Best Daniel Ott Podcasts (2024)

1
James Mallery, "City of Vice: Transience and San Francisco's Urban History, 1848-1917" (U Nebraska Press, 2024) 1:05:11

4h ago1:05:11

1:05:11

San Francisco began its American life as a city largely made up of transient men, arriving from afar to participate in the gold rush and various attendant enterprises. This large population of men on the move made the new and booming city a hub of what "respectable" easterners considered vice: drinking, gambling, and sex work, among other activitie…

1
Audio Recording: ICMA Staff Supports AAME | Ep. 61 34:33

3d ago34:33

34:33

A confidential source sent me an audio recording of ICMA West Coast Regional Director Pat Martel discussing the American Association of Municipal Executives. This discussion took place two weeks ago at the Oregon City/Count Management Association conference.. In this audio clip, Martel states that the ICMA is very much aware of the AAME, that it su…

1
Ep. 60 | ICMA CEO Marc Ott "Retires" & Freed Gets a Trial Date 40:13

11d ago40:13

40:13

Last week the big news story was the announcement by the ICMA that CEO Marc Ott was retiring to spend more time with family. We also learned that Port Huron City Manager James Freed was given a trial date for his defamation lawsuit against the ICMA. Coincidence? These two stories are inextricably linked and are the topic of this week's podcast epis…

1
Prune Brownline Disease with Jaime Ott 16:37

11d ago16:37

16:37

Jaime Ott discusses the resurgence of prune brownline in the northern Sacramento Valley. In addition to prune, Jaime reminds us to be on the lookout for symptoms of Tomato ringspot virus in almond, peach, and cherry. Also caused by Tomato ringspot virus: Learn about Yellow Bud Mosaic in almond and peaches Learn about Cherry Stem Pitting Come to an …

1
David H. Wilson, "Northern Paiutes of the Malheur: High Desert Reckoning in Oregon Country" (U Nebraska Press, 2022) 1:01:43

14d ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Between the mid-19th century and the start of the twentieth century, the Northern Paiute people of the Great Basin went from a self-sufficient tribe well-adapted to living on the harsh desert homelands, to a people singled out by the Native activist Henry Roe Cloud for their dire social and economic position. The story of how this happened is told …

1
Sterile Insect Technique update with Houston Wilson 20:00

17d ago20:00

20:00

Houston Wilson, Professor of Cooperative Extension in entomology with UC Riverside, gives us our semi-yearly update on Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) work in Navel Orangeworm, through work completed in 2024. It’s a long (20 year or so) long road, but may provide an additional tool in the IPM toolbox for controlling navel orangeworm. Listen to find …

1
Marilyn Rivers Just Wanted Her Good Name Back | Ep. 59 1:00:54

18d ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Marilyn Rivers had a stellar career and an impeccable reputation having served for nearly 20 years as the Director of Risk and Safety for the New York city of Saratoga Springs. About 18-months away from this 20-year mark where she would be eligible for her pension, a newly elected commissioner set his sights on her to settle an "old score" from fif…

1
The Case for Terminating ICMA CEO Marc Ott | Ep. 58 59:37

23d ago59:37

59:37

ICMA CEO Marc Ott has presided over an organization that is dysfunctional, lacks accountability, and produces mediocre work product. His permissive and absentee approach to managing employees allowed ethics staffers to prosecute a personal and political vendetta against Port Huron City Manager James Freed -- a stain that will be forever left upon h…

1
Scott Jorgensen Rebukes the Oregon City/County Management Association | Ep. 57 1:09:03

25d ago1:09:03

1:09:03

Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen is no fan of the Oregon City/County Management Association (OCCMA). A few years ago, he was the subject of an anonymous ethics complaint without any clear explanation of his alleged offense. About a year later, Jorgensen learned that another city manager had accused him of leaking his listserv comments. Th…

1
Why is Ed Meece excited about the AAME? | Ep. 56 1:01:26

1M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

We continue our conversation with Polson, Montana city manager Ed Meece in Part 2 of our interview series. In this episode, Ed talks about: ✅ a new state association for Montana city managers that is not affiliated with the ICMA, ✅ a conversation he had with ICMA CEO Marc Ott and Ray Baray, his chief of staff, and ✅ why he is so excited about the n…

