『The Town Square Podcast』のカバーアート

The Town Square Podcast

The Town Square Podcast

著者： Trey Bailey Gabriel Stovall
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今ならプレミアムプランが3カ月 月額99円

2026年5月12日まで。4か月目以降は月額1,500円で自動更新します。

概要

Not just another podcast, but a place to meet in the messy middle and have difficult discussions with transparency and diplomacy where the outcome is unity, not uniformity.

The primary topics will be the local interests of Newton County, Georgia residents and those in the surrounding community.

All rights reserved. スピリチュアリティ マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ 人間関係 個人的成功 政治・政府 政治学 社会科学 科学 経済学 自己啓発
エピソード
  • Brett Mauldin: Faith, Freedom & Local Control | Candidate Conversations — Episode 80

    Brett Mauldin: Faith, Freedom & Local Control | Candidate Conversations — Episode 80
    2026/04/09
    The Candidate Conversations series continues on The Town Square Podcast with Brett Mauldin, Republican candidate for Georgia House District 114. Covering Morgan County and parts of Newton and Walton counties, House District 114 includes communities that are deeply shaped by agriculture, small-town identity, conservative values, and growing concerns about development, taxation, and the future of local control.For many listeners in Newton County, this episode may have served as their first introduction to Mauldin. Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall opened the conversation by helping listeners understand exactly who he is, where he comes from, and what motivates him to run for office. What followed was a candid, often personal conversation about family, faith, business, public service, and the kind of government Mauldin believes Georgia needs.A Small-Town Background Rooted in FamilyMauldin described himself as a “small town guy,” someone who grew up around Greene, Putnam, and Morgan counties and who still identifies deeply with the country mindset and rural values of the region. He comes from a small-business family and says those experiences shaped the way he sees money, responsibility, and leadership.He also spoke warmly about his family. He and his wife, Candice, recently celebrated 20 years of marriage. They have three children, and throughout the conversation Mauldin returned again and again to the importance of family life, raising children well, and creating a future worth passing on to the next generation.His story included a year of football at the University of West Georgia, time at Lee University near Chattanooga, and a few laughs about his rugby days. But beneath the humor was a clear theme: his life has been shaped by discipline, teamwork, faith, and a willingness to work hard.Leadership Shaped by ListeningOne of the more interesting parts of the conversation came when Mauldin reflected on how different perspectives have shaped him. He spoke about the influence of his wife, noting that she came from a different socioeconomic background than he did. That experience taught him that leadership requires openness, humility, and a willingness to listen.He shared a line from a mentor that captured his philosophy well: “Minds are like parachutes. The only time they work is when they’re open.”That outlook has informed both his personal leadership style and the way he runs his business. Rather than surrounding himself with “yes men,” Mauldin said he values challenge, input, and honest disagreement. In his words, if all he wanted was agreement, he could just buy a parrot.That idea carried throughout the episode. Even while articulating strong convictions, Mauldin presented himself as someone who believes leadership is strongest when it is accountable, participatory, and rooted in listening to others.Business Experience and Decentralized LeadershipMauldin currently leads his family’s cabinets and countertops business, which travels throughout the Southeast. He discussed the company’s journey, including the hardships of the Great Recession and the lessons learned through navigating both challenge and growth.The company was recently recognized as a Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, but Mauldin was quick to redirect praise to his team. He described his leadership style as “decentralized command,” emphasizing that not every decision should run through one person. Instead, he believes strong organizations invite participation, encourage buy-in, and empower others to lead.That same principle showed up repeatedly in the conversation as he described how he thinks government should work. In business and in government, Mauldin believes the closer power is kept to the people affected by it, the better the results will be.Why He’s RunningMauldin said the opening of the House District 114 seat created an opportunity for someone new to step forward and serve. But for him, running is about more than filling a vacancy. He believes good people must be willing to step into public life, especially when politics feels frustrating, divisive, or dirty.He argued that one reason many good people avoid politics is because they do not want to deal with the messiness of it all. But in his view, that is exactly why strong, grounded men and women should be willing to step up. He believes public service should not be left only to the ambitious or the loudest voices, but should include people with real-world experience, strong values, and a desire to serve.Throughout the episode, Mauldin emphasized that disagreement is not the problem. In fact, he sees disagreement as healthy. What matters is whether leaders are willing to challenge ideas honestly while still working toward the common good.Protecting the VulnerableOne of the strongest recurring themes in the interview was Mauldin’s belief that a just society protects its most vulnerable people. He connected this conviction both to his Christian faith ...
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    47 分
  • Karla Hooper: Integrity, Healing & Representation | Candidate Conversations — Episode 79

