The Davenport Pulse: Recent Episodes
City of Davenport, Iowa
Welcome to the Davenport Pulse, a podcast aimed at connecting citizens to their local government. Together we will explore important issues impacting our neighborhoods and community, through conversations with residents, city staff, and elected officials. Davenport is the urban pulse at the heart of the Quad Cities, rich in history and character, where folks with a Midwest mentality plant personal and professional roots. Come explore with us the people, places, and programs that make Davenport home.
The Explorer Program establishes awareness and highlights the complexities of police services in an environment that allows youth of the program to take initiative in becoming responsible leaders in our community. Learn more about The Davenport Police Department Explorer Program as Lieutenant Nick Shorten dives into specifics and shares what he hopes Explorers gain throughout their experience. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, tune in to this episode for details on upcoming opportunities!
A local favorite that has been serving the Quad Cities for over 30 years! Tune in to the latest episode of The Davenport Pulse Podcast as we talk all things craft beer with Brandon Mavis, Marketing Director for Front Street Brewery. Find out more about this beloved brewery’s humble beginnings, their expansion into western Wisconsin and western Iowa, what’s on their current beer rotation, and upcoming events to check out at the Tap Room and Pub & Eatery!
January is National Mentor Month! On this episode of The Davenport Pulse, hosts sit down with two fantastic Q.C. mentors, Kayla Kiesey and Sarah Sperry of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, to talk about the importance of mentoring in the Quad Cities, when it began, and how it’s expanded over the years.
January 15 marks The Good Neighbor Project’s 4-year Anniversary! To celebrate, hosts sat down with Joyce Miller, GNP Leader for the Van Buren Neighborhood, who has been with GNP from the start. Joyce was the first person to sign up for the program back in 2020 and has been busy ever since.
Tune in to learn how Joyce got started, how she keeps her neighbors informed, other ways she stays active in our community, and some great advice for those interested in getting involved in GNP.
Leading up to Small Business Saturday, hosts sat down with Becca Nicke and Red Perez of Abernathy’s, handmade/vintage boutique located at 432 West 3rd Street. Listen and learn more about the products they offer, how they made this dream a reality at such a young age, and what they did to celebrate their recent 10-year anniversary downtown.
Listen to the final Veterans Day episode to learn more about Officer Daniel Hylton with the Davenport Police Department. In this episode, Officer Hylton shares how he made the decision to join the Army, talks about some of the special people he met throughout his time, and more.
In this Veterans Day episode, hosts were joined by Sgt. Jonathon Douglas, Supervisor of the Special Victims Unit with the Davenport Police Department. Sgt. Douglas discusses his time spent in service, gives advice to anyone thinking of enlisting, and shares a couple memorable stories.
Tune in to the first of three Veterans Day episodes as hosts sit down with Davenport Firefighter, Zack Micklewright. In this episode, Zack shares what led him to the path of serving, what he remembers about the day he enlisted, and how his military experience continues to positively impact his life today.
Hosts sat down with Liz Estilow, founder of My G.E.A.R. Outreach, to talk about the non-profit organization that is committed to bringing comfort and hope to children entering foster care for the first time. Tune in to learn how My G.E.A.R. got started, what they provide to those transitioning into foster care/relative placement, how you can get involved, and more.
Amy Driskill, Davenport Public Library Archivist and resident scary storyteller, joins your hosts again to share a few more haunted tales to get you into the Halloween spirit. Tune in to hear Amy talk about supernatural encounters with friendly (and not-so-friendly) ghosts, and more creepy-cool Davenport history that is sure to give you chills.
District Chief Craig Black with the Davenport Fire Department joined hosts to discuss his 29 years within the profession, where his interest in becoming a fire fighter began, a few career highlights, why this position is important to have in our community, what a typical day looks like for him, and more.
In celebration of National Good Neighbor Day (September 28), Allie and guest host Sergeant Harris sit down with GNP members of the Central Community Circle (CCC). CCC exemplifies what it means to be good neighbors every day with their dedication to the CCC neighborhood and the entire community. In the episode, Billie Greenwood and Ann Schwickerath provide a brief history of the CCC, including how it was founded, upcoming events to look forward to in the fall, exciting projects in progress, and more.
Your favorite garden kid, Cory Carter Jr. joined hosts to share more about his produce stand, what a typical day looks like for him, where his love of gardening began, where he sees himself in the next five years, and more! Tune in to hear what this young man has going on, and don’t forget to visit his produce stand, located at 3940 Rockingham Rd.
