The Charlie Kirk Show
Episode: Remembering the Boss: The Staff's Favorite Charlie Memories
Date: December 24, 2025
Episode Theme
This special Christmas episode serves as a heartfelt remembrance of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, featuring his staff and colleagues sharing their favorite stories, funny moments, and the lasting impact Charlie had on them. It’s the first Christmas without Charlie, and the team uses this gathering to celebrate his legacy—both his public persona and the unique, often tender, moments they shared behind the scenes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Kicking Off the Reminiscing
[01:10]
- Blake, Danny, and Mikey set the tone: It’s the first Christmas without Charlie. The episode’s purpose is to give everyone on the team an opportunity to share favorite stories and memories.
- Several team members contribute, some via written messages, since they’re busy working off-camera.
2. Sports Rivalries and Inside Jokes
Ohio State vs. Oregon Saga
[02:23]
- Danny recounts trash-talking with Charlie and Mikey during Ohio State vs. Oregon football games.
- The prank: Danny shipped an OSU sweatshirt with a duck-hunting mascot to Mikey, who was supposed to wear it in front of Charlie—but never did.
- Mikey reveals, "I never wore that sweatshirt in front of Charlie."
- Danny: “Ah, betrayal.” [04:11]
- The group jokes about sports allegiances and Charlie’s love of playful ribbing.
3. Charlie Abroad: “Tourist Kirk”
The Outback Steakhouse in Tokyo
[04:56]
- Mikey and Blake reminisce about Charlie’s enthusiasm on an Asia trip—excited not for Japanese landmarks, but for finding an Outback Steakhouse in Tokyo.
- “Charlie saw an Outback Steakhouse and he was like, Blake, Mikey, it’s an Outback Steakhouse in Tokyo. We need to take a picture. And he did.” – Mikey [05:01]
- Blake adds that Charlie was always energetic, cramming as much as possible into each day.
4. Office Antics & Jellyfish Mayhem
The Jellyfish Incident in Maine
[08:06]
- Danny and Mikey get stung by jellyfish while paddleboarding. The chaos culminates in Danny running shirtless down the driveway as Charlie arrives.
- “Go pee on him!”—Erica, Charlie’s wife, jokes.
- Danny insists: “I would rather lose my foot.”
- Charlie: “Yeah, that’s not happening, Erica.” [09:13]
- Betty pours vinegar on the sting, and Danny screams:
- “The pain of the white vinegar on the jellyfish sting was so much worse.” [09:45]
- The crew laughs about their bizarre, close-knit team experiences.
5. Charlie’s Quiet Generosity
[10:16]
- Mikey shares how Charlie was profoundly generous behind the scenes, especially at Christmastime:
- “Charlie’s philosophy in giving is that he didn’t like telling people about how he gave because he felt like it stole the blessing of it...” [10:19]
- Blake adds an example: Charlie spontaneously treated teammates to a fun evening out for Blake’s birthday, simply because he cared.
6. Getting to Know the Team: Charlie’s Personal Touch
[12:07]
- Nate shares about his first trip with Charlie, being personally welcomed and interrogated about his background, family, and faith.
- “He wanted to know, he genuinely wanted to know who you were and your story.” – Mikey [12:58]
- Mikey describes how he first got his job, driving Charlie to the airport as a recent high school grad—Charlie urged him not to go to college, but to join the movement.
7. Holiday Traditions and Everyday Memories
Christmas Tree Hunting
[14:31]
- A staff-submitted audio clip features Charlie picking out the “perfect” Christmas tree—demonstrating quirky confidence and Midwest pride.
- “I’m the tree expert. After many decades of living in the Midwest, I know a good tree.” – Charlie [14:52]
8. On Planes and in the Studio: Offbeat Charlie
Harry Potter on a Red-eye Flight
[16:01]
- Brian recalls a rare, relaxing moment where Charlie watched “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on his iPad during a flight—a testament to his innocent side.
- Discussion shifts to Charlie’s taste in movies: straightforward, earnest action flicks like “The Equalizer.”
- “He just finds people who are in trouble and he saves the day for them. And you just know that's how Charlie saw himself for America, for conservatism.” – Blake [17:12]
9. Pop Culture Fame & “South Park”
Charlie as a South Park Character
[17:37]
- Kylie’s favorite memory: Charlie’s excitement at seeing a South Park caricature of himself—made by their own team, not AI.
- “He printed it out and put it on a foam board behind him.” – C [18:08]
- The team imitates Charlie’s way of dramatically saying “Racist!” on air.
- Danny and Mikey recall being with Charlie when he found out about his South Park appearance, his anxious curiosity, and ultimate delight.
10. Celebrating Wins and Facing Setbacks
[20:08]
- Andrew (in absentia) says his favorite memory was how Charlie reacted to victories after adversity, always giving credit:
- “God is good. He has his hand on this. Stay humble, stay close to Jesus, let’s work harder. That was always the chief dimension of Charlie.” – Andrew’s message [20:28]
11. Charlie’s Kindness: Welcoming Outsiders & Remembering Names
Inviting Rio for Christmas
[22:15]
- Daisy recalls Charlie meeting Rio (a fan from Asia) at America Fest, instantly inviting him to spend Christmas with the family:
- “Just had Christmas with their family and then was just at our office every day, just hung out.” – Daisy [23:32]
- Emma Kate and Daisy discuss Charlie’s impeccable memory for names, faces, and stories—even recognizing repeat question-askers at events.
