Find Your Adventure with Katt Williams

Summary

IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, “Find Your Adventure with Katt Williams”

Host: Higher Ground | Date: December 3, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson are joined by acclaimed comedian Katt Williams for a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply personal conversation. Together in a relaxed setting at Martha’s Vineyard, they explore Katt’s extraordinary journey—from a challenging childhood and early independence, to parenting, adopting children, and his storied comedy career. The trio also tackle a listener’s dilemma on making bold life moves, while trading candid reflections and plenty of laughs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene and Katt Williams’ Introduction

• The episode kicks off with Michelle and Craig discussing the beautiful “barn” in Martha’s Vineyard where they’re recording, setting a warm and intimate tone.
• Katt Williams joins the conversation, greeted with humor about his stature and reputation ([03:22]).
• Conversation quickly pivots to golf—a passion of Katt’s, offering insight into how hobbies influence personal growth.

Notable Quote:
“You and your husband are one of only a handful of actual superheroes we've seen in the country. And superhero is somebody you put ungodly expectations on...when we look back 100 years from now, you were the source of pride for a nation that needed that.” – Katt Williams ([07:58])

2. Golf and Lessons for Life

• Katt shares how golf became a transformative retreat, teaching him about humility, persistence, and letting go of both failures and successes ([04:39], [06:03]).
• Michelle and Craig discuss efforts to increase Black youth participation in golf and invite Katt to join their initiatives in Chicago ([07:01]).

3. Katt’s Upbringing: Childhood, Independence, and Books

• Katt reflects on a childhood lacking overt affection but rich in parental support, leading him to turn negative circumstances into resilience, with books as an early escape and source of strength ([09:27]).
• He recounts realizing at age six the challenges ahead, comparing himself to classic underdog heroes (“Poor girl. Cinderella – Stepmother’s awful... I’m right on track.” – Katt Williams, [11:13]).
• Reveals his parents’ strict religious background as Jehovah’s Witnesses, limited extracurriculars, and how reading shaped his worldview ([13:54], [14:06]).

4. Adoption and Parenting

• Katt candidly describes how he came to adopt his son’s siblings after their birth mother’s struggles, marking a pivotal period in his life and career ([15:44]).
• Parenting forced him to “grow up,” shifting his mindset from bachelorhood to full-time father.
• Discusses the heartbreak of losing a child and the enduring pain that comes with it, highlighting the difficulty and depth of love in parenting ([18:54]).

Notable Quote:
“The hardest part is...losing a child is probably the worst thing that can happen to you on this earth. There's no recovery from it. There's no...” – Katt Williams ([18:54])

5. Parenthood, Special Needs, and Empathy

• Parenting special needs children, especially a daughter with autism, gave Katt a new lens on patience and unconditional love ([23:45]).
• The group discusses the show "Love on the Spectrum" as an example of pure-hearted relationships and learning from those with autism ([24:40-25:32]).

6. Leaving Home and Surviving on His Own

• Katt recounts leaving home at 13, setting off with a suitcase and a Rottweiler puppy, working odd jobs, and supporting himself as a young entrepreneur in Miami ([26:54], [28:11]).
• He describes sleeping in parks, learning from people who had lost everything to addiction, and eventually being found by his parents by chance years later ([36:12]).
• Lived in Haiti with his family for two years, where he learned French and Creole and helped with community work ([41:10]).

Memorable Story:
“I had a full suitcase and a Rottweiler puppy. ...I checked license plates because I was looking for a warm destination, and...Miami presented itself, and the guy let me and the Rottweiler puppy get in the back part of the empty truck.” – Katt Williams ([28:11])

7. Comedy, Door-to-Door Sales, and Character-Building

• First stand-up appearance happened accidentally after tagging along with carnies to a club ([49:01]).
• He connects his confidence on stage to years of public speaking as a Jehovah’s Witness and his adaptability from selling door-to-door—crucial skills for stand-up ([51:47], [54:00]).
• Tells the wild story of briefly acting as a “pimp” for women who had lost their previous protector, learning about men from their candid discussions ([54:57], [55:22]).

8. Advice for Aspiring Artists

• Katt attributes all progress to his relationship with God, recommending artists take the existential pressure off themselves and instead “work on” their faith ([61:41]).
• Encourages building relationships spiritually as a foundation, whether for art or life.

Notable Quote:
“If you believe in God, take as much pressure off of yourself as you can and apply that pressure to him...It doesn’t matter how young you get that relationship. It’s never too early.” – Katt Williams ([61:41])

9. Relationships and Personal Life

• Never married, Katt admits monogamy has not been a part of his journey, largely due to his adopted family responsibilities and not wanting to bring someone into a complex situation ([64:14]).
• Lives on a large farm, which he describes as his own “heaven on earth”—a philosophy reflected in both his current life and his comedy tour ([66:25]).

10. Work Ethic, Career, and Meeting Prince

• Describes his annual touring ritual as akin to athletic seasons—100 shows, then a special ([67:31]).
• Shares a formative story about meeting Prince as a child, learning confidence and inspiration to be unapologetically himself despite his own perceived shortcomings ([68:13]).

Notable Quote:
“Prince helped me see immediately I didn't have to get taller. ...I just had to be in the right position and be right myself when it transpired. So super helpful, that guy.” – Katt Williams ([71:53])

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Listener Question Segment

Amber, San Antonio, TX (Listener from [72:45])
Q: How did you move through the fear of stepping into something new?

• Katt Williams’ Advice ([74:13]):
  • Fear is useful and necessary; it ensures you take new opportunities seriously.
  • “You’re only going to look back and go, I should have left earlier. ...Never stop being in search of your calling and your purpose.”
• Craig Robinson & Michelle Obama ([76:19], [78:32]):
  • Fear should not paralyze you—take it as a sign that stakes are high but growth awaits.
  • “If you practice moving away from fear, you just practice always feeling safe. But you’ll look around and realize ...you won’t be happy.”
  • Michelle notes that repeated experience lessens the sting of fear, and “the first hard pivot is the hardest; then you build that muscle.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Money Micah early.” (Katt Williams on his school hustle, [31:03])
• “There’s no such a thing as doing a great job [in parenting]. There’s just such a thing as doing a bad job. ...If you’re doing a good job, that should take a lot of the panic and anxiety away from you.” – Katt Williams ([23:45])
• On resilience: “Life is always worth the next adventure. And so that’s how I was looking at things, even that early.” – Katt Williams ([11:36])
• “I suppose monogamy has not been a part of my journey. ...I’ve tried to share this gift with whoever would need it.” – Katt Williams ([65:47])
• On stage fright: “Every time I have to do stand up, I’m as nervous and direct as I was the very first time...it never has gone away. It’s what allows me to realize something’s counting on this. You must do well.” – Katt Williams ([79:19])

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Memorable and Humorous Moments

• Katt’s vivid story of leaving home at 13 with a Rottweiler puppy, heading for Miami with $1,200 from summer jobs ([28:11]).
• The surreal “homeless hierarchy” in Miami parks and buying a mattress delivered to a park ([33:03]).
• Michelle’s incredulity at Katt’s adventurous youth: “Like, are you telling the truth or are you joking?” ([33:05])
• Craig on Katt’s farm: “You have a farm. There’s so many kind of little surprising layers.” ([66:15])
• Katt’s quip: “Heavy on the layers.” ([80:57])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Golf, Performance, and Life Lessons: [03:33]–[07:01]
• Early Childhood/Reading and Resilience: [09:27]–[14:34]
• Adoption & Parenting: [15:44]–[20:27]
• Life on Own at 13, Survival in Miami: [26:54]–[33:43]
• Haiti Adventure & Giving Back: [41:10]–[43:21]
• Comedy Origin Story: [49:01]–[51:47]
• Advice to Aspiring Artists: [61:41]
• Listener Q&A – Overcoming Fear (Amber): [72:45]–[80:26]

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Concluding Remarks & Tone

The conversation maintains a warm, humorous, contemplative tone, blending Katt’s trademark wit with thoughtful reflection from both hosts. The episode is rich in anecdotes, life lessons, and candid admissions—making it both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. Katt’s layered narrative, paired with the Obamas’ empathetic hosting, creates a space where vulnerability and humor coexist, encouraging listeners to embrace their adventures, fears, and growth.

