The Breakfast Club - Grace Under Fire: What Michelle Obama Taught Us About Power

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

In this episode of The Latest, Loren LoRosa breaks down Michelle Obama’s revealing conversation on Call Her Daddy — and why it hit deeper than headlines. From being reduced to her clothes and appearance to carrying the weight of being the first Black First Lady, Michelle’s reflections spotlight the impossible tightrope Black women are forced to walk in powerful spaces. Loren connects Michelle Obama’s words to a larger truth about visibility, respect, and resilience — unpacking how fashion became strategy, why her résumé was ignored, and what “when they go low, we go high” really looks like in practice. This episode is about being seen, surviving scrutiny, and still showing up with purpose.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. If you only listen to one thing to make sense of the news this year, make it this. The final episode of this season of Next Question pulls together the most important conversations of the year. You'll hear David Graham on Project 2025. Liz Oyer on the plethora of presidential pardons.

Tina Brown on the year's biggest scandals here at home and across the pond, plus much, much more. It's a crash course in the last 12 months, how we made it through the year and a look at what might be coming in 2026. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, we always say New Year, New Me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth, and everything you need to step into your next season, whole and empowered.

New Year, Real You. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The more you listen to your kids, the clues. you'll be. So we asked kids, what do you want your parents to hear? I feel sometimes that I'm not listened to. I would just want you to listen to me more often and evaluate situations with me and lead me towards success. Listening is a form of love. Find resources to help you support your kids and their emotional well-being at soundedouttogether.org. That's sounded outtogether.org. Brought to you by the ad council and pivotal. I didn't really have an interest of being on air. I kind of was up

there to just try and infiltrate the building. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built the cultural empire, the Atlanta Ears podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring conversations with Ludacris, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now.

Listen to Atlanta is on the I Heart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything and everybody. You hear that excuse me? I don't know if you don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey, y'all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa, and this is 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, baby. Now checking in behind the scenes of the grind, which is our segment here at the latest with Lauren the Rosa where I get a chance to really sit down and think about how I'm feeling. And hopefully you guys at home are doing the exact same thing as I am doing it. That is the intention. Because a lot of times when you're moving, you're hustling, you're grinding, you're trying to figure things out. You're solving problems for yourself, your mom, your dad, whoever, you don't ever really take the time you need to just check in. Just sit down, check in and see how you're really feeling about some real things.

Back on the grind. So checking in behind the scenes of the grind, this connects to the episode a bit. I am feeling very empowered. Now I'm not going to hold y'all. I'm not one of them girlies who loves all the women empowerment brunches and all the things. I think sometimes a lot of this stuff can be very performative.

I know people who do it and it's not performative, but I think it can be performative. and I think the performance of it has taken away from the true, like, essence of like, yo, I'm going to get together a bunch of dope people to have a bunch of dope conversations. Because we all be going through things, for real, for real. I mean, men, women, black, white, yellow, and different. Everybody goes to things. Yes, it is very different as you start to change the color.

You're not, you know, I've not ever here at the latest with Lauren the Roseville. We ignore that. but when people get together, I think we can solve so many different issues if we were ever able to sit down and have honest conversations about how things made us feel, what we're experiencing,

and why. And I think Michelle Obama and what she has been doing in her podcast space, she has her own podcast with her brother Craig called In My Opinion, and what she's been doing in the conversation she's been having over there are just amazing.

At first, I'm not going to lie, I was a bit like, not skeptical. I mean, it's first lady Michelle Obama. Are you crazy? Right? Like, I knew that whatever she decided to put her mind to after the White House would take off. But I was just a bit nervous. I guess that's the better word for her when I saw that she was going to be doing a podcast because I know in the podcast space, the beauty of it is that you can really,

you really can connect with her audience. You can be very real about how you're feeling what you got going on. You get to cultivate your guests in the conversation. and you could really lean into who you are and expose so much about yourself and learn so much in real time in front of your audience if you choose to, have done the right way. Everything about Michelle Obama in the White House

from the time we first met her when Obama was elected back in 2018 to today in 2026 has been super authentic. Like, nothing about Michelle Obama gets fake girly empowerment branches at all, okay? Not at all. So I think my worry, it was more of a protection of like, y'all don't deserve my first lady, not on a regular basis, not her thoughts,

not her opinions, because all people are going to do is rip them apart. But nonetheless, she has pressed on and, you know, she is tons of episodes and guests from everyone from Taraji P. Hinton to Tracy Ellis Ross. They've had everybody on their podcast, Duane Wade and Gabriel Union. Like, they go in and out of entertainment, pop culture, sports cat William. was there recently, just a ton of people in great conversations. And the biggest thing I think that I've been really inspired by is seeing Michelle Obama, regardless of all the critiques, and the headlines and the pushback that have come from

her having this platform and opening up about things power through as if she don't even hear the noise. I mean, she was in the White House. She's the first black, first lady of the United States. So, I mean, yeah, she's used to noise, right? But I don't know. It was inspired in the watch when they were in the White House because it has so much coming at them.

