Ahead of former First Lady Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson‘s appearance at SXSW, the duo Monday announced a new podcast series, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, which will launch Wednesday with two episodes. The two will take the stage in Austin on Thursday where they’ll be recording another episode of IMO.
Higher Ground, the media company that Obama founded with President Barack Obama, is producing the series.
On IMO, the former First Lady and her older brother will give their opinions and candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. The first two episodes will feature an intro episode and one with Issa Rae.
Each week, the duo will be joined by a special guest to tackle audience questions with practical advice and relatable anecdotes. Rae will be talking about the challenges of mismatched expectations in adult friendships.
“With everything going on in the world, we’re all looking for answers and people to turn to,” said Michelle Obama. “My brother Craig and I launched the IMO podcast to create a space for people to come as they are, ask honest questions, give their opinions, and have thoughtful conversations about life. There is no single way to deal with the challenges we may be facing — whether it’s family, faith, or our personal relationships — but taking the time to open up and talk about these issues can provide hope.”
“We grew up talking through life’s big and small questions together,” added Robinson, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “And now, we’re inviting listeners into that conversation, with the hope that it sparks new ideas, new perspectives, and creates the connection we could all use right now.”
Other episodes include interviews with clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik, who’ll discuss building healthy connections in a marriage. Keke Palmer will share her journey of finding balance between personal sacrifices and career success. Social psychologist and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt will explore how many can reverse the two major interlocking changes to childhood: the loss of play-based childhood and the rise of the phone-based childhood. Seth and Lauren Rogen will share their experience caring for aging parents and being part of the “sandwich generation.” Jay Shetty delves into the risks of taking career leaps while maintaining family priorities. Guests throughout the season will also include Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, Tyler Perry, Elaine Welteroth, Tracee Ellis Ross, Angie Martinez, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Logan Ury and Brian Chesky among others.
Higher Ground has been behind several podcasts including The Wonder of Stevie, a seven-episode series that covers the performer’s career; Your Mama’s Kitchen, where award-winning journalist Michele Norris and her guests explore the complexities of family life and how their earliest culinary experiences helped shape their personal and professional lives; Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, an Audible Original which features the former First Lady’s conversations with Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, Conan O’Brien and Oprah Winfrey; The Big Hit Show, a series of audio documentaries hosted by Alex Pappademas focused on pieces that have defined and changed culture; Tell Them, I Am, a podcast collection of universal stories from Muslim voices; Renegades: Born in the USA, a series of conversations between President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen; The Michelle Obama Podcast; and The Sum of Us podcast series, based on Heather McGhee’s bestselling book.
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson will be available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and elsewhere.