California Governor Gavin Newsom hosted a nearly hour-and-a-half podcast session on Friday with Hunter Biden, the son of President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who was convicted and later pardoned. The conversation, conducted over a YouTube livestream, offered an unusual glimpse into the personal lives and public challenges of both figures, reflecting a broader trend among politicians and public figures leveraging social media platforms to engage audiences.

Since launching his podcast more than a year ago, Mr. Newsom has used the format to build a media presence ahead of a potential 2024 presidential campaign. On Friday, he demonstrated a capacity for civil dialogue as he and Mr. Biden discussed topics ranging from addiction and political controversies to family dynamics. Mr. Biden, known for his history of personal struggles and the political difficulties he has generated for his father’s administration, spoke candidly about his past crack cocaine addiction and the pardon he received after committing a felony, which President Biden insisted was a choice he made even at the risk of his political legacy.

The discussion also touched on Mr. Biden’s active use of social media, especially the platform X, where he has gained a sizeable following by sharing frank and often provocative content. While his posts have included reflections on his own experiences, they have also revived sensitive episodes from President Biden’s time in office, drawing varying responses within the Democratic Party.

Mr. Biden expressed grievances regarding aspects of the Democratic establishment, criticizing political strategist David Axelrod for concerns about President Biden’s age affecting his electability and mocking CNN anchor Jake Tapper with a comedic nickname. He downplayed arguments that his father’s Israel policy influenced the 2024 election outcome, calling such claims “nonsense.”

The candid tone continued as Mr. Biden discussed his writing projects, revealing he has authored two books about his father’s presidency, including one characterized as a thriller featuring figures from the MAGA movement. Unlike traditional publishing approaches, Mr. Biden plans to release his work in serialized form on the Substack newsletter platform. Governor Newsom drew a parallel between this method and the serialized novels of Charles Dickens.

While the interview illuminated personal and political perspectives rarely seen in mainstream discourse, it also raised questions about the broader strategy behind such public engagements. Both men appear to be capitalizing on controversial and intimate disclosures to maintain relevance within the rapidly shifting environment of political media and online influence. Representatives for Axelrod and Tapper declined to comment on the remarks made during the podcast.