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Pittman and Friends Podcast
Pittman and Friends Podcast
Author: County Executive Steuart Pittman
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© 2026 Pittman and Friends Podcast
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Welcome to Pittman and Friends, the curiously probing, sometimes awkward, but always revealing conversations between your host, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman - that’s me - and whatever brave and willing public servant, community leader, or elected official I can find who has something to say that you should hear.
This podcast is provided as a public service of Anne Arundel County Government, so don’t expect me to get all partisan here. This is about the age-old art of government - of, by, and for the people.
50 Episodes
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What if there was an environmental restoration movement you could see from your backyard? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Erik Michelsen, Deputy Director of Public Works and Chief of Watershed Protection and Restoration, to unpack how Anne Arundel County is working to clean our water, protect our forests, and implement smarter growth along the Chesapeake Bay. Erik explains how a dedicated stormwater fee now funds rigo...
Questions with teeth make for the best conversations. That’s why in the latest episode of Pittman & Friends podcast County Executive Pittman held office hours to field your questions. He responds to questions about walkability on dangerous corridors, the push and pull of growth, and how to keep people safe without sacrificing momentum. From Route 3 to school zones, we unpack why retrofitting suburban roads is hard, expensive, and urgent—and how Safe Routes to School, Safe Routes to Transi...
What if the fastest way to protect the Bay, feed our neighbors, and inspire the next generation starts with a horse, a pasture, and a plan? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with farmer and community leader Deana Tice to trace a life in agriculture—from a childhood spent in horse barns and milking parlors across multiple states to running a three-farm equine operation that teaches 150 lessons a week—and uncover what keeps An...
What if local government felt like a neighbor who shows up with the right help at the right time? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Alison Flores, Director of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, to unpack how a “small but mighty” team turns the value of belonging into practical action. From festivals and murals to legal lifelines and business roundtables, they trace the systems that let immigrant fa...
In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with State Senator Dawn Gile for a candid discussion of how a military spouse and attorney found her lane in Maryland’s Senate, learned to lead on hard votes, and kept family life intact while pushing forward consumer protections and healthcare reforms. From Broadneck to Crofton to Davidsonville, her district spans traffic chokepoints, has rural character, and shoreline concerns—so listening...
Each year, I reflect on the state of our county and speak directly to residents. This year's address focuses on offering a path for residents to restore their faith in government and showcase our progress driven by fiscal responsibility and efficiency. I am committed to 'finishing what we started' in my final year—solidifying progress on housing, land preservation, and infrastructure to ensure Anne Arundel County is set up for success for years to come. Local government exists to protect our ...
A campaign can win votes or it can build a blueprint for governing. Jared Littman, Annapolis mayor-elect, joins us to share how two years on the trail reshaped his plan: take the budget to every ward through annual town halls, walk blocks with residents to see issues first-hand, and rebuild trust by making engagement the start of policy, not the afterthought. We dig into City Dock and resilience with clear-eyed realism—what it takes to protect a waterfront that the entire county treats like ...
What does it take to run a county people are proud to call home? We sit down with Councilmember Lisa Rodvien to pull back the curtain on the choices behind stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and a fairer tax system—choices that rarely make headlines, but change lives every day. Lisa traces her journey from desegregated classrooms in Missouri to teaching during the Great Recession, where she watched talented educators leave as pay fell behind. That experience fueled a clear mission: stabi...
Want a commute you don’t dread? We sit down with BikeAAA’s Jon Korin to unpack how a car-first county evolves into a people-first place—by focusing on safe short trips, connected trails, and policies that put human life over vehicle throughput. Jon shares the backstory of Anne Arundel’s grassroots advocacy, the creation of a countywide trail inventory, and the map that’s guiding agencies and developers to close gaps with smart, high-impact links. We explore the real benefits of mode shift: f...
What if the most impactful work shaping your daily life never makes the news? We sit down with Mike Kelly, executive director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), to reveal how a small regional team coordinates transportation, housing, workforce, and climate resilience across Central Maryland—and why that matters for every commute, job search, and neighborhood. Mike breaks down the inner workings of the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and how it helps local go...
