In this episode, we sit down with Mayor Tim Keller to explore how Albuquerque became a national leader in public safety transformation. Confronted with a federal consent decree over police misconduct and the urgent calls for change following the 2020 social justice movement, Keller and his team launched the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) department — a first-of-its-kind initiative that sends trained, non-police responders to behavioral health, homelessness, and substance use crises.

Mayor Keller shares how his team reimagined what was possible, took bold risks, and built an entirely new model of emergency response — all while maintaining day-to-day city operations. This candid conversation reveals the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons from one city’s ambitious effort to redefine public safety.

In this special kickoff episode of Bending Steel, host Dr. Antonio Oftelie flips the script and becomes the guest. Interviewed by longtime collaborator Lauren Hirshon — Director of Learning and Development at Leadership for a Networked World at Harvard — the two explore the vision behind the podcast and why now is the time for bold ideas in the public and social sectors.

Together, they reflect on the urgent need for new frameworks, principles, and leadership tools in a world teetering between potential progress and persistent challenges. This introductory episode sets the tone for the season ahead — one designed to help leaders navigate complexity and drive meaningful change.