Hillary Clinton’s social media staffers have upped their game this summer. First they clapped back at Donald Trump with the most savage of burns. And now they’ve released everyone’s favorite branding accessory: a podcast!
The premiere episode of With Her, entitled “Hi, Hillary” came out on Friday and it features a candid, 16-minute conversation between Clinton and co-host Max Linsky.
Linsky tweeted his excitement about the podcast to followers on Friday.
https://twitter.com/maxlinsky/status/764111725734031360
Though brief, the first episode offers glimpses of Clinton in a more intimate setting.
At the beginning of the podcast Linsky timidly asks, “What should I call you?” Clinton responds quite warmly, “You can call me whatever you want. You can call me Hillary, you can call me Madam Secretary, you can call me ‘hey you.’ Anything you want.” Linsky, noticeably disarmed, replies, “I’m not going to call you ‘hey you,’ but I’ll call you Hillary.”
It’s a mild start to what turns out to be a gentle conversation. And yet, for all the pleasantries the two co-hosts manage to touch on deeper issues.
The conversation moves fluidly from simple details like Clinton’s morning routine, to her passion for politics and people.
When Linsky asks if Clinton ever feels she needs to “compartmentalize” huge issues from the people she meets on the campaign trail, Clinton responds, “I am someone who is very committed to solving problems. I know for some folks that seems boring but for me it’s very rewarding because I see the results—I meet people who as children got healthcare because I helped to create the children’s health insurance program, or who are working their way through school and tell me their student debt story which connects exactly with what I want to do to help relieve that burden. So it’s all interconnected. I see it as truly intersectional. It is your life it is your work. It is your hope. Your future. It gives me a sense of optimism and confidence.”
But perhaps the most poignant part of the podcast comes when Linsky reflects on how much Clinton must do in one day, how many places she must visit, and the vast number of people she must greet all while remaining present. Linsky remarks that here, on the podcast, she appears quite present and asks, “How do you stay present when you’ve got a thousand things to do and a thousand things on your mind?”
Clinton replies, “I don’t ever want the people that I’m talking to or with to feel like I’m just going through the motions.” She adds, “I’ve always believed that life is a gift and it could be a fleeting gift—you never know, and therefore, doing the best you can everyday… I think it’s a great way to live… trying to give your best, you never know what you might get back. ”
The podcast will run through election day and new episodes will be available on iTunes.