In this episode of Gov360, Chris Mann sits down with nationally recognized digital strategist Sam Toles, the founder and CEO of CiviSocial. Sam shares actionable insights from his travels across the U.S. training cities and counties on how to modernize their social media strategy. They dive deep into why local governments must stop ignoring social media’s influence, the dangers of disengagement, and how to use storytelling to build community trust.

Sam explains why outdated communication approaches are failing and outlines what cities are getting wrong—from fragmented messaging to over-reliance on tools like Canva—and what they can do instead to build public trust and resilience in the face of growing civic disengagement and online hostility. This conversation is both a warning and a roadmap.

• Local government is still trusted — and that trust can be leveraged through authentic, human storytelling.
• Ignoring negativity online isn’t a strategy; it’s a liability.
• The “STPs” (Same Ten People) often dominate the conversation, but they don’t represent the silent majority.
• Content culture starts internally — the most effective content comes from staff, not expensive media firms.
• Effective social media is strategic — it requires planning, alignment, and platform-specific approaches.
• A better Instagram feed can win the recruitment war.
• Empowered employees tell better stories — and those stories build morale, credibility, and community connection.

• The dark side of social media and its impact on local government morale and safety
• Why decentralized, uncoordinated accounts are hurting your agency
• Platform-specific strategies: why Facebook ≠ Instagram
• How to empower internal teams to tell your city’s story
• Recruiting the next generation through authentic content
• Real-world success stories from cities like Calimesa, CA and Plainville, CT
• Why Canva isn’t always your friend — and what to do instead

• 📘 The Social Media Playbook for City and County Managers by Sam Toles

Available on Amazon (also free directly from Sam)

• 🔗 Learn more about CiviSocial
• 🧠 Follow Sam Toles on LinkedIn for more insights and updates

🔄 Share this episode with your colleagues who live and breathe local government.

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube:

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PodBean | And All Major Platforms

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Gov360 – Your Full Circle View on Local Government

Real Conversations. Real Leaders. Real Solutions.

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Tags: Gov360, Local Government, City Manager, Public Sector Leadership, Gov360 Podcast, Municipal Leadership, Public Information, Civic Engagement, Government Podcast, CAPIO, Public Service, Chris Mann, City Manager Chris Mann, Leading Local Gov, Inside City Hall, Public Service Matters, Local Gov Pros, Podcast for Government, Government Leadership, Sam Toles, CiviSocial, The Social Media Playbook for City and County Managers

In this powerful debut guest episode of Gov360, host Chris Mann is joined by Joe Turner — veteran city manager, founder of the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), and host of the highly influential City Manager Unfiltered podcast. Together, they explore how bold communication, authentic leadership, and calculated risk-taking are reshaping the future of local government.

From the risks and rewards of stepping into the city manager seat, to navigating career transitions and building personal brands through content creation, this episode is packed with real talk, actionable insights, and inspiration for local government professionals at every stage of their journey.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why bold, transparent communication is essential in today’s public sector

• How Joe Turner built the City Manager Unfiltered brand and why more professionals should follow suit

• The growing importance of podcasts, digital media, and personal branding in the profession

• Strategies for navigating involuntary transitions in city management

• The mission behind the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME)

Featured Topics:

• Risk aversion vs. bold leadership

• Communication breakdowns between managers and councils

• The myth of “playing it safe” in today’s city management

• Turning failure into growth

• Building a support system in a lonely profession

Links & Resources:

• 🎙️ City Manager Unfiltered Podcast: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/

• 🏛️ American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME): https://aame.org/

• 📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817

• 📺 Watch Gov360 on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyOcroiVl0nr6P-VSd6IJq-eVued17bMB&si=yzWUroJ-pBx7ulnw

Connect with Us:

• Follow Gov360 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gov360/

• Visit Chris Mann’s website: https://www.chrismann.us/

Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.

Gov360 – Real Conversations. Real Leaders. Real Solutions.

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Tags: Gov360, Local Government, City Manager, Public Sector Leadership, Gov360 Podcast, Municipal Leadership, Public Information, Civic Engagement, Government Podcast, CAPIO, Public Service, Chris Mann, City Manager Chris Mann, Leading Local Gov, Inside City Hall, Public Service Matters, Local Gov Pros, Podcast for Government, Government Leadership, Joe Turner, Joseph Turner, City Manager Unfiltered, American Association of Municipal Executives, AAME

🎙️ Gov360 – Episode 1: A Time to Come Together

Host: Chris Mann | City Manager, Public Affairs Pro, Award-Winning Communicator

Welcome to the first-ever episode of Gov360 - Your Full Circle View on Local Government.

