31 episodes
Rethinking with Alex Torpey Alex Torpey
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- Government
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5.0 • 19 Ratings
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Our nation’s public institutions at nearly all levels are failing to be the proactive, thoughtful, strategic forces for good that they were founded to be. As a result, our society is currently incapable of effectively identifying and addressing our most pressing challenges, threats, and needs.
Rethinking aims to provide those who work in public institutions or whose work relates to community and public problems, access to a completely nonpartisan, thoughtful, and critical place to question everything and develop strategic and practical real-world solutions to some of our most pressing needs.
From serving as mayor (non party affiliated) of his hometown of South Orange at age 23, a municipal business administrator, founder of a digital consulting firm, an emergency management director and volunteer EMT, and as a graduate level adjunct professor, management consultant, mentor and speaker, Alex Torpey brings together his uniquely diverse experiences to help provide us a platform to rethink the future of our communities, our republic, and ourselves.
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Using AIM to reflect on always-on tech and social norms
Do you remember Netscape, AOL Instant Messenger, and loud dial-up? Well in this episode of Rethinking, we drink some cool refreshing millennial nostalgia and talk about the values and assumptions built into different social communication technologies, and how much those have changed over the last 25 years. We trace some important differences between things like […]
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How do leaders vet ideas? When should you listen to negative feedback?
Join former mayor, municipal manager, professor, and consultant Alex Torpey as we explore some of the dynamics behind how leaders vet (or don’t vet) their ideas. And what do they do when faced with negative feedback? In this episode, we’ll talk about some of the traps that people in leadership or influence fall into, such […]
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A reflection on Youth and Civics
This episode: Returning from my trip across the country in the fall of 2020, and before I moved up to New Hampshire to serve as Town Manager in the Town of Hanover, I have had the incredible fortune to get to participate in some really interesting experiences. This includes teaching outdoor education with adults and […]
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Municipal borrowing - is rising debt a problem in your community?
While millions of Americans are in debt or behind on high-interest credit card payments, many trillions of dollars is owed by governments at various levels for money they have already borrowed. At the same time, we know that debt can be a way to way build wealth, or it can help more fairly finance important […]
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Problems with "perpetual adversarialism" and what we can do
On Wednesday, March 9th, I hosted a workshop and discussion with the New Jersey Municipal Management Association entitled “How to use the internet to build public engagement and trust.” In that webinar, I shared this episode’s topic, along with some other conceptual and more tactical level ideas to help members navigate the increasingly complex issues […]
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Five Minute Book Review: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Join Alex for a new episode in the 5 Minute Book Review subseries of Rethinking! This is Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It was filmed/recorded in South Orange, New Jersey. You can find it online here, on YouTube, Instagram or wherever you listen to podcasts, such as Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Castbox, […]
Customer Reviews
A Voice of Reason in this Moment
If this moment in time (pandemic, climate crisis, social justice) has you thinking, then this is the podcast for you.
Alex Torpey matches thought provoking research, observations and experience curiosity rooted in science with the questions we need to ponder for the challenges we are all facing.
It feels like this turbulent climate was made for Alex to guide and nurture us into a better, healthier place.
I've learned quite a bit and look forward to more...
Thought provoking
I studied some Philosophy in college and have always been interested in politics and governance. I'm sure almost everyone can relate by now after what happened at the Capitol (and the years preceding it) - we are deeply divided. I might be an optimist but I don't think it has to be that way, just don't think it's sustainable for us as a country.
Loving this podcast so far. Just the wealth of ideas is impressive.
Everything starts with a great idea even if it takes time to implement, so this has been a nice find this year so far on my podcast queue.
Much needed!
Alex is a deep thinker with much to offer to the current conversation around politics.