AUSTIN, TX – March 13, 2025 – At South by Southwest (SXSW), Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, appeared for a special live episode of their newly launched podcast IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson. The siblings took the stage at the Austin Convention Center for a conversation on transforming despair into hope—and ultimately, action—with Dr. Laurie Santos, psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab. IMO officially launched yesterday from Higher Ground, the media company founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. New episodes will be released weekly.
Why they made the IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson Podcast:
Michelle Obama: “We know people are going through some tough times, and I don’t think Craig and I are feeling any different than anyone out there. You know, we’re dealing with a lot of uncertainties. I, for one, feel for folks who are struggling and will continue to struggle in these uncertainties. I worry about folks being out of work, and I worry about how we think about diversity and inclusion. I think about how we treat one another and the voices that we hear, and what that does, what models that’s setting for the next generation. Who do we want to be as a country? All of that keeps me up at night, and I know that a lot of people are struggling with some of those things, but I find in those moments that it is better not to try to figure that stuff out alone.
For me and Craig and our families, you know, we always try to step outside of our loneliness and talk as a family and as a community to share those concerns. And I hope that our listeners are pushed to do some of the same things too. That we’re not going to figure this stuff out on our own, and that we need each other, and we need to step out of our loneliness and start talking to each other. So hopefully this podcast will spark some conversation, but more importantly, I hope it leads people to seek out their own communities of trust and conversation, so we’re not sitting alone in these feelings. So that’s my hope.”
On finding your passion:
Craig Robinson: “Our mom used to say, ‘You’re responsible for your own passion.’ And that was some of the most empowering advice she ever gave us. How can we help those out there who don’t have a Marian Robinson or a social group? How can we help them work through making themselves happy?”
Dr. Laurie Santos: “I think sometimes when we think of hope, we think of what psychologists might call optimism. We’re just, like, ‘everything’s gonna be fine.’ And so I think it’s important to call it the way it is. It’s not fine. But hope isn’t that. Hope says things are not fine, but I can actually see at least a few paths for things to get better. Why is that psychologically so important? If you think things are fine right now, you’re going to act, you’re going to take agency, you’re going to do anything about it. “
On IMO, the former First Lady and her older brother give their opinions and candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships, and the world around us. Each week on IMO, Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson are joined by a special guest with lived experience to tackle audience questions with practical advice, relatable anecdotes, and plenty of laughs. From resilience in the face of life’s challenges to navigating relationships, parenting, family, and faith, IMO sees the First Lady at her most relaxed and honest.
IMO launched Wednesday, March 12 with an intro episode and a second episode featuring Issa Rae discussing the challenges of mismatched expectations in adult friendships. The series will release new episodes weekly featuring conversations with a range of guests, including Issa Rae, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik, Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, Jay Shetty, Jonathan Haidt, Abby Wambach, Tyler Perry, Elaine Welteroth, Tracee Ellis Ross, Angie Martinez, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Logan Ury and Brian Chesky among others.
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are available.
ABOUT HIGHER GROUND
Higher Ground, founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, creates and elevates stories and voices that bend the arc. From scripted and unscripted television, feature films, and animated series to podcasts and digital series, the company tells widely acclaimed stories across all platforms. Higher Ground Productions has a first look deal for film and television with Netflix and Higher Ground Audio has a first look podcast deal with Audible. For more information on Higher Ground projects, visitHigherGroundMedia.com.