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A 34th Whitterview With: Hillary Sawchuk

A few years ago as I was sitting in a presentation I heard about "A Drink With" founded by Hillary Sawchuk, where she would sit down and have an interview with a well known person and of course have a drink with them in the process. The first one I heard about was her sit down with Adrian Grenier.



Since that moment, I was so in awe of what Hillary had put together, I knew someday, somehow I wanted to do something like that. Now here I am, with the Whitterview. I guess you can say Hillary and A Drink With was the inspiration behind my whole blog.

"Every person has a common thread of never giving up and doing what they love."
- Hillary Sawchuk

Thank you Hillary for being the spark for me to create what I love.

And with that, this week I bring you the 34th Whitterview with Hillary Sawchuk the founder of A Drink With!


Tell me about you!
HS: I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit (Rochester Hills.) I have one brother and we were born and raised in the Detroit area. I always wanted to be in journalism. I was always creating magazines for friends and conducting carnivals instead of Lemonade Stands. An entrepreneur.



Where did you go to college and what for?
HS: I studied Journalism at Oakland University in the Metro Detroit area. Previously I was at Michigan State.

How did you start "A Drink With?"
HS: In 2011, I was sending out my demo tapes to get a sports reporter job. I went to start off on my own as I thought no one would hire me. My friends were always meeting someone in the public eye and so I decided to start there. I made sure I had one drink a week with someone to keep it going.

Tell me about your first interview?
HS: There were two. The first one at the Public Hotel with a prosecco and Jessica Zweig, founder of cheekychicago.com (An online lifestyle magazine for the women of Chicago).

The second with Ed Swiderski from the Bachelorette.

It feels like yesterday I was meeting them.

Who is your dream person to interview?
HS: Tequila or Tea with Oprah! It doesn't have to be alcohol.

Otherwise if Joan Rivers was still alive, definitely her. I totally admired her and her work ethic.

How do you choose who to interview?
HS: It's all about who I want to get to know and have a drink with. If three people tell me to have a drink with someone, then I will. Also people with success stories, those who follow their passion and dreams.


Tell me about the best memory you have of "A Drink With?"
HS: When we worked with brand partner Maven. It was a live interview in LA, with a live audience. It was James Corden's executive producer of his Late Show: Rob Crabbe.

What's the best advice you can give someone looking to get their passion off the ground?
HS: You got to be willing to do it without getting paid. Be happy to be doing it. And do it no matter what. Anyone can create content, but good content will stand out.

And finally, what is your drink of choice?
HS: You'd think I'd have a drink of choice because it's my full time job. It was Prosecco. But it's Coke in a glass bottle. It's my guilty pleasure.


"Every other day I want to give up, but it's the interviews that keep me going." 



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