AuthentiCity FM, Episode 37: Origins, Ordinary, and Everything That Embiggens
AuthentiCity FM, Episode 37: Origins, Ordinary, and Everything That Embiggens  
Podcast: AuthentiCity FM | Real Stories. Bold Ideas. Better Communities.
Published On: Tue Jun 02 2026
Description: A year in, the hosts of AuthentiCity FM do what any self-respecting Gen X podcast should eventually do. They pull a clip show.Framed around Mike's encyclopedic knowledge of early Simpsons episodes and sprung on Corri and Phil with zero warning, Episode 37 is the one where the curtain comes back a little. What started as a joke that wasn't really a joke — three local government professionals who thought it might be fun to push record and see if anyone cared — has become something none of them fully anticipated when they ordered their equipment and scheduled a demo recording that almost didn't happen.The episode opens with two pieces of news the hosts hadn't shared together publicly before. Phil is on the ballot for the ICMA Region C board seat, a candidacy that traces directly back to a nudge from two people who saw something in him before he was ready to see it himself. And Corri has written a book called Ordinary, built from the word lesson in its two spellings, and from a season of extraordinary disruption that pushed her back toward the small moments where real life actually happens.The conversation moves from celebration into something heavier and more honest. Mike reflects on the assassination of Melissa Hortman, a state representative and friend, and what it means to run an emergency response while the human grief waits its turn. Phil traces the toll of a profession that expects its best people to absorb the worst things and still show up the next morning. Corri connects the compound weight of it all to why peer groups, friendships, and the network you build before you need it are not optional infrastructure for this work.The episode closes with Phil turning the tables on his co-hosts, offering two stories about the specific moments he knew they were the real thing. And Corri closes it out with the simplest possible invitation.Don't be afraid of the yes.00:00 Introduction to the Episode's Theme03:14 The Simpsons Influence and Personal Stories05:39 Phil's Campaign Journey and Community Engagement08:45 Corri’s Book and Personal Reflections11:39 Reflections on the Podcast's First Year14:58 Technology and Podcasting Insights17:38 Guest Reflections and Impactful Conversations20:40 Personal Stories and Community Service23:44 The Importance of Support Systems39:17 Building Connections and Vulnerability40:12 The Weight of Professional Trauma47:09 Navigating Grief and Community Challenges49:08 The Importance of Peer Support50:37 The Value of Safe Spaces52:14 Behind the Scenes of Podcasting57:02 Looking Ahead: Future Episodes and Live Shows01:08:52 The Power of Caring and Compassion*******Ordinary: Harnessing the Power of Or in Everyday Moments (https://a.co/d/09XkxRlp), also available on Kindle UnlimitedExplore Seeing Across Time (https://v3xc.substack.com/)