
Now You Novi
By City of Novi
The City of Novi is a full-service, municipal government in southeast Michigan. Providing quality communications for its more than 60,000 residents and businesses is a community hallmark. The lighthearted, sometimes witty dialogue is intended to provide an in-depth look at City operations and topics of local interest. If there is a topic you’d like covered, simply email communityrelations@cityofnovi.org.


Novi's Sizzling Summer Series
Summer is here, and so is our Sizzling Summer Art & Culture Series! Jenneva Kayser of our Parks team joins the pod to tackle this series of exciting events coming to your Novi.

Get Festive, Novi!
We’re celebrating our 100th episode with a look at one of Novi’s biggest community events! Katie Chuba from the Novi Chamber of Commerce joins us to talk about the upcoming Novi Community Fest — a free, family-friendly day packed with public safety vehicles, food trucks, bounce houses, cultural performances, and more. Learn how this partnership brings businesses, families, and fun together right here in Novi. Presented by Sam’s Club, with premiere support from DTE Energy and in Partnership with the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Library.

Novi in the '40s &'50s
Discover the heart of Novi before the subdivisions and shopping centers.
Step back in time to the 1940s and ’50s, when Novi was a quiet farming community filled with dirt roads, dairy barns, and close-knit neighbors. Longtime resident Kathy Crawford recalls the people, places, and events that shaped the town’s early identity. Delve into the memories, milestones, and moments that defined a bygone era—before rapid development transformed the landscape. Whether you're a lifelong resident or just curious about local history, this episode brings Novi’s rural roots to life through rich storytelling and personal reflections.

Public Safety Bond Updates & FAQ
Catch up on the latest regarding our 2025 Public Safety bond proposal, from our Director of Public Safety Erick Zinser. Visit cityofnovi.org/2025bond to learn more and get informed.

Memorial Day In Novi
We're highlighting the City's Memorial Day festivities this week, with Madison and Sandy from Parks! Listen in on what they've got planned for the big day.

Construction Junction
It’s construction season in Novi, and we’re not holding back. Aaron Staup joins Damon to explain what’s happening on our roads, why it matters, and what you can expect as the city gets a major infrastructure glow-up.

2025-26 Annual Budget
We're Cultivating Community Together with our City Manager Victor Cardenas as he breaks down this year's annual budget in this episode of Now You Novi.

LIVE from TLG
Your favorite Novi podcast was broadcast LIVE for the first time ever from the Transforming Local Government Conference with special guest, former City Manager and SGR Vice President Clay Pearson.

Public Safety Bond Proposal
Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Erick Zinser joins us to go over the 2025 Public Safety Bond Proposal that will be on the ballot for Novi voters this August. Visit Cityofnovi.org/2025bond to learn more and get informed.

Invasive Species Removals
In this episode of Now You Novi, we dig into the world of native plants and pollinators with Rick Meader, Landscape Architect for the City of Novi. Rick shares his passion for restoring natural habitats by removing invasive plant species and encouraging the growth of native plants that support bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. You’ll learn how these efforts benefit the community, how you can help, and why it all matters. Plus, get the scoop on Novi’s upcoming Earth Day and Arbor Day events — great opportunities for families to celebrate and care for our environment together.
Tune in and get inspired to make a difference right in your own backyard!

The Novi Choralaires
We sit down with Aidan Rickel, the Artistic Director of the Novi Choralaires, as they celebrate an incredible 50 years of community, music, and harmony. Aidan shares the choir’s rich history, its impact on the Novi community, and what’s in store for this milestone season. Tune in to hear about their upcoming performances, the power of choral music, and how you can get involved in this beloved local tradition!

Novi in 2050
Assistant City Manager Danielle Mahoney joins the pod to break down last night's Council 2050 Planning Workshop. We’ll dive into the key discussions, future initiatives, and the long-term vision shaping Novi’s growth. What will the city look like in 2050? How are leaders preparing for the challenges and opportunities ahead? Tune in as we forecast the future of Novi and what it means for residents, businesses, and the community.

Meadowbrook Commons
What’s it like to live at Meadowbrook Commons? This episode, we chat with Ginny Hallam, Community Manager of Novi’s senior living hotspot! From fun activities to supportive services, she shares how Meadowbrook keeps residents connected and thriving. Tune in for a feel-good look at this amazing community!

Community Policing
From fake news reports, to staffing levels, to community programs, we're sharing the good vibes from Chief Erick Zinser and the Novi Police Department.

Assessing Our Novi
Jan Ziozios joins us this week for an overview of her role as City Assessor, the importance of assessing, and some info for Novi homeowners as we enter 2025.

Distracted Driving Awareness
Two local high school students from Novi High School's HOSA program are spreading awareness about a very important cause in our community, distracted driving. Find out the steps they are taking to raise awareness in this episode of Now You Novi. https://www.instagram.com/distracteddrivinghosa/

From Novi, With Commerce
Katie Chuba from our Novi Chamber of Commerce breaks down the impact of relocating the chamber to the new city center area and shares some info on fun new events and partnerships with the city.

Novi's New Year Buzz
Mayor Justin Fischer hops off the couch and onto the desk to share what excites him most in Novi for this new year.

