The Jamie Kern Lima Show - Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack’s Insights, Her Next Steps and Plan & More!
Episode Date: November 25, 2025She’s one of the most requested guests of all time, and I am so excited that for the FIRST TIME EVER, First Lady Michelle Obama is here with you and me, in person on the Jamie Kern Lima Show! And I ...have to say, it’s one of the most inspiring conversations we’ve ever had on the show! She’s truly revealing all, and shares stories, insights and life-changing lessons she’s never shared before! Get ready to cry (she does in this episode too!), to laugh and gain soul-filling inspiration! And when I say we talk about all the things, we truly talk about all the things! Including the questions you submitted…I asked them, and she answered! All of them! From questions on regrets, to reconsidering running for President, to the state of our country, to body image and beauty standards (and double standards!). From learning to hear your intuition and trusting yourself, to the words her husband, President Barack Obama shares with her when she needs to restore hope, to how to Ignite Your Inner Light & Celebrate Who You Are with Confidence! In her new book The Look, Michelle reveals for the first time ever how she and her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact. She also has a brand new IMO podcast series, IMO: The Look as well! You can find both here: https://michelleobamabooks.com/ And be sure to tune into her award-winning podcast, IMO, wherever you listen to or watch your podcasts! I am so happy you’re here and thank you for being part of the JKL Show podcast family. The intention of this show is to be a force for good and a force for love. I have guests on that might vote differently, love differently or pray differently from you and me because I believe: To heal humanity through love, we must first understand the humans who make it up! I am SO happy you are here…no matter how you vote, you love or you pray, you belong here! Full Video Available on YouTube @JamieKernLimaOfficial. Are You Ready to believe in YOU?🙌 jamiekernlima.com 👈 Sign up for my FREE Inspirational Newsletter here and you’ll ALSO get special prompt questions to help you grow in your self-worth-building that pair with each episode!🩷 Make sure to click the “Follow” button for the show on your favorite podcast app, so you’ll be the first to get each episode! Get your copy of The Look Watch or listen to Michelle’s inspiring new IMO:The Look special podcast series Subscribe to Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s IMO Podcast Episode Reflection Questions for YOU: Jamie writes prompt questions each episode to spark revelations in your self-worth journey and help you apply the tools and lessons from each episode into your real life right now. Please make sure you’re signed up for Jamie’s free inspirational newsletter jamiekernlima.com 👈 Get my new book WORTHY plus FREE Bonus gifts including a 95+ page Worthy Workbook and more at WorthyBook.com For more resources related to today’s episode, click here https://jamiekernlima.com/show/ for the podcast episode page. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome to The Jamie Kern Lima Show 8:20 On Leadership: “Bring Others Up, Move Out Of The Way” 11:10 On Being “Cool” You Asked, Michelle Obama Answers 13:15 On The East Wing Being Demolished 15:45 If You Need Hope, Watch This! It’s such an honor to share this podcast together with you. And please note: I am 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. Click Here to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Follow me here: Instagram TikTok Facebook Website — Sign up for my inspirational newsletter for YOU at: jamiekernlima.com — Looking for my books on Amazon? Here they are! WORTHY Believe IT
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Coming up in this incredible part three episode with Michelle Obama, how, especially as someone who's been this huge overachiever your whole life, how have you gotten to the place where you're not tied to the significance of that?
I believe that our jobs as leaders is to come in, do our part, bring others up, move out of the way.
Let them cook, as the kids say.
This stage of my life is purposefully and mindfully planning my step aside.
I've never heard you share things like this before.
I have never had this in-depth conversation.
There are so many questions you want to know, and Michelle is revealing all in this episode.
Do you have a favorite prayer?
Barack still says his prayers too at night.
Sometimes I hear him at night.
How did you learn to be so cool?
Will you ever change your mind ever, ever in the future about running?
What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing?
East Wing being demolished.
You know, it was, I think in my body I felt that's the part of it that hurts.
For the person who needs to feel some hope in their life right now,
What do you say?
I will say what my husband has said and he helps me.
In her new book, The Look, Michelle reveals for the first time ever how she and her team
transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion,
and impact.
The Look will ignite your confidence and inspire you to embrace your own authenticity, beauty, style,
and to trust your own voice.
I was right.
I was absolutely right.
I didn't even know it.
Oh, my.
With my goodness.
Jamie.
What you just gave?
Like, thank you.
I don't know.
You pulled it out of me.
How did you get to be?
Such a light.
Where did that come from?
What planet could you get that off down from?
I don't want to cry my makeup off.
You just want me to cry mine off.
I mean, it's like,
Oh, Jamie.
Welcome to the Jamie Kern-Lean Show.
I am so happy you're here.
I'm so excited for this conversation we're having together today with First Lady Michelle Obama.
The intention of the show is to be a force for good and a force for love.
