This week on The Friday Reporter, I sit down with Brian Athey — chief creative officer at Push Digital Group and a true campaign architect. Brian has built a career at the intersection of politics, marketing, and storytelling, helping campaigns and organizations break through with bold, creative strategies.

In our conversation, Brian talks about his work at Push, his growing fractional CMO practice, and the lessons he’s learned guiding brands that need seasoned leadership without the overhead of a full-time executive. We also dive into his podcast, The Creative Brief, where he brings sharp insight and candid perspective to the world of marketing and strategy.

From the war room to the boardroom, Brian is a strategist who knows how to shape messages that move people — and this episode shows exactly why.

This week on In the Lobby with The Friday Reporter, Lisa is joined by Nat Wienecke, president of Conscience Point Consulting and longtime D.C. power player with a reputation for getting things done — and doing them the right way. From his years on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch to his leadership at a major trade association, Nat has built a career around trust, strategy, and service.

Lisa and Nat dive into how the best advocacy starts with listening, how to build relationships that last beyond any one issue, and why Washington needs more people who understand both the policy and the politics. Plus, they explore Nat’s new chapter as a firm founder and thought leader — and how he's helping others step into the spotlight with purpose.

Whether you're a policy wonk, a public affairs pro, or just curious about how Washington really works, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

This week on The Friday Reporter, Lisa welcomes Aaron Kwittken — founder and CEO of PRophet, a trailblazing AI-driven communications platform — for a dynamic conversation about the future of public relations, the power of predictive tech, and the importance of staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Aaron shares how his background as a seasoned agency leader led him to create PRophet, a tool that harnesses artificial intelligence to help communicators better predict media interest, craft smarter pitches, and measure impact more effectively. Together, they explore the implications of emerging technologies in the PR world, what it means for journalists and communicators alike, and why embracing innovation is no longer optional.

From the intersection of tech and storytelling to the practical ways AI is shaping reputation management and media strategy, this episode offers a glimpse into where the industry is headed — and how the best communicators will lead the way.

Tune in for insights on:

* The founding story behind PRophet

* How AI is revolutionizing media relations

* Why human creativity still matters — maybe more than ever

Whether you're a PR pro, media strategist, or just AI-curious, you won’t want to miss this one.