Data-Smart City Pod
- Épisodes
- 102
- Parution
- mensuelle
- Dernier épisode
- 28 Oct 2026
À propos du podcast
As the central resource for cities on the intersection of government, data, and innovation, the Data-Smart City Pod from Data-Smart City Solutions at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University features leaders and experts in governance, innovation, and research.
Épisodes 102
Exclusive: Environmental Equity Starts at the Hyperlocal Level
Recorded live at the Harvard Kennedy School, this exclusive episode features Mayor Van Johnson and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, who spoke at our recent Data to Action capstone convening. They shared how …
Notes de l’épisode
Recorded live at the Harvard Kennedy School, this exclusive episode features Mayor Van Johnson and Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, who spoke at our recent Data to Action capstone convening. They shared how they're solving environmental health crises their cities don't technically control — using convening power, community storytelling, and data. Hear how they've built networks and told resident stories, getting state governors and federal agencies to listen and leading to public health improvements.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How mayors without direct authority can still move federal and state policy when local data tells the story
- How air quality monitors and water infrastructure studies transformed anecdotes into evidence
- When to step back and let the community tell their own stories, and why that can be more powerful than any policy speech
- Why all mayors should address environmental justice and how it relates to other policy areas like housing and violence
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Recast - What Mayors Need to Know About SNAP with Dr. Sara Bleich
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Sara Naomi Bleich, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former USDA Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity. Dr. Bleich …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Sara Naomi Bleich, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former USDA Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity. Dr. Bleich breaks down major recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—including historic budget cuts and stricter work requirements—and what they mean for the children and families utilizing this program. She shares actionable guidance for mayors and city leaders, including how to minimize harm from SNAP reductions and what city officials can do to ensure residents maintain access to essential nutrition support.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Moving the Needle with Better Metrics and Smaller Experiments
Most cities operate on assumptions that were handed down years ago and consider frontline workers as executors of top-down decisions. In this episode, San Francisco's former Chief of Strategy and Performance …
Notes de l’épisode
Most cities operate on assumptions that were handed down years ago and consider frontline workers as executors of top-down decisions. In this episode, San Francisco's former Chief of Strategy and Performance Jessica MacLeod shows what happens when you treat them as problem-solvers with lived expertise and new ideas. Add visible systems mapping, permission to experiment, and data that has narrative, and suddenly government can move at the speed of actual change.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why frontline stories unlock patterns dashboards miss—and make data actually meaningful
- How mapping hidden assumptions lets you test what actually works versus what you've always done
- How brighter lights reduced drug complaints 54% in one park, then scaled across the city
- Why small experiments at every level create change makers faster than top-down mandates
- Why empowering staff to solve problems (not interrogating them on numbers) unlocks actual performance change
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
The 100th Episode Mailbag!
It's our 100th episode! And we're flipping the script: Stephen Goldsmith is the guest, not the host. And he shares stories that completely reframe how cities should think about technology — from a 1970s bot …
Notes de l’épisode
It's our 100th episode! And we're flipping the script: Stephen Goldsmith is the guest, not the host. And he shares stories that completely reframe how cities should think about technology — from a 1970s bot that shattered assumptions about poor people using tech, to why AI alone should never drive government decisions, to the importance of bench marking the status quo.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to separate the AI hype from actually helpful AI uses (hint: it starts with a question).
- Why Goldsmith rejected patronizing attitudes around technology adoption, and proved detractors wrong.
- The distinction between "residents" and "customers," and how that changes everything about how you budget and design.
- How to give public servants back time and respect, rather than saddling them with meaningless tasks and paper pushing.
- Why your old, top-down performance management system is dead and why you need a new, democratized model.
