Anyone who’s heard Michelle Obama’s massively popular memoir, Becoming, learned a lot about the former first lady: where she lived, how she was raised and educated, how her courtship developed with Barack Obama, and what it was like to become the nation’s first African American first lady. Little girls want to be just like her—confident, positive, an ideal role model—and grown women do too. In The Light We Carry, a reflection on how she and those around her have confronted and overcome life’s challenges, Mrs. Obama shared some of the tools she’s used to stay steady and emotionally healthy. As she wrote, “When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it.”
The former first lady explores the lessons of The Light We Carry in her new Audible Original, Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, and we’re learning even more as she engages in spirited and often funny conversations with good friends such as Gayle King, David Letterman, and Ellen DeGeneres. Here are some of the key lessons we learned in the series, alongside some of our favorite listener reactions.
Learning to transcend fear
One of the things we appreciate most about Mrs. Obama is that she isn’t shy about fessing up to issues we can all relate to. In the episode "Decoding Fear," for example, she opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about her hesitant reaction when her husband first floated the idea of running for president and the fear of the unknown that bubbled up inside her.
Then she thought about Black elders in her family and how fear had shrunk their worlds—including leading her grandfather to leave his lung cancer untreated because of his fear of doctors. So Mrs. Obama made it a point to practice being “comfortably afraid” by learning how to deal with fear rationally. The rest is history.
“[Mrs. Obama] offers no-nonsense advice, which we now know has trickled down from her fabulous mother, on how to deal with the often-fearful world around us.” —Amazon listener
“This podcast is loaded with gems for living an authentic and meaningful life.” —Rich, Audible listener
The importance of self-love
In the episode "The Power of Small," Mrs. Obama shares with David Letterman the hurt she felt when she was accused of not having pride in her country during her husband’s first presidential campaign. At times, the media was unkind to her, and she even personally contemplated leaving the campaign. But then she thought about a piece of advice from her father that stuck with her: “Nobody can make you feel bad if you feel good about yourself.”
Michelle was a little girl in the second grade when she realized that her teacher thought the class was dumb, and so she and her classmates were never given homework. Her no-nonsense mother, Marian Robinson, went up to the school and set things straight. Soon, Michelle and a couple of other kids were tested and skipped to the third grade. That’s when she learned how important it is to believe in yourself, because many people will misunderstand you or peg you for something you’re not.
“Mrs. Michelle whipped out her cape with yet another blueprint for thriving.” —Lorna, Audible listener
“I feel lighter after each broadcast. Speaking truths with smart people of experience helps me show up better as a coworker, a friend and an adult.” —Elaine, Audible listener
Teaching independence (with some help from the Secret Service)
Who knew that first daughters learned to drive while living at the White House? In the episode "Excellence Is My Practice," Mrs. Obama tells Gayle King how she was always looking ahead and wanted her girls to be capable of being truly independent so that they could move comfortably in the world. That meant they had to learn to drive.
Now, when you’re the first daughters, you don’t call up the local driving school for lessons. Sasha and Malia were taught to drive on the Secret Service driving course and soon after got their permits so they could drive under supervision—and drive they did, but always with an agent next to them. Fun fact: Their parents bought them a car to share. (Thanks, Gayle, for asking.)
“Just what I needed. I love the ease and positivity of this podcast. It’s positive whilst keeping it realistic and relevant.” —CKE, Audible listener
“Delivers the full spectrum of emotion: one minute you're snapping your fingers at the beauty and deftness of the shade, the next your eyes are welling up at a story. It's a well of inspiration, beauty, and light.” —O. Mambo, Audible listener
Listening to The Light Podcast has been a journey packed with wisdom and inspiration. If anyone could help us embrace its lessons, it's the one and only Michelle Obama.