12. Leadership & Team Loyalty
D.C., White House, and the Early Days
[24:39]
- Braden shares how Charlie’s energy always raised office morale—speed-walking into the D.C. team’s workspace with a grin.
- Mikey elaborates on Charlie’s hands-on help during political transitions, like working with the White House, even without an official position.
- The early tabling days—sometimes more team than audience—showed Charlie’s persistence and loyalty.
13. Family, Fatherhood, and Personal Growth
Charlie’s “Dad Mode”
[28:54]
- The team recounts Charlie’s transformation after becoming a father—balancing work and family but melting at the sight of his kids.
- Riley shares Charlie’s excitement over her baby being born on his birthday, exemplifying his hands-on generosity with gifts and connections.
Baby Naming Antics
- Charlie good-naturedly lobbies Daisy to name her baby “Daisy” as well, insisting, “It's a good name that I think someone else should use it again.” [31:16]
- Playful ideas for baby names continue—“Grinch” is pitched after a suggestion from Charlie’s daughter. [32:23]
14. Humility, Growth, and On-Air Corrections
Emma Kate’s “Homeland”
[32:46]
- Emma Kate recounts how Charlie revised his on-air opinion after visiting her hometown in Washington state in a better season, and publicly apologized for his earlier description.
15. New Team Members & Inclusivity
Noah’s Welcome
[33:39]
- Noah, a newcomer, shares how Charlie made him feel part of the family immediately:
- “He went out of his way to give him a pat on the back for a job well done and say: ‘Call me Charlie.’”
16. True Originals: The Early Crew
Dallin & the OG Days
[35:17]
- Dallin, among the earliest staff, reflects on “tabling” with Charlie when they often outnumbered the attendees. These times forged a fiercely loyal team.
17. Tradition, Legacy, and Farewell
Rush Limbaugh Tribute
[37:03, 37:26]
- Heidi’s favorite memory: Charlie’s adoration for Rush Limbaugh, modeled in the now legendary “Rush was right” merch.
- The episode closes with Charlie’s tradition—playing Rush’s Christmas message and favorite song, “Carol of the Bells,” as a way to honor both Rush and Charlie, now both gone.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Generosity:
- "He didn't like telling people about how he gave because he felt like it stole the blessing of it." – Mikey [10:19]
- On Welcoming New Team Members:
- “He went out of his way to give him a pat on the back for that, to say, good job, Noah. Welcome to the team, and call me Charlie.” – Blake about Noah’s first week [34:00]
- On Persistence:
- “Charlie used to beg, beg for students to come up and debate him way back in the day. And then towards the end, we didn’t even have space to fit all these students.” – Mikey [36:37]
- On Family:
- “He became so dad mode. So full on dad mode as soon as she was born.” – Daisy [29:22]
- On Charlie’s Unparalleled Memory:
- “He will never forget your name.” – Daisy [23:59]
- On Facing Loss:
- “None of us know how long we’ll be here. None of us expected to lose Charlie as soon as we did.” – Blake [39:14]
- On Christmas and Legacy:
- “Charlie always wanted to remember Rush, and we will always want everyone to remember Charlie. And all of us will be doing that for the rest of our lives, I expect.” – Blake [39:14]
- On Life’s Purpose:
- “If the most important thing for you is just feeling good, you’re gonna end up miserable. But if the most important thing is doing good, you will end up purposeful.” – Charlie [00:03]
Important Timestamps
- [02:23] – Ohio State and Oregon football trash talk saga
- [04:56] – Outback Steakhouse in Tokyo story
- [08:06] – Jellyfish sting incident in Maine
- [10:16] – Mikey discusses Charlie’s hidden generosity
- [12:07] – Nate and Mikey on Charlie’s personal attention getting to know his staff
- [14:31] – Audio clip: Charlie choosing the “perfect” Christmas tree
- [16:01] – Charlie watching “Harry Potter” on a plane
- [17:37] – South Park episode and art story
- [20:08] – Andrew’s reflection: “God is good... Stay close to Jesus, let’s work harder”
- [22:15] – Inviting Rio for Christmas
- [24:39] – Braden and Mikey remember Charlie in D.C.
- [28:54] – Charlie “dad mode” stories
- [31:16] – Baby naming banter
- [32:46] – Emma Kate’s Washington state “correction”
- [33:39] – Noah’s story of welcome
- [35:17] – Dallin and tabling in the early days
- [37:03] – Rush Limbaugh tribute and “Rush was right” shirt story
- [39:14] – Reflections on legacy and loss; closing traditions
Conclusion: Carrying on the Legacy
This Christmas episode offers a rich tapestry of behind-the-scenes memories and meaningful anecdotes, painting a portrait of Charlie Kirk as both a tenacious culture warrior and an empathetic, magnetic figure to his team, family, and movement. The staff’s stories reflect a leader who worked tirelessly, gave generously, fostered camaraderie, and left indelible marks on both public life and in the daily lives of those he worked with.
The episode closes with Charlie’s practice of honoring Rush Limbaugh—a nod to the way traditions, leadership, and personal example get passed on. Now, the team is committed to upholding Charlie’s spirit and memory, ensuring the values and energy he brought to the movement won’t be forgotten.