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.
Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility
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 Democratic consulting firm helping first-time and underrepresented candidates run and win all over the country. From county assessor races to million-dollar campaigns, Eva has seen how the political industrial complex really works — and where it’s quietly warping our democracy.
We dive into negative campaigning, ballot guide language, why California can be “performatively progressive,” and how local politics (the stuff that actually touches your life) gets overshadowed by presidential horse races.
🎧 What we cover:
– How Sandy Hook pushed Eva from journalism into campaigns and political consulting
– Why Sandy Hook pushed her to work on the “fixing” side of politics
– What the political industrial complex looks like from the inside
– Why California can be “performatively progressive”
– Why she only works with Democratic & left-leaning causes — and still battles the cognitive dissonance of performing her work in this industry
–How consultants, vendors, and “percentage deals” shape strategy and messaging
–The surprising power (and manipulation) inside voter information pamphlets
– Why local offices matter more to your daily life than the president ever will
– How negative campaigning works and where she draws ethical lines
– Why local offices matter far more to your daily life than the presidential race
– The surprising ways voters are misinformed (or underinformed)
– How to run for office without losing your integrity
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📌 Chapters
00:00 – Intro – Who is Eva Posner and why this conversation matters
02:00 – From political journalism to campaigns – Sandy Hook, motherhood, and changing careers
06:25 – Starting Evinco Strategies – Why she went out on her own & what “full-service” really means
08:10 – Living red & blue – Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, California, Virginia and what they actually have in common
12:00 – Shared values vs different approaches – Safety, climate, and why voters who disagree aren’t stupid
13:10 – Defining the Political Industrial Complex – How profit, vendors, and kickbacks steer campaigns
18:50 – Cognitive dissonance & doing this work – “Am I part of the problem?”
21:00 – Writing the voter pamphlet to win – What’s really going into those ballots you get in the mail
25:00 – Where’s the line on negative campaigning? – What’s fair game and what’s off-limits
30:30 – Nonpartisan races, labels, and missing information – Why she thinks every candidate’s party should be on the ballot
35:40 – Propaganda, algorithms & broken civic education – Why we can’t even agree on the color of the sky
About Evan Meyer
Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.