Dr. Jill Biden: It Will Only Be One Date!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa

Episode: "Dr. Jill Biden: It Will Only Be One Date!"

Host: Kelly Ripa
Guest: Dr. Jill Biden
Release Date: August 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this insightful and candid conversation, Kelly Ripa sits down with Dr. Jill Biden — educator, First Lady, and author — to discuss her new book View from the East Wing, her journey as a political spouse, her family’s public and private challenges, and the resilience that has shaped her life. The episode explores Dr. Biden's role as both a leader and a caregiver, delves deeply into personal and national tragedies, and highlights the importance of empathy, tradition, and perseverance — all while maintaining the podcast’s signature blend of warmth, humor, and sincerity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of the East Wing and Dr. Biden’s New Book

[05:09–07:16]

• Kelly and Dr. Biden discuss the meaning and memories of the East Wing, which served as the entrance for families visiting the White House.
  • Dr. Biden made it interactive, featuring art by military kids, historical audio, and portraits of First Ladies to create relatability.
  • On its removal:

    “It felt like a rare and precious animal that was just gutted with its guts hanging out.” — Dr. Jill Biden [06:49]

  • Kelly recalls the heartbreak of the East Wing being torn down abruptly and how its closure symbolized a loss.

2. Title Controversy: The “Dr. Biden” Debate

[07:17–10:21]

• The pair revisit the Wall Street Journal op-ed by Joseph Epstein, which condescendingly questioned Dr. Biden’s right to her title.
  • Kelly’s reaction:

    “He called you Kiddo. And I feel like he called every woman that has fought her way… up the ranks... It filled me with rage.” — Kelly Ripa [08:15]

  • Dr. Biden describes the attack as emblematic of broader sexism, not just aimed at her.
  • She highlights supportive responses from women and emphasizes the importance of standing up against such disrespect.

3. Meeting Joe Biden: The “One Date” That Changed Everything

[10:34–13:50]

• Dr. Biden recalls being set up with Joe Biden in 1975, and how she almost didn’t break an existing date.
  • On her first impression:

    “Thank God this is only one date, because I had never dated anyone like that before.” — Dr. Jill Biden [11:38]

  • She fell in love with his sons instantly, but delayed accepting Joe’s marriage proposals (five in total) to ensure she’d never subject the boys to another loss.

4. Becoming a Political Spouse: Navigating Public Life

[15:03–17:22]

• Dr. Biden admits to being introverted, knowing little about political life, and initially struggling with public expectations.
  • She explains that reticence was seen as aloofness and describes how, with Joe’s encouragement, she learned to reach out and grow more comfortable in public.
  • On support:

    “He was always very supportive.” — Dr. Jill Biden [16:51]

5. Personal Loss and Resilience: Grieving in Public

[22:10–25:08]

• Candid reflections on the loss of Beau Biden to glioblastoma.
  • The Bidens chose privacy for Beau’s sake, even while under the public eye.
  • Dr. Biden speaks of the profound kindness shown by people in Delaware, including the Secret Service:

    “It was these little acts of kindness that… helped us get through it.” — Dr. Jill Biden [24:44]

6. Respect for Institutions and Changes in Public Discourse

[29:25–31:21]

• Dr. Biden highlights the Biden administration’s respect for tradition and civility in contrast to more recent toxic political climates.
  • On current times:

    “People now feel, because of the leadership that's in there now, that they have kind of permission to call people names.” — Dr. Jill Biden [30:24]

  • She recounts encountering open hostility in public, attributing these shifts to examples set by current leaders and amplified by social media.

7. Teaching as First Lady: Defining Independence

[32:16–35:27]

• Dr. Biden insisted on maintaining her teaching career, despite some political advisors’ objections.
  • On retaining a salary:

    “I am too old to start to ask my husband for money for, you know, pantyhose or something… I strongly believe that women have to be independent.” — Dr. Jill Biden [33:14]

  • She cherishes being ‘Dr. B’ to her students, who quickly acclimate to her role as their English teacher, not as First Lady.

8. Humor, Family Life, and Pranks

[36:04–39:45]

• Dr. Biden shares anecdotes about running from teaching to White House galas, sometimes changing in campus bathrooms.
  • On sneaking out and playing pranks, including wearing disguises and amusing the press.
  • “I love to do pranks.” — Dr. Jill Biden [39:35]

9. Behind the Scenes: White House & Camp David

[39:49–41:26]

• Favorite meals: Joe Biden’s love for chicken parm and pasta.
• Date nights in the Yellow Oval Room and the hospitality at Camp David.
  • Dr. Biden praises the military staff’s attention to detail and warmth (“with military precision”).

10. Updates on President Biden’s Health and Family

[49:06–52:19]

• Dr. Biden confirms President Biden’s ongoing battle with metastatic prostate cancer and discusses the surprise of a late diagnosis.
  • She explains the difference between White House doctors’ protocols and her insistence on additional testing.

11. Hunter Biden’s Addiction and Recovery

[52:31–54:57]

• Dr. Biden opens up about Hunter’s addiction, the family’s struggle to understand and support him, and the role of grief.
  • On self-blame:

    “You tend to look at yourself and think, what did I do wrong? How could I have done this better?” — Dr. Jill Biden [53:06]

  • She credits Hunter’s openness about recovery as helping others and emphasizes addiction as a disease.

12. Will America See a Woman President?

[55:01–56:59]

• Kelly asks if Dr. Biden believes the US will have a woman president soon.
  • Dr. Biden doubts it will happen in her lifetime but remains hopeful for future generations:

    “We can’t give up hope… We are the messengers, Kelly.” — Dr. Jill Biden [56:38/56:59]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On sexism and titles:

  “You would never say that to a man.” — Dr. Jill Biden [10:19]

• The value of independence:

  “Women have to be independent. They have to be able to stand on their own two feet, have their own careers and have their own money.” — Dr. Jill Biden [33:14]

• On rebuilding after loss:

  “It was these little acts of kindness that… helped us get through it.” — Dr. Jill Biden [24:44]

• Hope for the future:

  “We can’t give up hope.” — Dr. Jill Biden [56:38]
  “We are the messengers, Kelly.” — Dr. Jill Biden [56:59]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:09 — Introduction of Dr. Biden and her new book
• 07:17 — The “Dr. Biden” title controversy
• 10:44 — The story of the Bidens’ first date and path to marriage
• 15:03 — Becoming a political spouse and adjusting to public scrutiny
• 22:10 — Coping with Beau Biden’s illness and public grief
• 29:25 — Changes in American political discourse and respect for traditions
• 32:16 — Continuing to teach as First Lady: independence and impact
• 36:04 — Balancing teaching, family, and White House duties; humorous anecdotes
• 39:49 — White House meals, Camp David, and Biden family routines
• 49:06 — President Biden’s health and cancer journey
• 52:31 — Hunter Biden’s addiction, family impact, and recovery
• 55:01 — The prospect of a woman president

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Tone and Atmosphere

• Candid, heartfelt, and direct with flashes of humor and self-deprecation characteristic of Kelly Ripa’s style.
• Dr. Biden is warm, honest, and advocates for resilience, empathy, and self-sufficiency.
• The conversation is unfiltered and relatable, blending personal anecdotes with broader commentary on societal change.

