Vox’s October Surprise: It Pairs Hillary Clinton, Kara Swisher For Political Podcast.

Hillary Clinton is returning to the podcast microphone, joining journalist Kara Swisher for a new political series timed to the November midterm elections. The project is part of a broader partnership with Vox Media that could extend well beyond Election Day, adding another high-profile voice to the company’s growing podcast network.

The former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee will co-host “High Stakes,” a limited series debuting Wednesday (Oct. 14). Rather than launching as a standalone podcast, the program will become a third weekly episode of Swisher’s existing podcast “On With Kara Swisher.”

By turning up in an existing and popular feed, Clinton’s new arrangement gives the new series an established audience and distribution platform while expanding the show’s coverage during the final weeks of the election campaign. That could help overcome the discovery challenges of her earlier show, “You and Me Both,” which ran from 2020 to 2023.

Episodes will examine issues shaping the midterms, including the cost of living, healthcare and technology, while also tracking daily political developments and analyzing election results afterward. Clinton and Swisher plan to bring in guests representing competing viewpoints, with discussions designed to explore political disagreements as well as areas of potential common ground.

“I don’t think the stakes for our country and the world have ever been higher than they are in November,” Clinton says in a statement. “People are hungry for real conversation about what’s happening in our democracy and what it will mean for their families, and I can’t think of a better partner for that than Kara. There will be some discussion, some debate, and hopefully a lot of laughter.”

The new series builds on an earlier collaboration between Clinton and Swisher. Clinton appeared as a guest co-host on “Pivot,” the technology and business podcast Swisher hosts with Scott Galloway, during the show’s annual “Scott-free August” programming. That appearance provided an early opportunity for the two to develop their on-air chemistry, which Vox Media is now looking to turn into a more sustained partnership.

“Think of this series as ‘Pivot,’ but with an actual expert as my co-host,” Swisher jokes.

“She’s a global icon, she doesn’t hold back, and she’s going to bring the audience an invaluable perspective,” she adds.

The series will also give Clinton a recurring platform to discuss politics and public policy outside the traditional television interview format. It will also see her as a potential pitch person, as she will reportedly do some host-read ads in the show. Clinton says she’s leaving the door open to continuing the podcast after the election too, if it proves to be a hit with listeners.

The partnership is not limited to “High Stakes.” Vox Media says additional collaborations involving Clinton and Swisher are planned, although it hasn’t disclosed the format or timing of those projects.

“I’m immensely proud to bring Secretary Clinton — a hero to millions who has had a profound impact making the world a better place — to Vox Media as she embarks on this next chapter of her media career,” says Vox Media co-founder and CEO Jim Bankoff. “She and Kara are forces of nature and have an undeniable chemistry as hosts. I can’t wait to see where we take this partnership next.”

Clinton previously served as First Lady, U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State under President Obama. She became the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party in 2016.

Swisher, meanwhile, has built an extensive podcast audience through her interviews and commentary on technology, business, media and politics. In addition to “Pivot,” she has hosted “On With Kara Swisher” since 2022, interviewing prominent figures across those industries.

The agreement with Clinton represents another investment by Vox Meda in a recognizable personality who brings an established fan base to their podcast. The Vox Media Podcast Network has been building a roster of prominent journalists, entertainers, athletes and other public figures across several categories.

Its lineup includes “How I Built This” with Guy Raz, “Stay Tuned” with Preet Bharara, “Today, Explained” with Sean Rameswaram and Noel King, and “Bird's Eye View” with Sue Bird. Recent additions include Maria Sharapova’s “Pretty Tough” and Ina Garten’s “Happy Hour.”

Vox says “High Stakes” premieres Oct. 14, with new episodes released Wednesdays as part of “On With Kara Swisher.” The companies have not announced how many episodes the limited series will include or provided details about their future collaborations.