Andy Beshear Podcast: “Keith Edwards On Going Viral, Getting Real, and Building Bridges”

Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Andy Beshear
Guest: Keith Edwards

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid, in-person conversation between Andy Beshear (Governor of Kentucky and podcast host) and Keith Edwards, a political strategist and viral digital content creator. They discuss Keith’s unconventional path into politics and digital media, the dynamics of creating viral political content, the challenges and opportunities facing Democrats in the digital space, and the importance of authenticity, listening, and building bridges across America’s deep political divides. The episode highlights both personal stories and pointed commentary on current political issues with a warm, insightful tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Keith’s Origin Story: From TV to Politics and Digital Stardom

• Motivation for Change: Keith got into politics in 2017 as a response to Donald Trump’s rise, leaving a job in television to volunteer at the grassroots level in New York.
  • Quote [02:28]:
    Keith Edwards: “I got into this truly just to help make change, which sounds so naive, but that’s what I did.”
• Meteoric YouTube Growth: Launched his channel in June 2024, hitting a million followers in 15 months.
• From Leaflets to Digital Influence: Emphasizes working hard, starting from the bottom, and moving up quickly—highlighting how politics (like TV production) can reward dedication and kindness.
• Personality Insight: As an introvert, Keith notes he can approach anyone with a purpose but struggles in casual personal scenarios.
  • Quote [04:19]:
    Keith Edwards: “If you give me a reason to do something, I can talk to anyone… but if I think a guy is hot at a bar, I cannot say hello ever, ever.”

2. Viral Moments and Campaigns

• Lincoln Project & Mike Pence’s Fly: As comms director, Keith grew @ProjectLincoln from 400K to 2.5M Twitter followers ([05:53]). Created “Mike Pence’s Fly,” gaining 175,000 followers in two hours and leveraging the moment to raise money for trans youth.
• Debating in Politics:
  • Andy shares his perspective on debate strategy, highlighting the balance between staying prepared and being agile in seizing “winning moments.”
    • Quote [07:44]:
      Andy Beshear: “To win a debate, you got to know when you can press your opponent.”

3. Mistakes, Apologies, and Authenticity in Politics

• Keith reflects on Trump’s ability to be present and seemingly unphased by mistakes, suggesting authenticity trumps perfection in today’s climate.
  • Quote [08:27]:
    Keith Edwards: “He isn’t just giving the answer, he’s also noticing what’s happening. And I think there’s something about that that might kind of display authenticity…”
• Andy recalls a high-profile misstep with a constituent named Tupac Shakur during the pandemic, and the importance of public apology and personal accountability.
  • Quote [10:06]:
    Andy Beshear: “I walked out… with an apology to him, because he deserved one. I didn’t push the blame on anybody else. I’m the one that said it.”
• Rejecting “I Told You So”: Keith notes Democrats must avoid condescension when voters feel pain from policy decisions:
  • Quote [20:34]:
    Keith Edwards: “I am not about I told you so. I’m about, I’m so sorry this is happening to you. And we can do things differently… you’re not gonna bring them in by being justified…”

4. The Digital and Messaging Divide

• Democrats and Online Strategy: Keith observes that Democrats are late to the party in digital organizing and influencer outreach. He started his channel to address the need for more strong liberal voices online.
  • Quote [12:03]:
    Keith Edwards: “I don’t know why they’re just now waking up in 2025 and saying… hey, we should check this thing out. Internet called… the Internet.”
• Comparisons to GOP Approaches: Trump leveraged podcasts and YouTube creators, giving validation and breadth to their influence.
• Listening vs. Talking At: Both agree that Democrats often respond to feelings with facts rather than addressing the emotional truths people share (e.g., safety concerns, affordability).
  • Quote [15:09]:
    Keith Edwards: “If someone is telling you how they feel, you can’t tell them that’s not how you feel…”

5. Division, Identity, and Building Bridges

• Keith’s Family & Thanksgiving: Despite deep political differences, Keith’s Republican parents support him. He stresses loving rather than “othering” voters.
  • Quote [21:47]:
    Keith Edwards: “I hate the people who have done that to my fellow Americans, but I do not hate them. In fact, I love them. And I hope they get better.”
• Nonpartisan vs. Bipartisan Ambitions: Andy argues America’s core priorities—jobs, healthcare, safety—should be tackled from a nonpartisan stance, not as bargaining chips.
  • Quote [22:58]:
    Andy Beshear: “The only way we stop the constant politics on everything is to say these core things that every American cares about… they’re not gonna be some deal.”

