When Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi began their work as the Witches of Scotland, it was a campaign for justice; for a legal pardon, an apology and a memorial for the thousands of people — mostly women — that were convicted of witchcraft and executed between 1563 and 1736 in Scotland.

In a significant milestone, on International Women’s Day 2022, a formal apology acknowledging the egregious historic injustice suffered by those accused of witchcraft was issued. Since then these two remarkable women have conducted dozens of interviews for their podcast, authored a book, “How to Kill a Witch,” and registered an official tartan as a living memorial.

Claire and Zoe set off on their book tour in the United States in the coming days, and in advance of that trip, they’ve joined me for a conversation. Let this be a reminder that if we lose sight of history, we are doomed to repeat it.

James Davis is the founder and president of Touchdown Strategies. His story is a remarkable one of resilience and perspective that is truly unmatched. He shares his origin story and reminds us that kindness and good work reward us — and it’s exactly how he got his start in this business.

James’ career began in national defense, took him to the Gulf to manage one of the most significant crisis communications challenges of our time, and led him into an industry whose impact will be felt across the country for generations. Today, his firm serves clients with a wide range of communications needs — and he approaches every engagement with a remarkable talent for business development and a genuine ability to enrich everyone he meets.

Join me today for a great conversation with my friend James Davis.

This week, In the Lobby welcomes Pat Royal, President and Founder of PVR Communications, a veteran media strategist best known in Washington for his unmatched TV booking instincts. Pat built a reputation connecting top voices to the biggest platforms — and now he’s taken that same expertise to the world of sports.

Fresh off his work with NBC Sports and a behind-the-scenes experience at the Ryder Cup, Pat shares how he’s parlayed his booking savvy into a growing business that bridges media, messaging, and the power of storytelling.

In this conversation, we explore:

* How decades of experience in political media translate seamlessly to sports and entertainment

* What it takes to build trust with high-profile clients and producers

* And why authenticity and relationships remain the real currency in communications

It’s a masterclass in adaptability — and a reminder that great communicators can find success in any arena.