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For listeners seeking wisdom on resilience, reinvention, and joy—seasoned with Katt Williams’ one-of-a-kind perspective—this episode is both a masterclass and an adventure.

Transcript

[Katt Williams]

At that time, I already read so many books that I was excited about it. So I was like, oh, I'm guaranteed. I'm a sure thing. A terrible childhood. Like, I'm guaranteed to make it like.

[Craig Robinson]

All of the heroes.

[Katt Williams]

And all of this is where it all begins. Poor girl. Cinderella cleaning the chimneys, Stepmother's awful.

[Craig Robinson]

You're like, I'm right on track.

[Katt Williams]

I'm like, God, you really know how to do it. Like, no. This is why you leave at 13.

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Katt Williams]

I get it.

[Craig Robinson]

Jesus Y. This episode is brought to you by Rivian and Progressive Insurance. Hi, Craig Robinson.

[Michelle Obama]

Hi, Michelle Obama. How are you today?

[Craig Robinson]

Good. Welcome back to imo.

[Katt Williams]

Yes.

[Michelle Obama]

On the Vineyard.

[Craig Robinson]

On the Vineyard, it's been really, really lovely recording here in this beautiful space.

[Michelle Obama]

It really has.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, they call this a barn, but.

[Michelle Obama]

But this is a high level barn.

[Craig Robinson]

This is not a barn.

[Michelle Obama]

This is just another house, as Aaron said. Who's my 13 year old?

[Craig Robinson]

Who's with us today?

[Michelle Obama]

Yeah, this isn't a barn. This is somebody's house.

[Craig Robinson]

He heard that we were recording in a barn. He pulled up, he was disappointed.

[Michelle Obama]

He was disappointed. He wanted cows and horses and stuff around. This is not. This is a.

[Craig Robinson]

But this area of the island, up Island Chilmark, is the best place to have a Rivian.

[Michelle Obama]

Yeah. Yeah. And as everyone knows, we got gifted Rivian. So I've been driving yours around and I've been all over the island, but I haven't been up this way. I haven't been up island. So I'm saving that for my next trip.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, but you can see how these back roads, you know how the Rivian really operates well in it.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, perfect.

[Michelle Obama]

Perfect. Raised your suspension up, Have a little, nice, little comfortable ride.

[Craig Robinson]

That feature is good. So do you have to raise it up or is it already raised or are you lowering the suspension?

[Michelle Obama]

There's two or three levels that you can set it.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

And depending on the terrain. So in bumpy, you would raise it so that you can get over rocks and stuff and don't scrape the bottom and you lower it to go faster on the highway.

[Craig Robinson]

Have you used it?

[Michelle Obama]

I've used all three settings. You know I have.

[Craig Robinson]

Excellent. Yeah, excellent.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, it's good to be here.

[Michelle Obama]

It is. But we're not gonna mess around today because we. Let's not mess around.

[Craig Robinson]

We are so excited. Just settle down, man.

[Michelle Obama]

We have Katt Williams here. I mean, I'm chilled. I'm chilled on this hot day in the Vineyard. Katt Williams is obviously a comedian and an actor who's earned worldwide reputation as well one of the world's top entertainers. He's celebrated for his brilliance and ingenuity on stage, which you and I both enjoy. He's also known for his critically acclaimed standup specials and today remains one of the top touring comedians on fire all the time. Just on the time. And he's currently on his Heaven on Earth tour, and he is performing in arenas all around the country. And we have to make sure we get to one of these, because I.

[Craig Robinson]

Want to see a lot. I want to find out where it's going on.

[Michelle Obama]

But without any further ado. Can we get the.

[Craig Robinson]

The one.

[Michelle Obama]

The one, the only. Cat Williams. You came out like you were called out to the principal's office.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you for being here. He came. Ready? Ready. Hi, Cat.

[Katt Williams]

What are you doing? Hello there.

[Craig Robinson]

Welcome.

[Katt Williams]

Thanks for having me.

[Craig Robinson]

I am.

[Katt Williams]

Oh, thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

You a handsome dude, right? Yeah. You know that. You know that about yourself.

[Katt Williams]

You know, there were so many options. God had to make some people. Five. Five. And, you know, you put that down.

[Michelle Obama]

Take.

[Craig Robinson]

Was your turn. Take his. Cause he gave the rest of the heights to us.

[Katt Williams]

Yes. Yes. You guys are both strikingly tall.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, it's good to have you because.

[Michelle Obama]

So good to have you here, man.

[Craig Robinson]

You've been on the vineyard, too. How is. Have you been to the vineyard before? Is this.

[Katt Williams]

This is my golf retreat.

[Craig Robinson]

So you've been here before golfing. Okay.

[Katt Williams]

All right.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Michelle Obama]

And when did the love affair with golf start for you?

[Katt Williams]

It was immediate.

[Michelle Obama]

Did you grow up golfing?

[Craig Robinson]

Cause black. We don't grow up.

[Katt Williams]

That's not a thing.

[Craig Robinson]

No, it's not. It's not a thing.

[Katt Williams]

We lived on a golf.

[Craig Robinson]

We lived in a neighborhood with a golf course. We, as black people, we just drove right past it.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah. It's probably the least economical sport.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Yeah. Possible.

[Katt Williams]

I'm saying you only need one ball, and 39 guys can play. You know, it's not that way with golf, but, yeah, I was grown when I got introduced to golf, but it is. I've really been able to grow with my own personal game. And I like everything about it. There are no negatives or drawbacks.

[Craig Robinson]

What's your handicap?

[Katt Williams]

I'm unhandicapped.

[Craig Robinson]

What does that mean? What does that mean now? I don't even understand that.

[Katt Williams]

Just a healthy man.

[Craig Robinson]

Just. Are you a scratch golfer, as they call. I know all these terms from my husband.

[Katt Williams]

Rarely. I have eczema, so I am a scratch golfer. But.

[Michelle Obama]

What are the attributes that you take from golf? That you can use in your entertainment life or your parenting life.

[Katt Williams]

Golf gives you the opportunity to do something exactly how the best player in the world would do it. And then six minutes later, you hit a shot that a nine year old. And this is the same you, you know, and having the ability to navigate your own personal expectations and to understand that you always have the ability to do better and that if you had a great hole, you put that behind you, even as you would if you had had a terrible hole, you have to put the greatness of that hole aside because hole 13 doesn't matter at hole 14.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, you know, we're gonna be the golf course that we grew up by in Chicago on the south side that we just drove past and never went in. Now the Obama Presidential center is opening up there in May, and there's an athletic center. It's a whole development. It's on that golf course. So we're going to have to. I'm going to commit you now. You got to come out.

[Katt Williams]

Done.

[Craig Robinson]

Because we are trying to get young people, black kids exposed because to be living in a neighborhood with that kind of beauty and not be able to access it as we were, not because all we were doing was just riding past it. It's a good way for Barack to connect his love of a sport to the neighborhood that it's given us so much. So we would love to have you involved in that. So I'm going to use this opportunity to get you on the hook.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Craig Robinson]

That's great.

[Katt Williams]

Absolutely. You and your husband are one of only a handful of actual superheroes that we've seen in the country. And superhero is somebody you put ungodly expectations on. You expect them to never make mistakes, and you want them to be flawless and just things that just aren't realistic for humans. But the way that you two pulled that off was, I think, when we look back 100 years from now, like you were the source of pride for a nation that needed that. So, yeah, whatever we can do.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you for that.

[Katt Williams]

To pay you back for that. We'd love it.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you, Kat. That's very sweet of you. Well, we can end it now.

[Katt Williams]

We can all go home down.

[Michelle Obama]

Yes. Right.

[Katt Williams]

Money's worth.

[Michelle Obama]

I'm not done yet.

[Katt Williams]

Right.

[Michelle Obama]

So when you sat down, you said you. You grew up getting whoopings.

[Katt Williams]

That was an odd thing for me to just come out with.

[Craig Robinson]

But black folks, we know. We all know about a whooping.

[Michelle Obama]

We know. We know. So I want to back up and just hear how Katt Williams became Katt Williams. So I want to know how, you know, how did that start?

[Katt Williams]

So I really owe everything in my trajectory to the love of books that I forged early. So reading books just shaped me into this. So, for example, I can remember young figuring out that my mother and father didn't really love me, but they took really good care of me.

[Craig Robinson]

What made you say they didn't love you? What did they do that left you with that feeling?

[Katt Williams]

Nothing. Nothing. I just. I was reading so many books, and I was seeing so many stories, and I was just trying to figure out where I fit in with these stories, if I was that type of person. And I. I realized that my mother never kissed me. Right. And that there was this dynamic that existed in other households that I didn't have in mind. But I was at that time, I already read so many books that I was excited about it. So I was like, oh, I'm guaranteed. I'm a sure thing. A terrible childhood. Like, I'm guaranteed to make it like.

[Craig Robinson]

This is where it all begins.

[Katt Williams]

Poor girl. Cinderella. Stepmother's awful.

[Craig Robinson]

You're like, I'm right on track.

[Katt Williams]

Oh, I'm like, God, you really know how to do it. Like, no. This is why you leave at 13.

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Katt Williams]

I get it. Jesus.

[Craig Robinson]

Yes. Yes.

[Michelle Obama]

Way to turn it around.

[Katt Williams]

That early?

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Wow. Because.

[Craig Robinson]

How old?

[Katt Williams]

Like, six?

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah. I. I had already made the decision that six, just because once you've read thousands of books, you see that all of these stories are similar and that you're gonna make it through. Like, they're like, depression is the worst disease because it makes you think things that are incorrect, you know? So I was reading so many books of so many people in so many different circumstances, and it always works out. It always gets better. Life is always worth the next adventure. And so that's how I was looking at things, even that early.

[Craig Robinson]

How many brothers and sisters did you grow up with?

[Katt Williams]

I'm the oldest. I have. You're the oldest? Two younger brothers.

[Craig Robinson]

So did your parents have you sweep in chimneys and whatnot? I mean, what was it about your childhood that made. Made you read those stories and say, you know what? I'm missing something. You know?

[Katt Williams]

Well, I wasn't at the age where I thought I was missing anything. Now, granted, in retrospect, I was. But I was using all of my setbacks for my benefit. So I. So, for example, like, I wasn't allowed to watch television or see movies or go over people's house or go to a dance or no extracurricular. Activities of any kind. But I devoted all of that time to reading. So I got three open books. Every day I'm in the middle of these, and I'm immersed and I'm getting. I feel like I'm really learning something from everyone's experience, and that is putting me ahead of the curve because of how much knowledge and information I'm getting on something that doesn't have anything to do with me. Like I'm reading about Winston Churchill, but the stories all go together.

[Michelle Obama]

And this.

[Katt Williams]

This.

[Michelle Obama]

Situation you were in, not being able to do a lot of stuff, that was because. Was that because your parents were religious?

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

They were Jehovah's Witness.

[Katt Williams]

Right. And high up in the organization. But, you know, a lot of the things that I learned, I learned because of that situation. So I already knew that when I got in the position to be a parent, I understood love is the most important thing, and it's free.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Like, you can do that.

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Katt Williams]

And I know all the other stuff seems to matter, but actually, the imparting of love and creating an individual that knows how to receive it and give it and deal with it is just so important. And don't get me wrong, my father was a great father. He's a great husband. My parents are still together. They've been together almost 50 years now. So, like, they're. They're wonderful.

[Craig Robinson]

But what's your relationship like with them today?

[Katt Williams]

I love them today, same as I always do. I'm more. They got more respect for me for how great of a job that they did, even when the feelings weren't there, you know, And I. I appreciated that. And that made it so much easier for me to adopt children because I realized, you know, DNA doesn't matter. Bloodlines don't matter.

[Craig Robinson]

So that's.

[Katt Williams]

Family's where the love is.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. That was another thing I didn't realize about you, that you have adopted a lot of kids. Tell us.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, I didn't see that in the bingo cards, but my son's mother was living in another state, and she had another life and had kids. And at some point, she faced an addiction crisis and her children went to the orphanage. So when they called me, I don't have a direct relationship with these children, but they are the siblings of my son. And I did all the research, and I knew that it takes a million dollars to raise a child. And I was eager to say, wait a minute, Lord. Are you.

[Craig Robinson]

Are you.

[Katt Williams]

You're saying I'm going to have $10 million to take care of 10 kids. Fine, let's do it.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm in. Let's go.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, because you don't want to let me suffer. You're certainly not going to let. And it was best experience.

[Craig Robinson]

How old were you when you adopted the kids? And what stage in your life were you already in? Comedy? Were you already Katt Williams? Or was this.

[Katt Williams]

Yes, ma', am. But a lesser form, a smaller case. K. I was making less than 25,000 a year, so that lets you know where I was. But I had been working and everything was looking good. It was a period in my life where I think. That's the only way he could save me is to give me this instant humongous family and all that.

[Craig Robinson]

Did you need saving?

[Katt Williams]

I did.

[Craig Robinson]

What was going on?

[Katt Williams]

Um, I love women so much.

[Craig Robinson]

Mm. Tell us more.

[Katt Williams]

And so I had a five bedroom house with a woman in each room.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

Because I like women. I like waking up, hearing them. I like them being around. Like, that's my sweet spot.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, it sounds like you weren't in crisis.

[Katt Williams]

No, it wasn't in. No, it wasn't that type of crisis. It's just that the kids happening instantly. Like that meant, nah, I gotta grow up. I gotta do stuff a different way. Like, I gotta do a different trajectory. Like, I'm gonna be a family man now, you know? So I couldn't be the bachelor superstar that I had envisioned at that point that I was getting ready to go into. So, yeah, saved me for sure.

[Michelle Obama]

What was the biggest challenge in your parenting career?

[Katt Williams]

The hardest part is. Losing a child is probably the worst thing that can happen to you on this earth. Like, there's no recovery from it. There's no.

[Craig Robinson]

You lost a child. I'm sorry.

[Katt Williams]

Yes, ma'.

[Michelle Obama]

Am.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm sorry.

[Katt Williams]

Um, yeah, that was probably the only regrettable thing is that I had built myself to be completely impervious to the machinations of the devil. So there was nothing Satan could do that would ever take my joy from any situation. And the worse things are going for me personally, the more you can probably find me smiling and telling jokes, because that's how we get back. But in that particular circumstance, it's the worst thing imaginable. It doesn't get any better. It actually gets worse. But, yeah, other than that, it was complete joy.

[Michelle Obama]

This segment is brought to you by Progressive Insurance, a brand that knows home ownership isn't just about having a place to live. It can open doors in ways you didn't expect. And not just for you, but for those who Come after you. And, you know, when I think about some of the challenges and the benefits of homeownership, I really think about the neighborhood we used to live in when.

[Craig Robinson]

We were growing up or where we moved to, where we bought our homes.

[Michelle Obama]

Where we moved to when we bought our homes. And I picked the area because I knew it had stable home prices and we knew it had really good schools. And the really good schools part was the first part. And then we got the added benefit of it was such a good area, our friends and family ended up moving there too. And that's how we began to build our community and build our friends and have sports and parties. And it was not a benefit that I had looked for. I thought we were going to have to build a whole new community. And what happened was our community came to us.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, yeah. That was certainly, you know, one of the highlights of living in Hyde Park. It is a well established community. It's diverse, it's got tons of amenities, not just schools. But where we lived was right down the street from the Museum of Science and Industry. And that was a benefit when the kids were little to have the museum that was full of excellent exploration and wonder, a walk away from your house. So you remember we used to grab the kids on any given day, or mom could pick up the kids, walk down to the museum and they would spend an afternoon. So it's not often that you get to live next to one of the most highly visited museums in the city. So that was a huge benefit.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

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[Craig Robinson]

What do you think parenthood taught you about yourself, especially since you had a bunch of kids?

