Andi Johnson, Trailblazing Democratic Media Consultant & Partner at GPS Impact

Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Andi Johnson, a partner at GPS Impact, is a veteran Democratic media strategist who has been a trailblazer as one of the first women in Democratic media. She's worked for leading Democratic political figures for over 30 years...names like Obama, Klobuchar, Leahy, Inslee, Bob Casey Jr, and many more. In this conversation, Andi talks growing up in a political family in Eugene, OR, how she somewhat accidentally found a path into political media, mentoring under the late Democratic admaker Joe Slade White, some of her favorite races she's worked on...from Ben Nighthorse Campbell (as a Democrat) in 1988 to helping elect Cherelle Parker Mayor of Philadelphia just a few weeks ago. This is a great talk through a fascinating career with a groundbreaking woman in media consulting and one of the most successful admakers in Democratic politics.

IN THIS EPISODE

Andi grows up in a politically-minded family in Eugene Oregon…

A teenage Andi rubs shoulders with Senator Ted Kennedy and his 1980 presidential campaign staff…

Andi remembers the politics of her native Oregon in her formative years…

Andi’s fortuitous intersection with two iconic media consultants, Roger Ailes and Joe Slade White…

Andi talks the "two revolutions" in production of political media…

Andi on what she learned from her early colleague Joe Slade White…

Andi talks an early key race for (then Democrat) Ben Nighthorse Campbell in Colorado…

Andi distills her approach to admaking…

Andi talks one of her favorite ads for VT Senator Pat Leahy…

Andi breaks down the appeal of two of the most memorable ads she produced for the Obama 2008 Presidential…Three Bedroom Ranch and Rearview Mirror…

Andi’s memories working for the Klobuchar 2020 presidential campaign…

Andi talks the recent success of her client Cherelle Parker, the next mayor of Philadelphia…

Andi recalls a groundbreaking ad she helped write in 1998 for then Congressman Jay Inslee…

Andi talks what she learned from longtime partner Saul Shorr…

Andi discloses her strangest work habit and her advice to budding media consultants…

Andi goes deep on her experiences as a traiblazing woman in political media & how the business has changed on that front over the past generation...
AND audible gasps, Michael Bennet, Kit Bond, bungalows, Ken Burns, George W Bush, The Cascades, clean young men, Bill Clinton, Christopher Close, Coro Fellows, Dr. Ruth, the Daisy Ad, John Danforth, Danish mothers, Darlingside, David Dixon, Anita Dunn, The Eugene Weekly, Sandra Feldman, Norma Ferrer, The Foreign Service, Booth Gardner, Neil Goldschmidt, Mandy Grunwald, Charles Guggenheim, The Harriman Center, Sincere Harris, Mark Hatfield, Hillman & Carr, Peter Hoagland, Jay Howser, Val Hoyle, Tom Jones, Bill Knapp, Monica Lewinsky, Loony Tunes, Al Lowenstein, Dottie Lynch, MTV, Tom McCall, John McCain, Gunn McKay, Barbara Mikulski, Wayne Morse, the naked word, Janet Napolitano, Bob Packwood, Aren Platt, Prince, Questlove, Ed Rendell, The Responsive Chord, Will Robinson, rum raisin ice cream, Bill Sarpalius, Sawyer Miller, Tony Schwartz, Bill Sheffield, Shep Sherbell, Soundhound, Bob Squier, Ken Swope, Roy Temple, Tom Udall, Greta Van Fleet, the voice of God, WHYY, wandering in the desert, Jim Weaver, Randi Weingarten, Rick White, Williams College, Harriet Woods & more!