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Michelle Obama
Foreign. This episode is brought to you by shipt. Hey everyone. Our podcast IMO has officially reached its first anniversary and this past year has been filled with so much fun and so many special moments. From Heart to Hearts with Taraji P. Henson, to the complexities of parent child relationships with Bruce Springsteen, hilarious sibling stories with Damon and Marlon Wayans, and even a controversial opinion on ketchup from my husband. The first year of IMO has brought us some truly unforgettable moments. And while these conversations have given us the opportunity to connect with some of our favorite people and share our perspectives with each of you, what I love most about this show is I get to do it with my big brother, Craig.
Craig Robinson
Aw, you're sweet, Mish.
Michelle Obama
I am.
Craig Robinson
This year has been life changing and there's no one I would want to have these conversations with than you. To our IMO listeners, thank you for joining us on this journey. I can't wait for what year two of IMO will bring.
Michelle Obama
And make sure you follow IMO wherever you get your podcast so you can get new episodes as soon as they drop every Wednesday. And we can't wait for you to tune in.
Craig Robinson
And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the Latest updates@imopod.com We hope you enjoy this special bonus episode made up of some of our favorite moments from the first year of imo.
Marlon Wayans
You know what's funny is we didn't. I didn't go get my brothers when I got.
Craig Robinson
I would get my sisters. Yeah, yeah. My sisters was vicious.
Devon
Devon.
Michelle Obama
Yeah, Devon.
Craig Robinson
One time this kid, Baldy Joe was beating me up and he was like
Marlon Wayans
a 16 year old kid.
Craig Robinson
And my sister had cornrow, 250 pounds. She said, come here.
Marlon Wayans
And she grabbed him by his arms
Craig Robinson
like this and she said, marlon, punch him in the face.
Devon
I was like, devon, he gonna beat me. She said, if you don't punch him, I'm gonna punch you.
Marlon Wayans
I was like, bow. And you know my sisters always, always have my back in that one.
Craig Robinson
I didn't get my brother cause I saw Kenan get beat up
Akilah Hughes
like badly.
Craig Robinson
Like. So Kenan used to walk around in kung fu slippers like he watched. He was just a beastly Jim Kelly man. And he loved nunchucks. He would have like. And he was really good. He would kick the ceiling. And then one day he got into a fight with this dude, Bobby Boyd in the, in the building, in the lobby of the building. And Kenan, you know, everybody's like oh snap.
Michelle Obama
Because he was gonna do the karate yeah, yeah.
Craig Robinson
And then Kenan went to take off his shirt. Oh, man.
Marlon Wayans
And the dude snatched him, like, with his shadow clothes.
Craig Robinson
Oh, man, that was one. And just pummeled him. And, like, Kenan was on the floor.
Michelle Obama
Oh, no.
Craig Robinson
And there was, like, blood seeping through his shirt. And I'm like, get up, Keenan.
Marlon Wayans
Use your nose.
Michelle Obama
You can do it.
Guest Musician
You can do it.
Michelle Obama
Untangle your arms from your shirt. Oh, no.
Craig Robinson
This guy you looked up. If you do, make sure you take his shirt off.
Michelle Obama
It's like, oh, man. Bruce Lee didn't warn him about that. Don't lock yourself up in your shirt.
Akilah Hughes
You know, oh, man.
Craig Robinson
Bruce Lee didn't wear pullovers.
Michelle Obama
You know, when I hear you talk about the practice, what I'll call the practice of no. Cause you're absolutely right. And I know that everyone struggles with disappointing people, with trying to set boundaries, but I particularly relate to what you were saying about. It takes you a while before you maybe as a woman, as a black woman, where we feel comfortable saying no, sitting here thinking, well, why is that? And why was that for me, because this is something that I am working on right now. You know, like you, I have believed in therapy my whole life. You know, done couples therapy with my husband. Both my girls are. They believe in therapy this generation. Thankfully. I think our children, more open, are way more open to it. They understand the importance of self help and all of that. I also sort of realized that, you know, even Michelle Obama, I am still trying to tell myself that I am doing enough, right? Because there's always that feeling. I think we practice that striving because in order to be successful, I always felt like I had to be smarter, faster, work harder, because somebody was gonna doubt me. Somebody was already telling me why I couldn't do something before they knew me or even tried. So you get in. And I don't think this is unique to just women of color. I don't think it's just unique to men. But when you get in that habit of that constant striving and constant proving that, you know, it's enough, it makes us overachievers, but you don't ever turn that off. And at 60, I was still. I had to convince myself that I had done enough. After all that I had done in the world, I still felt a guilt, right? Struggling with, like, deep guilt that maybe, maybe I needed to do a little bit more. So I'm at this stage in life where I have to define my life on my terms for the first time. So what are those terms? And going to therapy just to work all that out. Like, what happened that eight years that we were in the White House? What did that do to me internally? My soul. We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole. But what happened to me. Right, right, right. And going through therapy, you know, is getting me to look at the fact that maybe finally I'm good enough. Right. And unlearning some of those messages that I've been saying to myself and then trying to actively practice something different to rewire those neurons in my head that make me keep pushing and keep striving. And so practicing. No, in a very different way, intentionally. But then this is what makes it hard. Because my decision to skip the inauguration, what people don't realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism. Like people couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason that they had to assume that I, my marriage was falling apart. You know, it's like while I'm here, really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me. And it took everything in my power to not do the thing that was right or that was. That was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me. That was a hard thing for me to do. I had to basically trick myself out of it. And it started with not having anything to wear. I mean, I had affirmatively. Cause I'm always prepared for any funeral, anything. I walk around with the right dress. I travel with clothes just in case something pops off. So I was like, if I'm not going to do this thing, I gotta tell my team. I don't even wanna have a dress ready. Right. Because it's so easy to just say, let me do the right thing. But then you become a shock absorber. Yeah. And that's what women are, shock absorbers. And that's exhausting.
