The Jamie Kern Lima Show - First Lady Jill Biden Pt 3 President Biden’s Stage 4 Cancer, His Race for a Second Term & More

Starting point is 00:00:00 During President Biden's time in office, did you ever see signs of cognitive decline? Was there ever a moment where you thought this could impair his ability to do his job? No, never. Never his entire president. I mean, he would... Coming up in this incredible part three episode with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Nothing's off limits today. Everyone's so excited to hear from you. When you are the most...

Starting point is 00:00:30 powerful man in the world and you have access to the best medical care. I understand that the protocol for testing for prostate cancer isn't to test PSA over the age of 70. That's correct. I understand how with traditional medicine things can be missed. How with so many things like preventative full body MRI scans. Yeah, but have you had one? I haven't. I haven't. But I've been thinking about it this week. When I waitressed at Denny's, this is, I'm not kidding, I saved my tip money, I was in my 20s, so that was 20 years ago, and I did a full body MRI. What? I know, I did, they had them then. They had them? Yeah, yeah, now they're everywhere. How does the most powerful man in the world, the president of the United States with the best medical care,

Starting point is 00:01:23 how does nobody catch this? How does this not get caught? Well, They didn't test him. They didn't. And nobody knew or had any idea. No. Until, I think you guys shared very shortly after you found out that he had stage four. Well, he... That first appointment, Jamie, I mean, right then and there, the doctor said, something's there.

Starting point is 00:01:51 And we just never expected that. To find out that it was stage for cancer that had metastasized, I mean, it was shocking. It was just shocking. Is there any chance that the doctors in the White House, whether for past administrations or current administrations, just keep up a facade and tell the president, well, they want to hear? No, no, we have incredible doctors. So how they missed it, I have no. idea. All throughout history, so many times when something goes wrong or goes awry or doesn't go

Starting point is 00:02:32 as planned, somehow ultimately, the woman gets blamed. There are so many people, as you know, that say, Jill told Joe to run again. Jill told Joe he has to stay in, even though she must have known something was wrong. Why do you think there seems to be so many theories out there that you are the decision maker behind everything. I said, no. I said, you make this decision yourself. I said, whatever decision is made, you have to be able to live with it the rest of your life. And I said, I am not going to weigh in for or against. And I kept true to that. It was his decision. I think people just put whatever twist on it that they want. And mostly, it's negative. Because in the beginning, I mean, Joe did not, was not going to run for two terms.

Starting point is 00:03:30 He was only going to run for that one term. He's resigning from office because people don't feel he can do the job. At the same moment, he's arranging for the release of a hostage. He's doing the job so well. And he grabbed my hand and he said, Jilly, I had no choice. Lady Dr. Jill Biden made history as the first first lady to hold a full-time job as a college professor while also serving in her full-time role in the White House and across the country as our first lady.

Starting point is 00:04:12 She's carried unimaginable tragedies and loss from losing her son Beau to cancer to her other son Hunter battling extreme drug addiction to now President Joe Biden being diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer. She has a brand new book out called View from the East Wing. You can get it anywhere books are sold, and it's also on Audible, where the First Lady herself reads it to you. And today she's opening up like never before, and nothing is off limits. I am so happy you're here and so excited for this conversation we're having together today with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. The intention of the show is to be a force for good and a force for love.

Starting point is 00:04:58 I have guests on that might vote differently or love differently or pray differently from you and me because I believe to help heal humanity through love, we must first understand the humans who make it up. And I am so happy that you are here, no matter how you vote, how you love, how you pray, you belong here. And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone shared this episode with you, welcome to the Jamie Carlinam Show podcast family. I'd be so grateful if you take two seconds and just hit the subscribe button on the app or listening or watching on. That way you're going to be the very first to get every inspirational episode. Plus, you can also get weekly inspiration into your inbox from me to you for free.

Starting point is 00:05:42 Just join my newsletter at jamie kernelima.com. And thank you so much for sharing this episode with every single person you know who might need some inspiration of their own today or perhaps some hope because we are all in this one life together. And right now, as the First Lady shares in this episode, President Joe Biden is in the fight of his life, battling stage four cancer. While the First Lady agreed that today, no questions were off limits, and so I do ask the most pressing questions so many of us want to know, I also want to ask you to join me in praying for President Biden's health and strength, and in praying for and sending love to his entire family during this time. Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lehmishout.

Starting point is 00:06:33 Oprah, how have you defied the odds? Her show is unlike any I've ever done. A revelation. When you listen, it feels like a hug. First Lady Michelle Obama. Jamie, you are going so deep. I have never had this in-depth conversation. I've actually never said that out loud to anybody in an interview before. You know how to get there.