On this episode of The Davenport Pulse, Director of Parks and Recreation, Chad Dyson, joins hosts to highlight National Parks and Recreation Month! Tune in to hear more on this topic, the importance of parks and the impact they have on our community, upcoming and ongoing projects, how you can get involved, Chad’s favorite parks, and more!
Hosts highlight Special Olympics and the partnership with law enforcement in this two-part episode. Megan Filipi, Director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) shares the history of the LETR, fundraising efforts and events that fall under its umbrella, how you can help support and get involved with Special Olympics, and more.
In part two, hosts are joined by Stuart Brown, Special Olympics athlete and Global Ambassador, to share his experience, events he competes in, how he became a Global Ambassador, fun memories, and relationships he’s made over the years.
There is no greater title than Mom! In honor of Mother’s Day, hosts sat down with a very special guest - Liz Dorton, mother to City employees Mike, Joe, and Tommy who are members of the Davenport Fire Department and Police Department.
Tune in to hear the Dorton family talk about their upbringing, when interests first took place of working in public service, details about the roles they each play in keeping our community safe, and more.
In this episode, hosts sit down with Library Director Jeff Collins and Community Outreach Supervisor Brittany Peacock to talk about the exciting events 2023 has in store for patrons. Listeners will also get to know Collins and what brought him to team Davenport as Director in early 2022 and why chose Davenport to grow in his career.
Welcome back! We are excited to kick off 2023 with season 2 of The Davenport Pulse! In this episode, hosts sit down with Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel and City of Davenport Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Ott to discuss Group Violence Intervention (GVI), an evidence-based strategy to lower violent crime in our community. GVI was launched in June of 2022 and is a partnership between law enforcement, community members, and social service providers to assist those at highest risk for violent victimization and offending with the intention to keep those individuals alive, safe, and out of prison. Tune in to learn more about how this strategy is being implemented in our community.
Brandon Carleton, owner of Blue Spruce General Store, joins hosts to talk about his brand new, downtown Davenport location. Tune in to learn how the bakery evolved into a general store, the products offered, including baked-fresh-daily bread, pastry items, groceries, and lunch, and how Brandon made his dreams a reality with the help of a small business loan through the City of Davenport.
On this episode hosts interview two more local businesses; The Brewed Book Coffee Shop & Used Book Store, and Hats, Hair, ‘N Wigs, both located conveniently in the Hilltop Campus Village. Find out what each has to offer and pay them a visit the next time you’re on the Hilltop.
Tune in to this two-part episode highlighting local businesses you will definitely want to visit this holiday season! This episode highlights Wind Dancer Boutique, located in the Village of East Davenport, and Honey Creek Gems, located on Washington Street.
November 11 is a tribute to Military Veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We are thankful and appreciative of the service from these brave men and women. Tune in to a three-part special where hosts sit down with City employees Keith Sineath, Brandon McCubbin, Korrine Isreal, and Brad Carter to discuss their time in the armed forces, what led them to the path of serving, special memories, experiences, and more.
Join your hosts as they sit down with new Davenport Police Chief, Jeffery Bladel, in the first-ever video episode of The Davenport Pulse podcast. A 28-year veteran of the Davenport Police Department, Bladel became the new chief effective August 30. Learn how Chief Bladel chose law enforcement as a career along with his priorities and vision for the department.
On the latest episode of The Davenport Pulse, your hosts (+1) sit down with Davenport Public Library Archivist Amy Driskill for some spooktacular stories about Davenport! In the spirit of Halloween , Amy shares some of her supernatural encounters and top tales that are sure to give you goosebumps!
Join us as hosts sit down with LOVE Girls magazine (LGM) with stars Brianna, Dalaysia and Mariah. Learn more on how LGM provides mentoring for young women and opportunities for hands-on experiences in journalism, photography, film, podcasting, graphic design, marketing and business management. Visit www.lovegirlsmagazine.com to learn more.
Ryan Burchett, owner and distiller of Mississippi River Distilling Company joined hosts to talk about the brand new, Downtown Davenport Lounge, located at 318 East 2nd St. Listen to our interview with Ryan to hear more about Mississippi River Distilling Company’s journey – how dreams of owning a distillery became a reality, why expanding from LeClaire and adding a second location here in Davenport makes perfect sense, unique drinks offered to visitors, take home cocktail options, events to look forward to and much more. We guarantee after listening to this episode you’ll be visiting the Downtown Lounge very soon!
Chief of Police, Paul Sikorski, recently joined us on for a very special episode highlighting his 34 yearlong career in law enforcement. Tune in to hear a few stories ranging from early patrol days, favorite memories, challenges faced throughout, retirement (of course) and more!
