Civic Tech Chat is a podcast about the civic technology movement. We seek to harness the power technology has to improve the delivery of public services to people everywhere.
The Civic Tech Chat podcast is an absolute must-listen for anyone who is interested in the intersection of technology and civic engagement. Whether you are already well-established in the field or just starting out as a catalyst for change, this podcast offers invaluable insights and discussions that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is Ryan's exceptional ability to lead conversations that cover a wide range of topics related to navigating the rapidly shifting landscape of technology. From data and design to the utilization of public services, he delves into timely and relevant subjects with leaders who have firsthand experience walking the path. The result is engaging and thought-provoking discussions that shed light on how technology can be harnessed for social impact.
Another standout aspect of The Civic Tech Chat podcast is Ryan's knack for interviewing high-profile guests who are actively using technology to make a difference in society. These guests share their experiences, strategies, and successes, providing listeners with real-world examples of how innovative approaches are transforming civic tech. This not only educates and inspires but also fosters a sense of community among those involved in this movement.
While it is difficult to find any significant flaws in this podcast, one aspect that could be improved upon is the frequency of episodes. As someone hungry for knowledge and eager to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in civic tech, it would be fantastic if there were more regular releases. However, given the quality of each episode, it is understandable that producing content at such a high standard may take time.
In conclusion, The Civic Tech Chat podcast deserves high praise for its informative and engaging content. It serves as an essential resource for individuals working in technology or government roles, providing valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of civic tech. Ryan's skillful interviewing style combined with his choice of influential guests makes this podcast an absolute must-listen. Whether you want to gain a deeper understanding of the civic technology movement or simply stay informed about the latest advancements, this podcast is a valuable addition to your playlist.
We're joined by Greg Jordan-Detamore (https://www.gregjd.com/) to talk about digital services in operations, how applying civic tech practices happen where resources are constrained, and overcoming differing language choices. Resources and Shoutouts: - Greg's substack (https://civicinsighter.com/) - Recoding America (book) (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61796680-recoding-america) - The Fifth Risk (book) (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46266188-the-fifth-risk?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14) - The Mindset Mentor (podcast) (https://robdial.com/podcast/) - Slow Boring (blog) (https://www.slowboring.com/)
In this episode, our host Ryan Koch demystifies Generative AI and large language models, discussing their potential, risks, and ethical implications. We confront misinformation, privacy issues, and explore questions around authorship and economic impacts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a balanced understanding of these pivotal technologies.
We're joined by[Marina Nitze(https://twitter.com/MarinaNitze) to talk about their book Hack Your Bureaucracy(https://www.hackyourbureaucracy.com/). We'll discuss tactics you can use to get things done in all sorts of organizational environments. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - Recoding America (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61796680-recoding-america) - Power to the Public (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55421550-power-to-the-public)
We're pulling one out of the archives to start off 2023! This time we talk discovery sprints! We're joined by Jenn Noinaj (https://www.linkedin.com/in/actuallyjenn/)} and Kathryn Jurick(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynjurick/), authors of the United States Digital Service guide to discovery sprints. We'll chat about what these are, how they're run, and how they can help. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - USDS Discovery Sprint Guide(https://sprint.usds.gov/)
We are joined by James O'Brien, CX Lead at Seam Social Labs(https://www.seamsociallabs.com/our-team ) for a conversation about community engagement, including chats about inclusion, co-creation, bias, and the power of language. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - Winning on Purpose (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58090620-winning-on-purpose) - Frankenstein (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35031085-frankenstein)
We are joined by Jeremy Hartman(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyhartman2022/), VP of Venture Forward and Community Engagement at GoDaddy(https://www.godaddy.com/)to talk about accessibility and sustainability on the web. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - The Accidental President (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35106890-the-accidental-president) - Venture Forward(https://www.godaddy.com/ventureforward/) ##### Music Credit: Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol
We are joined by Mike Gifford(https://twitter.com/mgifford, Senior Strategist at Civic Actions(https://civicactions.com/)to talk about accessibility and sustainability on the web. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40864002-a-psalm-for-the-wild-built - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57094295-termination-shock - https://radioopensource.org/ - https://longnow.org/
