Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Political pollster Zac McCrary interviews interesting people who work in and around the political industry. Guests come from a multitude of backgrounds and specialties within the political industry, and span the partisan spectrum. This is not a podcast for partisan squabbling or punditry about the latest issue in DC - it is hearing directly from successful people in the industry...their stories, experiences, and advice. This is a podcast for anyone who works in politics, hopes to work in politics, or wants to get up close to see how things really work in the world of professional politics.

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Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Lisa MacLean, Founder of Moxie Media - the First Female-Founded Political Direct Mail Firm

July 09, 2024

Lisa MacLean, founder of Moxie Media - the first female-founded political direct mail firm in the U.S - talks her path to politics...starting in St Louis and then Vassar, to impactful DC internships, managing campaigns in California and eventually starting her own mail firm in the late 1990s that recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. In this conversation, Lisa talks overcoming adversity as a young woman in politics, the nuts and bolts of how she started her own firm, some of her big races and wins, direct mail best practices and trends, and much more from her 30+ years as a top political operative.

IN THIS EPISODE

Growing up middle-class in the St. Louis suburbs...

The searing experience in 9th grade that drove home the importance of politics...

How the Senate vote to confirm Clarence Thomas changed the course of Lisa's career...

Lisa talks what it was like to go to college at Vassar in the late 80s...

Lessons learned during and after the 1992 "Year of the Woman"...

A personal story Lisa tells about a very difficult experience as a young woman in a media firm...

How Lisa decided to start her own direct mail firm and how she got it off the ground...

The biggests changes in direct mail over Lisa's 25 years in the business...

Some of the memorable races where Lisa feels smart direct mail made a difference...

The direct mail trends Lisa is monitoring...

Lessons Lisa learned in running and growing a successful mail firm over 25 years...

The story behind the name "Moxie Media"...

A glimpse into living in rural, coastal Washington (state)...

AND Jill Alper, Sasha Bruce, Andrea Campbell, Yadira Caraveo, Amy Chapman, Tony Coehlo, Michael Dukakis, free shrimp cocktail, Patty Garamendi, The Good Neighbor News, Lisa Grove, Anita Hill, Trish Hoppey, Mary Hughes, Tishaura Jones, Celinda Lake, Kevin Mack, Hal Malchow, Laurie Moskowitz, Pat Moynihan, Adnaan Muslin, Amy Pritchard, Rich Schlackman, Amy Simon, Heather Stone, Clarence Thomas, tomboys, Henry Underhill, Karen White, the Womens Information Network, Harriett Woods...& more!