Critical Conversations: Bringing AI to Main St with Sen. Mike Rounds, Montgomery County CIO Gail Roper and Academy Studies Director Brenna Isman

We've got a special announcement this week: Management Matters will have a new partner going forward, Concourse! Management Matters will move to a weekly cadence next month, and every other week we'll be joined on the podcast by our new co-host, Concourse CEO Thomas Smyth. These episodes will focus on tech and innovation in government, as the AI Age brings public service and public administration into new frontiers. The podcast is also now available in a video format through YouTube, Spotif...

James-Christian Blockwood interviews Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Governing’s 2026 Public Official of the Year, and National Association of Counties CEO Matt Chase about executive leadership and city-county collaboration amid declining public trust, affordability pressures, and shifting federal policies and funding. They argue local governments must work together through regionalism, clarify roles, and focus on outcomes rather than institutional power 01:11 Why City-County Ties Matter 04:50...

Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews former U.S. Mint directors Ed Moy (38th) and Ventris Gibson (40th) about how U.S. currency, specifically coinage, is created and managed. They discuss why physical currency still matters for the unbanked and for privacy concerns, and why bullion demand spikes in crises. The conversation covers the costs and policy debates around the penny and nickel, Mint finances through seigniorage, how coin designs are authorized and approved, and advice urging Whi...

With back-to-school season in full swing, we've got two Fellows and public administration education experts on the podcast: David Van Slyke, dean of The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and Susan Gooden, professor and former dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Both join host James-Christian Blockwood for a very educational discussion. They share challenges and triumphs in public adm...

Daniel Schuman of the American Governance Institute joins Management Matters host James-Christian Blockwood this week! Are we in a “crisis point” for U.S. institutions driven by expanded presidential power, courts overturning precedent and reshaping agency independence, and Congress failing to assert its authorities? Daniel Schuman brings an encyclopedic knowledge of history and the legislative branch to a discussion about what may be next for the federal government. 00:00 Elections And Esca...