We are joined by Joseph Tajaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajaran/), organizer and Brigade Captain of Code for Chicago (https://codeforchicago.org), to chat about what it takes to lead a sustainable volunteer organization. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - Chicago UX Book Club (https://www.meetup.com/UXChicago/) - The Conscious Creative (book) (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49098420-the-conscious-creative) - Design Justice (book) (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51151807-design-justice) ##### Music Credit: Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol(http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We are joined by Max Ghenis (https://twitter.com/MaxGhenis), co-founder of Policy Engine https://twitter.com/ThePolicyEngine) for a conversation about ways technology can help folks understand the impact of public policy proposals. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - I, Daniel Blake (film)(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5168192/){ - What we owe the future (book)(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59802037-what-we-owe-the-future)
We are joined by Aidan Feldman(https://twitter.com/aidanfeldman), freelance technologist and former Technology Director at Technology Transformation Services at GSA(https://twitter.com/GSA_TTS) to dive into a conversation about the space where human centered concepts meet with devsecops. Resources and shoutouts: - https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/curb-cuts/ - https://blog.thepete.net/blog/2019/10/04/hello-production/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wIvXfhWpx0
We are joined by Jordan Burris (https://twitter.com/JordansRules), Senior Director of Public Sector Product Market Strategy at Socure(https://www.socure.com/) and former Chief of Staff at the US Office of Management and Budget to talk about digital identity and the impact it can have on the delivery of public services. Resources and Shoutouts: - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/public-sector-future/id1552507257
We are joined by Amanda Renteria (https://twitter.com/AmandaRenteria), CEO of Code for America (https://codeforamerica.org) to talk about their new program, the Safety Net Innovation Lab and the impact it could have on government services. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - https://codeforamerica.org/news/audacious-project-investment-to-launch-safety-net-innovation-lab/
We are joined by Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana (https://www.linkedin.com/in/claremartorana/), United States Digital Services Administrator Mina Hsiang (https://www.linkedin.com/in/minahsiang/), and Nava Chief Delivery Officer Jodi Leo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-leo-7a21777/). We dive into a conversation about the importance of effective government services delivery and how an executive order focused on customer experience may impact that space. Join us on Discord (https://discord.gg/hECzBJh) Resources and Shoutouts: - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/13/executive-order-on-transforming-federal-customer-experience-and-service-delivery-to-rebuild-trust-in-government/ - https://www.usajobs.gov/ - https://www.usds.gov/apply - https://www.navapbc.com/careers/
We are joined by Adam Probolsky (https://twitter.com/AdamProbolsky), President of Probolsky Research to talk about opinion research and how it can be used effectively by policy makers. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - https://www.ocregister.com/2020/09/20/adam-probolsky-sees-polls-as-the-bridge-between-the-public-and-policymakers/ - https://www.probolskyresearch.om
We are joined by Nava co-founders Rohan Bhobe(https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbhobe/) and Sha Hwang (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashashasha/) for a conversation about their experiences responding to a crises and facing the challenges of building sustainable technology, processes, and partnerships afterward. Join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/hECzBJh Resources and Shoutouts: - https://civictech.chat/2021/06/how-covid-impacted-local-government - https://www.navapbc.com/case-studies/prioritizing-research-to-quickly-serve-people-during-a-crisis.html - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/the-secret-startup-saved-healthcare-gov-the-worst-website-in-america/397784/ - https://www.navapbc.com/case-studies/Supporting-Veterans-During-the-Pandemic-with-Virtual-Tele-Hearings.html
Ryan Koch (https://twitter.com/ryan_koch) chats with us a bit about dark patterns, a set of deceptive techniques that are often used in the design of technology products and services. We'll talk about what they are, why they are important, as well as what the government is trying to do about it. Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/hECzBJh Resources and Shoutouts: - Shining a Light on Dark Patterns: https://academic.oup.com/jla/article/13/1/43/6180579?login=false - What are dark patterns and how are they tricking me?: https://www.raconteur.net/technology/dark-patterns/ - Dark pattern types: https://www.darkpatterns.org/types-of-dark-pattern - WaPo piece about Google lawsuit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/01/24/google-location-data-ags-lawsuit/ - Princeton and UChicago study: https://webtransparency.cs.princeton.edu/dark-patterns/ - FTC enforcement policy statement: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf
For our first episode of 2022 we go back into the archives and re-release an episode from October 20th, 2020. The original description follows below! Civic Design Consultant and author [Cyd Harrell](https://twitter.com/cydharrell) joins us for a conversation about their new book [A Civic Technologist's Practice Guide](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55225556-a-civic-technologist-s-practice-guide?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=paFK2DugTf&rank=1){, which seeks to be a grounding document in the space.
