Best Mike Hightower Podcasts (2026)

1
Reflecting on Two and a Half Years: Jacksonville’s Stories, Leaders, and Civic Pride 25:10

Play Pause

16d ago25:10

25:10

Welcome to a special year-end milestone episode of Mikes on Mic. In this reflective wrap-up, the hosts come together with community leaders and longtime friends of the show to look back on more than two and a half years of meaningful conversations. With 125 episodes recorded, the podcast reflects on its journey exploring politics, government, and t…

1
Simplicity at Scale: Cleaning House for Platform Teams with Brian Childress 40:46

21d ago40:46

40:46

Why do so many “modern” platforms feel slow, fragile, and painful to work on? Platform engineer and fractional CTO Brian Childress joins Cory to discuss how over-engineering, resume‑driven development, and scattered tooling quietly block teams from shipping value. They explore why simplicity is a competitive advantage for platform teams, especially…

1
Lenny Curry, JEA, and the Jacksonville Public Trust Crisis: Deep Dive with Investigators 26:01

23d ago26:01

26:01

Today we talk about something important happening in Jacksonville. A former mayor, Lenny Curry, just became a lobbyist for JEA—the city’s power and water company. This is surprising because, not long ago, he tried to sell JEA, which caused a lot of people to get upset and worry about the future of the city’s utilities. We sit down with people who w…

1
Mayor Donna Deegan on Jacksonville’s Downtown Revival, Riverfront Parks, and Transparent City Government 26:22

1M ago26:22

26:22

For this episode we sat down with Mayor Donna Deegan—right in her office—for an open, honest conversation about where Jacksonville’s headed. Two and a half years into her first term, she’s had some big wins—downtown development, the riverfront parks, and real investment in neighborhoods that have been overlooked for years. But we also got into the …

1
Using Feature Flags to Tame Complexity with Mike Zorn 43:29

1M ago43:29

43:29

What if changing a single flag could save you from a failed migration, a broken API, or a late-night rollback? Join us as we dive into how feature flags become a practical tool for changing application behavior at runtime, not just toggling UI elements. Cory talks Mike Zorn about real stories from LaunchDarkly and Rippling, covering how teams use f…

1
Jacksonville’s Growth, Community Impact, and Leadership with Vystar CEO Brian Wolfburg 25:23

1M ago25:23

25:23

What does it take to turn a hometown credit union into a driving force behind a city’s rebirth? Today, we sit down with Brian Wolfburg, President & CEO of Vystar Credit Union, for a powerful conversation on corporate culture, civic leadership, and Jacksonville’s future. From its roots serving military families on a naval air base to becoming a bill…

1
Why Are We So Divided? A Thanksgiving Reflection on Political Polarization with Dr. Sean Freeder 27:37

1M ago27:37

27:37

Hi! Today we’re doing something a little different—and a little deeper—to honor the Thanksgiving holiday. This episode brings back one of our most requested conversations: Why are we so divided? Together with my co-hosts Mike Hightower and Mike Tolbert, we sit down with Dr. Sean Freeder, political science professor at UNF and expert on political po…

1
Policy as Code: Kyverno and Securing Kubernetes at Scale with Jim Bugwadia 42:21

2M ago42:21

42:21

Most Kubernetes security breaches don't come from zero-day exploits - they come from misconfigurations. While your team runs scanners and reviews reports, containers are already running as root, network policies are missing, and compliance violations are piling up across dozens of repositories. Jim Bugwadia, co-founder and CEO of Nirmata and creato…

1
Are We Repeating the Skyway Mistake? The Shocking Truth About Jacksonville’s Autonomous Shuttle 31:20

2M ago31:20

31:20

Is Jacksonville’s $370-a-Ride Transit Bet a Bust? Today we dive deep into Jacksonville’s bold experiment with autonomous transportation — NAVI — a cutting-edge, self-driving shuttle system meant to revolutionize downtown transit. But with only 76 daily riders and a staggering $370-per-passenger cost, is it already headed for the scrap heap? Joining…

1
Florida’s Top Concern: Housing Costs and What Polls Reveal About the 2026 Political Landscape 29:02

2M ago29:02

29:02

Welcome back to the show! This week, we are diving headfirst into the kitchen-table issues hitting Floridians the hardest—housing costs, property taxes, and skyrocketing insurance rates. Joining the conversation is special guest Dr. Michael Binder from UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab, here to break down fresh polling data revealing what’s really …