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Final Takeaways

This episode offers a rich, nuanced portrait of Dr. Jill Biden as an educator, leader, spouse, mother, and survivor. Listeners gain a sense of her values — empathy, humor, perseverance, respect for tradition, and women’s empowerment — all presented against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political and social climate. The dialogue not only humanizes the First Family but offers inspiration for anyone facing adversity or feeling the weight of public scrutiny.

Recommended: Dr. Jill Biden’s new book, "View from the East Wing," for an even deeper dive into these themes.

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Transcript

[Kelly Ripa]

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[Albert Bianchini]

And.

[Kelly Ripa]

And 30 pairs go missing.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Lola.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, Lola. They're not. By the way, it's not in my dryer. It's not the amnesty sock that goes missing. They are stolen. They are pilfered items in my house. But here's the part I really love. Okay, Jan. Yes. For every item you buy, Bombas donates an essential clothing item to someone facing housing insecurity. So you're getting comfort and you're doing some good. That's a win, win, win, win. Win. Head over to bombas.comoff camera and use code off camera for 20 off your first purchase. That's B-O-M-B-A-S.com off camera code off camera at checkout.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

It was really hard, I think, for me personally, to understand addiction, to understand it was an illness, because I kept the. My God, we gave him everything. We gave him a good education. He couldn't be more loved. You know, he has a great family. He has. We live in a great house. Like, what more could we have given him?

[Kelly Ripa]

Somebody gotta cue me or do I cue myself?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Cue yourself.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, guys, guys, listen up. Listen up to what I'm telling you right now. First Ladies love us.

[Jan Chile]

They.

[Kelly Ripa]

They do. This is the official podcast of First Ladies.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I think so.

[Kelly Ripa]

They like our podcast. First Michelle Obama, huge. Now Joe Biden, amazing. Okay, we need to get Hillary.

[Jan Chile]

Hillary.

[Kelly Ripa]

Come on, Lara.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

I mean, I don't know why I'm on a first name basis with these women, but here I go. Although when Hillary Clinton was on the talk show, she said, call me Hillary. Okay, so you're going to ask Jill what to call her. I just called her Jill. I'm going to call her Dr. Biden. I'm going to call Dr. Biden. Dr. Biden. Or maybe Dr. Jill.

[Jan Chile]

Okay.

[Kelly Ripa]

If she wants to get personal. I still feel like when people go to school for that long to receive, whether it's an MD, PhD, what have you, they've earned the title.

[Jan Chile]

Exactly.

[Albert Bianchini]

Agreed.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'm very excited about having Dr. Biden on today. I feel like it classes us up. It is classy, it gives us a gravitas, which I believe is a fancy Latin word meaning balls. Pretty sure. Am I right, Albert? Did you look that up? Thank you. I gotta get all the cursing out now. Although she's a Jersey girl, I bet she's. She's probably used a foul word here and there. I think so. Yes, she did.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I read it in the book.

[Jan Chile]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

Jan. Dr. Jill Biden has held many titles. Teacher, doctor, bestselling author, advocate, mother, grandmother. Wait for it. Great grandmother, avid soul cyclist. Albert, just like you.

[Albert Bianchini]

Yep.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, yeah. Did I mention first lady of the United States?

[Jan Chile]

Big title.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's a big title. Huge. She's just written a new book called View from the East Wing. It's a must read. This book is really great. First of all, we've asked a lot of this woman, okay. She's raised her family. She came into a ready made family that was broken. Broken. Living, living in trauma. She watched them live out the most challenging moments of their lives and she had to do it publicly.

[Jan Chile]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

Most of her life has been in, you know, not only as a teacher, but also standing alongside a public servant, which makes her a public servant whether she wanted it or not. And she's kept a sense of humor through it all. She's kept her grace through it all. And I just think she's a real class act.

[Jan Chile]

She is a class act.

[Kelly Ripa]

I hope it rubs off on some of us in this room. Not to name names. Albert.

[Jan Chile]

I think she's ready for us.

[Kelly Ripa]

Is she ready for us? I think she's ready for us.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Hi, how are you?

[Kelly Ripa]

Hi, Dr. Biden, it's so good to see you.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Nice to see you. Thank you.

[Kelly Ripa]

Congratulations on the book. I loved it.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, thank you. I appreciate that.

[Kelly Ripa]

I was talking about the title, the View from the east wing. Dr. Biden, tell our listeners who may be too young to remember when there was an east wing. Do you remember the east wing?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No. Kelly, do you?

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, I do. I sure do. I've been in the East Wing and I was very Sad to see it go. And I wonder what that means to you, specifically, because you were a very busy, very active first lady. And I'm wondering what that means to you.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Well, you know, I love the East Wing. And I think, you know, when you went to the White House, that was where you would enter the White House. So I would see families come in and they'd be so excited and they'd be taking pictures, and then they'd walk down the hallway and I put up pictures of art, of military kids.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes. You made it very interactive, right?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes. Yeah, that was my whole point. You know, I'm a teacher for 40 years, and I thought, we can't have just these pictures on the wall. People who come in need to hear, like, FDR's address on the radio. They need to feel the marble. They need to see pictures of people they identify with, like the first ladies, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, Laura Bush. So when they come in, they say, oh, I know her. I recognize her. So I made it all interactive. And so when it was being torn down, I mean, people were sending me photos, and I think you probably read in the book my description, and it felt like a rare and precious animal that was just gutted with its guts hanging out.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yep.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

And it was heartbreaking.

