The Breakfast Club - Dating/Relationship Confessions ( Ari Lennox on toxic love and Michelle Obama gets real about marriage)

Episode Date: March 12, 2026

On this episode of The Latest with Loren LoRosa, Loren checks in behind the scenes of the grind as she prepares for an exciting panel at SXSW (South by Southwest), where she’ll be joining Ciara and health professionals to discuss HIV prevention and how entertainment and culture help spark important conversations. Then Loren dives into the online debate sparked by Ari Lennox, who recently admitted she’s often been drawn to toxic energy in relationships instead of the “nice guys.” Loren breaks down why Ari’s honesty about dating, healing, and accountability is something many women can relate to. She also touches on how women like Lori Harvey often face criticism for dating publicly while simply figuring out what they want. Plus, Loren reacts to a candid moment from Michelle Obama discussing her marriage to Barack Obama, where she revealed that some of the hardest years in their relationship came while raising kids — and why pushing through those seasons helped strengthen their marriage.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him. If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. That's when his life took a disturbing turn.

A one-night stand would end in a courtroom. The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Next Monday, our 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards are happening live at South by Southwest. It's the biggest night in podcasting. We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. And the winner is creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. Thank you so much. IHeart Radio. Thank you to all the other nominees.

You guys are awesome. Watch live next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific free at Veeps.com or the Veeps app. Ego Woda is your host for the 2026 IHart Podcast Awards, live at South by Southwest. Hello, is anybody there? Raised by a single mom, Ego may have a few father-related issues. Are we supposed to talk about your dad? Her podcast, Thanks, Dad, is full of funny, heartfelt conversations with actors, including fellow S&L alums, comedians, musicians, and more about life and their wonderfully complicated relationships with their fathers.

I think and hope that's a good thing. Get to know Ego. Follow thanks dad with Ego Wodom and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey, I'm Jay Chetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hillary Duff, singer, actress and multi-platinum artist. You desire in family like this picture and that's not reality. My sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very,

painful part of my life. And I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Chetty on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Amanda Knox, and in the new podcast,

doubt the case of Lucy Lettby, we unpack the story of an unimaginable tragedy that gripped the UK in 2023. But what if we didn't get the whole story? The moment you look at the whole picture, the case collapsed. What if the truth? was disguised by a story we chose to believe.

Oh my God, I think she might be innocent. Listen to doubt the case of Lucy Lettby on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything and everybody. You know if you're going to lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey, y'all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa, and this is another episode of the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things, pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations

that shake the room. Back on the grind. Now, checking in behind the scenes of the grind, we are literally on a countdown. So we hit the road. I've been talking to you guys about this every single episode. But really excited for a conversation that I'll be joining. And now I can give you guys a little bit more details. So if you will be at South by Southwest this weekend,

coming, which is the weekend of March 15th, I will be on a panel with a health professional and artist, music artist, Sierra, on Saturday, March 14th. And we'll be having a conversation about HIV prevention and how entertainment and culture helps us to start having the conversations that, like, we don't want to have to make sure prevention is a thing. That's actually happening. And I'm really excited for that conversation. Y'all know I love to talk. I love to get into the things. But I love when real conversations intertwine with culture, pop culture.

I think that we underestimate the impact that we have, especially in areas like media, hip-hop, R&B. I really think we underestimate how much we make things cool and how much we make things the thing to do. So excited to be on this panel and be having this conversation. And that's what my behind the scenes of the ground has been like. I've been kind of like just resting and getting through work and resting as much as I can because this weekend, baby, we are outside. But speaking of conversations and how culture and impact and real conversations come together,

let's get into a few real conversations that are happening right now that we just cannot ignore. So our girl Ari Lennox, she was over in LA on effective immediately. with my bro, DJ Head and my sis, Gina views. And they were having a conversation about music and where she is in life today and her new project vacancy. Now, the project is fire. We interviewed her on the breakfast club. Going to check that out in full on Netflix if you have not already.