Guest Woman
And it's not healthy.
Michelle Obama
It is not healthy. You've had to be shock absorbers for your husband, for your children, for your mom, for your family, your loved ones, because of where you were sitting in the public eye. That's not fair to you. When do you ever get to live? For you. I applaud you. I am. I'm happy that you are taking care of yourself in the way that you need to. Yeah.
Craig Robinson
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Michelle Obama
Started.
Craig Robinson
That's growththerapy.com IMO. Growththerapy.com IMO. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.
Marlon Wayans
In my opinion, and this is controversial in my family, you should not eat ketchup after the age of eight.
Craig Robinson
Is that all condiments or just ketchup?
Marlon Wayans
No, no, it's just ketchup.
Michelle Obama
I think you've gone down in age on that one. You know, I think every time you say it, you make it younger and younger and pretty soon it'll be like.
Craig Robinson
And I'm hoping we don't have a
Marlon Wayans
ketchup sponsor on this show.
Craig Robinson
Well, we won't now.
Michelle Obama
We won't.
Marlon Wayans
I have nothing.
Michelle Obama
We here at IMO have nothing against ketchup.
Marlon Wayans
I have nothing against kids having ketchup. Ketchup on their burgers. Ketchup with their fries even, which is hard for me to watch ketchup on hot dogs. But at a certain point.
Michelle Obama
But why so young?
Marlon Wayans
You gotta kinda grow it.
Michelle Obama
Why you cutting the people off of ketchup so young? Dude, that's what we take issue with in our household.
Marlon Wayans
I might be a little too draconian.
Michelle Obama
I think in my attitude, that's draconian. My gosh.
Marlon Wayans
I'm trying to describe a general point of view, which is ketchup has its place, but you should go.
Craig Robinson
But it sounds like you're saying ketchup is childish.
Marlon Wayans
No, what I'm saying is. What I'm saying is that when I see a grown person pouring a lot
Michelle Obama
of ketchup on something, is it the amount of ketchup? Is it just ketchup at all, the
Craig Robinson
ketchup or even if you have a dollop.
Marlon Wayans
I told you this was controversial in my family.
Craig Robinson
I see.
Marlon Wayans
But I figured I'm coming in here hot.
Michelle Obama
Well, and now you know that. In addition to, like, clicking my teeth along this straw to get on your nerves. I just have a dollop of ketchup.
Craig Robinson
Ketchup. Right.
Michelle Obama
At every meal. Just to be like.
Craig Robinson
That explains a lot. Because there's always ketchup at your house.
Michelle Obama
Yes. So it's not like we're battling against the man.
Craig Robinson
It's not forbidden.
Michelle Obama
We are trying to live our lives with ketchup. The freedom for ketchup. He's the only one everybody else is fine with.
Marlon Wayans
In fact, the girls have all these complicated. Oh, you mix it up with this.
Craig Robinson
Oh, yeah.
Michelle Obama
It hasn't rubbed off. He's had.
Craig Robinson
No, we have that in our house.
Michelle Obama
There's no. There's no no one's following his lead.
Craig Robinson
Okay. Okay. That was. That's a tough one.
Michelle Obama
It's never hard. It's harsh.
Craig Robinson
It is. It's hard.
Marlon Wayans
It might have been overly harsh.
Craig Robinson
I mean, I. I know, but every
Michelle Obama
time he says it, the age goes down.
Craig Robinson
Your mother.
Michelle Obama
The age goes down.
Marlon Wayans
I used to.
Michelle Obama
Everybody likes ketchup. It's like the cutoff. It's like now we're at.
Craig Robinson
Now you got it down.
Michelle Obama
We got it down to eight. I'm just thinking that the poor children, like, that's all they. They don't even want the ketchup is the.
Marlon Wayans
Everything else is the median delivery system.
Michelle Obama
It's the delivery system now. You're just, you know, just taking it. But we appreciate your opinion.
Marlon Wayans
There you go.
Michelle Obama
I want to get back to. Because one thing I didn't ask about child you were. You were emancipated at 13. Is that.
Akilah Hughes
I've read that.