We are joined by [Ariana Soto](https://twitter.com/arianaosoto) to talk about the [Civic Innovation Corps](https://www.codingitforward.com/corps), a program that connects recent graduates of two or four year institutions, bootcamps, and certificate programs to government service through a 10 week paid internship. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Coding It Forward Website](https://www.codingitforward.com) - [Previous episode about their Federal fellowship](https://civictech.chat/2018/08/coding-it-forward-civic-technology-fellowship) - [Coding It Forward Twitter](https://twitter.com/CodingItForward) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
Join us for a conversation about the motivations and constraints involved with volunteering in civic tech! We're joined by [Jill Bjers](https://twitter.com/Jillzey), [Nehemiah Dacres](https://twitter.com/dacresni), [Marianne Miranda](https://twitter.com/mariannettePM), and [Matt Zagaja](https://twitter.com/mzagaja)} for a live show that happened during the 2021 Code for America Brigade Congress. Join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/hECzBJh) ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Volunteer personas doc](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dExHtVElMr4oCuWEXWzs8zCuxqj7OTggzyP_LXeJhQ0/edit#) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
During this episode we dive into a conversation about the Code for America volunteer network. We'll talk through conversations they've been having at the grassroots level to refocus their efforts and answer some key questions around values, purpose, and future steps. We're joined by the following folks at different stages of the conversation: - [Em Burnett](https://twitter.com/elburnett) - [Janet Michaelis](https://twitter.com/jgmichaelis) - Jennifer Miller - [Rene Joy](https://twitter.com/renejoywrites) - [Tim Leisman](https://twitter.com/TimLeisman) - Yeti Aberra Join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/hECzBJh) ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Network ReVisioning Proposal](https://cfa-network.gitbook.io/network-revisioning/) - [Effort announcement](https://discourse.codeforamerica.org/t/announcing-the-network-revisioning-project/1058) - [2021 Brigade Congress](https://cfa.osp.cat/conferences/congress/f/43/){:target="_blank"} - [Civic Tech Chat Live Show info for 10/16/2021](https://cfa.osp.cat/conferences/congress/program/52) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We're joined by folks from the [Center for Employment Training Immigration and Citizenship Program (CET-ICP)](https://www.cet-icp.org/about-cet-icp/) and [Code for San Jose](https://www.codeforsanjose.org/) to talk about the Citizen and Immigration Information Tool they've built together. From CET-ICP we hear from their Director, Monica Limas, as well as Valdo Drozdek, a technology and outreach specialist. From Code for San Jose we chat with their Director of Frontend Engineering, [Joey Richardson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-richardson-97206953/). Join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/hECzBJh) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We talk a bit about the Silenced No More act, a bill that passed the California legislature on September 3rd. We'll cover what it seeks to do, the problem space it covers, and why it's a salient topic. Join us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/hECzBJh) ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [California State Senate Floor Analysis of the bill](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB331#) - [Washington Post coverage of the bill](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/09/silenced-no-more-act-goes-global/) - [Law firm blog post on the bill](https://www.amglaw.com/blog/2021/09/what-does-the-silenced-no-more-act-mean-for-california-workers/) - [Press release from introduction](https://sd20.senate.ca.gov/news/2021-02-08-senator-leyva-introduces-%E2%80%9Csilenced-no-more-act%E2%80%9D) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
Lorin Camargo and SofÃa Corona, Co-Directors of [Code for All](https://codeforall.org/our-team) join us for a conversation about their organization's upcoming summit event. We'll talk about what it's all about, how they go about organizing it, and how they address some of its key challenges. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Code for All](https://codeforall.org/) - [Code for All YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/codeforallcivictech/videos) - [Code for All Summit Agenda](https://codeforall.org/summit-2021) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Dr. Karina Rider](https://twitter.com/kaareeenah) joins us to talk about research they've done focused on civic tech organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. We'll talk through their findings, the way systems around us impact involvement in civic tech, and more. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [The Slow Professor](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26367751-slow-professor) - [The New Spirit of Capitalism](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1166150.The_New_Spirit_of_Capitalism?