Podcast Title: Going Big! with Kevin Gentry
Episode: Leading with Conviction: Emily Seidel on Building a Movement and Choosing to Go Big
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Kevin Gentry
Guest: Emily Seidel, President and CEO of Americans for Prosperity (AFP)

1. Introduction to the Episode and Guest

In this compelling episode of Going Big! with Kevin Gentry, host Kevin Gentry welcomes Emily Seidel, the President and CEO of Americans for Prosperity (AFP). AFP is a prominent grassroots organization with over 4 million volunteer citizen advocates operating across all 50 states. Under Seidel's leadership, AFP has achieved significant milestones, including 300 policy victories in the past year alone. The conversation delves into the strategies AFP employs to mobilize citizens, influence public policy, and drive social change.

2. Understanding Americans for Prosperity (AFP)

Kevin Gentry introduces AFP as a substantial grassroots organization with a national presence, highlighting its extensive volunteer base and impactful voter engagement efforts:

"In the last election cycle, over 30 million households had their doors knocked on in terms of voter conversation. And perhaps most importantly, just last year, they attribute over 300 different policy wins across the country to their engagement." (02:15)

Emily Seidel further elaborates on AFP's mission:

"We just seek to expand freedom and opportunity so that every person can achieve his or her version of the American dream. And we do that through reaching and mobilizing citizens across the country to have their voices heard in the biggest public policy debates." (03:45)

3. The Role of Citizen Advocates

Gentry probes into the essence of being a "volunteer citizen advocate," a cornerstone of AFP's operations.

Emily Seidel explains:

"At its core, it's just somebody who sees a problem in their community and does something to solve it. It takes many forms—from making phone calls and educating neighbors to attending rallies and lobbying lawmakers directly." (04:43)

She emphasizes the cumulative power of individual actions in shaping public policy:

"It really does [make a difference]. ... When you have all these voices coming together, it impacts the decision-making process of elected officials." (06:13)

4. Major Policy Victories and Impact

When asked about AFP's most significant policy victories, Seidel acknowledges the breadth of their achievements over two decades but highlights specific examples:

"The passage of Act 10 reforms in Wisconsin and the elimination of corporate welfare in Florida are among our landmark victories." (09:48)

She also underscores AFP's broader impact beyond legislative wins:

"We're really working to change the way people think about the relationship between government and their individual life, which influences various aspects of public policy." (10:15)

5. The Overton Window and Shifting Policy Narratives

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the concept of the Overton Window—the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population.

Gentry seeks clarification:

"What is the Overton window and what does it mean to move the Overton window?" (15:34)

Seidel defines it as:

"The guardrails on what's possible in the way that people think about a piece of public policy. For example, government involvement in healthcare was once fringe but has become a baseline policy discussion." (15:45)

This shift allows previously radical ideas to enter mainstream discourse, facilitating policy changes.

6. Current Priority: Protecting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

The conversation shifts to AFP's immediate focus: the reauthorization of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Seidel highlights the urgency:

"Extending the tax cuts is our number one priority right now. If the tax cuts expire, the average American could face a $1,500 tax increase, with some states like Nevada seeing up to $3,500." (17:46)

She elaborates on the potential economic repercussions:

"This expiration could lead to tens of thousands of job losses across states, compounding the effects of ongoing inflation." (18:19)

7. AFP's Strategic Approach: Protect Prosperity Campaign

To address the tax cuts issue, AFP has launched the "Protect Prosperity" campaign, employing a multi-faceted strategy:

1. Mobilizing Grassroots Support:

   "We're activating people in key communities to hold members of Congress accountable and drive urgency for the legislation." (23:55)

2. Maintaining Coalition Unity:

   "We're working closely with Capitol Hill offices and coalition partners to prevent fractures within the Republican conference that could jeopardize the bill's passage." (24:10)

3. National Narrative Campaign:

   "Educating Americans about the stakes through digital and mass marketing to build public support for the extension." (25:48)

Seidel provides the campaign's online presence:

"Interested individuals can visit protectprosperity.com to get involved." (25:58)

8. Leadership Insights from Emily Seidel

Gentry delves into Seidel's leadership journey and her approach to managing a large organization.

