The Informed Citizen

Philip Lindholm

Welcome to the Informed Citizen Podcast with Dr. Philip Lindholm. This show is for the game changers who are making this world a better place. We're glad you're here. Connect with us: https://theinformedcitizen.com https://www.instagram.com/informedcitizenpodcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556601982196 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR Credits: •Music: Sound and Vision, “This Party Bussin”

  1. JAN 3

    24. "The Common Ground Nobody Talks About" with Assessor-Treasurer Marty Campbell

    Drawing on more than a decade in local and county government, Marty Campbell offers rare insight into how policy is actually made and a truth hiding in plain sight: While politics grows louder and more polarized, there is still far more common ground than we are led to believe. We just don’t talk about it.As media rewards outrage and division, Campbell argues that the real danger facing democracy is not disagreement. It is the disappearance of the shared civic space where reasonable people once met, learned, and governed together.🔍 Episode Highlights📰 The quiet collapse of trusted mediaCampbell explains how the loss of fair and impartial local journalism has stripped communities of a shared set of facts, leaving citizens divided not just by opinion but by reality itself.⚖️ Tribal politics and fractured identityFrom left to right and everywhere in between, American politics has splintered into factions that talk past one another. Campbell explores why this makes governing harder and trust rarer.🏛️ What government is meant to doIs government supposed to judge morality or make life work better for everyone? This episode explores a vision of governance focused on removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and treating people fairly.🧠 Equity, equality, and opportunityWhy treating everyone the same does not always lead to fairness and how thoughtful policy can level the field without erasing responsibility.🚌 Big ideas grounded in realityFrom free transit to childcare and education, Campbell does not reject ambitious ideas but insists they must be tested honestly, locally, and pragmatically.🗳️ Why debates feel emptyScripted talking points, avoided forums, and soundbite politics have replaced real dialogue. The result is voter frustration and growing disengagement.🏠 Raising informed citizensOne of the episode’s most hopeful moments centers on families voting together, modeling civic engagement, and teaching children that democracy begins at the kitchen table.🤝 The common ground nobody talks aboutRoads, safety, opportunity, dignity, fairness. These shared values still exist, but they do not drive clicks. This episode asks what happens when agreement becomes invisible.This episode offers something increasingly rare. Hope grounded in realism.Subscribe, share, and keep the conversation going, because democracy depends on the common ground we choose to stand on together.Listen & SubscribeSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizenApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188Watch the Full VideoYouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CRConnect with UsWebsite: https://theinformedcitizen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholmCreditsProduced by The Informed CitizenMusic: “This Party Bussin” by Sound and VisionThis podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    36 min
  2. 11/29/2025

    23. "The Truth About Tribes" with Former County Executive John Ladenberg

    In this revealing episode of The Informed Citizen, host Dr. Philip Lindholm sits down with former Pierce County Executive & Prosecutor John Ladenburg to uncover the untold truth behind the Puyallup Land Claims Settlement, the messy politics of tribal-government relations, and why most elected officials still do not understand what a tribal government is.From forced treaties to billion-dollar negotiations, from shellfish rights to sovereign rule, this conversation cuts through myth and misunderstanding to reveal a story every resident of the Pacific Northwest should know.Episode Highlights• Why the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty sparked a war• The moment the Puyallup Tribe declared war on Tacoma• The Port of Tacoma land dispute and billions of dollars at stake• How tribal sovereignty actually works inside the United States• What local leaders misunderstand most about tribal nations• How the land settlement became a national model for cooperation• Why education is the key to stronger tribal–government partnerships Listen and subscribe to the podcast:• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizen• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188Connect with us:• The Informed Citizen Website: https://theinformedcitizen.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholm • YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR Credits:• Music: Sound and Vision, “This Party Bussin”This podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    35 min
  3. 11/06/2025

