Modern Gov Matters

Meeting Your "Silent Audience" with Frances La Rue

Your engagement numbers are down and your comments are quieter, but Frances La Rue says that doesn't mean your community stopped paying attention; it means they're watching without raising their hands. She calls them the silent audience, and if you're grading yourself on likes and comments, you're missing most of what's actually happening. Frances spent four years as the City of Anna's first-ever communications manager, hired after a 2021 ice storm made it obvious the city had no one whose job it was to keep residents informed. Now she's the social media specialist at Julie Parker Communications, working with cities and public safety agencies across the country. In this episode she makes the case for what to measure instead of likes, why the loudest commenters are never the full picture, what's actually outperforming right now, where she lands on turning comments off, and why chasing engagement for its own sake is a goal that will never impress your city council. Resources & Links Frances La Rue on LinkedIn Julie Parker Communications Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk.

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The Heart Behind the Headline with Jeff Hundley

In this episode of Modern Gov Matters, host Sarah Loyd talks with Jeff Hundley, who runs the Master Public Information Officer program at the University of Tennessee's Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC). Jeff makes the case that great public safety communication isn't about the press release or the podium - it's about earning a community's trust long before a crisis hits. He shares how his program has grown to draw communicators from 31 states, why the network those cohorts build can be a lifeline when disaster strikes, and the honest challenges of the job today - from agencies disabling public comments to knowing when to trust your community over a metric. It's a heartfelt, practical look at the human side of government communications. Master PIO program: https://leic.tennessee.edu More episodes: https://moderngovmatters.com Presented by CivAll: https://www.civall.com

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Making Connections and Climbing Higher at 3CMA's Annual Conference

The Annual 3CMA Conference in Denver showcased the growth and success of the event, the excitement of returning to Denver, and the anticipation for next year's conference in New Orleans. We talked to attendees about their experiences and insights, highlighting the value of networking and learning from fellow government communicators that they're not alone. Resources & Links: 3CMA Annual Conference Modern Gov Matters CivAll by Social News Desk

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From Ride-Alongs to Civic Engagement: Building for Government with CivAll's Aaron King

Aaron King runs Social News Desk and CivAll, and he joins Sarah to announce CivAll - a suite of modern software built for civic engagement. Before any of this, Aaron spent his career building for the public sector. He's also the kind of person who insisted on riding along in the patrol car to find out whether the software actually worked. In this conversation he walks through what CivAll is and how he hopes to effect positive change by building ways for communications teams to better engage their residents. Resources: CivAll.com Aaron King on LinkedIn

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How Small-Town Success Conquers Crises and Inspires Big Changes with Chris Shadrock

In this episode, Sarah Loyd chats with Chris Shadrock, the visionary Communications Director of Boerne, Texas, about transforming chaos into clarity, community connection, and bold plans for the future. Whether navigating crises, modernizing websites, or shifting from town halls to organic engagement, Chris offers real-world insights that every public sector pro needs to hear. Links: City of Boerne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BoerneCityHall/ City of Boerne Website - https://www.ci.boerne.tx.us/ Watch more episodes of Modern Gov Matters - https://www.moderngovmatters.com

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Building Engagement from the Inside Out with Renae Jackson

What if the key to better community engagement isn't a new platform or campaign - it's your own employees? Renae Jackson, Equity and Engagement Director for the City of Decatur, Georgia, makes the case that internal engagement isn't a nice-to-have. It's the foundation everything else is built on. Renae has been with the city since 2007, moving from a one-person communications shop to leading a division built around three pillars: communications, equity, and employee and community engagement. In this episode, she gets honest about what's working, what's still a challenge, and why she tells elected officials that "community" always means internal and external. In this episode: Why employees are a city's most powerful ambassadors - and what breaks down when they're not engaged How Renae made the case to leadership for growing her team (hint: she showed her work) The ongoing challenge of internal communications - even in organizations that believe engagement is everyone's job What Decatur's re-energized volunteer engagement looks like post-COVID The FIFA World Cup watch party series proving that yes, government can be fun Resources & Links: City of Decatur, Georgia Decatur 101 Citizen Academy CivAll Social News Desk Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit Modern Gov Matters.

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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 does Why the traditional news release still has a place, even in a social-first world The Afroman video: how a team collaboration, a Colorado flag, and 30 seconds of humor turned a PR headache into a million-view moment The real challenge of reaching younger audiences without chasing trends or sacrificing credibility What it takes to earn trust from deputies who do good work quietly -and don't want the recognition Shea's advice for anyone just starting out: go slow, learn your agency's messaging, and support it Resources & Links: Adams County Sheriff's Office CivAll Social News Desk Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit Modern Gov Matters.

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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 trust The 5 Elements of High Performance Communications: what they are, how they work together, and which one most organizations are missing Why listening - not just broadcasting - is the keystone of citizen engagement, and what intentional listening actually looks like How the communicator's seat at the table is really the citizen's seat at the table The shift toward in-person engagement and why real conversations don't happen at a city council meeting - they happen at HEB on a Saturday morning Why over-reacting to naysayers and trolls on social media is one of the most persistent mistakes in local government communications Learning 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 Newsletter Hampton Public Will Hampton on LinkedIn CivAll Social News Desk Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk.