Thank you for your dedicated years of service to the City of Davenport. You have made a positive impact on many lives and our community.
On this episode of The Davenport Pulse, Tyson Danner, Executive Director of River Music Experience visits with hosts to discuss various programs offered to all ages, day camps for the kids, the One Sound Project, local talent and how you can enjoy live music all summer long. Tyson and his R.M.E crew can also be spotted at the City of Davenport’s Party in the Park events! Find more happenings online today by visiting https://rivermusicexperience.org/
On this episode of The Davenport Pulse, Steve Ahrens, Executive Officer for the Riverfront Improvement Commission, joins hosts to discuss tons of fun events planned for summertime, an interesting history lesson about the riverfront, his favorite parts of this job, and more!
Learn about riverfront events and activities at davenportiowa.com/riverfront.
Sergeant Brandon Koepke, K-9 Unit Supervisor for the Davenport Police Department talks all things K-9 on this episode of The Davenport Pulse. Tune in to learn the process of getting paired with a K-9, training for both the handler and dog, what the Davenport Police K-9’s are used for, and a few favorite memories of Sgt. Koepke’s partner Dawn.
On this episode, Sherrie Fischer joins us to talk about her role as the Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation Supervisor for Parks and Recreation. Learn more about the variety of opportunities provided to Special Pops and how to get signed up for different activities, the different ways Parks and Rec. incorporates inclusive design elements throughout the city, and what staff hopes children and adults take away from these programs and activities. Interested in signing up for an upcoming program? Check them out online by clicking here. Participants requesting an adaption can do so via email at Sherrie.Fischer@davenportiowa.com or by calling (563) 888-2219.
This week on The Davenport Pulse podcast, Daniel Sheridan, Performing Arts Supervisor, joins hosts to share fun history about Davenport Junior Theatre, events and camps for kids of all ages, and the upcoming 70th Anniversary of Jr. Theatre!
Joyce Klopp, Director of Hope at the BRICK House and Sergeant Andrew Harris stop by this week to share stories about their friendship and how it began, the journey of BRICK House and how it got started, what this non-profit offers to our community, and the importance of having organizations like Joyce’s available to our youth.
Hope at the BRICK House provides a variety of services aimed at improving the overall quality of life in neighborhoods and we are happy to know and work with Joyce and her wonderful team.
Assistant Public Works Director Clay Merritt joins hosts to discuss the City of Davenport's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), including an overview of the planning process, and what you can expect to see in the near future. Stay up-to-date on all infrastructure improvements by signing up for Alert Iowa at www.davenportiowa.com/alertiowa.
The Davenport Public Library provides vibrant and essential services for our community. Tune in this week as hosts sit down with Community Outreach Supervisor, Brittany Peacock to talk about fun programs and events available to all ages as we continue the discussion of Free Family fun for summer 2022.
Tune in to learn what This week your hosts sit down to discuss events we look forward to enjoying this spring and summer! There are so many free events happening in our community and we're here to share them with our listeners! There is an event for everyone in this episode - from Coffee With A Cop to Fejervary Family Fun Days.
How great is it to live in a city that has so much fun to offer!
Captain Ron Burchette joins hosts to discuss the Hazardous Materials Division of the Davenport Fire Department on this week’s episode of The Davenport Pulse. Tune in to learn what a day in the life is like, some of the challenges faced in this line of work, the number of hazardous material calls responded to each month, favorite parts of the job, and more!
Deputy City Clerk, Brian Krup joins hosts to answer some of the most commonly asked questions City staff receives on a daily basis. As Deputy City Clerk, Brian tackles everything from special events to requests for information, attending Council meetings to helping manage the City’s Facebook page, and more! He is a wealth of knowledge and the perfect person to answer your inquiries. Tune in as we discuss things you’re most curious about on this episode of The Davenport Pulse.
Listen to a two-part episode of The Davenport Pulse! Tune in for fun discussions with Executive Director of Hilltop Campus Village (HCV), Molly Otting-Carlson, and owner of Shumaker Guitar Works, Thad Shumaker. Dive into the history of Hilltop Campus Village, learn about a few exciting new projects in the works, and check out Shumaker Guitar Works and all they have to offer.
This week your hosts sit down with Malavika to talk all things Davenport Citizens Academy! Malavika was a part of the very first cohort in 2016. Listen in as she shares her favorite moments from the class, interesting takeaways, and how she stays active within our community.
