Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood

Latest Episodes:

Embracing Regionalism with Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew Ginther and Fellow Matt Chase of the National Association of Counties Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

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.

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Inside the U.S. Mint: Why Coins Still Matter with former Mint Directors Ed Moy and Academy Fellow Ventris Gibson Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

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.

What's the Real Definition of Public Service Education? With Fellows David Van Slyke and Susan Gooden Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

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.

Rebalancing Power and Modernizing The First Branch of Government with Daniel Schuman of the American Governance Institute Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

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

The Ten Texas Traits of Good Government with Alan Bojorquez and Academy Fellow Dr. Howard Balanoff Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

James-Christian Blockwood interviews Academy Fellow Dr. Howard Balanoff of the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University and municipal attorney Alan Bojorquez about defining “good government” amid declining public trust and growing conflict at even local meetings.

We learn about the value of the "Ten Texas Traits of Good Government": Good Government is Respectful, Responsive, Effective, Transparent, Competent, Ethical, Lawful, Innovative, Fiscally Sound, and Accountable.
00:00 Qualified Leaders Matter
01:06 Defining Good Government
02:31 Ethics and Competence
03:44 Trust and Public Cynicism
06:46 Ten Texas Traits
09:08 Traits Explained
14:07 Training Elected Officials
15:08 Advice for Newcomers
18:44 Personal Commitments
21:43 Transparency and Engagement

Check out the 10 Texas Traits here: https://texasmunicipallawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ten-Texas-Traits-of-Good-Gov.pdf

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Trust and National Security: What Being American Means at Home and Abroad, with Ambassador Joe Westphal and former FBI Executive Lauren Anderson Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews Ambassador Joe Westphal and former senior FBI executive Lauren Anderson about how national security has evolved from the Cold War through 9/11 to today’s interconnected threats, including terrorism, geopolitical shifts, and emerging technologies. Both warn that global changes, partner uncertainty, polarization, and reduced information sharing can make the U.S. less safe, alongside a loss of government expertise and strained diplomacy.
01:55 How Security Has Changed
03:17 Collaboration And Trust
05:11 Today’s Threat Landscape
09:11 Eroding Trust And Expertise
15:09 Rebuilding Trust
18:49 Listening And Self Correction
21:39 Serving Above Politics
23:02 Advice For Next Generation
26:16 Checks And Balances

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

CROSSOVER: Management Matters x Governance Matters with Raphael Sonenshein: Changes, Charters and the Constitution Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In this special Crossover episode with Governance Matters, James-Christian Blockwood is joined by Raphe Sonenshein, President and CEO of the the Haynes Foundation.

We're focused on local government charters as “local constitutions” that can be changed more easily, and impact people more immediately, than the U.S. Constitution.

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

"The Future of Public Service" at Celebrating the American Public Servant with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Inspector General Michael Horowitz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

It's a special “Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood” episode featuring highlights from the Academy’s Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala at the Library of Congress during America’s 250th anniversary, including a Future of Public Service panel with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne Bass, and remarks from Senator Tammy Duckworth

Sen. Duckworth shares a combat story about a young door gunner, Kurt, using it as a metaphor for public servants who “stand the perimeter” by showing up daily despite limited glamour or pay.

Mayor Bowser discusses serving D.C.’s residents and improving the city through neighborhood-level engagement and school recovery outcomes. Chief Bass calls for earlier character and citizenship education, a national effort to improve the narrative of service, and broader support for military recruitment. IG Horowitz describes motivation rooted in immigrant family history, rule of law, prosecuting police corruption, and nonpartisan oversight.
01:12 Sen. Duckworth and the "Standing the Perimeter" Message
05:41 Panel Begins and Introductions
06:02 Mayor Bowser on Why She Serves
07:45 Chief Bass on Why She Served
09:46 IG Horowitz Why Accountability Matters
13:48 Mayor Bowser on Trust and Community Change
17:10 Making Service Appeal to Youth
20:26 Next 250 Years Takeaways

Merit- and Skills-Based Hiring and What's Next For Government Workforce Management with Fellow Steve Krauss and Gabe Menchaca of the Niskanen Center Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

Host James-Christian Blockwood discusses government performance and HR systems with Gabe Menchaca of the Niskanen Center and Academy Fellow and Government HR expert Steve Krauss.

Menchaca summarizes a Niskanen-Academy study describing wide variation in state civil service models, limited scholarship on state HR, and mixed early results from skills-based hiring due to assessment and measurement bottlenecks and inconsistent time-to-hire metrics.

Kraussand Menchaca distinguish nonpartisan hiring from competition-based merit and argue modern merit depends on valid skills assessments. Krauss emphasizes strategic workforce planning, job architecture, skills frameworks, and HR IT modernization, citing initiatives like HR 2.0, USA Hire modernization, online retirement, and more.
00:36 HR Systems Overview
01:19 State HR Study Findings
05:43 Strategic Workforce Planning
08:47 Merit Versus Skills Hiring
13:58 Reimagining Federal HR
17:59 Job Architecture And Classification
19:16 Modernizing HR IT Systems
21:48 Bipartisan Reform Lessons
25:54 Incremental Wins And Big Changes

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

Leading With Courage with Acquisition Experts Soraya Correa and Greg Giddens Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Host James-Christian Blockwood interviews Soraya Correa, President and CEO of the National Industries for the Blind and former Chief Procurement Officer at the US Department of Homeland Security, and Greg Giddens, of Potomac Ridge Consulting, and former Chief Acquisition Officer at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, on how federal acquisition enables mission outcomes beyond compliance.

Giddens describes procurement as a strategic bridge between government missions and private industry, with compliance baked into the process, and argues acquisition should be involved early and represented at the C-suite. Correa says the FAR rarely blocks results; problems often come from how regulations are interpreted, and effective reform depends on curiosity, planning for change, and calibrating risk to mission urgency.

Both stress change management through clear, transparent communication of the “why,” early wins, shared credit, and teamwork, learning from imperfect procurements and solving issues collaboratively. Correa advises emerging leaders to build relationships early, stay close to customers and staff, challenge constraints with solutions, and lead with courage rather than fear. Giddens advises industry to understand the process, persist through obstacles, engage early within boundaries, and tailor solutions to agency needs.
00:00 Build Relationships Early
01:31 Acquisition as Strategy
03:30 Smart Reform Mindset
05:35 Change Management Playbook
07:13 Leadership Skills Today
09:17 Customer and Team Trust
10:00 Learning From Failure
12:10 Seat at the Table
13:09 Courage Over Fear
15:45 Advice for Industry

Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton.

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