In a brand-new podcast alongside her brother, former First Lady Michelle Obama is setting the record straight about her personal life, directly addressing persistent divorce rumors. According to The New York Times, the podcast — titled IMO — premiered on Wednesday and gave listeners a first glimpse into the candid conversations the siblings plan to share, including discussions about Michelle’s marriage, which has long been the focus of public speculation.
“I wouldn’t have survived eight years in the White House without my big brother by my side,” Michelle said, reflecting on her years as First Lady from 2009 to 2017.
She admitted that while they always knew Barack was ambitious and brilliant, neither she nor her brother ever envisioned a future that involved her becoming First Lady.
The podcast promises to tackle a wide range of audience questions, offering personal insights into everything from maintaining a marriage and raising children to managing friendships and dating. Michelle also confessed that politics was never something she loved—and it was actually her brother Craig Robinson who encouraged her to support Barack’s run for president.
The series will also touch on Craig’s own experiences, including his divorce and his current marriage to Kelly McCrum Robinson, while debunking rumors about Michelle and Barack’s relationship. The gossip even went as far as suggesting Barack had a romantic link with actress Jennifer Aniston — a claim Aniston publicly dismissed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, clarifying they had only met once.
Michelle and Craig plan to welcome a variety of celebrity guests throughout the season, including familiar faces from Michelle’s previous podcast like filmmaker Tyler Perry, along with newcomers such as Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.
On launch day, Michelle also joined Sophia Bush’s podcast, Work in Progress, where she opened up about adjusting to life as an empty nester, describing the newfound freedom as “liberating” and sharing how she now makes choices with herself firmly in mind.
