What Makes The Gavin Newsom Podcast Worth Following
The Gavin Newsom podcast, officially titled This Is Gavin Newsom, launched in March 2025 as a collaboration between the California governor and iHeartMedia, built around a simple premise: invite on guests he disagrees with and debate without demeaning them.
The show has grown past 70 episodes and hosted everyone from conservative commentators to fellow governors to historians, making it one of the more unpredictable political podcasts to come out of a sitting elected official’s office.
Here is a look at ten episodes that capture why the Gavin Newsom podcast has drawn such a wide audience heading into 2026.
10 Gavin Newsom Podcast Episodes Every Fan Must Listen To
1. Charlie Kirk: The Debut Episode
The very first episode of the show set its tone immediately, pairing Newsom with Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk for a direct, sometimes tense conversation that previewed the format the podcast would build on going forward.
2. Steve Bannon: Common Ground With MAGA
One of the show’s most talked-about episodes, this conversation with Steve Bannon mixes friendly sparring with genuine policy disagreement, including a notable moment where the two found shared concern over Elon Musk’s growing influence in the federal government.
3. Ben Meiselas On Independent Media
MeidasTouch co-founder Ben Meiselas joins Newsom to break down how independent creators are outpacing corporate media and what he argues Democrats need to do differently in how they communicate.
4. Ian Bremmer On America’s Global Standing
Geopolitical analyst Ian Bremmer joins Newsom to assess whether the United States is still viewed as a reliable global partner, covering shifting alliances and how other world leaders are responding to American political dysfunction.
5. Newsom, Pritzker, And Kotek On Federal Power
In a rare three-governor conversation, Newsom sits down with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to discuss the National Guard, ICE, and growing concerns among state leaders about federal overreach.
6. Jim Clyburn On Civil Rights And Black Voters
Congressman Jim Clyburn reflects on the legacy of Jesse Jackson and his friendship with John Lewis, connecting today’s fights over voter ID laws and DEI back to Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era.
7. Jon Meacham On America At 250
Presidential historian Jon Meacham joins the show to discuss what the Founding Fathers anticipated about leaders like Trump, ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, alongside a wide-ranging conversation about the state of democracy.
8. Hilary Newsom: The Family Episode
Gavin’s sister Hilary joins for a more personal episode built around his book Young Man In A Hurry, covering what it was actually like growing up in the Newsom family, otter included.
9. Tristan Harris And Aza Raskin On AI
Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin of the Center for Humane Technology join Newsom to discuss the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the regulatory challenges it poses for governments still catching up.
10. Ryan Holiday On Stoicism And Reinvention
Author Ryan Holiday walks through his path from college dropout to bestselling writer, touching on his time at American Apparel and how Stoic philosophy shaped the way he thinks about media and public life.
Why These Episodes Stand Out
Each entry on this list reflects a different side of what the Gavin Newsom podcast is trying to do. The cross-party conversations with guests like Bannon and Kirk test the show’s core premise directly, the policy-focused episodes with fellow governors and historians add real substance, and personal episodes like the one with his sister round out a picture of Newsom beyond politics.
That range is what has kept the show generating headlines well outside the usual political podcast audience.
How to Start Listening to the Gavin Newsom Podcast in 2026
New episodes are released weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeart, with the show also available on the official This Is Gavin Newsom YouTube channel for video versions of every conversation.
Since each episode centers on a different guest, new listeners can jump in with whichever name interests them most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Hosts The Gavin Newsom Podcast
California Governor Gavin Newsom hosts the show, produced in partnership with iHeartMedia.
How Often Do New Episodes Drop
New episodes release weekly, with the show having surpassed 70 episodes since its March 2025 launch.
Where Can I Listen To The Gavin Newsom Podcast
The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeart.
Final Thoughts
The Gavin Newsom podcast has carved out a distinct space by pairing a sitting governor with guests across the political spectrum, from MAGA-aligned commentators to historians to his own sister.
Whether you start with the Charlie Kirk debut or the Ryan Holiday conversation, this list is a solid roadmap for building your 2026 listening rotation.
