Liberals take a leaf out of Kamala Harris’s election strategy with brand new podcast

After US VP Kamala Harris made headlines by appearing on viral sex-positive podcast Call Her Daddy — Liberals in Australia have launched their own podcast election strategy.

Exclusive: The Liberal Party is taking a leaf out of US Vice President Kamala Harris’s book with a brand new podcast focused at promoting female candidates in the party that has faced repeated calls for more gender diversity.

Hilma’s Network — an organisation focused on boosting the number of women within the Liberal Party — is launching a new podcast titled Madame Speaker to promote female candidates vying for a seat in parliament at the next federal election. 

The podcast launches today with weekly episodes focused on allowing voters to learn more about the candidate’s background and views, beyond “three word slogans and bite-size social media reels”.

The launch comes days after US presidential candidate Ms Harris made headlines for starting a major media blitz with an appearance on sex and pop culture podcast Call Her Daddy.

The gamble paid off with Ms Harris’s appearance on the 40 minute episode proving popular with female voters.

Vice President Kamala Harris sat for an interview with Alex Cooper on the sex-positive “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

Executive Director Charlotte Mortlock said podcasts gave voters a “deep dive” into candidates ahead of the next federal election. 

“Whether women are commuting to work, picking up the kids from school, out walking the dog or doing jobs at home, we want to meet women where they are,” she said.

“Voters have been explicit in their demands for politics and campaigns to be more modern and more approachable, so we wanted to try something fresh that was easily accessible. 

“In a world where politics is often reduced to three word slogans and bite-size social media reels, Hilma’s Network wanted to provide a longer-format so voters could really get a sense of the people on the ballot at the upcoming election.”

Hilma's network founder Charlotte Mortlock. Photo: Nikki Short

The first episode featured Victorian candidate Mary Aldred with Parramatta pick Katie Mullins and Kooyong candidate Amelia Hamer to feature in coming episodes.

Former North Sydney candidate Gisele Kapterian who was to run in the now-abolished seat will also star on the show.

“We had an absolute ball in the studio. The women the Liberal Party is putting up at the next election are capable and smart, with interesting backgrounds and unique experiences,” Ms Mortlock said.

“I’m excited for people to see the breadth of these women who oscillate between telling funny anecdotal stories and quoting movies, to complex analysis of the economy and various policies.”

Originally published as Liberals take a leaf out of Kamala Harris’s election strategy with brand new podcast