Evan Siegfried is a nationally featured political commentator, millennial expert, and author of GOP GPS.
Today’s conversation is with Evan Siegfried, a Republican political strategist and commentator, and equally important, a passionate NYC wine lover and dog owner. Evan is the author of GOP GPS: How to Find the Millennials and Urban Voters the Republican Party Needs to Survive. When he’s not writing for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post or other publications, he’s busy building his wine collection.
I get the conversation started while sipping an exceptional new release, Sonoma-Cutrer’s limited-production 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir which showcases the artisan craftsmanship and innovation of this premier winery in the Russian River Valley. Politics and wine discussion; yes, but also some “Evan” focused questions which include the most unique thing he’s bought online and his favorite appliance in house. Join me and Evan for an “award-winning” podcast you won’t want to miss!
Featured Segment Introduction:
Jessica: “So, let’s start with the beginning. I mean tell me about yourself. Where did you grow up and what did you really want to be when you went to college?”
Evan: “Well, I grew up in New York City actually on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. And I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I found out quickly what I didn’t want to be and I didn’t want to be in finance. And I thought I wanted to be a lawyer especially since I come from a family of lawyers. And then I took an internship in high school in between my junior and senior years with the Manhattan DA’s office and I realized, no! This isn’t for me whatsoever. This is boring. So, I went into college just completely confused. No real idea what I wanted to do but I started taking political science classes because it was interesting for me. Then I said, all right! Well, I’ll major in it. You know it’s a respectable major. It can be applied to multiple different businesses and it’s a liberal arts degree. And in my senior year, I got the opportunity through Fordham University through a program they have to work from the UN full-time and get credit for it, unfortunately not a salary. And I took night classes at the same time and it was a really eye-opening experience. But it was also very much you’re the lowest level grunt sort of gofer. I got the coffee. I made the copies. I handed out press fact sheets to the press at the United Nations and I really made sure that they were catered to. And I completed that and wound up going and bumping into a reporter I had dealt with at the UN, and saying to him just after I graduated, I have no clue what I want to do. And he said, why don’t you move to DC and go work there? Capitol Hill is a great place for you and I think you’d thrive. So, I started interviewing for jobs on Capitol Hill and I got a position with the press office of Senator Bill Nelson from Florida. Worked for him and then moved back up here a couple of months later to work for the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign, his 2008 run.”
For the rest of the interview, listen to the podcast above and subscribe to Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri
Special thank-you to Evan and be sure to visit his website at: www.evansiegfried.com