Wes Moore on becoming first black Governor of Maryland, lessons from military to true meaning of service, shares story behind one name two fates, faith over fear, key to long marriage, Baltimore Ravens and meaning behind Army Navy football game

Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast Network

Sports, Football, Society & Culture

4.9 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"Some of the best decisions I’ve made in my life have been rooted in faith where I couldn’t give a guarantee but I had faith and some of the worst decisions I’ve made in my life were rooted in fear.” Governor Wes Moore In this inspiring and wide-ranging conversation, Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins The Pivot Podcast to discuss leadership, purpose, and the personal journey that shaped his historic path to the governor’s office. Moore opens up to Ryan, Channing and Fred about his upbringing, his time in the military, and the pivotal moments that pushed him toward public service. He reflects on the challenges of leading a state during times of rapid change, the responsibilities of being Maryland’s first Black governor, and his commitment to expanding opportunity for all communities. Going in-depth, Moore shares the story behind writing his best-selling novel shaped how he views the world, based on the experience of 2 men with the same name who lived two different fates: one ended up doing life in prison while the other was a road scholar who became Governor. A journey rooted in faith not fear, Moore shares the key choices he made over his lifetime to give him the courage and strength to emphasize service over self. Throughout the episode, Moore’s trademark energy and clarity shine as he talks about balancing ambition with humility, the importance of mentorship, and what it means to create lasting impact. He shares his inspiring love story with wife Dawn, raising a family in the public eye while emphasizing the values that built their marriage, the support they’ve given each other through demanding careers, and the joy and purpose he finds in being a husband and father. And of course we talk football! From Maryland sports to the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC North to the true spirit and rivalry of the Army Navy game. Whether you’re interested in politics, personal growth, or stories of resilience, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the country’s most dynamic political leaders. Pivot Family, tap in, like, hit subscribe and comment, we love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Maryland's Governor Westmore isn't your typical politician.
0:03.0	I mean, he has their credentials, right?
0:05.0	Military school, World Scholar, Bronze Star, from the Army, all of those things line up extremely well.
0:12.0	But some of his background is untraditional.
0:15.0	I mean, he's shown to be a great leader, the sort of man his father would have been proud of,
0:20.0	and the man his mother raised him
0:22.5	to be. As a matter of fact, he's still scared of her. She's the reason he didn't become the other
0:28.2	Westmore. You know, the man that Wes wrote a book about, a New York Times bestseller about a man
0:34.2	with the same name from the same place that chose the opposite route.
0:38.3	As a matter of fact, that became the sort of person he wanted to serve and save.
0:43.3	He's poured into the African American population in Maryland because it was needed,
0:47.3	and still he's proven that he's the right leader for all of his constituents.
0:52.3	He didn't hint at running for that big office in DC, even though I
0:57.3	pushed him to say it. Instead, he's focused on his second term as governor, but the former John
1:02.6	Hopkins University Whiteout isn't backing down from challenges. We talked policies, partons, dating,
1:09.7	sports, bad decisions, and good. I mean, me and the charismatic
1:14.4	governor even made a friendly push-up wager on the AFC North Chase. To be truthful, I'm glad
1:20.7	to Bivet caught up with Westmore now because in a few years we might be able to say we've
1:25.4	sat with two commanders in chief. I'm sure you'll feel
1:28.8	the exact same way we did after this one, because honestly, he's one of them was. So please enjoy
1:34.7	this sit down right now as the governor of Maryland Westmore chops it up with the pivot.
1:40.7	Hey now? Are you mad? What's just over here, honey? Oh, you know, I was told dresser. Oh, you man, what's dress up? He's all right? Oh, you know. Oh, you know. Oh, that's cool. What up? How you doing, man? What's up, how you doing, man? I can't, man. What's up, man? What's up, man? Respect, man. Respect, man. You need to see y'all. Man, this is great.
	...

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