Transcript
Michelle Obama: How to Hear Your Intuition, Trust Yourself & Love Who You Are
From Jamie Kern Lima · Episode page · Watch on YouTube
· 1 h 13 min · 11,855 words · 230 timestamped sections
This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Michelle Obama: How to Hear Your Intuition, Trust Yourself & Love Who You Are", an episode of Jamie Kern Lima published November 6, 2025 (1 h 13 min, about 11,855 words). It mentions 52 people, works and ideas, including Self-doubt, The Look, Michelle Obama, Intuition, Self-belief.
What is discussed, and when
- – 10:00: Michelle Obama, The Look, Inclusion, Instagram
- – 20:00: Intuition, Prayer
- – 30:00: Self-doubt, Self-Love, Self-Worth, Self-belief
- – 40:00: Chicago, Melissa Winter, Midway Airport, Self-Love
- – 50:00: Air Force One, first ladies, Grand Canyon, Instagram
- – 1:00:00: The Look, Carl Ray, Lip fillers, Meredith Coupe
- – 1:10:00: Ian Brady, Michelle Obama, Representation, Self-doubt
- – 1:12:40: Michelle Obama, Self-belief, Self-doubt, Self-Love
Notable quotes from "Michelle Obama: How to Hear Your Intuition, Trust Yourself & Love Who You Are"
In her new book, The Look, Michelle reveals for the first time ever how she and her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact.
about The Look · atA day on something and live to be over 70, that's one year of our life we give it. So if we're scrolling Instagram for 20 minutes a day, or if we're figuring out what we're…
about Instagram · atTheir appearance, trying to fit into these narrow definitions. nose jobs and Botox and lip fillers and all slowly but surely we are all trying to look like just one or five people.
about Lip fillers · atEven the very first decision ever for Brock to run for presidency, he deferred to you. Is prayer involved? Is do you get still and meditate? And do you typically just know instantly? Do you ever second guessess yourself?
about Prayer · atWith her. I could see the light around her. She's infused with light. Imagine overcoming self-doubt, learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima show.
about Self-doubt · atSuch a big journey we're all on is actually feeling our own intuition, like trusting our own gut, like going, What does this feel like when I meet this person? What does it feel like when I walk in this room? What does it feel.
about Intuition · atDon't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. When you build your self-worth, you change your entire life.
about Self-Worth · atUnshakable self-worth. Get your copy of Worthy, plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below.
about Worthybook.com · at
Who and what is mentioned in this episode?
People
- Michelle Obama — Person · 5 mentions · first at
This is the worldwide premiere of First Lady Michelle Obama on the Jamie Kimma Show.
- Melinda French Gates — Person · 1 mention · first at
Like a hug, but your brain and your spirit and your heart is Wow, Melinda French Gates.
- Melissa Winter — Person · 1 mention · first at
Overnight thrust out into the country relatively on my own. I had a small staff. I had a chief of staff, Melissa Winter. I had one communications person.
- Carl Ray — Person · 1 mention · first at
The story. But it took a lot of work to make sure that happened. So having a team of people Meredith Coupe, Carl Ray, Yiane, and Jerry that structuring it so that we spent X…
- Meredith Coupe — Person · 1 mention · first at
The story. But it took a lot of work to make sure that happened. So having a team of people Meredith Coupe, Carl Ray, Yiane, and Jerry that structuring it so that we spent X…
- Ian Brady — Person · 1 mention · first at
Where there were few images or role models. for me to watch. I grew up watching Marsha and Jan Brady.
- HW Bush — Person · 1 mention
- Jeffrey – Merrit, Jerry — Person · 1 mention
Books & papers
- The Look — Book · 6 mentions · first at
- Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You — Book · 2 mentions · first at
And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You.
- Dove Study on Body Image — Book · 1 mention
Companies & orgs
- Instagram — Company · 2 mentions · first at
- Jamie Kimma Show — Company · 1 mention · first at
This is the worldwide premiere of First Lady Michelle Obama on the Jamie Kimma Show.
- University of Chicago — Company · 1 mention · first at
I was still I at the time I was the vice president for community affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. It wasn't a small job.
- University of Chicago Hospitals — Company · 1 mention · first at
I was still I at the time I was the vice president for community affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. It wasn't a small job.
- IT Cosmetics — Company · 1 mention · first at
Believed in you. I went from struggling waitress facing non-stop rejection to founder of IT Cosmetics, a billion-dollar company, by learning how to overcome self-doubt and…
- Dove — Company · 1 mention
- Southwest Airlines — Company · 1 mention
- The Brady Bunch — Company · 1 mention
Products & tech
- Lip fillers — Product · 2 mentions · first at
- Air Force One — Product · 2 mentions · first at
Are a lot of events, which was always a challenge for me with Barack, if we'd go from Air Force One to a hike to a fundraiser, what do I wear?
- Barbie doll — Product · 1 mention
- Botox — Product · 1 mention
- Chrissy doll — Product · 1 mention
- Nose job — Product · 1 mention
- Pantyhose (Nylon) — Product · 1 mention
Concepts & topics
- Self-doubt — Concept · 7 mentions · first at
- Intuition — Concept · 5 mentions · first at
- Self-belief — Concept · 4 mentions · first at
With every single person who you know who might need some inspiration today or perhaps a boost in hope and self-belief because we are all in this life together.
- Self-Worth — Concept · 4 mentions · first at
- Self-Love — Concept · 4 mentions · first at
Lifechanging results like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back. Build unshakable self-love.
- Prayer — Concept · 2 mentions · first at
- Inclusion — Concept · 1 mention · first at
And her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact.
- Self-expression — Concept · 1 mention · first at
And her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact.