[Katt Williams]

That there's no such a thing as doing a great job. There's just such a thing as doing a bad job. And if you're making sure that you're Doing a good job, then that should take a lot of the panic and anxiety away from you. I think I learned that the most patience. If you have a special needs child, you just look at the world differently. You realize that the special needs community is like the only legitimate angels on earth. Like a lot of the things that make people a bad person. Somebody with autism doesn't even know how to do that. Like, they don't know how to be jealous or envious and conniving.

[Craig Robinson]

And one of my favorite guilty pleasures is have you seen love on the spectrum? I just love that show.

[Katt Williams]

Oh, my God. I mean, everyone on it.

[Craig Robinson]

Everyone on the show. And Craig, my brother, is never caught up on any social media.

[Michelle Obama]

I apologize. I apologize.

[Craig Robinson]

It's a beautiful. It's a reality based show and the producers of that have worked on later daters with us. And so it's the kind of reality TV that I really love. I mean, I love it all, but these are just really some of the best humans. They're autistic people who want to find love. And I think I cry every episode. It's just like you said, Kat, the best display of humanity.

[Katt Williams]

I watch it just to cry.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Like, it's. It's a free therapy session just to go and be reminded about how wonderful it is to be human and to see people searching to attain something that they can actually get to and the fact that it goes from season to season. And like, they're famous now.

[Craig Robinson]

They are. They need to be.

[Katt Williams]

They're famous now, and yet they're still right where we need them to be. It's such a genuine experience.

[Craig Robinson]

Do you have children who are autistic? You have one?

[Katt Williams]

I have one. Yeah. We love. Oh, my goodness. She's the best.

[Craig Robinson]

And I want to get back to. Because one thing I didn't ask about, child, you were emancipated at 13.

[Katt Williams]

I've read that.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Have you read that about yourself?

[Michelle Obama]

You've read that? A bunch of stuff.

[Craig Robinson]

Tell us more about. It's not often that you know 13 and what led to that? Did you just walk out the door? Did you just say, hey. Okay, thank you, everyone. I'm gonna take all my books and I'm on my own.

[Katt Williams]

I don't know how to put this without sounding facetious, but if. If you came from a bible reading believing family.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Then you already knew I was finna do what Jesus did.

[Michelle Obama]

Okay.

[Craig Robinson]

Bounce.

[Katt Williams]

Okay, now go find a temple to turn over tables. Like, this is. This is the life of a Christian revolutionary.

[Michelle Obama]

I got to you're way ahead of me. Because even if I wanted to leave at 13, I wouldn't have had the nerve to do it, nor the wherewithal that I could do it.

[Katt Williams]

It was a terrible idea. All right, here we go. I don't talk about it because I don't want any young person to hear that and think that it's possible or.

[Craig Robinson]

That they can pull it off. Hearing that it's terrible is useful.

[Katt Williams]

But it wasn't.

[Michelle Obama]

I just said it was terrible.

[Katt Williams]

Oh, yes. No, of course not. I'm the adventurer in this story. Are you kidding me?

[Michelle Obama]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

Me now, sir. I'm grown, got a mustache and a cigarette. I'm 12. Welcome. That was my life.

[Craig Robinson]

I'm picturing little cat. Did you have the stick in your. Your goods and a little kerchief?

[Katt Williams]

No.

[Craig Robinson]

Did you walk out with suitcase?

[Katt Williams]

I had a full suitcase and a Rottweiler puppy.

[Craig Robinson]

So you left with that?

[Katt Williams]

Destined for failure.

[Craig Robinson]

It's like. And of dependent.

[Katt Williams]

I'm taking a responsibility.

[Craig Robinson]

Exactly. It's like, man. And I'll take this puppy. So where'd you go? Where was the first place you and your puppy. Rottweiler puppy went when you left your house?

[Katt Williams]

Miami, Florida.

[Craig Robinson]

You went to a whole nother state.

[Katt Williams]

That was always the thing. How'd you get to Miami? I went to a truck stop.

[Michelle Obama]

Oh.

[Craig Robinson]

The best place to go. Wow.

[Katt Williams]

Because everybody's going out of here. And so then I checked license plates because I was looking for a warm destination, and I was hoping for LA or California. But Miami presented itself, and the guy let me and the Rottweiler puppy get in the back part of the empty truck. And he would stop every once in a while.

[Craig Robinson]

Did you have any money? How'd you see the Rottweiler?

[Katt Williams]

I was loaded. I must have had $1,200. And you could not have told me that I was loaded.

[Craig Robinson]

How do you get all this money?

[Katt Williams]

So the only thing I was allowed to do, I was allowed to cut grass in the summer, and I was allowed to shovel snow in the winter. So I probably had 60 clients on each day.

[Craig Robinson]

You were an entrepreneur.

[Katt Williams]

I own the lawnmower and the shovels. Wow. And so me having money just gave me the ability to not have to wear the clothes that my parents wanted me to wear to school. I could wear that out, go change, get into something fly and presentable for school. And then, like, I was living multiple lives. But the money made it possible for me to have that freedom. And I learned that pretty early on.

[Craig Robinson]

What was your alter ego with Your money. When you went to school, were you one way at home because you were dressing different? And then you took your lawnmower money and went to school in your whatever. Who were you?

[Katt Williams]

I had a relationship with the candy lady. So I was in sales already and I was buying at a wonderful price, upselling and supplying schoolmates with candy.

[Craig Robinson]

So you were that kid. You were the kid that had the annihilators.

[Katt Williams]

Plus, I had money, so I didn't have to. I was able to treat the women that I liked nice. Really nice.

[Craig Robinson]

Nice.

[Katt Williams]

And I learned that supplying happiness to people.

[Craig Robinson]

So you were money Micah. Early.

[Katt Williams]

Yes. Yeah. Money Micah. Yeah, yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Is that where your character came from? Money Micah? You were practicing that at 13.

[Katt Williams]

It seems like it's all planned out, but, you know, God showed me early on that there was this pathway and I wasn't really certain of how to make sure that I was on it or well.

[Michelle Obama]

So you get to Miami.

[Katt Williams]

Yep.

[Craig Robinson]

So we get to Miami with your puppy.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

This trip probably only took us maybe three days at the most, maybe two. It was a really nice ride. But there. So I'm there. And I just had never seen a place so big with so many different neighborhoods and a different culture and ethnicity every three blocks. And it was really, really a bit of a culture shock. But I found a place in Coconut Grove at a park, and that's where I made my residence. And it was across the street from a library. And so I would. Eight hours a day, I would be in a library reading.

[Craig Robinson]

And so you just camped out?

[Katt Williams]

Literally.

[Craig Robinson]

Literally. Did you buy a tent with your money?

[Katt Williams]

No, ma'. Am.

[Craig Robinson]

So you're just laying out on the grass with your puppy, a 13 year old.

[Katt Williams]

No, no, no.

[Craig Robinson]

And going across the street to the library.

[Katt Williams]

Segment of population that. This was kind of a. In the homeless world, this was kind of a gated community. This park by the. With a marina behind it, so you can't encroach. And it's in Coconut Grove. So, yeah. I was able to purchase a brand new mattress the first day I was going to have to sleep, so I never slept on the ground or anything. And remember, my clothes are all dress clothes. I only have slacks and white shirts and ties.

[Craig Robinson]

Like, is anybody? Like, I'm just trying to picture this.

[Michelle Obama]

I can't. I can't picture any of this.

[Craig Robinson]

Like. And I'm still like, are you telling the truth? Are you joking? Because I'm like, still trying to picture you. You went and bought a mattress. How'd you get the mattress to the park. I mean, I just. They brought it, they delivered. Oh, you went to a store and you had them deliver your mattress to the park?

[Katt Williams]

There's a homeless hierarchy. In the place that I was at. There was a guy who was in charge of whether or not you got to be there or not.

[Craig Robinson]

And how did you convince him that you should be there?

[Katt Williams]

I didn't. I've lived. I have a presence.

[Craig Robinson]

Yes, you do.