In this solo kickoff, host Chris Mann delivers a raw, honest reflection on what it really means to lead in local government today.

This episode isn’t about policy updates or process checklists - it’s about the human side of public service. The pressure. The politics. The isolation. The moments of quiet impact that never make the headlines.

Chris shares his personal journey through city leadership - from being elected to a city council at 23, to serving as a city manager in California - and lays out a bold new vision for how we talk about leadership in the public sector.

🎯 In this episode:

• Why Gov360 was launched - and what makes it different

• The communication crisis in local government (and what to do about it)

• The silent toll of public sector executive-level leadership

• Why podcasts like this are essential in today’s civic landscape

• A call for unity, vulnerability, and peer support in the profession

If you’re a city manager, department head, mid-level leader, or elected official, this podcast was built for you.

Real conversations. Real challenges. Real leadership.

⸻

🔔 Subscribe and follow Gov360:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360-coming-soon/id1807649614

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyOcroiVl0nr6P-VSd6IJq-eVued17bMB&si=EIomKnPZgNOXDbld

Podbean: https://www.gov360podcast.com

📲 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gov360

🛠 Let’s rethink leadership. Let’s build each other up. Let’s govern boldly.

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Tags: Gov360, Local Government, City Manager, Public Sector Leadership, Gov360 Podcast, Municipal Leadership, Public Information, Civic Engagement, Government Podcast, CAPIO, Public Service, Chris Mann, City Manager Chris Mann, Leading Local Gov, Inside City Hall, Public Service Matters, Local Gov Pros, Podcast for Government, Government Leadership

We’re back — and this time, we’re taking it to the next level. Gov360 is the brand-new podcast hosted by Chris Mann, creator and former host of the award-winning Yucaipa 360 Podcast, which just received the 2025 CAPIO EPIC Award for excellence in public information and communications. In this trailer, hear why Gov360 was launched, what sets it apart, and how it’s building on the success of a podcast that redefined how local government connects with its community. If you’re a city manager, public information officer, elected official, or frontline government pro — this podcast is for you.

• Real conversations.
• Real leaders.
• Real solutions.

🔔 Episode 1 drops next week! Subscribe now and join us each episode as we take a full-circle view on the biggest challenges — and opportunities — facing local government professionals today.

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👀 Watch the award-winning Yucaipa 360 Podcast:

🎧 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL47_qzEUJZAA4ZJyE-AT14XtTWTeomlmT

🎧 Listen to Gov360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360-coming-soon/id1807649614

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyOcroiVl0nr6P-VSd6IJq-eVued17bMB&si=EIomKnPZgNOXDbld

Podbean: https://www.gov360podcast.com

📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gov360

💬 Join the conversation and help reshape the future of local government.

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Tags: Gov360, Local Government, City Manager, Public Sector Leadership, Gov360 Podcast, Municipal Leadership, Public Information, Civic Engagement, Government Podcast, CAPIO, Public Service, Chris Mann, City Manager Chris Mann, Leading Local Gov, Inside City Hall, Public Service Matters, Local Gov Pros, Podcast for Government, Government Leadership

🚨 COMING SOON: Gov360 – Your Full Circle View on Local Government 🎙️

Local government work has never been more important - or more challenging.

Between tight budgets, toxic politics, and keyboard warriors, public service demands resilience, innovation, and better communication than ever before.

That’s why we're launching Gov360 - a new podcast for the people shaping our communities from the inside out.

Hosted by City Manager Chris Mann, Gov360 brings you candid conversations, real-world solutions, and expert insights from local government leaders across the country.

💡If you’re a city manager, policymaker, or public servant striving to lead in this complex environment, this podcast is for you.

🎧 Watch the trailer below, follow Gov360, and be the first to know when we drop Episode 1!

— Tags: Gov360, Local Government, City Manager, Public Sector Leadership, Gov360 Podcast, Civic Engagement, Chris Mann, Public Information, CAPIO, Leading Local Gov