The Friday Reporter

Eleanor Hawkins is communications strategist and writer for Axios after starting her career in politics and communications. It's her early career experience that has delivered her to a place in journalism that reports on the trends and moves inside the world of public relations. As the weekly author of Axios Communicators newsletter, she spends a great deal of time connecting with leaders, brands...

If you've ever been to Capitol Hill, you've likely met today's guest. Mike Johnson got his start as a journalist in a small corner of Illinois, but quickly was recognized as an excellent communicator -- and his D.C. story began. From the White House to Capitol Hill and ultimately K Street, Mike Johnson's experience and understanding of the halls of Congress is unmatched. It's in his newest book, F...

Wendy Bounds is an award-winning journalist and author of multiple books, including her newest -- Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age. She shares the moment she realized she wanted to make a change in her life, the thrill of being an adventure racer and the impact that change had on her new career trajectory. Wendy and Lisa have a fun conversation about aging, exercise and the bal...

In a rare and exclusive interview -- today is the day that Christine Gunderson's first published novel -- Friends with Secrets -- is available for purchase! This brand new -- AMAZON FIRST READS choice -- author shares her tales from the carpool line that have now hit the bookshelves with a resounding roar. Christine Gunderson is a former journalist turned flack tells Lisa about her journey to full...

Allison Taylor Levine is the founder and CEO of the Local Journalism Initiative and Spotlight Delaware. She has dedicated herself to reinventing local journalism in Delaware, and other states are taking note. Allison talks about local news and information -- as opposed to just news -- because what Spotlight Delaware is committed to getting both news and critical information to their residents. Her...

Holly Harris is Founder and President of the Network, and oversees all operations, activities, and personnel at the organization. Through the Network, she connects lawmakers to America’s premiere policy experts, fosters bipartisan cooperation on evidence-based solutions, and works with top philanthropists and advocates to create platforms that lift up bold leaders working together on big ideas. Tu...

Jodi Schneider went off to college with a law degree in her sights -- but after just one journalism class, her mind was forever changed. Today she is the political news director for Bloomberg TV and Radio -- and she's loving it. From her college years in Madison, WI to Washington, D.C. today - Jodi has been in news markets all across the globe and she's been in every medium that news is made. She...

Kim Borchers is the President of Bird Dog Recruiting and Consulting. As she tells her story, it was from her own exit ramp in her career that led her down an unexpected path to public service. She served in two prominent roles in Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's administration and credits that experience to owning her own brilliant placement firm. Her expertise is in identifying and placing high ra...

Today's guest is a known powerhouse in the public affairs industry and the founder of the Women's Leader Series. Emily Lampkin has been at this for a minute and she's been taking notes. Emily is keenly in tune with the power of the female leader and is proud to have helped elect dozens of females to elected office. It's from this experience that the WLS was born. Emily walks us through the contour...

Byron Tau joins me today to talk about his new book, Means of Control, and how he evolved from political and influence writer to privacy and data expert. He shares that it's this part of journalism - the ability to be a quick study of a new topic --that is his favorite. With a generous break from journalism and an awareness of distractions, Byron found himself a cabin in upstate New York and dove...

Boathouse President Peter Prodromou previously spent over 15 years helping to build and lead Racepoint Global. His early career started in the newsroom and delivered him into the technology sector where he finds himself cautiously optimistic about the use of artificial intelligence. Peter's vision comes from his vast experience in the world of the Internet and has him advising clients about how pe...

Richard Just is managing editor for long form for News of the United States and head of the Albritton Journalism Institute's Admissions process. He joins Lisa today in advance of announcing the second (ever) class for the AJI. With a magazine background, Richard takes us into the process of developing and delivering journalism that is not on the usual breaking news track -- rather at the intersect...

When Kailey Leinz realized her dream to be a ballerina was fleeting, she turned her attention to broadcast journalism, and she hasn't turned back. From her early days at NBC in Charlottesville, VA to a meteoric rise at Bloomberg News, Kailey Leinz is one to watch. Hosting Balance of Power radio (and broadcast online) and BOP in the evenings on Bloomberg TV, this host is fearless in her interviewin...