Like Barack Obama's race and identity being questioned and just the microscope. Seeing the microscope that is on black people in the world day to day be placed on your president and your first lady is like a very different thing to watch because you would think that with great achievement comes great respects. And I think that there was a lot of respect for Obama

and the first lady in the first family, being the first black, first family in the White House by people, but I think it depended on who you were talking to, and that was hard to watch. So she's used to it. But seeing her push through, I'm always like, oh, my God, my two mantras,

I have three, maybe three in a possible. What would Beyonce do? Will Michelle Obama go lower, go high? Will Erica Badoo cuss you out or pull out the incense? And then my final one, would Issa Rae even invite you to her Red Cup yacht party in the summer? Those are the ways, like those are the boundaries I put on my life

when I'm thinking about certain things at certain times. So it's just been inspiring to see her grow. And now she's doing a ton of other platforms. Like, you know, she's sat down with so many people within this last year. More recently on the Call Her Daddy podcast. So let's get on into the latest because we got a lot of, talk about Michelle Obama and some of the things that she's been able to talk about. Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at,

you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven-figure check. I've told them I won't be working here in two weeks. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creators who built a cultural empire. The Atlanta Ears podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's Rise, featuring conversations with ludicrous, Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent, creatives in all walks of life.

The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like how you know, like, okay, oh, you're from Atlanta for real. I ain't got to say too much. I'm a Grady, baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the I Heart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green, from the Broken Play podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs of here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black and

Perfect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The cheese. What's a rap? It's time to rebuild. Who your MVP right now, then? Drake May up there. Josh Allen up there still.

Oh, my boy, Matthew Stafford. Where did his phone Knicks at? He ain't too far behind. He did all this talk. What Matthew Stafford is doing statistically, bro, it's crazy. Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan. But Matthew Stafford got better weapon. Caleb Williams.

Hey, he should be in that conversation. In what conversation? You should be in it. Listen to Broken Play with Navgreen from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.

And on therapy for black girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health, and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert, Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds us, We are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain. Each week, we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose. Whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

You know Roll Doll, the writer who thought up Willie Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Our new podcast series, The Secret World of Roll Doll, is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans. What? And he was really good.

You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelt's? Played poker with Harry Truman and had a long affair with a congresswoman. And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock, before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever?

And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On this podcast. So in the latest, first up is Michelle Obama sitting down with Alex of Call Her Daddy. And I'm not even going to lie. I was a bit nervous because I'm like, first of all, Alex Cooper and Call Her Daddy podcast can get, like, I know it's a very like pro-woman, feminist movement podcast, but they get into very sexual, intimate, flirty conversations.

And I just, yeah, that's not what I want anybody to ever try and have with Michelle Obama. Like, don't get me wrong, on her own podcast, Michelle Obama, you know, like she gets a little personal. I mean, not like insanely, but she's talked about, you know, the things that she finds Barack Obama, you know, what she finds attractive and what she finds sexy, not even just on her podcast, but, you know, just in headlock. in different places where she's been and she's been speaking. Their love is very on the forefront, right?

But call her daddy kind of gets a little bit crazy sometimes. But in the conversation, as they very, the minute they open the conversation, Alex Cooper makes it very plain and simple. You are not going to get no raunchy sex talk when it comes to Michelle Obama. Let's take a listen. When I was preparing for this interview, I realized that there were kind of two ways I could go about it. Option one would be more OG call her daddy days.

You know, talk some relationships. Try to ask you a couple questions about sex. Barack Obama wants to get reports on. But then there's the other side of this show, which is option two, which is hard but important conversations that are relevant to young women and girls all around the world. And so as juicy as option one would be. Or not.

Or not. Actually. Fair. It could have been like, that's that. I'm like, oh. Right. Fair. I just thought about it.

