Former first lady Michelle Obama has admitted that she is ‘dealing with some form of low-grade depression’ because of the pandemic, racial strife — and the ‘hypocrisy’ of the Trump administration.
The 56-year-old uploaded episode two of ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’ on Spotify today, featuring a discussion with NPR’s Michele Norris.
During the conversation, Michelle gets candid about her ’emotional highs and lows,’ specifically calling out how ‘exhausting’ and ‘dispiriting’ it is to watch how the President responds — or doesn’t respond at all — to ‘yet another story’ of a Black man or person being hurt or killed.
Hard times: Michelle Obama, 56, spoke to NPR journalist Michele Noris about her ’emotional highs and lows,’ admitting that she is ‘dealing with some form of low-grade depression’
Podcasting! She debuted ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’ on Spotify last week
Her depression is ‘not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting’
‘Spiritually, these are not fulfilling times,’ she said in the new episode.
She said she is battling some form of depression ‘not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting.
‘I don’t think I’m unusual, in that,’ she added. ‘But I’d be remiss to say that part of this depression is also a result of what we’re seeing in terms of the protests, the continued racial unrest, that has plagued this country since its birth.
‘I have to say that waking up to the news, waking up to how this administration has or has not responded, waking up to yet another story of a Black man or a Black person somehow being dehumanized, or hurt or killed, or falsely accused of something, it is exhausting.
‘And it has led to a weight that I haven’t felt in my life, in a while.’
But she added ‘spirit is lifted’ when she feels healthy and surrounds herself with good people, like family and friends.
‘I reach out to my family, and to my friends, even in this time of quarantine. You know, I fought to continue to find a way to stay connected to the people in my life who bring me joy, and my girlfriends, my husband, my kids,’ she said.
Tired: Michelle (pictured with Norris) said it’s ‘exhausting’ to watch how Trump responds — or doesn’t respond at all — to ‘yet another story’ of a Black man or person being hurt or killed
Balm: To make herself feel better, Obama exercises regularly and tries to surround herself with ‘good people’ (pictured with Norris on Obama’s book tour on November 24, 2018)
Real talk: Michelle and the NPR journalist also discussed racism in the US
‘It’s the small things, small rituals [that make a difference],’ she said.
The former first lady she learned to stick to a routine in the White House, but lately it’s been difficult, and it is affecting her sleep.
‘Just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting,’ she said
‘I’m waking up in the middle of the night, ’cause I’m worrying about something or there’s a heaviness,’ she said.
‘I try to make sure I get a workout in, although there have been periods throughout this quarantine, where I just have felt too low.
‘You know, I’ve gone through those emotional highs and lows that I think everybody feels, where you just don’t feel yourself, and sometimes there’s been a week or so where I had to surrender to that, and not be so hard on myself. And say, “You know what? You’re just not feeling that treadmill right now.”
‘You have to recognize that you’re in a place, a bad place, in order to get out of it. So you kinda have to sit in it for a minute, to know, oh, oh, I’m feeling off. So now I gotta, I gotta feed myself with something better,’ she added.
Michelle and Michele also broached the subject of racism in America, with Obama saying: ‘We talk about white women clutching their purses at the sight of us, or feeling uncomfortable when we walk in the store, but I wonder, do you know how afraid we are?’
A chat with hubby: Her first guest on July 29 was her husband, former President Barack Obama
The plan: The two talk about marriage, protests, coronavirus, and quarantine
Obama’s first guest on the premiere episode of her podcast on July 29 was her husband former President Barack Obama, 58, whom she called the ‘eternal “Yes, we can” man.’
She said she invited Barack to be her first guest ‘because he’s navigated these questions throughout the course of his life. In many ways, you can see his entire career as a constant conversation and evolution with his relationship to a larger and larger community.’
During the episode, the couple talk about the differences in their childhoods, with Barack teasing Michelle that her upbringing was ‘Black “Leave It to Beavers”… only thing missing was the dog.’
They also discuss the coronavirus pandemic, with Michelle saying, ‘Like most Americans, we’ve been spending a lot of time together in quarantine.
‘I’ve been having a great time. But we’ve had some interesting conversations… because these are some crazy times,’ she tells him.
Big bro: Her brother, Craig Robinson, is set to be another guest on the show
Favorite: In a preview clip, Craig admits he is the one who got their mother to move into the White House
Wisdom: Michelle also talks to her mother, Marian Robinson, on an upcoming episode
The episode also explores the protest movement sparked by the death of George Floyd.
‘Given everything that’s going on right now, from the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the ongoing protests and conversations that are testing our patience — and our consciences… not to mention all the challenges we’re experiencing due to the pandemic, I think that these days, a lot of people are questioning just where and how they can fit into a community,’ Mrs. Obama says.
Future episodes will cover many other topics, from light to serious, including parenting, self-care, marriage, mentorship, family, and civil duty.
Upcoming guests are set to include Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson, and her brother, Craig Robinson.
High-profile: Other upcoming guests include Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett (pictured), Chynna Clayton, Yene Damtew, and Kristin Jones
Funny guy: Conan O’Brien is also set to be a guest on her podcast
The 56-year-old former first lady’s new venture is on Spotify and features a series of interviews with her ‘posse’
In a preview clip that Mrs. Obama shared on Instagram on July 24, Craig can be heard saying that he is the one who managed to convince their mother to move to the White House ‘because I’m her favorite.’
More guests slated to appear include comedian Conan O’Brien in episode six, Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett in episode eight, and Michelle’s friends Kelly Dibble, Denielle Pemberton-Heard, and Dr. Sharon Malone in episode five.
She’ll also speak to Chynna Clayton, Yene Damtew, and Kristin Jones.
‘I can’t wait for you all to hear the conversations I’ve been having for the #MichelleObamaPodcast,’ Michelle tweeted.
The podcast is produced by Higher Ground Productions, the company formed by the Obamas in 2018, which has also made content deals with Netflix.