Starting point is 00:06:57 Your brain and your spirit and your heart is like, wow, Melinda French Gates. When I look into Jamie's eyes, I feel like I am on some other cosmic level with her. Megan, Duchess of Sussex. I wasn't expecting that one. I could see the light around her. She's infused with light. Maria Shriver. I never made that mistake again.

Starting point is 00:07:23 Imagine overcoming self-doubt, learning to believe in. yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern-Lima show. Jamie Kern-Lima is her name. Everybody needs Jamie from Lima in their life. Jamie Kern-Lima. Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern-Lima. So many of us can relate to moments in our family. I've had this happen with parents and also grandparents where we start to notice where we have this moment where whether it is a parent or a partner or a friend where we're like, huh, I think that their memory is changing or I think their cognitive functioning is starting to shift or they're starting to lose their cognitive ability. During President Biden's time

Starting point is 00:08:16 in office, did you ever see signs of cognitive decline? Well, I saw him aging and I saw him, you know, slung down, but I figured, well, he's 83 years old. Is this what aging is? And that's one of the things when you talk about my next book is I want to talk about health and aging, longevity, because I don't feel that we have a true sense of as we age, is this normal? Is this abnormal? Should I be calling a doctor? Should I, would it be ridiculous? for me to call a doctor about this. And I don't think we really understand aging well enough about to know what's normal and what's not normal.

Starting point is 00:09:10 And we had another four years, that's what one of the things I would have focused on was really defining aging in this country and what are its challenges. And how do we go through it? Not just ourselves, but how do we go through it as a married couple? You know, how do we go through it as a family? What are our obligations?

Starting point is 00:09:39 You know, how do we handle it? How do we be caretakers? How do we be CEOs of our own health? Yeah, there's so much to it. Yeah. You talk about in your book as well about, you know, going through your own journey of dealing with menopause and not even speaking to Joe about it.

Starting point is 00:09:55 And, you know, in a way, sort of like suffering and silenced and just powering through and so many women do that. And just to know the difference, as you mentioned, between aging or is this just normal aging that you're seeing him go through? Is it actually something serious? Do you feel, was there ever a moment in the White House where you felt like his aging, whether it be signs or symptoms of normal? aging, cognitive decline, whatever it might be that you saw. Was there ever a moment where you thought this could impair his ability to do his job? No, never. Never his entire presence. I mean, he would forget a word, I mean, or switch somebody's name or something. And I do that myself. Yeah. So it's like, and now it's kind of scary. Like if you can't remember somebody's name, you think,

Starting point is 00:10:49 oh my God, you know, is there something wrong with me? Do I have some disease? Is this normal? You know, I'm in my 70s. And so we don't know, we don't have the answers. And like you're saying about women's health and about menopause. I mean, I'm now working with women's health. I'm with Milken and I'm their chairperson of the National Health Network or their Milken's Health Network. And it's like we, I don't know whether you knew this or not, but, you know, all the research, was done until the 1990s, the mid-1990s on men. There were no women in the studies. And even the mice were males.

Starting point is 00:11:37 Like, how do you study menopause in a male mouse? I mean, it makes no sense. And so we're pretty far behind. But the good news is that now we're catching up. And women are talking about menopause. Like before, you know, when I went through menopause, which was, what, 30 years ago, it wasn't, I mean, people would talk, women would talk about it, but not like, you know, they weren't like today. Like, there weren't books written about it. You couldn't go online and find some answers.

Starting point is 00:12:13 And, I mean, I know myself and I write this, you know, I went to my doctor and the big scare when I was put on hormone therapy, I, it could give you breast cancer. And so I said to my doctor, should I stay on? Should I get off? What do you think? To my gynecologist. And she said, Jill, what do you think? What do you want to do?

Starting point is 00:12:37 And I'm like, I said, you're my doctor. You're asking me to make that decision. And that is how it used to be. And I think there's so much we need to do that we are doing. Like we have to go into the medical schools and we have to rewrite the curriculum that deals with menopause because I don't think there is any now. Or it's very, you know, it's like three pages or something in the medical books. But all of this is now changing with osteoporosis, endometriosis, menopause.

Starting point is 00:13:12 I mean, we are now, I hope that your audience feels hopeful. Yes. We are starting to get answers because we're demanding them. Yeah. We're not staying silent anymore. I love that I know what your next book's about. I'll be back. Perfect.

Starting point is 00:13:28 I did a four-part series with Dr. Mary Claire Haver just a few months ago on menopause. Fascinating. Exactly what you're saying that there's no training even in the best medical schools and how shocking that is. And how that needs to change. One of the biggest questions people have is when you are the most powerful man in the world and you have access to the best medical care, I understand. understand that the protocol for testing for prostate cancer isn't to test PSA over the age of 70. That's correct.

Starting point is 00:14:00 I understand how with traditional medicine, things can be missed. But how, in this day and age, how with so many things like preventative full body MRI scans? Yeah, but have you had one? I haven't. But I've been thinking about it this week. Okay, you've got to do it. So you and I were both waitresses. When I waitressed at Denny's, this is, I'm not kidding, I saved my tip money.

