The Charlie Kirk Show: Charlie Kirk, Honored and Remembered by His Friends

Date: September 24, 2025
Host: (Various, in memorial)

Episode Overview

This episode departs from the show’s usual current-events format, serving as a memorial gathering for Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, after his assassination on September 10, 2025. Friends, colleagues, faith leaders, and public figures share stories, reflections, and tributes—highlighting Charlie's relentless activism, deep personal faith, and his outsized impact on both individuals and America’s conservative youth movement. The tone moves between grief, gratitude, calls to action, and celebration of legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Why” Behind Charlie Kirk’s Life and Work

• Pastor Rob McCoy opens with a reflection connecting Charlie’s courage and advocacy to his Christian faith:

  “The why is the one that Charlie wanted to welcome as the guest of honor... His resume is long. He’s the King of glory... the total embodiment of love, the total embodiment of truth.” (01:53)

• McCoy leads a public invitation, affirming Charlie’s desire for his memorial to point listeners toward Christ:

  “Charlie looked at politics as an on ramp to Jesus... He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you’d come to its source. And that’s the Lord.” (08:13)

2. Early Days and Relentless Drive

• Rebecca Dunn recounts her first encounter with a young, ambitious Charlie, his first challenge grant, and his rapid fulfillment of a $25,000 fundraising goal:

  “Two days later, Charlie called to say that he had raised the money... I laughed and I told him... well, Charlie, I guess we owe you a check. That was Charlie Kirk’s first challenge grant.” (13:42)

• Her testimony centers on Charlie’s optimism and the influence he had:

  “Will we meet his challenge to fight for freedom, for family, for faith... the way that Charlie did? With a heart that loves God?” (16:50)

3. The Teacher’s Perspective

• Larry Arnold, educator, details his first intellectual “interrogation” of Charlie, emphasizing Charlie’s humility and commitment to growth:

  “If you want to grow, you have to suffer... Start with the Bible, read the classics, study the founding of America.” (19:30)

• Charlie followed through by completing 31 Hillsdale College courses after Arnold's challenge.

4. Mentorship, Loyalty, and Bold Friendship

• Mikey McCoy (staff, mentee, friend) shares how Charlie inspired him to forgo college and join TPUSA, changing his life's trajectory—including indirectly introducing him to his future wife:

  “Charlie’s assassin thought that he could steal and silence his voice by putting a bullet in his neck... The martyr dies and his rule has just begun.” (28:39, quoting Kierkegaard)

  “True freedom is not found in doing whatever we want, but pursuing Christ in doing what is right. In Charlie’s words, get married. Have more children than you can afford. Build a legacy.” (31:50)

5. Founding Turning Point USA & Teamwork

• Tyler Boyer, TPUSA CEO, offers detailed anecdotes about the nonstop grind of the organization’s startup phase, Charlie’s vision, and personal quirks:

  “We worked 24/7. All it takes is two dudes to dream up big stuff... Charlie would take red eyes from coast to coast, going all over the country like a crazy man.” (36:00)
  “You are sitting in the vision for Charlie Kirk. God bless.” (41:30)

• Justin Strife (COO) distills Charlie’s character:

  “Charlie often said that having courage is one of the easiest things in the world because all it requires is you to say yes... His courage was a daily choice. A yes, no matter the cost. And it cost him his life.” (42:40)

6. Charlie as Family and Friend

• Stacey Sheridan frames Charlie’s leadership in personal terms, describing his support when her husband died and when she lost her home to fire:

  “Sometimes I would express guilt to Charlie that I couldn’t do my job at 100%. Charlie’s response every single time was family first.” (46:09)

  “Everything Charlie prayed for in his life, a restoration of faith, a rebirth of patriotism, is coming to fruition in his death. And right now, he is beaming at us from heaven.” (50:00)

7. Charlie’s Standards and Mission (Audio Montage)

• Compiled words from Charlie, played as a “closing argument,” emphasize his message on organizational excellence and nation-first mentality:

  “We do the best events in the movement. In fact, we do the only event... We are the only standard of excellence... We make history here at Turning Point USA.” (52:30)

8. The Podcast’s Backstage Team and Audience

• Andrew Colvette, executive producer, shares what it was like building The Charlie Kirk Show, highlighting Charlie’s engagement with listeners:

  “He read every single email you all sent to him... Even while hosting his own show, he’d be in chains of debate with disagreeing audience members.” (56:15)

  “We called them campus tours. Now, I know they were really tent revivals... Charlie Kirk was a prophet—the biblical kind. He confronted evil and proclaimed the truth and called us to repent and be saved.” (58:00)

9. Personal Transformation and Martyrdom

• Benny Johnson testifies to Charlie’s role in his own journey from addiction to a Christ-centered family life:

  “After 10 years of work with Charlie Kirk, after his witnessing to my life, I have become a Christ centered man.” (61:55)

  “You cut down a martyr, his power grows... we can create millions and millions and millions of Charlie Kirks and we can save our land. That will be our turning point.” (65:00)

10. National Legacy and Heroic Parallels

• Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna explains how Charlie gave her a crucial first opportunity and led her into public service:

  “Charlie believed with every fiber of his being that the youth of this nation would save it. His fierce patriotism, his unyielding boldness, his prophetic foresight...” (70:10)

