the game…To say that it's not different is just not the way the world works. If you live in that jurisdiction, it's going to have an influence on how you navigate the challenges that you're faced with." - Dave Show Notes: * What does workplace loyalty mean in local government? * The connection (or disconnection) between loyalty and tenure * ICMA’s two-year standard and generational shifts in career mobility * Professionalism vs. loyalty: which matters more? * The heated residency debate: does living in your community change your recommendations? * Small town dynamics vs. larger municipalities * Looking ahead: Generation on the Rise adds guests in 2025! Timestamps: * 00:00 - Cold open: ICMA’s two-year standard discussion * 01:00 - Holiday gift assembly war stories * 05:00 - Defining workplace loyalty in local government * 08:00 - The role of personal affinity in job selection * 11:00 - Measuring loyalty: what does it look like? * 15:00 - The two-year standard and its implications * 18:00 - Why managers move more frequently now * 22:00 - ICMA’s two-year standard revisited * 27:00 - Loyalty vs. professionalism in difficult decisions * 31:00 - The residency debate begins * 40:00 - Does living in your community affect recommendations? * 46:00 - Generational differences in mobility and commitment * 50:00 - Episode wrap-up and 2025 announcement Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    17 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

    Strategic Planning: From Vision to the Cross-offable Action

    As the calendar year closes out, Eden Ratliff sits down with Brandon Ford and Dave Pribulka to talk about strategic planning in the real world: not as a glossy document, but as a working “rudder” for budget decisions, priorities, and day-to-day execution. They dig into the tension between aspirational goals (the “why”) and cross-offable action steps (the “how”)—including how to avoid plans that sound inspiring but don’t translate into steps, owners, timelines, or resources. Along the way, they compare planning approaches in large and small communities, debate when to use consultants vs. doing the work in-house, and talk honestly about what happens when boards turn over and want to toss the plan on the shelf. MuniSquare is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Highlights: I have a love/hate relationship with strategic planning. - Brandon What comes first, the chicken or the egg? If you don’t make aspirational statements, how do you allocate resources? - Eden What do you do when you have turnover on your boards and they say throw out the strategic plan or I don’t intend to follow it? - Eden Sometimes things are just gonna change, and we need to give our boards the latitude to say, ‘Look, we’re just gonna blow this up and start over. - Dave Action without vision is, is just passing time. Vision without action is just a dream. Action and vision can change the world. - Nelson Mandela, quoted by Dave) What’s one priority your community needs to make “cross-offable” in 2026? Generation on the Rise is produced by Nancy Hess and features Eden Ratliff (Middletown Township Manager, Bucks County PA), Brandon Ford (Lower Merion Assistant Township Manager, Montgomery County PA, and Dave Pribulka (Bellefonte Borough Manager, Centre County PA) Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    9 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

    Navigating Bias in Local Government

    In this episode of ‘Generation on the Rise’, the hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford “go there” to unpack the inherent biases present in local government, and how it can impact decision-making processes. They explore how biases affect hiring practices and public policy formation, emphasizing the need for a culture of challenge and building perspective in leadership. The conversation also touches on the impact of confirmation bias and the necessity of engaging with voices from outside familiar turf to challenge the status quo. “We all… are looking at the world through our own lens… and everyone’s lens is different… At my first city council meeting… they didn’t say the Pledge of Allegiance.”” - Eden Takeaways * The meaning behind the podcast name differs among the hosts. * Bias is inherent in everyone and affects decision-making processes. * Do hiring panels mitigate bias? * Do job descriptions qualifications unnecessarily exclude candidates? * Community engagement is crucial for effective public policy. * Confirmation bias can lead to a narrow perspective in decision-making. * A culture of challenge is essential for innovative ideas. * Residency requirements can limit the diversity of applicants. * Engaging with a variety of community voices is necessary for equitable governance. * The importance of networking with managers across different municipalities. Chapters 02:51 The Meaning Behind ‘Generation on the Rise’ 12:06 Understanding Bias in Local Government 23:47 Bias in Hiring Processes and Practices 28:27 Navigating Education Choices in Suburban Life 29:41 Blind Reviews and Bias in Hiring 31:35 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives 33:17 Creating a Culture of Disagreement 35:01 Affinity Bias in Team Dynamics 37:47 The CAO and Assistant Relationship 42:54 Confirmation Bias in Municipal Management 54:58 The Impact of Experience on Management Bias 59:22 Bias in Public Policy Formation Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

14. 

    21 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

    How to Shape Your Team

    Join hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford for a candid talk about shaping your team in your municipal organizations. They explore the essential roles needed in local government, the importance of dedicated HR departments, and the challenges of managing diverse personalities within teams. The conversation delves into the hiring process, community engagement in recruitment, and the dynamics of leadership, emphasizing the need for a balance between doers and thinkers. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

15. 

    13 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

    Conditions for Change: What it Takes to Move

    Hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff and Brandon Ford are joined by Nancy Hess (Publisher, MuniSquare) for a candid talk about what real change management looks like in local government. They explore how trust, timing, and human connection shape change - from labor negotiations to leadership teams to community-driven expectations. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

16. 

    11 Nov 2025

    Generation on the Rise

    Fresh from the ICMA Conference in Tampa, the Generation on the Rise crew dives into how to draw the line between leadership and politics. Eden reflects on his ICMA session about rebuilding trust after a $3.2 million fraud case, while Dave and Brandon unpack what it means to stay apolitical and human in a world where expectations sometimes conflict with professional ethics. From the emotional side of management to candid talk about boards, boundaries, and values, this episode captures the nuance and humor of a profession in flux. Join hosts: Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

17. 

    27 Oct 2025

    Generation on the Rise - Episode #1

    Welcome to Generation on the Rise where local government's next generation sits down to talk about what's changing, what's hard, and why we believe it's worth doing. Join hosts: Dave Pribulka, Brandon Ford, Eden Ratliff, and Executive Producer Nancy J. Hess as they find the new normal — not the one we’re used to, but the one we create. Get full access to MuniSquare at munisquare.substack.com/subscribe (https://munisquare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Inside a recent episode

So this is goodbye....

Published 14 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] The board declined to share the reasons citing personnel policy. This by itself is the very stuff of this podcast, municipal managers have difficult and challenging millions with to work in and unexpected exits take a heavy toll on this profession. We have touched on the various factors that can lead to abrupt departures and the uncertainty that comes with leadership. However, on Monday, May 11th at a public board meeting at the Township, a senior municipal employee made the way he decision to represent and speak for employees to better inform the community as to why the board had asked Eden to leave. […]

Who has been a guest on Generation on the Rise Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dave
• Brandon
• Maggie Dobbs
• Brad Gotshall

Reach and audience

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Generation on the Rise Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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