Starting point is 00:14:28 I was in my 20s. So that was 20 years ago. And I did a full body MRI. What? I know. I did it. They had them then. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:14:38 Yeah. Now they're everywhere. Now, and when you do it, there's no radiation. Here is my rationale is I've had friends catch things in stage zero, you know, and then it's a simple, a simple thing. A simple fix, yeah. This is something people are struggling to understand how, how, and here's what I'll say, actually, when you look back in history and you see royal families of all different countries

Starting point is 00:15:08 and you see the behind-the-scenes stories, you'll often see doctors not telling the king something's wrong. You'll often see people keeping information from people in power. And there's so many theories out there on this. There's theories that how could you not have known? And so, you know, how does the most powerful man in the world, the president of the United States, with the best medical care, how does nobody catch this? I get that there is no PSA for prostate protocol, but with any other tool, whether it's preventative medicine or anything else, full body MRI. how does this not get caught?

Starting point is 00:15:51 Well, and you've read my book and you've listened to it and you know that's chapter one and that's almost how I start out. In that they were the guidelines that you don't test over 70. And so I write in the book how Joe kept getting up and I went to the doc and I kept saying, hey doc, like, you know, I got to teach in the morning and he's up a couple times a night and is this normal? And so I assume, you know, the doc would talk to Joe about it.

Starting point is 00:16:24 And, but as it turns out, you know, he went by the guidelines of the American Neurological Association saying don't test PSA over 70. And they didn't test him. They didn't. And nobody knew or had any idea. No. until I think you guys shared very shortly after you found out that he had stage four. Well, he kept, you know, we got out of office and he kept getting up. Yeah. And I said, Joe,

Starting point is 00:16:55 like, we got to address this. And so I called, like, you would think he'd been concerned about his health. He would have called. I called and got an appointment with the urologist and said, we got to come up and get this figured out. And we went up to Philly. And, and I never, I mean, that first appointment, Jamie, I mean, right then and there, the doctor said, something's there. And we just never expected that. We just never expected that. And then to find out that it was stage for cancer that had metastasized, I mean, it was shocking. It was just shocking. So there are the facts. I mean, he just, we had, we just had no idea.

Starting point is 00:17:54 Was the urologist that found it a different doctor than the doctors in the White House? Oh, yeah. Yeah, we went up to Jefferson. Is there any chance? I would never think there's, I'm just going to ask it. Is there any chance that the doctors in the White House, whether for past administrations or current administrations, just, keep up a facade and tell the president. I don't think they want to hear.

Starting point is 00:18:19 No, we had incredible doctors. They were all from Walter Reed. Honestly, they were incredible doctors. And I thought we received really excellent medical care. On the lower level, there's an actual medical office right as you, right by the elevator, that you go to the residence. So you can go down, you know, there anytime at all. I'm telling you, I mean, you get a lot.

Starting point is 00:18:43 a scratch on your knee and they're up there with band-aids. I mean, they were really good doctors. So how they missed it, I have no idea. I love how passionate you are about health. And I think that it's just a great learning for all of us that if you have the best medical care in the world and something can still be missed. Yes. I agree with that. Like, you know, figuring out how do I how do I become the CEO of my own health? What preventative stuff is out there? And it's interesting, it's hard enough to get health care coverage for Americans, and it's definitely a privilege to be able to do any type of preventative thing,

Starting point is 00:19:29 and that's a whole other topic as well. But anyone who is blessed enough to be able to do it, I think it's definitely worth it. When you look throughout history, because right now, I mean, first of all, in, in 2026, you know, you cannot be public in any way, shape, or form and not have 50 million fans and 50 million critics and all kinds of haters trying to get clicks on stories and all kinds of conspiracy theories. It's just like an occupational hazard now.

Starting point is 00:20:03 I have a lot of friends that have the top podcasts out there. And, I mean, it doesn't matter what profession you're in now. If you're public in any way, yeah, it's just like, everything and also just the amount of conspiracy theories. And it's wild how people get fed algorithms and this and that. All throughout history, so many times when something goes wrong or goes awry or doesn't go as planned, somehow ultimately the woman gets blamed. Right? So there are so many people, as you know, I'm not going to share anything you don't know, that say Jill told Joe to run again. Jill told Joe he has to stay in, even though she must have known something was wrong.

Starting point is 00:20:48 There are a million people involved, including the president himself, and making decisions on is he going to run again and all of the things. Why do you think there seems to be so many theories out there that you are the decision maker behind everything? Because I think, well, first of all, I write about it in my book. and I can remember being at our beach house in Rehabit Beach, and there was so much pressure for Joe to step down and to step aside, and he was losing the support of the Democratic Party.

