In this episode of Civil Conversations, Liz sits down with Marc Williams — lifelong New Yorker, proud Brooklynite, award-winning Toastmaster, educator, coach, author, and co-founder of Speaker Skills Academy.
With nearly three decades in the NYC public school system, Marc reflects on his journey from English teacher to administrator to leadership coach. Together, Liz and Marc dive into the concept of moonlighting — working a second job or side hustle outside of your civil service role. While sometimes it’s born out of necessity (balancing the high cost of living in NYC with modest public service salaries), moonlighting can also be a way to explore creativity, build skills, and pursue passions.
They discuss:
Navigating NYC’s conflict of interest rules while pursuing passions beyond a 9-to-5.
Why moonlighting is both a survival strategy and a spark of joy for public servants.
The hidden talents within city agencies — and how rigid systems often fail to nurture them.
How passion projects and “side hustles” can sharpen skills, prevent burnout, and build community.
Why Marc believes every professional has a gift that deserves to shine.
The conversation also spotlights the Speaker Skills Academy, a unique, community-driven approach to building confidence and presence in public speaking through supportive drills and storytelling. (Learn more about Speaker Skills Academy at https://www.speakerskillz.com/)
Whether you’re a city worker thinking about pursuing your side hustle, a leader wondering how to unlock talent in your team, or someone curious about blending passion with public service — this episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom.
Also, a big thanks to the host of The Personal Details Podcast, who is a former colleague who helped me with navigating my passion in creating this podcast.
#CivilConversations | #NYCgovernment | #PublicService
#Moonlighting | #SideHustle | #Leadership
#CareerGrowth | #PublicSpeaking | #SpeakerSkillsAcademy
#CityEmployees | #WorkplaceCulture | #EntrepreneurshipInPublicService
In this episode of Civil Conversations, Liz and John unpack the recent Democratic primary in New York City, highlighting the unexpected rise of Zoran Mamdani and what it signals for the city’s political future. They reflect on the shifting landscape of local politics, the power of grassroots engagement, and the tension between visionary platforms and the realities of real-world implementation.
The conversation also explores the risks of growing political polarization, the need for thoughtful transition planning within city agencies, and what kind of leadership New York truly needs to bridge hopeful idealism with lasting impact.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share. To be a guest or collaborate, reach out at liz.civilconversations@gmail.com.
#New York City, #NYCMayor, #NYCpolitics, #leadership, #Democratic primary, #Zoran Mondani, #AndrewCuomo, #elections, #community engagement, #progressive ideas, #transition
In this episode of Civil Conversations, Liz is joined by fellow public servant Tiffany to reflect on the complexities of leadership in New York City government—especially as we enter another mayoral election cycle.
With over 40 years of combined experience, they unpack the enormous responsibilities tied to NYC’s top executive role and question whether we are doing enough to prepare future leaders to meet the moment.
As voters prepare to choose the city’s next mayor, we’re also grappling with yet another change in leadership style, priorities, and approach. Liz and Tiffany examine what that means for the people doing the work—and the people counting on it.
Together, they explore:
The outsized expectations placed on NYC’s chief executive
The lack of leadership development within the city’s political and operational systems
Why operational effectiveness is foundational—not optional—for good governance
The importance of succession planning and building a deep bench of future leaders
How transparency, community engagement, and empathy should shape leadership in public service
This is a call to think critically about not just who we elect, but how we build and support the people tasked with leading the most complex municipal government in the country. GET IN ON THIS, and let's keep this crucial conversation going!
In this episode of Civil Conversations, we bring back the Civil Service Hero Spotlight to introduce our recurring guest—and now official cohost—John.
Host Liz reflects on the inspiration behind the podcast, sharing why it’s crucial to elevate the voices of New York City’s civil servants. From her father’s career in city government to the incredible colleagues she’s worked alongside, Liz highlights the often-overlooked dedication, expertise, and impact of public servants.
John joins the conversation to discuss his journey in civil service, the value of mentorship, and the unique challenges city workers face. Together, Liz and John dive into how school facilities shape education, the importance of accessibility and innovation in public service, and what it takes to create a more supportive and effective government workforce.
They also tackle the complexities of city bureaucracy—examining leadership changes, workplace culture, and the ongoing need to recognize and invest in civil servants who keep the city running.
Tune in for an insightful conversation that sheds light on the inner workings of city government and the people committed to making it better.
#Civil Conversations #NewYorkCitygovernment #civilservants #public service #city government #civil service #leadership
Civil Conversations is back! In this episode, hostLizRodriguez-Perez is joined by her colleague and friend,John, who will now be a recurring guest after appearing in past episodes. Together, they discuss the return of the podcast, our commitment to a more regular releaseschedule, and the topics we’ll be exploring in the months ahead.
We dive into the current state ofNew York City politics,touching on recentclimate challenges, public safety concerns, and the upcoming 2025 election. Our discussion also highlights theimportance of authentic leadership in city government, the need for civic engagement, and the emotional toll of political disillusionment. At the heart of it all, we emphasizecommunity building and sharing positive stories to inspire action and change in the sector.
As we relaunchCivil Conversations, we’re alsolooking forguests who can bring fresh perspectives on city government, public policy, and civic life. If you work in or around city government—or havea compelling story to share about making an impact in your community—we’d love to hear from you!
💬Want to be a guest or suggest a topic? Reach out to us at via our LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram pages, or drop Liz an email at liz.civilconversations@gmail.com.