[Kelly Ripa]

It was heartbreaking for all of us, especially the way it was done. It seemed like in cover of darkness, in the middle of the night, sort of torn down. And then once people started taking photos, then like, big fences and walls went up as if that was supposed to make it less horrific.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Right? Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

So I want to start, because one of the things you covered in the book early on, and I was glad you did, because I remember the day this op ed in the Wall Street Journal came out, the rage that I had that I became so incensed with this. I'm going to use a word, and I feel like, because, you know, New Jersey, you spent a lot of time there. Yeah, I'm going to use. I'm going to use a course word in front of a first lady. Is this okay?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Of course.

[Kelly Ripa]

This asshole, Joseph Epstein from the Wall Street Journal, this guy had a real problem with using your title, Dr. Biden. That really bothered him, and it really got into his knickers. And he called you Jill and he called you Kiddo. And I feel like he called. In that moment, I felt like he called every woman that has fought her way and worked her way up the ranks, and no matter what her career was, I felt like he called me kiddo. He called me little girl. He Called Jan kiddo. He called Ashley here kiddo, which Ashley is very young, so it almost fits. But I wonder, like, how do you keep your composure in moments like that? In a moment like that, where this guy, who I dare I say has no educational bona fides beyond whatever, you know, he went to journalism school, I'm assuming. I don't know. I don't know anything about him, but I know that he felt this need to try to diminish your accomplishments. And it filled me with rage.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Well, it was so disrespectful. And you're right. It wasn't Jill Biden he was really attacking. It was all women. And I fought hard to get my title. I worked really hard to get a doctorate in educational leadership. And he was saying to all women in positions of, you know, authority, doctors. I mean, can you imagine him saying that to. How about. How about Dr. Henry Kissinger?

[Kelly Ripa]

No, he wouldn't have had the courage to say that to a man. He would not have had the courage.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No, he wouldn't have. And so a lot of, like, Martin Luther King's daughter came out and said, you know, she worked for that title. I mean, a lot of people came to my defense, and I feel like a lot of women were infuriated, and especially women around my age who've been putting up with this for so long, you know, working so hard to get to, you know, higher positions. And then here we are having another man just push us down. Push us down. And I was glad that women stood up and really responded and defended me. Like, you would never say that to a man.

[Kelly Ripa]

Never, ever.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay. I don't want to dwell on Joseph Epstein or any Epstein or any Epstein, for that matter. Yes. Yes, that is so true.

[Jan Chile]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

Very good. So. So let's start at the beginning. Take me back to 1975. Okay. And tell me about this blind date you go on.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Okay. So Joe called me in the middle of a Saturday, and he calls me up, you know, out of the blue, and he said, you know, this is Joe Biden, and, you know, I'm free tonight. Would you like to go out? And I said, well, no, I have a date already. And so he had the chutzpah to say, do you think you could break it?

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

So I said, I don't know. Call me back in an hour. So he did. I broke the date because I thought, well, you know, I'll go out with him. It'll be one date. I mean, he was 10 years older. I was at the University of Delaware. I was a senior. And so I thought, well, you know, I just want to see what he's like. I was just curious.

[Kelly Ripa]

And 10 years older, when you're a senior in college, he probably seemed like a. Like a real grownup.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, for sure. And not only that, Kelly, but I'm telling you. So I wore. I mean, you can imagine it was the 70s, right? The guys I dated wore bell bottoms and tie dye shirts and clogs, long hair. And so he came to my door, and I opened the door, and I took one look at his perfect suit and his leather loafers, and I thought, thank God this is only one date, Because I had never dated anyone like that before. Anyway, we went to Philly, Chestnut Street. There was a theater there. And I never, ever expected to be attracted to him or like him or anything, but it was very charming as you could. As you know, and that was the beginning. At that time, unfortunately. I mean, Joe had lost his first wife and baby daughter in a car accident, and he had two sons. So I think maybe we went out maybe one or two dates by ourselves. And then after that, we went out as a foursome, you know, Joe and me and Beau and Hunter. And it was, like, so natural and so beautiful. It just was like it was meant to be.

[Kelly Ripa]

Was it daunting for you at that young age to sort of, you know, he's already a US Senator. He's gone through this trauma, this horrific trauma.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

So you're stepping into this role. There's two little boys there.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'm trying to tap into. In your heart and in your mind. Was that, like, why it took five proposals before you said yes?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes, Because. Not because it was so daunting, but I have to tell you, I fell in love with the boys instantly. I mean, they were just so little and loving. And so when Joe kept asking me to marry him and asking and asking, I had to make sure because they had already lost one mommy in a car accident. And I loved them so much that I never, ever wanted them to feel the pain of a divorce. So I had to be absolutely sure that this marriage was going to be until death do us part. And so that's why it took me so long.

[Jan Chile]

So.

[Kelly Ripa]

So can you tell me about the final proposal? Like, when you finally said yes?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Sure. Yeah. So he went to Africa on a foreign relations trip with the Senate, and he said, when I come back, I want your final answer. So I. You know, he was gone, like, five or seven days. I don't remember. And I kept thinking, oh, My God, should I do it? Should I not do it? I mean, I. You know, I just. I wrestled with it. And he came to the door when he got home, and he came straight from the airport, and he knocked on the door. And I said, oh, Joe, come on in. He said, no, I'm not coming in until you give me your answer. So I sort of hemmed and hawed a little bit, and I said, okay. And so that was it.

[Kelly Ripa]

You have sisters, but they're younger than you. Did you discuss it with your sisters? Did you discuss it with your mom? No, no.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No. Uh, was. You know, I. I mean, I felt like a big girl. You know, I was going to graduate from college, or, you know, I was graduated by then, but. Yeah, not really. No. I knew I had to make up my mind myself.

[Kelly Ripa]

So. Getting married to a man with two small children is a lot for a young woman fresh out of college. But also, now you are a politician's wife. Did that factor into your thought process? Process at all? We were talking about this before you logged on. I don't have the internal fortitude, nor do I have the tolerance to be a political spouse.

[Jan Chile]

Would you say when they go low.

[Kelly Ripa]

When they. So you know how. When they go low? Yeah, they go high. When they go low, I go into the frog. I go so low, I go deep. I will dig a trench and go lower. That's how low I am willing to go.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

So.