1
Shannon Bontrager, "Death at the Edges of Empire: Fallen Soldiers, Cultural Memory, and the Making of an American Nation, 1863-1921" (U Nebraska Press, 2020) 1:41:18

1M ago1:41:18

1:41:18

Hundreds of thousands of individuals perished in the epic conflict of the American Civil War. As battles raged and the specter of death and dying hung over the divided nation, the living worked not only to bury their dead but also to commemorate them. President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address perhaps best voiced the public yearning to memorial…

1
Why did Ed Meece cancel his ICMA membership after 25 years? | Ep. 55 1:14:03

1M ago1:14:03

1:14:03

In 2015, city manager Ed Meece did something he never thought he would do. He canceled his International City/County Management Association membership twenty-five years after joining the organization. What happened? Meece explains his reasoning in Part 1 of this two-part series. SHOW NOTES: Ed Meece's LinkedIn page SUBMIT JOB POSTING: Do you have a…

1
Why woodchip size may matter with whole orchard recycling 13:55

1M ago13:55

13:55

Incorporating large amounts of woody biomass into soil, such as in whole orchard recycling (WOR), can promote carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, and ecosystem health in agricultural fields. Yet uncertainty regarding the effects of WOR on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics influences management decisions. Recently, Mae Culumber, Ph.D. with UC …

1
Flourishing in Flavor: Stories From Global Food Artisans 30:59

2M ago30:59

30:59

Odette D’Aniello is the Founder and CEO of Celebrity Cake Studio, a family-owned and operated retail cake boutique. The company has received numerous awards, including winning Best of Western Washington several times. With experience in the food industry, business strategy sales, and marketing, Odette has obtained additional skills in product desig…

1
Baker Tilly Bombshell in Amarillo City Manager Search | Ep. 54 40:47

2M ago40:47

40:47

Baker Tilly has been bad -- again. Recently, yours truly dropped a bombshell about Baker Tilly when he appeared as a guest on the Making Sense with Michael J. talk show in Amarillo, Texas. We discussed the Amarillo city manager recruitment and the consulting contract Baker Tilly landed to help review their charter. Host Michael Stevens graciously a…

1
Encore: Sarah Light on Soil Health 16:22

2M ago16:22

16:22

Soil health is broad term that encompasses a important topic: functional soil that can support human activities, animals, and plants. Measuring soil health can be difficult even for soil scientists, but in today’s episode, Sarah Light shares some tools that growers, PCAs, and CCAs can use to judge soil health in their or their clients’ orchards. Th…

1
Private vs. Public Sector Executive Compensation with Daniel Reilly | Ep. 53 1:19:54

2M ago1:19:54

1:19:54

Public sector executives need to steal some pages out of the private sector executive playbook when it comes to compensation, benefits, and negotiating contracts. Attorney Daniel Reilly has extensive experience in negotiating private and public sector executive contracts. Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we discuss indust…

1
Florent Trouillas on the 2023 aerial phytophthora outbreak in almonds 20:35

2M ago20:35

20:35

In 2023 UCANR advisors and specialists got an unusual number of farm calls on branch cankers in almonds, many of which turned out to be aerial phytophthora. Florent Trouillas with UC Davis goes over the pathogen, its lifecycle, and the conditions in 2023 that led to this outbreak. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin…

1
Daniel P. Ott, "Harvesting History: McCormick's Reaper, Heritage Branding, and Historical Forgery" (U Nebraska Press, 2023) 1:04:19

2M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Cyrus McCormick invented the revolutionary mechanical reaper in 1831...right? At least, that's how the story has been told for decades. In Harvesting History: McCormick's Reaper, Heritage Branding, and Historical Forgery (U Nebraska Press, 2023), National Park Service historian Daniel Ott argues that not only have textbooks and other sources of his…