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=0NLmUVekqw&rank=1) - [Venture Labor](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13697468-venture-labor?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=KIjv0voZqg&rank=1) - [Data Feminism](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51777543-data-feminism?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=pIjupL7Mw2&rank=1) - - [Dr. Rider's website](https://karinarider.wordpress.com/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Ryan Koch](https://twitter.com/ryan_koch)talks facial recognition technology and its role in government. We'll chat through what it's all about, some action happening in the policy space, and why this topic is salient. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [GAO Facial Recognition Report](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-526) - [Washington Post article about Senate Bill](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/04/21/data-surveillance-bill/) - [FTC Post](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2021/04/aiming-truth-fairness-equity-your-companys-use-ai) - [Facial Recognition bias study](http://gendershades.org/overview.html)
Ryan Koch talks Right to Repair. We'll chat through what it's about, why it's important, and some legislation that's out there being considered. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2021/07/14/president-bidens-right-to-repair-order-needs-strengthening-to-aid-consumers/ - https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S4104 - https://www.vice.com/en/article/93y3np/new-york-senate-passes-electronics-right-to-repair-legislation - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/ - https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7m8mx/john-deere-promised-farmers-it-would-make-tractors-easy-to-repair-it-lied - https://uspirg.org/feature/usp/deere-headlights - https://morelle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joe-morelle-introduces-fair-repair-act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4006/committees - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/02/why-right-to-repair-matters-according-to-a-farmer-a-medical-worker-a-computer-store-owner - https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/E-waste ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Wietse Van Ransbeeck](https://twitter.com/WietseVR), CEO of [Citizen Lab](https://www.citizenlab.co/) drops by the podcast for a conversation about democracy and civic participation. We'll also cover a bit about the role technology may play in both. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Against Elections: The Case for Democracy](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29605509-against-elections?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=rSorZlgqRq&rank=1) - [Open Democracy: Reinventing Popular Rule for the Twenty-First Century](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52579179-open-democracy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=1NEKKHdKeA&rank=2)
[Mark Funkhouser](https://twitter.com/mayorfunk),former Mayor of Kansas City and owner of [Funkhouser and Associates](https://twitter.com/mayorfunk)joins us for a conversation the impact COVID-19 has had on state and local government. We'll also dive into a conversation about Federal policy response and what those relief funds mean for governments. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [The Sum of Us](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53231851-the-sum-of-us?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nnRLWP5tfO&rank=1) - [American Nations](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11140803-american-nations?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=cLQCpR4vgt&rank=1) - [Union](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48889991-union?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VHvgy5o4fb&rank=1) - [Twitter and Tear Gas](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32714239-twitter-and-tear-gas?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=gYWzRPNaVt&rank=1) - [Slow Boring Newsletter](https://www.slowboring.com/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Amy J Wilson](https://twitter.com/RealAmyJWilson), author of [Empathy for change](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56848855-empathy-for-change?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=YztUy0PjCk&rank=1) joins us for a conversation about how empathy drives change, helps work environments, and impacts the world around us. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Throughline (NPR)](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
This time we talk discovery sprints! We're joined by [Jenn Noinaj](https://www.linkedin.com/in/actuallyjenn/) and [Kathryn Jurick](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynjurick/), authors of the United States Digital Service guide to discovery sprints. We'll chat about what these are, how they're run, and how they can help. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [USDS Discovery Sprint Guide](https://sprint.usds.gov/){:target="_blank"} ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds
[Gabe Gumbs](https://twitter.com/GabrielGumbs), CIO of [Spirion](https://www.spirion.com/)and host of the [Privacy Please Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/privacy-please/id1501600433)joins us to talk about data privacy. We'll cover some policy, compliance, and talk a bit about the right to be forgotten. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Right to be forgotten](https://gdpr.eu/right-to-be-forgotten/) - [Privacy Please Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/privacy-please/id1501600433) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
Hello folks! Below you'll find the original description for the first episode we ever released. It was this day three years ago that this adventure started. So let's sit back, listen, and take stock in how far we've all come since then. Our inaugural episode features a panel discussion with [Kristi Leach](https://twitter.com/kristil), an independent Design Researcher and Information Architect, [Tom Dooner](https://twitter.com/tomdooner), a Developer Evangelist for Code for America, and [Cyrus Sethna](https://twitter.com/c_sethna), a Digital Services Expert with the United States Digital Service. We'll talk about what Civic Tech is, where the movement stands, and how you can get involved. ### Web Resources mentioned in the episode - *Code for America Brigade*: [brigade.codeforamerica.org](https://brigade.codeforamerica.org) - *Code for America Public Interest Tech Job Board*: [jobs.codeforamerica.org](https://jobs.codeforamerica.org) - *Open Uptown*: [uptown.codes](http://uptown.codes) -
[Matt Scott](https://twitter.com/MattScottGW), creator of [Let's Care](https://www.lets.care/) joins us to talk about their experiences as a story teller and community builder. We'll talk about their craft, the ways empathy can lead to connection, and the lessons they've learned along their path. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Empathy for Change](https://www.amyjwilson.com/empathyforchange){:target="_blank"} - [Brene Brown](https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Adam Roberts](https://twitter.com/Gameplay_Review)creator of the GameplayReviewUK Youtube channel joins us to talk about space. We'll chat about how they make use of the video platform to share knowledge about space exploration and its history, how they seek to make that information more accessible, and what it's like to be a content creator. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [GameplayReviewUK](https://www.youtube.com/user/GameplayReviewUK) - [Marcus House](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBNHHEoiSF8pcLgqLKVugOw) - [Parallax Nick](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QdW-H7_l0zh_CoNhlwoBw) - [Savfk](https://soundcloud.com/savfk) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Lara Stephenson](https://twitter.com/Lara_makes) of Code for Australia joins us to talk about the Digital Maturity Indicator, a model which seeks to help organizations measure, benchmark, and improve the way they use digital technologies. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Digital Maturity Indicator](https://codeforaustralia.org/digital-maturity-indicator/) - [Public Digital HQ](https://twitter.com/PublicDigitalHQ) - [Code for Australia Blog](https://blog.codeforaustralia.org/) - [Code for All Blog](https://medium.com/code-for-all) - [Dumbo Feather Magazine](https://www.dumbofeather.com/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Leah Bannon](https://twitter.com/leahbannon) leads an AMA featuring [Georgia Bullen](https://twitter.com/georgiamoon) and [Maya Wagoner](https://twitter.com/mayawagon, authors of the [More Than Code](https://morethancode.cc/report/executivesummary/) report. ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
Civic Design Consultant and author [Cyd Harrell](https://twitter.com/cydharrell) joins us for a conversation about their new book [A Civic Technologist's Practice Guide](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55225556-a-civic-technologist-s-practice-guide?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=paFK2DugTf&rank=1), which seeks to be a grounding document in the space. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Slow Ideas](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/29/slow-ideas) - [Inclusive Design for a Digital World](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46113876-inclusive-design-for-a-digital-world?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=BN5R6KdAsB&rank=1) - [Disability Visibility](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51456746-disability-visibility) - [So you want to reform democracy](https://medium.com/civic-tech-thoughts-from-joshdata/so-you-want-to-reform-democracy-7f3b1ef10597) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