[Katt Williams]

And I'm one of the people that doesn't have ulterior motives. And most people I found do. But even at that age, I didn't have any. I didn't think I was owed anything. I didn't think I was in a bad experience. I thought I was making choices and decisions, and I was trying to see if I could get them to work out. So when I get there, I get the mattress. And then there's this process where I find out how everybody else ended up in this park. And that is what was life changing, is to find these. To find out these are doctors and lawyers and nurses and accountants. And each one of these people had an experience with drugs, and it led them here. And which is why when I emerge from this part of my story, like, drugs are not a temptation for me because I've not seen or heard of parties or anybody having fun. I've just met these 40 people whose lives were destroyed, and they're out in the elements living with that. And the fact that they're not going to be able to get those lives back, that this is a new reality for them. And so as a young, impressionable kid, being able to see the harshness of life, like that was very instrumental.

[Michelle Obama]

And so when did you emerge from that?

[Katt Williams]

So if I fast forward. So now I'm in Florida, I'm thinking that, okay, I've left Ohio, right? So I have a humongous family in Dayton. A hundred first cousins, both sets of grandparents. So I'm like, you know, when I leave, this is gonna be a big deal. It's gonna be in the news, on the papers. Like, there's gonna be a worldwide. That's like, for your boy, Where. Where is he? Right?

[Michelle Obama]

Milk carton. Dates on the milk carton.

[Katt Williams]

These conniving parents of mine. Let's say I left on Sunday. They moved out of the city on Monday. Oh, my God. So no one knows I'm gone. My grandparents don't know. Nobody knows. Nobody thinks anything's wrong. What my. Yeah, it was. It was crazy. And so the way God works. I'm walking down a highway, maybe Three years later, two years later, walking down the shoulder and a car pulls over and I'm like, boy, these girls will not stay off of you. Boy, they're pulling over on the highway.

[Craig Robinson]

Now, that's a lot.

[Katt Williams]

So you gotta be pretty good looking for that one. Anyway, it's not any girls. It's my parents and my two brothers, and they are in Florida and saw.

[Michelle Obama]

Me and just like on vacation or.

[Katt Williams]

Something, just passing through Florida. Oh, my God. Right?

[Craig Robinson]

So were you still living in the park?

[Katt Williams]

No, this is at least a year later. So, no, I. I've moved from. From those confines. But, yeah, so now I am at this place. I think it's called Winter Haven or something. It's where the carnival people go when they're not in carnival season.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. No, I know nothing about this. You say this like, you know, Winter Haven. You know, the carnival people. I'm like, no, cats.

[Katt Williams]

Yes.

[Michelle Obama]

Swing through there.

[Craig Robinson]

I know. It's like, you know, it's like, am I supposed to know about this?

[Katt Williams]

This goes along with hearing an unbelievable story.

[Craig Robinson]

I love it.

[Katt Williams]

You've not been believing any of it. We need popcorn. So, yeah, I was. I'm now away from Miami, near a place called Ruskin, Florida. And my parents pull over on the highway and very apologetic, and let's just put the family back together. And we end up moving to Haiti to do missionary work.

[Craig Robinson]

No, no, you didn't.

[Katt Williams]

And so I spend the next two years in Haiti.

[Michelle Obama]

What?

[Craig Robinson]

Did you just get in the car? Where's the puppy?

[Katt Williams]

I just got the dog.

[Craig Robinson]

Where's your dog?

[Katt Williams]

So here's the thing.

[Michelle Obama]

Beautiful.

[Katt Williams]

Rasha, right?

[Craig Robinson]

Rasha. Oh, I love that name.

[Katt Williams]

I couldn't figure out. Once I actually got into the homeless encampment, I could not believe that I had brought this puppy here.

[Craig Robinson]

Like, yeah, you were 13. That's 13 year old thinking like, whoa.

[Katt Williams]

What'S the plan for the baby? Like, how this is going to be hard enough to navigate on your own. But fortunately, because he was purebred and beautiful, he went for a great price. And that price sustained me for a nice little period of wow time. So I understood why God had let me bring him. But, yeah, he went to a great home and he supplied me a great income.

[Craig Robinson]

Wow.

[Katt Williams]

And yeah. So then parents, then they pick you up, right?

[Craig Robinson]

They pick what I want to know. Shoulder the road. Do you get in the car? Is it like, mom, dad, right?

[Katt Williams]

I really didn't. Micah, I really don't want to get in the car. Yeah.

[Craig Robinson]

Are they like, get it, boy? Is it like that?

[Katt Williams]

No.

[Craig Robinson]

Are there tears? Are they like, we've been looking for you.

[Katt Williams]

I'm the tallest person in the house, so let that understand. Like, I'm a big guy, you know, Five. Five. All right.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

So, no, there's. There's none of that dynamic. It's just, I'm sure as parents, they didn't think I would do that.

[Craig Robinson]

And.

[Katt Williams]

By the same token, they had crossed the line, you know, like they were. They were behaving as if I was a bad child and I was a great kid who hadn't engaged in. Yeah. So there were mistakes made. I was already smoking cigarettes at this point, so I'm using this as the reason why I can't come with you guys. Like, I'm grown now.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

I got stuff. I do. And I smoke bad things.

[Craig Robinson]

Right?

[Michelle Obama]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

They were like, no, you're fine.

[Craig Robinson]

Uh huh.

[Katt Williams]

I was like, we'll see. Yeah. But really, I was just trying to see where they were at and I couldn't figure out how they had located me.

[Craig Robinson]

So Haiti.

[Katt Williams]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

Did they have the plane ticket? Did you. Yeah. So you hopped on the plane. And what was Haiti like? And how long were you all there?

[Katt Williams]

We were there for two years until the Americans had to leave because of the Papa Doc.

[Craig Robinson]

Yep.

[Katt Williams]

Baby Doc transition. So it was magnificent. It was. It was magnificent. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I was able to really be in an adventure. And my parents, when we got over there, Haiti is a different country because all of the writings at that time are all in French, so you have to read French, but then they don't speak French, they speak Creole. And Creole wasn't in any books, so you had to learn Creole and French. So for the first year and a half that we're there, I'm the only person in the family that reads French and speaks Creole. So I'm.

[Craig Robinson]

And you picked that up? You just were able to pick that up quickly?

[Katt Williams]

Yes, ma'.

[Michelle Obama]

Am.

[Katt Williams]

Wow. Yes, ma'. Am. Fortunate.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

But, yeah, that experience changed everything for me. I was. I was eating sugar cane and mangoes and filling my pockets full of salt because I found out that Haiti had the highest mortality rate for babies dying of dehydration. And so I knew the salt in the water trick. And so I would just go out and walk village to village, and if they had sick babies, I would give them this information about the salt water. And because I was from Ohio, they weren't. I was able to bring like a different irrigation style to the part of Haiti Santo that we were at just because it was such a big trek from where the village is to where the water source is. And so, yeah, I, I filled my days full of adventure. It was.

[Craig Robinson]

How old were you?

[Katt Williams]

Magnificent.

[Craig Robinson]

During this period.

[Katt Williams]

I suppose I'm 14, 15.

[Craig Robinson]

Wow. Wow.

[Michelle Obama]

