Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility
Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the “us and them” narrative and toxic polarization by praising those who lead by example, virtuous community leadership, and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse, and honoring differing points of view.
Cities are an essential part of our identity. Depending on where we live, we develop different attitudes, personalities, perspectives, and ways of living. But is the average citizen aware of how their cities actually operate? Likely not. Conflicts between landlords and tenants are common. Many people lack knowledge of the ordinances their leaders enact. For those residents and communities that lack communication, the gap will worsen if left unaddressed.
There are deep-seated issues in many cities that prevent them from progressing. People tend to look at national-level issues rather than concentrating on issues in their own localities, and they are not aware of these severe problems. It is only as they become immersed in the country's biggest issues (which are outside of their control) that they realize what they want. But a knee-jerk response of fury or blame is useless without productive action.
What can be done to correct issues like poor compost, unfair ordinances, or substandard infrastructure? The key is to shift the focus to the local level, get involved, and become part of the solution. Identifying what you can do to contribute begins with listening and trying new ideas. We must establish deeper relationships with each other to achieve more practical solutions.
To find out how, host Evan leads eye-opening conversations about civic and community leadership that highlight how to stand up and make cities better. Addressing the "Us and Them" mentality, he brings people together to see eye to eye and provide their unique viewpoints.
This show aims to humanize politics, break the toxic bureaucracy, and reconnect residents with their city leaders. Evan explores the muddied relationships with politicians. With their grand buildings and great powers, these individuals usually appear distant and untouchable. But they are not infallible. It is possible to start authentic conversations that eventually lead to sustainable and inclusive communities.
Long-time community leader Evan Meyer invites you to focus on this alarming state of living through his podcast, Meyerside Chats. On this show, you'll hear real talks about rebuilding trust between people, leaders, and our government.
Evan brings vast experience to the podcast as a civic guru and community leader. For many years, he has been heavily involved in the development of Santa Monica using highly innovative approaches. He created the city's Civic Love program, a group focused on volunteerism and making change through the process of "doing good." He also served his neighborhood association for a decade, eventually as president.
In addition to outstanding community involvement, Evan founded several start-up businesses. He actively works to transform neglected communities globally through murals, art education, and social responsibility. The efforts of Evan are a perfect example of what citizens can do to make their city a better place to live, work and thrive.
Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility
Inside Paid Protests: Organization, Authenticity & Public Trust | Adam Swart
What do paid protests actually represent in modern society?
In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand, for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about how public demonstrations are organized, funded, perceived, and often misunderstood.
Rather than debating headlines, this discussion explores the mechanics, tradeoffs, and philosophical questions behind modern protest movements — including authenticity, transparency, media incentives, and how crowds differ from true measures of public opinion.
This episode is about understanding how influence, visibility, and civic participation actually work today.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
Adam Swart’s background and why modern protests deserve deeper examination
01:45 – How Crowds on Demand Works
From first inquiry to campaign strategy and execution
04:50 – Lessons from Political Campaigning
What Adam learned working in electoral politics and how it applies today
06:30 – Why Context Matters More Than Crowd Size
Media attention, symbolism, and strategic visibility
09:05 – Paid Participation vs. Authentic Engagement
How authenticity is defined, sourced, and maintained
11:45 – Who Gets Left Out of “Grassroots” Activism
Time, money, opportunity cost, and civic access
14:00 – Protest, Pressure, and Power Structures
Unions, staffers, institutions, and informal coercion
16:40 – Criticism, Class, and Bad-Faith Arguments
Who gets paid to speak — and why that matters
18:45 – Transparency in Political Protest
The proposed Transparency & Political Protest Act
22:30 – Manufactured Support vs. Public Awareness
Why protests are not polls — and never were
26:40 – Social Media, Protests, and Misread Signals
Why visibility ≠ public consensus
30:00 – Statistics, Data, and False Inference
Why crowds and metrics are often misunderstood
35:30 – Measuring ROI in Advocacy Campaigns
When outcomes are tangible — and when they aren’t
38:45 – Notable Campaigns & Real-World Impact
From prescription drugs to tech accountability
41:45 – Choosing Clients & Drawing Ethical Lines
Merit, free speech, and where Adam says no
44:30 – Causes Adam Wants to Champion
Social media reform, food systems, and better cities
48:15 – Cities, Governance, and Practical Outcomes
Why results matter more than rhetoric
52:30 – Social Media Incentives & Platform Failure
Crime, virality, spam, and moderation tradeoffs
56:30 – Closing Reflections
Understanding nuance beyond headlines
🎧 Why This Episode Matters
About Evan Meyer
Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org, a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com, a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com, a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats, Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth.
He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.