1
ICMA's Rigged Executive Board Elections with Graham Mitchell | Ep. 52 55:32

2M ago55:32

55:32

Unhappy with the current direction of the International City/County Management Association, El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell decided to get involved and run for a seat on the executive board. In previous years when he only saw one name on the ballot for each seat -- he assumed it was due to apathy. Little did he know that the ICMA establishmen…

1
Monterey Almond Maladies 22:10

2M ago22:10

22:10

Luke Milliron discusses the growing list of problems with the Monterey almond variety in the northern Sacramento Valley. Leafing failure (what is it) Leafing failure (what might be causing it) Flowering failure Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expres…

1
No Fluff! Real Culture Change in Durango with Jose Madrigal | Ep. 51 1:21:58

2M ago1:21:58

1:21:58

A lot of people self-proclaim themselves to be "change agents" or transformational leaders who have changed their department or organization's culture. But a lot of this is fluffy, self-promotion meant to stroke the ego. How many public sector executives have actual, quantifiable data to support these claims? Durango, Colorado city manager Jose Mad…

1
Hanne Elliot Fønss Nielsen, "Brand Antarctica: How Global Consumer Culture Shapes Our Perceptions of the Ice Continent" (U Nebraska Press, 2023) 1:04:27

3M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Antarctica is, and has always been, very much “for sale.” Whales, seals, and ice have all been marketed as valuable commodities, but so have the stories of explorers. The modern media industry developed in parallel with land-based Antarctic exploration, and early expedition leaders needed publicity to generate support for their endeavours. Their le…

1
Ep. 50 | Introducing the American Association of Municipal Executives 1:06:43

2M ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Over the last 18 months I have highlighted the plight of city managers and other public sector executives. I have talked about the pervasive sense of loneliness and isolation that is oftentimes overwhelming. I have lamented the lack of advocacy for managers who watch helplessly as the reputation and career they have spent decades building is sullie…

1
Do public comment decorum rules violate the First Amendment with CJ Grisham | Ep. 49 1:36:05

3M ago1:36:05

1:36:05

Texas attorney CJ Grisham and his client, Jason Followell, were removed from an Aransas Pass city council meeting under the threat of arrest after they both used profane language and violated the rules of decorum during a public comment period. Since that January incident, Grisham has filed a lawsuit (see link below in the show notes) on behalf of …

1
Jerry Grillo, "Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize" (U Nebraska Press, 2024) 1:03:21

3M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

Johnny Mize was one of the greatest hitters in baseball’s golden age of great hitters. Born and raised in tiny Demorest, Georgia, in the northeast Georgia mountains, Mize emerged from the heart of Dixie as a Bunyonesque slugger, a quiet but sharp-witted man from a broken home who became a professional player at seventeen, embarking on an extended t…

1
Deconstructing Taylour Tedder's Groundbreaking Contract with Bradley Ford | Ep. 48 1:12:25

3M ago1:12:25

1:12:25

Taylour Tedder's groundbreaking contract in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware was the talk of the city management community last week. His contract features a $750,000 home loan that is completely forgivable after 7 years of service. Bradley Ford, the city manager for Waco, Texas, sat down with me to review and critique this amazing contract. Ford, the fore…

1
Amisha Poret-Peterson on soil microbiome basics 31:15

3M ago31:15

31:15

This week, we share an episode that was TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING (if you count continually rescheduling episode recording sessions due to various conflicts and then forgetting about it for a year as making an episode). Phoebe interviews Amisha Poret-Peterson with the USDA-ARS on the basics of soil microbiology. We discuss the complexity and role of …

1
Troy Body: Toughest City Manager Job in the Country? | Ep. 47 51:37

3M ago51:37

51:37

Change my mind: Troy Body has the toughest city manager job in the country! The Hopkinsville, Kentucky manager also has one of the most unique backgrounds in the profession. Oh! By the way -- he is the only black manager in the state. You are going to enjoy this interview as we learn more about why he transitioned into local government and his thou…

1
Locking Horns Against an Entrenched Police Chief with Theo Melancon | Ep. 46 1:15:47

3M ago1:15:47

1:15:47

Going to battle against your public safety deparment heads can be extremely perilous for a city manager, especially when you have a politically connected and entrenched police chief. City Manager Theo Melancon was tasked with doing an operational assessment of the police departmenty by his council. In Part 2 of my interview series, Theo outlines th…