- first ladies — Concept · 1 mention · first at
One technically elected the first spouse. I'll say all we've only had first ladies. you're supposed to be aspirational but representational, reachable approachable you know. You're you're supposed to be fe feminine but not too sexy. you.
- Representation — Concept · 1 mention · first at
I talk about those influences and why representation is so important because if young girls don't see themselves on the covers of magazines and starring in shows, even though there are millions of beautiful.
- Beauty standards — Concept · 1 mention
- Body image — Concept · 1 mention
- Fear — Concept · 1 mention
- Impostor Syndrome — Concept · 1 mention
- Negative self-talk — Concept · 1 mention
- Self-Talk — Concept · 1 mention
Places & events
- Chicago — Place · 2 mentions · first at
I was still I at the time I was the vice president for community affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. It wasn't a small job.
- United States (states) — Place · 1 mention · first at
Basket, but everybody thinks they, can second guessess the president of the United States. I don't care what party they're in. it's a hard job and it is and it is taxing on everyone who is in their orbit.
- Midway Airport — Place · 1 mention · first at
I'd have to go and get my hair done at my salon, get on the first Southwest flight out of Midway Airport in Chicago, which was usually a 6 7 a.m. flight.
- Grand Canyon — Place · 1 mention · first at
Going to go to on a hike? I had that dilemma. Am I going to go for a hike in the Grand Canyon in a cocktail dress with flats?
- Euclid Avenue — Place · 1 mention
Sponsors
- Worthybook.com — Sponsor · 4 mentions · first at
- IT Cosmetics — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
Believed in you. I went from struggling waitress facing non-stop rejection to founder of IT Cosmetics, a billion-dollar company, by learning how to overcome self-doubt and…
- Jamie Kern Lima Free Guide: Five Ways to Overcome Negative Self-Talk — Sponsor · 1 mention
- Jamie Kern Lima One-on-One with Jamie Weekly Newsletter — Sponsor · 1 mention
- Jamie Kern Lima Weekly Newsletter — Sponsor · 1 mention
Full transcript with timestamps
Jamie, you are going so deep. I have never had this in-depth conversation. I've never heard you share things like this before.
That time was a blessing, you know. It really was. And that brought us closer, you know. You're killing me. Yeah, I do. Yeah. If I'm at a loss for any feeling, she comes through. That's why I know people are good. You know, this is the worldwide premiere of First Lady Michelle Obama on the Jamie Kimma Show. In her new book, The Look, Michelle reveals for the first time ever how she and her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact. Everything was being picked apart. And I say this not just because it's me. I think that happens to women in the world.
You we we get reduced to how we look. Yes. And when somebody wants to go after us, they they take that away from us.
Over 80% of girls and women will literally opt out of meaningful activities if they don't like how they look.
Mhm. Over 90% of girls and women don't like their bodies. And when I think about what has this cost us?
Heels. I mean, you think about what we we are tiptoeing around life looking a certain way
and there's nothing practical about working in a pair of heels and nylons. Yes,
there's no one on this planet that can say that that's what I would wake up and choose if I have if I'm really going to focus on the job. If we spend 20 minutes a day on something and live to be over 70, that's one year of our life we give it. So if we're scrolling Instagram for 20 minutes a day, or if we're figuring out what we're wearing or 20 minutes extra on our hair, whatever it might be, a year of our life, and for a lot of us, it's way more than 20 minutes a day. I do not want corporate America, I don't want men or politicians in our business, you know, setting standards for us by how we should look and feel when they have no idea what it means for us, how much time we're wasting, how much time we could be using working on an issue or finishing a project or getting something done.
Men aren't held to that standard. A handsome man could be fat, tall, pot belly, six-pack, balding, gray, you know, a bearded knot. There's so many options for how men can look. But there's one definition, and it's just so sad to see so many young girls altering their appearance, trying to fit into these narrow definitions. nose jobs and Botox and lip fillers and all slowly but surely we are all trying to look like just one or five people.
Yes. And the work that it takes to take yourself out of your natural state of being and to become something totally different. It is psychologically damaging. It is physically exhausting and it is financially ruining. Yes. for so many of us. But we as women are sometimes the most judgmental of one another. Yes.
And of ourselves. Yeah. We are hard on ourselves. Our our mothers are hard on their daughters.
Yes. And sometimes it's done in all good nature. They just want the best for us. I want you to have opportunity. I want you to find love. I want you I want you to be accepted. All the while we are crushing the the true spirit of of of girls and women.
Yes. Do you now ever feel unworthy? We're all dealing with some level of insecurity right now in this moment. Do you feel beautiful when you make big decisions? Even the very first decision ever for Brock to run for presidency, he deferred to you. Is prayer involved? Is do you get still and meditate? And do you typically just know instantly? Do you ever second guessess yourself? Fear was really at the core of me wanting to say no. And I had to ask myself then and there, did I want to live my life running from something?
Is there anything you fear now? I fear for our country. I fear for what what division and mistrust can can lead to. Um I fear that we aren't seeing each other anymore that that we aren't operating with sufficient empathy um towards one another. I just fear that we don't give one another the benefit of the doubt. And I've seen what that kind of fear can do. My platform is to reach as many people as possible and to get us back in a conversation about us as people and ourselves and to, you know, remember our humanity and to work on our own forgiveness.
I know there is power in that. This work, this work that you're doing, these conversations, Jamie, there's power
in that. And I remember the moment uh at at John McCain's funeral where George W. Bush hands you what everyone thought was candy. It was a cough drop. And I feel like there's just this collected sail of of hope
and relief. I think I think for decades we've all understood, okay, maybe maybe our politicians aren't like-minded, but they're like-hearted. We see them go grab a coffee together after. Even though they may have voted different, they all believe in this country. I got to see all of America.