This is the second of two episodes where we'll talk to folks who are leading organizations trying to make civic involvement easier despite the constraints of COVID-19. For this one, we're joined by [Maria Yuan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariayuan/) to chat with us about their platform IssueVoter which seeks to inform folks about Congress and empower them to connect with its members. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [IssueVoter](https://twitter.com/issuevoter) - [2014 Princeton study on Congressional decision making and popular opinion](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We sit down with [Amanda Renteria](https://twitter.com/AmandaRenteria), the CEO of [Code for America](https://codeforamerica.org), an organization that seeks to improve the delivery of government services, whether through its programs or its nationwide volunteer network. We'll talk about the organization, their vision for it, a bit of public policy, and even how the organization is trying to weather the times we are living in. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Scientific American Mind](https://www.scientificamerican.com/mind-and-brain/) - [The Future is Faster than You Think](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52290273-the-future-is-faster-than-you-think) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
This is the first of two episodes where we'll talk to folks who are leading organizations trying to make civic involvement easier despite the constraints of COVID-19. For this one, we're joined by [Bhavini Patel](https://twitter.com/bhavinipatel_)to chat with us about their platform Be the Change which seeks to facilitate connections between constituents and state legislators. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Be The Change](https://beam-data.com/) - [Blink - Malcom Gladwell](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40102.Blink){:target="_blank"} - [Grit - Angela Duckworth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27213329-grit) - [The Transportation Research Board](https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/transportation-research-board) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[RoadBotics](https://www.roadbotics.com/) Co-Founder [Benjamin Schmidt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidtbt/) joined us to talk road infrastructure. How do governments make decisions about its management? How might data play a role in that? These questions and more will be answered throughout this episode. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [American Society of Civil Engineers](https://www.asce.org/) - [The Transportation Research Board](https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/transportation-research-board) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
United Stats Digital Services Engineering Director [Lisa Chung](https://www.linkedin.com/in/coderlisa/) joined us to talk engineering culture, hiring diversity and inclusion, and vendor best practices. We had the chance to sit down and learn from her in March as she was taking on this leadership role. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Matt Cutts Ted Talk](https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_what_happens_when_a_silicon_valley_technologist_works_for_the_government) - [The Government Fix (book)](https://www.senseandrespondpress.com/the-government-fix) - [USDS Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/usdigitalservice/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Lina Patel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/linaxpatel/) of Code for Australia and [Nao Myoshu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nao-m/?originalSubdomain=jp) of Code for Japan join us for a conversation about Tech for Non Tech, a Code for All educational program. We'll talk about what the program is, why it exists, and dig into the details of how it's been shared across the network. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Code for All](https://codeforall.org/) - [Code for Australia](https://codeforaustralia.org/) - [Code for Japan](https://www.code4japan.org/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Emily Paul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylenglepaul/) joins us for a conversation about their work as a TechCongress fellow in the area of forensic algorithms. We'll cover that topic area as well as the work they did with Representative Mark Takano to put together the Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2019. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [The New Jim Crow](http://newjimcrow.com/) - [New America Publications](https://www.newamerica.org/publications/) - [Route Fifty Newsletters](https://www.routefifty.com/newsletters/) - [Data and Society](https://datasociety.net/) - [Upturn Publications](https://www.upturn.org/work/) - [Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2019](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4368/) - [Convicted by Code](https://slate.com/technology/2015/10/defendants-should-be-able-to-inspect-software-code-used-in-forensics.html) - [We Keep Us Safe](https://ellabakercenter.org/WKUS_EBC) - [Pleasure Activism](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40549668-pleasure-activism) - [Emergent Strategy](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29633913-emergent-strategy) - [Normal Life](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8251053-normal-life) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Leah Bannon](https://twitter.com/leahbannon), [Mohith Rao](https://twitter.com/localtechsupp), and [Ryan Koch](https://twitter.com/ryan_koch)sit down with returning guest [Emily Fong](https://twitter.com/leahbannon)(they appeared on [episode 16](https://civictech.chat/2018/08/coding-it-forward-civic-technology-fellowship)). We'll talk about the work they're doing in the space where finance and civic tech meet, their community organizing efforts, and their product management practice. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Propel](https://www.linkedin.com/company/propel-inc/) - [US Census Bureau](https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-census-bureau/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We sit down with [Shannon Sartin](https://twitter.com/sartin_shannon), to learn about their path to becoming a leader in the health care technology space. We'll learn from her experiences, chat through strategies for running teams, and more. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [USDS](https://www.usds.gov/) - [Article with Cobol story](https://www.govexec.com/management/2018/09/meet-executive-bringing-digital-savvy-health-and-human-services/151171/) - [CMS](https://www.cms.gov/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
Join [Leah Bannon](https://twitter.com/leahbannon), [Mohith Rao](https://twitter.com/localtechsupp}, and [Ryan Koch](https://twitter.com/ryan_koch) as they record a live episode streamed on the [Twitch platform](https://www.twitch.tv/civictechchat). They'll discuss a number of topics including the responsibility tech companies have over their platforms, how regulations and agencies interact with large corporations, the inner workings of Code for America Brigade management, and even some sci-fi-esque public policy. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Facebook let's politicians lie on platform article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/10/10/facebook-policy-political-speech-lets-politicians-lie-ads/?utm_campaign=the_technology_202&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Newsletter&wpisrc=nl_technology202&wpmm=1) - [FTC Commissioner Chopra dissent about Google and COPPA](https://twitter.com/chopraftc/status/1169245405986611200) - [Propublica Article about IRS-Turbotax decision](https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-reforms-free-file-program-drops-agreement-not-to-compete-with-turbotax){:target="_blank"} - [Code for America Summit](https://www.codeforamerica.org/summit/) - [San Francisco Digital Service is hiring](https://digitalservices.sfgov.org/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Kelly Taylor](https://twitter.com/ktinboulder), Director of the Colorado Digital service joins us to talk about how the agency came to be, the merits of the digital services model, as well as lessons learned along the way. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Colorado Digital Service](https://sites.google.com/state.co.us/coloradodigitalservice/home) - [Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule (Paul Graham)](http://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html) - [O'Reilly Government 2.0 Blog](https://www.oreilly.com/tim/gov2/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
[Kent Wyatt](https://twitter.com/kwyatt23), co-founder of Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) returns to the podcast. We'll get into how their organization is working to help push government forward, check in on what's been happening over the past year or so, and talk about some trends they've seen along the way. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Engaging Local Government Leaders](https://elgl.org/) - [GovLove Podcast](https://elgl.org/govlove/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)
We are joined by [Clark Richey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-richey-6b737/), Chief Technology Officer at FactGem to talk about how organizations handle data, how it might be made useful for a wider audience, and about their experience in this field. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [FactGem](http://factgem.com/){:target="_blank"} - [Data Architecture Summit (Chicago)](https://das2019.dataversity.net/){:target="_blank"} - [O'Reilly Strata Data Conference (New York)](https://conferences.oreilly.com/strata){:target="_blank"} ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds){:target="_blank"}
We are joined by [Gwendolyn Washington](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwendolyn-mcdowell-washington-906b9744/), Director of Pro Bono at Rising for Justice, [Kelli Shewmaker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelshew/), Community Outreach Lead with Code for DC, and [Charles Landau](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesdlandau/), volunteer on the Rising for Justice Code for DC project. We'll talk about this partnership, the National Day of Civic Hacking, National Expungement Week, as well as some of what goes into building software like this. ### Resources and Shoutouts: - [Code for DC](https://codefordc.org/) - [Rising for Justice](https://risingforjustice.org/) ##### Music Credit: [Tumbleweeds by Monkey Warhol](http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monkey_Warhol/Lonely_Hearts_Challenge/Monkey_Warhol_-_Tumbleweeds)