As our listeners know, we've partnered with Airbnb on this show and I've been staying in Airbnbs while traveling, both for my family trips and while traveling for imo. In partnership with Airbnb, we wanted to share an opportunity to give back during this holiday season. Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization founded by Airbnb that connects people to emergency housing in times of crisis. Since Airbnb.org was founded in 2020, they have housed more than 250,000 people, including those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the Central Texas floods, and earthquakes in Turkey and Japan. When a crisis takes away the comfort of home, even the simplest evening moments like a bedtime story or a shared meal feel out of reach. Nights are special for many. Sacred nights often represent dinner time, a warm shower, a show on the couch, reading, kids a book, followed by getting into bed. And for us, nights are for doing homework. Then, if time permits, catching the end of a basketball game, you can visit Airbnb.org and donate a night. For a family who has unexpectedly lost their home due to a disaster, Airbnb will be matching every donation until the end of the year. Together, we can restore sacred time at home and and give back the nights that matter. Hey everybody, Craig Robinson here. Amazon has everything for everyone on your list. And I want to talk to you about last minute Christmas shopping and holiday shopping because I was a chief offender there. And I tell you, before I found Amazon, it was a stressful time for me. I'd go around collecting everybody's list at the in the middle of December and try and get gifts. And I was running around all over the place. But then I discovered Amazon and I saw how they do their last minute deals. And I can always find savings on gifts for my family, whether it's toys, electronics, fashion, cosmetics, you name it. House goods. They've always got stuff on sale and I can get it relatively quickly. Then I'm not running around the mall stressing and sweating. And gifts show up, they're right on time. I can get them wrapped and under the tree, no problem. So this year, if you're in my position and you're stressing, Amazon makes last minute shopping feel like you planned it weeks ago. So that, my friends, is my tip for the day. Shop for gifts for everyone in your family on Amazon. And be ready because they're gonna have last minute deals for you to take advantage of. Hey, folks, here's something that kind of blew my mind. You know, for every human cell in your body, there's a microbe doing its own work, helping you digest, think, sleep, and even feel balanced. But most vitamins only support the human half of that equation. So really, we've all been supplementing for half our health. That's what makes Seed's new cobiotics so different. They're daily supplements made to support both your body and your microbiome because the two are constantly working together to keep you well. See created three formulas designed to sync with your day. There's the DMO2 Daily Multivitamin, which helps fill the nutrient gaps your body and microbes need. And then there's AMO2 energy plus focus, which gives you smooth, sustained energy without caffeine or crashes. And then there's the PMO2 Sleep plus restorer, which helps your body wind down naturally and wake up recharged. Each capsule has two parts, one for your body and one for your microbiome. So every ingredient lands exactly where it's supposed to. Now, I've been taking the PMO2 before bed and I can honestly feel the difference in how I rest. It's become this little quiet moment of taking care of my whole self and not just part of it. So if you want to try it, head to seed.com imo2.0 and use code IMO20 for 20% off and stop taking care of only half your health and start supporting all of you with Seeds cobiotics.

[Katt Williams]

It's now that we're back because you have to get out of Haiti. So now we're back in Florida and I realize I'm not going to be able to stay with these nice people. And so I'm off again. And so now when we pick back up, now I'm in this situation where I'm at a comedy club and I don't mean to be there, but how did that happen? Well, because some of the carnies are going to this club.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, got it. You went back to your carney group now.

[Katt Williams]

And we go there and they're asking for ID at the door and I'm not old enough to even be in there. So this is going to be a very embarrassing situation for me, which I'm not interested. And then God comes, as he always does, and somebody walks past and they walk all the way past the line, they say, I'm a comedian. The guy goes, yep, you're number four. And he walks in, and I'm like, huh, There you are. He always delivers me this pathway. And so, bam. I'm comedian number five. Right. So I don't know what that means. I don't know. Now that we're inside of there, I don't know what goes on. So they're just. They just explained. Yeah, yeah. We're having a comedy competition and.

[Craig Robinson]

But don't you look 14?

[Katt Williams]

Did five minutes. No, ma'. Am. I literally had this mustache since I was 12.

[Craig Robinson]

No, you did not.

[Katt Williams]

A full mustache, like, that's. We get five. Five. I already didn't get the growth spurt.

[Michelle Obama]

So you got the hair.

[Katt Williams]

I would have been suicidal if the Lord did not provide other provisions, but he did. Right. And so he gave me a great outlook. And a full mustache.

[Craig Robinson]

And a full mustache.

[Katt Williams]

Remind yourself what I'm wearing.

[Craig Robinson]

Well, I don't know.

[Katt Williams]

I have this on you guys.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay, so you're still dressing?

[Katt Williams]

Well, I got a white shirt, and. Yeah, this is all of my clothes. I don't have tennis shoes.

[Craig Robinson]

So you always dressed like a grown man, right?

[Katt Williams]

I've been grown.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

Okay.

[Michelle Obama]

So you get in the comedy club, and they say, all right, you got five minutes.

[Katt Williams]

Right, Right. So I just get up there and I talk about being the. Black community for this entire city. Like, there's nobody but me. I'm the only black guy. There's nobody else. And I talk about what that experience is like. Yeah. And that was my five minutes.

[Michelle Obama]

And did anybody laugh?

[Katt Williams]

Oh, they loved it. They thought it was hilarious. Because, again, what I didn't understand is I didn't understand why it connected, but it connected because it was all true. Like, there was no black community there. It was just me. And everybody was looking at me like, what are you doing here? And, you know, you want to hear what that guy feels like about his surroundings?

[Craig Robinson]

What did it feel like to make people laugh? Did that. Was that new? I mean, because you were all. You had been used to public speaking.

[Katt Williams]

Right. Because I'm in front of crowds of 10,000 converting folks. Well, that wasn't my job. Everybody that was in the arena was already converting. Converted. I'm reading Bible scripture and giving a talk about this particular. Right. So I just kept asking God to show me a glimpse of where I'm going to be. And I just kept hearing applause, but I didn't know what they were applauding or what it was that I had done or said or. So it was. It Was really frustrating for me before comedy came along. But as soon as I did it that first time, I was like, that's crazy. I think I got something from that. How could I have got something from that?

[Craig Robinson]

Was that the vision?

[Katt Williams]

Like, I. So it's probably not another. It's probably. If I'm 16, then. Then it's almost another eight years before I do stand up. But I just had that in my head that this is a thing I could do. So then I go into door to door sales. I join this organization that travels around the country selling books and magazines and stuff.

[Craig Robinson]

You know, all I'm thinking is, I see all this is a movie and we have to do it at a higher ground. I mean, we're gonna finish this story, but I'm just like, dude, I'm just. I'm watching this movie.

[Katt Williams]

Yes, ma'.

[Craig Robinson]

Am. As you were telling it.

[Katt Williams]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

Anyway.

[Katt Williams]

And I've done my best to try to live accordingly, knowing that it's gonna get looked back on, you know?

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, yeah. So I did interrupt you because, you know, it was later on, you know, so you realize that comedy was a thing, but then you were doing the door to door salesman work, right? To still.

[Katt Williams]

Which again, I'm in another experience that is shaping me for everything that follows because now I'm every door. I don't know who is going to answer this. Hispanic, Asian, white, black, monetary level. I don't know anything. And I need to connect with this person. I need to ease their fears about a stranger at the door. I then need to be funny and engaging so that they smile. And then I need them to make this purchase that we both know they don't need.

[Craig Robinson]

What were you selling?

[Katt Williams]

It started with books and magazines and then it was cleaning product at the end.

[Michelle Obama]

All right, so door to door salesman comedy next, or was there something in between?

[Katt Williams]

I'm doing the door to door sales when I knock on the door of five ladies of the night and they are in a traumatic situation because they. Their pimp was murdered and they all witnessed it and they didn't know what they were going to do.

[Craig Robinson]

And this is another, like, what I know everybody here is just like, what?

[Katt Williams]

I volunteered for the pimp position on the auspices. Well, you were already dressed for how to do it.

[Michelle Obama]

Okay.

[Craig Robinson]

You are already dressed for.

[Katt Williams]

We're getting there.

[Michelle Obama]

Okay.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Katt Williams]

So they trained me how to do this job right? And they taught me so much. Like, I wasn't there very long, but those ladies really, along with my sainted mother, those ladies really showed me what it was like to be a man. And they. Because they. Every night for hours, they would just talk about everything wrong with men. Like men of all nationalities, shapes, sizes and colors. What's wrong with them? Why are they horrible creatures? And I was able to, at a still impressionable age, learn things and learn what bothers women. And realizing that I was in charge of so much of that.