  “These giants... changed the outcome of eras. Just as Charlie altered the trajectory of our modern fight against cultural decay and ideological tyranny.” (71:45)

• She calls on others to carry his legacy forward:

  “If one man can awaken a generation and save a Nation, imagine what 10,000 can do. And we are all Charlie Kirk now.” (73:00)

11. Sacrifice, Courage, and the Call to Action

• Jack Posobic frames Charlie’s death as a sacrifice rather than murder, charging listeners to continue the mission:

  “On his last day, Charlie Kirk was on the top of a mountain... his gift of sacrifice means that Charlie Kirk will live forever.” (75:20)

  “The difference between murder and sacrifice is that sacrifice is a gift... Will Western civilization endure or will it fracture?... the sacrifice of Charles James Kirk was the turning point.” (76:11, 77:02)

12. Faith, Grace, and the Afterlife

• Dr. Frank Turek (Christian apologist, friend, eyewitness to Charlie’s death) underscores how Charlie’s legacy is rooted in faith, not just worldly achievements:

  “Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk.” (81:15)

  “Charlie knew that life wasn’t just about money. It wasn’t just about sex. It wasn’t just about power. It wasn’t just about prestige. He knew the purpose of life is to know Jesus and to make him known. To make heaven crowded.” (82:45)

• Frank gives a detailed, emotional firsthand account of the shooting, affirming Charlie died instantly and felt no pain (79:30-80:40).

13. Revival, Patriotism, and National Renewal

• Dr. Ben Carson ties Charlie’s work to broader themes of civic renewal:

  “Did you hear a political figure last week saying that Charlie Kirk was ignorant because he didn’t have a college degree? I’ve seen him run circles around people with college degrees.” (67:30)

  “I love the fact that Erica is going to take over and we’re going to grow the turning point to a very significant level... you cannot be the land of the free if you’re not the home of the brave.” (68:40)

• Carson notes the significance of the time of Charlie’s death, reading John 12:24 (69:12).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Pastor Rob McCoy:

  “Charlie was never afraid because he knew his life was secure in the hand of God.” (05:29)

• Rebecca Dunn:

  “Today, I feel like Charlie is challenging us. Will we meet his challenge...?” (16:46)

• Mikey McCoy:

  “The martyr dies and his rule has just begun.” (28:39, quoting Kierkegaard)

• Tyler Boyer:

  “So anyways we worked 24/7... The ideas literally never stopped.” (36:55)

• Justin Strife:

  “Courage does not require talent... Courage requires a personal decision.” (42:55)

• Stacey Sheridan:

  “There was no limit to how far he’d go to help a friend. He wasn’t looking for publicity or credit. He did it because that’s what a leader does.” (47:00)

• Andrew Colvette:

  “Charlie Kirk was a prophet—not the fortune telling kind that could predict the future, but the biblical kind. He confronted evil and proclaimed the truth and called us to repent and be saved.” (58:00)

• Benny Johnson:

  “You cut down a martyr, his power grows... And by doing that, we can create millions and millions and millions of Charlie Kirks and we can save our land.” (65:00)

• Congresswoman Luna:

  “Charlie poured out his youth, his energy and his unshakable resolve to awaken America’s youth from the slumber of complacency... his vision is ablaze in every single one of you.” (71:30, 73:05)

• Jack Posobic:

  “Charlie Kirk’s gift of his sacrifice means that Charlie Kirk will live forever...” (75:57)

• Frank Turek:

  “Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk.” (81:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:25 – Pastor Rob McCoy begins with the invocation and reflection on Charlie's spiritual mission
• 13:35 – Rebecca Dunn recounts TPUSA’s earliest days and Charlie's first challenge grant
• 19:30 – Larry Arnold’s mentorship story and Charlie’s commitment to self-improvement
• 28:39 – Mikey McCoy on martyrdom, movement, and personal transformation
• 36:00 – Tyler Boyer: Inside startup life at Turning Point and Charlie’s vision
• 42:40 – Justin Strife on courage, time, and legacy
• 46:09 – Stacey Sheridan: Charlie’s compassion and family-first loyalty
• 52:30 – Compilation of Charlie’s signature organizational standards
• 56:00 – Andrew Colvette: Backstage stories of the Charlie Kirk Show
• 61:55 – Benny Johnson: Testimony of personal transformation
• 70:10 – Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna: Charlie’s impact on youth leadership and the conservative cause
• 75:20 – Jack Posobic: The meaning of sacrifice and rallying for Western civilization
• 79:30 – Frank Turek’s firsthand account of Charlie’s death and afterlife reflection
• 67:30 – Dr. Ben Carson on Charlie’s intellect, patriotism, and revival legacy

Summary: Episode Tone & Closing

The episode blends sorrow, faith, humor, and a sense of unyielding commitment to national renewal. Each speaker reiterates that Charlie Kirk’s greatest legacy is not only the organizations or events he built, but the lives he changed—personally and spiritually. The key theme: his death is not a defeat, but an explosive catalyst for revival among America’s youth and the conservative movement. The episode closes with repeated calls for listeners to “carry the torch,” embody courage, pursue faith, and continue Charlie’s mission.

For listeners and fans, this is less a retrospective than a rallying cry: The work, the fight for faith and freedom, must and will go on.