IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

On this week’s episode, college basketball coach and former player Dawn Staley joins the show to answer a listener question about leadership. She shares her own journey through the fledgling WNBA, her childhood growing up in North Philly, and what helped her to learn how to lead. Plus, Dawn shares her surprising true crime obsession. Have a question you want answered? Write to us at imopod.com . S...

Dating coach and behavioral expert Logan Ury joins the podcast to discuss all things dating and love. She shares her go-to strategies for a first date, why you shouldn’t care so much about whether there’s a “spark,” and how to find an authentic connection in a dating world mediated by technology and phones. Plus, Michelle shares how she and Barack first fell in love. Have a question you want answe...

Longtime friends, podcasters and performers Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers join the show! They discuss the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, how they’ve navigated their friendship through the ups and downs of their careers, and the fights that have made them grow closer to each other. Plus, Michelle shares the surprising new Bravo show she’s been watching. Have a question you want answered? Write to us...

Grammy-winning artist Victoria Monét joins Michelle and Craig to help a listener who’s falling out of love with her dream job. Victoria talks about the twists and turns it took to set up her own career and how she refused to give up motherhood along the way. She and Craig connect over the embarrassment that can come with telling others about your ambitious goals and how to separate your work ident...

Former President of the United States Barack Obama sits down with Michelle and Craig to answer a listener’s question about raising emotionally intelligent young men. President Obama shares how being raised by a single mother impacted his definition of manhood and how a formative experience in Indonesia taught him about self-sufficiency. Michelle and Craig reflect on the example of masculinity thei...

Legendary actress and comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus joins the podcast to discuss the importance of building community in adulthood. Michelle talks about how she’s approaching life in her 60s, the surprising strategy she used to maintain her friendships while in the White House, and Julia shares the women who inspire her most. Plus, the group answers a listener's question about finding adult friends...

Social psychologist and best-selling author Jonathan Haidt (“The Anxious Generation”) sits down with Michelle and Craig to talk about the damage that smartphones and social media are doing to our kids. Jon lays out the four ways you can tackle the problems kids are having with their phones, create a play-based childhood, and resist giving kids access to social media before they’re ready. Plus, thi...

Michelle and Craig sit down with famed radio host, podcaster, newly-minted golfer, and “Voice of New York,” Angie Martinez. As the mother of two sons, Angie offers her opinions to a listener struggling with raising a son in a volatile culture filled with bad examples of masculinity. Michelle and Craig talk about adolescent social pressure, and Angie shares her best trick for connecting with sons.&...

Legendary musician Bruce Springsteen joins Michelle (Craig is out sick!) to answer a question from a listener who is struggling with her relationship to her father. Bruce talks about therapy and how it helped him become a better father to his kids. Michelle talks about the joy of having an adult relationship with her children, and Bruce shares advice on how to accept the limits of other people. Pl...

Michelle and Craig sit down with entrepreneur and “Diary of a CEO” host Steven Bartlett to discuss what role money should play in your life, why it’s important to be transparent with your kids about your finances, and how Steven went from financial instability to a serial entrepreneur. They also answer a listener's question on how best to deal with financial anxiety and debt. Have a question you w...

On this week’s episode, OB/GYN (and close friend!) Dr. Sharon Malone joins the podcast to talk about the urgent issues plaguing women’s healthcare in the U.S. and how women can safely navigate a medical system that is not built for them. Plus, the group answers a listener question from a woman looking to freeze her eggs.  Have a question you want answered? Write to us at imopod.com . See Priv...

This week Airbnb’s co-founder and CEO, Brian Chesky, joins Michelle and Craig at the table to discuss everything from boosting a business out of the startup phase to dating in search of deep connection. Brian shares stories about Airbnb’s early keys to success (hint: it has to do with breakfast cereal), the evolving responsibility of tech companies in the modern age and how young entrepreneurs can...

