WASHINGTON — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has joined the podcast game, promising to strike up a conversation beyond politics.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has launched a podcast, a move that could boost his national profile 

  • Although Beshear has said he’s focused on finishing his last term as governor, he is considered a possible contender for the White House in 2028

  • The first podcast episode covered the story of a well-known lawyer, John Morgan, sports and a lesson on lingo from Beshear’s son, Will

  • Former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump turned to podcasts to get their messages out on the campaign trail last year

“Far too much of what we see out there tries to put us in a box, is this talking head versus that talking head,” Beshear said in the pilot episode which was released on April 8. “It tries to make everything D or R, red or blue, left or right, and we know the world’s so much more complicated than that.”

Beshear was on former Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list of potential running mates last summer before she selected Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minnesota.

And although Beshear has said he’s focused on finishing his last term as governor, he is considered a possible contender for the White House in 2028.

“Staying in the news, keeping that name recognition across the country is good for Beshear, whether he runs for president or whether he’s seeking some other kind of high-profile job,” said political analyst Stephen Voss.

Beshear’s first podcast episode covered the story of well-known lawyer, John Morgan, sports and a lesson on slang like “skibidi” and “fire” from Beshear’s son, Will.

It also included a conversation with Beshear’s friend, John McConnell, whose son has autism and is nonverbal, about how potential Medicaid cuts could affect families who rely on the program.

“Could an American family without Medicaid afford those services that would help?” Beshear said.

“No, the cost is just, it’s too much to be absorbed,” McConnell said.  

Podcasts provide politicians with another way to reach people and allow voters to get to know candidates better, Voss said.

“You can’t just show up on one or two national TV news shows or be in the right newspapers and everybody’s hearing your name,” he said. “Politicians have been forced to scramble to find different ways to reach different parts of the electorate in order to stay visible.”

Both former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump turned to podcasts to get their messages out on the campaign trail last year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., recently launched one as well.

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