Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Wednesday the launch of a new government podcast he says will usher in “a new era of radical transparency,” taking aim at what he described as decades of lies that have left Americans chronically ill.
The show, titled “The Secretary Kennedy Podcast,” is set to launch next week and will feature Kennedy holding conversations with some of the world’s most prominent doctors, scientists, and even other HHS agency staff members.
A teaser video released this week showed Kennedy in an HHS-branded studio, promising to name names and hold powerful interests accountable for the flailing state of public health in America.
“We’re going to name the names of the forces that obstruct the paths to public health,” Kennedy said in the nearly 90-second clip, framing the show as a new vehicle for the Make America Healthy Again movement he has championed since joining President Trump’s cabinet last year.
“Americans are united on the need to urgently address chronic disease, improve nutrition, strengthen food quality, and lower health costs…’The Secretary Kennedy Podcast’ will cover all those issues,” he added.
HHS Digital Director Liam Nahill said the podcast is part of a bigger strategy to deliver the “MAHA message” to as many Americans as possible, with Kennedy planning to address chronic disease, nutrition, food quality, and healthcare costs.
“This is part of our larger strategy to bring the Make America Healthy Again message to as wide an audience as we can,” Nahill told AP News.
New episodes are expected to drop every other week, and while HHS officials declined to share a full guest lineup, Kennedy let one name slip during a recent appearance on another program – renowned Chef Robert Irvine, who has been tasked with revamping the Army’s meal programs.
Not everyone is welcoming the new podcast project. Grace Silva, a spokesperson for 314 Action – a left-leaning political action committee focused on electing scientists to Congress – called the podcast “just another official channel to spread misinformation” that would inject dangerous conspiracy theories into the mainstream conversations on health.
Politicians Jump on the Podcast Train
Kennedy is far from alone in turning to podcasting as a political platform. In recent years, a wave of high-profile politicians and political figures across the aisle have launched their own shows, betting that the format can do what campaign ads and press releases cannot.
Here are just a few of the most prominent podcasts launched in recent years by politicians on both sides:
- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) — Verdict with Ted Cruz (2020): Launched during the first Trump impeachment trial, the show has grown into one of the most-downloaded political podcasts in the country.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) — This Is Gavin Newsom (2025): The California governor debuted his podcast in early 2025, drawing immediate headlines for sitting down with big conservative figures, including Charlie Kirk, with many viewing the show as groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential run.
- Former First Lady Michelle Obama — The Michelle Obama Podcast (2020), The Light Podcast (2023), IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson (2025): Her original 2020 Spotify podcast became the most successful original in the platform’s history at the time, and according to data from Newsweek – pulled in more women listeners over 40 than any other show. She has since hosted two additional shows, most recently co-hosting a weekly advice-format podcast with her brother Craig Robinson.
- Former President Barack Obama — Renegades: Born in the USA (2021): The 44th President co-hosted the eight-episode Spotify series alongside rock legend Bruce Springsteen, exploring themes of race, fatherhood, and America’s future.
- Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) — Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw (2019): The Houston congressman has built a steady audience discussing foreign policy, military affairs, and conservative policies.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary — Makary (2024): The nation’s top food and drug regulator hosts his own medical and policy-focused show.
