![Stylized green and blue American flag made up of 0s and 1s](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/datasmart/files/random_images_-_generated_1.png?itok=ikVHFXrE) 

 



 

#  Recoding America: Author Interview with Jennifer Pahlka 

 





Episode Forty-Nine



 

January 03, 2024

 

 

 [ Betsy Gardner ](/betsy-gardner) 

In this episode host Professor Stephen Goldsmith interviews Jennifer Pahlka, former Deputy Chief Technology Officer for President Obama and founder of Code for America. They discuss Jennifer's new book, "Recoding America," which focuses on how to approach big and small projects in the digital age, the challenges of government technology, and the need for a reevaluation of how we think about and invest in government. Pahlka shares insights on successful projects, the importance of collaboration between tech and policy experts, and the need to rethink bureaucratic processes to achieve better public outcomes.

Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts, to learn more. [Transcript available here](https://data-smart-city-pod.simplecast.com/episodes/recoding-america-author-interview-jennifer-pahlka/transcript).

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##  About the Author 

### Betsy Gardner

   ![Headshot of Betsy Gardner](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/2025-05/Betsy%20Headshot%20resize.jpg?itok=k2OsSp1g) 

 

Betsy Gardner is the editor of Data-Smart City Solutions and the producer of the Data-Smart City Pod. Prior to this, Betsy worked in a variety of roles in higher education, focusing on deconstructing racial and gender inequality through research, writing, and facilitation. She also researched government spending and transparency at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Betsy holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Policy from Northeastern University, a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Boston University, and a graduate certificate in Digital Storytelling from the Harvard Extension School.



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Civic Data ](/topics/civic-data)
- [ Innovation ](/topics/innovation)
 
 

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