The Friday Reporter

On the eve of International Women’s Day, The Friday Reporter welcomes Dr. Kathleen McInnis, a leading voice in global security and the director of CSIS’s Smart Women, Smart Power initiative. As a seasoned expert in international security and defense policy, Dr. McInnis brings a unique perspective to the conversation—one that highlights not only the biggest challenges in global affairs but also the essential role of women in shaping policy and national security.

Lisa and Dr. McInnis explore the evolving landscape of global threats, the importance of amplifying diverse voices in security and defense, and how her work with Smart Women, Smart Power is creating space for dynamic female leaders in the field.

Tune in today!

Roger Fisk is a global communications and marketing strategist who brings the hard-earned lessons of the Obama and Biden campaigns to private sector challenges around the world.

Today, he joins Lisa for a conversation about how a simple volunteer role on a campaign evolved into a distinguished career in politics. As a frequent counterpoint to Lisa’s perspective, these two former staffers swap stories on how their experiences translate to consulting in today’s Washington, D.C.

Tune in for insights into Roger’s communications expertise, his global outlook, and a shared appreciation for the district’s top TV booker.

In this episode of In the Lobby, I sit down with David Castagnetti, a seasoned lobbyist and now advisor for DGA Group with deep expertise in navigating the complexities of government relations and advocacy. David shares his journey into lobbying, the strategies that have helped him succeed and how the industry continues to evolve.

We discuss his path to becoming a lobbyist and lessons learned along the way; the shifting landscape of advocacy and government affairs; and how relationships and reputation shape lobbying efforts.

David brings a wealth of knowledge and insights into the art of influencing policy — a knowledge base that he now shares with his students at American University — making this a must-listen for anyone in public affairs, government relations, or curious about the behind-the-scenes world of lobbying.

We also share a moment about his go-to Italian meal — and a meatball challenge — you can preview that below!

Listen now and get an insiders’ perspective on what it truly means to be In the Lobby.

Today’s guest is Garrett Bess, president and CEO for Two River Pictures. His passion for television and creative has been fueled steadily since his early days of high school.

He’s the host and executive producer of, “Bikes to Bites,” a wildly-successful food and travel show — among so many other creative and successful projects in the NY / NJ Metropolitan area and across the globe.

Garrett shares insights from the advertising world, the changes he’s seeing in the industry and his own predictions for trends to watch in the future of content creation. His network of experts is unmatched and his vision for successful programming is beyond comparison.

Listen in today to meet Garrett Bess and to hear more about the industry that continues to evolve on a nearly hourly basis.

Jonathan Zaback (with his business partner and best friend, Jay Kolbe) was told that building a public relations practice that would include family office clients could not be done. They’re pleased to have proven the critics wrong.

Jonathan credits their experience in the traditional public relations space for seeing an opportunity and building a “best in class” business around it. He’s also highly insightful about the future of PR and shares his wisdom in today’s conversation.

His passion for earned media is palpable in today’s conversation — sharing a similar vision with Lisa about how difficult, but critical, it is in today’s media environment. Jonathan also talks frankly about the rapidly changing industry we’ve known for 30 years and how he sees emerging technologies and non-traditional means of communication emerging at the highest rate of speed.

Tune in for a lively conversation about the PR industry and meet my friend who proudly advises his clients about building their legacies.

As Washington, D.C., gears up for a busy inaugural weekend, I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Anita McBride of American University. Throughout her remarkable career, Anita has served three U.S. Presidents in key personnel and management roles, including as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush.

In our discussion, she shares her journey from campaign work to senior leadership, reflecting on the evolving role of the First Lady. Anita has co-authored a collegiate text and written the novel Remember the First Ladies, inspired by Dolley Madison’s iconic words. As a highly sought-after thought leader in this fascinating area of history, her insights are both engaging and enlightening.

Join me for a conversation with someone whose career I deeply admire, on a subject that is uniquely and quintessentially American.

Missy Edwards is one of a few Washington, D.C. locals, brought to town because her dad was also a lobbyist. Influence runs in the family.

She credits good fortune for her first job on Capitol Hill, but those that know her know it’s her hard work and good nature that has brought her success. This Senate creature by nature, shares how she frequently “cuts through the noise,” for her clients in policy areas such as tax, energy and financial services. She also offers that a big part of being a lobbyist is assuring the client that everything is going to be ok.

Missy Edwards is the Founder and CEO of Missy Edwards Strategies and the very first guest of the new Friday Reporter vertical, “In the Lobby."

Mark Preston is Vice President of Political & Special Events and Senior Political Analyst for CNN — but that doesn’t even begin to describe his role at the network.

He cut his teeth covering the Jon Benet Ramsay case, the Olympic bombing and then decided he needed more excitement — so he came to Washington, D.C. For as good as he is at his work, he spends half of today’s conversation giving credit to those who mentored him, those he learned alongside of, and those he credits for the long list of awards he has earned. Mark Preston’s humor shines through in this winding tale of how we got here — and it’s his self-deprecating humor that keeps everyone around him laughing.

Come for the war stories, stay for the lightning round. It’s the first of 2025, and it’s a fun one.

This week’s Friday Reporter guest is someone who has deeply influenced my appreciation for journalists, the concept behind this podcast, and even my own career. Ron Bonjean, my friend for over 20 years, joins me for a conversation filled with wisdom, humor, and some incredible stories.

Ron’s career spans Capitol Hill, where he worked at the highest levels in both the House and the Senate, to advising a cabinet secretary and eventually becoming a successful businessman. Along the way, he earned a reputation in D.C. as the host of a legendary holiday party. In this episode, Ron shares the story behind that iconic event, how it evolved from a frat-style bash to a professional networking phenomenon, and his encounters with some unforgettable B-list celebrities.

We also dive into Ron’s insights on success in public affairs, the value of treating others with respect, and—wait for it—his time as the announcer for the Wisconsin County Zoo’s Dolphin Show.

Tune in for an inspiring and entertaining episode with one of the best in the business.

Four years ago I called two reporter colleagues and asked, “if I start a podcast about journalists, would you be a guest?” They said yes and the rest is history.

Today I’ve got 175 episodes of conversations with some of the brightest journalists, content creators, authors, communications experts and so many other brilliant guests. Each of which trusted me to ask them questions about themselves.

This week, University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism’s Caley Fox Shannon interviews me. And she doesn’t go easy.

Thanks for listening to my show and thanks for being a part of the conversation.