1
Guest Host: Kelsey Hightower - Beyond Pipelines: Infrastructure As Data 48:51

2M ago48:51

48:51

Is your Git repo really the source of truth for infrastructure - or just a suggestion? Guest host Kelsey Hightower sits down with Cory O’Daniel to unpack why many teams hit dead ends with CI/CD for provisioning, where GitOps struggles with drift, and when TicketOps helps or hurts. They explore a different model: infrastructure as data with typed co…

1
Navigating Political Challenges in City Governance with Bill Gulliford 21:38

2M ago21:38

21:38

Why do city leaders say "no" so often—and what does it really cost them? Today we dive deep into the behind-the-scenes world of city council politics, revealing the often unseen pressures, personal dilemmas, and power dynamics that shape local decision-making. You’ll hear how political leaders juggle transparency, legal fears, and public interest—a…

1
An Inside Look Into the Ukraine/Russian War 28:18

2M ago28:18

28:18

It was an experience that very few or any Americans will ever have this opportunity to witness. Our podcast co-host, Mike Hightower, recently returned from a two week trip to Ukraine with an international group. The primary purpose was to deliver much needed medical supplies to battle field Ukraine soldiers. During this episode of Mikes on Mic, Hig…

1
Guest Host: Kelsey Hightower - Are CI/CD and GitOps Just Making Things Harder? 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

What if your production environment had a live, trustworthy blueprint you could zoom in and out of on demand? Kelsey Hightower guest-hosts a candid conversation with Cory about why CI/CD pipelines and GitOps often break down for cloud infrastructure. They explore a simpler operational model: treat infrastructure as data, lean on clear checkpoints i…

1
Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Whole Lot of Jacksonville History 43:27

3M ago43:27

43:27

We're throwing it back to one of our favorite milestone moments—the one-year anniversary of Mikes on Mic! In this special episode, originally recorded at The Jacksonville History Center, the Mikes reflect on highlights from the first 51 episodes that helped shape the conversation in and around Jacksonville. From Sheriff Nat Glover’s powerful storie…

1
Why Are We So Divided? Exploring the Roots and Remedies of Political Polarization with Dr. Sean Freeder 27:56

3M ago27:56

27:56

This week, we’re tackling a topic that’s hard to ignore: the growing political polarization in the U.S. To help us unpack it, we sat down with Dr. Sean Freeder, associate professor of political science at UNF, for a powerful and timely conversation. Why does the divide feel so personal these days? Why do disagreements so often spiral into full-blow…

1
Guest Host: Kelsey Hightower — Why IaC Alone Isn’t Enough 39:40

3M ago39:40

39:40

Ever wonder why strong Terraform modules still lead to long review queues and fragile pipelines? From hand-built scripts and early data center migrations to cloud sprawl and Kubernetes, configuration management has changed a lot - but the core struggle remains: too many decisions, not enough guardrails. Guest host Kelsey Hightower sits down with Co…

1
Leslie Jean-Bart on Sunshine Law, City Hall Transparency, and Jacksonville’s Political Legacy 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

On this episode of Mics on Mic, hosts Mike Miller and Mike Tolbert sit down with Leslie Jean-Bart—fifth-gen Jacksonville native, attorney, and activist—for a bold conversation on ethics, transparency, and power at City Hall. From Sunshine Law concerns to nonprofit funding tied to council members, Leslie brings legal insight and personal passion to …

1
How will our local public broadcasting stations deal with public funding cutbacks? 40:11

3M ago40:11

40:11

Welcome back to Mikes on Mic, where we dive into the conversations shaping our community, government, and the future of Jacksonville. Today, we’re joined by David McGowan, CEO of WJCT Public Media — the voice and vision behind our city’s public radio and television outlets. Under his leadership, WJCT continues to inform, educate, and inspire Northe…

1
How to Ship Faster with Feature Flags: Insights from Unleash 43:58

4M ago43:58

43:58

Still freezing code before Black Friday and hoping nothing breaks? Feature flags can help you ship smaller, safer changes continuously—without the “big bang” risk or painful rollbacks. Cory O’Daniel talks with Unleash VP of Marketing Michael Ferranti about how modern teams use flags as a core delivery primitive alongside CI/CD and trunk-based devel…

