354: Book of the Week: The Boys in the Boat

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Boys in the Boat
Episode 354 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

This episode continues the MLDC Summer Series, Stories That Shape Leaders, with a deep dive into The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, the true story of the University of Washington's underdog crew team and their improbable run to gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Seth unpacks why this story resonates so strongly with local government leaders: working-class athletes with no institutional advantage, competing against far better-resourced programs, who win not by individual talent but by learning to trust each other completely.

Seth introduces the book's central wisdom figure, boat builder George Pocock, and the concept of "swing" — the rare moment when a team moves as one. The episode closes with a preview of the week ahead inside the MLDC, where members will spend five days unpacking the book's leadership lessons in depth.

Join the MLDC

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our monthly virtual mastermind sessions
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training for local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at https://HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: https://HaltingWinter.com