Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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What if the real infrastructure problem in local government isn’t roads or pipes—it’s trust?
That’s the challenge Sam Toles, CEO of CiviSocial, brings to this week’s episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast. And it’s not just a critique—it’s a call to action.
Sam returns to the show following his first appearance in Episode 135, this time to unpack the big ideas from his new book:
The Social Media Playbook for City and County Managers
(Download it free here)
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just about hashtags and Facebook posts.
It’s about how we rebuild civic trust in an age of disconnection.
Sam opens the episode with a brutal truth: most people feel more connected to their favorite influencer than to their local government. It’s not that cities lack value. It’s that they’ve lost relevance in the daily story of people’s lives.
“People don’t want to be broadcasted to. They want to be invited into a shared civic story.”
That insight reframes everything—from your town’s social media strategy to how you think about community meetings and digital engagement.
One of Sam’s boldest takes? Local governments should treat digital engagement like critical infrastructure—because it’s the connective tissue between people and place.
And yet, most cities still treat social media like a press release board.
Sam argues that engagement doesn’t begin with information—it begins with invitation.
That’s what his book offers: practical, accessible tools to move your city or county from broadcasting to belonging. It’s designed for city managers and communications professionals who want their city’s voice to actually mean something to the people they serve.
Another highlight: Sam calls on city leaders to stop optimizing only for efficiency. People don’t just want services delivered—they want to feel seen, respected, and connected.
“What if we stopped asking how to get people to the meeting—and instead asked how to bring the purpose of the meeting to the people?”
If that doesn’t hit home for every public servant trying to engage an exhausted, distracted public—I don’t know what will.
Sam closes with stories from his work across the country—hearing from overwhelmed city teams and frustrated residents alike. What he sees isn’t apathy. It’s a deep hunger for real connection.
His message is clear: cities don’t need more noise—they need more meaning.
And the best leaders aren’t chasing likes. They’re rebuilding trust one post, one meeting, one moment at a time.
Listen to Episode 191 of The HaltingWinter Podcast now:
Sam Toles – Belonging Beats Bureaucracy: What CiviSocial Reveals About Our Civic Crisis
Available wherever you get your podcasts or at haltingwinter.com/resources
Download Sam’s free book:
The Social Media Playbook for City and County Managers
or
Purchase a hard copy at Amazon
The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.