1
The bold strategy behind Gateway Jax’s $500M+ investment in the urban core 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

In this week’s episode of Mikes on Mic, we sit down with Bryan Moll, CEO of Gateway Jax, the visionary developer behind one of the most ambitious urban revitalization efforts in Florida. Bryan pulls back the curtain on how he and his team are reimagining downtown Jacksonville—turning overlooked blocks into a dynamic, inclusive destination where bus…

1
What's the latest in the development of the Emerald Trail? 25:35

4M ago25:35

25:35

Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, is a driving force behind one of the city's most transformative urban renewal projects—the Emerald Trail. With a deep commitment to environmental justice, equitable development, and community engagement, Ehas has led Groundwork Jacksonville in its mission to restore and reconnect the city's urban core throu…

1
GraphQL, MCP, and the Future of APIs with Apollo CEO Matt DeBergalis 43:07

4M ago43:07

43:07

**UPDATE** - Apollo GraphQL has kindly offered us a few free passes to join them at the GraphQL Summit in San Francisco, October 6-8, 2025. If you are interested in going, the code is: PodcastSummit25 What if your API layer could help you ship faster today and make tomorrow’s AI workflows safer and easier to build? Apollo CEO Matt DeBergalis explai…

1
Navigating Jacksonville's Budget: A Political Landscape with David Bauerlein 33:34

4M ago33:34

33:34

Jacksonville’s budget battle is heating up — and the stakes are higher than ever. After 3 weeks, we sit sit down with veteran Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein to break down the political tug-of-war shaping the city’s financial future. From proposed property tax cuts to controversial reductions in affordable housing and health services, this con…

1
Who Pays for Progress? Former Mayor John Peyton Weighs In (Best Of Mikes On Mic) 28:39

4M ago28:39

28:39

Jacksonville is at a crossroads—tough decisions are being made about the city's future, and they all come with a price tag. From infrastructure and public safety to education and economic development, what should the city prioritize—and more importantly, how will it pay for it? This week on Mikes on Mic, we go over one of our Best Of the Best conve…

1
Best of Mikes On Mic - How Susie Wiles Shaped American Politics, The Untold Story with Michael Kruse 33:06

5M ago33:06

33:06

Today we are revisiting the intriguing world of Susie Wiles, the mastermind behind the success of key Republican campaigns. From her instrumental role in Ron DeSantis's 2018 victory to her critical contributions to Donald Trump's 2020 efforts, uncover how Wiles navigates the complex web of politics with finesse. Journalist Michael Kruse shares excl…

1
Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview with Mike Mroczka 1:08:35

5M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Ever wondered how many “perfect” candidates simply learned the test—or how many great engineers get filtered out by bad interview design? Mike Mroczka, interview coach and ex-Googler, shares what really goes on behind technical hiring and how to navigate it to your advantage. What you’ll learn: How leaked question banks and standardized puzzles can…

1
Overcoming Racial Challenges: How Sheriff Nathaniel Glover Transformed His Life 35:35

5M ago35:35

35:35

In this captivating episode our guest, Nathaniel Glover, shares his powerful and inspirational story. From a traumatic encounter with racism to becoming a sheriff, Nathaniel's journey is filled with resilience, forgiveness, and the pursuit of justice. Tune in as he discusses his experiences with the criminal justice system, his path to law enforcem…

1
Developing and reimagining downtown Jacksonville with Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll 32:54

5M ago32:54

32:54

This week Mikes on Mic sits down with Bryan Moll, the CEO of Gateway Jax. Brian has been at the forefront of transforming downtown Jacksonville into a thriving hub of culture, business, and community. His vision and leadership have been pivotal in revitalizing the area, making it a more vibrant and attractive place to live, work, and play. In this …

1
Jacksonville’s Parks Under Pressure: Safeguarding Natural Beauty and Historic Sites 28:10

5M ago28:10

28:10

Do you love Jacksonville’s parks or wonder how our local green spaces survive under constant pressure from funding cuts and development? Today we sit down with acclaimed Times Union columnist and author Mark Woods for a revealing conversation about the past, present, and future of our treasured parks. Together, they discuss the pivotal roles played…

