This podcast exists because we got tired of pretending everything was fine. Every Monday, two former city executives talk about the stuff nobody mentions at ICMA conferences.
New episodes every Monday with Kellye Mazzoli and Charisse Deschenes.
The conversations city managers have been waiting for
The Unmuted Voices of Leaders Podcast
Grab your coffee. Turn off your email notifications. This space is for us.
The relief of hearing two people who've been exactly where you are
Courage to stop pretending you have it all figured out
Proof that you can lead authentically without burning everything down
When you listen, you’ll get:
Permission to admit this job is harder than anyone thinks
Language for feelings you didn't know other people had
Strategies that actually work in the chaos of city management
After decades in city management, I realized the profession had taught me to stay quiet in the name of being "professional." Keep the struggles private. Don't let anyone see you sweat.
Perform leadership instead of being human.
So I partnered with Charisse Deschenes, a fellow city management veteran, to try something uncomfortable: actually talking about what it's like.
This podcast exists to name the struggles and offer a way forward. To unravel the professional muting that keeps city executives isolated. To show other leaders they don't have to carry everything in complete silence.
Every episode is proof that you can be professional and human at the same time. That you can admit this job is hard without being weak. That you can ask for support without losing credibility.
We talk about the midnight council meetings, the impossible decisions, the weight of responsibility, and yes, whether it's all actually worth it. Because when you finally have permission to say what you're really thinking, everything changes.
Here's the truth: so many city leaders are silently struggling, and nobody's talking about it.
Finally, Someone Said It Out Loud
Every Monday brings something new.
Real stories, practical tools, and the kind of honesty you won't find anywhere else.
From growing up feeling muted to redefining what leadership actually means. This is the story behind why this podcast exists.
4. Unveiling Kellye: A Personal Interview About Passion and Purpose
The higher you climb, the fewer people understand what you're carrying. Let's talk about what to do when you're the only one in the room who gets it.
3. Support Systems: Navigating Leadership Isolation
When the job that once lit you up now feels like you're just going through the motions. Passion fatigue is real, and we're naming it.
2. Beyond the Spark: Understanding Passion Fatigue in Leadership
We dig into why city executives don't burn out from hard work - they burn out from staying in roles they've outgrown out of obligation. This one will make you think.
1. Stay or Go? Choosing Alignment Over Obligation
New here? These episodes offer a powerful look into the honest, unfiltered conversations you'll find inside the podcast.
Start Here: The Episodes Everyone's Talking About
Two decades in city leadership taught me that managing projects is easy compared to managing yourself. I've watched too many dedicated public servants run themselves into the ground while everyone praised their "dedication."
Through this podcast, I'm exploring what it actually means to lead from a place of health instead of obligation. Kellye and I are done pretending we have it all figured out, and we're hoping that gives you permission to come along with us.
Founder, Lead From Center
aka The One Who Keeps It Real
Charisse Deschenes
I spent 15+ years sitting in city manager’s office making decisions that affected entire communities while quietly wondering if I was slowly disappearing in the process. I've been in every seat and felt the weight of each one.
I started coaching city executives because I got tired of watching brilliant leaders burn out in silence. This podcast is my way of saying the quiet part out loud. If you've ever questioned whether this career is sustainable or wondered who you are underneath all the expectations, we need to talk.
MPA, CPM
aka The One Who Asks the Hard Questions
Kellye Mazzoli