Community Outreach & Experience Manager Becca Niles joins us to talk all things Davenport Parks & Recreation in her best Ron Swanson voice (just kidding!). There are so many amazing things that fall under the Parks & Rec umbrella – some of which you may not know about! Tune in to hear Becca discuss the many roles it takes to help keep our parks and trails accessible year-round, what’s happening at The River’s Edge, and more about upcoming events, classes, and programming for all ages.
During this episode of The Davenport Pulse, we sit down with Program Manager of AmeriCorps/Youth Corps, Riley Vaughan. Tune in to learn ways you can get involved in the City of Davenport’s program and the opportunities available to all ages.
Visit www.davenportiowa.com/americorps to learn more!
Listen as your hosts sit down with Sergeant Ellerbach from the Davenport Police Department to talk about a day in the life of the men and women of the Gun Investigation Unit and highlight helpful safety tips. This special unit plays a crucial role in keeping our community safe.
Thank you to all DPD personnel for your hard work and dedication to protect and serve the citizens of #Davenport.
Tune in this week as we talk shop with Tiphanie Cannon, owner of Oh So Sweet by Tiphanie, and what it’s like to be a small business owner in downtown Davenport. Stop by Oh So Sweet to enjoy one of their popular soups and sandwiches, or place an order of your favorite treats to be delivered.
Listen to this week’s episode as we sit down with GNP Leader of the Lakehurst neighborhood, Sharon. We had a wonderful time learning about Sharon’s experience with the Good Neighbor Project, how she helps keep her group connected, and what she does to stay active in our community.
On this week’s episode of the Davenport Pulse, our hosts sit down with Kyle Carter, Executive Director and Alisha Espey, Program Director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP). The City of Davenport and the DDP have a history of working cooperatively to provide services to our downtown community. Listen to learn more about the ongoing partnership between the two, upcoming events, developments and more.
Listen to this week’s episode as we sit down with Stephanie Hernandez, Family Resources Director of Initiatives and Sarah Ott, City of Davenport Chief Strategy Officer, to learn more about the new Youth Assessment Program of Scott County. The City of Davenport knows that our success as a community is tied intrinsically to the success of the youth and families that call our community home. This summer, the City of Davenport in partnership with the City of Bettendorf, Scott County, John Deere Foundation and United Way of the Quad Cities announced a collaborative funding agreement earlier this year to launch the Youth Assessment Program in Scott County.
Operated by Family Resources, the Youth Assessment Program connects Scott County families to the resources needed to support the health, happiness and ongoing success for youth in our community. For more information on the YAP visit www.yapqc.com
On this episode of The Davenport Pulse, your hosts sit down for a chat with Tracy Singleton, Executive Director of TMBC at the Lincoln Center, and Officer Kevin Carver with the Davenport Police, member of the Community Impact Team and Mental Health Liaison to learn more about TMBC at the Lincoln Center, what programs they offer, who they serve, types of events held, and their relationship with the Davenport Police Department.
In this episode we sit down with small business owner Russ Maidlow. Russ owns Allied Barber & Supply located in the heart of downtown Davenport, which he describes as an inviting place for all. Tune in as Russ talks about his journey to business ownership. If you’re looking for a unique gift for any occasion or just want to treat yourself to some smelly-good candles, support small businesses and shop local.
Ready or not, here it comes! In this episode we sit down with Nicole Gleason, Public Works Director/Assistant City Administrator, to discuss how residents can be prepared and stay safe on roads this winter. We cover topics such as snow routes and snow emergencies, share fun facts about Public Works, and Nicole offers some advice to our listeners on how to be snow-ready.
November 11 is a tribute to military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The City of Davenport is proud to have veterans in our workforce. As we pay tribute, listen as we sit down with Sgt. Austin Kean, Afternoon Shift Supervisor at the Police Department, and Eric Gravert, Design and Construction Coordinator at Public Works, as they share their stories with us
In this week’s episode, we sit down with Tammy Trice, Good Neighbor Project Leader of the Heatherton Neighborhood. Learn how Tammy became involved with GNP, some of her favorite memories, challenges her neighborhood has overcome with the help of this program, and more.
In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant Harris from the Davenport Police Department to discuss the Good Neighbor Project (GNP). This program is a partnership between citizens, City Staff, and the Davenport Police Department that empowers and stabilizes neighborhoods by connecting and building meaningful relationships. Listen to learn more about this program and how it encourages natural crime prevention and community engagement.
Welcome to the Davenport Pulse, a podcast aimed at connecting citizens to their local government. Together we will explore important issues impacting our neighborhoods and community, through conversations with residents, city staff and elected officials. Get to know the voices behind the mics and explore your local government with them.