The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mathew John, the award-winning Creative Director at the United States National Park Service joins the show to explore the transformative power of storytelling in the public sector. From growing up as a second-generation American in small-town Ohio to producing emotionally charged films for America's most treasured public lands, Mathew shares how his lived experiences and emotional intuition fuel his creative process. The conversation dives into the distinction between making videos and telling meaningful stories, the importance of vulnerability in creative leadership, and the tangible impact of narrative — including a film that helped secure over $16 billion for park infrastructure.

Mia Jordan, Global Go-To-Market Executive at Salesforce and former USDA Chief Information Officer, and Josh Millsapps, CEO of Millsapps, Ballinger & Associates join the show to explore the importance of platform strategies over one-off projects to ultimately drive strategic value for government agencies. Together, we unpack what is driving the rising appetite for change across federal agencies and how to strike the balance between pragmatism and bold innovation. Finally, they offer tactical advice for government leaders navigating leadership turnover, workforce challenges, and policy shifts — emphasizing why it’s time for agencies to “run with scissors” and move fast, even amid ambiguity.

Dr. David Bray, Former Chief Information Officer of the Federal Communications Commission and CEO at Lead Do Adapt Ventures, and the Honorable Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research join the show for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the evolving landscape of data, digital trust, and national security. We unpack how the explosion of connected devices, AI-generated content, and synthetic data is reshaping decision-making, security, and public trust at every level of government and society and explore challenges from authenticating digital content to decentralizing emergency response, and the urgent need to empower individuals and local communities in the face of complex, rapidly changing information ecosystems.

Andrew McClanahan, Senior Director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government Relations rejoins for Part Three of the conversation around government program integrity and we tackle the urgent "so what" in today’s government assistance landscape — what can agencies actually do to strengthen their fraud, waste, and abuse defenses amid tightening budgets, AI-driven bot attacks, and mounting operational pressures? We also unpack practical, tech-enabled strategies for modernizing fraud prevention frameworks, streamlining verification processes, and improving both customer experience and staff retention.

Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber Policy and Global Field CISO at Fortinet rejoins the show for a timely discussion on the fast-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and we unpack AI’s unprecedented energy demands, its implications on national infrastructure, and the critical cybersecurity considerations government agencies must navigate in this new era. Jim also shares his "Three Rules for Government Technology Transformation," and we explore why education and clear procurement strategies are vital to responsible AI rollout in public sector programs.

Andrew McClanahan, Senior Director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government Relations rejoins for Part Two of the conversation around government program integrity and he unpacks the increasing state responsibilities for service delivery and the tough financial balancing acts agencies face while grappling with program reforms, fraud prevention, and privacy protection. We also discuss Medicaid work requirements, SNAP eligibility controversies and the politics of data sharing and we tackle the practical realities and policy debates shaping public assistance programs today.