1
From React to Dagster: Pete Hunt on Data, Infra, and AI-Ready Platforms 49:32

5M ago49:32

49:32

Is Postgres actually a better message queue than Kafka? This provocative question is just one of many insights Pete Hunt shares in this conversation about data orchestration, platform engineering, and the evolution of infrastructure. Pete Hunt, CEO of Dagster Labs and former React co-founder at Facebook, brings his unique perspective from working a…

1
TA launches the Bay St. Innovation Corridor service 31:46

5M ago31:46

31:46

It's said that Jacksonville is a "City on the Move! Well there's no better example of that than JTA's U2C project, a three-phase program revolutionizing public transportation in Jacksonville. Launched on June 30th, the first phase of the project features autonomous shuttles running on Bay St. in downtown Jacksonville between the Jacksonville Region…

1
Unpacking the city's $2 Billion proposed 2025-26 annual budget 30:53

6M ago30:53

30:53

Welcome to Mikes On Mic — the podcast where Jacksonville talks politics, policy, and the people shaping our city. This week, we’re celebrating our 2nd anniversary with a deep dive into Mayor Donna Deegan’s proposed $2 billion city budget for 2025-26. Joining us is Mike Mendenhall, Associate Editor of JAXToday, to unpack where the money’s going — an…

1
Building Better Platforms with Dapr: Abstractions, Portability, and Durable Systems with Mark Fussell 48:39

6M ago48:39

48:39

Cloud lock-in isn't just about where your data lives—it's about how deeply cloud-specific code permeates your applications. Mark Fussell, co-creator of Dapr and CEO of Diagrid, joins Cory O'Daniel to explore how Dapr provides clean abstractions for common distributed system patterns, enabling teams to build portable applications without sacrificing…

1
Inside Jacksonville’s City Council: Mike Gay on Campaign Challenges, Party Divides & Stadium Deal 25:08

6M ago25:08

25:08

Welcome to another exciting episode of Mikes on Mic. This week, Councilman Mike Gay. We discuss how he overcame strong opposition and a flood of attack ads to win his campaign. His strong values guided him through a tough race. Join the Mikes as they examine Gay’s lone 'no' vote on Jacksonville's massive $1.4 billion stadium deal. They explore his …

1
Dr. Rahman Johnson on Redistricting, Race & Jacksonville’s Evolving Politics 27:50

6M ago27:50

27:50

This week, we chat with our dear friend, Dr. Rahman Johnson. He’s a City Councilman, award-winning broadcaster, educator, and true Renaissance man. Dr. Johnson shares his journey from Jacksonville neighborhoods to becoming the first person of color and the first Democrat to represent District 14 since consolidation. He discusses running for office …

1
What CVEs Did for Security, CREs Are Doing for Reliability 47:36

6M ago47:36

47:36

Did you know that software engineers often "learn things the hard way" because they lack a standardized system to share knowledge about reliability issues? While security professionals have CVEs to catalog vulnerabilities, reliability engineers have been left to reinvent the wheel with each new bug or outage. Tony Meehan, co-founder and CTO of Preq…

1
Inside Jacksonville: Mayor’s Leadership, Stadium Deal, and City Council Power Plays 19:30

6M ago19:30

19:30

Last week, we spoke with Mayor Donna Deegan. Today, we’ll break down that meeting. We’ll reflect on her leadership style, coalition building, and big wins. These include the stadium contract talks and impressive downtown growth. We’ll also discuss the often dynamic—and sometimes dramatic—relationship between the Mayor and the Republican-led city co…

1
Episode 1 of the Mom + Dad Design Club Podcast : First Time Moms 38:22

7M ago38:22

38:22

In this episode of the Mom and Dad Design Club podcast, first-time moms Tarra Avila, Lauren Korb, and Haley Salas share their personal experiences navigating motherhood, pregnancy, and maternity leave. They discuss the challenges of balancing work and family life, the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, and the identity shifts that come with beco…

1
Celebrating Mikes on Mic's 100th episode with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan 25:27

7M ago25:27

25:27

The focus of Mikes on Mic has been on the city of Jacksonville. We follow the politics of the city and projects and events that affect our quality of life. As we celebrate our 100th episode we again invited Mayor Donna Deegan to review with us all that's been done in her first two years of her administration and what she enters her third year. Join…