Don't miss this week's episode with Brody and Luke Mullins -- two D.C.-native, investigative journalist brothers who teamed up to report on the dynamics of lobbying and it's origins in the nation's capital. These two superstars (one at Wall Street Journal and the other at Politico Magazine) have produced one of the most anticipated books of the year -- illustrating the contours of lobbying through...

Amie Parnes is Senior Correspondent for The Hill newspaper, covering the White House, among many other D.C. and political things. She tells us in this episode that she has always wanted to be a journalist and shares some fun anecdotes about her courage in advocating for herself. Fast forward to 2024 and an abrupt change in her employment situation, it is that same tenacity that has her restored to...

With an extraordinary career of anticipating trends in marketing, Beth Sidhu is now chief brand and communications officer for Stagwell. She joins Lisa today for a conversation about important trends in business and the culture of sports -- as she plans to deliver a second successful year of Sport Beach at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Beth's career has been truly at the i...

Will Kinzel is the Founder of Parafossam, a new and booming business inside of Washington, D.C. With a keen insight into running policy campaigns, Will is deciphering Washington, D.C. for private equity clients in a way like no other. Will's experience from inside political committees, top offices inside the U.S. Capitol and high perches inside corporate America have given him a killer instinct an...

Today's guest is a strategist, an author, a publisher and a podcaster with a passion for making people famous for what they do. Torund Bryhn is the author of "Fame Revolution," and she's captured the essence of today's public life in a way no other author has yet done. Listen in today to hear Torund share wisdom about how to live your own personal brand. Her positive approach to this kind of marke...

Jason Blevins from the Colorado Sun tells me he was a ski bum that snuck in the back door to journalism, but anyone that knows this killer journo knows its instinct and grit that makes him a must-follow. After a long tenure at the Denver Post, Blevins took a leap of faith and struck out on his own to build what is now a non-profit publication with a team of great talent. We get into the business o...

Maggie Hroncich is a staff reporter for the New York Sun, and to hear her unfold her daily playbook is a complete inspiration. At a time when we're regularly hearing about newsrooms shrinking or disappearing altogether, today's conversation is a hopeful one with a brilliant journalist. Tune in today to learn more about Maggie's journalism path, her focus on trends in local media and how TikTok and...

Emily Hanford is senior producer and correspondent for APM Reports. She's the host of the hit podcast, "Sold a Story," the second most shared show on Apple Podcasts in 2023 and Time Magazine top THREE podcasts of the year joins Lisa today for a conversation reading instruction. Her entire career has been dedicated to public radio -- much to her English degree's surprise -- and has really made a tr...

The National Press Foundation is dedicated to investing in the future of young journalists and my guest today has made this organization a top priority. Amos Snead is the chair of the NPF and also president of D.C. public affairs firm Adfero. Today, he's a guest of the Friday Reporter. As an avid supporter of journalism and communications, Amos famously tells everyone he mentors that we're in the...

Yolanda Brignoni started her career as a journalist in Macon, Georgia, but quickly found that her willingness to help and advocate became her passion. Fast forward a few years to today, she's VP External Affairs & Communications for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. ( www.pedaids.org ). Her passion for advocacy has taken her into and onto some of the most rewarding communications pos...

Patrick Wohl is a Washington, D.C. political professional and author of an insightful new book -- Down Ballot, How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion. Today, Lisa and Patrick unpack how an Illinois state primary ignited a national conversation about abortion, while also setting a precedent for counting electoral ballots -- without giving up too much about this smart new book...

Mark Penn is the Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, Inc., but also a best selling author and former advisor to U.S. Presidents, prime ministers and so much more. He joins Lisa today from CES, one of the biggest tech trade shows in the world. Penn shares his early love for polling, the needle corporations must thread in these dicey political times, and even a story about how he almost got tossed out of...