[Michelle Obama]

Welcome back to imo. We made it, folks. It's December. The holiday hustle's just starting to wind down, which means it's a perfect time to switch into New year new moves mode. What's one big move you want to make in the new year? Whatever those big moves are, you need a plan. You need a strategy. You need a partner. You need Shopify. The end of the year is when you review your yearly numbers, clean up your strategies, and lay the foundation for what's next. They help you plan, launch, and grow so that the start of 2026 is way ahead of the game. With Shopify, you can keep track of everything from the palm of your hand. You can tag and sell your products globally and across all major social media platforms, making it possible to sell right where your customers are. Whether it's a side hustle or a storefront selling locally or globally, Shopify takes the guesswork out of starting a business. They have the tools to help you navigate whatever chaos the new year brings. Whether you're selling merchandise, products, or the next best idea, make sure you do it via [e-mail] IMO. For $1, it's time to put that business idea into action and start the next chapter again. That's shopify.com imo. We here at imo are big believers that people never stop growing, that we're all in a state of continual becoming. So much so that Michelle even wrote a book about it. Because you are not one thing. You are all the things constantly growing and changing into the next version of you. And every day and in every stage of your life, you're only getting stronger, bolder, more confident than you were yesterday. That's why desert tone diamonds are the perfect way of celebrating all that you are and all that you are still becoming. They come in a range of unique, unexpected colors. Colors that reflect your unique and unexpected journey. Warm whites, pale champagnes, deep ambers, smoky whiskeys. Natural colors that are truly unlike anything else. Just like you. So this holiday season, discover desert diamonds and gift yourself something as unique as you are and a reminder that you have so much ahead. And that's why a diamond is forever. Visit a diamondisforever.com to learn more. Welcome back to IMO. We made it, folks. It's December. The holiday hustle's just starting to wind down, which means it's a perfect time to switch into New year new moves mode. What's one big move you want to make in the new year? Whatever those big moves are, you need a plan, you need a strategy, you need a partner. You need Shopify. The end of the year is when you review your yearly numbers, clean up your strategies, and lay the foundation for what's next. They help you plan, launch, and grow so that the start of 2026 is way ahead of the game. With Shopify, you can keep track of everything from the palm of your hand. You can tag and sell your products globally and across all major social media platforms, making it possible to sell right where your customers are. Whether it's a side hustle or a storefront selling locally or globally, Shopify takes the guesswork out of starting a business. They have the tools to help you navigate whatever chaos the new year brings. Whether you're selling merch products or the next best idea, make sure you do it via [e-mail] IMO. For $1, it's time to put that business idea into action and start the next chapter again. That's shopify.com IMO. Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

You know, we have questions that we get from our listeners, but before we get to that, what, what advice would you give a young Katt Williams coming along? And maybe not even a Katt Williams because you're so unique.

[Craig Robinson]

One of one.

[Michelle Obama]

You're so unique. What would you give to a young up and coming artist who sees you as a role model? What advice would you give them on how to navigate this industry, this career, these processes?

[Katt Williams]

I. I would say if you believe in God, take as much pressure off of yourself as you can and apply that pressure to him. If you believe in God, then you know that in his books he's got certain contractual obligations as well. It's certain things he has to do in certain situations and it's okay if you put him in those situations. It's okay for you to say, I believe there's a God and I believe that if there is, he loves me and he would help me in this situation. It is impossible for you to do that and then watch something happen and not know where that comes from. And so any artist, I would just say make sure that your relationship with God is one of the relationships that you're also working on, whether it's spouse, kids, everything else. Make sure to pay attention to your relationship with God because it really. It really is the difference maker in how things turn out. Everybody doesn't serve God. Some people serve the devil and they put him in positions. And it's terrible to say, but if that person has a better relationship with Satan than you do with God, that's your fault too. And so I think that's the only advice that I would give to an artist, is to find your higher power and connect. Because until you do that, you're just a rudderless ship out here. And I know from my own personal experience that it doesn't matter how young you get that relationship.

[Craig Robinson]

Mm.

[Katt Williams]

It's never too early.

[Craig Robinson]

Speaking of relationships, what's your take on relationships? Have you ever been married?

[Katt Williams]

I love relationships.

[Craig Robinson]

Have you ever been married?

[Katt Williams]

No. Never married.

[Craig Robinson]

Would you. Do you believe in marriage? Do you believe in.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, my parents are still married.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. What about you?

[Katt Williams]

Yeah, what about me?

[Craig Robinson]

You've never been married. You want to be. Have you found the right person? Is it not something that you're interested in? Settling down with a single person? Do you envision what your parents have for yourself ever? Is that even a goal? Is it. That's exhausting.

[Katt Williams]

No, not really. It's not that. It's. It's. Yeah, I think marriage is great. It's just that at the point in my life when that would have been the next thing that I was going towards, that's when I had this instant huge family. And then I was just so reticent to bring a person into this dynamic just because of how unfair that would be to this lady, to have all of these kids that are not hers. And so I was trying to make myself a better version of me in advance for this wife. Right. But in the meantime of that, I'm the one doing the cooking and laundry and the cleaning and the school wake ups. And so it got to the point where I was the wife.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

And. Yeah. So where I am now, I finally have something I could offer a lady. I suppose monogamy has not been.

[Craig Robinson]

A.

[Katt Williams]

Part of my journey.

[Michelle Obama]

I've.

[Katt Williams]

I've tried to share this gift with whoever would needed it.

[Craig Robinson]

Why. Why limit it? Why limit your. Why, why limit.

[Katt Williams]

Why.

[Michelle Obama]

Why limit the world gift for whoever is my man.

[Katt Williams]

Okay, Kat.

[Craig Robinson]

And you. And you're you. You love. I love it. I do. Because why? That's. That's. That's the ultimate.

[Michelle Obama]

He is all of our heroes.

[Craig Robinson]

But you, you have a farm. Not to you. There's so much There's. There's so many kind of little surprising layers. Yes.

[Katt Williams]

That lovely farm.

[Craig Robinson]

A lovely farm. Is it like a full working farm? I mean, are you.

[Katt Williams]

We have hundred ducks, 100 geese, cows, pigs, goats, sheep. We have animals that you never see. It's just a wonderful hundred and some acre property in Americana that's just magical. And it's the thing that I am creating, which is heaven on earth. The name of the tour, but it's the whole philosophy of whatever you think the afterlife is going to be for you. You can start making that for yourself here somewhere.

[Craig Robinson]

Do you tour every year or how does your tour. How do you think about that? Is it like training? Like you want to be on tour every couple of years just to. Or how do you think about.

[Katt Williams]

I'm an athlete. I have the same season as my athlete counterparts, so in the NBA, they play 82 games. I'm not sure what it is in baseball, but I have 100 shows. I do 100 shows and then I tape a special. And that's been, wow, the routine that I've had since I think 2001 was my first one.

[Craig Robinson]

So is this that work ethic that the lawnmower kid that got you that $1200? The feeling like if I'm doing it, I've got. I got to do my best. I got to put it in. I got to, you know.

[Katt Williams]

Well, I met Prince when I was 12.

[Craig Robinson]

And how did that happen?

[Katt Williams]

Trajectory of belief for me, like, I knew I didn't have to make any changes. This was a guy who was shorter than me. He was already rich and famous, and he had a purpose in life. And. Yeah, so a relative of his was my first girlfriend. She was a little older than I was, so if I was 12, she was 16. She had a family member that was coming in. He was a musical artist. Because of my background, I wasn't really up on all of the musical artists as you would think that I would be, but.

[Craig Robinson]

But you had wooed her with all the candy that you supplied.

[Katt Williams]

I don't know if you can tell this, but I. I make really good conversation and, you know, money's not an option and I only care what you like, so it makes me. Right. I got a mustache and candy one more year. But yeah, so she's like, yeah, he's just going to be here after. After his show at the UD arena, and you should meet him. So I ride my bike over there and I go in the house and I meet this guy Prince, right? And. I. You ever meet somebody and go, who? This person's way smarter than me.

[Craig Robinson]

Oh, yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

Oh, yeah.

[Katt Williams]

Right. So it was really my first time being in the vicinity of real brilliance, like, when it's not for show. And so we're having this super deep conversation. And you're 12, right. And we are connecting. And we have decided at the end of this conversation, we're friends.

[Craig Robinson]

Right.

[Katt Williams]

So I get ready to walk out. Say bye to my girl. He says, you'll walk me down. So me and Prince are walking down these steps, but he's thinking, we're going to my car. When we get down to the bottom of the steps, my bicycle is right there. And he's like, what's that? I was like, what do you mean, what's that? I'm thinking. I'm thinking he likes it. I'm thinking he's noticed I've got the tricked out mongoose.

[Michelle Obama]

Yes.

[Katt Williams]

He knows I.