1
Unpacking the latest UNF polling numbers of local politics 20:33

7M ago20:33

20:33

The numbers go up and the numbers go down. And sometimes it's found that the most important issues are no longer what we've seen in the past. Joining the Mikes again this week is UNF Political Science and Public Administration professor Michael Binder. Dr. Binder is also the director of the highly respected Public Opinion Research Laboratory. The P…

1
An in-depth and often times humorous conversation with recently retired meteorologist Tim Deegan 45:32

7M ago45:32

45:32

This week the Mikes have a candid and often humorous conversation with Tim Deegan. Tim discusses his 43 yrs at First Coast News, his relationships with other TV meteorologists in Jacksonville and a glimpse into the discussions with his wife, Donna, about her decision to run for mayor. Tune in to the show on your favorite Podcasting platform and on …

1
The University of Florida in Jacksonville and Firearms in City Hall 32:41

7M ago32:41

32:41

Florida Times Union Reporter David Bauerlein joins the Mikes to discuss how the University of Florida may increase its presence in Jacksonville, thanks to major investments by both the City and private developers. Bauerlein also weighs in on the controversial story emerging at City Hall concerning carrying firearms there. Tune in to the show on you…

1
From DevOps to 'Vibe Coding': Gene Kim on AI-Assisted Development and Platform Engineering 56:32

7M ago56:32

56:32

What if you could turn a five-year software project into a one-month endeavor? Gene Kim, co-founder of IT Revolution and author of The Phoenix Project, reveals how AI-powered Vibe Coding is transforming the way developers work. Kim shares insights from his upcoming book about how developers are achieving unprecedented productivity, including how hi…

1
Jacksonville's business community is booming 26:39

8M ago26:39

26:39

We're seeing cranes all over downtown Jacksonville. Construction is thriving in every part of the 844 sq miles of the city. Our population has surpassed one million residents and the seven county region is approaching two million residents. Following all of this is 45 year business reporter Karen Mathis, Editor of the Jacksonville Daily Record. Kar…

1
How Politics Changed: Former Mayor Elaine Brown’s Take After Years in Office 26:39

8M ago26:39

26:39

Former Jacksonville Council member, and former Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown shares her thoughts and impressions on how politics have changed over the years of her extensive public service. There aren't many people who can claim to have spent eight years on the Jacksonville City Council, then eight years as Mayor of Neptune Beach, and now newly …

1
The evolution of the Florida Times Union between 2003 and 2025 39:31

8M ago39:31

39:31

This week's guest on Mikes on Mic is Mary Kelli Palka, former executive editor of the Times Union. Mary Kelli joined the TU in 2003 as a staff reporter, later as Investigative Editor and finally as Executive Editor. She talks about the challenges for a daily paper, the shrinking number of staff reporters, the changing ownership and the increasing r…

1
Cracks in the GOP: State legislators and the Governor spar over tax cuts and tourism. 28:03

8M ago28:03

28:03

The usually united Governor and the Republican dominated legislature forces the 2025 session into overtime or special session to iron out tax differences, including the bed taxes which partially fund Visit Jacksonville and other cities tourist marketing organizations to a standstill. Visit Jacksonville's CEO Michael Corrigan joins the Mikes to disc…

1
Snyk’s Danny Allan on Making Security Developer-Friendly 45:26

8M ago45:26

45:26

Security often feels like a roadblock to developers, but what if it could be seamlessly integrated into the development process? As software delivery becomes increasingly automated and self-service, the traditional approach to security needs a major overhaul. Danny Allan, CTO at Snyk, shares practical insights on transforming security from a bottle…

1
UNF’s Michael Binder Unpacks the Political Drama Dividing Florida—from Jacksonville's City Hall to Tallahassee 23:47

8M ago23:47

23:47

UNF Professor Michael Binder returns to Mikes on Mic to share his thoughts on the current political climate in Tallahassee as the governor finds his influence on the legislature waning. Dr. Binder also gives his assessment of Democrat Mayor Deegan's first 22 months and her relationship with the super majority Republican City Council and her priorit…