I have guests on that might vote differently, love differently, or pray differently from
you and me, because I believe to heal humanity through love, we must first understand the humans
who make it up. I am so happy you are here, and no matter how you vote or you love or you pray,
you belong here. And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone shared this
episode with you, welcome to the JKL Show podcast family. I'd be so grateful if you could take two
seconds and hit the subscribe button on the app you're listening or watching on. That way,
you'll be the very first to get every inspirational episode. Plus, you can get weekly inspiration
right into your inbox from me for free.
Just join my newsletter at jamiekernlima.com.
Thank you so much for sharing this with every single person who you know
who might need some inspiration today or perhaps a boost in hope and self-belief
because we are all in this life together.
Welcome to the Jamie Kernelima show.
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, but 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.
I could see the light around her.
She's infused with light.
Imagine overcoming self-doubt, learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough.
Welcome to the Jamie.
Kurn Lema show.
Jamie Kern Lema is her name.
Everybody needs Jamie Kron Lema in their life.
Jamie Kern Lema.
Jamie, you're so inspiring.
Jamie Kern Lema.
What for you would you say is your greatest life lesson?
Oh, gosh, Jamie, you're killing me.
You are going so deep.
I have never had this in-depth conversation about faith.
And I really am grateful to be in this moment with you.
But my greatest life lesson, do unto others.
You know, we are each other's brothers and sisters keepers.
And we do have space to do that, you know.
Yeah.
I really do believe that, that that, you know, what you put out, you get back.
I do believe that, you know.
And by no means perfect, you know, talk to my staff.
They're like, oh, my God, what does she want us to do now?
And, you know, but it is hard for me not to scoop up everybody in my orbit, you know,
and just parent them.
Sasha said this the other day.
We were at dinner and she says,
oh, mom loves to parent a thing.
Whether it's our dog sunny or there's like,
well, this is what I would do.
I just do have that sense of like if I can help you,
if I can mentor you, if I, like, this is what I know.
And what I've experienced, the more I give,
the more I get back.
It's just, I don't do it because of that, but that's what I've seen.
Yeah.
Come to be.
And so that means we have to be very careful about our words and our attitudes and how we show up.
That's the going high piece, right?
The going high piece is, can I go low?
Yeah, of course I can.
In my mind, behind the scenes, it's there.
It's not that you don't have the feeling, right?
You can be disappointed and angry.
But what you put out when you have a platform and other people are listening, my God, I think that I have a complete responsibility to be that light.
And it comes back multiple times.
So, yeah, be the light.
be like that's the that's the greatest lesson I've learned you know one of the things I think is so
powerful is that idea like if you need something give it you know like there's so many people that
don't feel seen or they feel invisible and it's just like there's moments you know you walk to
a coffee shop if you're able to or you know what walk down the street and if you actually see
someone else like if you really see somebody like you'll see this moment in their eye where
they realize they're seen and it's like in that moment they see you
back. And it's like there's, there's so much we can do in that vein. That's such a beautiful
lesson. I want to say something's really rare because you talk about, your mom talks about how
you, you know, if you colored outside the lines as a little girl, you'd throw that page away.
And, you know, to your point earlier, you've done so many things in such a, and yet you've talked a lot
recently where, you know, because there's a lot of people that call you their forever
first lady, and you've said a couple of times recently, like, y'all, that was nine years
ago.
That was eight years ago.
Now, Michelle, most people, they are tied to something that the world calls significant, right?
Whether it's like they won the thing in high school and that's their thing that they will
forever, how, especially as someone who's been this amazing overachiever, huge overachiever your
whole life. How have you gotten to the place where you're not tied to the significance of that?
Yeah. It's, it's work. But it goes to the mentoring piece, right? I believe that our jobs as leaders
is to come in, do our part, bring others up. Yes. Move out of the way.
Let them cook, as the kids say, you know.
And it's hard to let the young people cook if you're there in the kitchen.
Direct in and nope, don't use that recipe.
And, you know.
So this part of my, this stage of my life is purposefully and mindfully planning my step aside,
not my exit, but it's like, you've got to step up, whatever that is.
And so it's the opposite of holding on to the thing.
It's letting go.
And I think that that's another lesson that I've learned from my mother.
She was constantly letting us go, constantly showing her confidence in us by giving us,
by giving us our competence by saying you can do this you don't need me and how many parents
are willing to say that's not your win's not my win that's your win yeah it is also your loss
and I will be there with you but this is yours to own so how I'm thinking about it is that
I'm trying to give back too yeah and I can't give if I'm holding a
on to it. The position, the thing, the title, the feeling. Yeah. Yeah. You know. There's a quote by
John Maxwell that says great leaders don't climb ladders. They build ladders, right? To help all these
other people rise. Yeah. That is true leadership. I mean, it's like, oh, Jamie. You are by far
one of the most requested guests on the show. And a lot, oh yeah, and a lot of people have
submitted questions. So I'm just going to do rapid fire. All right. How did you learn to be so
cool. I think I was born with it. No. How did I learn? That's so, that's so, so cute. I think it's a
culmination. This is the beauty of this interesting life, you know. I grew up as a working class
kid on the south side. So many influences, so much, you know, that's the beauty of our diversity,
right? It's like just so many different experiences that I draw from music, culture, people,
language, travel. I think the more, the more of it, it creates that cool, right? Because you're constantly,
I'm constantly borrowing from other people's cool. Do you have a favorite prayer? Oh, gosh.
