Michelle Obama's dismal podcast ratings revealed as former first lady fails to crack Spotify top 30
Michelle Obama's "dreary" new podcast with her brother Craig Robinson has hit an embarrassing milestone just weeks after debuting on streaming services.
Michelle Obama's new podcast with her brother Craig Robinson has rapidly descended the streaming charts just weeks after its high profile debut.
The former first lady’s new podcast series is titled, “IMO (In My Opinion) with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson”, and follows the sibling duo as they give advice, discuss current events, and interview a variety of special guests.
The first episode made headlines after Michelle, 61, made a rare comment about her marriage to the 44th President of the United States.
In one clip, Michelle revealed that Barack approached her brother Craig to “sell him” on the idea of running for president ahead of his successful 2008 campaign.
“I couldn’t have gotten through eight years in the White House without my big brother,” Michelle said, referring to Craig, 62, who works as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
“Being married to the president of the United States (is a) thing that none of us kind of banked on. We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know.
“You talked me into supporting his run,” she said, referring to Craig.
“And he (Barack) was smart enough to know that he needed to come to you and sell you on the idea. Because I was definitely like, ‘no, no way.’”
Weeks later, the podcast is languishing on the charts and stalled at number 34 on Spotify’s chart for most listened podcasts in the United States.
Meanwhile, the podcast is only ranked 19 on Apple Podcasts, behind the likes of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, and The Joe Rogan Experience.
IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson is not the former first lady’s first podcasting venture.
She previously hosted The Michelle Obama Podcast in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic, in which she talked to friends about politics and community.
Michelle also presented the nine-part series Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast for Audible in 2023.
The dismal chart results come after the Financial Times labelled Michelle’s latest podcast “bland” and characterised the former first lady as sounding “dreary and in denial”.