You can find a podcast on anything you’re interested in. Do you love RuPaul’s Drag Race? There’s a podcast about that. Do you want more information on how they found the Golden State Killer? There are multiple podcasts about that. Are you for some reason passionate about snacks from Trader Joe’s? Yes, there is a podcast about that, too.
And now, there is a podcast that will help you understand infrastructure in Madison.
“I thought, you know, it would be really nice to have something that is more local and applicable to our community and if you can get more out of it than just entertainment, and you get information in order to live life a little bit better or more informed, that’s awesome,” says Hannah Mohelnitzky of City Engineering.
Mohelnitzky is the department’s Public Information Officer and host of the new podcast, Everyday Engineering. Twice a month, she will be sitting down with city engineers and discussing a variety of topics and practical tips.
She says the episodes will address seasonal issues in Madison. In the fall they will discuss mulching with your lawnmower. And in the winter they will cover how to safely salt your driveway and how to prevent frozen pipes. Each episode will be 15 to 20 minutes long–the perfect length to listen to while on a commute or doing chores.
“When I was on the bus, I’m like, you know what would be great? If we had, you know, a podcast that people would be listening to on their bus ride, or when their walking, or when they are working out, or when they are going from point A to point B,” Mohelnitzky shares.
The first episode is out today. Engineers Jojo O’Brien and Phil Gaebler talk with Mohelnitzky about the historic flooding in August 2018, and how Madison residents can protect themselves from future flooding.
Mohelnitzky herself was hired as a result of the flooding. Before that, City Engineering didn’t have a public information officer. In her job, she has created a Facebook page for the department and they now publish weekly flooding updates every Friday. The podcast is a new creative way for the department to connect with community.
“We know what we do on a day to day bases impacts people greatly–you know, that might be financially, sometimes emotionally, and physically, but we want to make sure that the projects that we do are thoughtful and that we’re explaining how they are happening in a clear way,” Mohelnitzky notes. “And if it’s through a podcast, if it’s through a weekly flooding update, if it’s through just connecting with me, just know that we are trying to communicate and collaborate as much as we can.”
Everyday Engineering is the second podcast to come out of a city department. The Madison Police have been putting out a twice-monthly podcast since 2017.
You can find Everyday Engineering in the Apple Store or Google Play. And if you have questions or would like to suggest a topic, you can email Mohelnitzky directly.