Civic Punks

Derek Alton

This is my experiment in creating interesting podcasts about public sector innovation. Disclaimer: All opinions on this channel are my own opinions or the personal opinions of those who I interview.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    Navigating Tensions

    Government today is full of tensions. Move fast… but protect democratic accountability. Experiment with new ideas… but keep critical systems stable. Use powerful new technologies… that we don’t fully understand yet. In a fascinating paper called “Signals from Apolitical Day,” the States of Change network looked for patterns emerging from conversations with public servants around the world. What they found was a picture of governments operating under seven powerful forces — speed, complexity, emotional pressure, politicisation, conflict, identity shifts, and rising expectations. But the most interesting insight wasn’t the forces themselves. It was the tensions public servants are navigating every day. In this podcast I break down the key ideas from the paper and explore what they reveal about the moment governments are in right now. If you care about public service, policy, or how governments adapt to a rapidly changing world, this is a conversation worth having. In this podcast • The 7 forces reshaping government today • Why the speed of change is outpacing the reflexes of government • How complex problems are pushing institutions into new territory • The emotional weight many public servants are carrying right now • Why innovation in government is really about navigating tensions • The emerging capabilities governments need to operate in uncertainty • Why institutions may need to learn and adapt in real time Read the original article Signals from Apolitical Day — States of Change 👉 https://states-of-change.org/stories/signals-from-apolitical-day-2025

    5 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    The Future of Government — A Conversation with Pia Andrews

    Civic Punks

    44 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    What Singapore Taught Me About AI and the Future of Government

    AI is dramatically challenging governments all over the world. Singapore is on the leading edge of this. How are they thinking about AI in Government? What can we learn from them? I reference this fantastic podcast by Ezra Klein on AI, definitely check it out as well: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6obzprTBpR6MosWu5vsua5?si=44ede13d15054d71

    4 min

  4. 2 DAYS AGO

    Is Singapore right!?

    I am finally starting to wrap my head around my time in Singapore. It was a week jam-packed full of conversations with people at the centre of reimaging government, and also those who are rebelling against government and building something different on the fringes. There will be more to come, but here are my earliest thoughts.

    4 min

  5. 2 DAYS AGO

    Have we broken innovation?

    Have we broken innovation? This is a question that Ian Montgomery explores in his killer article "The New Rules of Innovation." In it Ian explores how we have let innovation become swallowed up by the system and in the process, have it lose its transformational potential. Join me as I go down the rabbit hole with this banger of a Montgomery article. Here is the link if you want to read it yourself: https://nowornevermoments.substack.com/p/the-new-rules-of-innovation-goodbye

    3 min

  6. 4 MAR

    Can we fix hiring?

    Hiring is one of the things government seems to suck at. It takes way too long, the salaries are often not competitive, and job descriptions are confusing and not helpful. Yet, if we can't hire well, we are unable to bring in the talent we need to deliver on our ambition, or really anything. In this video, I explore a book chapter by Robert Gordon, Executive Vice President for State Initiatives, exploring some experiments in fixing hiring in government. You can read the full report here: https://www.statesforum.org/january-book/government-hiring/

    6 min

  7. 2 MAR

    What did we learn from PSN Government Innovation Week - Federal

    Another Public Sector Network - Government Innovation Week is in the books. What did we learn? How is digital sovereignty shaping the conversation? We are going through some of the deepest cuts to public sector jobs in well over a decade. AI was all over the agenda but how did the conversations play out?  In this episode I explore these questions through interviews with people on the ground in day two and my own in depth analysis.

    41 min

  8. 1 MAR

    The power of data analysis

    I recently came across Rebecca Mbaya’s African Innovators series, which spotlights changemakers reshaping Africa’s tech, data, and AI landscape. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and well worth your time. In this video, I zoom in on her profile of Pombili Paula Haitamba, a data analyst from Namibia. It’s genuinely one of the best pieces I’ve read on what data analysis actually means in practice, not just the technical side, but the human and political dimensions too. I was so impressed that I immediately sent it to my old graduate supervisor and suggested he add it to his data analysis course reading list. Take a look, watch the video, and let me know what you think. Here is the article: https://reamby.substack.com/p/pombili-paula-haitamba-on-the-work And Rebecca Mbaya's substack: https://reamby.substack.com/

    5 min
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About

This is my experiment in creating interesting podcasts about public sector innovation. Disclaimer: All opinions on this channel are my own opinions or the personal opinions of those who I interview.

Information

  • Creator
    Derek Alton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Civic Punks