[Kelly Ripa]

So I am the bad. I have bad personality for this.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Well, you know, I was really very introverted. I had never taken a course in political science in college. I mean, I literally almost had to look up, like, what does a senator do? I didn't know I'm in English, you know, so it was hard for me to go into a room and extend myself to people. I would usually hold back. And Joe is so gregarious and wants to talk to everybody. But eventually, the one thing I learned was that people were taking my reticence as kind of my being aloof, which I wasn't at all. I was just kind of shy and introverted. And once I realized that, I started to make myself reach out. And once I started doing that and feeling more comfortable with it, I think, you know, but it took me a long time. I mean, a long time. I never wanted to go and make speeches. I would get so nervous. And it takes a long time when you're talking to so many people or, you know, people coming up and saying, what about your husband's position on this or that? Or they're attacking you for something. It was a lot of new experiences, but I feel like I grew with all those experiences. Experiences. And sometimes they were hard, but I'd come home and Joe would be like, no, no, you're doing great. Don't worry about it. Don't listen to that person or whatever. So he was always very supportive.

[Kelly Ripa]

Where do you think. And I have to say, I think you're both so well suited for each other because I met President Biden, Jan, when he was then vice president and Regis was retiring from the. And your husband came on the show and it was a time of great. Like, we at the show were terrified. We didn't know what was going to happen to us. You know, we really didn't. It was a very scary time. You know, the leader of the show is leaving. What are we gonna do? What's going to happen to all of us? And your husband has this empathy thing that is extraordinary. It's like his. It's his superpower. And he came out and it had been a parade of people that were coming on the show to say goodbye to Regis one after another after another. And it was almost like I was a spider sitting in the corner. You know, after a while, you just

[Dr. Jill Biden]

sort of great, you're calling yourself a

[Kelly Ripa]

spider, just sitting there, like, just watching. And your husband came out and he greets Regis and he goes, I want to talk to you. And he was so kind to me and so brought me into the conversation. And then when we went to commercial break, he really, he was so encouraging and reminding me that I will be able to carry on the show without the leader of the show and that I will be.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

And you did.

[Kelly Ripa]

And he was right. But at the time, I didn't believe that. And he sort of sensed that in me and gave me the pep talk that I needed. And so I am forever, forever, eternally grateful to President Biden for that kindness and attention he showed me at a time where I. Like, I didn't realize I needed that speech. I just thought, you know, I just thought the show would be canceled and we could all go home and forget about it. And I was wondering, does he. Did he. Did you meet him where he was compassion wise, or did you learn to have more compassion from being married to him? Sounds like you came to the table that way, if I'm guessing.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I. You know what? Because I didn't have the experiences that he had. I mean, I think losing his wife and daughter really set his priorities straight in life. I mean, he knew what was important and what wasn't important, but I think he always. His whole life, I think he connected with people. But I think this idea of empathy and compassion, really, probably. I think that's why he was elected president, because I think so. Remember, it was during the pandemic, of course, and everybody was suffering in one way or another, whether it was mental health, physical health. You know, we were just stunned by this whole. COVID 19. And I think that's why people felt his strength as a person, his inner strength. And also he understood their problems if they didn't have enough food or if they didn't have a computer or they didn't have access to health care. He understood problems. And remember, I mean, we're both from the middle class. And I think that had a lot to do with it as well, that he understood really, the challenges of the working class. You know, his dad was working class. I was born in Hamilton, New Jersey, right near Atco, where you are Blueberry

[Kelly Ripa]

capital of the world, Albert.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes. Blueberry capital of the world. We all know that.

[Kelly Ripa]

So I do think there's something to that. When you grow up a certain way, when you grow up with working class, background, family, you do have a concept. Even if your life goes beyond, even if you someday become president of the United States, you actually understand what it's like to live like a real person.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah, you're grounded in that. You're grounded in it. You know what it's like to worry about the prices of gas or food, or you saw your parents struggle to pay the bills or not have any of that extra money. So Joe had that in his family. I had that in my family. I mean, neither one of us is crying poor, believe me. But we didn't have extra.

[Kelly Ripa]

You understand?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

We didn't have extra ever. You know, you had one pair of sneakers, you had one pair of church shoes. And plus, you never really asked your parents for those kinds of things because you knew that they couldn't afford to give it to you, so you didn't ask. You know, that was part of it.

[Kelly Ripa]

So. So we're gonna jump through a little bit, and you're living your best lives. You've raised the family. And then in. Was it 2015 when your son Beau passes away from glioblastoma?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

It was glioblastoma. Brain cancer. Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's a horrible diagnosis.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Horrible, horrible.

[Kelly Ripa]

So take me inside. If. If it's not, you know, I don't want to, like, re. Traumatize you telling these stories, but you are going through this very publicly. How do you respect his privacy. Because the way you write about it, Beau was very private.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yep.

[Kelly Ripa]

So you have to respect his privacy. But also, there's got to be this, you know, the two of you taking shifts and sleeping by his bed. And how do you comfort one another? How do you comfort your other children? What is going through your mind when all of this is happening?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Well, you're right. I mean, I was second lady and I was teaching, and Joe was, you know, vice president, and Beau had two small children. And we didn't want to make a big public thing of it because, you know, I mean, you don't know how kids are receiving negative information, you know, how they're going to take it. So we tried to keep it pretty quiet, but, yeah, we. I mean, we were at the hospital all the time, as were, you know, our other children. And it was. It was. It was hard. I mean, because Beau would be sick and we'd go to church and he'd. You could see he had had surgery. But people respected our privacy. At least here in Delaware, they, you know, nobody came up and said, oh, my God, what has happened to your son? People were very respectful and kind. And, you know, I have to tell you, like, even the Secret Service, you know, you think they're like these big macho guys, and they, you know, they're intimidating, but honest to God, they were so kind. So kind. Just a kind word, you know, it's going to be okay, or are you okay? You know, that sort of thing. And it was these little acts of kindness that, quite honestly, that helped us get through it. So I think, you know, you have to really sometimes just, I don't know, believe in the goodness of mankind, you know, that we. And which is, I think, sort of flipped a little bit today. But back then, I can honestly say, at least in the state of Delaware, yeah, I truly felt loved.

[Kelly Ripa]

Jan, if you know anything about me, it's that I love to do laundry.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Love to love it.