[Craig Robinson]

Full of mine.

[Katt Williams]

Full of cash. Yep. You're looking at it. That's when he lets me know that he's 18, a grown man. 12. But because of our sizes, we just assumed that each other was the same. I don't know what I was.

[Craig Robinson]

Sizes and mustaches.

[Katt Williams]

So for all. So he gave me the confidence to know, because up until that point in my life, I thought that there were some things I was gonna need to do in order to be good enough. Like, I gotta get taller. I don't know. This might be the first mistake God has ever made. Like, there. I can't find evidence that anyone in the world missed a growth spurt. Like, you have to understand, ma'. Am, Third grade, I'm five' five. A giant among you were like, I got big man on campus.

[Craig Robinson]

Truly. Right. It's like, man. And that was it.

[Katt Williams]

So Prince helped me see immediately I didn't have to get taller. Yeah. He already had just signed his movie. I mean, his music deal. He had just produced his album by himself. He played 26 instruments on it. He did all of the jobs.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah.

[Katt Williams]

And it had worked. And so I knew that I didn't have to make any changes. I just had to be in the right position and be right myself when it transpired. So super helpful, that guy.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. No, that would be. That's pretty powerful.

[Katt Williams]

Yeah.

[Michelle Obama]

Well, let's help some folk. Let's help one of our listeners.

[Craig Robinson]

Okay.

[Michelle Obama]

All right. So we've got a listener from San Antonio, Texas.

[Katt Williams]

Okay.

[Michelle Obama]

And her name's Amber. And I think her question's gonna resonate with you. So.

[Amber]

Hi, Michelle and Craig. I love the podcast My name is Amber. I'm 32 years old, and I'm from San Antonio, Texas. I opened my own salon at 22, and since then, I've navigated both personal and professional challenges. After a difficult relationship and some time living independently, I believed I had found healing and stability. But due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to move back home, which has brought its own emotional complexities. Over the past two years, I've been seriously considering relocating to New York City or Boston, not only to pursue greater opportunities in my industry, but also in hopes of building a life that breaks generational cycles. I've been taking small, intentional steps, investing in my business, putting myself out there, and making growth a priority. When I listened to your conversation with Kiki Palmer, I was struck by the part where you shared how you began seeking new paths and meeting people after realizing law wasn't your true calling. So my question is, when you were stepping into unfamiliar spaces and pursuing something new, did you feel overwhelmed or afraid? If so, how did you move through that fear without letting it stop you?

[Katt Williams]

All right, that's a big one.

[Craig Robinson]

That's a doozy.

[Michelle Obama]

That's a college level essay question. So, any thoughts for Amber, just off the top of your head?

[Katt Williams]

I'm ready.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Okay.

[Katt Williams]

Amber, you're doing the work, and when you do the work, an answer comes out. So I don't think that you're confused in any way. I don't think you're wondering what it is you need to do next. I think you already know. I think you know that there isn't anything for you at the Riverwalk. San Antonio is a wonderful place, but it's not gonna get you to where you see yourself being. I think very specifically, you picked New York and Boston. If the fear is what you're dodging, the fear is necessary. The fear is there for a reason. The fear is to make sure that you don't take this for granted this time and end up in San Antonio for the third time. The fear is useful. On the other hand, you're only going to look back and go, I should have left earlier. Why didn't I go earlier? Not anything else. You're not ever going to regret this decision. You're going to regret the time it took you to get to this decision. All of the new relationships, your whole new life is there. And you deserve, at 30, whatever you are, to be able to pull that parachute and do a new life. And if you mess that one up, go from New York to Boston now. Never stop being in search of your Calling and your purpose, it is there. You are going to find it. You're right on schedule. You're not behind. There's nobody to blame, and there's only upside. So I think you're doing great, Amber. I think, you know you're doing great. I think you just wanted us to reaffirm that you're making the right decisions. You're not crazy. And. Yeah, good luck. I love that.

[Craig Robinson]

I love that cat. Wise cat. All the layers of cat.

[Katt Williams]

I like it.

[Craig Robinson]

I like it. I would address the fear part of it, because I talk about fear a lot. I agree. Fear is there for a reason, and it's just interpreting the fear that you have. There is an element of fear and caution and everything, and that's a good thing. I always say there's the good fear that keeps you safe, but you just don't want to overindulge the fear that keeps you stuck. Because fear can keep you stuck.

[Katt Williams]

Absolutely.

[Craig Robinson]

There are a lot of people who don't experience, don't try, don't grow, because they're afraid of the unknown. And that can leave you in a small place, because all the good stuff happens on the other side of fear. When you lean into it, get comfortable with it, know it's a part of the ride. If you can bear with that initial sort of the anxiety that comes with anything new and say, that's normal. It's normal that I'm starting something new. I don't know anyone. I feel a little anxious about it. Ride that wave of anxiety, but don't let it stop you, because when you do, you miss the growth that comes from taking a risk and pushing beyond the thing that makes you uncomfortable. Yeah. If you practice moving away from that fear, you just practice always feeling safe. But you'll look around and realize that you might feel safe, but you won't be happy. And you probably have missed out on a lot of really amazing stuff.

[Katt Williams]

And you're not safe. And you're not safe where you are. There is no bubble of safety because this is where you're from. You might as well have that experience, because she said in her industry. Right. So, yeah, she's not gonna make it out there in Texas doing hair for celebrities. She's gotta get to it.

[Craig Robinson]

Gotta go where the work is.

[Katt Williams]

New York and Boston.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Yeah. So that's.

[Michelle Obama]

Yeah, that's great. Both of you have hit on some really good points. Fear is healthy.

[Katt Williams]

Mm.

[Michelle Obama]

And you can't let fear paralyze you so that you don't do anything. And the only Thing that I would add just to contextualize this for Amber is that you're always gonna be nervous about the next step. So take it so you learn what that feels like. And each time, it will be less fearful. That's what I found. You know, the first hard pivot is the hardest, and then after that, you build that muscle and you're less afraid to try new things, or at least.

[Katt Williams]

They will remain consistent. So I'm the other part of the extreme. So every time that I have to do stand up, I'm as nervous and direct as I was the very first time that I ever did it and got, like, every single. Yeah. So even though we're almost at 10,000 shows in my 23rd 100 city tour, like, that nervousness and the butterflies and it never has gone away. It's what allows me to realize something's counting on this. There's something on this. You must do well.

[Michelle Obama]

You're passionate about it.

[Katt Williams]

Right. And you need that in your life as a barometer so that you don't take things for granted. It in no way should stop you. It should further, why would you be getting nervous for something that wasn't gonna matter?

[Craig Robinson]

That's right.

[Katt Williams]

If you're nervous and fearful, there's a good reason.

[Craig Robinson]

That's true. That's true.

[Katt Williams]

Still do it.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. Yeah, we like that. Well, hopefully, Amber, we wish you good luck. Keep going. I think Kat said it right. You know, you're on the right track, and we are all confirming that you are. So keep going.

[Michelle Obama]

And we hope to see you in New York.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah. And let us know you know how it goes when you make that move.

[Katt Williams]

Right.

[Craig Robinson]

Kat, this.

[Michelle Obama]

You know, my man.

[Craig Robinson]

You a layered little dude, right? The layers of passion.

[Katt Williams]

Heavy on the layers. That's like.

[Michelle Obama]

I know.

[Craig Robinson]

Yeah, I know. Kat, thank you. This was a real privilege.

[Katt Williams]

Thank you.

[Craig Robinson]

Thank you for putting us on your. Your list, making it time.

[Michelle Obama]

Your very short list.

[Katt Williams]

Most of my things are like that.

[Craig Robinson]

I'd say you set them up for that one.

[Michelle Obama]

King of the short list, point guard value.

[Katt Williams]

That's how this goes. Yeah. No, I really appreciate the opportunity that you both are making for yourselves and for others. Like, this is really a big deal.

[Craig Robinson]

This has been a treat. You are truly a gift in more ways than. Than one. So thank you. Katt Williams. Thank you so much.

[Michelle Obama]

Thanks, man.

[Craig Robinson]

Everybody give it up.

[Michelle Obama]

It.