Michelle Obama will talk divorce, newfound freedom and friendship—but refuses to delve into politics—on a newly announced podcast with her brother, it was revealed Monday.
The The New York Times disclosed the existence of the podcast, called IMO, which stands for “in my opinion,” and reviewed its first two episodes. The production, a video-led podcast, will be released to the public Wednesday.
Michelle Obama’s brother Craig Robinson (R) when he was the head coach of the Orgeon State Beavers, 2013. / Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
It features the former first lady and her brother Craig Robinson, who is the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The pair talk about a variety of subjects, but sidestep politics and current affairs, instead opting for a lifestyle-themed format.
That does not mean they avoid heavy-hitting subjects, however. The pair opened up about Robinson’s divorce from his first wife Janis Robinson, in 2000, according to The Times. The former college basketball coach remarried in 2006, to his current wife, Kelly McCrum Robinson . The Obamas, too, have faced a wave of speculation about marital troubles in recent months.
The pair also discuss Michelle’s marriage with her husband, former president Barack Obama, and his relationship with politics, the paper reported.
The couple has been dogged by persistent rumors about the state of their marriage, including that he had been dating actress Jennifer Aniston.
The Friends star denied a romance with Obama on Jimmy Kimmel Live, saying that she has only “met him once.”
“I know Michelle more than him,” she said.
While Michelle Obama may address her marriage on her new podcast, one area she is keen to avoid is politics, which she said in her 2018 memoir Becoming she “never wanted to be involved in.”
The Times reports that she addresses this subject with her brother on IMO. As a pair, they also talk about their tough upbringing in Chicago, Illinois. They shared a room in a small apartment in the city.
Obama also says that after years of Secret Service protection and restrictions, she has got back behind the wheel.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Former First Lady Michelle Obama are seen at the opening day 2023 US Open Tennis Tournament on August 28, 2023 in New York City. / Gotham / GC Images
The paper states that hosts “mainly offered advice based on their life experiences,” and will eventually welcome celebrity guests, some of whom appeared on Obama’s previous production The Michelle Obama Podcast. This includes director Tyler Perry; and new guests, like actors Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.
On the second episode of the new show, the pair will be joined by writer, actress and producer Issa Rae who will speak about maintaining adult friendships.
The new show is produced by the Obamas’ media company Higher Ground alongside Audible, which is owned by Amazon.
One audience likely to be listening assiduously is Republicans, particularly Donald Trump, because of her formidable polling if she were to run for president. When Joe Biden pulled out last year Trump was fascinated by the prospect of running against her, best-selling author Michael Wolff revealed in his book All or Nothing, to the extent that he had decided on a nickname for her.
The former first lady has consistently refused to engage in speculation about running for office but her decision to have a high-profile podcast at a time when the Democrats appear leaderless and rudderless is likely to spark a frenzy inside MAGA that she is considering a run.