The Voice of Ethics

Susan and Nick head outdoors for two park‑themed stories that prove that even well-intentioned public servants can inadvertently wander off-trail.
 
July 2026 Episode Transcript – Trail Mix-Ups: Ethics in the Parks
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Ohio Ethics Law Overview Fact Sheet
Advisory Opinion No. 2011-05
Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet
Advisory Opinion No. 2009-06

Susan reviews Thomas H. Keels’ book Sesqui!: Greed, Graft, and the Forgotten World's Fair of 1926.
 
July 2026 Episode Transcript – We the People (Don’t Appreciate Corruption) – Book Review
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

A heated dog bite dispute becomes a cautionary tale about abusing public positions.
June 2026 Episode Transcript – Barking Up the Wrong Tree
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Conflicts of Interest Fact Sheet
Tiny dog shamelessly steals Uber Eats order off front porch (Video)
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

When Cubs fever swept Chicago in 2016, so did elected officials hoping to score World Series tickets at face value. Susan sits down with Chicago Board of Ethics Executive Director Steve Berlin to unpack how even access can throw an ethics curveball.
June 2026 Episode Transcript – Take Me Out to the Ballgame
 
Referenced and relevant materials
 Chicago Board of Ethics Advisory Opinion Case No. 16032.A
Advisory Opinion No. 2020-03
Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet
Advisory Opinion No. 96-003 (pages 7 – 9)
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

The Ethics Law doesn't just stop you from helping family members with your public position — it stops you from hurting them too. Susan, Molly Bruns, and David Sturman explore cases where blood was thicker than recusal.
 
May 2026 Episode Transcript – Reverse Nepotism
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Advisory Opinion No. 2025-01
Informal Opinion 1989-INF-0406-1
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

A jail superintendent's private bathroom renovation. A county official moonlighting as an Amazon delivery driver — in his county vehicle, on county time, badge dangling. Susan and Nick unpack Advisory Opinion 96-004, the Ethics Commission's go-to guide for keeping your public role and your outside business in separate corners.
May 2026 Episode Transcript - Side Hustle Main Event
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Advisory Opinion No. 96-004
Conflicts of Interest Fact Sheet
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

Summer is almost here! But before you help your kid land that lifeguard job at the city pool dive into this 50-SPF (Safeguard Public Fairness) episode on summer hiring and avoid getting burned by the Ethics Law.
 
April 2026 Episode Transcript – Earned, Not Gifted: Summer Job Edition
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Advisory Opinion No. 2025-01
Public Jobs and Family Members Fact Sheet
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

How much do you love when a solicitor knocks on your door? What if the sales pitch was free driveway paving? This township administrator overseeing a 1.5 million-dollar road budget opened the door to a potentially sticky situation.
 
April 2026 Episode Transcript – Smooth Asphalt, Slippery Ethics
 
Referenced and relevant materials
The Private Sector Fact Sheet
Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

Bob Smith, a 48-year veteran of the Ohio Auditor of State’s office, shares how a concept car factory that never left the drawing board still drove off with $300,000 in taxpayer money, courtesy of a conflicted county commissioner.
 
March 2026 Episode Transcript – Car Factory Caper
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Public Contracts page
Public Contracts Fact Sheet
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov 

Beware the Ides of March – and vendors bearing gifts! Andria Williams from the City of Columbus shares her story of an out-of-this-world gift that was a knife in the back of public trust.
 
March 2026 Episode Transcript – Et Tu, Vendor?
 
Referenced and relevant materials
Gifts and Other Things of Value Fact Sheet
Advisory Opinion No. 2001-03 (public official and substantial things of value)
 
Stories? Show ideas? We're listening!
E-mail susan.willeke@ethics.ohio.gov