[Kelly Ripa]

I talk about it all the time. I actually find it relaxing and so satisfying. Something about folding a fresh load out of the dryer. And for me, the detergent I use is an important choice. All Free Clear is the number one detergent brand recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin. All Free Clear uses only essential ingredients. It's 100% free from dyes, perfumes, parabens, and irritating residues. Check out the label and see for yourself. It lists all the ingredients and what they do. It's a powerful clean that you can feel good about. I love that my laundry comes out genuinely clean, not perfumed. It handles the toughest stains and removes odors rather than masking them with some weird scent. It's also nice to be able to look at the label and actually understand what each ingredient does. For my laundry when it comes to laundry detergent, the choice is clear. All free. Clear. Pick up a bottle for your next laundry day. Everyone's got a playful side and some treats. Just know how to bring it out. Like Twizzlers. Whether it's a movie night, a summer road trip, or just one of those everyday moments that could use a little extra spark, Twizzlers bring the fun. Twizzlers are the kind of treat the whole family can't help but twist, pull apart and share. There really is so satisfying about pulling them apart, and there are plenty of tasty flavors to discover. Always remember spontaneous, silly moments that add a little twist to your day. Pair perfectly with Twizzlers Half the reason I go to the movies, Jan, is to enjoy Twizzlers. I love a Twizzler at the movies.

[Jan Chile]

It's the best.

[Kelly Ripa]

By the way, when I saw Mark's last show, there were women sat across from me in the aisle and and I heard the bag open and I turned to them and thank God they recognized me and they offered me some of their Twizzlers. It was like free candy. I couldn't believe it. And do not judge me by the way. Sometimes I'll bite off the top and the bottom and use it as a straw in my drink. I've done it. You've done it. We've all done it. Don't act like you don't do it, because we all do it. Look for your favorite flavor of Twizzlers. Wherever candy is sold. You've got lots going on. Your routine doesn't have to. Sephora makes it easy to find the beauty you need right now with simple, quality products for your skin and more. They have fan favorites like Caudalie Premier Crew Anti Aging Eye Cream for fine lines and wrinkles and Westman Atelier's Baby Cheeks Lip and Cheek Cream Blush Stick. This is my ultimate five Minute Face Essential. It melts into my skin for a flush of color that looks like my natural glow. Just better. Plus Josie Moran's Golden Hour Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter. This is the most luxurious part of my day. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly firm and hydrated with a subtle golden shimmer. Shop now in store [e-mail]. It's interesting reading your book. It felt like I was reading about Another time, like, it felt like I realized you cover many decades because of. But when you talk about your recent time in the Oval Office, it was not that long ago, and yet it felt like we're talking about the 1800s. Like, I can't even really. Because of the normalcy of it all and the empathy of it all and the propriety of it all and the reverence with which you and President Biden treated the office and the obligations that you had to the constituency of America. And it was almost like it was such a beautiful read. I was very wistful as I was reading it, thinking, will there ever be a follow up to this book? Will there ever be a time where we crack open a book and talk about the rules and norms of political life in this way again? I hope so.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah. Because I think one of the things that I think Americans loved about our administration was that we respected tradition, we respected institutions. We realized that there were three branches of government, separate but equal, and we respected all of those institutions and the people in those institutions. You know, if Joe had a disagreement with somebody in the Senate or when he was VP or president, I mean, he would no more, like, start calling them names or making fun of them or whatever. I mean, it's. It just wasn't the way. This wasn't the way of America. None of us grew up like that. We went through a lot of trauma. We lost President Kennedy, we lost rfk. We had the Vietnam War. I mean, I know I'm older and I'm taking us back. And I know there were tumultuous times, but it never felt as toxic, I think, as it does today, that people feel like they can just say anything to you at any time. And, you know, I think people now feel, because of the leadership that's in there now, that they have kind of permission.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

To call people names. I mean, somebody. I was just in the airport the other day on my book tour, and somebody, a woman. I mean, out of the blue, I'm just walking through one gate to the other. Yep. And she yells, you know, go, Trump. Make America great again. And I just looked at her and I thought, what's wrong with you?

[Kelly Ripa]

Right.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

You know, why did you attack me

[Kelly Ripa]

from walking through an airport?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Walking through an airport. What is the point of that? But do you see how people feel like they have permission to say things or do things?

[Kelly Ripa]

I think. I think it's obviously, you know, it starts at the top. So there's that. And also I think that this. These social media companies with these very Very rich, disconnected billionaires do not realize that they have broken down the way people live in their day to day. So people don't have normal social skills anymore the way they used to. The way we are sitting and having a conversation or sitting down and reading your book instead of like doom scrolling all day long. So people very disconnected, they don't write letters anymore, they don't pick up the phone and talk to each other anymore. They don't sit face to face and talk. And so I think a lot of these social media oligarchs have a lot to answer for. So it's.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I do as well. Yeah, I do as well.

[Kelly Ripa]

So let's talk about becoming first lady. Like you said, it was a very crazy time in this country. And when you came in, you write in the book. I found this so interesting. You just naturally were going to keep teaching because you've always taught. That was your. It's your career.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

And it was suggested to you like, oh, you better. I'm gonna misquote you here. But are you sure you're gonna keep teaching and you're not gonna take a salary, are you? Which, yes, I know, feels kind of quaint now if you think about it.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No, that's true. I knew. Well, I taught a second lady. But when Joe was elected president, I said, I went in and I said, I'm going to keep teaching. And some of his staff said, what do you mean you're going to keep teaching? Like, why don't you do volunteer work? I said, no, I have a career. I am going to keep teaching and I am going to take a paycheck. Look, look, I am too old to start to ask my husband for money for, you know, pantyhose or something, you know, it's ridiculous. Like, Joe, can you give me a little money this week? I mean, forget it. No, I strongly believe that women have to be independent. They have to be able to stand on their own two feet, have their own careers and have their own money. Because you don't know what's going to happen in life. You could, like what happened to my daughter in law, Halle? I mean, Beau died here. She was left, you know, with two children to raise. Or what if you're going through a divorce? I mean, what do you do then? You know, you have to be able to support yourself and just maintain your own career. Because my career, I love being first lady. I loved it. But I also loved teaching. And for me to go into the classroom two days a week and be Dr. B in that classroom just Teaching English. They didn't treat me like first lady. They didn't ask me political questions. They treated me as their teacher. And it was so funny because the first day of school, I wasn't. They didn't put my name on the roster or anything. So none of the students knew that I would be their teacher. So the first day, they had to put their book bag through, you know, mag.

[Kelly Ripa]

They had to be a night, of course.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

And, like, the students would be all like, oh, my God. And I said, look, don't worry about it. They're not looking for drugs, so your drugs are safe. They're only looking for guns. So they were like, oh, thank God. So that first day, they were like, oh, my gosh, look who our teachers. The next day, they could care less. They were, like, using the F word in the classroom. They didn't care that I was first lady. I was their English teacher. And I love that, that they trusted me and that they treated me, you know, like who I am, their English teacher. It was just a beautiful part of my day.