Michelle Obama
Yeah. Have you read that? A bunch of stuff.
Craig Robinson
I've read that. A bunch of stuff.
Michelle Obama
Tell us more about. It's not often that, you know.
Guest Man
And at 13.
Michelle Obama
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.
Akilah Hughes
I don't know how to put this without sounding facetious, but if. If you came from a Bible reading believing family. Yeah. Then you already knew I was finna do what Jesus did.
Craig Robinson
Okay.
Michelle Obama
Bounce.
Craig Robinson
Okay.
Akilah Hughes
Now go find a temple to turn over tables like this is. This is the life of a Christian revolutionary.
Craig Robinson
I gotta tell you 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.
Akilah Hughes
It was a terrible idea. Okay. All right.
Craig Robinson
Here we go.
Akilah Hughes
I don't talk about it because I don't want any young person to hear that and think that it's possible or
Michelle Obama
that they can pull it off. Hearing that it's terrible is useful.
Akilah Hughes
But it wasn't. I just.
Craig Robinson
It wasn't terrible.
Akilah Hughes
Oh, no, of course not. I'm the adventurer in this story. Are you kidding me? Okay. Hold me now, sir. I'm grown, got a mustache and a cigarette. I'm 12. Welcome. That was my.
Michelle Obama
I'm picturing little cat. Did you have the stick in your. Your goods and a little her, chief?
Akilah Hughes
No.
Michelle Obama
Did you walk out with suitcase?
Akilah Hughes
I had a full suitcase and a rottweiler puppy.
Michelle Obama
So you left with that.
Akilah Hughes
Destined for failure, it's like.
Michelle Obama
And of Dependent.
Akilah Hughes
I'm taking a responsibility.
Michelle Obama
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?
Akilah Hughes
Miami, Florida.
Michelle Obama
You went to a whole nother state.
Akilah Hughes
That was always the thing. How to. I went to a truck stop.
Craig Robinson
Oh.
Michelle Obama
The best place to go. Wow.
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
Did you have any money? How'd you take the Rottweiler puppy?
Akilah Hughes
I was loaded. I must have had $1,200. And you could not have told me that I was loaded. Million.
Craig Robinson
Oh, yes. How'd you get all this money?
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
And you were an entrepreneur?
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
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?
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
So you were that kid. You were the kid that had the nihilators.
Akilah Hughes
Plus, I had money, so I didn't have to. I was able to treat the women that I liked nice. Really nice. And I learned that supplying happiness to people.
Michelle Obama
So you were money Mike Early.
Akilah Hughes
Yes. Yeah. Money Micah.
Guest Musician
Yeah.
Michelle Obama
Is that where your character came from? Money Micah? You were practicing that at 13.
Akilah Hughes
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, behaving.
Craig Robinson
So you get to Miami.
Akilah Hughes
Yep. So we get to Miami.
Michelle Obama
With your puppy?
Akilah Hughes
Yeah, yeah. This trip probably only took us maybe three days at the most.
Marlon Wayans
Maybe two.
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
And so you just camped out?
Akilah Hughes
Literally.
Michelle Obama
Literally. Did you buy a tent with your money?
Akilah Hughes
No, ma'.
Craig Robinson
Am.
Michelle Obama
So you're just laying out on the grass with your puppy, a 13 year old.
Akilah Hughes
No, no, no.
Michelle Obama
And going across the street to the library.
Akilah Hughes
Set 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.
Michelle Obama
Like, is anybody. Like, I'm just trying to picture this.
Craig Robinson
I can't. I can't picture any of this.
Michelle Obama
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?
Akilah Hughes
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.
Michelle Obama
And how did you convince him that you should be there?
Akilah Hughes
I didn't. I've lived. I have a presence.
Michelle Obama
Yes, you do.
Akilah Hughes
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.
Craig Robinson
And as far as we're concerned, you're in our family.
Michelle Obama
Oh, I feel that way, Carol. Really? I mean, just sitting here and talking about that path, I mean, I don't think. Well, you must hear this all the time, but, um, you know, we, we have, we. We had a happy, beautiful family. Right. Um, but your talent, your gifts, the structure of your show, how you showed up in it. Um, like Craig said, you know, your humanity before the show, your honesty throughout your career, I mean, that kind of stuff is. Has been as impactful to my development as my parents. Right. Because that's the role modeling. You know, you see a smart woman, because what is clear through this is that you've always been that woman. Smart, courageous, bold. And you just brought that to your show. And that came into our living rooms as part of an important experience of seeing. Seeing what you could be.
Marlon Wayans
You're gonna make me cry.
Michelle Obama
Oh, thank you. I'm so touched and moved. You mean the world to us. Thank you. And thank you. You know what I wanna do? What I wanna sing. It's so nice we had this time together.
Akilah Hughes
I love it.
Michelle Obama
Just to have a laugh or sing a song. Seems we just get started and before,
Craig Robinson
you know it comes the time we
Michelle Obama
have to say, so long.
Craig Robinson
Oh, all these youngsters have no idea what we're doing. Oh, thank you.