2024 Novi Wrapped
Our podcast founder City Manager Victor Cardenas is back to tie a bow on 2024 as we recap everything notable in Novi from this past year.

Getting Engaged In 2025
Sheryl is joined by Creative Services Coordinator Jeanette Handy, to discuss the 2025 calendar, as well as ways to stay engaged in Novi happenings as the new year approaches.

Holiday Safety with Chief Zinser
Our Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Erick Zinser joins the podcast to share how you can keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

The Name Novi
Our resident historical expert and Novi Legend Kathy Crawford joins us and shares the history of how we got our name Novi.

Light the Lights
We preview our holiday tree lighting event in this cheery edition of Now You Novi.

Veterans Day 2024
In this special Veterans Day episode of Now You Novi, host Sheryl Walsh sits down with Kit Kieser to discuss her efforts in organizing the annual Veterans Day Luncheon and Essay Contest. Kit shares the inspiring stories behind these community events and how they honor local veterans for their service and sacrifice. Tune in to learn about the impact of these traditions and the ways Novi continues to support our heroes. #NowYouNovi #VeteransDay #VeteransLuncheon #EssayContest #NoviCommunity

Election Voting
Our City Clerk Cortney Hanson breaks down 3 different ways Novi residents can cast their ballot in the upcoming election in this episode of Now You Novi.

Novi University
Trevor Walega steps out from behind the camera to the front to talk about his experience going through Novi University, an internal cross departmental training program here at the City. Learn about how we operate as well as a similar program available to residents called the Novi Ambassador Academy in this episode of Now You Novi.

Fire Prevention Week
Join us for this special episode of Now You Novi, where we sit down with Fire Chief John Martin to discuss Fire Prevention Week. Discover essential tips for keeping your home safe, learn about the latest fire safety initiatives, and hear about how you can work to earn some extra scratch on the side.

Team Novi
Our Assistant City Manager Danielle Mahoney breaks down our new initiative in this episode of Now You Novi.
Let's Go Team Novi!

Community Development
We sit down with Alan Hall to discuss community development and its impact on our city. Learn about our projects, practices, and how residents can make a difference.

The ABCs of GIS
Keri Blough our mapmaking wizard joins us to map out the future Geospatial Applications Services for the city of Novi.

The Road Construction Warzone
Our Construction Engineer Aaron Staup joins the podcast to talk about the elephant in the room, road construction in Novi.

Summer Parks Stars
This week, we dive into the experiences of our seasonal Parks and Rec. workers, and how they've been excelling throughout a packed summer.

Back to School with Ben Mainka
Learn about all the exciting new developments our Novi Community School District has been working on in this episode of Novi You Novi.

People's Express
In this episode of the award-winning #1 podcast in Novi, Damon welcomes on Older Adult Services Manager Kit Kieser. Tune in for the juicy details about the City's new senior transit provider, People's Express.

Fire Recruitment
In this episode of Novi's #1 podcast, Sheryl and Director of Public Safety Erick Zinser discuss the recruitment process for the Novi Fire Department, and the fulfilling career it enables.

Sujay the Social Media Star
Our Communications Intern Sujay Kolli takes his turn in the hot seat as we find out more about our social media star.

Early Voting in August
Our city clerk Cortney Hanson gives us the lowdown on the upcoming primary election in August. Find out how you can participate in early voting by visiting cityofnovi.org/elections.

Where You Belong
It's National Parks and Rec Month. We're celebrating our locals parks and encouraging you to go out and spend time in them this summer. Find out where you belong in this episode of Now You Novi.

Construction Update
In this episode of Novi's #1 podcast, Sheryl and Damon discuss the latest happenings in the road construction world.

Excessive Heat
We discuss how to stay cool in Novi and beat the heat.

Sesame Street
We're talking letters this week. GFL and PEX. What do they stand for? Find out in this episode of Now You Novi.

Summer Reading For Everyone
We are joined by our Novi Library Director Julie Farkas to talk about all the wonderful events and programs taking place this summer at our Novi Library.

Summertime in Novi
There's a ton of free events and activities going on this summer in our Novi. Listen as we discuss all the cool things to do this summer.

Parks Season
The sun is shining in our parks in Novi. May is the perfect time to get out and explore Novi. We talk Memorial Day, Fuerst Field of Honor, and Jessica's Splashpad in this episode of Now You Novi.

Chamber Connections
We dive in and explore our partnership with the Novi Chamber of Commerce in this episode of Now You Novi.

What's New in Public Safety in Novi?
We chat bodycams and other advancements in technology with Chief Zinser in this episode of Now You Novi.

Balancing the Budget
More budget breakdowns in this episode of Now You Novi.

The State of the City Forecast
We preview this upcoming State of the City address from Mayor Fischer in this episode of Now You Novi.

The New Studio No.VI
On this episode of Novi's #1 podcast, we discuss the conception, funding, and birth of the brand new Studio No.VI video production space with Senior Video Production Specialist Josh Buscher.

Building Community Together
Dive into what goes into the city's annual budget with City Manager Victor Cardenas.