#95 Former New York Times journalist living off grid in Australia, Matt Siegel founder of Green Thumb Media

Matt Siegel joins Purposely to share his incredible career story, from war correspondent to documentary maker to sustainable business owner. Born in America,  Matt grew up on the East Coast in New York City although he moved to Oregon and the University of Portland, studying History. He now lives ‘off grid’ in the Southern Hemisphere with his Australian wife and two children in a remote part of the Northern Beaches. Passionate about sustainability and the environment Matt founded his own ‘green company’ in 2020. It combines his skills as a journalist and a film maker with his passion for a better world. It is called Green Thumb Media and he describes it as ‘a boutique commercial film and video production company focused on ethical and sustainable brands’.  Talking with Matt it is clear that Green Thumb has a dual focus, both on making a profit to ensure they survive and flourish, at the same time delivering purpose and to do their bit for a better world. Their aim is to shine a light on social and environmental issues as well as working with individuals and companies that share the same ethos and values. Prior to launching Green Thumb Matt had spent four years working for an Australian politician, the ‘Greens’ Leader Sen. Richard Di Natale’s, Matt was his media adviser. It was this work that helped to open his eyes to the idea that people, brands and businesses shared similar values. The idea that he could create a business that would work exclusively with people who aligned with his values and mission. Matt is not your typical American, not only has he spent decades living and working abroad he also speaks fluent Russian and has a in depth understanding of eastern block politics and culture. A former journalist of the New York Times he describes the changes that have happened in journalism, from the erosion of budgets to the change in emphasis from in depth reporting and storytelling to a more superficial type of reporting focused on grabbing attention and entertaining. Matt’s passion is to help others