    22. "Justice on Trial" with Prosecutor Mary Robnett

    In this powerful episode of The Informed Citizen, Dr. Philip Lindholm sits down with Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett. Robnett is the county’s top legal officer and the first woman ever elected to the position. She gives a behind-the-scenes perspective on the state of justice in America today. From skyrocketing property crime and the fentanyl crisis, to juvenile violence and eroding public trust, Robnett opens up about the hardest questions facing prosecutors everywhere: Are we still a nation guided by the rule of law? Can justice survive in an age of division, doubt, and distrust?Robnett, who has spent more than three decades in the courtroom handling everything from homicides to human trafficking, shares an unfiltered look inside the criminal justice system where real decisions have life-or-death consequences. She talks about prosecuting in a time when some see law enforcement as heroes, others as oppressors, and nearly everyone feels that something in the system is broken. Her honesty cuts through politics and ideology to expose the real struggle: how to keep communities safe while upholding fairness, compassion, and the Constitution itself.Episode Highlights• What a county prosecutor really does and why it matters• How public trust in law enforcement and the courts eroded, and how to rebuild it• The truth about rising violent crime and the limits of reform• Why victims, business owners, and citizens are losing faith in justice — and how to change that• The hidden epidemic of human trafficking in Pierce County• Why juvenile gun violence keeps Mary Robnett up at night• The debate over diversion courts, addiction, and mental health reform• What laws Robnett believes must change to protect children from fentanyl exposure• How prosecutors walk the moral line between punishment and rehabilitation• What gives her hope for the future of justice in AmericaListen & SubscribeSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizenApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188Watch the Full VideoYouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CRConnect with UsWebsite: https://theinformedcitizen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholmCreditsProduced by The Informed CitizenMusic: “This Party Bussin” by Sound and VisionThis podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    34 min
  4. 10/13/2025

    21. "Why Young Voters Don't Show Up" with Anders Ibsen

    Why are so many young Americans tuning out? Host Philip Lindholm sits down with Anders Ibsen, a real estate professional, community leader, and former Tacoma City Councilmember, to explore one of the most urgent crises in American democracy: the political disengagement of young people. From the collapse of civic institutions to the fading promise of the American Dream, Ibsen draws on his years in public service to explain how disillusionment, economic strain, and digital distraction are reshaping an entire generation’s relationship to democracy. Together, he and Philip examine how we can rekindle civic life and why the future depends on it. Early Leadership and Civic DutyAt just 25, Anders Ibsen became one of the youngest elected officials in Pierce County. He shares how a college internship at the State Capitol inspired his belief that young voices can lead and why waiting on the sidelines is not an option.The Generational Decline in Civic LifeCiting Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, Ibsen explains how the erosion of social bonds from church membership to community clubs has left Americans bowling alone. Habits of engagement, he argues, are formed early, and without them, democracy weakens. Relevance, Not RebellionEfforts such as Rock the Vote tried to make politics look exciting but missed the point. What young people crave is not entertainment but relevance. They need to see that government decisions actually improve their lives. Broken Promises and the Betrayal of the American DreamFrom unaffordable housing to student debt, Ibsen argues that both young and older generations feel betrayed by a system that no longer delivers. The result is cynicism, survival mode living, and the erosion of civic trust. The Social Media TrapSocial media, Ibsen warns, is even worse than alcohol or drugs for its dopamine-driven manipulation of youth. He calls for regulating it as a controlled vice and reinvesting the proceeds into public health and civic education. Building Civic HabitsRe-engagement begins with institutions that listen. Ibsen describes Tacoma’s participatory budgeting program as a model for giving residents real voice and real results, calling it 'the stuff of rebuilding trust.' Policy That Restores HopeAsked to name one national policy to re-energize young voters, Ibsen points to housing reform. Affordable housing, he says, is foundational because when people are in survival mode there is no bandwidth left for democracy.Reviving the American DreamDespite growing inequality, Ibsen insists that pragmatic, community-minded policymaking can make the dream of homeownership and civic stability real again if we listen, compromise, and act with empathy. Listen and Subscribe:Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizen Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188 Connect with Us:Website: https://theinformedcitizen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholmYouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR

    31 min
  5. 10/10/2025

    20. "The Truth About Evictions" with Jim Henderson and Caitlyn McKenney

    In this eye-opening episode of The Informed Citizen, host Philip Lindholm sits down with Jim Henderson, founder of Landlord Solutions and Washington Government Relations, and Caitlyn McKenney, housing policy researcher and writer for FixHomelessness.org, to unpack one of the most divisive issues in America: evictions.Episode OverviewFrom rising rent costs to state-level moratoriums and broken safety nets, Philip, Jim, and Caitlyn explore the complex web of housing policies shaping life across Washington and beyond. Together, they reveal how well-intentioned laws can sometimes backfire - hurting tenants, landlords, and communities alike.Episode Highlights🔹 The Eviction RealityJim explains how the eviction process really works—from notice to court filing—and why it can take months (or even years) to resolve. He describes the immense strain on small landlords who lose income, legal fees, and sometimes their property altogether.🔹 Unintended Consequences of Tenant Protection LawsCaitlyn shares stories of policies that, while designed to protect tenants, end up endangering neighbors, bankrupting landlords, and eroding housing supply. Together, they discuss shocking examples of violent tenants shielded by legal loopholes.🔹 Who Should Pay?The guests tackle the tough question: When tenants can’t pay rent, whose responsibility is it—landlords, government, or society? Their answers reveal a clash between compassion and practicality, and the limits of private industry as a public safety net.🔹 Property Rights vs. Public GoodFrom Supreme Court precedents to the moral question of whether “housing is a right,” Philip leads a nuanced discussion about American law, fairness, and accountability in the rental market.🔹 What’s Next for Housing PolicyCaitlyn and Jim offer creative, realistic solutions to fix a system that’s failing both sides—reducing regulation, restoring accountability, and ensuring that housing remains both fair and functional.Key Takeaways• Evictions are not simply a “landlord vs. tenant” story—they impact entire communities.• Tenant protections must be balanced with accountability and due process.• Housing policy reform should prioritize sustainability, safety, and shared responsibility.• The free market, when properly structured, can serve tenants better than overregulation.Listed and subscribe to the podcast:• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizen• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188Connect with us:• The Informed Citizen Website: https://theinformedcitizen.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholm • YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR Credits:• Music: Sound and Vision, “This Party Bussin”This podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    28 min
  6. 09/13/2025

    19. “The (Sex-Trafficked) Girl Next Door” with Survivor Brea Burnett

    What if the smiling, straight-A student sitting next to you at school was being trafficked at night?That was the hidden reality for Brea Burnett, who was sold for sex from the age of 8 until 17—while still living at home, going to school, and appearing to lead a “normal” life. Today, she is the founder and executive director of Scarlet Compass, a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of sexual exploitation reclaim their lives.In this gripping episode of The Informed Citizen, host Philip Lindholm speaks with Brea about her extraordinary journey from victim to advocate. Together, they expose the dark truth of sex trafficking in America—a criminal enterprise that thrives in plain sight and devastates thousands of children every year.This conversation pulls no punches: from grooming tactics and law enforcement failures to the lifelong scars of PTSD and the urgent need for prevention and reform. Above all, it’s a story of resilience, faith, and the determination to fight for those still trapped.________________________________________Listed and subscribe to the podcast:• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizen• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188Connect with us:• https://theinformedcitizen.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drphiliplindholm/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drphiliplindholm • YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR Credits:• Produced in partnership with Terry Wise & Associates• Music: Sound and Vision, “This Party Bussin”This podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    44 min
  7. 09/03/2025

    18. "Cities Under Siege?" with Mayor Dana Ralph

    Host Philip Lindholm sits down with Dana Ralph, Mayor of Kent, Washington, about the growing power struggle between cities and the state. As Kent faces the pressures of rapid growth, rising housing costs, public safety concerns, and state-imposed mandates, Ralph offers a frank and unfiltered look at what it really takes to govern at the local level when Olympia holds most of the cards. From budget battles and policy overreach to the human cost of delayed decisions, this conversation shines a light on the hidden fights city leaders wage every day just to keep their communities afloat. EpisodeHighlights Cities UnderSiege Mayor Ralphexplains how local governments like Kent are being boxed in by state policies, leaving cities with responsibility for outcomes but little control over the tools to deliver them. Housing andAffordability With Kent growing faster than the infrastructure can keep up, Ralph breaks down the gap between what the state demands and what the city can realistically build—and who gets left behind in the process. Public Safety Under Pressure She discusses the tension between community expectations for safety and state-level restrictions that make hiring and retention of officers increasingly difficult. Infrastructure Bottlenecks From roads and bridges to regional transit, Ralph exposes the hidden cost of stalled state projects and how they choke local economies. The Politics of Power At the heart of this conversation is a candid look at who really holds the power; city leaders on the front lines, or state lawmakers shaping the rules from Olympia. Leadership in the Crossfire Mayor Ralph reflects on the personal side of governing under siege: the stress, the stakes, and the responsibility of leading a city that’s growing faster than its support systems. Listed and subscribe to the podcast: ·        Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-informed-citizen ·        Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-citizen/id1738680188   This podcast is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

    31 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Informed Citizen Podcast with Dr. Philip Lindholm. This show is for the game changers who are making this world a better place. We're glad you're here. Connect with us: https://theinformedcitizen.com https://www.instagram.com/informedcitizenpodcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556601982196 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdscEVf-gjkiNh9YK-0yYiTZN7usLZ4CR Credits: •Music: Sound and Vision, “This Party Bussin”