Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer sits down with Betsy Gardner for one of the most candid conversations he's ever had on camera.
Before he became Orlando's longest-serving mayor, Buddy Dyer lost his first election, felt out of his depth at Brown University, and spent time selling industrial sealant door-to-door. This is the story he doesn't usually tell - and the lessons that shaped his leadership. In this episode of B Student, Mayor Dyer opens up about how losing early turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him, the unexpected phone call from Pastor Sam Green that convinced him to run for mayor, and what he's learned about showing up for people when the stakes couldn't be higher.
But the heart of this conversation is what happened on June 12, 2016. Mayor Dyer talks about the moment he got the 2am phone call about the Pulse nightclub shooting, what he did first, why he went toe-to-toe with FBI agents to insist that Orlando needed to see its mayor speak, and how grief from that night didn't fully catch up with him until the first anniversary of the tragedy.
The conversation also goes deep on fatherhood, legacy, and - in a B Student exclusive - the name of Orlando's new first dog.
If you're navigating setbacks, building something, or trying to lead people through hard moments, this one is worth your full attention.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Welcome + intro to Mayor Buddy Dyer
02:15 The iconic airport tram voice & unexpected notoriety
04:30 From top student to feeling average at Brown University
07:45 Advice on competing in high-performance environments
10:20 First political run… and losing early
12:40 The “thank goodness I lost” mindset shift
15:10 Selling “TerraSeal” and learning real-world skills
18:00 Law school success + losing to Charlie Crist
21:10 Networking, relationships, and winning people over
24:30 Becoming an “accidental mayor” of Orlando
27:45 Vision for Orlando + building a thriving city
30:20 Leading through the Pulse nightclub shooting
35:10 Crisis leadership, communication, and emotional resilience
38:20 Fatherhood, legacy, and life beyond the mayor’s office
Connect with Mayor Buddy at: X: https://x.com/orlandomayor
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Like this video, subscribe, and comment your favorite London spot or what city has most transformed you. ----------------------------------- Connect with Betsy Gardner: Website: https://www.betsygardner.com/
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