6. YouTube Content and the Creator’s Experience

• Favorite Moments: Keith’s interview with Governor Tim Walz stands out as a validating, grounding experience ([24:48]).
• Content Creation Challenges: He discusses the emotional toll of poorly performing videos and the temptation to replicate perceived “winning” formulas.
  • Quote [25:52]:
    Keith Edwards: “A video that doesn’t do well, doesn’t get enough views, a part of me still dies inside whenever that happens…”
• Laughing at the Absurd: Humor, not just facts, can help dismantle authoritarian narratives.

7. Governors as Critical Players

• The Importance of Results: Andy and Keith discuss the outsized importance of governors—especially Democratic ones—in delivering real, visible improvements amid federal gridlock.
• Iowa as a Battleground: Andy identifies Iowa as a potential state for Democrats to flip by focusing on agriculture policy and local concerns ([31:47]).

8. Advice for Aspiring Candidates

• Be Yourself, Try Everything, Embrace Failure:
  • Quote [33:45]:
    Keith Edwards: “Just try stuff and enjoy the failure. Failure is… another way of saying to yourself that you’re learning, and if you’re not failing, you’re not learning. And I do think politicians could benefit from failing a little bit because we tried being safe for way too long.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Authenticity:
  “If you give me a reason to do something, I can talk to anyone… But if I think a guy is hot at a bar, I cannot say hello ever, ever.” — Keith Edwards [04:19]
• On Debate Performance:
  “To win a debate, you got to know when you can press your opponent.” — Andy Beshear [07:44]
• On Mistakes in Politics:
  “I didn’t push the blame on anybody else. I’m the one that said it.” — Andy Beshear [10:52]
• On Listening to Voters:
  “If someone is telling you how they feel, you can’t tell them that’s not how you feel.” — Keith Edwards [15:09]
• On Political Division:
  “The big lie to me is that we’re more different than we are the same…” — Keith Edwards [21:40]
• On Advice to Candidates:
  “Just try stuff and enjoy the failure. Failure is… another way of saying to yourself that you’re learning…” — Keith Edwards [33:45]

Important Timestamps

• [02:28] Keith on getting into politics for change, not fame
• [05:53] The “Mike Pence’s Fly” viral campaign and raising money
• [07:44] Andy on debate strategies and presence
• [10:06] Andy’s apology to Tupac Shakur (constituent)—handling mistakes
• [12:03] Keith on Democrats’ slow adoption of digital media
• [15:09] The importance of validating voters’ feelings
• [21:47] Keith’s philosophy: love voters, judge only the policymakers
• [22:58] Andy on striving for non-partisan solutions on core issues
• [24:48] Keith’s favorite YouTube moment (Tim Walz interview)
• [25:52] The emotional side of content creation
• [33:45] Keith’s closing advice for authenticity and embracing failure

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, unscripted, and laced with humor, humility, and mutual respect. Both Andy and Keith deliberately avoid partisan bickering, instead focusing on curiosity, empathy, and hope for constructive political progress. Keith’s blend of vulnerability and wit shines through, while Andy anchors the discussion with practical wisdom from political experience.

Conclusion

This episode gives listeners a vivid look at the intersection of viral digital activism, personal growth, and the realities of modern politics. It’s an engaging primer not only on digital strategy and campaign authenticity, but also on the deeper human project of repairing trust, bridging divides, and approaching even heated policy battles with grace and empathy. Whether you’re a political junkie, a content creator, or just an engaged American, this episode is rich with both practical advice and heart.