But the project is all about this like back and forth struggle of I found someone, this person is making me feel good. I'm not baking anymore. My space is occupied. And then boom, this person is tired. It makes no sense. This person is leaving me empty. And I'm walking away and now I'm vacant again and now I'm here and I'm looking and I'm

trying to figure it out and I'm inviting new people into my space. It's that tug of war that dating actually is where it's like you figure out what your space is that you want occupied. You figure out how you want to do it. You figure out who you want to do it, right? Like who you want to occupy your space. But it's so up and down about what that who. looks like. I think most people don't like having these conversations when it comes to the

woman's side of things and women being actually able to get out there and date. We talked about Louis Harvey and Dempson Edress on this podcast and, you know, a big splash that they made in the news recently with their dating life. If you didn't listen to that episode, go back and take a listen. And the reason why I bring up Lori Harvey in this is because people love to give Lori Harvey such a hard time for dating, for going out. dating people, figuring out what she likes, what she doesn't like. And, I mean, it's a lot more public because she is the daughter of Steve Harvey, and she's become a figure and a fixture and culture of her own.

And she's also dating men who are high profile and very well known as well, too. But every time I hear someone complain about her in a dating situation or the fact that she may have moved on or may have broken up with someone, I'm like, like, she's human. That is how you figure out what, not being vacant. and your space looks like. You got to figure out who you want to check in and who you need to check out. So Ari Lennox is on that journey right now

and the album literally is the R&B Neo Soul soundtrack to that, right? So she's, you know, over on Effective Immediately, we DJ head and Gina views. And they get into a conversation about just dating. And, you know, from having a conversation myself with Ari Lennox, I feel like she's in a season of accountability that I haven't seen from her. And I've been a fan of her for a very long time.

And I'm not mad at it whatsoever. And I don't know why it's making people so upset. But here's what she had to say about the fact that she chooses toxic men over nice men who would treat her nice. And that's why she thinks she isn't married. Let's take a listen. I think I have a thing for toxic energy. So I think there's still some more healing that I need to do. Because when I look back on all of these energies,

it's a shame I gave them so much time and there were sweet energies that I didn't and so now I see those sweet energies getting married and starting families I'm just like dang that probably could have been me if I recognized the security in those individuals at the time and like now I'm like yeah I'm definitely feeling that now I'm aware that there's something going on there's something wrong what do you think it is that attracts you to like toxic energy I think they just seem really exciting at first. The chemistry is incredible. And they don't even always be fine. It's not even that like they're sexy or something. I mean, well, they're sexy, but they don't be the finest things I've ever seen. It's just an energy. Sometimes it's convenience, what we talk

about. A lot of those, the sweeter energies that I felt like weren't for me. I felt I could see myself falling asleep a little bit on the phone. So I don't know if that's like, if Boring is good or not. Like, I'm trying to figure out what that means. Like, it's the thrill. Yeah. It's the thrill of it. Yeah.

Can I just say that I don't know any woman who has not been through this phase of her life? Like, I don't. Maybe some more drastic than others, right? Like, maybe some, you know, have allowed more than others, have stayed in situations longer than others, you know, are in this mood in this phase a little bit older than others because I don't mean right now myself. The relationship I'm in, it couldn't have been that. Like, it couldn't have been, oh, my God, you're the nice guy.

I don't want to be with you because it's boring. No. Like, I am at a point where, yes, I do, I definitely need someone that is like going to get me and check and going to get me together, okay? Because I can get, I could take it there. But I'm also just valuing and loving on myself so much differently than I was when I thought that type of thing was like it for me and I thought that was cute. my like how i am about myself today wouldn't even allow me to to entertain the type of energy that

orleans is talking about but i don't knock her for being there because i was there and in me being there and once i started to come up out of it like and it's not that and it's not that the relationship i'm in right now or the marriage i will be in one with, you know, my partner now, it's all the way perfect whatsoever. But the fact that we as women, and so many women I know have been through this, felt like if things were good, if we were being loved on the right way, there's something wrong. And I still had my moments. Don't get me wrong.