Devon
Thank you.
Craig Robinson
I've got chills. We played a summer tournament about two hours away. And as I think back, I wish we had considered staying in an Airbnb home instead of staying at a hotel. We would have had an opportunity to eat together, watch film together, as well as control the curfew of a bunch of 13 year old boys. I also think that it would have given our parents a break from their children. As you can imagine, coming together as a team outside of the game is as important as what you do on the court. And having the ability to hang out together at an Airbnb would have given us that extra opportunity to bond. And if you're thinking about the big tournaments that come into your town, now is a great time to think about hosting fellow fans and players during the season.
Guest Man
I mean, as a kid, I was very concerned about stability. And my mom. My mom was an amazing person, but she was not very parental. And my dad had died. And I very much wanted to know what was happening. And I used to read my mom's journal. I used to monitor her phone calls when I was a kid. Like, I wanted to know what was coming down the pike. And I started working when I was 12 to earn money because I was very concerned about my mom's on shaky financial footing. And even though the world probably thought she was super rich, but she spent a lot of money and had no sense of money. And I knew this from a little kid. And I remember I was actually walking up the stairs one day and my mom was on the phone and she said she was talking to somebody on the phone, she said, well, I'll always be able to make money. And I stopped. And I was like, this ship is going down. If she thinks she's always going to
Akilah Hughes
be able to do this, like.
Michelle Obama
And how old were you when you heard that?
Guest Man
I was, like, 12.
Michelle Obama
So you knew?
Guest Man
Yeah, I knew. I knew early on.
Michelle Obama
Were you the oldest?
Guest Man
No, I was the. I was the youngest. My brother was two years older. And. But he wasn't as, like, focused on this as much as I was. I was really determined. And, yeah, I started. I mean, it was ridiculous. I started working as a child model at 12 to like, to help. I mean, not that they. You know, I wasn't. I was saving the money because I was like, I'm going to need to. I'm building a life raft here. But she was remarkable. And I was always very sympathetic to my mom. Cause she really didn't have parents of her own. She was kind of. Her dad died when she was an infant. She was raised in hotels in Europe by her mom, who just wanted to party. She was the subject of a vicious custody battle when she was 10 years old. It was called the trial of the century in the Depression. And I kind of saw a sadness behind my mom's eyes her whole life. And I. I didn't understand what the sadness was from, but I was sympathetic to her. And so even if she wasn't the most kind of mom. Mom, I viewed her as a. I mean, from the time I was little, I viewed her as like a space alien whose rocket ship had, like, you know, failed and landed here on Earth by accident. And it was my job to, like, help her, like, rent an apartment and learn how to breathe oxygen, basically.
Craig Robinson
That's a level of worry that most young people.
Michelle Obama
Yeah, but look who's talking about bringing that down. I listen to you and I think about him, really. And he's the oldest. I think you called it catastrophic.
Guest Man
Yeah, I was a catastrophist.
Michelle Obama
He was a catastrophist at that age. In the same way that you were, you know, really thinking, okay, all the worst possible scenarios. And I think he felt like the one that had to know it all. He was going to be you.
Guest Man
That's interesting.
Michelle Obama
Like, if things fell apart, if our dad ever could never function, then Craig was the one who was going to make sure.
Guest Man
The title of this book my mom and I wrote together, which ended up being basically our correspondence over the course of the year, was the Rainbow Comes and Goes, which is from a Wordsworth poem. And it was a poem my mom liked, and for her it meant, well, the rainbow comes and goes. It's always going to come back. And so, like, bright days are just ahead. They're just around the corner. The phone can ring and your whole life can change. And for me, the title was like, yeah, the rainbow comes and it goes.
Michelle Obama
Right? And it's.
Guest Man
And yeah, the phone can ring and your whole frigging life can change. Like, I saw it from a negative lens and she saw it. She, like, could not. It was so such an interesting kind of different way of saying it's realistic.
Craig Robinson
Yes. You're just trying to be realistic. Just cover all the bases in case something happens.
Guest Man
It's a fine line between realistic and pessimistic, I think.
Michelle Obama
But I think you two fell on
Guest Man
the pessimistic side somewhere in the istic family.
Devon
But I realized that parenting is pennies in the bank. It's that time when you were working and you didn't want to stop, but you did. That made a huge difference to me because if I'd have failed, I always felt if I'd have failed with my kids, I would have failed tremendously in life.
Guest Father Figure
I like what you said, that parenting is pennies in the bank. And that just resonates because I think of, you know, I think of my upbringing and I talked about it a lot. You know, we were working class, poor working class family. Father was a city worker. He did not make a lot of money. He did not have a title. He was not famous. He wouldn't be on a regular schedule. We could go for a week and not see him because he was working a shift. But when he was present, he was present in very small but meaningful ways.
Devon
That's wonderful.
Guest Father Figure
Something as simple. You know, I recall like the special treat before dinner, if he was there or after dinner, was that we get him to play a game, any kind of game, you know, a tickle game, a card game.