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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 communications What 64% population growth in three years actually feels like from inside the comms office Managing two very different audiences — longtime residents and brand-new ones — on the same platforms How Melissa grew its Facebook following from 5,400 to nearly 15,000 by leaning into transparency and two-way conversation Why one-way posting is a dead end, and what intentional content planning looks like instead What Bridget would build first if she could start the role over: strategy, crisis planning, and workflows before anything else Helping residents understand what their council can and can't actually control — and why that matters Resources & Links CivAll Social News Desk Bridget Saxton on LinkedIn City of Melissa on Facebook City of Melissa on Instagram Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk.

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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 storyteller How personal connection gives authenticity to government content Managing a small but mighty team across 14 departments Why breaking the "that's what we've always done" mold sparks innovation and saves taxpayer money The real impact behind the Hometown Hero Banner Program Why authentic visuals reign supreme over AI-generated content Building community trust through genuine resident interactions Practical advice for government communicators just getting started Resources & Links CivAll Social News Desk Town of Prescott Valley PV in Focus Podcast Connect with LaToya LinkedIn

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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 series Chatty Chatham animated series The Chat podcast 3CMA (City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

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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.

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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: LinkedIn Follow Las Virgenes MWD on social media to see Steven's photography and video work Get 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.

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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 Facebook City of Wentzville on Instagram City of Wentzville on LinkedIn Kara's LinkedIn Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

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Going Viral for Your City with Emelie Schultz

Emelie Schultz is the Social Media Coordinator for the City of Toledo, Ohio — and the person behind a mayor's TikTok response that racked up 380,000 views, 45,000 likes, and got an out-of-state influencer to fly in for a football game he'd never heard of. But the viral moment is just the starting point. In this episode, Emelie and Sarah talk about the steady, strategic work underneath the highlights: doubling attendance at Toledo's first-ever Homeownership Fair, shifting content strategy back to everyday city services, and what's coming for every government communicator with the ADA web accessibility requirements taking effect in 2026. Resources & Links Italian Bowl Response from Toledo Mayor City of Toledo on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Emelie Schultz on LinkedIn Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

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"Find Your Fluffle": Building Gov Comms Relationships with Kara Raftery

In this episode of Modern Gov Matters, Sarah Loyd chats with Kara Raftery, the dynamic communications and HR manager for the small but vibrant city of Leavenworth, Washington. Kara shares her unique experiences managing a multifaceted role as a team of one, balancing community engagement, crisis management, and innovative initiatives—all while maintaining her sense of humor and resilience. Key topics: The chaos and creativity of managing a small city’s communications and HR with a 200-item to-do list How Leavenworth balances tourism influx with local quality of life The power of community relationships and the concept of a "fluffle" in government networking Strategies for proactive wildlife management and reducing human-wildlife conflicts The shift toward in-person touchpoints to strengthen community bonds post-COVID Tools and approaches that help Kara work smarter, including the importance of relationships and support networks Advice for newcomers in government communications: build your fluffle and stay persistent Resources & Links: City of Leavenworth Gitcha Goomsba Up Miracle Town - Creating Leavenworth, Washington Kara Raftery - LinkedIn Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

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Transforming Lives Through Workforce Training with Ryan Loyd

Explore how Ryan Loyd uses strategic communication to market San Antonio's $240 million workforce training initiative. Discover the power of storytelling, community engagement, and flexible messaging in driving civic change. Key Highlights: Leveraging grassroots outreach and paid media for effective communication Crafting flexible messages to adapt to community needs Inspiring participation through compelling success stories Aligning communication strategies with brand identity Coordinating with partners for unified messaging Utilizing analytics to refine communication efforts The role of storytelling in government communications Resources & Links: Ready to Work San Antonio Website Alamo Colleges Goodwill Industries Hallmark University Project QUEST Restore Education Workforce Solutions Alamo Modern Gov Matters Connect with Ryan Loyd: LinkedIn Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

Elevating Local Gov Comms with Brian Ligon

In this episode of Modern Gov Matters, Sarah Loyd sits down with Brian Ligon, Communications and Marketing Director for Mont Belvieu, Texas, to explore the realities of government communications. They share practical strategies for engaging residents, managing digital negativity, and celebrating public servants. Resources & Links: 3CMA GovComms Day Toolkit Mont Belvieu Official Website Mont Belvieu on Facebook Brian Ligon on LinkedIn CivAll Modern Gov Matters Special on GovComms Day: Mark your calendar for February 20th and celebrate the vital work of government communicators everywhere. Whether by proclaiming the day or sharing your stories, show your appreciation for those making civic engagement possible. Remember: Even if you're short on time, a simple social media post or a quick gesture can boost morale and foster community pride. Happy communicating! Modern Gov Matters is presented by CivAll, powered by Social News Desk. For more episodes, visit moderngovmatters.com.

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.