Gov360

About Gov360

The Most Watched Local Government Podcast in America Hosted by City Manager Chris Mann, Gov360 brings together the leaders, ideas, and candid conversations shaping the future of local government. Each episode goes beyond policy and headlines to explore the real experience of public leadership, including organizational culture, politics, innovation, technology, career development, community conflict, burnout, resilience, and the challenges facing the profession. Gov360 features conversations with city managers, public executives, elected officials, innovators, and other leaders who offer real-world perspectives and practical insights for those committed to stronger communities and better local government. Whether you're a city manager, rising administrator, elected official, or other local government professional, Gov360 provides the ideas, perspective, and leadership insight to help you lead with greater impact. Stay informed. Stay inspired. Lead boldly.

Publisher

Chris Mann

Category

business · government · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Apr 2025

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

31 of 33 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   When It's Time to Walk Away | Kevin Lahner | Ep.31

   City Manager Chris Mann interviews former Janesville City Manager Kevin Lahner about the emotional toll of public leadership and knowing when to walk away.

2. 

   22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Is Government Really as Broken as It Looks? | David Martin | Ep.30

   City Manager Chris Mann interviews veteran journalist David Martin about the often-unseen successes within government and how to foster a more informed public.

3. 

   18 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Gov360: Episode 29 - A New Hope

   Local government has been through a difficult season. Political polarization. Social media attacks. Burnout. Public distrust. Workforce challenges. Talented professionals questioning whether the personal cost of public service is still worth it. Those challenges are real. But they are not the whole story. There are reasons to believe something better is taking shape. In Episode 29 of Gov360, “A New Hope,” City Manager Chris Mann takes a different look at the state of local government and makes the case for optimism about where the profession is headed. A new generation of public servants is bringing fresh ideas and challenging old assumptions. Local governments are learning how to use social media to communicate more authentically and rebuild trust. Artificial intelligence is creating opportunities to eliminate administrative work and give leaders more time for the human side of leadership. And perhaps most importantly, the profession is finally having honest conversations about burnout, loneliness, resilience, and the personal cost of public service. None of that means the challenges have disappeared. Hope isn't pretending everything is fine. It is recognizing the problems in front of us while believing something better is still possible, and then doing something to help build it. Because the future of local government isn't something that simply happens to us. We get to help shape it. This episode explores: ✅ Why the challenges facing local government don't necessarily mean the profession is in decline✅ How a new generation of public servants could reshape local government for the better✅ Why younger professionals are right to question some long-standing assumptions about public-sector careers✅ How social media could evolve from one of government's greatest challenges into a tool for rebuilding public trust✅ Why government needs to tell its own story before someone else tells it for us✅ How AI could make government more efficient, and leadership more human✅ Why openly discussing burnout, loneliness, and the emotional toll of leadership is actually a sign of progress✅ The resilience of public servants who endure difficult seasons and keep moving forward✅ Why a bad chapter, a bad council, or a bad organization doesn't have to define an entire career✅ Five practical things struggling local government professionals can do right now✅ Why experienced leaders have a responsibility to mentor the next generation✅ Why the future of local government will be built one leader, one organization, and one decision at a time 📺 Watch Episode 29 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/56KvatC64Zo ⸻ Join the Gov360 Community Leadership doesn't have to be lonely. The Gov360 Community is a professional home for local government leaders who want to continue the conversations started on the podcast. Members connect through live conversations, leadership resources, Commute with Chris, behind-the-scenes content, and meaningful relationships with professionals who understand the unique challenges and rewards of public service. 👉 Join the Gov360 Community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Gov360 ⸻ Chapters 0:00 The Challenges Facing Local Government2:02 Welcome to Gov3604:59 Is Local Government Really in Decline?6:30 A New Generation of Public Servants10:53 Is Local Government Finally Figuring Out Social Media?15:16 Why AI Gives Me Hope18:38 We’ve Finally Started Talking About the Problems21:57 The Biggest Reason I Have Hope24:22 What If You Don’t Feel Hopeful Right Now?25:53 Five Things You Can Control28:31 Don’t Wait for Someone Else to Fix the Profession30:05 Why I Called This Episode “A New Hope”32:20 Good People Keep Showing Up33:34 Final Thoughts and How to Support Gov36035:20 Local Government Has Found A New Hope ⸻ Links & Resources 👉 Join the Gov360 Community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Gov360 📬 Subscribe to The Gov360 Briefing, the free Gov360 email newsletter: https://gov360briefing.beehiiv.com/ 💻 CiviSocial - Social Media

Inside a recent episode

When It's Time to Walk Away | Kevin Lahner | Ep.31

Published 13 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Local government is so tangible and you can really see that impact you're making. And I think it can be addicting. Yeah. Yeah. And my kids get tired of me pointing out the things that I helped create. Yeah. I did that. I did that. As you drive down the street. Yeah, I know. This was a burnout boy in LA. Now look at it. Right, yeah. That's incredibly gratifying to have even a small role in determining what a community is going to look and feel like. It's pretty neat. So you reached out to me a few months ago. I think it was June or July via LinkedIn. And you said something that really stuck with me. […]

Who has been a guest on Gov360

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kevin Lahner
• David Martin
• Jim Schutz
• Lewis Anderson
• Dwight Boddorf

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

20,672

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

44

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

81

Contact Gov360

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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