The Government Mule

The Government Mule Episode 5 - The Keeper Project

A conversation about service, sacrifice, resilience, and the power of community. In this episode of The Government Mule Podcast, Michael Willis sits down with the team behind The Keeper and the Keeper Project, including George Eshleman, whose extraordinary real-life journey inspired the film. Following the loss of his best friend, George embarked on a 2,000-mile trek that became a powerful story of survival, purpose, and hope.  The discussion explores veteran mental health, PTSD, suicide prevention, and how communities can support those who have served.  Through personal stories and honest conversations, this episode highlights the challenges many veterans face after service and the mission of the Keeper Project to build community, foster understanding, and help save lives.

The Government Mule Episode 4 - Stan Sallee & Michael Willis

One day during the pandemic, local governments across the country woke up to something they had never seen before: millions of dollars in federal relief funding suddenly available to help their communities respond to an unprecedented crisis. But what happened next? In this episode, Tulsa County Clerk Michael Willis sits down with Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Sallee to discuss the CARES Act, ARPA funding, and what it was like helping lead Tulsa County through one of the most challenging periods in recent history. As the only Tulsa County Commissioner who served throughout the entire pandemic, Commissioner Sallee offers a firsthand perspective on the difficult decisions, unexpected challenges, and opportunities that came with managing federal relief dollars. Whether you're curious about where the money went, how local government responded during COVID-19, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind the headlines, this conversation offers a fascinating look at a moment in history that affected all of us.

The Government Mule Episode 3 - Michael Willis & John Fothergill

🎙️ New Podcast Episode! Tulsa County Clerk Michael Willis sat down with Tulsa County Treasurer John Fothergill for a conversation about how the Tulsa County budget works and how their offices work together to responsibly manage taxpayer dollars. In this episode, they give an inside look at how county funds are managed, how different offices work together to serve the public, and how taxpayer dollars support essential services across Tulsa County. It’s a quick and informative overview of the systems and partnerships that help keep the county government running smoothly. Give it a listen! 🎧

The Government Mule Episode 2 - Behind the Numbers: How the County Budget Comes Together

Get an inside look at how the 𝐓𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 is built, managed, and finalized. In this episode of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐞, we sit down with: • 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨, 𝙏𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙠 • 𝙈𝙞𝙮𝙪𝙠𝙞 𝘿𝙬𝙮𝙚𝙧, 𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 • 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙞𝙚𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙩 Together, they break down the county budget process from early planning and financial analysis to final approvals and implementation. Whether you are a resident curious about how public funds are allocated or someone interested in local government operations, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲’𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

The Government Mule Podcast: Ep.1

In this episode, County Clerk Michael Willis and former Communications and Outreach Manager Maggie Cooksey chat about her time with Tulsa County as she moves on to a new adventure.