The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

197: The One with the Human-Centered Design Pioneer

Suzanne Boyd, CEO of Anthro-Tech and a pioneer in human-centered design joins the show to share her journey from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to founding Anthro-Tech in 1997, by blending her love of anthropology with technology to improve lives through thoughtful design. We unpack the evolution and institutionalization of human-centered design, its impact on government and private sector organizations, and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility from the start of any project.

196: The One About Modernizing Government Security

Peter O’Donohue, CTO at Tyto Athene, and Gaurav “GP” Pal, Principal at Stack Armor join the show to unpack the future of federal compliance, security, and cloud modernization. From automating risk management frameworks to balancing mission urgency with cybersecurity, the discussion dives into how government and industry can partner to drive efficiency, accountability, and continuous monitoring. Finally we explore insights on the evolution of FedRAMP, secure-by-design practices, and the role of AI and quantum in shaping the next five years of compliance.

195: The One with the Alliance of Digital Innovation Leader

Dan Wolf, former Deputy CIO for the Commonwealth of Virginia and current Director of State Programs for the Alliance of Digital Innovation returns to the show to unpack some of the most pressing issues shaping state and local government today. From the surge of artificial intelligence legislation sweeping all 50 states, to the rise of cybersecurity mandates like New York’s reporting requirements and Texas’s bold Cyber Command initiative, we discuss insights into how policymakers, CIOs, and the private sector are navigating these transformative shifts. 

194: The One with the e.Republic President

Dustin Haisler, State and Local Government expert and President of e.Republic joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving landscape of state and local government. Together, we dive into the findings from the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index and explore the tension between rising citizen expectations and governments’ ability to keep pace. From AI adoption and accessibility mandates to cloud modernization, workforce challenges, and shifting federal-to-state responsibilities, we unpack the trends shaping public sector innovation. We also discuss how states are addressing technical debt, why building strong digital foundations is critical for AI success, and how leaders can move from pilots to enterprise rollouts with confidence.

193: The One with the iTech AG Vice President

Chris Cullerot, Vice President for Technology and Innovation at iTech AG joins the show to unpack the massive savings potential outlined in a recent GAO report—over $100 billion—through better IT asset management and consolidation. He shares real-world examples of how federal agencies are addressing duplicative systems, overcoming change management hurdles, and building scalable platforms that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen security.

192: The One with the Political Philosopher

Crom Carmichael, a government contracting entrepreneur, investor, and historian joins the show to explore what a truly efficient government could look like and what history has shown us to be the best way achieve one. We discuss his journey into political philosophy and the creation of his educational platform, Giants of Political Thought, and dive into the historical roots of government. Finally, we unpack the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system, the impact of tax policy on public services, and the role of innovation—especially AI—in driving productivity.

191: The One with the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index (DGI)

Amita Prabhu, Amber Lao, and Kaila Cage from Adobe’s Public Sector Digital Strategy Group join the show unpack the inspiration, methodology, and key findings of the report, which benchmarks digital maturity across U.S. state governments. Together we discuss the origins of the DGI and how it evolved from a side project into a strategic benchmarking tool and why the three pillars of digital maturity – customer experience, site performance, and digital self-service – are so vital to digital government maturity. We also discuss why citizen expectations are outpacing government digital improvements—and what states can do about it and the growing influence of AI and ML in service delivery—from chatbots to fraud detection.

Breaking the Huddle: Reframing Resilience in Uncertain Times

Laura Bennett, host of the Coach’s Corner Podcast and a principal at BDL Consulting joins the show for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and how to take meaningful steps forward amid uncertainty. Together, we explore what it truly means to be resilient—not just to withstand challenges, but to actively navigate through them and emerge stronger. Laura shares insights from her coaching work and podcast guests, discussing the power of small, intentional steps, emotional detachment, and being selective about what we consume—especially in today’s distraction-heavy environment.

190: The One with the Organizational Change Management Expert

Richard Carson, author of the best-seller The Book of Change and an experienced public sector leader joins the show to explore the evolving landscape of organizational change management. Drawing on over 30 years of experience across local, regional, and state government, he shares why effective change isn’t about technology alone—but how organizations adopt and adapt around it. From the bureaucratic hurdles of public service to the psychological toll of transformation, the conversation digs into why most change initiatives fail—and how a bottom-up, empathetic approach can drive lasting impact.

189: The One with the Former Defense Media Activity Leader

Howard Cohen, former Senior Advisor at the Department of Defense's Defense Media Activity and current strategist at CX Studios joins the show to unpack the power of non-kinetic capabilities in modern defense strategy. From web consolidation and cost-saving at scale to safeguarding national security through strategic communications, he shares insights from his work leading digital modernization across the Department of Defense. Together, they explore why public-facing websites are more than just digital real estate—they're mission-critical infrastructure in the information age.