Yes. In an intimate way. Yeah. And rarely was I disappointed. I mean, bad things happen, but people are good.
Yes. Welcome to the Jamie Curran Lima Show. I am so happy you're here, and I'm so excited for this conversation we're having together today with First Lady Michelle Obama. The intention of the show is to be a force for good and a force for love. I have guests on that might vote differently, love differently or pray differently from you and me because I believe to heal humanity through love, we must first understand the humans who make it up. I am so happy you are here. And no matter how you vote or you love or you pray, you belong here. And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone shared this episode with you, welcome to the JKL Show podcast family. I'd be so grateful if you could take two seconds and hit the subscribe button on the app you're listening or watching on. That way, you'll be the very first to get every inspirational episode. Plus, you can get weekly inspiration right into
your inbox from me for free. Just join my newsletter at jamiema.com. And thank you so much for sharing this with every single person who you know who might need some inspiration today or perhaps a boost in hope and self-belief because we are all in this life together.
Welcome to the Jamie Karn Lima Show. Oprah, how have you defied the odds? Her show is unlike any I've ever done.
A revelation. When you listen, it feels like a hug, but your brain and your spirit and your heart is like, "Wow, Melinda French Gates."
When I look into Jaime's eyes, I feel like I am on some other cosmic level with her. I could see the light around her. She's infused with light. Imagine overcoming self-doubt, learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima show.
Jamie Kern Lima is her name. Everybody needs Jamie Kern Lima in their life. Jamie Kern Lima.
Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern Lima. She's one of the most requested guests of all time and she flew here today to join you and me in person. I am so excited to say First Lady Michelle Obama. Welcome to the Jamie Karn Lima Show.
Jamie, wow. I'm honored to say hi. I'm here. You're here. Thank you for having me.
Thank you so much. I am so excited. Right off the top isn't a question. Is something I'm going to show you,
okay? Cuz I want to thank you for leveling up the look of my Christmas tree this year.
This is going to be times 30. So, imagine my tree. Okay. There's going to be 30 of these under my tree. Mhm.
And when everyone opens their gift, this is what they're getting. This is what they're getting
because I initially I was so excited to read it and I thought, "Oh, great." Like I'm going to look at all the amazing photos.
What I did not realize is I started the book, you know, rooting for you with your I finished the book and I was like rooting for myself.
Yeah. And I feel like every girl, every woman, every person who reads this and goes through this journey with you,
right? Because it's a journey of using our voice of expressing who we are, of dealing with pressure and expectations and how to handle them. And there's a lot of people that maybe don't even know how to actually use their voice voice, but they can use their voice in other ways. And you just take us through this journey.
And it's everyone's journey, you know? I mean, yes, I was the first lady for eight years. That's kind of an odd position.
Yeah. But I hope that the journey that I lay out from my Southside little Michelle OB Robinson days to now um reminds people of uh just the the challenges and triumphs that we that we all have as women
in the world. just trying to be ourselves and fight against all of the the the arrows and rocks that come our way as we're just trying to become more.
Yes. You know, let me set this down real quick. Thank you for that great gift. The best gift. The best. Merry Christmas everyone.
Not to mention like how good my tree is going to look. How good my tree is going to look. And it's a story for everyone. And I think every person is going to see themselves in the book and think about their their own journey when they go through it. Such a big journey we're all on is actually feeling our own intuition, like trusting our own gut, like going, "What does this feel like when I meet this person? What does it feel like when I walk in this room? What does it feel like when I leave that conversation for you?" How do you hear
your own intuition? That's such a good question. Um, God, that's a good question. How do I hear I can tell you a story. I don't know if I know the how do I hear it, but after the campaign, right, and I got I got dinged. I got rad over the coals. Um, I realized that my intuition about how I have to show up in the world was it was right and true
and that I couldn't count on anyone else. Not campaign staffers, not Westwing team.
It there's no way that somebody else could understand my journey better than me. Mhm.
And I think that was the time when I realized I cannot wait to be taught this that I have to I I knew very clearly how I had to show up as first lady in a you know it was just an un there was an uncanny clarity
for me after the campaign of who I was going to be. And that was the first time in something really big
where I just said, you know, I'm not listening to the advisors, to the media, to the press. I am going I I'm going to forge my path in the way that I see fit and let me live or die on that mountain. Mh.
Um, and that's probably the first time Mhm. when I was sure of my tuition in my intuition.
Wasn't sure of how it would turn out, but I I was I was so clear, Jamie. Um, and I can't tell you what that felt like,
but maybe it was the the whip of of of of being criticized for something that I didn't completely control. Mhm.
And maybe that feeling made me think, let these choices be mine. When you make big decisions,
even the very first decision ever for Brock to run for presidency, he deferred to you
and said, "This a big decision for our family. I'm going to let you make it." And that's a huge decision. You talk about
I know. I was like, "Thanks. Thanks, Obama." you talk about like not wanting the regret of looking back and having not done it and and you know of course we all know you changed the course of history in that decision um in so many ways but making a decision like that or even today any decision that you make right now how do you make those decision is prayer involved is do you get still and meditate and just try to tune in do you typically just know instantly do you ever second guessess yourself
yes to all of it it's all there. It's all there. Prayer, intuition, meditation quiet um second-guing, it's all been a a part of it. Um and and I think that I'm talking a lot about wisdom.
Yeah. Um and I, you know, I just think in decision- making, you get better at it over time because wisdom is earned.