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Serving the Whole Person in NYC
How do you lead 16 agencies and serve 8.2 million people without losing sight of the individual? NYC's Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga shows what happens when a leader moves beyond the …
Notes de l’épisode
How do you lead 16 agencies and serve 8.2 million people without losing sight of the individual? NYC's Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga shows what happens when a leader moves beyond the binary of efficiency vs. compassion, using data and local insights to get both right.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why a structured system for serving people from birth through end-of-life means better, consistent care.
- How to use neighborhood-level data and geographic targeting to serve people before they hit crisis.
- How to get the right processes in place before feeding data to an AI.
- The importance of early intervention with babies and children.
- Why ensuring equal access to good care is so personal for DM Arteaga, and how she honors her father's legacy by doing so.
Guest: New York City's Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
How Cities Scale Data Innovation Through Cultural Change
Data innovation isn't about buying better tools. As Dallas and Cleveland show, it's about how leaders listen, support risk-taking, and work alongside agencies. The result? A culture where innovation thrives …
Notes de l’épisode
Data innovation isn't about buying better tools. As Dallas and Cleveland show, it's about how leaders listen, support risk-taking, and work alongside agencies. The result? A culture where innovation thrives, and scales.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Brita Andercheck, Chief Data Officer in Dallas, and Liz Crowe, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer in Cleveland, about how they drive transformative change across city governments. From reporting structures to how you listen to agencies to going out into the field yourself, they share the unglamorous work that actually drives transformation.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to strike the balance between centralization and decentralization
- Why a problem-first approach beats technology-first
- Why data teams should measure their ROI
- The importance of collaboration and relationships
- How to create psychological safety so teams "fail smart"
Guest:
- Dr. Brita Andercheck – Chief Data Officer and Director of the Office of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, city of Dallas
- Dr. Liz Crowe – Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, city of Cleveland
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Good, Responsive Services Start With the Resident
Good services don't start with the city's org chart or budget lines. They start by understanding the resident's actual journey — and all the hidden time, paperwork, and friction that comes with it. Host Stephen …
Notes de l’épisode
Good services don't start with the city's org chart or budget lines. They start by understanding the resident's actual journey — and all the hidden time, paperwork, and friction that comes with it. Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Kim Leary, director of the Good Services Lab at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, about how listening is an active skill, why selection bias shapes who gets heard, and how cities can use AI and resident-centered design to create services that actually work for everyone.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why "good services" means residents can find, understand, and use them without insider knowledge
- How selection bias shapes civic engagement and why mayors must ask "who's not in the room?"
- How AI can help identify missing constituencies and unnoticed solutions in comparable cities
- Why organizing around the resident's journey changes service delivery
- How to measure progress at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint to track what's actually improving
Guest:
- Dr. Kim Leary – clinical psychologist, professor, and director of the Good Services Lab at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Federal Data, Local Impact: What Cities Need to Know
City leaders are on the front lines of data use, but most lack visibility into the federal data landscape, what's available, what's changing, and how federal policy decisions affect local outcomes. This gap …
Notes de l’épisode
City leaders are on the front lines of data use, but most lack visibility into the federal data landscape, what's available, what's changing, and how federal policy decisions affect local outcomes. This gap delays emergency response, misdirects resources away from high-need neighborhoods, and undermines AI systems that depend on accurate data and community trust.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Denice Ross, Director of Federal Data Policy at the Federation of American Scientists, about the relationship between local and federal data, what city CDOs should prioritize, and why cities have untapped power to shape federal data policy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The often-hidden relationship between local data needs and federal data infrastructure
- How to identify and access the federal data your city should be using
- Why now is the time to prepare for Census 2030 and protect funding
- How community participation in data decisions prevents disparities and builds legitimacy for AI systems
- How local data leaders can advocate effectively during federal policy windows
Guest:
