Modern Gov Matters

CivAll

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Modern Gov Matters is a podcast for civic engagement and communications professionals in local government. Host Sarah Loyd sits down with practitioners from cities and counties nationwide to talk about what's actually working (and what's not) in their communities. Real stories, honest takes, practical insights. New episodes every other week. Presented by CivAll.

1d ago

Earning Trust in Law Enforcement Comms with Shea Haney

When Shea Haney stepped into the PIO role at the Adams County Sheriff's Office eight months ago, he came from patrol - not a newsroom. No communications background, just a career spent in the jail, detectives, an FBI task force, and the road. In this episode, Shea talks about what it's really like to learn government communications from scratch while leading a team, building trust with humble cops who don't want the spotlight, and yes - accidentally going viral. Law enforcement communications carries a unique weight. Every post, every press release, every moment of silence is scrutinized. Shea shares how ACSO is navigating that pressure by breaking their own news, staying in their lane as communicators rather than influencers, and finding the occasional moment of levity that reminds the community there are humans behind the badge. In this episode: How ACSO is telling its own story directly to the public - before the media doesWhy the traditional news release still has a place, even in a social-first worldThe Afroman video: how a team collaboration, a Colorado flag, and 30 seconds of humor turned a PR headache into a million-view momentThe real challenge of reaching younger audiences without chasing trends or sacrificing credibilityWhat it takes to earn trust from deputies who do good work quietly -and don't want the recognitionShea's advice for anyone just starting out: go slow, learn your agency's messaging, and support it Resources & Links: Adams County Sheriff's OfficeCivAllSocial News Desk Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit Modern Gov Matters.
Jul 9

The Infrastructure of Trust with Will Hampton

Will Hampton spent 24 years building one of the most award-winning municipal communications shops in Texas - earning resident satisfaction ratings nearly twice the national average - before walking away to help other local governments do the same. Now a consultant, speaker, and writer behind the Good Government Files newsletter, Will has reverse-engineered what actually made Round Rock work and turned it into a repeatable framework. In this episode, Will walks through his 5 Elements of High Performance Communications, makes the case that trust is infrastructure (not a soft concept), and gets honest about what most cities are still getting wrong. In this episode: Why Will argues you can only govern as well as you can persuade - and what that means for how cities should think about trustThe 5 Elements of High Performance Communications: what they are, how they work together, and which one most organizations are missingWhy listening - not just broadcasting - is the keystone of citizen engagement, and what intentional listening actually looks likeHow the communicator's seat at the table is really the citizen's seat at the tableThe shift toward in-person engagement and why real conversations don't happen at a city council meeting - they happen at HEB on a Saturday morningWhy over-reacting to naysayers and trolls on social media is one of the most persistent mistakes in local government communicationsLearning to say no: what good prioritization looks like in a comms shop, and how data can give you the permission to do it Resources & Links Good Government Files NewsletterHampton PublicWill Hampton on LinkedInCivAllSocial News Desk Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk.
Jun 25

Communicating through Explosive Growth with Bridget Saxton

Bridget Saxton came into government communications through an unexpected door: nearly eight years as a 911 dispatcher. That instinct for triage, prioritization, and communicating clearly under pressure turned out to be exactly what she needed when she became Communications Director for the City of Melissa, Texas — one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. When Bridget arrived in 2023, the department was brand new and the city had made six Facebook posts the entire previous year. Today, Melissa's page has nearly 15,000 followers and a highly engaged — self-described "feral" — audience. In this episode, she talks about what rapid growth actually feels like from inside the comms office, how she brought the community conversation onto the city's own platforms, and why transparency isn't always pretty but is always worth it. In this episode:How nearly eight years as a 911 dispatcher shaped Bridget's approach to government communicationsWhat 64% population growth in three years actually feels like from inside the comms officeManaging two very different audiences — longtime residents and brand-new ones — on the same platformsHow Melissa grew its Facebook following from 5,400 to nearly 15,000 by leaning into transparency and two-way conversationWhy one-way posting is a dead end, and what intentional content planning looks like insteadWhat Bridget would build first if she could start the role over: strategy, crisis planning, and workflows before anything elseHelping residents understand what their council can and can't actually control — and why that mattersResources & LinksCivAllSocial News DeskBridget Saxton on LinkedInCity of Melissa on FacebookCity of Melissa on Instagram Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk.
Jun 11