Yeah. you know, uh it's just the the process of trying and failing and trying and failing. I mean, that's why, you know, in these kind of conversations, it's important to talk about the failures and the doubts. Um
because that's that's all there. Um I talk about fear a lot because a lot of times fear is at the it it it plays too big a role in my opinion at times in how we do make decisions. Yeah. And I've had to become very conscious. I think Barack's run was the beginning of that. I I write about the fact that fear was really at the core of me wanting to say no.
Um and I had to ask myself then and there, did I want to live my life running from something? Did I want to teach my children, my daughters to look at hard things and take the easy road?
Is that where growth happens? And the answer oftent times is no. Um but at that time in life I understood the power of fear
to keep you stuck in a way that I just didn't want to be stuck not by fear not by fear alone. Um but that's that's that's a wisdom that I learned over time
that fear is that feeling that you have to push through. Um, and that if if you do, and you know, again, there's fear that you don't want to push through. There's the gut that tells you, uh-uh, don't go down that alley. Don't trust that guy. You know, don't get in the car. Yes.
Now, that's a different kind of fear. Yeah. You know, I'm talking about the fear of
living and the fear of avoiding failure all the time. Yes. The fear of not having anything bad or any hurt or any risk. That's the fear I I've known and I learned through wisdom that I don't want to be stuck with.
So I have to I learned how to dissect that to know which fear was talking to me. Um that's something I just learned over time.
Yeah. You know. Um Yeah. Is there anything you fear now? Oh, I fear for our country.
Uh, you know, I fear for what what division and mistrust can can lead to. Um, I fear that we aren't seeing each other anymore. That that we aren't operating with sufficient empathy um towards one another. you know, I mean, they're just I just fear that we don't give one another the benefit of the doubt.
Um, and I've seen what that kind of fear can do. Um, that it's it's the fears for me are not personal.
Yeah. They aren't, you know, um I I think I've lived long enough. You know, I I want my girls to be safe. I want the people I love to be safe. I want them to have be grounded in faith and and and and goodness and purpose. All of that is is important, but the fears that I have are big. They're for us as a people, us as humanity.
Yeah. Um but I'm I'm hopeful. But no, I still have fears. Yeah. I know you've said a million times, you'll never run. So, I will not ask you that. Um I will not ask you that.
Thanks. Do you have any regrets in the past few years? Would you change any decision you've made in the past couple years?
Wow. In the past couple of years. Let's say the past two years. The past two years. No.
Okay. No. Yeah. But you know, if you gave me, you know, this is the time when, you know, I'm out and there lights and I'm, you know, give me a minute by myself alone in my office and I might come up with a few. Um,
that is a good feeling though to know that you, you know, that you feel at peace with your decisions cuz so many, you know, probably one of the most common questions I get asked from, from viewers, from listeners is like, "How do I, how do I trust myself?" Like, "How do I hear my intuition? How do I hear God? How do I know? Is it fear speaking? Is it my intuition? And how do I how do I truly trust myself?" And so um and I think you know for you being an iconic woman in history who's impacted and inspired so many people who gives lifechanging history making speeches who I mean you look at 30 plus countries I think visited as first lady all the things that that you've done how do you trust your knowing when you have so many people that are like but you could have won
how do you reconcile that and I ask with the intention of everyone listening who's scared to trust their own knowing.
Yeah. Well, in in that instance, the the first knowing is who I am. Yeah. And what I want, right? Um and that's a hard thing when everybody has an opinion or a
a view, right? And we grow up with that. you should be a this and you should go to this school and you know you would really be really be good at this and that and look I spent my 20s 30s and 40s doing the things that based on what other people thought and what I saw over there and maybe that would work out and and I've just learned that I got to start with who am I,
you know, being pre I unlike the vast majority of people on this planet I actually know what it means means to be president. I saw it up close and personal. I understand what the job means. This is just as an example. I know what the job means. I know what it means for one's family. I know the the the possibilities. I I I understand that sometimes you can't lead if people aren't ready for you to to lead. I I know what I am confident in is I know more about the job than the vast majority of people who think somebody should want it.
Yeah. And I also know that most people have no idea Yes. what the job is. Um it is the one job where everybody is a backseat driver and only 40 476 people have done it ever
in the history of our nation. There's no job like that, right? People won't tell somebody how to dribble a ball. You know, they'll trust a pro to shoot a basket, but everybody thinks they, you know, can second guessess the president of the United States. I don't care what party they're in. Um, it's a hard job and it is and it is taxing on everyone who is in their orbit.
I know that for sure. And I know what I want for my family. I know the stage that I want for them. I know this more than anything else. And it's so I guess that's a long way of saying that's the certainty I have at 61.
Yes. That makes what everybody else think I should want mean meaningless. Yeah.
Because I know that they don't know what they're asking. Yes. Uh they have just no idea. It's out of goodness. And there are a lot of people who operate well. But if you can win, then you should do it.
That's also an a a view of power, right? It's really interesting that, you know, people see a position. It's the most powerful position
right now. I think the most powerful position for me is having a platform where the largest number of people feel like they can connect with me. Mhm. Mhm.
You know, and once you put on a party hat, Yeah. you lose half of those people.
Mhm. They forget that you were the human you were before you said you were going to do it.
And right now, I'd like to think there are people of all parties who've come to know my voice
in a way that isn't political. Yes. And it isn't partisan. I definitely have views.
I definitely have beliefs. and opinions and I've supported certain people, but I think right now I I think my my platform is to reach as many of those people as possible and to get us back in a conversation about us as people and ourselves and to, you know, remember our humanity and to work on our own forgiveness. I know there is power in that. It's not the hard power. It's not the glamorous in the big fancy car, you know, with all the security, but it is a power that I know is real and important.