- Denice Ross – Director of Federal Data Policy at the Federation of American Scientists; former United States Chief Data Scientist
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Building an AI-Ready City Government
City leaders are eager to deploy AI, but the real opportunity lies in preparation: building the right organizational structures, expertise, and culture first. Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Teddy Svoronos …
Notes de l’épisode
City leaders are eager to deploy AI, but the real opportunity lies in preparation: building the right organizational structures, expertise, and culture first.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Teddy Svoronos, senior lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, about how to structure your city government for Agentic AI, why small, empowered teams work better than broad rollouts, and what mental models and skills leaders actually need to manage this new relationship with AI tools.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why creating a data-driven culture before AI deployment is the critical first step
- How to start with a small, driven team to stress-test AI capabilities in your organization
- What "cognitive debt" means and why managing it prevents costly AI mistakes
- Why domain-specific expertise becomes more important, not less, as AI gets more powerful
- How to balance the tension between AI utility and maintaining organizational control
- What guardrails, monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms cities need in place from the start
Guest:
- Teddy Svoronos – Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Redesigning Broken and Legacy Systems to Unlock Innovation with Communities
City leaders want to innovate, but most are stuck solving yesterday's problems with yesterday's tools. Real breakthroughs come from fundamentally changing how governments listen to communities. Host Stephen …
Notes de l’épisode
City leaders want to innovate, but most are stuck solving yesterday's problems with yesterday's tools. Real breakthroughs come from fundamentally changing how governments listen to communities.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Francisca Rojas, executive director of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, about how technology and design are helping cities understand what residents actually need—and why legacy systems are the real barrier to change.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How Savannah used digital mapping to uncover flooding problems FEMA data missed by listening to residents
- Why the Maryland Community Business Compass uses AI to democratize information for small businesses
- How digital twins help communities imagine and approve projects like affordable housing before they're built
- What Baltimore learned by reframing vacant housing as both a rehabilitation problem and a prevention problem
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
The Promise and Peril of AI in Criminal Justice Systems
AI is being deployed across courts, police departments, and corrections systems. Without the right guardrails, it could amplify existing biases. But, with care and attention, there are opportunities to improve …
Notes de l’épisode
AI is being deployed across courts, police departments, and corrections systems. Without the right guardrails, it could amplify existing biases. But, with care and attention, there are opportunities to improve the experience of people within these same systems.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Andrea Headley from Georgetown University's Evidence for Justice Lab about what governments need to know about AI in criminal justice, how to identify and reduce bias, why transparency matters for public trust, and the devastating consequences when humans aren't in the loop.
Guest:
- Dr. Andrea Headley – Associate Professor, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy; Director, Evidence for Justice Lab
References:
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Supporting Childhood Opportunity Starts With Environmental Justice
Lead pipes aren't just a water infrastructure problem—they're connected to poverty, violence, and lost opportunity. Milwaukee's mayor explains why removing them matters to public safety and economic mobility …
Notes de l’épisode
Lead pipes aren't just a water infrastructure problem—they're connected to poverty, violence, and lost opportunity. Milwaukee's mayor explains why removing them matters to public safety and economic mobility.
Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson about how his city is accelerating lead pipe removal, creating family-supporting jobs, and why environmental justice is central to breaking cycles of poverty and incarceration.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why lead exposure affects public safety, not just health
- How lead removal becomes an economic development opportunity for neighborhoods
- Why early interventions in kids' lives prevent long-term harm
- How Milwaukee prioritizes removal in the most under-resourced neighborhoods
- What federal funding will enable Milwaukee to remove 5,000 lead pipes in a single year
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
From Reactive to Preventive: How AI Transforms Public Works
Most cities respond to infrastructure problems after residents report them. What if they could detect and prevent them first, while serving every neighborhood fairly? Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with …
Notes de l’épisode
Most cities respond to infrastructure problems after residents report them. What if they could detect and prevent them first, while serving every neighborhood fairly?
Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Daniel Pelaez (CEO of CYVL), Khahlil Louisy (Public Innovation Institute), and Mike Dennehy (former Boston Public Works Commissioner) to explore how artificial intelligence and computer vision are revolutionizing infrastructure management, closing equity gaps, and helping cities shift from reactive operations to predictive maintenance.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How computer vision detects infrastructure problems before citizens report them
- Why traditional complaint-based systems can miss concerns in lower-income neighborhoods
- How natural language queries democratize access to infrastructure data for city managers
- Why a "multi-modal" approach combining AI, citizen input, and external data delivers better equity outcomes
- What cities can expect from predictive infrastructure systems
Paper referenced: When Residents and Algorithms See Different Problems
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Agentic AI Comes to City Hall
Why do cities struggle to adopt AI at scale despite exponential improvements in the technology? Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Boston CIO Santi Garces and Harvard Business School Professor Mitch Weiss to …
Notes de l’épisode
Why do cities struggle to adopt AI at scale despite exponential improvements in the technology? Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Boston CIO Santi Garces and Harvard Business School Professor Mitch Weiss to explore the "growing gap" between AI capability and organizational adoption. Plus, hear how the city of Boston improved user satisfaction 3x with an AI-powered web search, why MCP servers are powerful and transparent tools for government, and how to move from pilot to production.
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
How Cities Can Measure What Actually Matters
What does a city government owe its residents? Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO of Zencity, to explore how GenAI is fundamentally transforming the way cities measure, understand, and …
Notes de l’épisode
What does a city government owe its residents? Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Eyal Feder-Levy, CEO of Zencity, to explore how GenAI is fundamentally transforming the way cities measure, understand, and respond to resident needs.
For decades, performance management in government has relied on operational metrics like crime numbers, pothole repairs, traffic flow. But what happens when the data looks good, yet residents feel less safe? When efficiency improves, but trust declines?
In this episode, Feder-Levy argues that citizen satisfaction and perception should be the true North Star for city government. Using social sentiment analysis, AI-powered data agents, and real-world examples, he explores how GenAI is cutting response times, revealing hidden patterns, and closing the gap between statistics and lived experience.
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Personalizing Government at Scale: Denver's AI Strategy
Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Suma Nallapati, Chief AI and Information Officer for the City and County of Denver, to explore how Denver is using generative AI to collapse bureaucracy and make government …
Notes de l’épisode
Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Suma Nallapati, Chief AI and Information Officer for the City and County of Denver, to explore how Denver is using generative AI to collapse bureaucracy and make government fundamentally more responsive to residents. Nallapati discusses Denver's Sunny AI platform, why combining the CIO and AI officer roles eliminates unhealthy friction between innovation and caution, and why the real opportunity of GenAI lies in freeing public servants from repetitive tasks so they can focus on the human connection that drew them to public service in the first place. Nallapati emphasizes that AI is a tool in government's toolbox—one that succeeds only when paired with ethical frameworks, transparency, and a relentless focus on resident outcomes rather than technology for its own sake.
Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
AI Agents and Peak Academy: Brian Elms on Empowering Government Workers
Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Brian Elms, former director of Denver's groundbreaking Peak Academy and founder of Change Agents Training, to explore how generative AI is transforming government's most …
Notes de l’épisode
Host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Brian Elms, former director of Denver's groundbreaking Peak Academy and founder of Change Agents Training, to explore how generative AI is transforming government's most successful employee empowerment model. Elms explains how Peak Academy has saved governments over $50 million by teaching frontline workers to become problem solvers in their own services, and why unlocking employee potential matters for everyone in a government organization. They also discuss how AI agents augment this work, with Elms recommending eliminating useless work first, then layering on performance management and AI tools to help subject matter experts — not just executives — drive continuous improvement from the ground up.
Take the survey at bit.ly/datasmartpod.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
The DSCP Listener Survey
Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpodFor our first-ever listener survey, we want to hear what you like, who you want to hear from, and how we can better support you in your work. Your answers will help us understand our …
Notes de l’épisode
Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
For our first-ever listener survey, we want to hear what you like, who you want to hear from, and how we can better support you in your work. Your answers will help us understand our audience better and create more useful episodes for you. Thanks for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts!
