Why Kamala Harris appeared in the Call Her Daddy podcast

Recently, Kamala Harris appeared on an episode of Call Her Daddy, the podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, "the most listened to by young American women." The fact that the Democratic candidate chose to be interviewed on the show, just weeks before the presidential elections, is highly significant. According to the New York Times, Harris's participation aimed to reach a younger audience. The show is generally associated with progressive circles, where Harris herself aligns, and it frequently discusses topics traditionally important to Democratic voters, such as the protection of abortion rights. When Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate, she took a different approach compared to her predecessor. Harris abandoned Biden’s more concerned rhetoric, which emphasized Trump as a threat to democracy, in favor of a more optimistic and pop tone, using humor to highlight the often extreme positions of the Republican Party on various issues. For instance, when pro-life protesters tried to interrupt one of her speeches, Harris responded by saying they were at «the wrong rally» and that «the smaller one»—Trump's—was «down the street.»

What is Call Her Daddy, the podcast by Alex Cooper

When it launched in 2018, Call Her Daddy was a very different podcast from what it has become. Alexandra Cooper, now the sole host, had moved to New York to work in advertising, and Sofia Franklyn was her roommate. Initially, the two conceived the podcast—recorded in their Manhattan apartment—as a space to talk about sex and relationships. In each episode, Cooper and Franklyn spoke candidly, even sharing personal details, and they even coined unique terms to describe specific sexual practices. The name “Call Her Daddy” itself came from a joke made during one of the recordings. With minimal setup and episodes lasting around 30 minutes, the podcast quickly gained popularity due to its originality and the charisma of both hosts. However, in 2020, the identity of the show changed: Franklyn left, and the podcast began focusing more on topics like mental health, women’s rights, and gender identity.

Over the years, the editorial line of Call Her Daddy has become increasingly serious. This change allowed the podcast to become more mainstream, attracting a broader audience and more high-profile guests. Today, most episodes feature interviews with prominent figures. In addition to Kamala Harris, other notable guests have included Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and gymnast Simone Biles. This evolution has further boosted the podcast’s success, securing top spots in U.S. and international rankings. Although it is primarily followed by English speakers, Call Her Daddy is also known in other countries, including Italy, thanks to the fact that the guests’ responses often go viral on social media. The episodes are usually well-received, in part due to Cooper’s hosting style, which often involves simple but effective questions. She creates a comfortable atmosphere for her guests, encouraging them to open up about their personal lives. Interviews on Call Her Daddy almost always begin with a question about the interviewee’s childhood (as was the case with Kamala Harris) and the environment in which they grew up, including any challenges they faced. Another clever tactic Cooper uses is asking guests if they have received life advice that has proven useful, offering this wisdom to listeners as well.