Yes. I think this work, this work that you're doing, these conversations, Jamie, there's power
in that because it's through these long conversations that people open up. Yes.
And they, you know, their hearts open in a different way. Um, there just more ways to skin a cat.
Yeah, we need it now. I feel like more than ever. I think like everyone who in their own way, in their own platform, can be a force for good and a force for love and do what we can to help heal humanity through love. As you're sharing that, I'm thinking about a moment that's, you know, my families. So, I have five families, long story. I'm adopted. It's a whole thing. They all vote different, love different, believe different, all the things. And I remember the moment uh at at John McCain's funeral and then and then a second moment at at HW uh Bush's funeral uh where where George W. Bush hands you what everyone thought was candy. It was a cough drop. Uh and I feel like there's just this collected sigh of of hope
and relief. I think I think for decades we've all understood, okay, maybe maybe our politicians aren't like-minded, but they're like-hearted. We see them go grab a coffee together after, even though they may have voted different, they all believe in this country,
and it's the country that we are. That was the the best thing about being first lady. I got to see all of America.
Yes. In an intimate way. Yeah. And rarely was I disappointed. M I mean and and I do mean rarely. I mean bad things happen
but people are good. Yes. And just sometimes we just need to be leadership is about reminding us of that good.
Yes. Because it's so easy to tap into our fear. Yes. We need to pause for a super brief break. While we do, take a moment to share this episode with every single person that you know who this could inspire because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration they need to hear today to keep going, to remember that they matter, and to feel less alone and more enough, more connected and more worthy. In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. When you build your self-worth, you change your entire life.
And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You. If you have some self-doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill, Worthy is for you. In Worthy, you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring lifechanging results like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back. Build unshakable self-love. Unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness. Overcome limiting beliefs and imposttor syndrome. achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you were born to be?
Imagine a life with zero self-doubt and unshakable self-worth. Get your copy of Worthy, plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below. Imagine what you'd do if you fully believed in you. It's time to find out with worthy. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration. Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamie kernelma.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your oneonone withjamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day
and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiema.com or in the link in the show notes. Do you struggle with negative self-t talk? Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting. I know because I spent most of my life in that habit. The words you say to yourself about yourself are so powerful. And when you learn to take control over your self-t talk, it's life-changing. And I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you if this is something that could benefit your life. It's called five ways to overcome negative selft talk and build self-love. And it's a free how-to guide to overcome that negative selft talk to build confidence and develop unshakable self-love so that you can dream big and keep going in the pursuit of your goals.
Don't let self- sabotaging thoughts hinder your progress any longer. It's time to rewrite the script of your life, one filled with self-love, resilience, and unwavering belief. If you're ready to take charge of your narrative, build unwavering confidence, and empower yourself to persevere on the path to your dreams, you can grab your free guide to stop overthinking and learn to trust yourself at jamie kernlema.com/resources or click the link in the show notes below. And now, more of this incredible conversation together. Can you talk about how for every person listening and also for you that you know fashion and makeup and beauty can be an outward expression of our inner voice?
Oh my goodness. You know, I think we there comes a point in our lives, hopefully not everybody is this way where what we put on, how we wear our hair. I mean, I I I I go back to all of our bedrooms as little girls.
I don't know about you, but I don't know a little girl that didn't play dress up. And I know that there are little girls out there that have different interests, but I was one of those. I had my Barbie dolls and I had my Chrissy dolls and you know I I was a girly girl in that way. Um and just being able to play in those spaces, you know, it just felt special.
Um and so there that comes from something, right? Mhm. There just something in the fun of putting on a beautiful dress or a lovely shoe that just makes us or at least makes me feel more like myself.
Um, you know, we we all have to put on some kind of armor to get up and get ready in in the day. I mean, we maybe we don't think about it in those terms. Um whether it's as I write in the look, a business suit for your first day at the office or your wedding dress, um what you choose to walk down the aisle in or the gown if you ever get to wear something beautiful like that for a black tide. Every single decision is a reflection of who you're trying to be at that moment in that time. Mhm.
Um so fashion like it or not uh is it we we are slowly sending a message uh about our values about how we feel about ourselves in any given point in time. Um so I think that this book is a fun exploration into how that all unfolded for me.
It was not just getting dressed. It was getting dressed to represent the world in those eight years to to represent this nation
and there had to be a strategy behind it and we talk a lot about that in the book.
Yeah. Hearing the intention. I've never heard you share things like this before where you're sharing the behind the scenes of the intention of every outfit and even sometimes the pressure or what's going on. And were there were there moments where Michelle from Uklid Avenue?
Uh maybe would have used her voice in a certain way, but in this particular role or in this particular time in history where you chose to I guess express how you felt through what you wore or how you did your hair.
Yeah. Um you know, I I didn't really think about fashion as as choice and voice. early on in the course of the campaign. I mean, things were such a blur for for us.
Uh I had never campaigned in that intense a way. I mean, yes, Barack was a state senator. He was a US senator, but I only participated peripherilally in those campaigns, but the run for the presidency was different. And I was overnight thrust out into the country uh relatively on my own. I had a small staff. I had a chief of staff, Melissa Winter. I had one communications person. It was the three of us. Um, and I was still working full-time.
I was still I at the time I was the vice president for community affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. It wasn't a small job.
So, I went from that life of a working mother, you know, um, the girls were uh, preschool and kindergarten. Uh, and I was that person. I was just trying to get to soccer and to drop off the kids at school and I was thinking about the birthday present and then I had to run to the office. And so my wardrobe reflected that life.
And then all of a sudden I'm in people's backyards in Iowa uh talking about values and introducing myself at uh high school gymnasiums and in VA centers and you know and a rally with you know an event would go from 20 people in someone's backyard to eventually hundreds of people and then thousands of people. All of that happened over the course of months.
