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.
Episodes
50 episodes
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
Changing the Algorithm, Rebuilding American Unity & the Psychology of Belief | Adam Mizel
Are we truly as divided as we’re told — or are we being conditioned to believe we are?In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan sits down with Adam Mizel — longtime CEO, investor, and co-founder of US United — to explore how medi...
ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley
In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Mark Pinsley, the elected Controller of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a wide-ranging conversation on transparency, public trust, and how government financial systems really ...
Cincinnati on ICE, AI, Public Safety, Housing & Federal Pressure | Councilmember Mark Jeffreys
Cincinnati City Councilmember Mark Jeffreys joins Meyerside Chats for a grounded, wide-ranging conversation on how cities actually govern during moments of national tension.Drawing on his background as a Procter & Gamble executive, ...
Dark Money, Elections & the Supreme Court — Inside Citizens United | Tiffany Muller
What really changed after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—and why do most Americans believe it broke democracy?In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Tiffany Muller, President and Executive Director o...
Inside Paid Protests: Organization, Authenticity & Public Trust | Adam Swart
What do paid protests actually represent in modern society?In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand, for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversatio...
School Choice, AI & Trade Schools: A Blueprint for Fixing Education in Georgia | Dr. Nelva Lee
In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Dr. Nelva Lee, healthcare executive, former gubernatorial appointee, and candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools, to unpack why the system is failing — and what practical ref...
A New Digital Democracy to Fix Our Elections - Voters, Power & Reform w/ Travis Misurell
Most Americans feel unrepresented — trapped between “the lesser of two evils,” media narratives, and party gatekeeping.In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Travis Misurell, founder of FiNC (Future Is Now Coaliti...
Government Cyber Security Breaches, Trust, & Why Many Systems Are Designed to Fail | Alexander Rogan
In this conversation, Evan Meyer and Alexander Rogan discuss the critical issues surrounding cybersecurity, particularly in government and public systems. Rogan shares his background and the innovative approach of his company, Abatis, which aim...
Politics Vs Parenting: Why Control Breaks Trust, Relationships, & Democracy w/ Lura Forcum
What if modern politics is failing for the same reason bad parenting fails?In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with political psychologist Lura Forcum, President of the Independence Center, to explore a powerful and...
The Political Industrial Complex: How Consultants Shape Democracy w/ Eva Posner
Ever wonder who actually shapes our elections — the candidates, the parties, or the consultants behind the scenes?In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Eva Posner, founder of Evinco Strategies, a full-service Dem...
How to Actually Fix U.S. Healthcare: HSAs, Price Transparency & Real Market Signals w/ Crom Carmichael
Guest: Crom Carmichael – investor in 60+ startups, host of From Our Generation, and creator of Giants of Political ThoughtIn this episode, Evan Meyer and Crom dig into why healthcare in America costs what it does — and what could truly ...
Bipartisanship, Structural Partisanship, Activists vs Jurors & Comfort w/ Ambiguity | Shannon Watson
Inside California’s Bill Process: Power, Politics & Transparency | Senator Roger Niello
How do bills really get passed — or stopped — in California? 🏛️In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with California State Senator Roger Niello (6th District, Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee) to discuss:...
From City Council to Reform Leader: Vijay Luthra on UK Politics, NHS Change & Public Service
In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Vijay Luthra—a UK-based public service reformist, ex-councilmember, and management consultant—to explore the future of government, the crisis in public trust, and why systems m...
California Assemblyman Rick Zbur & Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete on Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships
Santa Monica x Los Angeles: Collaboration to Solve Homelessness, Community Safety & more
In this powerful episode, Evan Meyer sits down with Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete and Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park to explore how two neighboring cities are breaking down silos to address homelessness, emergency response, and communit...
Entrepreneurs & Government - CA Fires, AI, Regulation, Prop 13 | Senator Ben Allen
Join us for an insightful conversation with California State Senator Ben Allen as he discusses the complexities of governing through crises, including the devastating wildfires affecting California communities. Senator Allen shares his firsthan...
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From Tech Entrepreneur to Mayor of San Jose: Rebuilding trust in Government with Innovation | Mayor Matt Mahan
Join us for an enlightening conversation with the Mayor of San Jose, as he discusses his journey from the private sector to public office. Discover the nuances between running a business and managing a city, and learn about the challenges and s...
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Civility amongst Crisis: Shola Richards on the LA Fires, Intellectual Humility, Cognitive Bias
Navigating Civility: A Deep Dive with Shola RichardsJoin me and special guest Shola Richards as we discuss the importance of civility in today's world. Shola shares insights from his latest book, 'Civil Unity,' and reflects on its relev...
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Politics, Perspectives, & Progress - A Path Forward | Entrepreneur - Artist - Visionary, Ruben Rojas
Join me as I sit down with visionary artist and activist Ruben Rojas to explore how we can bridge divides, embrace new perspectives, and bring a spirit of civility into our polarized world. In this candid conversation, we discuss the power of r...
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Balancing Urban & Rural Policy in California Government | Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Rhodes, Simi Valley
The Journey of Rocky Rhodes - From Tech to Coffee and Public ServiceJoin us for an engaging conversation with Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Rhodes of Simi Valley, California, as we explore his unique journey from the high-tech industry to foundin...
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Revolutionizing Politics: Embracing Augmented Democracy & Collective Intelligence | Cesar Hidalgo
In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer speaks with Cesar Hidalgo, a Chilean Spanish-American scholar known for his contributions to economic complexity, data visualization, and applied artificial intelligence. They discuss the proble...
Transcendent Listening: How Understanding Different Perspectives Drives Change with Leslie Crutchfield
Welcome to another exciting episode of Meyerside Chats! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Leslie Crutchfield, an author, educator, and social change expert. Leslie is the Executive Director of Business for Impact at Georgetown...