[Kelly Ripa]

Very funny anecdote in the book where she can tell that one kid is, like, on his phone. He's not supposed to. To be, but he is. He's on his phone, and you walked over to him and he's Googling her. He's googling Dr. Biden, trying to get, like, familiarize himself.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah. Like, who is this woman?

[Kelly Ripa]

Who is this woman?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, my God. It was so funny. It was so funny. We both burst out laughing. It was so funny.

[Kelly Ripa]

So I also love all of the scenes of you. You know, she goes to school to teach, but she's got to, you know, Albert, she's got to get to a gala.

[Albert Bianchini]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

At night.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

So she's, like, running to the bathroom, you know, right there on the campus to change into the gown, put on some makeup, and get to whatever event she had to go to.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I mean, many, many times and many, many times. I'm sure you've done that, too.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, I have.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I have. Yeah. That you have to change in a bathroom somewhere where you're like, oh, my God. I just. I'm praying nobody walks in.

[Kelly Ripa]

I remember once I had to. I had the opposite of this. I had to be the class parent from our youngest son's pre K class. And the kids had seen me a million times at the school, but I had to run right from work to the classroom, so there wasn't time for me to pull my hair back into a ponytail and wash all my makeup off. So I just ran to the school for. From work. And we were sitting there, and one of Joaquin's friends looked at me and said, are you wearing a mask? Because he had never seen me with makeup on. So he thought I looked very strange

[Dr. Jill Biden]

or glamorous, one or the other.

[Kelly Ripa]

Or glamorous. But I think he thought I seemed strange. But it seems surreal to live in the White House. And Michelle Obama was on this podcast, and she was talking about how a President Obama thought that he was a really neat and organized man. And she said, you're not neat and organized. You have a valet.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes, exactly.

[Kelly Ripa]

Organizing everything. Does the first lady have a valet also?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

No. So that is true about the president. Like, his shirts are, like, perfect, in perfect color line type. The shoes are shined every day. Perfect in a row. I mean, sometimes I would, like, just marvel at that. But yes. And so you should see his closet now.

[Jan Chile]

Did you ever try to shake the Secret Service? Like, did you ever try to get out without them knowing?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes, I did. And I have a funny story. So it was Christmas time, and so Santa was in his costume going around, and I was. Was the. Well, somebody was the Grinch. So they were going around together. So I had her come into my office, and I changed into the Grinch costume, and then I was walking out of the White House, and I thought, you know what? I probably shouldn't do this, because if they find out, somebody's gonna get fired.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, right.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

They get fired. You know, and it wasn't worth that. I mean, it was worth the laugh, but it wasn't worth somebody's job.

[Kelly Ripa]

It would have been funny, though, to see you sneak, like, grinching out.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah. With those green and white striped tights and everything. It was a really fun costume. Yeah, I used to do a lot with wigs. Even on the airplane, I used to do that. I would. You put wigs on Wigs. And this is what I did, actually, in one of the last years at. In the White House. We were on the plane, I put on a wig, a short black wig I put on the wings, you know, for the pilots. And so I had a tray of ice cream, and I went back and I served the press ice cream bars, and they didn't even know it was me. It was hysterical. It was hysterical. So I served them all their little ice cream bars and cones and stuff. And once I started walking out, I turned around and I pulled the wig off. And then they were like. They couldn't believe. I love to do pranks. I love to do pranks.

[Albert Bianchini]

Speaking of ice cream, I need to know about the food in the White House.

[Jan Chile]

Of course.

[Albert Bianchini]

I need to know about the meals. What meal you regularly had? All of it. I'm obsessed with it.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Okay, so Joe loves chicken parm and he loves pasta. So we would have chicken parm and pasta a lot.

[Kelly Ripa]

And you would have date nights in the. Was it the yellow room and you would sit.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes, the yellow oval upstairs. And we would sit by the fire. And I mean, it was beautiful up there. You know, you could look out and it was just beautiful. So that's what we would. We'd have dinner together almost every night. So we either do it there or in the tennis pavilion. There's a pretty little room down there to try to have a little privacy. But, you know, they were great cooks. I mean, really, they were.

[Kelly Ripa]

Dr. Biden, tell Albert about all the snacks and stuff at Camp David.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, my gosh. So we have. I mean, anything you want, you can order. So, I mean, if you want a cheeseburger or you. Well, the beautiful thing was they knew me, so, like. I mean, they knew me well. So we'd walk in and the fire would be going, and they'd have our favorite music, and then they'd say, Dr. Biden, would you like a picture of sangria? And I'd say, yes, I would love a picture of sangria. Yes. So anything you wanted would be there. They'd hope. Oh, they made these best homemade cookies that would be on the counter for you. They wanted to make like, you know, it's a military base, so it was

[Kelly Ripa]

like, with military precision, I'm assuming.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, yeah, with military precision. And they would serve us and take care of the house, and they were just really and truly amazing, as you know. I mean, you know, American military and you know who they are, so they're just amazing people.

[Kelly Ripa]

How is President Biden feeling? How is he doing? Now it's time for a new segment we like to call First Day Face Off. Parent versus Kids, brought to you by Walmart. This year, Walmart's Back to school has the styles kids want, not just the stuff they need. And at prices parents love. That's a win win in my book. It's your go to back to school store for all your school supplies and tech like headphones, tablets, and accessories. And don't forget they have sneakers and apparel, including school uniforms. Just everything. So shop back to school at Walmart, Jan. Classes in session. Back. Back to school time.

[Jan Chile]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

Show of hands. Who has the tougher job, the parents or the kids?

[Jan Chile]

Parents. Immediately. No notes.

[Albert Bianchini]

I will Die on the hill.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Jan,

[Kelly Ripa]

remind us again, how many kids do you have?

[Albert Bianchini]

It's not relevant.

[Kelly Ripa]

No, it is very relevant.

[Albert Bianchini]

I was a kid and I know. I am the. I'm the voice of children today.

[Kelly Ripa]

You're the voice of today's.

[Albert Bianchini]

Yes. And the children are stressed, Kelly.

[Jan Chile]

No, but seriously, you're not the one who has to do the shopping. And the shopping's the hard part because all the kids have opinions. They want what they want and it's, it's a lot of work for the parents.

[Kelly Ripa]

And it's not just like, you don't have to just go get supplies anymore. Like, we got a Trapper keeper, I got a pair of clogs. And that was like, that was calling.