So for me, dressing was just it was a survival approach. Yeah. It was like I would get I would start the day on a campaign day at 5:00 a.m.
I'd have to go and get my hair done uh at my salon, get on the first Southwest flight out of Midway Airport in Chicago, which was usually a 6 7 a.m. flight. land somewhere in Iowa at the time. Uh I would do anywhere from five to six events back to back to back with photo lines and rope lines and
um and some of the events were in schools and some were fancy events. Um and so it was like drinking from uh fire hydr. Do you did you were you ready for
and I know this happens to every single woman I know who is public in any way. Were you ready for so much attention on what you wore? I think you said uh Barack could often wear the same suit every day and no one notices but whatever
typically a woman wears especially in the public eye like were you ready for that? Did you know that was
I no I was not ready for it because my focus was on the message. It was really I was trying to introduce our family to the country
and help people understand who we were as the first black potentially first family traveling in mostly rural areas. I kind I I knew maybe people don't think they have anything in common with us,
you know. So my approach was let me tell you about us. Yeah. And let me tell you about how we grew up. Let me tell you about our parents and what we ate around the kitchen table and the lessons that we learned. I mean, I was so Jamie focused on that because I really felt like we're all alike,
you know. Um, we may have different skin colors. We may have different political views, but in the end, we all want the same thing. Yeah.
And let me tell you, my message was really focused on that. I didn't I wasn't thinking about how I looked. I was really I was looking people in the eye and trying to connect and then all of a sudden an article would be written
and it would start no matter how passionate a speech would be it would start with and she was wearing a fuchsia this and her arms were that and it was a shock actually to say like for all that I said in that event the first thing they noticed was what I had on
and it's written in here and the crowd was mesmerized. Some people were crying. That that was sort of an afterthought. And Jamie, I have to tell you, it was it was a shock because that that wasn't going on with my husband.
That wasn't going on with any of the other male candidates or speakers out there. It was happening to the women in a way. Uh and it wasn't just comments about what we were wearing, but you know, the size of my hips and my arms. And you know, I say that uh in in a political situation, people are trying to win.
Yeah. Which means they're trying to make you lose. Yes. And losing by making us lose, they had to make us feel like other
So everything was kind of I learned everything was fair game. even my personhood,
my very being, the tone of my voice. I was accused of being angry. Um, that it was shocking to me because there was nothing angry about me. You know, my I was the same person that America has come to know.
Funny, passionate, concerned, welcoming. Yeah. Um, I was never any different. I have not changed a bit, but in a political climate when uh the the wrong statement could be turned on its head, I I was I was stunned. Um and so I knew, wow, I cannot
I have to be mindful of everything I say, every word I utter, every hymn of my skirt because everything was being picked apart. And I say this not just because it's me. I think that happens to women. Yes.
In the world. So it's, you know, our whole relationship with fashion isn't just accidental.
You know, our value as women, you know, we we get reduced to how we look. Yes. And when somebody wants to go after us, they they take that away from us.
Yes. I think Michelle, you know, I started a beauty company, right? And one of my biggest goals was how can you know I do my full face in 5 minutes or how can I you know and and one of the reasons why the amount of time in my life
when I look back and I think about the amount of time where I didn't maybe want to leave the house cuz I was like oh this doesn't fit and this weight or whatever something to do with appearance something to do with appearance and it's you know I was thinking about this because you know dove released a study uh that over 80% % of girls and women will literally opt out of meaningful activities like times of you know time with loved ones joining clubs or groups they'll opt out of meaningful activities if they don't like how they look
right and over 90% of girls and women don't like their bodies and when I think about
what has this cost us what has this cost us and to your point every person and especially every girl and woman can that I know certainly can relate to this Uh, but I think about what it's cost us. I think about for me, I actually didn't wear a swimsuit for a couple decades until one day I was like, what am I showing my daughter? Like, okay, I'm going to shake my cellulite with joy because I'm done. I'm done with what it's cost me. But when you when you think about that, do you think in a way it almost holds and there's certainly uh I think of subsets of culture where appearance is even celebrated even more and it's more there's more pressure to look so good, right? Whether it's hair, makeup, what we're wearing.
Do you think that all of it as it's aimed at women has almost been another form of holding us back?
AB: Absolutely. I mean, you know, my my um um aversion to panty hose that's that's one of those kind of who invented nylon,
you know, it it it feels like a trap for us. It's it's an expensive uh style invention that is completely impractical. Um they are uncomfortable. They they rip. They you know and just wearing a dress to work. Um heels I mean you think about what we we are tiptoeing around life
looking a certain way. I mean the height of the heel I I wore a pair of heels over these are these boots are a little bit better because at least they're square heeled. But you think of when just putting on a heel to make the line of your leg look better to make the hymn line work. I mean, this is all the external stuff. There's nothing practical about working in a pair of heels and nylons.
Yes. There is no one on this planet that can say that that's what I would wake up and choose if I have if I'm really gonna focus on the job and the message that I want to be tiptoeing around in heels and worrying about whether I put a run in my stockings. But those are the standards that we're all trying to live up to. Um, and you know, part of my exploration into this journey is the first lady role, it just really heightened it.
Yeah. Right. Um, and I say this that the the job of first lady is an interesting job non-job, you know, it doesn't come with a real salary um or a job description. Uh, no one technically elected the first spouse. I'll say all we've only had first ladies. Um, you're supposed to be aspirational but representational, reachable approachable
you know. You're you're supposed to be fe feminine but not too sexy. Um, you you you have to be authentic but uh like everyone else.