Michelle Obama
And it just felt like such a
Guest Father Figure
treat that this big important man who had all this responsibility.
Devon
Yeah.
Guest Father Figure
Got on the floor and played with us.
Devon
Yeah.
Guest Father Figure
He delighted in our presence.
Devon
Yeah. That's wonderful.
Guest Father Figure
You know, and what I tell a lot of parents is that a lot of times we work for money and things because especially if you're poor, you think, well, I. If I could give my kids more, we could live in a bigger house. If I could put them in the best schools, if I could give them the nicest sneakers. Right, right. That. That is going to replace it. But it's the pennies in the bank that matter. And everybody's got some pennies. You know, kids don't need the stuff. They just want the pennies, you know, Very important. And I think a lot of men lose sight of the fact that a lot of what they're working towards is just their goals and ambition, you know, And I think men should have that. I think everyone, men, women, people, have to have their own lives and their own ambitions, but have it and say, that's for you. But your kids, they just want pennies.
Devon
They want the pennies.
Guest Father Figure
They really do.
Devon
They do. Yeah.
Guest Father Figure
Yeah. You're never too poor to be a father.
Devon
No. To give, you know, time and attention, you know, artists, the worst. The worst. So self involved, you know. Oh, my God. You know, you get so caught up in your own. Your own inner world, you know, because that's where you sought refuge, you know, when. When things weren't working out when you were younger, you sought refuge in this inner world.
Guest Father Figure
I think the point you're making is that, you know, it's. It's easy to get lost in the grandeur of your life.
Devon
Exactly. Of yourself.
Michelle Obama
Of yourself.
Devon
I had to deal with a lot of the grandeur of myself.
Guest Father Figure
Yeah. You know, because that's the thing everybody's taught to pursue, you know, it's like that's. That's the brass ring. And that's why parenting is a. Is a. It's a group sport, big time. And I think Barack is just like you, is a tremendous father, doing it in a lot of grandeur. Right. Yeah. You're the commander in chief of the
Michelle Obama
United States of America.
Guest Father Figure
And so finding that. That balance of, you know, when you've got the nuclear code in your grasp and world leaders calling you and big, important, heavy decisions coming at you every day and valets and AIDS and on and on and security and. Oh, it's just all grandeur. Trying to wipe all that stuff away and leave it at the door before you enter. Before he would enter the residence of the White House to sit at a dinner table with his two daughters and only talk about them.
Devon
Right.
Guest Father Figure
It was important for both of us for me and Barack to carve out that time in those eight years when our girls were in their formative years, you know.
Devon
Yeah.
Guest Father Figure
They've lived longer, Malia and Sasha, in the White House than they've lived in any house.
Devon
That's amazing.
Guest Father Figure
They were formed in that house and around that table in that residence. And it took a mighty effort to leave the grandeur at the door and to just be there and talk about fifth grade. And, you know, even in my job,
Devon
you know, it's like, hey, you're on the road. You're king.
Young Actor
So I remember when I did a Killing the Bee, everybody kept saying, this movie is going to be a hit. This movie's going to bust it out. This is. You gonna be a. And, like, it's such an elusive thing.
Michelle Obama
Cause what's the star? You know what I mean? And how old were you then?
Young Actor
I was 11.
Michelle Obama
11.
Young Actor
And they were like, this is cute. And I'm like.
Michelle Obama
It's like, really?
Young Actor
Whatever that is Michael Jackson now, you know, like, it was like, cute. And then the movie came in and did so terrible in the box office.
Michelle Obama
Although that was one of my favorite movies. And then.
Young Actor
And then another thing about it is, like, over time, it grew to be
Michelle Obama
my most popular film.
Young Actor
And the thing that people most know me for, but I use that as an example in this is because our life is made up many moments. It's not made like our legacy is not just that one thing we did. You know, it's the many things that we did. And so like Akilah and the BE was always there for people to come to and remember my work. And it grew over time amongst all the things I did. But I remember feeling in that moment being like, everybody lied to me. You know what I mean? I felt like when my mom told me I was gonna be a big girl at 5, I still didn't get big. I was like, now wait a minute, I'm still.
Michelle Obama
It's like, what is it shorter than y'?
Craig Robinson
All.
Michelle Obama
It sounds like big girl just means I can't be a baby.
Young Actor
Exactly.
Michelle Obama
This don't seem right, how I felt
Young Actor
with the Aquila thing. And so. But what I learned and what I never did to myself after that was to expect an outcome, to be proud of the work, to be happy that I got the job or the thing that I wanted to get. Or did the. But not to make it mean that it is only that if I receive a certain achievement. No, it's that to me. And that has to be enough. So that's the one thing I thought about when that happened.
