Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

About Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the “us and them” narrative and toxic polarization by praising those who lead by example, virtuous community leadership, and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse, and honoring differing points of view. Cities are an essential part of our identity. Depending on where we live, we develop different attitudes, personalities, perspectives, and ways of living. But is the average citizen aware of how their cities actually operate? Likely not. Conflicts between landlords and tenants are common. Many people lack knowledge of the ordinances their leaders enact. For those residents and communities that lack communication, the gap will worsen if left unaddressed. There are deep-seated issues in many cities that prevent them from progressing. People tend to look at national-level issues rather than concentrating on issues in their own localities, and they are not aware of these severe problems. It is only as they become immersed in the country's biggest issues (which are outside of their control) that they realize what they want. But a knee-jerk response of fury or blame is useless without productive action. What can be done to correct issues like poor compost, unfair ordinances, or substandard infrastructure? The key is to shift the focus to the local level, get involved, and become part of the solution. Identifying what you can do to contribute begins with listening and trying new ideas. We must establish deeper relationships with each other to achieve more practical solutions. To find out how, host Evan leads eye-opening conversations about civic and community leadership that highlight how to stand up and make cities better. Addressing the "Us and Them" mentality, he brings people together to see eye to eye and provide their unique viewpoints. This show aims to humanize politics, break the toxic bureaucracy, and reconnect residents with their city leaders. Evan explores the muddied relationships with politicians. With their grand buildings and great powers, these individuals usually appear distant and untouchable. But they are not infallible. It is possible to start authentic conversations that eventually lead to sustainable and inclusive communities. Long-time community leader Evan Meyer invites you to focus on this alarming state of living through his podcast, Meyerside Chats. On this show, you'll hear real talks about rebuilding trust between people, leaders, and our government. Evan brings vast experience to the podcast as a civic guru and community leader. For many years, he has been heavily involved in the development of Santa Monica using highly innovative approaches. He created the city's Civic Love program, a group focused on volunteerism and making change through the process of "doing good." He also served his neighborhood association for a decade, eventually as president. In addition to outstanding community involvement, Evan founded several start-up businesses. He actively works to transform neglected communities globally through murals, art education, and social responsibility. The efforts of Evan are a perfect example of what citizens can do to make their city a better place to live, work and thrive.

Publisher

Evan Meyer

Category

government · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Nov 2021

Latest episode

25 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 52 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   25 Jun 2026

   How Government Really Works - Venice, Homelessness, Olympics: Los Angeles Councilmember Traci

   How does local government actually work — and what does it take to turn around a neighborhood like Venice? In this episode of How Government Really Works, Evan Meyer sits down with Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park for a candid conversation about Venice, public safety, homelessness, business recovery, the 2028 Olympics, AI in government, and the realities of getting things done inside LA City Hall. Traci discusses the progress she says Venice has made since the height of the pandemic-era...

2. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Santa Monica City Council Race - Topic: Homelessness - Doug Trussler, Ashley Oelsen, Lana Negrete

   Homelessness in Santa Monica is an issue everyone has an opinion on, and the numbers went the wrong way last year: up, while the county and the rest of the West Side went down. On this episode of Meyerside Chats, three guests bring three lenses to the same problem. Doug Trussler co-founded Bison Capital, owns a small business on Pico, and is running for City Council — he brings the economic lens. Ashley Oelsen is a conservation biologist on the city's Sustainability and Environmental Justice...

3. 

   5 Mar 2026

   Stop Blaming Presidents. Fix the Incentives - Startup Playbook for Fixing Politics | Neil Thanedar

   Why is politics so broken — and why do we keep blaming our presidents for everything? Is dark money the real problem… or is it the incentive structure behind the system? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Neil Thanedar — Executive Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, author of Positive Politics, and a founder who went through Y Combinator — to explore campaign finance reform, political incentives, direct democracy, and how everyday citizens can move from outrage...

Inside a recent episode

The Political Industrial Complex: How Consultants Shape Democracy w/ Eva Posner

Published 8 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And the things that they talk about that they see at the, the latest thing with their historical understanding of, you know, the evil nature of the other party. It's like it's such top level stuff. It doesn't get to the heart of what people really care about at all. Unfortunately, which is mostly the same stuff safety. You'd find a hard press to find a person who doesn't value public safety. I guess the question is, do you value it in polish? Sometimes it's about whether you value something more than say, let's just use climate, for example, what's more important to run on as your first priority public. […]

Who has been a guest on Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

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

• Vijay Luthra
• Mayor Lana Negrete
• Rick Zbur
• Lana Negrete

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

66,919

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

31

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

0

Contact Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Questions about Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility