Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching a new podcast aimed at increasing transparency in government health policy, according to a teaser video released ahead of the show’s debut next week. Titled “The Secretary Kennedy Podcast,” the series will feature Kennedy in discussions with doctors, scientists, and HHS staff, officials said.

In the promotional clip, Kennedy describes the podcast as an opportunity to reveal corruption and barriers that have hindered public health progress. “We’re going to name the names of the forces that obstruct the paths to public health,” he says in the nearly 90-second video, which showcases a production set bearing the HHS branding.

Kennedy, who joined the Trump administration last year, is known for his controversial stance against vaccines, positions that diverge sharply from the consensus of the broader scientific community. Some experts have expressed concern that the podcast could amplify views that contradict established public health guidance. Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor at Georgetown University, noted that the initiative could further distance HHS agencies from their traditional role as trusted sources of health information.

Officials within the department frame the podcast as a way to broaden the reach of the administration’s health agenda, particularly messages focused on preventing chronic disease and promoting overall wellness. “This is part of our larger strategy to bring the Make America Healthy Again message to as wide an audience as we can,” said Liam Nahill, HHS digital director.

The introduction of the podcast comes amid ongoing challenges for the department, including backlash over recent vaccine policy revisions, a federal court decision blocking some of those policies, and delays in confirming the administration’s nominee for surgeon general. Observers suggest the podcast could be part of a broader effort by HHS to shift focus away from contentious vaccine debates and toward less polarizing issues such as nutritional health in the lead-up to the midterm elections.

Designed and produced by Tyler Burger, HHS digital communications manager, the podcast is believed to be the first hosted by a sitting cabinet secretary. The production setup allows for conversations involving up to four participants and was created largely using existing agency resources.

Podcasts, which often combine audio and video elements for distribution on social media, offer a format that fosters more informal and in-depth conversations compared to traditional media interviews. Melina Much, a postdoctoral fellow in social media and politics, noted the format’s ability to generate broad engagement while enabling officials to present their views with less immediate challenge.

Despite the department’s stated intentions, critics have voiced concern over the potential spread of misinformation through the podcast. Grace Silva, spokesperson for 314 Action, a political action committee focused on electing scientists to Congress, called the podcast “just another official channel to spread misinformation that will inject more dangerous conspiracy theories into the mainstream.”

Episodes are scheduled to be released every two weeks. While forthcoming guests have not been officially announced, Kennedy revealed in a recent appearance on another podcast that he has recorded an episode with celebrity chef Robert Irvine, who is involved in efforts to improve U.S. Army meals.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon emphasized that the podcast will also address pressing voter concerns such as healthcare affordability, expanding its scope beyond controversy to include a range of public health topics.