No, it's the, it's, it's the nightly prayer. The prayers, you know, it's the end of the day.
Barack still says his prayers too at night. But he does it in a,
a really private, private way, which I think is really sweet, you know, sometimes I hear him at
night. But it's that the end of the day prayer when I've kind of settled in right before I go to
sleep, you know, and it's not a specific prayer, but it's a prayer of thought and being, you know,
starting with the ones that I love and care about. It's almost the superstition of
ending the night in your spirit.
Yes, yes.
Will you ever change your mind ever, ever in the future about running?
No.
Never ever.
Never ever.
Guilty Pleasure TV show.
Oh, any real housewife.
I watch them all.
It's a sociological study.
Yeah, yeah.
I'd DVR them and my husband's like that again.
Oh, yeah, I watch them.
That's what, Barack is the same way.
That's why I say, well, you watch.
Golf. Yeah, yeah. What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing,
East Wing being demolished? You know, it was, it's not, it's not about me. It's about us and our
traditions and what they stand for. I think in my body I felt confusion because I'm like,
well, who are we? What do we value and who decides that?
that's the thing that's going through my head a lot lately who are we what what are the rules
because I'm confused yeah by what the what are our norms and our mores not the laws but
how do we live together that's the part of it that hurts it's not the house it's not the
It's who, I'm just, you know, just trying to understand the assignment.
And so I think I felt a loss for us as a nation.
But personally, you know, that was not our, that's not our house.
That's the people's house.
You've entertained so many yes, gone to so many parties.
How do you know what to say at a social event?
and none of us learn this.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm looking for that light, that connection, you know.
I try to focus on the person right in front of me.
That's the easiest thing.
Tell me about you.
What's going on in your life?
I mean, that's why I love my podcast because I'm just doing it's like, Jamie, I would,
so we would be off.
And I just, I can focus in on one conversation.
until somebody pulls me away.
That's, I love the seatmate conversation because I'm like, okay, let's figure you out.
So it's one person at a time and it's just, it's a real curiosity.
So that gets me through any dinner and me at a dinner party.
We just don't go.
Yeah.
And we went to a friend's big birthday party and it was the other day and it was a, it was pretty good.
But I don't have trouble connecting with people.
I enjoy it, deeply enjoy it.
For the person who needs to feel some hope in their life right now, what do you say?
I will say what my husband has said, and he helps me.
It's still in the course of human history, if we had to pick a time to be alive, it would be now.
We have grown and we continue to grow as a nation.
We just can't lose sight of that growth.
We do have to understand our history and what we've been through,
what we've decided we don't want to be any longer and why.
Just so that we don't keep making the same mistakes.
we've learned a lot about who we want to be.
You know, we're more open people.
We are more inclusive, more caring,
and I think we feel better about ourselves for it.
We just, but progress is never a straight, clean, clear line.
And that's okay.
So I would just remind us all that we,
are still growing. And in this country, we're young. We're a baby country. You know, it's like we're
like a teenager. We're like a 13-year-old, you know, and we're doing some dumb 13-year-old stuff
right now. But we're going to continue to grow. We're going to learn. And there's going to be
some pain and some loss and some failure. But the trajectory is upward. We just,
have to keep moving forward. Keep moving forward. Learn from our history. Amen to that. I am so excited
for the look for the launch of this. Also, love your podcast, IMO. I like laugh. Would your mom
said that your brother's wine is so good and the whole thing? And you're like, no, but we have
white house wine and she's like just all of it and how he's the he was the favorite all the things
still is and you're also doing a special podcast um with your trifecta and and so many special
guests for the looks and we're also going to link to that because so many people listening to
us right now can just hop right on over like right now whatever app you're listening on or you know
watching it on youtube hop right over so we're going to link to that in the show notes here to check that
because that's so special. And I just want to thank you. Jamie, thank you. I mean, this was
emotional. It was funny, fun. You are, you are a light. I was right. I was absolutely right.
I didn't even know it. And thank you for being the light for so many people. Your platform is
important. And it's been an honor and a privilege for me to be here with you. So just keep it up,
Thank you. Thank you. Remember this episode's not just for you and me. Please share this with every
single person that you know because it can impact and change their life too. And if you love today's
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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. 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 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'd like, because you belong here.
You are worthy.
You are love.
You are loved, and I love you.
And I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kernelima show.
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Do you struggle with negative self-talk?
Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting.
I know because I spent most of my life in that habit.
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yourself at jamie kurnlema.com slash resources or click the link in the show notes below.
And please note, I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a substitute
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