Like, I still have my moments where I'm running like, you really love me? Like you tell me you love. And it's so crazy. Nothing's wrong. Like, it's like walking outside on a 90 degree day with their sun and no rain and you're dressed for the rain because it's just like, well, I know it rains in the world. So I'm just dressed like this. Like, that's literally what that's like. And I don't know why our mind and our psyches do that to us as women.

And I think, you know, if I'm being honest with you, coming out of the, like that mental space and that aura that Ari Lennox is talking about, you get so traumatized by. manipulation and it becomes such a consistent pattern of like this is too good to be true. And I think it's not even about like manipulation from men in relationships because, you know, some people listening to this will be like, never been there, never been that, never experienced that. Sometimes that comes from life. Like I don't know about y'all, but I know even in life, like there are times where I'm like, God, you're doing your thing a little bit too much.

Like, what's about it happening? What's going on? And the fact that we even question that as if we're not supposed to have good things in life when you work for them or, you know, when you faithed it through your journey the way that you were supposed to or just, you know, like you show up for God, he's going to show up for you is insane. If you study for your test and you do well on your test, you wouldn't go and ask your teacher like, why do I got to eight bucks? You're crazy? But we do it anyway. And I think watching people be upset at R-Lenix for making these comments, I'm like, oh, I wish the world was a lot more honest about the things that we actually go through as human

beings. Because what I love about R-Lin-X in this conversation is, and in any conversation that I'm seeing her in throughout this like, you know, this accountability phase that she's in, it's just very honest. And it's very, it's not even about trying to be relatable. It's really just honest. And I think when you get to the point where like you could be honest with yourself, like literally so honest with yourself where even if you're still doing the things that you're

having to sit yourself down and be like, girl, are you crazy about? That's a different level of like transition and growth that's about to happen in your life. Canadian women are looking for more. More to themselves, their businesses, their elected leaders, and the world are at them. And that's why we're thrilled to introduce the Honest Talk podcast. I'm Jennifer Stewart. And I'm Catherine Clark, and in this podcast, we interview Canada's most inspiring women. Entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, politicians, and newsmakers, all at different stages of their journey.

So if you're looking to connect, then we hope you'll join us. Listen to the Honest Talk podcast on I Heart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'm Clayton Eckerd, and in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. he became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The internet turned on him. If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. But what happened to Clayton after the show made even bigger headlines.

It began as a one-night stand and ended in a courtroom, with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal. The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. Please search warrant. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of He Said She Said, and the search for accountability in a sea of lies. Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Next Monday, our 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards are happening live in South by Southwest. It's the biggest night in podcasting. We'll honor the very best in podcasting. podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.

And the winner is... Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. Thank you so much. IHeart Radio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome. Watch live next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific free at Veeps. Or the Veeps app.

Ego Woda is your host for the 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards, live at South by Southwest. Hello? Is anybody there? Raised by a single mom. Ego may have a few father-related issues. Are we supposed to talk about your dad? Her podcast, Thanks Dad, is full of funny, heartfelt conversations with actors, including fellow S&L alums, comedians, musicians, and more about life

and their wonderfully complicated relationships with their fathers. I think and hope that's a good thing. Get to know Ego. Follow Thanks Dad with Ego Wodom and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey, I'm Jay Chetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hillary Duff, singer, actress, and multi-platinner Hillary opens up about complicated family dynamics, motherhood, and releasing our first record in over 10 years. We talk about what it's taken to grow up in the entertainment industry and stay grounded through every chapter.

It's a raw and honest conversation about identity, evolution, and building a life that truly matters. You desire in family like this picture, and that's not reality a lot of the times for people. My sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very painful part of my life. And I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Chetty on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Now let's get to Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson. And the conversation they had was Sterling K. Brown and his wife, Ryan Michelle Bath.

Now both Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bath are actually. actors, no, they act. And the conversation was very wide-range. It was about an hour-long conversation on the In-M-I-O-O-Nopinion podcast. And what I love about Michelle Obama's conversation is exactly what I'm telling you guys I took from Arlennics. And people, they, I hate to put these words together, drag in Michelle Obama because I feel like she's our forever first lady, don't ever play with her.