Starting point is 00:21:27 And Joe said to me, you know, what do you think, Jill? What do you think I should do? And I said, no. I said, you make this decision yourself. I said, whatever decision is made, you have to be able to live with it the rest of your life. And I said, I am not going to weigh in for or against. And I kept true to that. And Joe's advisors came in and they, you know, it was, but Joe, I think, saw the direction that things were going.

Starting point is 00:22:02 And he decided to step aside. I mean, I thought what he did was heroic. I mean, he gave up everything. Yeah. And I think, you know, it was his decision. I think people just put whatever twist on it that they want. And mostly, it's negative. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:22:23 And because it's just human nature. I think it's so important for humanity and for everyone out there to go, oh, there's this one moment time, or this one decision, but really to zoom out and go, wow, this person has been a public servant for over 50 years. Most people, they volunteered once at a food pantry, like in eighth grade. And it was like two hours. Exactly.

Starting point is 00:22:50 He has been a public servant for over 50 years. Like the lifetime of service, I think also puts context around then making that decision. Yes. Like George Washington did. Like, I mean, making that decision to step away from the most powerful role in the world. Yeah. It's got to be hard. It was hard.

Starting point is 00:23:17 I mean, I think it was hard for him. But I can remember, you know, going upstairs that night and getting in bed. And I said, Joe, you know, how are you doing? And he grabbed my hand. And he said, really, I had no choice. And so, you know, he had to step aside. I mean, that's who Joe was.

Starting point is 00:23:46 But I think in this whole process, I think, and I think history will prove this. And if you look back at 2023 after the midterms occurred and we won the midterms and how, you know, the Democrats were doing so well And everybody was coming to Joe and to me and saying, he's got to keep going. He's got to keep going. He started to do so many things.

Starting point is 00:24:13 We've got to persevere. We've got to move on. We've got to build on what we've already done. And his advisors were saying that. People were saying that everywhere, out on the road. He has to run. He has to run. And because in the beginning, I mean, Joe was not going to run for two terms.

Starting point is 00:24:34 He was only going to run for that one term. And I think people forget that historical context because of all the negative overlay. They forget the true story of what happened. And I'm hoping that it's revealed in history. And that becomes Joe's legacy, that he did it for because he believed in, you know, listening to the American people. And I thought it was, you know, you talk about heroes. I mean, I was really proud.

Starting point is 00:25:11 I knew how hard it would be. But he did it. And I think the context is so important, you know, for everyone listening or watching right now, if you imagine yourself in the most powerful position in the world, having also been a public servant over 50 years, and then everyone around you in your party, your best advisors, everyone's saying, run, run, run, it's you, it's you. Yes, yeah. And the day, the very hour that he was sitting, we were sitting at our dining room table,

Starting point is 00:25:38 and he was writing his resignation letter. At the very same time, there's a bedroom right near our dining room in our beach house. He was in the bedroom on the phone, arranging for the release of Evan Gerskowitz, you know, the hostage. And I thought, look at the irony of this. he's resigning from office because people don't feel he can do the job. At the same moment, he's arranging for the release of a hostage. He's doing the job so well that he's getting this hostage release.

Starting point is 00:26:21 I mean, it was just unbelievable. It was just this surreal moment in time in our lives, in Joe's presidency, to experience it all. This conversation with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, is so incredible. We made it into more than one part. She's truly opening up like never before and sharing lessons that have changed her life

Starting point is 00:26:43 and could truly impact and change yours too. You are not going to want to miss this incredible part four of our conversation with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. That's coming up in the next episode of the Jamie Kernelima show. Remember, this episode is not just For you and me, please share this with every single person that you know because it can impact

Starting point is 00:27:03 and change their life too. And if you love today's episode, please click the follow or subscribe button for the show on the app. You're listening to it on or watching it on. And if it added value to your life, if you could please give it a rating or review, five stars really, really good. I'd be so grateful. And again, share it with everyone that you believe in.

Starting point is 00:27:22 Share it with another person in your life who maybe could benefit from it or is making a change in their life or carrying grief or just needs hope. and inspiration. You can also post the episode and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and lessons in this episode today. You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today. But before you go, I want to share some words with you that couldn't be more true. You right now, exactly as you are, are enough and fully worthy. You're worthy of your greatest hopes, your wildest dreams and all the unconditional love in the world. And it's an honor to welcome you to

Starting point is 00:28:02 each and every episode of the Jamie Kernelima show. Here, I hope you'll come as you are. Heal where you need, blossom what you choose, journey toward your calling, and stay as long as you like because you belong here. You are worthy. You are loved. You are love. I love you. And I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kernelima show. note I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

The Jamie Kern Lima Show - First Lady Jill Biden Pt 3 President Biden’s Stage 4 Cancer, His Race for a Second Term & More

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