A lot of pressure. It's it's a lot of pressure on top of the unreasonable structures that we're in.
Yes. You know, Barack wears the same suit, changes his tie, buttons up. You know, his his decision or a man's decision is do I go with a stripe shirt or a plain white shirt?
Yes. Yes. Do I go with a red tie or blue tie? Um, if the day is long and there are a lot of events, which was always a challenge for me with Barack, if we'd go from Air Force One to a hike to um, you know, a fundraiser, what what do I wear? Yeah.
To that that would work. A man takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves, he's casual, he takes off his tie, puts the tie back on, puts the same jacket back on, doesn't have to worry about shoes. Or as women, if do you wear a dress to somebody's home? That's a nice fundraiser. But then, are you really going to go to uh on a hike? I had that dilemma. Am I going to go for for a hike in the Grand Canyon
in a cocktail dress with flats? Mhm. What message does that send? You know, is that normal?
Yes. Um I'm that's what I'm doing in Air Force One. Uh is trying to figure out whether I actually put on shorts to do a hike and how am I going to change to do the next event that we have to do and how do I do it without interrupting the presidential motorcade. Yes.
You know, that's the extra work that women are doing. Yes. When I hear that, I just hear time. Like time, capacity, energy.
There is a uh a thing that came out recently that said if we spend 20 minutes a day on something and live to be over 70, that's one year of our life we give it. So if we're scrolling Instagram for 20 minutes a day or if we're figuring out what we're wearing or 20 minutes extra on our hair, whatever it might be, a year of our life, and for a lot of us, it's way more than 20 minutes a day. And one of the things in the look that I love so much is we need to pause for a super brief break. And while we do, take a moment to share this episode with every single person that you know who this could inspire because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration they need to hear today to keep going, to remember that they matter, and to feel less alone and more enough, more connected and more worthy.
Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration. Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you, delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamie karnma.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl.
Subscribe at jamie lima.com or in the link in the show notes. I am so excited for this book. You know why? Because it's going to save so many people. It's going to say cool.
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Jaime's book, Worthy, is incredible. The gifts are going away, but they're all free right now on worthybook.com. And now more of this incredible conversation together. One of the things in the look that I love so much is you take us on your journey also of time and of of of what you trade for. And you talk about um you talk about wearing braids and your hair and the time that you save and just how much more freeing that can be and just sort of when we start to think because I I think always about the person that's going to get this home which includes 30 of my family members for Christmas under the tree.
Um, but when you go on this journey with you, you start to think about your own, which is so, you know, I remember, you know, when I um I started a company in my living room and ended up working 100 hour weeks for a decade. Michelle, I ended up doing the whole like Steve Jobs thing where I had the same black shirt, same black pants. I had 20 of them.
I have dreamt of the black error. Yeah. Yeah. Where you don't even think you just have like I couldn't make one more decision. It's the same. I used to threaten with Meredith. I said, you know, I'm just going to go black. We're just going to be black and white and that's all. We're going to have the same, you know. Yeah. It it's a luxury. And you know, I know I've I've dreamt about just ridding myself of all of the the details and the worries. Um but uh
do you in your off time? By the way, it can be so fun, too. Like when you walked in, I was like, "Oh, that's that's so good." and just like I get, you know, because fashion can be fun and beauty and makeup. It's like how do we I think what's what's so exciting is the the the journey you're on, but I think so many women are on which is like, okay, what am I willing to trade time for? What brings me joy? Does it bring me joy to like put on something special? That's And then does it bring me even more joy that six days a week I am in my sweats and all the things, right?
Yeah. Well, I didn't I didn't really have that choice as first lady, right? Every day, every time I was up, as we called it, you know, I was up for the public. Um, and the days were were long. So, as you mentioned
to save time. Yes. You know, I I know having a glam team I a trifecta, it feels like a luxury, but it was a time necessity. Um, there's absolutely no way that I would be able to do my hair and makeup and have clothes ready that fit, you know, because r where r where r where r where r where r where r where r where r where r where r where is the woman that can live off the rack.
Yes. You know, because it's not just finding the right outfit, but my arms are long, my legs are long. There's nothing on the rack that I could wear. So, everything has to be altered. Everything has to fit such just so. If you're bending over to hug a child, your shirt can't raise up because that could be the story if they see a role on your your side. And the goal was always never make fashion the story, you know, always make the work the story. But it took a lot of work to make sure that that happened. So having a team of people Meredith Coupe, Carl Ray, Yiane, and Jerry that structuring it so that we spent X amount of time each month just thinking, okay, here's the calendar. What do we have to do? Um, I'd set aside a few hours for a fitting maybe once a month, once every couple of months to do all that, just to lay it all out, to fit the clothes, to have them ready so that when it was time to
work, I could get up, really pick something off of the rack and know that it fit, it was comfortable, it was appropriate, it was thoughtful.
Um, every woman who is trying to get around in the world needs something like that, but we don't. We don't have it.
Right. So now we've got to do what I did before I had my trifecta, which is to find the time in the middle of a busy day to go to a department store and park your car and go up the escalator or to get online and order a bunch of clothes and have them sent and then you got to try them on and hope that they fit and then return them and and on and on and on. And you talk about hair. Um
uh when you mentioned that you didn't wear a swimsuit for a while. Um, for a lot of black women who are trying to fit into the one beauty standard of straight, bouncy hair, um, swimming, being in the rain. You know, I find so many young girls that stay away from water. They're not in sports because they don't want to sweat. Because if your hair gets wet, just like any curly hair, you know, it goes from straight back to what it was. Um, that's time, that's opportunity, that's our health,
you know. Um, and that's why I say that, you know, I do not want corporate America, I don't want men or politicians in our business, you know, setting standards for us by how we should look and feel when they have no idea what it means for us, how much time we're wasting, how much time we could be using working on an issue or finishing a project or getting something done. instead they because we have Jamie such a narrow definition of beauty.
