Closest to the People with Crystal Froese

Crystal Froese

Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, local government, community leadership, governance, economic development and public policy from the perspective of the communities where decisions ultimately have to work. Drawing on her experience as a City Councillor, elected official, board leader and community advocate, Crystal Froese brings a practical, grassroots perspective to conversations about how communities are governed, how leaders make decisions and how municipal, provincial and federal policies affect the people, businesses and organizations closest to home. Episodes explore the real issues facing Canadian municipalities and communities: what it is really like to serve on city council, running for municipal office, municipal leadership, board governance, strategic planning, government accountability, economic development, housing, infrastructure, workforce development, nonprofit leadership, volunteerism, community development and the relationship between local, provincial and federal governments. Crystal also sits down with mayors, municipal leaders, elected officials, economic development professionals, nonprofit leaders, community builders and other Canadians working to strengthen their communities. Whether you are an elected official, municipal candidate, community leader, board member, nonprofit professional, economic development professional or simply someone who wants to better understand how decisions get made in Canada, Closest to the People offers practical conversations about leadership and the issues shaping our communities. Canada looks different when you see it from the community up.Because when it comes to building stronger communities, the answers are often closest to the people.

  1. 5d ago

    What’s Sitting on the Side of Your Desk? Solving the Capacity Problem

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when important work keeps getting pushed to the side of your desk because nobody has the capacity to lead it? The strategic plan you haven’t implemented. The communications plan you keep meaning to write. The project everyone agrees is important — but nobody actually has time to move forward. At some point, it’s no longer a to-do list. It’s an organizational capacity problem. In this episode of Closest to the People, Crystal Froese explores why important projects stall when organizations, nonprofits and community leaders are stretched too thin, and how wearing too many hats can actually dilute progress. She looks at strategic plan implementation, project management, organizational capacity and leadership workload — and why the smartest solution isn't always hiring another full-time employee. Sometimes an organization needs the right person for three or six months to take ownership of a project, build the structure, move the work forward and get an important initiative off the side of everyone's desk. For nonprofit leaders, executive directors, boards, municipalities, small organizations and community leaders, this episode offers a practical way to think about capacity, priorities and getting important work done when your existing team is already at its limit. What’s sitting on the side of your desk — and what would change if someone finally had the capacity to lead it? Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    What’s Sitting on the Side of Your Desk? Solving the Capacity Problem

  2. Sep 16

    Running for Municipal Council? 10 Things Every Candidate Should Know

    Send us Fan Mail Running for municipal council in Canada? Drawing on her experience as a City Councillor, Crystal Froese shares 10 practical lessons for municipal candidates about local government, leadership and life at the council table. Campaigning for the job and actually doing the job are two very different things. After years as a city councillor, Crystal Froese counts down the Top 10 things she thinks every municipal candidate should know before taking a seat at the council table. A few might surprise you. A couple might change how you campaign. Coffee-break short. Straight to the point.  And #1 is the one that matters most. Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    Running for Municipal Council? 10 Things Every Candidate Should Know

  3. Aug 11

    The Boring Agenda: It’s Time for Status. Action. Measure.

    Send us Fan Mail Better Board Meetings, Status Action Measure, Board Accountability  “Systems” is the buzzword everywhere—but changing systems doesn’t have to be complicated. What if you started with your board agenda? Why do board meetings keep discussing the same issues without moving them forward? Crystal Froese shares her Status - Action - Measure approach to better board governance and accountability. Before your next board meeting, give this episode a listen. You may never look at your agenda the same way again. Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    The Boring Agenda: It’s Time for Status. Action. Measure.

  4. Jul 15

    The Silent Killer of Board Governance: Communication, Trust & Accountability

    Send us Fan Mail What is the silent killer of good board governance?  Governance isn't just about making decisions. It's about building confidence in how decisions are made, communicated and understood. In this episode of Closest to the People, Crystal Froese explores why communication is a governance responsibility, not simply a leadership skill. She looks at how unclear expectations, lack of feedback and silence around confidential decisions can slowly erode trust, accountability and board effectiveness — even in well-intentioned organizations. Whether you serve on a nonprofit board, municipal council, community organization or leadership team, this episode offers a practical look at board governance, leadership communication, confidentiality, transparency and organizational trust — and why what happens after a decision can be just as important as the decision itself. “The opposite of trust is uncertainty. And uncertainty grows wherever communication stops.” — Crystal Froese Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    The Silent Killer of Board Governance: Communication, Trust & Accountability

  5. Jul 2

    How Do I Deal With This Person? Board Conflict, Personalities & Governance

    Send us Fan Mail How do you deal with a difficult personality on a board without letting conflict derail the organization? If you've ever served on a board, chances are you've asked yourself that question. In this episode of Closest to the People, Crystal Froese explores one of the most challenging parts of board governance: board dynamics and personality conflict. What happens when personalities begin driving the board instead of its purpose? Crystal looks at how unresolved board conflict, difficult relationships and unhealthy board dynamics can erode trust, interfere with decision-making and cause good board members to disengage long before they actually leave. “Because the strongest organizations aren’t built by avoiding difficult conversations—they’re built by having them." Crystal Froese Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    How Do I Deal With This Person? Board Conflict, Personalities & Governance

  6. Jun 17

    Where have all the Volunteers gone?