Seidel shares her initial reluctance:

"When the board asked me to take this role, I had never knocked a door or organized a grassroots rally. I had to focus on leading myself first to add value before leading others." (29:53)

She emphasizes the importance of self-leadership:

"I had to understand what the team and organization needed and work to fill that gap before I could effectively lead the team." (30:00)

9. Balancing Competing Priorities

Managing a vast organization like AFP involves juggling numerous priorities. Seidel outlines AFP's approach:

"We balance federal versus state issues, short-term versus long-term goals, and education efforts versus immediate policy actions by understanding our resource constraints and optimizing decision-making." (32:47)

She highlights the significance of resource allocation:

"Our biggest constraint is people's time. We ensure that the time volunteers spend with us has the maximum impact by focusing on door-knocking and one-on-one conversations." (33:31)

10. Building Organizational Capability through Experimentation

AFP's commitment to maximizing effectiveness is evident in its experimental approach to resource allocation.

Seidel recounts:

"In 2014, we began experimenting to determine the most effective use of a volunteer's time—whether door-knocking or making phone calls—and have continued refining these strategies over the past decade." (34:17)

She describes AFP's "grassroots layered approach":

"Complementing one-on-one outreach with pieces of mail and digital ads to reinforce conversations ensures that messages stick in people's minds." (35:11)

11. Future Vision: Moving Towards a Tipping Point

Looking ahead, Seidel envisions AFP driving significant social and policy changes:

"We are at the precipice of a major shift in how people think about government policy. With increasing education reforms and regulatory changes at the state level, we're witnessing a tipping point for libertarian and pro-growth policies." (45:03)

She anticipates:

"Over the next five to ten years, AFP aims to harness this momentum to unleash policies that empower individuals and reduce governmental overreach across the nation." (47:00)

12. Personal Reflections and Advice

As the conversation winds down, Seidel offers personal insights rooted in her childhood experiences.

Reflecting on her past:

"I realized I was unwilling to take risks and missed opportunities because of my fear of failure. This realization pushes me to step out of my comfort zone, such as accepting the role at AFP despite uncertainty." (42:21)

Her advice for listeners:

"Learn from my childhood lessons—don't be afraid to fail. If you want to make an impact, engage with AFP in your community and be part of something bigger." (49:01)

13. Conclusion

Kevin Gentry wraps up the episode by summarizing ways listeners can get involved with AFP's initiatives:

• Volunteer Opportunities: Visit afpvolunteer.com to engage at the local level.
• Current Campaign: Support the "Protect Prosperity" campaign at protectprosperity.com.
• Additional Information: Explore americansforprosperity.org for more details.

Gentry encourages listeners to subscribe and engage with Going Big! for more inspiring stories and actionable insights.

Notable Quotes:

• Emily Seidel on Overcoming Fear of Failure:

  "I look back and I think, what would I have tried, what would I have exposed myself to if I had not been so afraid of failure?" (00:00)

• Seidel on Leadership:

  "I had to focus on leading myself first before I could lead others in increasing the value that they added to the organization." (30:00)

• Seidel on Policy Impact:

  "We're really working to change the way people think about the relationship between government and their individual life." (10:15)

• Seidel on Organizational Strategy:

  "Our principles are our motor and our steering wheel. Even in the biggest waves, we can crest them and continue on our way." (35:58)

Final Thoughts:

This episode offers an in-depth look into the strategic operations and leadership philosophy of Americans for Prosperity under Emily Seidel. It highlights the profound impact of grassroots activism, the importance of strategic resource allocation, and the role of shifting public narratives in driving policy change. Seidel's personal journey underscores the value of resilience and self-leadership, providing listeners with both inspiration and practical insights into effecting large-scale social transformation.