Michelle Obama
Well, that makes me think. I mean, I share this all the time. I mean, I went to Princeton, Harvard Law, because I thought I was gonna be a lawyer and a corporate lawyer. I didn't know anything about what a lawyer did. I didn't come. Our family was. We were not professional people. I picked law because it was the next thing to do. I applied. I got into Harvard. You get into Harvard you go, right. That was the extent of my thinking. Right. And then I got out. I practiced in a firm for two years, and I was like, I don't like this at all. I'm not, you know, because corporate law is about. It's papers and briefs, it's research. It's not very people oriented, especially in your early years. It just. I had no idea what corporate law was. Right. And I had wonderful mentors. People supported me. I was able to achieve and do good things in that year, but I didn't know what that felt like. I did not want to be a lawyer. Yeah. As it turns out, after all that education and all those loans. But to your point, it was all them loans that we just paid off before Barack went to the White House.
Young Actor
Okay.
Michelle Obama
So, I mean, we were carrying debt, you know, for a very long time for me not to be a lawyer. But to your point, I had no idea what that was gonna mean and what that was gonna feel like. It was just a goal that I set for myself. I didn't even know what it was based on. I didn't know my why. I knew my what, but I didn't know my why. And I could have felt like a failure for it. Right. But I didn't. Fortunately, I had parents. I was like, let me try on some other things. Like, to your point, there are chapters in life that was a chapter I needed to do that and know that and understand that. And I went on to have many, many chapters. And I'm still glad that I got my law degree the way I think, you know, how I see the world is very much influenced by that education. Yes. But it wasn't who I was supposed to be. And there's no way I would have known that had I not tried it and then moved on from it and tried on some other thing. So for Noelle, they're just that life is about the chapters. You know, it's never any one thing. And to place too much stock or put too much emotion on one or two achievements, it always sets you up for disappointment, because life is bigger than that.
Craig Robinson
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Michelle Obama
Before we go, I wanna hear my song. Which one?
Guest Musician
Okay, here it is. It's so good. It's so good. This is the best one. Here it is. And it goes a little bit like this. Now don't clap because I'll go off rhythm. Because I'm just. I've written some say people, baby, when the white people chime in on the rhythm, I want you to know something.
Craig Robinson
Now cut this part out. We want to keep our white audience.
Guest Musician
Listen, I love my white people.
Craig Robinson
I do.
Michelle Obama
But y' all just when we start
Guest Musician
doing things, just sit still, still. Now there's Ms. Diane Carroll, Lena Horn, and Eartha Kit. They stayed on top for ages, but their looks never quit. Now when white women get older, their skin gets creased in line. But because of my race, look at my face. Soft as a baby's behind. Because black don't cry. I tell you, black don't crack. Now Cardi B and Beyonce certainly know how to make a buck. But being sued for fights or on Grammy nights. They don't need no nip and tuck. Now Harriet's got her railroad. Sojourner's got her truth. So Kamala Harris and Jasmine Crockett could be a choice at the voting booth. Oprah Winfrey's got her billions and Michelle's got Obama. And I still look good out in Hollywood playing everybody's mama. I take the pie, don't cry. So white girl, get your facelifts to your foreheads on your back. Cause I'll be having fun out in the sun. Cause baby black don't. And then Chaka Khan. That's the orchestra going.
Michelle Obama
Shaka Khan Dun girl gotta love it.
Guest Woman
The thing is, I stay open. I'm probably way open.
Michelle Obama
Oh, my God.
Guest Woman
That sounded so wrong.
Michelle Obama
I didn't mean that, Mom My heart. Your family. My heart.
Guest Woman
Stick open.
Michelle Obama
More open than it should.
Guest Woman
Yes.
Akilah Hughes
Yeah, that's hard.
Michelle Obama
More open than it.
Guest Woman
Than it should be. But I do date, and it's a fascinating adventure out there. You know, mostly, though, I think there's really good men out there. I think, to a certain extent, I'm a very unique sort of unicorn of a woman.
Michelle Obama
You are.
Guest Woman
So it's gonna take a unique person. And in the meantime, I have really learned how to live my life and enjoy it and not sit around waiting. I come. You know, I was saying to someone recently that I'm one of the first generations of choice, and it's not anymore, which really, there was a window, and that has shifted. And I do think that that's gonna change dating for women so much.
Michelle Obama
When you mean you've been the sort of the product of choice. Yeah.
Guest Woman
Like the assumption of Roe v. Wade and the ability for a woman to find her own delight and pleasure and choice around how she navigates dating or how one would navigate dating. And we are in a different world now, and I'm curious what that will look like. It frightens me for younger girls because of many reasons, obviously. But even with the systemic protection of Roe v. Wade, I still was coming up against the cultural norms of being a choiceful woman and owning my own body and my own choices and what it is that I'm looking for in a relationship and the ability to negotiate in a relationship what it is you want the relationship to be between the two of you, as opposed to what society says it should be.
Michelle Obama
We could not have Kenan Thompson on this podcast without doing one of my favorite skits, which is Black Jeopardy.
Marlon Wayans
Let's go. Black Jeopardy.
Michelle Obama
Craig and I have always thought we'd be pretty good at it. It looks a little hard. I'm a little intimidated. But I thought that if you would indulge us, you would give us an opportunity to play a couple of rounds.