    Send us Fan Mail Where Have All the Volunteers Gone?  Canada's Volunteer Shortage What happens when there aren't enough volunteers left to run the organizations we depend on? In this episode, Crystal Froese explores the changing face of volunteering, the impact of the pandemic, social media, rising costs of living, and why many organizations are struggling to recruit and retain volunteers. The reality is that some organizations will need to adapt, restructure, merge, or rethink how they engage people if they want to thrive in the years ahead. If you're a board member, executive director, community leader, or volunteer organization facing these challenges, this conversation is for you. And if you're looking for practical ideas, facilitation, communications, governance support, or a fresh perspective on your organization's future, I'd be happy to help. Listen now and connect at crystalfroese.com. Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    Where have all the Volunteers gone?

  7. May 9

    Complacency Can Be a Crime

    Send us Fan Mail What happened in Dixon Illinois didn’t start with $53 million. It started with complacency. In this episode, Crystal Froese uses how one of the largest municipal fraud cases in North America unfolded over decades—and what it reveals about how complacency can quietly shape trust, influence, and the systems we rely on every day. This isn’t just a story about wrongdoing. It’s a conversation about the quieter risks:  the decisions we don’t question,  the relationships that shape outcomes,  and the moments where complacency allows transparency to slip just enough to matter. What can municipal fraud teach us about governance and accountability? Crystal Froese examines the Dixon, Illinois fraud case and the lessons it holds for municipalities, boards and community organizations  Because strong communities aren’t built on trust alone.  They’re built on systems strong enough to question it.  Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    Complacency Can Be a Crime

  8. Mar 24

    Artist Carly Jaye Interview: The Creative Economy Driving Our City

    Send us Fan Mail Creative Economy & Economic Development  Artist Carly Jaye  How do artists and the creative economy contribute to economic development? Crystal Froese talks with artist Carly Jaye about public art, tourism, community identity and vibrant cities. Recorded in front of one of Moose Jaw’s most iconic murals — right at the entrance to our city — this episode of Closest to the People is all about the power of the creative economy. Artist Carly Jaye — the talent behind this mural and many others across Moose Jaw — whose work goes far beyond walls. From transforming benches and garbage cans into public art, to shaping how our entire city feels and looks, her impact is everywhere. Surrounded by the very work we’re talking about, we dive into how creativity is driving Moose Jaw in real, measurable ways. From large-scale murals that define our streetscapes, to graffiti artists activating hidden spaces, to businesses partnering with artists — like the murals at Boh’s — to expand their reach and draw people in… this is more than art, it’s economic development. Because if we want to grow — and if we want to keep the next generation here — the creative economy isn’t optional. It’s essential. To see the interview in person visit my youtube channel  Follow Carly’s work: https://www.instagram.com/artcarlyjaye/ Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated with you, connect with me on LinkedIn and share it with a fellow leader.   Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, community leadership, board governance, economic development and public policy from the community up. Because some of the best answers are found closest to the people. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Until next time, keep showing up, keep leading, and keep making a difference!  Closest to the People with Crystal Froese  #Leadership #Closest2thePeople #CommunityBuilding  Connect with Me https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfroese Visit My Website  https://www.crystalfroese.com/

    Artist Carly Jaye Interview: The Creative Economy Driving Our City
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About

Closest to the People with Crystal Froese is a Canadian podcast exploring municipal government, local government, community leadership, governance, economic development and public policy from the perspective of the communities where decisions ultimately have to work. Drawing on her experience as a City Councillor, elected official, board leader and community advocate, Crystal Froese brings a practical, grassroots perspective to conversations about how communities are governed, how leaders make decisions and how municipal, provincial and federal policies affect the people, businesses and organizations closest to home. Episodes explore the real issues facing Canadian municipalities and communities: what it is really like to serve on city council, running for municipal office, municipal leadership, board governance, strategic planning, government accountability, economic development, housing, infrastructure, workforce development, nonprofit leadership, volunteerism, community development and the relationship between local, provincial and federal governments. Crystal also sits down with mayors, municipal leaders, elected officials, economic development professionals, nonprofit leaders, community builders and other Canadians working to strengthen their communities. Whether you are an elected official, municipal candidate, community leader, board member, nonprofit professional, economic development professional or simply someone who wants to better understand how decisions get made in Canada, Closest to the People offers practical conversations about leadership and the issues shaping our communities. Canada looks different when you see it from the community up.Because when it comes to building stronger communities, the answers are often closest to the people.

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