    Karla Hooper: Integrity, Healing & Representation | Candidate Conversations — Episode 79
    2026/04/07
    The Town Square Podcast continued its Candidate Conversations series with Karla Hooper, candidate for Georgia House of Representatives District 113. As Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall explained at the top of the show, the goal of this series is not to create more political noise, but to give voters a fair, thoughtful way to hear directly from the people asking to represent them. In a climate where partisanship often drowns out substance, this episode aimed for something different: a calm, honest conversation about background, motivation, policy, and public service.That framing fit Hooper’s tone well. Throughout the episode, she presented herself not as a career politician chasing office, but as a longtime community advocate who sees this campaign as an extension of work she has already been doing for years.Hooper began by sharing a little of her story. Born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, she moved to Georgia in 1992 as a student at Emory University and eventually decided this was where she wanted to build her life. She has now lived in Newton County for more than 24 years, longer than she lived in her hometown in Arkansas. Her daughters were born and raised here, and she made clear that Newton County is not just where she lives, but home in the fullest sense.Her entry into community involvement came from a very local frustration. After returning from a trip, she noticed a cell tower had appeared near her subdivision and wanted to know why and how that had happened. That curiosity led her to attend a Board of Commissioners meeting, which opened the door to understanding how decisions are made in local government. What started as one concern in her own neighborhood eventually grew into a broader commitment to civic engagement and public advocacy.One of the most memorable parts of the episode came when Hooper discussed her father’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. She shared that he was among a small group of men from Arkansas who traveled to Alabama to march in Selma. In an especially moving story, she explained that seven years ago, on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, reporters were looking to interview her father because he was believed to be the last surviving member of that group. Remarkably, he passed away the very day they were trying to reach him.Hooper said she did not even know about his role in Selma until she was in middle school and interviewing him for a school project. She recalled him telling her that when Dr. King spoke, it felt as though even the leaves stood still to listen. But she also explained that he and others were pulled over and jailed on the way back from Alabama, and that much of what followed was likely wrapped in trauma he never fully unpacked with his children. That family history clearly shaped her understanding of justice, advocacy, and public responsibility.She connected that legacy to her own path. Hooper described herself as someone who has long felt drawn to leadership and service, whether in school, work, church, or the broader community. She mentioned being the first Black student government president and first valedictorian in her hometown, and later working for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992. Rather than treating public service like a new interest, she framed it as part of a lifelong throughline.Professionally, Hooper serves as Executive Director of the Diabetes Association of Atlanta, where she has worked for more than 18 years. That work gave depth to much of what she said later in the conversation about healthcare, working families, and affordability. She talked about seeing firsthand how many people do what society tells them to do — work hard, support their families, and check all the expected boxes — yet still cannot afford the medications, supplies, or insurance coverage they need. She described this reality as one that keeps her grounded and connected to the struggles of ordinary people.That theme of groundedness came up repeatedly. Hooper pushed back on the idea of being seen mainly as a politician, saying she identifies more with being a public servant. She described her candidacy as something that came through prayer, reflection, and a sense of calling. In one striking moment, she said that when something burdens you so deeply it moves you to tears, you have to respond. She gave the example of calling a developer about another proposed gas station in an area already saturated with them. As she spoke to him about what the community needed, she became emotional — not because of political theater, but because of genuine concern for the people who live there.When asked why she is running again after a previous campaign, Hooper said this moment feels different because Newton County needs healing. That word became one of the episode’s anchors. She spoke candidly about the tension, disappointment, and frustration many residents feel after years of conflict, rapid change, and difficult public debates. In her view, the next chapter ...
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    47 分
  • Councilman Dwayne Turner: Transparency, Tradition & Growth — Episode 78