Author Glennon Doyle and superstar soccer legend Abby Wambach sit down to give advice about what an IMO listener should prioritize while figuring out where to move her young family. Glennon shares why she moved her family seven times, and, as the “bonus parent,” Abby discusses what she thinks is most important to their kids’ and family’s happiness (hint: It’s not unlimited cake-pops, though she’s...

On this special live episode of IMO, Michelle sits down with Tina Knowles to launch her new book Matriarch. Tina goes deep on the values she learned from her childhood, how she shepherded her daughters through their iconic careers, and what she’s learned about being a mother.  Learn more about Matriarch here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729803/matriarch-oprahs-book-club-by-tina-k...

On today’s episode, Michelle and Craig open up about how they’ve managed grieving their beloved mother, Marian Robinson. An IMO listener asks Michelle and Craig for help in navigating painful family dynamics after losing her dad. Michelle and Craig share how their parents helped them manage grief from a very young age, and offer advice to the listener for finding meaning and connection after signi...

Legendary entertainers Damon and Marlon Wayans join the pod as IMO’s first sibling guests! They share hilarious stories from their childhood, open up about working together as an entertainment family, and share wisdom about raising children through challenges. Have a question you want answered? Write to us at ⁠imopod.com⁠ . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

Actress, businesswoman, and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson joins to talk about setting boundaries, why Michelle didn't attend the inauguration, post-White House therapy, and the glories of the Real Housewives franchise. Plus Craig gets a birthday surprise! Have a question you want answered? Write to us at  imopod.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr...

Actress, director, producer and businesswoman Tracee Ellis Ross joins IMO to answer a listener question from a man who has been unlucky in love but wants a partner and family. Tracee discusses how she learned to embrace being single for much of her adult life, why she feels ready to date again, and shares her dating checklist. Plus, Craig offers his thoughts on what men are looking for in their da...

Michelle sits down solo with author, businesswoman, and all around multihyphenate, Elaine Welteroth, to answer a listener's question about a dating red-flag. Elaine tells the story of past romance with her own “Br. Big,” and how it nearly set her off course from the family goals she cared most about. Michelle talks about the importance of dating before marriage and highlights a concept that should...

World-renowned life coach, podcaster, and former Hindu monk Jay Shetty joins Michelle and Craig to dive into a listener's question about professional ambition and dating. The trio discuss money in relationships, finding balance between work and romance, and Michelle shares her advice for choosing a life partner. Is the pursuit of perfection—in work or dating—worth it? Have a question you want answ...

Acclaimed actress Keke Palmer joins Michelle and Craig to answer a listener who asks why she feels so bad after a big career win. Keke reflects on how her planned breakout as a young actress went awry, and the ways that feelings of failure contributed to her career. Michelle, Craig, and Keke talk about how their perspective on meaningful work has changed over the years—and the advice that Michelle...

Michelle and Craig host their first live podcast recording together at SXSW! They are joined by Dr. Laurie Santos, psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab, to answer a listener question about finding hope in hard times. The group discusses how phones have contributed to the “always on” nature of stress, strategies to harness happiness is the everyday, and how to develop resilience for f...

Filmmakers Seth and Lauren Rogen join the show to answer a listener’s question about family upheaval caused by caring for an aging parent. Seth and Lauren open up about caring for Lauren’s mother after she received an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and Michelle and Craig share stories about the family caretaking that shaped their childhoods. Also find out how new hobbies and ceramic bongs could help...

Issa Rae is an acclaimed actor, producer, writer, and restauranteur—but she’s also a student of modern adult friendships. She joins Michelle and Craig to answer a question from a listener who is struggling with the unexpected end of a long-term friendship. Issa asks why male friendships are so weird and shares lessons from a friendship falling out. Michelle offers lessons on how to maintain connec...

In a small shared bedroom in a rented house on Euclid Avenue in Chicago, Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson built a special sibling bond. In their first episode, the former First Lady and her best friend and big brother share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first-crushes and fraught college years to landing at the White House and losing their mom. For six decad...