Marlon Wayans
I love Black Jeopardy. It was one of my favorites. Shout out to Chadwick because he had the greatest Black Jeopardy.
Craig Robinson
Ever show. He sure did.
Marlon Wayans
Incredible. I think we coined the phrase Karen off of that sketch.
Michelle Obama
That's Karen. What is a Karen?
Marlon Wayans
Yeah, she might say put something like raisins or something in the potato salad. Okay. As you know, Black Jeopardy. Has a bunch of different categories, you know, different ones that, like, you know, our categories today might be. You better say it right. Fixing your plate.
Akilah Hughes
Okay.
Marlon Wayans
Don't touch that.
Michelle Obama
Mm.
Marlon Wayans
Oh, you fancy. Ooh, that ain't it. Black Twitter University Hood Classics. Black Dads. Be like, et cetera, et cetera.
Michelle Obama
Okay.
Craig Robinson
Okay.
Michelle Obama
All right. This is the sibling competition.
Marlon Wayans
Let's go.
Craig Robinson
Good luck.
Marlon Wayans
Good luck to both of you contestants.
Michelle Obama
Good luck.
Marlon Wayans
We should hear about today's prizes. We'll do that later. I feel like Cadillac might be involved. All right, our first category. That ain't it.
Michelle Obama
That ain't it.
Marlon Wayans
All right, the question is. A friend who says they don't do seasoning is also. What? Mm.
Craig Robinson
Not of colorful pigmentation. What is not of colorful pigmentation?
Marlon Wayans
Not a person of color. That's close. Do you have an answer?
Michelle Obama
Not invited back to my house.
Guest Father Figure
Whoa.
Marlon Wayans
That is uninvited. Uninvited was the answer. All right, the next category. Black Twitter University.
Michelle Obama
Okay.
Marlon Wayans
What does she ate and left no crumbs mean? Mm.
Michelle Obama
It means she told you off and left you with your mouth hanging on the floor.
Marlon Wayans
Yes. We need a ding for the correct answer.
Michelle Obama
Ding, ding, ding.
Marlon Wayans
That's a good one. Yes.
Michelle Obama
Ding, ding.
Marlon Wayans
We would have accepted.
Akilah Hughes
She slep.
Marlon Wayans
She delivered. Or. That was flawless.
Guest Man
So you're in that wheelhouse.
Devon
Yes.
Michelle Obama
What's the score? 2 0.
Marlon Wayans
Come on, Craig. What's up, man?
Craig Robinson
That's my cam. My buzzer works.
Marlon Wayans
Black Jeopardy. You remember that?
Craig Robinson
Yes, I know. I know.
Marlon Wayans
All right, this is Hood Classics.
Michelle Obama
Okay.
Craig Robinson
Hood Classics. Hood Classics.
Akilah Hughes
Okay.
Marlon Wayans
This item doubles as a weapon, a shoe, and an expression of discipline.
Craig Robinson
What is mama's fluffy pink house shoe? Ooh. Yes.
Marlon Wayans
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. That's right.
Michelle Obama
That's too specific. Did you have the answer?
Craig Robinson
No, I was embellishing as.
Marlon Wayans
I was just gonna say house slipper.
Michelle Obama
Mom. I was gonna say house flipper.
Marlon Wayans
Or that. Flip flop with precision, aim. So, yes, we all know that boomerang joke. The great Eddie Murphy. Incredible. All right, Black dads be like, ooh. What does your dad say every time he walks past the thermostat?
Michelle Obama
What is. We ain't trying to heat up the whole. Cool down the whole neighborhood.
Marlon Wayans
You got one?
Craig Robinson
I do.
Marlon Wayans
Mm.
Craig Robinson
What is. Nobody should be touching this. Who ain't paying rent.
Marlon Wayans
Close. Both of those are very close. We have. Why do it feel like the topics in here? Y' all paying the light bill? Or touch it again and see what happens? Oh, yeah, it was close.
Craig Robinson
Yes.
Marlon Wayans
We'll split it between the two of you. Okay, so what is it? 2, 1, 3 1?
Michelle Obama
It's 2.5 or 1.5?
Marlon Wayans
2.5. 1.5.
Craig Robinson
Okay, that's close.
Marlon Wayans
Come on.
Michelle Obama
Okay. Okay.
Marlon Wayans
All right, church folks. Okay, if someone shouts, take your time, Pastor. They probably mean what
Michelle Obama
they probably Mean hurry up so I can get to the repass and have some fried chicken.
Craig Robinson
That's right.
Marlon Wayans
Y' all so specific with it.
Guest Woman
Ding, ding, ding.
Craig Robinson
Cheese.
Marlon Wayans
Get to the repass and have some fried.
Craig Robinson
That's usually at a funeral.
Michelle Obama
I know, but you know, it's a
Marlon Wayans
unacceptable answers was wrap it up, we hungry and you dragging it. Mama said the category Mama said if she uses your full government name, including the middle one. What does that mean? Oh, I think Michelle was first.
Michelle Obama
You about to get your butt whooped.