I'm like, you sitting here today as one of the most influential and powerful women in the world. It would be too great of an opportunity not to have you impart your wisdom on the next generation who is watching and listening today. So we're going with option two. Now, after this, they didn't get into the real things, okay? They get on into what is going down lately. So Michelle Obama has always been such a prominent for women and for girls on top of a ton of other things, right? Like education, underserved communities, health, like so many things. But the platform that in the stance that she has had to take when it comes to being a black woman and, I mean,

I mean, if we're being honest, becoming the national poster child of the least respected person in the world or in America is the black woman. Seeing that on a national platform as Michelle Obama gracefully and so fashionably, oh my God, it just pissing me off, make me think about it. And so fashionably gave these people the time of day as our first lady. And once I gave these people the time of day, I mean, some of y'all did not deserve her. at all from the fashion to the elegance to baby the high rose that she deserved to take i'm so glad that when she was there we did as much as we could to be outside swinging about michelle obama and she deserved every cousin coming off the porch y'all did not deserve her whatsoever um but they they get into that almost instantly uh the i mean the platform is that as we mentioned but

that has just been such a big calling for michel obama especially because she was so publicly ridiculed Let's take a listen to Michelle Obama on just what her life was like in the White House and what that dragging publicly all the time felt like, looked like, and what it turned into. You have talked a lot about how we live in a world where a woman's appearance and our bodies are overly scrutinized and objectified. What was that experience like for you and how did you navigate it day to day and not let it distract you? You know, when Barack announced I was hesitant, but once I was on board, I was on board, and I knew that I needed to be out there campaigning and introducing the world, not just to him, but to us.

We worked hard at the grassroots and understood that we'd have to meet people in their homes and in their communities. But as my popularity rose, I was being covered more. After all this great conversation and connection, the top of the article, would be she was wearing. And it got worse as we got better. So I understood it as campaign tactics, right? What better way to beat a moving engine is to try and slow it down. And so with women, what do we do with women? We start sort of talking about their strength and there. So then I became, I was angry, not passionate. It was a rolling thing, and I attributed totally to politics,

and I didn't write it off to what people really thought, because I had months and months of understanding that the people in those auditoriums and in those school buildings and at those speeches, they understood who I was. Okay, so first of all, let me just say, this is what I mean by as nervous as I was for Michelle Obama to step into a freely talk space and into media, I am like so inspired by her resilience. Because even here in this interview, I'm like so many people are going to grab this and they're going to,

uh, twist turn it upside down. They love to say she's still whiny. She plays a victim card or whatever. But what this does for women in spaces who really understand what she is talking about, baby, it's like, The feeling of, let me, okay, the best way I can describe, you know how people can be like, I felt seen. The best way I can describe feeling seen by watching Michelle Obama talk about being a black woman who cared about her hair, her nails, and her outfits while also put a cape on and went and saved the world and came home and was mommy and wife every day. For a woman, it's like coming home after a 12 hour a day and taking off your heels and your bra. for a man it's like coming home every day after working a 12-hour shift,

dinner is prepared, the kids are asleep, and baby girl about to tuck you in the sleep. If you know what I'm saying, you know what I'm saying, right? It is such a refreshing like a, like you can breathe a moment to hear her. And she's so, oh my God, when she said she had so much to say, but she wanted to make sure that, you know, the clothes and the things that she were wearing didn't take over what she was like the messaging and what she wanted to say it is like the the tight rope that you have to walk as a woman especially as a black woman too because normally you're like

one of few one of first Michelle Obama um in these spaces so or to reach certain heights and even if you're not the first person to reach that height at like the company you work at or with an organization or whatever maybe even family wise like I'm I'm first generation. When I say that, I have to be clear because a lot of people talk about immigration. Now, I'm not, not first, like a, you know, first born in the U.S. in my family, but I'm first generation. Like, I'm first generation, HBCU graduate and college graduate. I am first generation for a lot of the different, like, just life success that I'm seeing.

So that makes me, I'm first generation for a lot of other things just under those brackets. Every time I mess up something or every time I intend for one thing. tap in one way or there's a, you know, you know, like she talked about like with the clothing. Like you put on an outfit and you're like, okay, I'm showing up powerful and together and I feel good. But I've, you know, I've been on platforms where it's like you do all of that. And when you leave, the only thing people are talking about is what they did or did not like about it. You're closed. And it's like, you miss the whole message. Do you understand that like this opportunity can and will continue and will and has changed the lives of these people that I'm telling you,

didn't make it to where I made it to, and that is all you care about. I care because I have to. Like, I mean, and honestly, it's nothing wrong with Karen just because it's a passion as well. I know for me, like, I like to look good. You feel good when you look good, but also I'm into fashion. I love the stories that you could tell through clothing. I love using articles of clothing as my story and, like, you know, conveying how I'm feeling. I just like showing up looking damn good, period.

