Community Catalysts

"Building Something Bigger Than Yourself" with Nick Rutledge, Mayor, Moody, Alabama

September 1, 2026·34 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What happens when someone enters public service to improve one part of their community and discovers a responsibility to the whole? Nick Rutledge, Mayor of Moody, Alabama, began his career as an apprentice carpenter and spent nearly three decades in commercial construction before a desire to improve opportunities for his daughter and other young people drew him into community service, city council, and eventually the mayor's office. In this conversation, Nick shares what construction taught him about leadership, how elected office changed his understanding of why government moves deliberately, and what it means to balance growth with preserving the character of a community. He also explains why he still drives a school bus, why listening matters even when you disagree, and why his approach to leadership begins with a simple conviction: "It's not about me. It's about something bigger than me." LINKS Ask a Question or Leave a Comment: 602-688-2724 Send Matt a Note: Matt@SocialProsperity.us Apply to Be a Podcast Guest: CatalystGuest.us  On Substack: Democracy Runs on Dialogue™ Connect on LinkedIn: MattLehrmanProduced by Social Prosperity Partners

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