Land use isn’t abstract policy—it’s the shape of your morning, your rent, and your kid’s walk to school. We sit down with Deputy CAO Janssen Evelyn to go inside the decisions that turn a 200‑page plan into the street under your feet: who builds, what gets built, and how we protect nature while making room for the people who keep our county running. We unpack the real work behind Plan 2040 and why equity isn’t a slogan here—it’s baked into housing and transportation choices. Janssen shares ho...
What would you do if your day in immigration court came without a lawyer? County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) Executive Director, Jessa Coulter, to explore how a lean, local model of legal aid helps immigrant families secure due process, stability, and a real shot at a future. Jessa traces AIJN’s roots from a 2017 volunteer effort to a focused countywide network that funds low-bono attorneys. You’ll learn why immigration courts lack pub...
Ever wanted to ask a question to the County Executive about your local government? For this episode, County Executive Pittman held live “office hours,” pulled from call-ins, emails, and street interviews at River Days, and tackled big topics: how we fund public safety, where affordable homes will come from, why some projects move and others stall, and how you can steer decisions that touch your street. We start with the nuts and bolts of safety. From contract funding for officers to technolo...
Did you know that in Anne Arundel County, a third of its residents are living paycheck to paycheck? In this eye-opening conversation, County Executive Pittman sits down with Dr. Pam Brown, Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families, to discuss her new "Poverty Amidst Plenty" report and the solutions that give hope. Dr. Brown's unique perspective, shaped by a childhood in a poor urban neighborhood in England, drives her innovative approach. She...
Ever wondered what happens when your food leaves the farm? Kevin Atticks, Maryland's Secretary of Agriculture, takes us behind the scenes of our food system with a fresh perspective that might change how you think about farming forever. Unlike his predecessors who typically came from traditional farming backgrounds, Atticks brings expertise in value-added agriculture—helping farmers transform their raw products into profitable goods like locally-distilled whiskey or farm-fresh ice cream. Thi...
Modern libraries have transformed far beyond their traditional role as book repositories, evolving into dynamic community hubs that serve diverse needs. During his conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman, Skip Auld, CEO of Anne Arundel County Public Libraries, shares his 50-year perspective on this evolution. The Anne Arundel library system now offers a "library of things" - fishing poles, museum passes, and sewing machines alongside books, e-books, and audiobooks. Their 16 branche...
In this conversation, the Annapolis-born muralist Comacell Brown speaks with County Executive Steuart Pittman on how his artistic journey evolved from painting t-shirts in middle school to creating large-scale public art throughout Anne Arundel County and beyond. Brown takes us behind the scenes of the stunning Arundel Center mural, where he collaborated with fellow artist Cindy Fletcher Holden to transform a four-story "Great White Wall" into an interactive celebration of county life. The p...
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins County Executive Steuart Pittman for a candid conversation about Baltimore's remarkable public safety turnaround. The city is experiencing its lowest homicide rate in 50 years through a comprehensive public health approach to violence prevention. With $50 million invested in community violence intervention programs, Baltimore has expanded from four to ten Safe Streets sites where credible messengers – often those who previously participated in street life –...
Housing is at a crisis point in Maryland, with a shortage of nearly 100,000 units driving up costs and leaving communities struggling. In this eye-opening conversation, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day to unpack not just the problems, but the potential solutions. Secretary Day brings a fascinating background to his role—from small-town Eastern Shore kid to Salisbury mayor to state cabinet secretary. His journey through architecture school, m...
Tourism is evolving beyond simple transactions – it's now about creating transformational experiences that benefit both visitors and residents alike. In this enlightening conversation with County Executive Steuart Pittman, Kristen Pironis, CEO of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, reveals how she revitalized the organization during a challenging transition period to become a dynamic force for community development. Pironis took a leap of faith when she left a comfortable 16-year career ...