But also, I can't afford to not show up looking good. because the conversation around a black woman when she shows up somewhere, hair not together, clothes not together. I remember they labeled, this was some years back during Barack Obama's presidency, but I remember Michelle Obama being labeled one of Barack Obama's baby moms. Let me look up the guy's name who called her that. Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here, and I'm looking at, you know, as soon as I sign this,

I'm going to get a seven-figure check. I've told them I won't be working here in two weeks. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built a cultural empire, the Atlanta Ears podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring conversations with ludicrous, Will Packer,

Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ Drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent, creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said this is your assignment. And that's like how you know, like, okay, oh, you're from Atlanta for real. I ain't got to say too much. I'm a Grady, baby.

Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the I Heart Radio app. Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not. limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green, from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here.

But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. They're cheese. What's a rap? It's time to rebuild.

Who your MVP right now, then? Drake May up there, Josh Allen up there still. Oh, my boy, Matthew Stafford. Where did his phone Nick's at? He ain't too far behind. He did all this talk. What Matthew Stafford is doing statistically, bro, it's crazy.

Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan, but Matthew Stafford got better weapon. Caleb Williams. Hey, he should be in that conversation. In what conversation? He should be in it. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network

on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcast or whatever you get your podcast. The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Harden-Bradford. And on therapy for Black Girls, we create space for honest conversations

about identity, relationships, mental health, and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert, Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain. Each week we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose.

Whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know, Roaldol, the writer who thought up Willie Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

Our new podcast series, The Secret World of Roll Doll, is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans. What? And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you.

I was a spy. Did you know Doll got cozy with the Roosevelt's? Played poker with Harry Truman and had a long affair. with a congresswoman. And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock, before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever?

And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids. The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yes. Fox News Anchor E.D. Hill. had to apologize after he referred to Michelle Obama as baby mama.

You know that fist bump photo, like that moment that we always refer to when we couples goals, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. He referred to that moment as a terrorist fish jab. So not only can she not show cute, but she can't even fist bump and love her man, love on her man, right? Like that's just not a thing. But there's just always been so much conversation about Michelle Obama and the clothing that she wears and how she wears it. And don't get me wrong, the first lady in the White House said,

there's always a lot of attention to what they wear, what they do, how they present. Very different conversation, though, when it came to a black woman in the first. I don't, and when I read Kamala Harris's book, 107 days, 104 days. I said both because I don't remember which it is. I think it's 107. She talked a lot about how once she got into the White House, just as vice president, right? This is the first time that they've ever seen a black woman. woman vice president, right? How she realized, oh, this thing's set up for me. They don't even know what to do with me. They don't know how to talk about me. They don't know how to tend to me. They don't know how to defend me. It was a lot of that. It was everything was criticized. Michelle Obama

got it worse. I don't even say got it worse. Michelle Obama got it first. Literally, she got it first. So at that point, you know, Kamala Harris kind of had, like, we all knew what to expect when Michelle Obama and Barack Obama were headed into the White House. If you black, you knew. Like, okay, great, they're there. We need this. But baby, these people are about to try and make their lives hell. These mayonnaise people, they ain't going to like it.

Kamala Harris kind of, you know, she got a chance to see all of that. And I think at some point, you would kind of assume that the White House would kind of prepare for those things, especially on like the press side and the communication side. Kamala Harris talked a lot about not feeling supported by the White House's team. And, you know, even down to Michelle Obama talked about her resume and the fact that no one knew it. They didn't know that she had done all these amazing prestige, Ivy League things. She was just Barack Obama's wife. And the first lady in the White House gets that.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't honestly, I can't even tell you much about a lot of the first ladies and where they went to school. Besides Jill Biden, because she's from Delaware, I know that, you know, I know her platform. form. I know all the things. But just historically, I think women in the White House, um, there's always been, depending on who you're talking to a certain way that there looked at and critiqued. But I don't think people even gave Michelle Obama the chance. At least with Jill, you know, there was conversation about the things she was doing. Michelle Obama's headlines about, you know, people calling her, let me read a verbatim, an ape in hills.