[Jan Chile]

Right.

[Albert Bianchini]

But the outfit, now you need to get the outfit and the shoes. It's a big priority for kids.

[Jan Chile]

That's true.

[Albert Bianchini]

They want the good stuff.

[Jan Chile]

My boys. Definitely. It was a priority. I'll give you that. I'll give you that point.

[Albert Bianchini]

Come on.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, my gosh. See, you have two boys. A girl. Like, having a girl, Jan, we used to have to put a lock on the door and pick out her outfit. They know what they want. They have very strong opinions. Walmart always has everything that your kids want. And before you say, Kelly, you don't shop at Walmart. Yes, I do.

[Jan Chile]

Right now they have like all the things that are in right now. That butter yellow, the western boots. They have like all the cool jersey, like sports gear.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, they've got everything. One cart, one shop. You don't have to go to 50,000 places. I wish they would open a superstore here in Manhattan. That would be amazing. Walmart. If you could just find the time, find it in your hearts to build a superstore, that would be great. But I like shopping on the app. The app is easy. Yeah, it's super easy. You can do it, you know.

[Albert Bianchini]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

You do it while you're sitting in traffic, sitting in the back of a cab.

[Albert Bianchini]

And counterpoint, which is a good one.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah.

[Albert Bianchini]

The kids have to live with these choices all year.

[Jan Chile]

Kelly, that is a good. That's a good point. But it doesn't make that harder for the kids. Kids.

[Kelly Ripa]

By the way, it's so reasonably priced. You can actually afford. When your kids grow out of their things, which is, we can agree, constant and always. And you know, I think your kids, when they feel good about how they look, there's a certain level of confidence and a certain ability for them to carry forth with their day.

[Albert Bianchini]

Yeah.

[Kelly Ripa]

Don't you agree?

[Jan Chile]

Exactly. And because you're not picking between like what they want and what you can afford to swing, it works out for everybody.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Totally.

[Jan Chile]

And they have this new thing now with the Walmart Express delivery on the app where if you forget something, they can get it delivered in under an hour, which is amazing.

[Albert Bianchini]

Parent saves time, saves the money, and the kids get exactly what they want.

[Kelly Ripa]

By the way, Albert, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you have a kid.

[Albert Bianchini]

Listen, maybe the real answer is that nobody has it hard. Maybe Walmart just handles everything.

[Kelly Ripa]

Albert gets the gold star.

[Jan Chile]

Valedictorian.

[Kelly Ripa]

Valedictorian of the class. Dismissed.

[Jan Chile]

Everyone.

[Kelly Ripa]

Thanks again to Walmart for sponsoring First Day Face Off Parents versus Kids. I love Walmart. Look, getting your kids ready for school can be chaos. But instead of running store to store, smart parents get it all in one place. Walmart has the styles your kids actually want at prices you'll love. Nail the first day look with styles that match every kid's vibe. Starting at just $4. Forgot something? No problem. Walmart delivers last minute stuff in as fast as an hour. Be the parents who get it right on the first try. Shop your kids back to School Wants and needs At Walmart, we are in the thick of the back to school scramble. Between the long list and the endless shopping trips, it can feel like a full time job. Every student's needs are unique and Apple Gift Card is the smart solution that celebrates those individual milestones. It goes beyond the basics of a school bag by offering access to productivity apps, subscriptions and music. It is a versatile choice for any student heading into a new chapter. Honestly, when I'm trying to think of a great graduation gift, I always end up getting Apple Gift Card because why spend money on a present the kid really doesn't want, need or end up using? With Apple Gift Card they can buy what they want when they want it and it takes out all the guesswork. I know we want to be creative with gifts sometimes, but ask any kid this is what they really hope to get. Visit applegiftcard.apple.com to learn more and gift one today. Everyone's got a playful side and some treats just know how to bring it out. Like Twizzlers. Whether it's a movie night, a summer road trip, or just one of those everyday moments that could use a little extra spark, Twizzlers bring the fun. Twizzlers are the kind of treat the whole family can't help but twist, pull apart and share. There really is something so satisfying about pulling them apart and there are plenty of tasty flavors to discover. Always remember spontaneous, silly moments that add a little twist to your day. Pair perfectly with Twizzlers. Half the reason I go to the movies, Jan, is to enjoy Twizzlers. I love a Twizzler at the movies,

[Jan Chile]

at the the best.

[Kelly Ripa]

By the way, when I saw Mark's last show, there were women sat across from me in the aisle and I heard the bag open and I turned to them and thank God they recognized me and they offered me some of their Twizzlers. It was like free candy. I couldn't believe it. And do not judge me by the way. Sometimes I'll bite off the top and the bottom and use it as a straw in my drink. I've done it. You've done it. We've all done it. Don't act like you don't do it, because we all do it. Look for your favorite flavor of Twizzlers. Wherever candy is sold, life is busy enough. Your beauty routine shouldn't be. Sephora makes it easy to find exactly what you need to look and feel your best. Streamline your day with some of their essentials, like Merit's Great Skin Instant Glow Serum and Salt and Stone Santal and Vetiver Extra Strength Deodorant. Finding a natural deodorant that actually works has been a game changer. And it actually smells amazing. Plus Kerastase Chronologist Overnight Youth Serum. This is my secret weapon for waking up with hair that looks like I just walked out of a salon. And it completely makes my morning styling routine effortless. You've got lots going on. Your routine doesn't have to shop now in store [e-mail]. how is President Biden feeling? How is he doing?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

He's doing okay. You know, when we got out, he was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. And, you know, for anyone who's listening, I mean, really, that diagnosis, you can be cured and you can go through radiation or whatever, you can be cured and you'll be fine. Unfortunately for Joe, it metastasized to his bones, which means that he will forever live with cancer. And we have to keep, you know, we have to be mindful of it every three months, testing and medicines and it's, you know, anybody who's gone through this cancer journey, and I've been through it many times with members of my family, of course with Beau, it's constant, it's daily, and. And I think it's challenging.