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Rethinking Government in 2026
Listener survey: bit.ly/datasmartpodIn our end-of-year episode, host Stephen Goldsmith reflect on 2025's most promising advancements in local government and shares his vision for how cities can harness …
Notes de l’épisode
Listener survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod
In our end-of-year episode, host Stephen Goldsmith reflect on 2025's most promising advancements in local government and shares his vision for how cities can harness generative AI to drive real change. Goldsmith discusses why a problem-first approach to AI implementation matters, how cities can rebuild public trust through better community listening, and why government processes must fundamentally transform—not just be overlaid with new technology. Drawing on decades of experience, he explains how bridging the gap between data-rich officials and context-rich residents creates opportunities for meaningful, co-created solutions.
Episodes mentioned: City Leadership in the AI Era with Rochelle Haynes and Carrie Bishop; Generative AI and the Possibility Government with Mitch Weiss; and Recoding America Author Interview with Jennifer Pahlka.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
City Leadership in the AI Era
Listen to host Stephen Goldsmith speak with two leading voices at the intersection of local government, data, and AI: Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of What Works Cities and Carrie Bishop, who leads data …
Notes de l’épisode
Listen to host Stephen Goldsmith speak with two leading voices at the intersection of local government, data, and AI: Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of What Works Cities and Carrie Bishop, who leads data and AI initiatives for the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. Haynes and Bishop share advice for mayors on leading AI‑driven culture change, choosing meaningful use cases, and making data central to how modern cities solve problems. They explore how cities can use data and generative AI to move beyond traditional public meetings toward intentional, co‑created community solutions, featuring real examples and leadership advice.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
How GenAI Can Actually Boost Public Sector Creativity
This episode features Mike Sarasti, former Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Innovation and Technology in Miami and a leading advocate for government transformation, in conversation with host Stephen …
Notes de l’épisode
This episode features Mike Sarasti, former Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Innovation and Technology in Miami and a leading advocate for government transformation, in conversation with host Stephen Goldsmith. They unpack how GenAI and rapid process mapping are revolutionizing public sector efficiency, not by shaving seconds off legacy workflows, but by making space for human creativity and curiosity. Mike shares real-world examples and explains how city leaders can democratize AI tools and clear bureaucratic tedium while guarding against hype and automation overreach.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
What Mayors Need to Know About SNAP with Dr. Sara Bleich
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Sara Naomi Bleich, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former USDA Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity. Dr. Bleich …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Sara Naomi Bleich, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former USDA Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity. Dr. Bleich breaks down major recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—including historic budget cuts and stricter work requirements—and what they mean for the children and families utilizing this program. She shares actionable guidance for mayors and city leaders, including how to minimize harm from SNAP reductions and what city officials can do to ensure residents maintain access to essential nutrition support.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Charles Waldheim on the Future of the American City
In this special episode, Harvard Kennedy School Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Harvard University Graduate School of Design Professor Charles Waldheim co-host a podcast crossover. Pr. Waldheim, host of the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this special episode, Harvard Kennedy School Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Harvard University Graduate School of Design Professor Charles Waldheim co-host a podcast crossover. Pr. Waldheim, host of the Future of the American City podcast and Director of the Office for Urbanization, speaks with Pr. Goldsmith about neighborhood regeneration, community-driven adaptation, and how to incorporate data into established decision-making routines.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
How Cities Can Use Data to Transform Disaster Response
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Andrew Schroeder of Direct Relief and CrisisReady. They discuss how cities can break down data silos and build integrated, actionable platforms to …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Andrew Schroeder of Direct Relief and CrisisReady. They discuss how cities can break down data silos and build integrated, actionable platforms to better respond to public health and environmental emergency. Schroeder explains the role of emerging technologies like AI and cloud data platforms, the importance of recruiting data talent in city government, and practical frameworks for connecting health and environmental data. He also previews a joint workshop on urban heat crises, highlighting the need for simulation, coordination, and a people-centered approach to data-driven disaster management.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
StatGPT: The Future of City Performance
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Santi Garces, Boston’s chief innovation officer. They discuss Goldsmith’s new StatGPT paper, which explores how generative AI can transform city …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Santi Garces, Boston’s chief innovation officer. They discuss Goldsmith’s new StatGPT paper, which explores how generative AI can transform city performance management. Garces also shares practical examples from Boston and insights from the recent Bloomberg Center for Cities stat and AI workshop, where 14 cities gathered to explore real-world applications of generative AI in government.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Recast - The Complicated Interplay: AI and Government
In this episode Professor Goldsmith interviews Professor Dan Huttenlocher, inaugural dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and expert on artificial intelligence and computer science. They discuss the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode Professor Goldsmith interviews Professor Dan Huttenlocher, inaugural dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and expert on artificial intelligence and computer science. They discuss the different ways that generative AI could be used by governments, in service of constituents, and what kinds of operational standards are required for the productive and safe use of AI technologies.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.