1
Encore: Lu Zhang on Dust During Pistachio Bloom 17:08

3M ago17:08

17:08

Lu Zhang provides an update on work published last year on the effect of dust on pistachio pollen, flowers, nut set, and blanking (it’s not good!). Please note that there are other physiological causes of blanking, such as incomplete pollination or aborted kernel development, and that we have not determined how much dust could contribute to blankin…

1
Paul Carter, "Richard Nixon: California's Native Son" (U Nebraska Press, 2023) 1:59:32

4M ago1:59:32

1:59:32

Born in Yorba Linda and raised in Whittier, California, Nixon succeeded early in life, excelling in academics while enjoying athletics through high school. At Whittier College he graduated at the top of his class and was voted Best Man on Campus. During his career at Whittier's oldest law firm, he was respected professionally and became a chief tri…

1
Surviving a Domestic Violence Arrest with Theo Melancon | Ep. 45 1:27:08

4M ago1:27:08

1:27:08

City manager Theo Melancon was arrested on a domestic violence charge in January 2022. Unfortunately for him, his predecessor also made controversial headlines surrounding a domestic incident. In this powerful episode, Melancon gives us a play-by-play recounting of the events that upended his life and nearly ended his career. We talk about his comm…

1
Daniele Zaccaria on cover crop research in pistachios 20:25

4M ago20:25

20:25

Cover crops! They’re not just for almonds (despite the bulk of California orchard cover crop research being in that crop). Daniele Zaccaria has been conducting research on cover crops in California pistachio orchards and shares what he has found, including some interesting possibilities as to why they found higher yields in orchards with cover crop…

1
Brent M. Rogers, "Buffalo Bill and the Mormons" (U Nebraska Press, 2024) 30:17

4M ago30:17

30:17

In this never-before-told history of Buffalo Bill and the Mormons, Brent M. Rogers presents the intersections in the epic histories of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the Latter-day Saints from 1846 through 1917. In Cody's autobiography he claimed to have been a member of the U.S. Army wagon train that was burned by the Saints during the Utah Wa…

1
When to Start Irrigating Walnuts 32:07

4M ago32:07

32:07

Luke Milliron and Ken Shackel (UC Davis) sit down to talk about the decade plus of research investigating when to start irrigation in the spring for walnut orchards. If you want to learn more about incorporating the pressure chamber to improve orchard health and cut costs - contact your local farm advisor or Luke at (530) 828-9666 Come to an upcomi…

1
Recruiter Series: Michael Boese of Clear Career Professionals | Ep. 44 1:03:46

4M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

This is the first installment in my upcoming series of interviews with public sector executive recruiters and recruitment firms. In this interview with Michael Boese of Clear Carer Professionals, we discuss his firm's "candidate focus" approach that emphasizes consistent and timely communication with prospective candidates. Near the end of the inte…

1
Promoting Black Managers, Mentorship, & Self-Advocacy with Kevin Richardson | Ep. 43 1:11:39

4M ago1:11:39

1:11:39

Public Works Administrator Kevin Richardson messaged me about a year ago seeking career advice. This inquiry was the genesis of a new friendship and eventual "title change" designed to better reflect the role and responsibilities assigned to him at the City of Rock Hill in South Carolina. In this episode, we illustrate the benefits of self-advocacy…

1
Carpophilus truncatus with Houston Wilson 20:08

4M ago20:08

20:08

In a world where it feels like we have a new invasive pest every month, sometimes it’s hard for an arthropod to stand out. Last year, the nut industries were put on notice by Carpophilus truncatus, a tiny beetle that has commandeered big attention. Lucky for us (and unluckily for the Australians), we aren’t alone in trying to figure out how to keep…

1
From Concept To Creation: A Guide To Building Your Food Brand With Bridget Greaney and Nancy Becker 38:11

4M ago38:11

38:11

Nancy Becker and Bridget Greaney are the Co-founders and CEOs of 2Betties, a wellness company dedicated to crafting delicious and nutritious snacks. Their journey began when Bridget, a college student, created the product during breaks between classes after noticing a lack of nutritious snack options. The positive peer responses inspired Bridget, a…

