Couverture de Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

De : Evan Meyer
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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.

© 2026 Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility Philosophie Politique et gouvernement Sciences politiques Sciences sociales
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    Épisodes
    • Inside Paid Protests: Organization, Authenticity & Public Trust | Adam Swart

      Inside Paid Protests: Organization, Authenticity & Public Trust | Adam Swart
      Jan 12 2026

      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 conversation about how public demonstrations are organized, funded, perceived, and often misunderstood.

      Rather than debating headlines, this discussion explores the mechanics, tradeoffs, and philosophical questions behind modern protest movements — including authenticity, transparency, media incentives, and how crowds differ from true measures of public opinion.

      This episode is about understanding how influence, visibility, and civic participation actually work today.

      ⏱️ Chapters

      00:00 – Introduction
      Adam Swart’s background and why modern protests deserve deeper examination

      01:45 – How Crowds on Demand Works
      From first inquiry to campaign strategy and execution

      04:50 – Lessons from Political Campaigning
      What Adam learned working in electoral politics and how it applies today

      06:30 – Why Context Matters More Than Crowd Size
      Media attention, symbolism, and strategic visibility

      09:05 – Paid Participation vs. Authentic Engagement
      How authenticity is defined, sourced, and maintained

      11:45 – Who Gets Left Out of “Grassroots” Activism
      Time, money, opportunity cost, and civic access

      14:00 – Protest, Pressure, and Power Structures
      Unions, staffers, institutions, and informal coercion

      16:40 – Criticism, Class, and Bad-Faith Arguments
      Who gets paid to speak — and why that matters

      18:45 – Transparency in Political Protest
      The proposed Transparency & Political Protest Act

      22:30 – Manufactured Support vs. Public Awareness
      Why protests are not polls — and never were

      26:40 – Social Media, Protests, and Misread Signals
      Why visibility ≠ public consensus

      30:00 – Statistics, Data, and False Inference
      Why crowds and metrics are often misunderstood

      35:30 – Measuring ROI in Advocacy Campaigns
      When outcomes are tangible — and when they aren’t

      38:45 – Notable Campaigns & Real-World Impact
      From prescription drugs to tech accountability

      41:45 – Choosing Clients & Drawing Ethical Lines
      Merit, free speech, and where Adam says no

      44:30 – Causes Adam Wants to Champion
      Social media reform, food systems, and better cities

      48:15 – Cities, Governance, and Practical Outcomes
      Why results matter more than rhetoric

      52:30 – Social Media Incentives & Platform Failure
      Crime, virality, spam, and moderation tradeoffs

      56:30 – Closing Reflections
      Understanding nuance beyond headlines

      🎧 Why This Episode Matters

      Support the show

      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.
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      58 min
    • School Choice, AI & Trade Schools: A Blueprint for Fixing Education in Georgia | Dr. Nelva Lee

      School Choice, AI & Trade Schools: A Blueprint for Fixing Education in Georgia | Dr. Nelva Lee
      Jan 9 2026

      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 reforms could actually work.

      Dr. Lee shares firsthand insight from:

      Serving on Georgia’s Department of Community Health board
      Running a medical & court interpreting agency
      Homeschooling and navigating special education systems
      Campaigning statewide for education reform

      Topics covered:

      Why government moves slowly — and when it can move fast
      Trade school certification for every high-school graduate
      True school choice & funding that follows students
      Why 50% of education funding goes to administration
      AI in classrooms: tool vs threat
      Language barriers, medical errors, and healthcare outcomes
      Why values — not party labels — drive policy decisions

      This is a policy-grounded, real-world conversation about education, healthcare, and how leadership decisions actually affect families.

      📌 Learn more about Dr. Nelva Lee:
      👉 https://drnelvalee.com

      🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform
      🔔 Subscribe for more conversations bridging citizens & government


      Chapters
      Time Chapter
      0:00 Introduction: Why Georgia’s Education Rankings Matter
      2:10 Why Government Moves So Slowly
      5:30 Trade Schools for Every Graduate
      8:45 Homeschooling, Special Needs & Montessori
      11:40 School Choice & Funding That Follows Students
      14:00 Why 50% of Education Spending Is Administrative
      16:10 AI in Education: Tool, Not Replacement
      19:40 Language Barriers & Medical Errors
      23:30 Fixing Prescription & Healthcare System Failures
      26:10 Faith, Values & Political Identity
      30:40 Black Republicans & Political Stereotypes
      34:00 Georgia’s Decline — And What Must Change
      36:00 Final Message to Georgia Voters

      Support the show

      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.
      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      33 min
    • A New Digital Democracy to Fix Our Elections - Voters, Power & Reform w/ Travis Misurell

      A New Digital Democracy to Fix Our Elections - Voters, Power & Reform w/ Travis Misurell
      Jan 7 2026

      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 Coalition), to explore a radically different idea: a citizen-owned digital democracy.

      We unpack how money, media concentration, and party infrastructure shape elections long before voters ever see a ballot — and how a “People’s Primary” could give independent, third-party, and grassroots candidates a real chance to compete.

      This conversation goes beyond Left vs Right and introduces a new lens: People-first vs Power-first politics — and what citizens can do right now to reclaim representation.

      Guest: Travis Misurell (Founder, FiNC)
      Host: Evan Meyer

      🔗 Learn more & get involved: https://futureis.org
      🔗 Digital Politics Hub: https://hub.futureis.org

      Chapters
      00:00 Introduction & Why the System Feels Rigged
      01:30 The Concentration of Power, Money, and Media
      04:00 Why “Lesser of Two Evils” Keeps Winning
      07:00 A Citizen-Owned Alternative to Party Infrastructure
      10:30 What It Means for Citizens to “Buy In”
      13:00 Independent Journalists & Media Accountability
      18:30 Beyond Left vs Right: People vs Power
      23:00 How the Digital Politics Hub Works
      27:30 The People’s Primary Explained
      32:00 Are Third-Party Votes Really “Wasted”?
      36:00 What Citizens Can Do Right Now
      41:00 Final Thoughts on Rebuilding Democracy

      Support the show

      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.
      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      43 min
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