Emily Parcell is blazing her own path through the political industry...part of the famed 2004 Dick Gephardt Iowa operation, Iowa Political Director for the 2008 Obama Caucus effort, running Indiana for the 2008 Obama general election, starting Wildfire Contact's direct mail arm, helping Democrats win tough races, heading up the Warren 2020 effort as a senior aide...and much more. In this conversation, Emily talks her small town Iowa roots, important stops along her political career, and insights and advice from 2 decades in the political trenches.

IN THIS EPISODE

Emily talks about growing up in small town Iowa…

Emily’s hometown connection to Tom Vilsack…

Emily’s Iowa Politics 101…

Emily’s memories of staffing Senator Tom Harkin up close and personal…

Emily talks being part of the influential Gephardt 2004 Iowa Caucus effort…

Emily talks running the Iowa State Senate Democratic Caucus and de-mystifies what legislative campaigns looks like…

Emily talks her role as Barack Obama’s Iowa Political Director during the magical 2008 Caucus campaign…

Emily’s memories of running Indiana for Obama in 2008, one of the biggest presidential upsets in a generation…

Emily’s accidental path to direct mail and her important early races as a mail consultant…

Emily talks starting her current firm Wildfire Contact…

Emily talks her experiences in a senior role of the 2020 Warren for President campaign…

Emily’s advice to political operatives early in their careers…

AND…the Atlas Project,  BDSM liaisons, battle cries and covers songs, Birch Bayh, Sarah Benzing, Joe Biden, Sherrod Brown, Susie Buffett, Bill Burton, Cheri Bustos, Jon Carson, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, cougars, Abby Curran, Tom Daschle, Sharice Davids, Raghu Devaguptapu, Preston Elliott, fake glasses, Abby Finkenauer, Lee Fisher, Marygrace Galston, Dan Geldon, Jane Gephardt, Grandma Jenny, Al Gore, Mike Gronstal, Josh Grossfeld, Lucinda Guinn, ice cream spoons, Iowa Nice, Jason Isbell, Charlie Kelly, John F. Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Mary Landrieu, John Lapp, Roger Lau, Andrew LaVigne, Dean Levitan, Jeff Link, Jill Long Thompson, Travis Lowe, Leslie Martes, John McCain, Motorola, mousetrap minds, Andrew Myers, BJ Neidhardt, John Norris, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Kristen Orthman, Rohan Patel, Palm Pilots, Rebecca Pearcey, Aaron Pickrell, David Plouffe, Jessica Post, Joe Rospars, Mitch Stewart, Jonathan Swain, Tailgates with Tom, Suzie Terrell, Kip Tew, Paul Tewes, Caroline Valand, Doug Vilsack, Wartburg College, & more!