Michelle Obama’s Podcast ~First Episode, Seasoned Professional
In her first episode, Michelle Obama sits down with husband, former President Barack Obama, to discuss the importance of community and the benefit it provides in helping families raise children in loving environments.
They begin by reminiscing about their own childhood neighborhoods and upbringing. It’s a subtle reminder of all the reasons we fell in love with the Obama family. They’re so relatable. Their combined childhoods provide them (and us) with an abundance of experiences from which to draw.
Although they had different family structures, Mrs. and Mr. Obama both acknowledged the impact of having a tight-knit community and the advantages of having a village that consisted of extended family, neighbors, and friends who all looked out for one another. They describe the advantages of having others around to help carry the load.
You get the feeling this is what Obama wanted for America, but there were so many other things to deal with at the time (Hello, Financial Crisis of 2008, I’m looking at you!)
The Obamas do a great job of breaking it down and getting back to basics. Barack states,“This is not unique to the United States, … we just got our own version of it. How do we live together in a world that is shrinking and we are no longer just living in our own individual neighborhoods?” In their discussion, it’s clear the former First Lady and President still believe in the promise of a better America. They lived it. They’ve taken some time to analyze what helped along the way and they want the same for everyone else. Inclusion and community; teamwork makes the dream work. “You don’t have to go it alone,” they offer.
While addressing current events, Michelle reminds us that progress “is bumpy and it is uncomfortable. And that is how change happens. It’s not just one continuous arc…”
There are too many gems to cover in a single review. Suffice to say, this podcast is reassuring. If you’re looking for the adults in the room, the Obamas are here and the door is open. It’s comforting to listen to these two speak so casually and intimately about the way things used to be while offering a path forward. Their ability to encapuslate what’s in the hearts and minds of people who’ve been out in the streets since the murder of George Floyd shows they still have their fingers on the pulse of young America and humanists worldwide.
There was an accusation that this podcast contained some digs at current President Trump. There were none. Obama’s message was exactly the same as it was throughout his entire presidency. He’s always believed in the power of community. In this episode, Michelle recounted her own time working up close and personal in her community, learning about the various issues that adults and children faced in their daily lives. Their message has been consistent since they entered public life. Civil service isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle.
From a production standpoint, the podcast is excellent. Nobody is talking too loud, the music choices are fun, and transitions are seamless. It really sounds like you’re at the kitchen table with Michelle and Barry. Or maybe on the back porch. They invited you for a nice, cold beverage on a summer day and you got to talking about the kids ,current events, and whatever’s happening in the neighborhood. The tone is conversational, not scripted. It’s entertaining. I could safely listen with my children and we’d all walk away with something valuable.
I walked away feeling hope again. Relaxed but ready to work. From this podcast, it’s evident that the Obamas are also still here to work on behalf of the American people. They’re doing what they do best- organizing, sharing,supporting and enabling others to do the same.
You can listen to the Michelle Obama podcast, free of charge, exclusively on Spotify.
You can find the transcript for this episode at: https://storage.googleapis.com/pr-newsroom-wp/1/2020/07/MO-Podcast-Transcript-_Episode-1_FINAL.pdf
