“Kids Just Want Our Gladness” with Hoda Kotb   By  cover art

“Kids Just Want Our Gladness” with Hoda Kotb 

By: Michelle Obama, Hoda Kotb

About the Creator and Performer

Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Mrs. Obama started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor's office, at the University of Chicago, and at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service.
The Obamas currently live in Washington, DC, and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

About the Guest

Hoda Kotb is the co-anchor of NBC News’ TODAY, co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, and the host of the podcast Making Space with Hoda Kotb.
Since joining NBC News in 1998, Kotb has covered a wide variety of domestic and international stories across all NBC News platforms as well as numerous human-interest stories and features. She covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a story personal to Kotb who lived in New Orleans for six years. Additionally, she reported on the war in Iraq, the conflict in the West Bank and Gaza, and the War on Terror in Afghanistan. Kotb was a part of the network’s extensive coverage of many Olympic broadcasts.
A New York Times best-selling author, Kotb has written seven books: You Are My Happy; I’ve Loved You Since Forever; Where We Belong; Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives; Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee; I Really Needed This Today; and This Just Speaks to Me.
Prior to joining NBC News, Kotb worked at WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans from 1992 to 1998 and WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Florida from 1989 to 1991.
Kotb graduated from Virginia Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. She resides in New York City with her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine.

What listeners say about “Kids Just Want Our Gladness” with Hoda Kotb 

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    202
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    194
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    189
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too make celebs, needs density.

Not quite enough dense substance;
(One regular episode released so far)

it so far all feels too much like a daytime talk show where the host and guest are “presenting to a friendly audience”

(instead of talking candidly in the way they might do in private.)

The latter would give a better result, and denser valuable content.

Also, way way too many celeb guests are planned. I wish there were NONE, even if I like the celebs now on the schedule.

Many of those celeb/famous/high-achieving persons are quite admirable.

But I would prefer to hear mostly “ordinary” voices. Celebs already have public platforms. Their voices are already far more likely to be heard.
They are, relatively, among the privileged.

I love Michelle. What an incredible attitude, what a great person. Hope this podcast evolves.

Hope the producer(s) are aware:
famous people talking w other celebs can get a bit old. If that’s where this podcast is going, I’ll prob check out after a while.

[Since my “planning to listen” list is only overloaded a like billion times or something, so I have alternatives and “need to listens” pulling on me.]

I would also like to hear the podcast takes some non-celeb-guested “deep dives” over a season, or over several episodes.

Just me:
I tune into a podcast or a conversational listen for the substance …
and I want the content to be either very very dense or very very funny.

I don’t tune in for the famous people.
And I sure don’t want “daytime talk show” content, no matter how uplifting.
That format is way too much filler/platitudes, and mutual congratulation,

I want a podcast to be as good/informative as either a deep dive book, or as funny/entertaining as a comedy special on HBO.

All the best to this podcast and the listeners! Im very interested in seeing in how this evolves.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Forever my First Lady

I love this! Mrs. Obama and her beautiful family have been so inspiring for me, especially as a single black woman with a young adult daughter who is also embracing the journey to becoming the true authentic me while bootstrapping a business. We met years ago in Bmore at the Sagamore Farm and I didn’t get the chance to express my appreciation. Thank you for being you and sharing your stories. You’re a Shero to me as well as many. In my mind, you are one of my mentors on how to conduct yourself as a lady especially in business. Hopefully the universe will allow us to meet again in the near future. Continue to inspire and I pray you and your family continue to be abundantly blessed for your sacrifice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So much Light

Hadn’t read Michelle Obama’s Light book yet, but now will do it sooner than later. Great podcast.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth the listen!

One word Excellent - I love the kindness that resonates from the conversation. A sense of humor about being human and brings a smile. Well done, can’t wait for the next episode keep them coming!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • N
  • 03-09-23

I need this!

Thank you & I truly need your words.
A survivor of bullying from a developing country but your words are relatable & they empowered me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not much there - I wish there was

I really like Michelle and wish it was more of her talking about their current life not rehashing old anecdotes will try to listen to the next one - hopefully, it gets better

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good time to bring the light

It was very good.I like it but at time it felt like it was missing something

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Michelle does it again!

Spoiler alert - Michelle Obama tells a cute story about Big Mike who is Barracks best buddy delivering sausage in Hawaii all the way from Chicago where he worked as a hospital admin. Amazing what 10 book deals and a Netflix deal for 10’s of millions can teach you about American work ethic.
Ken Yan

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful conversation!

Michelle Obama and Hoda Kotb get real about how adults need to interact with children, nurture them, support them. Obama wisely approaches the topic from the perspective of the average everyday mother more than as a former first lady. Really, my words can do this no justice right now. Every adult needs to hear at least 10 minutes of this (almost any 10 minutes).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My Forever First Lady!!!!

Was on the train and the book (Eat that Frog) I was listening to ended. Wanted something inspirational and uplifting to listen to and BAM there was Michelle’s. I’m like I got to listen and yea…..love it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!