Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood

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, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Keep following along for what's next as we tackle the biggest challenges in government, now with the help of our partners at Concourse!

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration, produced by Nabeel Chollampat, with support from Matt Hampton and Jacob Clemente.
Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Follow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

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 Federal Disruption and Trust
07:20 Columbus's Regional Housing Plan
10:25 Regionalism, Land, and Taxes
13:03 Handling Polarizing Issues
18:16 NACo Playbook for Working Amidst Challenges
21:12 Local Wins in Education
24:42 Transit and Affordability
28:11 Advice: Check Your Ego

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by and edited by Matt Hampton. 
Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190
Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Follow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

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 White House and congressional collaboration with the Mint.

01:29 What the US Mint Does
04:01 Coins vs Paper Money
05:14 Running the Mint Up Close
06:51 If the Mint Disappeared
09:27 Unbanked and Bullion Demand
11:29 The Penny Debate
15:19 Nickels and Mint Economics
17:23 Future of Coinage and Privacy
19:23 Who Chooses Coin Designs
22:49 Advice for Congress and White House
Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by and edited by Matt Hampton. 
Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190
Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Follow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

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 administration education, and what may be next for schools around the country.
Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by and edited by Matt Hampton. 
Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190
Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Follow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

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 Escalation
01:32 Institutions At A Crossroads
03:08 Defining The Crisis
05:26 Restoring Checks And Balances
09:39 Power Vacuum And A New Deal Lesson
12:01 Elections Could Worsen Tensions
15:17 Durable Democracy Reforms
17:55 The Challenges of Elections and the Courts
22:26 Modernizing Congress with Incentives
25:55 Reasons For Optimism