There was a West Virginia official who called her Apen Hills. Those headlines were bigger. I need to get that official's name so we can put them on notice right here right now. But those headlines were bigger than any of the work that Michelle Obama was actually doing. And she talked about the fact that like no one cared about a resume. Let's take a listen to that. How do you know what to do in this role? And to me it was clear that, oh my God, you, you don't know anything about what I did before I came here.

I went to Princeton and Harvard. I mean, I practiced law. I was an assistant to the mayor in Chicago. I ran a nonprofit of 501c3, a build a board. I was a vice president for community relations at the University of Chicago hospitals. I was a dean of students. I was like, all of that just disappeared in the course of this whole election. And you now see me as just Barack Obama's wife.

I shied away from fashion leading the conversation, but I knew I couldn't, I didn't completely control it. So let's lean in. Let's lean in with what we do. Let's make sure that we have a plan and a strategy in place for how fashion, just like everything we did in the White House, would have meaning and impact.

Now, I thought that this was like such a positive spin on it. And if anybody knows me, I'm like everything black. Like if we could do black designers, if we can do, you know what I'm saying? Like I always want to try and platform people because I'd be needing to be platform. Like I understand what it can do for someone to, you know, lend a tag on Instagram or tell a friend about them or even if none of that just pay for the services and the businesses, whatever you can do, right? Michelle Obama talked about how when she was in the White House, because she was getting so much scrutiny me, Because she was getting so much scrutiny for what she would wear, she was like, let's be intentional.

And that intention, honey, ate down, okay? I remember there would religiously be a push for people to cover Michelle Obama's outfits as they do the first lady. But what was so beautiful about it is when you got to see the outlets. And a lot of them didn't even know what was happening. But if you were on our side of things, you knew exactly what was going on. Like I would see Michelle Obama like pop up in various dresses and I'd be like oh that is firing and I would go researching to be like a designer from Johannesburg uh Makai O and a lot of

times she like made sure she leaned in on like women designers like that was like a big thing of hers as well too there's so many different lists of Michelle Obama and um black designers but there's one moment and I know Sergio Hudson also worked with Kamala Harris as well too and Laquo Smith. Shout out to La Quine Smith. She wore Sergio Hudson a few times, but the moment that I remember the most is when Michelle Obama popped out to Joe Biden's inauguration when they were saying goodbye to the White House and she had on that purple baby and that side part was parted and she popped out with the leather gloves. The girls that get it, got it. We knew Sergio Hudson. And what I love about this is, if you're not in the fashion world, it might not be something that you care about,

but I'm going to work it down anyway. When you put on a designer and you're a person like a Michelle Obama and you have outlets like the cut, Vogue, essence, fashion bomb daily, all of these places covering refining you 29, covering what you're wearing, that puts this designer in such a different conversation and elevates them.

Like it literally can take a designer from a person who was like just trying to figure it out because of their level of clothes to one of the biggest designers in the world, especially in the couture space because Sergio Hudson is a designer. We've talked about him here on the podcast. Shout out to Sergio Hudson. We went to his Fashion Week show last season,

not last season, last February, I believe it was. Or no, it was September. It was last season. September, New York Fashion Week. We went to Sergio Hudson's show. And he is so big on supporting black talent. But he talks a lot about people showing up and supporting each other. And it's because he's as so many people

show many people who show up and support him, including Michelle Obama. The couture world itself, which he talks a lot about, is not the most friendly. And couture is like the stuff that is more expensive, harder to get to. It just, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's a thing for everybody.

It's not the most friendly to black people. People of color in general, black people specifically, especially designers, models, all of that. So when you got the first lady of the United States wearing your clothing, can't nobody tell you nothing. These other flashing houses can't sit next to you It does so much So to hear her talk about taking this moment

That was so, I know it had to be so hard for her To this day there's no way she doesn't still deal with just the Because you begin to like start really thinking so much about everything Like how does this look Like you're so timid about things you would never have been timid about Even unconsciously Even with her being as you know prominent and confident as Michelle Obama is like there's no way that you're not they used to be on her hair everything I'm just happy to hear

I'm happy to hear her talk about this every single time I don't care how many times she talks about it and anybody that's upset about it this is not the interview for you every single time she talks about it I'm happy to hear because I think it inspires people in the space in all different spaces to just push through you're good and you're doing something for other people. Like I read this Essence article. The two black women who do Michelle Obama's hair, they talked about, they did an article based on,

like, you know, meeting the hairstylist behind Michelle Obama, the former first lady's hair looks. And her hairstylist, Nigeria Rodway, and Yain Dem, too. Hopefully I'm saying that right, y'all. Don't be disrespectful. I get everybody's wrong. My bad. I try it.

