#173 Yunlin: The Agri-Tech Hub Redefining Rural Innovation
Taiwan's Yunlin County supplies one in every three vegetables and pigs on the nation's dining tables. Yet its transformation extends far beyond traditional agriculture. Join Hsieh Shu-ya, Deputy Magistrate of Yunlin County , Taiwan, as she reveals how Yunlin is reimagining rural innovation through smart technology, circular economy strategies, and inclusive design. From AI-powered crop predictions that help farmers make data-driven decisions to converting agricultural waste into high-value textiles and green energy, Yunlin demonstrates how infrastructure investment, strategic partnerships, and empathy-driven leadership can turn demographic challenges into economic renewal. Discover how a county once defined by farming is becoming a competitive Agri-Industrial-Commercial Tech City, attracting young entrepreneurs and positioning itself on the global stage whilst ensuring no one is left behind. Listen to the episode on: - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - Amazon Music - YouTube Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page .
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"#172 Kansas City: Beyond the Shiny AI Widget
Kansas City is not chasing AI hype. Instead, Andrew Ngui , Chief Digital Officer of Kansas City , Missouri, United States, is focused on the essential work that makes artificial intelligence functional in local government: aligning data, processes, and people. In this episode, we explore what lies beneath every successful AI implementation. Through Kansas City's work with the Bloomberg City Data Alliance and their 311 service redesign, Andrew reveals the real challenges facing city governments adopting AI. He challenges the sector's obsession with technological solutions and redirects attention to what truly matters: organisational change, staff readiness, and the psychological safety required for innovation to take root. We also discuss the risks often left unspoken: the unintended consequences of automation, the value of thinking time embedded in routine work, and why human-to-human connection should never be outsourced to machines. Andrew shares practical tools developed through the Gov AI Coalition to help cities move beyond pilots, and why meaningful work built on autonomy, mastery, and purpose is the real driver of transformation. A conversation about what it actually takes to implement AI responsibly in cities, and why the future belongs to those who think before they deploy. Listen to the episode on: - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - Amazon Music - YouTube Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
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#171 Folgaria: Climate Solutions for Alpine Communities
Michael Rech, Mayor of Folgaria, manages one of Italy's most dynamic Alpine municipalities. Located in the Dolomites, Folgaria welcomes 2 million visitors annually while maintaining a permanent population of just 3,000 residents spread across 33 villages. This creates a unique tension: balancing climate commitments with the realities of a tourism-dependent economy. In this episode, Michael explores how small mountain municipalities can turn climate goals into everyday action. He discusses practical strategies for energy efficiency in public buildings, innovative water management systems that respond to Folgaria's unique geography, and sustainable mobility solutions tailored to Alpine terrain. Throughout the conversation, Michael emphasises the importance of collaboration and long-term partnerships in overcoming resource constraints. The episode reveals how small municipalities can move beyond theoretical planning to deliver concrete results, even with limited budgets and administrative capacity. Listen to the episode on: - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - Amazon Music - YouTube Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
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