🎧Subscribe and stay tuned for more thoughtful, engaging discussions on the future of our city
Civil Conversations is back after a long hiatus! In this episode, titled "Raids, Resignations, & Indictments, Oh My!", I sit down with a former colleague to discuss the recent indictment of Mayor Eric Adams and the wave of resignations that have shaken the NYC government. We reflect on the potential impacts this upheaval could have on city agencies and propose some philosophical changes needed to prevent such disruptions linked to shifts in leadership.
Key Topics Discussed:
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Podcasts:
Additional Resource:
Join the Conversation:
We want to hear from you! Connect with us on social media or send your thoughts to me directly at liz@civilconversationsnyc.com.
Subscribe:
Make sure to subscribe to Civil Conversations for more engaging discussions on NYC politics and governance!
Thank You for Tuning In!
We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing the conversation in future episodes!
Thanks for following my podcast and for continuing to tune in!
In this episode, I host a discussion with a civil servant working for the New York City Police Department, the largest and oldest police department in the country. He shares his story, experiences, and perspectives on a series of topics based on his encounters working in this field for nearly 20 years. This is one of many discussions we’ll have around policing, as is it a deep, complex issue– but this is meant to set a foundation of insight and appreciation for what the job entails, things officers face, what we expect of them, and what we may need to do or advocate for to reach the goal of a safe, prosperous, and harmonious city.
A huge thank you to my guest, who is one of the awesome people in my network who helped inspire this concept of sharing the very important perspectives of civil servants, the people making things happen in the city every day.
As always, I’d love to hear from you and your thoughts on the podcast. If you work for the city, or have in the past, I’d also love to connect to hear about your experience. If you’d like to chat, be a guest, or have someone you think would be great for our community to hear from, please let me know! You can reach me at Liz@civilconversationsnyc.com.
Links:
My son started a YouTube channel over the summer, and asked his mommy, as a fellow creator, to give a little plug for his channel :) If you are up to supporting an aspiring 10 year old with achieving his vision of being a famous YouTuber, please like a couple of videos and subscribe to his channel https://youtube.com/@RookieYoutuber999?feature=shared
Also, I wanted to give a shout-out and note of appreciation to Host Three of ‘The Personal Details Podcast’. She has been a major supporter of me, in helping coach me on getting a podcast up and running, and in helping promote this show on hers. She’s a fellow creative, so show her some love and check out her podcast.
I also encountered a really great show called ‘NYC Revealed’. It’s available to YouTubeTV subscribers, so see if you have some type of streaming service that has this show available. They do fact-sharing and interesting interviews about city landmarks, which can be really educational, but they also cover topics around operations that happen behind the scenes to keep our city running (ie: water management, sanitation, pest control, etc). It's awesome, so check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaK_6SY7ixVRhenprOg-3PowHSAU5dKIE
In this episode, I chat with a colleague, who is a child of immigrants and a first-generation New Yorker, that has worked in public service over the last decade, supporting Dreamers, working in education, and in immigrant services, about the migrant crisis here in New York City. We explore what it's like to be an immigrant (it's not an experience that we all know intimately or firsthand), and discuss the unique state that we are in with receiving and supporting the transition of the latest waves of immigrants arriving into our internationally known melting pot. We touch on some history, with the hopes of understanding how a place like New York City, which has been an entry point and foundation for immigrant communities for centuries, has come to be in a state of crisis and unable to welcome, accommodate, or integrate those who are now arriving.
Take a listen and reach out with your ideas and feedback...
As promised during the episode, here are some links to articles and resources that I came across in case you would like to take a read or listen to do more advocacy around this issue.
Learn more about the history of immigrants in NYC, thanks to this amazing CUNY site: https://historynyc.commons.gc.cuny.edu/immigrant-nyc/#:~:text=It%20begins%20with%20the%20early,fabric%20of%20New%20York%20society. Here are some organizations you can support if you’d like to support groups that are on the front lines helping new arrivals: https://documentedny.com/2023/03/01/asylum-seekers-migrants-volunteer-donate-help-nyc/ Concerned about how this is playing out, and want to share your feedback for these migrants, and how it affects your community? Here are some people you can contact to express your concerns and spread the word: Find your Representatives that represent you at the local, state, and federal levels: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/ Want to understand more about Title 42? You can read more about the policy here:
https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-border-title-42-mexico-asylum-be4e0b15b27adb9bede87b9bbefb798d
Here are some other articles I came across in my research that speak to the experience here, and along the border.
NYC’s Migrant Crisis Reaches Breaking Point in Midtown Manhattan - Bloomberg
How Gov. Greg Abbott Texas-Sized a Crisis for NYC Mayor Eric Adams - THE CITY
New York needs pro-immigrant policies to bolster its economy - Fwd.us
What to Know About Migrants Coming to NYC From the Border - The New York Times
NYC migrant crisis: Number of asylum seekers in city shelters reaches milestone – NBC New York
Hostility against migrants is rising upstate where NYC is sending asylum seekers : NPR
As Politicians Cry ‘Crisis,’ Some Migrants Are Finding Their Way - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/nyregion/nyc-migrants-homelessness.html
In this episode, I preview something that we’ll be exploring with guests during upcoming conversations, and that’s analyzing the side effects of mayoral transitions, and the detriment they can play on long term success of initiatives, and positive outcomes for our communities and city overall. Listen in to hear my argument as to why the current leadership structure and practices may not be serving us well, and why it’s important for us to explore this further.
Check out a current example of this, cited in Bloomberg News, where we see how Universal PreK, once considered a model public early childhood initiative, is now deteriorating as a result of a change in administrations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-05-15/eric-adams-starves-nyc-s-universal-pre-k-program?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy I am honored to have been granted the opportunity to share my experience and to contribute to this story.