    Councilman Dwayne Turner: Transparency, Tradition & Growth — Episode 78
    2026/03/31
    In Episode 78 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with newly elected Covington City Councilman Dwayne Turner. With Gabriel Stovall away on assignment, Trey leads a one-on-one conversation designed to help listeners get to know one of Covington’s newest public servants, understand what drives him, and hear how he is thinking through some of the city’s most debated issues.Turner is still early in his first term, but he is already stepping into the kind of tough, public-facing decisions that come with city leadership. In this conversation, he talks about his background in public service, what led him to run for office, how his experience in law enforcement shapes his perspective, and why he keeps coming back to a few key themes: transparency, representing the people, protecting Covington’s traditions, and making sure growth doesn’t outpace infrastructure.From Pennsylvania to CovingtonTurner shares that he is not originally from Newton County. He was born in a small town in Pennsylvania south of Pittsburgh, later lived in New York, and then joined the Army. After 11 years of military service and living in different places, he eventually landed in Covington, where he decided to put down roots.That journey matters because it helps explain how he views public service. Turner comes from a family deeply connected to service-oriented professions. His father served in the military and law enforcement. His mother and grandmother worked in nursing. Other family members served in transportation and public-facing roles. For Turner, service was not some abstract idea. It was modeled for him throughout his life.That background ultimately led him into law enforcement, which he still describes as his dream job. Today, he works in investigations with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, a role he says he genuinely loves.A Neighborhood Mindset That Became a Citywide CampaignOne of the more interesting parts of the conversation is how Turner explains the leap from local neighborhood involvement to elected office. Before serving on city council, he was involved in HOA leadership, where he learned firsthand how quickly neighborhood concerns can pile up. What starts as a few complaints about trash, lawns, or rules can quickly become a full-time exercise in listening, explaining, and solving problems.Turner sees that experience as meaningful preparation for city government. In both spaces, people want to be heard. They want communication. They want follow-through. And often, they are frustrated not just by the issue itself, but by the feeling that no one is talking to them clearly.That theme of communication came up repeatedly in the episode. Turner says one of the most surprising things he heard on the campaign trail was that many residents did not even know who represented them. That realization helped sharpen his approach. If he was going to serve, he wanted people to know who he was, how to reach him, and how he was thinking through major votes.“It’s About People, Not Politics”One of Turner’s central campaign ideas was that public service should be about people, not politics. In the interview, he unpacks what he means by that phrase.For him, politics can become about holding a seat, protecting status, or building influence. People-first leadership, by contrast, means listening to the residents who put you in office and trying to act on their behalf. It means not silencing their voices, not hiding behind vague language, and not pretending controversial decisions are easy.Again and again, Turner describes himself as a representative. He says his role is not to impose his will, but to carry the concerns of the people who elected him. Whether the issue is fireworks, growth, a special use permit, or city fees, he insists that his first obligation is to the residents he serves.That representative mindset is one of the clearest themes in the conversation.Transparency as a Core ValueIf there was one word that surfaced throughout the episode more than any other, it was transparency.Turner acknowledges that transparency can sound like a buzzword, but he believes the reason it gets repeated so often is because the public is hungry for it. People want to know what government is doing, why decisions are being made, and what elected leaders actually believe.He says that desire for openness shaped his campaign and continues to shape his service. That is why he posts updates online. That is why he explains votes publicly. That is why he says he wants people to contact him directly if they have concerns.In Turner’s view, transparency is not just about releasing information after the fact. It is about bringing people into the process, listening before the vote, and being honest afterward.Growth, Development, and InfrastructureTurner also spends significant time discussing one of the biggest issues facing Covington: growth.He is clear that he is not opposed to development in principle. He understands that ...
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    1 時間
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