But what people love to drag Michelle Obama about in this phase of her life where she's honest and talking us through things as a human not just as a first lady but as a human who has had children who has been married 30 plus years who has you know loved the same man for 30 plus years she tells the truth so they're having the conversation about Michelle Obama you know she's she's been very vocal about the fact that there were 10 some years that were not good with her and Barack Obama but comparing that to y'all the other years, it was worth the fight. And in having that conversation, Sterling K. Brown asked Michelle Obama basically did she, did they only make it through because of the kids?

Which is a common thing as well, too, with married couples, especially once you've already put the time in and, you know, all the things. And I thought that this was a very, like, he was very bold for asking this question. But when I, when I heard him ask it, I'm like, I've never thought about that were her and Barack Obama. Because it's, It seems like, I don't know, like they're former president, former first lady. They have the perfect family. Like, there was no other option but for them to figure it out. But that's not true.

They're humans. Let's take a listen to how Michelle Obama answered that. If kids were not a part of the equation in terms of like, do you think that some of the tough times may have led to a separation that didn't? Sometimes without kids, some of the tough times wouldn't happen. Right? And this is why I say, look. It's great when it's just you two, you know, and because there really isn't challenges with division of labor because everybody can be their own individual people.

You go off to your movie, yeah, yeah, we have our separate lives and then it's romantic. We get back together. The thing that makes that harder is when those beautiful, wonderful, lovely kids that we all want and love, they show up with their own agendas, you know, with their own. needs, and now it's the first major joint project that you have to do together. And that's when the hard starts. So I think a lot of our hard was because of the kids, who we love deeply. But I think without it, without them, you know, a lot of the hard things don't come up, right?

Because you can go to the gym all you want when there are no diapers to be changed. You know, you can do whatever you want. Y'all know each other. Who's driving? Who, do you know how to make a dental? Do you know how to make a dental appointment? Do you know where they go to the doctor? Do you know their doctor's name?

You started it. Look, the level of muscle that Barack and I have in our marriage is earned. It's earned over time. And it's only gotten better. And I think that's the point. It gets better. And then you, if you quit too soon, you'll rob your, self of the success of the better the work that goes in love it love it like and that's the duality

of like growth and womanhood and love it's like because even um michel ryan michel bath and stony k brown they have a podcast called we don't always get along and they're literally on michel obama's podcast with her and her brother craig and are talking about the fact that like it doesn't always feel good. The conversations, the relationship, a lot of things. It doesn't. But they figure it out. And they even talk about at one point where like, one person might check out and be like, uh-uh, I ain't doing this. No, not happening. I'm good. But there's still one person there fighting for the relationship. Celebrate your pride with the station that's as bold, vibrant and diverse as you are. I heart pride, Canada. From dance anthems to pop icons.

and hits from 2SLGBTQ plus Canadian artists. It's the soundtrack that keeps life loud and proud. Just ask your smart speaker to play IHeart Pride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at iHeartRadio.ca. Come together, celebrate love. Pride. I feel it all year long. Let's go.

With IHeart Pride Canada. I'm Clayton Eckerd and in 2022 I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. he became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The internet turned on him. If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. But what happened to Clayton after the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one-night stand and ended in a courtroom,

with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal. The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. Please search warrant. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young.

This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of He Said, she said, and the search for accountability in a sea of lies. Esler! Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Next Monday, our 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards are happening live at South by Southwest. Since the biggest night in podcasting.

We'll honor the very best. podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. And the winner is... Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. Thank you so much. Iheart Radio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome.

Watch live next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific free at Veeps. Or the Veeps app. Ego Woda is your host for the 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards, live at South by Southwest. Hello. Is anybody there? Raised by a single mom, Ego may have a few father-related issues. Are we supposed to talk about your dad? Her podcast, Thanks Dad, is full of funny, heartfelt conversations with actors,

including fellow S&L alums, comedians, musicians, and more about life and their wonderfully complicated relationships with their fathers. I think and hope that's a good thing. Get to know Ego. Follow Thanks, Dad with Ego Wodom and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey, I'm Jay Chetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hillary Duff, singer-actress. and multi-platinum artist.