But they talked a lot about, you know, just what the recognition meant because Michelle Obama did a lot to make sure not even did a lot she just did what she was supposed to do to make sure these women people knew that these black women were behind some of the hair styles that we loved and they talked about how it meant the world to them um here's a quote from the article this little black girl inside of me is jumping for joy because representation is representation was always important to her seeing someone who looks like you matters beauty and identity are deeply connected for all people i'm proud to be a part of a historic body of work that shows how our hair allows us to express ourselves freely then they ask you know hair is culture community and care essence acts how was working with michel obama deepened your understanding of this

and the women say our hair is our identity helping my clients move confidently through the world is an honor the significance that comes from how women in response to seeing Michelle embraids curls baby I remember seeing Michelle Obama and brazen I was like I know that's right you better slit them baby edges curls blowouts it just reinforces that they are seeing and that's what we opened up this episode talking about people will be like oh my god I feel seen it's just like you know sometimes we would be like I need to go and find myself and it's like okay you about like basically you ain't got nothing figured out and you're trying to figure this whole thing out and you're probably about to go do a whole bunch of drugs and that's fine if that's what you do

but you just need to take that time for yourself and, you know, go do what you're going to do over there. We're not jokingly seeing it when we say it about Michelle Obama. It is not the, oh my God, I need the gap year. It feels seen. It is not the, oh, my God, I feel seen in her. It is the, I feel seen. Like, if we're really getting down to the shits of, like, what it is like navigating through the world every single day as a black person, baby, this family, they are the billboard of it, period, and everything that they've had to put up with. And since it's still rising, okay?

Let's end this with Michelle Obama talking about when we go high. And then let's talk about when she says sometimes we go a little bit of shmedium. Because honestly, these last couple days I've been feeling like I need to go low. I've been too high. I need to go lower so people can leave me to hell long. That when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level. No, our motto is when they go low, we go high. Here's the thing.

Going high is a, it's a long-term, strong. strategy. You know, because the truth is that going high is about thinking about trying to really get to the real answer. Because a lot of times the low answer is just our immediate instinct. It's just, I'm mad, and I just want to punch you in the face. But it doesn't solve anything. And if we're all thinking about what the agenda is, which is getting to a place where we live in a country that we're proud to pass on to our kids, going high, is the only way we get there. It's our patience.

It's our tolerance. It's our belief in honesty and truth. It's our belief in hard work. It's not about getting somebody back. It's not about the immediate clapback. The immediate clapback is just for your own selfish purpose right there in the moment. And rarely does it solve anything. So I think, yes, we have to be a people that keeps going high.

Now going high doesn't mean you don't acknowledge the pain, but how do you react to it? Thank y'all for tuning in. It's Lauren LaRosa. This is the latest with Lauren the Rosa. Your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. Now, I tell you guys every single episode of my lowriders, y'all could be anywhere with anybody having these conversations and talking about all of the things. But you guys choose to be right here with me, and I appreciate you guys for that. I'm going to catch you on in my next episode. If you only listen to one thing to make sense of the news this year,

make it this. The final episode of this season of Next Question pulls together the most important conversations of the year. You'll hear David Graham on Project 2025, Liz Oyer on the plethora of presidential pardons, Tina Brown on the year's biggest scandals here at home and across the pond, plus much, much more. It's a crash course in the last 12 months,

how we made it through the year and a look at what might be coming in 2026. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Babes, what are you doing? What? I'm just mowing the lawn. No, it's blazing hot and dry out here.

Don't you remember? Smokey Bear says, Avoid using power equipment when it's windy or dry. Where'd you learn this? Oh, it's on... Smokeybear.com. many other wildfire prevention tips. Right. Thanks, honey, bear.

Because remember, only you can prevent wildfires. Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, your state forester, and the ad council. You know, we always say New Year, New Me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey, everybody, it's Michelle Williams,

host of checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth, and everything you need to step into your next season, whole and empowered. New Year, Real You. Listen to checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The social media trend is slanding some Gen Ziers in jail. The progressive media darling whose public meltdown got her fired and the massive TikTok boycott against. target that actually makes no sense. You won't hear about these online stories in the mainstream media, but you can keep up with them and all the other entertaining and outrageous things

happening online in media and in politics with the Brad versus Everyone podcast. Listen to the Brad versus Everyone podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.