Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson brought a live recording of their “IMO” podcast to SXSW London on Tuesday, discussing their career journeys and entering the podcasting space — and revealing one of their favorite guests so far.
The former First Lady said that though she never expected to become a podcast host, the other challenges she’s faced in life unknowingly prepared her for it.
“It’s that courageous thing, right? The feeling that, OK, I guess we can do this because we did all these other things. The bravery makes you brave to try anything at any age,” she said. “I mean, I lived in the White House. I was the First Lady. That wasn’t my plan, I had no training for that. Wasn’t my idea! But we figured it out.”
Obama added: “I figured, if I can be First Lady, I can do a podcast with my brother!”
Obama and Robinson launched the “IMO” podcast in March 2025 through her and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground productions, dedicated to “conversations about life, leadership and the challenges we all face,” according to its synopsis. Over the past year or so, they have interviewed guests including Jimmy Kimmel, Dave Chappelle, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ayesha and Steph Curry, Halle Bailey, Conan O’Brien and more.
