Local government, explained with care.
Kinni Cast treats local government as practical, human work. Through interviews and civic addresses, it connects River Falls residents to engineering projects, recreation programs, elections, utilities, public safety, and the people responsible for them.
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Kinni Cast is a measured local-government podcast centered on River Falls and the people who keep its public systems running. It is practical first. Episodes often begin with a staff member's path into city work, then move steadily into the projects, policies, and daily decisions that affect residents. Tyler Mason usually anchors the conversations as communications coordinator and host. His questions are direct, open, and designed to make municipal work understandable without stripping away the details. That matters here, because the show spends real time on process. A conversation with Todd Nikleski explains why major engineering projects can require years of planning before residents see construction. Funding, grants, capital improvement plans, council approval, and road safety all become part of the story. A recreation episode with Kyle Mackey turns the Parks and Rec Activity Guide into a map of summer camps, shelters, the campground at Hoppin Park, Glen Park pool information, and accessible programming. Amy White's episode gives local elections similar care, covering registration, absentee voting, poll equipment, notices, worker training, and the long preparation behind election day. The State of the City Address adds a more formal register, with Mayor Dan Tolan introducing City Administrator Scott Simpson's account of River Falls growth, planning tools, resident surveys, Vision Zero, and Safe Streets work. The show also looks inward at city operations. Karen Bergstrom's appearance focuses on human resources, workplace culture, work-life balance, and the department she helped build. Gordon Young brings public safety into view through law enforcement background, the police station, service, and mental health. Kevin Westhouse connects public power, utility work, line workers, and the biosolids dryer building to everyday city life. A Partner Spotlight with Matt Walker broadens the frame beyond City Hall, linking the UW-River Falls Falcons' Division III National Championship to local pride and university-community ties. Kinni Cast is not flashy. Its value is steadiness, specificity, and a clear sense that civic life is built through plans, staff labor, public input, and accountable follow-through.
Made for: Kinni Cast is for River Falls residents, local-government watchers, and community members who want clear context on city services, projects, elections, recreation, utilities, public safety, and civic milestones.
What sets it apart: The show stands out by pairing formal civic communication with patient staff interviews, turning behind-the-scenes municipal work into concrete explanations of how River Falls operates.
Welcome to the Kinni Cast, an all-new podcast from the City of River Falls featuring real people with a real purpose. On every episode, you’ll hear from City employees to learn more about the work being done to make River Falls a better place. You’ll learn about what projects they’re working on and what drives them to make a positive impact on the River Falls community. So if you’re curious about what’s next for River Falls and want a peek behind the scenes of City Hall, you’re in the right place. Subscribe to the Kinni Cast w...
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Kinni Cast gives River Falls residents a practical account of how city staff turn plans, legal duties, and public priorities into services.
Kinni Cast makes River Falls government concrete by asking city employees how their responsibilities translate into everyday services. Host Tyler Mason favors practical questions about process: City Engineer Todd Nikleski explains the years of planning and grant work behind…
City Hall loses its frosted glass when Tyler Mason asks who builds what, when, and why.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A grounded guide to River Falls summer recreation, from camps and pool time to the work behind the activity guide.
River Falls' summer recreation planning gets a grounded look, with Recreation Coordinator Kyle Mackey guiding listeners through the activity guide, Hoppin Park campground, shelter rentals, the Glen Park pool, and the city programs that shape the warm months.
A calm, practical look at the work that makes River Falls elections run.
Amy White's turn on KinneyCast offers a clear, grounded look at how River Falls keeps local elections on track. In her role as community services director and city clerk, she walks through the practical work behind the upcoming April election, from voter registration and polling…
A championship conversation that turns a football title into a portrait of River Falls.
Matt Walker's appearance frames UW-River Falls' first Division III national championship as a community milestone as much as a football one. The focus stays on River Falls, where he has lived for 15 years, and on the shared growth of the university and the town since he arrived.
County government, translated into everyday Missoula life.
A $2.2 million EDA grant to the City of River Falls and the River Falls Economic Development Corporation will expand the St.
Kyle Mackey takes center stage in the conversation.
Amy White joins Tyler Mason on KinneyCast as River Falls community services director and city clerk.
The episode features an interview with the HR director of River Falls, discussing workplace culture and her career in human resources.
The conversation opens with a special Partner Spotlight.
River Falls Police Chief Gordon Young discusses his career path, the new police station, and his passion for mental health in this city-produced podcast.
The episode discusses the 125th anniversary of public power in River Falls and features an interview with the Utility Director about municipal utilities and community impact.