Harnessing AI for Trust and Transformation
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith is joined by Miguel Carrasco, Global Leader for Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Digital Government, connecting from Australia to share a worldwide view of how …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Professor Stephen Goldsmith is joined by Miguel Carrasco, Global Leader for Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Digital Government, connecting from Australia to share a worldwide view of how artificial intelligence and digital tools are transforming public service. Carrasco reveals how governments are leveraging generative and agentic AI to cut through bureaucracy, empower front line workers, and streamline services. They also discuss how public leaders can use AI to rebuild trust between government and residents.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and join us on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Exclusive: Mayor Bibb is Connecting Climate and Community Health in Cleveland
In this exclusive episode, recorded live at the African American Mayors Association 11th Annual Conference, host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb to explore how cities can address …
Notes de l’épisode
In this exclusive episode, recorded live at the African American Mayors Association 11th Annual Conference, host Stephen Goldsmith sits down with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb to explore how cities can address environmental justice and improve community health outcomes. Mayor Bibb shares his unexpected journey into climate leadership, connecting the dots between air quality, equity, and opportunity for children in Cleveland's most vulnerable neighborhoods. Through data-driven action and a focus on lived experience, Mayor Bibb offers a roadmap for mayors everywhere on making local government a catalyst for cleaner, healthier, and more equitable cities.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and join us on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Public Sector AI and the Evolution of Data Analytics with Oliver Wise
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith talks with Oliver Wise, Acting Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and Chief Data Officer at the US Department of Commerce. Drawing on his time in New Orleans City Hall …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, host Stephen Goldsmith talks with Oliver Wise, Acting Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and Chief Data Officer at the US Department of Commerce. Drawing on his time in New Orleans City Hall and with the federal government, Wise shares practical insights on using data to drive results — and how cities can harness the power of generative AI without waiting for perfection. From "use case truffle pigs" to building AI-ready data systems, this episode explores how public leaders can unlock smarter governance through better data practices.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and join us on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
Exclusive: Advancing Educational Attainment and Future-Proofing Policies with Mayor Monroe Nichols and Mayor Libby Schaaf
At a recent event held at Harvard University current Mayor of Tulsa Monroe Nichols and former Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf spoke to chiefs of staff and deputy mayors of 35 large US cities, and we're releasing …
Notes de l’épisode
At a recent event held at Harvard University current Mayor of Tulsa Monroe Nichols and former Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf spoke to chiefs of staff and deputy mayors of 35 large US cities, and we're releasing a bonus question and answer session hosted by Data-Smart City Pod producer Betsy Gardner. Listen to hear how mayors can actually influence educational policy, how to future-proof initiatives, and why longitudinal data is so important in this work.
Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa
About Data-Smart City Solutions
Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and join us on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
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