1
8 Reasons Why Your Cover Letter Sucks | Ep.42 24:46

4M ago24:46

24:46

The typical cover letter sucks. It literally hurts to read them they are so bad. But, don't fall for the "fried ice cream" peddled by the private sector recruiters who argue that cover letters are no longer necessary. That is not true. Every public sector executive competing for a position needs to have a cover letter and this is one of the easiest…

1
Pecan Basics with Dr. Richard Heerema 25:54

4M ago25:54

25:54

Phoebe talks with Richard Heerema, the pecan specialist for New Mexico State University, about pecan botany and physiology, and why it may not be as good of a choice for areas prone to flooding as you think it might be. This is an episode for those who are thinking of planting pecans but have not done so. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacr…

1
Female Trailblazer's Faith Gets Her Thru Hard Times with Charlotte Colley | Ep. 41 1:03:12

5M ago1:03:12

1:03:12

On multiple occasions, Charlotte Colley has been the "first female" and trailblazed her away across a 20 year career in the public sector. Being the first female manager can be incredibly challenging and she has experienced some tough days. In this episode we talk about her public sector executive journey and how her faith in Jesus Christ has given…

1
Florent Trouillas on the use of Orondis in pistachios 18:45

5M ago18:45

18:45

Florent Trouillas, a professor of Cooperative Extension in plant pathology at UC Davis, describes how pistachios become infected with phytophthora and how to manage it. He also describes his research on this newly registered product. Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agr…

1
Angela Wanhalla, "Of Love and War: Pacific Brides of World War II" (U Nebraska Press, 2023) 1:05:59

5M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

Between 1942 and 1945 more than two million servicemen occupied the southern Pacific theater, the majority of whom were Americans in service with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. During the occupation, American servicemen married approximately 1,800 women from New Zealand and the island Pacific, creating legal bonds through marriage and…

1
New UC Davis Prune Varieties Prove Promising 23:07

5M ago23:07

23:07

Sarah Castro (UC Davis) discusses how new prune varieties can improve a grower’s bottom line! scastro @ ucdavis.edu Insta: @cali.prunebreeder Initial episode on the prune breeding program with Sarah Come to an upcoming extension meeting! Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the …

1
Sweet Lucy’s Journey: From Culinary School To Dream Bakery With Lucy Damkoehler 34:21

5M ago34:21

34:21

Lucy Damkoehler is the Founder and Owner of Sweet Lucy's Bake Shop in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Lucy’s journey began at age 16 when she worked at a local bakery, sparking her love for the culinary arts. Pursuing her passion further, Lucy enrolled in the New England Culinary School in Vermont, where she honed her skills. Following her education, s…

1
Ep. 40 | The Impending Collapse of Fire/EMS Service in America with Tim Nowak 1:19:52

5M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

Consultant and resident expert Tim Nowak argues that there is an impending collapse of fire/EMS services in America and that there must be a paradigm shift in our thinking with respect to how these vital services are funded. In this episode, we talk about the causes of the crisis, what it is going to take to fix it, and engage in other general subj…

1
John Bariou Wants to Recall Entire City Council Over Strong Mayor | Ep. 39 22:12

5M ago22:12

22:12

SHOUT OUT SATURDAY (SOS): San Angelo resident John Bariou wants to recall the entire city council because they have violated the charter and undermined the council-manager form of government. The central Texas community of 100,000 people will get an opportunity to "vote the bums out" in just a few short months if Bariou gets his way. He believes th…

1
Use My Simple Hack to Customize Your Resume for Specific Jobs | Ep. 38 19:41

5M ago19:41

19:41

It is easy to send a custom resume that is specifically tailored to the job you are applying for if you follow my simple hack. Don't sell yourself short and send the same resume to every job. Differentiate yourself and demonstrate how you are the solution to their problem by using my system. When you build a results oriented, custom resume that ill…

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Daniel Ott Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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