When life changes in a big way—whether through loss, a milestone birthday, or your kids leaving the nest—it can shake even the most grounded of us. Michelle Obama is no exception.
In a recent pair of podcast interviews, the former First Lady opened up about navigating grief, aging, therapy, and what it means to take ownership of her life in her 60s.
“You’re Next Up”: A Difficult Reminder from Barack
Michelle and her brother Craig Robinson recently talked on their IMO podcast about the emotional impact of losing their mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away at 86 last year.
Reflecting on her death, Michelle shared something unexpectedly blunt that her husband Barack said to her after the funeral.
“Barack said, ‘Well, you’re next up,’” Michelle recalled.
“And I just looked at him like—wait, what? I’m not ready to be next up.”
She joked that she tried to pass that responsibility on to Barack and Craig instead.
But beneath the humor was a real moment of reckoning.
Michelle admitted that losing a parent, no matter how old you are, shifts your entire perspective.
“That’s really when you become an adult,” she said.
“When you’re no longer someone’s child in the same way.”
Becoming the Glue of the Family
Michelle reflected on how the loss of both parents (their father, Fraser, died in 1991) has now put her and Craig in the role of “glue”—the ones expected to keep the family grounded.
“You realize that it’s your turn to become the convener, the parent, the one who holds everyone together,” she said.
“It’s a big shift. You don’t stop being their child, but the dynamic changes.”
Even when she was helping care for her mother in later years, Michelle said, “I still had to listen to her. She was still my mom.”
That sense of hierarchy, of comfort, of having someone above you—even in old age—doesn’t go away easily.
A New Chapter, A Little Therapy, and No Excuses
Michelle also opened up on The Jay Shetty Podcast, where she admitted she’s currently in therapy—not because something is “wrong,” but because she’s stepping into a whole new chapter of life.
“At 60, I’m in a transition. I’ve done the hard work of raising a family, my girls are grown, I’m out of public service, and I’m an empty nester,” she explained.
“So now, every choice I make is really mine.”
She described therapy as a way to “unwind old habits,” work through lingering guilt, and reflect on her relationship with her mother.
“I’ve got a new therapist,” she said. “It’s like a tune-up before heading into this next phase.”
Finding Her Voice—and Encouraging Others to Do the Same
Michelle emphasized that therapy isn’t just for people in crisis.
“I’m a big advocate of getting help in whatever form you can,” she said.
“Everyone should have a way to sort through their stuff.”
Her goal now?
To continue growing with intention and honesty.
“I know now that I can get support,” she said.
“This is a new chapter, and I want to show up fully in it.”
Setting the Record Straight on Her Marriage
During a separate conversation with entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, Michelle addressed the occasional rumors about her marriage with Barack Obama—especially the chatter that arises anytime she’s seen alone at a public event.
“If I were having problems with my husband, trust me, everyone would know,” she joked, pointing at her brother Craig.
“He’d know. You’d know.”
She was specifically referring to media speculation that followed her absence from Donald Trump’s inauguration, which some outlets spun as a sign of marital strain.
Michelle didn’t hold back: “If something was wrong, I’d be problem-solving it in public.
I’d be like, ‘Let me tell you what he did!’”
Craig joined in on the banter, saying, “If they were really having issues, I’d be podcasting with Barack instead.”
Marriage Isn’t Perfect—But It’s Worth It
Despite their deep bond, Michelle acknowledged that even her marriage to Barack hasn’t been a smooth ride.
“It’s hard,” she admitted.
“But I wouldn’t trade it. As the young people say—he’s my person.”
She emphasized that what makes their relationship work is mutual commitment.
“Neither of us was ever going to quit. That’s just not who we are,” she said.
Michelle also noted how many young couples today give up too soon because they’ve internalized an unrealistic image of what marriage looks like—often from couples like the Obamas themselves.
“They don’t see the messy parts,” she said.
Confronting the “Angry Black Woman” Stereotype
Michelle also took a moment to reflect on the labels society has placed on her over the years.
“The first thing people said about me was that I was angry,” she shared in a recent discussion.
“And the irony is—I probably am less light and bubbly than some of my white female friends,” she admitted.
“But that doesn’t make me angry. That’s just how I show up in the world.”
She recalled being criticized early on for supposedly emasculating Barack just by being honest about her life experience.
“That’s the kind of thing we have to unpack. It’s exhausting.”
What’s Next for Michelle?
As she continues promoting her podcast with Craig, Michelle is also promoting a message: life after 60 is not a slowdown—it’s a reset.
Whether it’s facing grief, rethinking identity, or tackling stereotypes, Michelle is proving that growth doesn’t stop with age.
If anything, she’s stepping more fully into her voice, her choices, and her purpose.