Marlon Wayans
You about to get it. That is the answer. Let's go. Craig, where you at, man?
Craig Robinson
I'm right here.
Michelle Obama
Your hand is too far away.
Craig Robinson
You gotta be closer to that question before. But that's because I might just cover
Michelle Obama
right above
Akilah Hughes
or the question category.
Marlon Wayans
You better say it right.
Michelle Obama
Better say it right.
Marlon Wayans
When a black auntie says bless her heart, what does she mean?
Craig Robinson
What is she's doing something wrong?
Marlon Wayans
Uh huh. You got a better one?
Michelle Obama
What is you have no talent at whatever it is you're trying to do.
Marlon Wayans
Y' all being nice? We would have accepted she being shady. That girl is struggling or she a mess.
Michelle Obama
Is she a mess?
Marlon Wayans
Nobody got she a mess.
Craig Robinson
Yeah, we were trying to be too nice. We tried to be too nice on that one.
Marlon Wayans
This next category is fixing your plate.
Craig Robinson
Ooh, ooh.
Marlon Wayans
Where is your mama's potato salad recipe stored? That's you, Craig.
Craig Robinson
What is in in the middle of the Gideon Bible.
Marlon Wayans
Go ahead.
Michelle Obama
She don't write the recipe down. She knows it in her head.
Craig Robinson
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. That's a good one. That was a good one.
Marlon Wayans
That was close. That was close, though, that Gideon. You gotta keep that Gideon close.
Craig Robinson
You gotta keep it close.
Marlon Wayans
All right, next category. Oh, you fancy?
Craig Robinson
Okay.
Marlon Wayans
She got on hoops, a side part and baby hairs laid. What does that mean?
Michelle Obama
Who got that?
Marlon Wayans
I think it was Craig.
Craig Robinson
Okay, what is Mama's going out tonight.
Marlon Wayans
Close. You got one, Michelle.
Michelle Obama
What does that mean? It just means it's a Tuesday.
Marlon Wayans
That means she bout her business. Yeah, she not playing. She mean business and don't try her. That's basically what y' all said. Give them both a point. All right, this next category, there's only two more, so you got a chance to catch up. Don't touch. That is the category. When your mama says she watching her stories, what is she referring to?
Akilah Hughes
Oh, go ahead.
Marlon Wayans
I think that's you.
Michelle Obama
What is All My Children, Brian's Hope, One Life to Live.
Marlon Wayans
That's right.
Michelle Obama
Any of the daytime soaps.
Marlon Wayans
That's Right.
Craig Robinson
What is General Hospital at our house?
Marlon Wayans
General Hospital.
Michelle Obama
Well, no, he doesn't get that soap opera.
Marlon Wayans
Yeah, no, you got that. Yeah. Come on now.
Craig Robinson
That was a good one. That was a good one.
Marlon Wayans
That was a good one. This is a bonus question. So this can be worth. What's this going to be?
Michelle Obama
We got 5.5 to 1.5.
Akilah Hughes
Oh, man.
Craig Robinson
So this one's worth 20 points.
Marlon Wayans
Five points for a time somebody can win. Five points would be six points.
Michelle Obama
Yeah, that's right.
Craig Robinson
Yeah.
Devon
Yeah.
Marlon Wayans
That five points would be the five pointer. Okay, the category is the Obamas be Obamas question. Barack hit you with the. Now let me be clear. What's coming Next, Michelle?
Michelle Obama
A 20 minute answer to a question.
Marlon Wayans
100% a whole ass TED Talk.
Craig Robinson
Listen.
Marlon Wayans
But that's because they married. That ain't good for you.
Michelle Obama
I didn't think of the questions.
Marlon Wayans
Well, I think we got a tab.
Michelle Obama
I think your flaw, you were too laid up off the buzzer, you know.
Craig Robinson
No, it wasn't the quickness. It was my answers, which I was
Marlon Wayans
trying to be too creative. Stroll down black memory.
Craig Robinson
That was really fun. Yeah, baby hair.
Akilah Hughes
You know I love it.
Marlon Wayans
Shout out to the culture,
Michelle Obama
Sam.
Podcast: IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson
Host: Higher Ground
Release Date: March 13, 2026
This special anniversary episode of “IMO with Michelle and Craig” celebrates the first year of the podcast. Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson reflect on standout conversations, address fan-favorite moments, and revisit memorable advice and stories from their star-studded guest roster. The episode is structured as a curated “bonus” compilation, blending humor, heartfelt discussion, and thoughtful insights—showcasing the sibling duo’s signature blend of warmth, candor, laughter, and honesty.
Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson open by expressing gratitude to listeners and each other:
The episode is a tapestry of favorite segments—both hilarious and profound—from the podcast's inaugural year.
The episode functions as both an anniversary celebration and a time capsule of the podcast’s blend of familial warmth, hard-earned wisdom, irreverent humor, and cultural specificity. It highlights the evolution of Michelle and Craig’s advice—reminding listeners that growth, self-acceptance, and laughter are ongoing journeys, best done with each other and the community in tow.