Hillary opens up about complicated family dynamics, motherhood, and releasing our first record in over 10 years. We talk about what it's taken to grow up in the entertainment industry and stay grounded through every chapter. It's a raw and honest conversation about identity, evolution, and building a life that truly matters. You desire in family like this picture, and that's not reality a lot of the time is for people.

My sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very painful part of my life. And I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Chetty on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So basically what I'm trying to say here is leave my guard Arlennox alone. Everybody has their phases and their stages that they must go through. And a lot of us go through the same ones just with different people at different times of our lives. But I think once you get to this stage of growth, we tend to forget.

And I think that's what makes Arlennox so amazing as an artist is like, she's just very honest about what she's dealing with. And it makes you relate to the music even more. Like when I listened to the project, I knew I'm like, oh, baby girl is dating. And she is trying to figure it out. And the only reason why I knew that is because before getting into a relationship, I was dating. And I know what it's like to feel like, okay, I have this space, I have my boundaries that I've set up,

and I'm allowing you to come into it. And I understand the reference of like comparing that to a hotel and checking in and checking out and, you know, fixing up the hotel and fixing up the rooms and fixing up what it looks like when people walk into your life, especially after other people walk out. Across the board, everybody's just trying to figure it out, y'all. Period. That's it. That's all. everybody is just trying to figure it out and I appreciate the good conversations they're having in the midst of it let me know how y'all are feeling though number one are you where r nix is at how do you feel about what she said I want to hear from you guys I'm Lauren La Rosa everywhere L-O-R-E-N-L-O-R-O-S-A let's really talk about it there is also a talkback feature on the I-Hart app if you download the

iHart app you'll find the talkback feature there you can literally go there click the talkback feature and talk back to me. My lowriders, I want you all to get outside in the streets and the tweets. I want to hear it. Arlennox. Is she crazy? Do you feel her? Why are people so upset? And on the other end of things, on the married in the things, do you think that Barack Obama and Michelle Obama

after hearing everything that Michelle Obama has said very openly about the issue that they went through? If there were no babies involved, would we have had the first family that we had in that White House? during the time. I'm Lauren the Rosa. This has been another episode of the latest with Lauren La Rosa. Tell you guys every single episode, look, y'all could be anywhere with any old body

talking about all of the things, but you guys choose to be right here with me every single day. My lowriders, I appreciate you guys. I'll catch you in my next episode. I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him.

If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one-night stand would end in a courtroom. The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Next Monday, our 2026 IHeart Podcast Awards are happy. happening live at South by Southwest. This is the biggest night in podcasting. We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. And the winner is...

Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. Thank you so much. Iheart Radio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome. Watch live next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific free at veeps. Or the Veeps app. Ego Woda is your host for the 2026.

IHart Podcast Awards, live at South by Southwest. Hello, is anybody there? Raised by a single mom, Ego may have a few father-related issues. Are we supposed to talk about your dad? Her podcast, Thanks, Dad, is full of funny, heartfelt conversations with actors, including fellow S&L alums, comedians, musicians, and more about life and their wonderfully complicated relationships with their fathers. I think and hope that's a good thing.

Get to know Ego. Follow Thanks, Thanks, Dad, with Ego Wodom, and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey, I'm Jay Chetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hillary Duff, singer, actress, and multi-platinum artist. You desire in family like this picture, and that's not reality. My sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very painful part of my life. And I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now.

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Chetty on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Amanda Knox, and in the new podcast, Doubt, the case of Lucy Lettby, we unpack the story of an unimaginable tragedy that gripped the UK in 2023. But what if we didn't get the whole story? The moment you look at the whole picture, the case collapsed. What if the truth was disguised by a story we chose to believe? Oh my God, I think she might be innocent. Listen to Doubt, the case of Lucy Letby on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast, guaranteed human.