Why do people choose to work in government — and what keeps them there when the work is difficult?

In this rerun of Reimagining Government, host Nick Thompson revisits a conversation featuring

Leina’ala Nakamura from the City and County of Honolulu and New York City Council Member Pierina Sanchez.

The episode explores the personal experiences that shape public servants’ “why”, the challenges of navigating complex systems, and the importance of keeping communities at the heart of government.

Listen to discover what motivates public servants and what keeps them going.

What happens when governments are too afraid to talk about failure?

In this rerun of Reimagining Government, host Nick Thompson revisits a conversation about why governments need to create more space for honesty, experimentation, and learning when things go wrong.

Guests Carlos Zimbron, Dan Vogel, and Kelly Sifford discuss why public institutions struggle to acknowledge failure and how openness about mistakes can rebuild trust and improve how governments work.

From the response to Hurricane Katrina to practical examples of governments adapting, they consider what it takes to move beyond blame and create cultures where public servants can learn, experiment, and improve.

Listen to discover why learning from failure is essential to better government.

How can cities become healthier, safer, and more resilient in a rapidly warming world?

In this rerun of Reimagining Government, host Nick Thompson revisits a conversation with Eleni Myrivili, the United Nations’ Global Chief Heat Officer, about the growing challenge of extreme heat.

As communities around the world face record temperatures, wildfires, and worsening air quality, Eleni shares practical examples of how governments can prepare for extreme heat and build more climate-resilient cities.

Listen in as we revisit this timely discussion and explore what it takes for cities to adapt and thrive in a changing climate.