[Kelly Ripa]

A lot of people were dubious, thinking that it was a big cover up. That everyone knew that, you know, that you must have been covering for the president and known about this diagnosis. And we hear at the podcast, my father, about six months before President Biden's diagnosis, was diagnosed with the exact same thing. And so when people were like, there's no way. You can't know. Oh, yes, there is, because they don't test men over 70 years old for prostate cancer. And so it can be living there for all of those years growing slowly, slowly, slowly, and eventually metastasize. And my dad was in a car accident and thought he injured his back because somebody was texting and driving and hit him from behind.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Kelly Ripa]

And if he didn't get into that accident, I don't know what would have happened, because he thought he just hurt his back in a car accident. He didn't realize that it was the cancer in his bones. So I. So I'm grateful for the car accident, believe it or not, because at least we were able to treat it. But it's. I'm sure it's. I'm sure their treatments are exactly the same.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

They probably are. And, you know, all of my friends would tell me, oh, my husband was up, you know, so many times last night. And then I would say, oh, my gosh. Well, so was my husband. And he wakes me up and all that kind of. And it was just like when we'd get together. And that continued when we got out. And I said, joe, you know, I. And you probably read this in the book. I said to the doctors, he's getting up, you know, seven times a night.

[Kelly Ripa]

These are the White House doctors.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes. So I thought it was addressed. But, like, you're saying they were following the American Urological association guidelines, and so they didn't give him the PSA test, the blood test, but when it continued, when we got out of the White House, I said, you know, Joe, we've got to go up to Jeff in Philly, and something's wrong. And so we did. But I never. Oh, my God. I never thought it would be prostate cancer.

[Kelly Ripa]

But you see the difference with the doctors at The White House versus Dr. Biden, who got it taken care of. Like, as soon as you were like, okay, now we're. Now you're in my hands.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, yeah. But you mentioned your family, and if this is too much, please tell me, but how is Hunter doing? And if you would talk about him going through his addiction, And I'm wondering if the. If the grief with watching his brother go through so much, do you think that exacerbated the addiction in some way.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I for sure think it did exacerbate things. You know, addiction affects so many people. And it was really hard, I think, for me personally, to understand addiction, to understand it was an illness, because I kept feeling like, my God, we gave him everything. We gave him a good education. He's. He couldn't be more like, you know, he has a great family. He has. We live in a great house. Like, what more could we have given him? And so you tend to look at yourself and think, what did I do wrong? How could I have done this better? And once you're going through rehab after rehab after rehab and you're not getting answers, I think it's really, really hard. But Hunter has overcome his addiction, if that's the right word. I mean, you've probably heard him on podcasts now. He openly talks about addiction, which I think is helping other addicts see their way forward and helping families understand that

[Kelly Ripa]

it is a disease.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah, exactly. Because it's really hard to understand when you're going through it. But now he's doing, he's helping, helping people in recovery. He's been in recovery, I think I forget it's eight to 10 years now. He has a. He's remarried. He has a beautiful little boy who he named Bo, who's six years old now. I mean, he turned his life around, but it wasn't easy and it was years and years and years. So I want to really try to encourage anybody who's listening to get help and get to a counselor. And a lot of other people have struck. Many thousands have struggled with addiction. And it's really tough.

[Kelly Ripa]

I have sort of a final question.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Uh huh.

[Kelly Ripa]

And I fear the answer. I really do. I fear the answer. I don't know, Jan, really, Do you think we'll ever see a. A woman president in our lifetimes?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

In my lifetime? Well, I'm 75.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

So, you know, I feel like probably not in my lifetime, Kelly, but maybe in yours.

[Kelly Ripa]

You think?

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah, I mean, come. You know, I know we. I mean, you and I believe in a woman president. I mean, you know, it's like no question, right? No question.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

But I really did think last time that Kamala was going to win. I mean, I was out on the campaign trail for her. I saw the excitement, I saw the crowds. I saw, you know, at the convention. I mean, I saw all the energy. And I thought, finally we're going to have a woman president. And I must tell you, I was shocked the morning after when I got up at 5 o' clock in the morning to feed Willow and get ready for the day. And I found out that she had lost. I mean, shocked. But I. We can't. I don't know what it is. Why is it.

[Kelly Ripa]

Why is it so. I am less hopeful than you are. I don't know. I'm hoping that it's certain point that that turns around. I don't know what it's going to take. I don't think social media helps. I don't think.

[Jan Chile]

No.

[Kelly Ripa]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

We can't give up hope.

[Kelly Ripa]

Well, I'll never give up hope. I will always keep trying. I will always keep trying. I'm from New Jersey.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Come on.

[Kelly Ripa]

You know, always keep moving forward. I just, you know, I just feel like there has to be something internally. There's got to be a messenger eventually that breaks through. That people.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

We're the messengers, Kelly. We are the messengers.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'll try.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

You try. I will.

[Kelly Ripa]

Thank you for being on our podcast. I absolutely loved, loved, loved your book. I want to encourage everyone to go out and read View from the East Wing Rip. The East Wing

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Rip. I mean, we're laughing, but it's serious.

[Kelly Ripa]

I know it's. I mean, you have to laugh, otherwise you'll cry.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Cry. Exactly.

[Kelly Ripa]

And I really appreciate you spending time with us. Please give Mr. President our best wishes here.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

I will.

[Kelly Ripa]

And your entire family. Thank you, Dr. Biden.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Yeah. And your dad.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Lots of prayers.

[Kelly Ripa]

Thank you.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Bye Bye.

[Kelly Ripa]

Bye, Dr. Biden.

[Dr. Jill Biden]

Bye. Bye.

[Kelly Ripa]

Let's talk off camera with Kelly Ripa is a pretty production of Malojo Productions. From Malojo, our team is Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Albert Bianchini, Jan Chile, Seth Bronquist, Roz Therian, Devin Schneider, Michael Halperin, Julia Desch and team Radio Andy. Lisa Mantineo, Michael White, Shakira Perez. You know how we all go to the doctor when something feels off? That's basically the system. You wait, then you react. Fountain Life flips that you can actually look at your body before anything goes wrong. Using advanced imaging labs and AI to catch things early and help you stay well longer. Along with its AI platform, Zori, Fountain Life analyzes your scans, blood work, genetics and more. To uncover what most doctors would miss, go to fountainlife.com Kelly Ripa to learn more. Life is busy enough. Your beauty routine shouldn't be Sephora makes it easy to find exactly what you need to look and feel your best. Streamline your day with some of their essentials, like Merit's Great Skin Instant Glow Serum and Salt and Stone Santal and Vertiver Extra Strength Deodorant. Finding a natural deodorant that actually works has been a game changer, and it actually smells amazing. Plus Kerastase Chronologist Overnight Youth Serum this is my secret weapon for waking up with hair that looks like I just walked out of a salon, and it completely makes my morning styling routine effortless. You've got lots going on. Your routine doesn't have to shop now in store or at Sephora. Com.