Storytelling in Local Government with LaToya Muse

LaToya Muse is the Creative Services Manager for the Town of Prescott Valley, Arizona — and the person responsible for turning local government's inner workings into content residents actually want to engage with. In this episode, LaToya talks about what it means to be a storyteller inside a government organization, how her team stays creative under pressure, and why authentic connection — with residents and within the community — is at the core of everything they do. In this episode: LaToya shares her journey from Prescott Valley native to the town's chief storytellerHow personal connection gives authenticity to government contentManaging a small but mighty team across 14 departmentsWhy breaking the "that's what we've always done" mold sparks innovation and saves taxpayer moneyThe real impact behind the Hometown Hero Banner ProgramWhy authentic visuals reign supreme over AI-generated contentBuilding community trust through genuine resident interactionsPractical advice for government communicators just getting started Resources & LinksCivAllSocial News DeskTown of Prescott ValleyPV in Focus Podcast Connect with LaToyaLinkedIn
May 28

Making Crunchy Concepts Smooth with Chatham County, GA

What happens when you combine a YouTube-style explainer series, an animated show for second-graders, and traffic safety signs that say "slow your bass down"? You get Chatham County, Georgia's approach to government communications—and proof that humor, creativity, and a deep bench make all the difference. Public Information Director Catherine Glasby, Assistant Director Abby Murphy, and communications team member Will Peebles joined Modern Gov Matters to talk about how their six-person team serves 24 county departments while producing a podcast, running a TV station, and creating content that one resident called "the best civic foreplay." Mentioned in this episode: GOV101 video seriesChatty Chatham animated seriesThe Chat podcast3CMA (City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.
May 14

Modern Gov Matters with Emory Bedenbaugh at #GSMCON2026

Team SND/CivAll and Modern Gov Matters hits the road for GSMCON 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. We speak with Emory Bedenbaugh from West Columbia, SC about what he's taking away from the conference and how he says AI is the "best unpaid intern" you'll ever have.
May 1

Being the Bad Guy: Communicating Unpopular Decisions with Steven Baird

Steven Baird didn't set out to become a government communicator. With a journalism degree from Sacramento State, a background in professional photography, and a pool cleaning business under his belt, he landed at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District as a field operations tech—reading meters and digging out meter boxes. But when the opportunity arose to combine his photography skills with public affairs work, he made the jump to communications. Now, as Public Affairs Associate II, he manages everything from Instagram to podcasts to crisis response. In 2022, Steven's team faced one of the toughest communications challenges imaginable: telling wealthy homeowners in Calabasas and Westlake Village - including celebrities - that the district would literally restrict their water flow if they didn't stop watering their lawns during a historic drought. The work earned his team CAPIO's Crisis Communicator of the Year Award, but it wasn't without personal cost. Steven talks openly about being the face of unpopular decisions, managing online anger, and why leaning into equity messaging - "you can't pay your way out of this drought" - was key to their success. Connect with Steven: LinkedInFollow Las Virgenes MWD on social media to see Steven's photography and video workGet involved with CAPIO (California Association of Public Information Officials) Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.
Apr 16

From Survival Mode to Strategic Growth with Kara Roberson

What happens when you realize the problem isn't lack of time - it's lack of structure? Kara Roberson, Strategic Communications Officer for the City of Wentzville, Missouri, shares how her three-person team went from reactive firefighting to strategic powerhouse by building systems even when it felt impossible. In this episode, Kara gets honest about the battles government communicators face every day: misinformation spreading faster than official communications in unregulated Facebook groups, the constant tension between strategic work and putting out fires, and the challenge of showing residents what's happening (not just telling them). Resources & Links: City of Wentzville on FacebookCity of Wentzville on InstagramCity of Wentzville on LinkedInKara's LinkedIn Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

Trailer

Modern Gov Matters - A new podcast from CivAll

In an age where government communication and civic engagement often face skepticism, it’s vital to cultivate trust and transparency. Modern Gov Matters dives deep into effective strategies that local government communicators can adopt to make meaningful connections with residents. Join host Sarah Loyd every other week for a fresh take on civic engagement.

Modern Gov Matters is a podcast for civic engagement and communications professionals in local government. Host Sarah Loyd sits down with practitioners from cities and counties nationwide to talk about what's actually working (and what's not) in their communities. Real stories, honest takes, practical insights. New episodes every other week. Presented by CivAll.

Creator

CivAll
Years Active

2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 CivAll
Show Website

Modern Gov Matters