STAFFER

STAFFER guest Jaime Lizárraga has spent more than three decades at the center of economic policymaking, where he worked in Congress, the executive branch, and independent regulatory agencies. On this episode, Jaime reflects on a career that spans the GAO, the Treasury Department, Capitol Hill, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, serving as a Commissioner after being unanimously confirmed b...

In this episode, Shanan Guinn joins Jim Papa to reflect on her years in public service, from planning events for President Clinton to managing crises on Capitol Hill to multiple stints on the campaign trail. She has served presidents, governors, members of Congress, and now, handles communications at one of the world’s top energy companies at Westinghouse Electric Company. 

In this episode, Julia Spiegel — now Founder and CEO of Governors Action Alliance — talks about being inside Governor Newsom’s office when Roe was overturned, how that experience led her to build a new platform to help governors protect fundamental freedoms, and so much more about her career along the way. 

On this episode of STAFFER, Jim Papa speaks with Corey Tellez, Head of U.S. Public Policy at PayPal, about her decades in public service and policy, spanning the House, Senate leadership, the Treasury Department, and the private sector. From advising during the financial crisis to navigating leadership roles on the Hill, Corey shares lessons on resilience and how government service has shaped her...

Maite Junco, now Senior Vice Chancellor at CUNY, reflects on her years as a reporter, on campaigns, and as a government staffer — from the New York Daily News to the Clinton ’92 presidential campaign to advising Letitia James’ historic campaign for New York Attorney General. She dives into what it takes to lead, navigate crises, and build a career in public service. 

Melissa Morales, talks about her long history of political organizing and leading statewide coalitions, how she stayed motivated while founding Somos Votantes, her perspective on the 2024 election, and so much more. She is a true inspiration to changemakers everywhere and has plenty of advice to share. Listen now. Relevant Links Somos Votantes More from STAFFER Follow STAFFER on  Twitter, Facebook...

This STAFFER guest – Shuwanza Goff, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Empire Consulting Group – recently served in the Biden White House, where she was the first Black woman to lead any administration's legislative team. On the episode, she talks about breaking barriers, managing historic bipartisan negotiations, and so much more. Listen now.

Anne Filipic – CEO of Share Our Strength – has more than 20 years of experience at the highest levels of government, campaigns, and advocacy. She has worked on House and Senate campaigns, at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the White House (twice), the DNC, and served as CEO of Enroll America, the organization tasked with signing up millions of Americans for health care under the Af...

As the state’s chief legal officer, California Attorney General Rob Bonta is at the forefront of addressing some of the country’s most pressing challenges. Hear what he has to say about the role of his department in meeting this moment, why people looking for new opportunities should consider joining the CA DOJ, and what inspires him to keep fighting for social justice for all.    

In light of all that has been happening to government employees over the last six weeks, we are releasing a special edition of STAFFER to recognize the invaluable work staffers do for our communities. Indiscriminate, poorly reasoned firings threaten more than the people directly affected – they threaten the functioning and fabric of our democracy. Listen to the full episode now.

STAFFER guest Bruce Mehlman, founder of Mehlman Consulting, has been on Washingtonian Magazine’s list of 500 Most Influential People for three years running. Prior to founding his own firm, Bruce served as counsel at the NRCC, General Counsel and Policy Director for the House Republican Conference, Policy Counsel at Cisco, and Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Comm...

Carlos Monje has worked in government for some of the biggest names in DC, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Pete Buttigieg, over the course of his nearly 25-year career. In this episode, he shares stories about his experience working in the Senate, on presidential campaigns, at the White House and Department of Transportation, and now leading JP Morgan’s Policy Center.

Nicole Isaac has worked for the US State Department, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Vice President's office, and the President’s office, where she served as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs during the Obama Administration. She has worked in external relations for the biggest technologies companies, including Meta, G...

Keenan Austin Reed is known as one of the most impactful government relations experts in Washington D.C. — and with good reason. She spent over a decade in local politics, on Capitol Hill, and on the campaign trail; co-founded and now chairs the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance; and rose through the ranks at the Alpine Group and is set to be CEO in 2025. This STAFFER guest's insights on leader...

STAFFER guest Greta Lundeberg spent more than 13 years working as a foreign policy expert in the Senate, State Department, and the White House, where she served as Senior Director for Legislative Affairs for the National Security Council and Special Assistant to the President. Following her time in government, she spent ten years at Boeing and is now Head of Government & Policy Advocacy, Americas...

This guest was named one of Washington DC’s most influential people four years in a row, and for good reason. Learn more about Sean Kennedy – the National Restaurant Association’s EVP of Public Affairs – and his experience in government from congressional intern to Senate Chief of Staff to the White House.

Sally Susman is a world-class communicator, an author of "Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World", and – of course – a former staffer. Tune in to this episode to hear lessons she learned and stories she lived during her journey from a Senate mail room to the U.S. Department of Commerce to some of the country's biggest brands -- American Express, Estée Laud...

When Kermitt Brooks left corporate law to join the New York State Office of the Attorney General, he intended to stay for only a few years. Instead, he continued to work in government for over a decade, serving in the Attorney General's Office and the New York State Insurance Department. Kermitt has gone on to apply his expertise at some of the largest insurance companies including MetLife, Equita...

This episode features Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, who has seen how government functions from all angles – as an advocate, a staffer, and now as an elected official. She has worked in the labor movement, as a staffer for Gov. Pritzker, and as Chief of Staff of the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden White House. In 2022, she saw a new opportunity to support her community – and ran to re...

Sandra Douglass Morgan is a trailblazer through and through. On today’s episode, she talks about the many roles she’s held – from Chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board to President of the Las Vegas Raiders and everything in between.

This episode's guest is Josh Earnest, one of the few staffers to go the distance from early on the Obama campaign through both terms in the White House. Josh worked in politics and government from Florida to Iowa to New York City to Washington – and has applied lessons learned there to his job at White House Press Secretary and today, as EVP of Communications and Advertising for United. Learn all...

A series of conversations in memory of Dan Turton, a former White House and House of Representatives staffer who died too young, made a lasting difference, and touched many lives.

As a little girl, Jocelyn Frye wanted to be a lawyer. That she did – and so much more. Today, Jocelyn leads the National Partnership for Women and Families. On this episode, she shares insights about her journey from attorney to advocate to White House staffer, and back to advocate. Along the way, she describes what it was like to work so closely with the First Lady Michelle Obama, how she views t...

President Biden’s first two years in office resulted in several landmark laws: the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS & Science Act, and more. During that time, this episode's guest, Louisa Terrell, served as Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. In this episode, hear Louisa discuss her...

Mike Harney knows the federal government like few others. Prior to his position as Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs at Clear, he held a range of impressive positions as a staffer. Hear about the joys and challenges of each position on this episode of STAFFER. Follow STAFFER on Twitter • Facebook • Instagram