Yes. In the world um which is based on I don't even understand um that you've got all these wonderful women all over the world trying to fit into this narrow definition
of what is acceptable in terms of size and hair color and hair texture and flow. Um,
men aren't held to that standard. You know, a handsome man could be fat, tall, pot belly, six-pack, balding, gray,
you know, a bearded knot. There's so many options for how men can look. Yes. But there's one definition, and it's just so sad to see so many young girls altering their appearance. Yes.
Trying to fit into these narrow definitions. nose jobs and Botox and lip fillers and all slowly but surely we are all trying to look like just one or five people.
Yes. And the work that it takes to take your self out of your natural state of being.
Yes. And to become something totally different. It is psychologically damaging. It is physically exhausting. And it is financially ruining.
Yes. for so many of us. Um, and I think, you know, I hope that the look helps to start this conversation
among us because it has to start with us. Yes. you know, sort of fighting against trying to fit into these narrow definitions of what beauty is regardless of what the rest of the world says
because you know that you know the the men can be hard, they can be judgmental, but we as women are sometimes the most judgmental of one another. Yes.
And of ourselves. Yeah. We are hard on ourselves. Our our mothers are hard on their daughters.
Yes. And sometimes it's done in all good nature. They just want the best for us. I want you to have opportunity. I want you to find love. I want you I want you to be accepted. All the while we are crushing the the true spirit of of of girls and women.
Yes. So powerful. And I think you know for me again and I think going through the the journey on this when you wore braids it was like I was like jumping out of my seat. It was like, you know what I mean? Because it's such a big deal. You too. You too. And it was just, you know, you're we're all on this journey. And I feel like it's I feel like one of the big things is this conversation, this book, us talking about these things, but also setting the example, right? How many people felt just like sat up taller when you walked out there, you know, with braids? And it's like it's it's I think also when we think about and everyone listening and watching us right now can do this right now in their own life. What has it cost you? The the the things we say to ourselves because you're exactly right.
Yes. I have found often it's most the judgment can come from other women or or each other or even without knowing are well-intended family members or friends or uh but I have said the hardest things to myself. Things I would never say to anyone else ever about you know body, face, whatever it might be, hair, whatever it might be. And and again, when you look at the numbers that over 90% of girls and women don't love their bodies,
do you now ever feel not confident or unworthy? Um at this stage in life, it's rare. Um but I am 61.
Yeah. And I have done a lot of work and reflection. I've lived a a a long life and I I I think I fought off a lot of those insecurities and doubt um and doubts. Uh so I would say no, but it took a lot of work.
Took a lot of work um and and and time and I think and and wisdom, you know. I mean, you you live life and you
you you slowly realize what really matters. Um, and let me, as we said, fashion, clothes, I love to feel good. I love to have my hair done. I love getting my makeup done. I I And I'm I'm learning that that's me, too.
Yeah. That I I love the cut of a dress. I love this bodysuit. I put it on and it just h it makes me happy. Um,
do you loan them to friends? Just Oh, asking for a friend. That's the beauty of being 5'11. It's like, "Oh, it won't fit.
It won't fit anybody." And my daughters, they they they try to sneak in my closet, but we have a deal. When I see them moving towards my closet direction, I'm like, "Where are you going?"
Yeah. What are you doing in there? You know what's happening? I need to see what's happening. Um, but it's taken some time.
Yeah. For me to um truly be comfortable in my own skin. And look, I understand why it takes so long.
How long would you say? Oh my gosh. It I I don't There's not a magic Yeah. age. I think it's just for me it was gradual over time.
But I also try to remind myself, look, I wasn't set up in this world to feel any differently.
I was a a tall black girl from a workingclass family in America uh where there were few images or role models. um for me to to watch. I mean, I grew up watching Marsha and Jan Brady. Um, you know, I I talk about those influences and why representation is so important because if young girls don't see themselves on the covers of magazines and starring in shows, even though there are millions of beautiful young black and Latino girls out there, if they don't get the opportunities to star in shows or to be something that represents the standard of beauty, then you grow up not really sure whether little girls like you are actually beautiful and sought after.
Um, as I got older, I realized that's not me. That's messaging. That's socialization. And once I, you know, probably as I got out into the world and saw all types of women and people and I saw women that were white and blonde and wealthy and I saw I and I and I saw all the varying degrees of goodness.
Yeah. You know, Yeah. And beauty doesn't or a certain standard of beauty doesn't guarantee that you're a good person. No. that you operate well in the world, that you, you know, that that you uphold a certain set of values. Um, you know, um, values, compassion, empathy doesn't have a have a dress size.
Yeah. You know, or that you're even confident or have any selfworth. Yeah. It's there's almost no correlation. Yeah.
So, you slowly meet people and live in the world and you realize, wow, we're all dealing with some level of insecurity. Yeah,
we are all dealing with the messaging that's driven into our heads and it hurts hurts us all in different ways and we're all walking around with those scars.
Yes. Um and then you get old enough to re and then you become a mother. Yes. And you start thinking about messaging to your daughters in my case, right? And you have to get yourself in check. You have to brush off your insecurities so that you don't pass them on to these beautiful girls.
Yes. So in delivering a different set of messages to my daughter, I had to take them in myself,
you know, and there was a a a that was a stage of growth that happened for me, right?
Um and then fighting to be seen in the world as yourself. Yes. you know the fight as first lady to define who I was and not let myself be defined fighting for that
yes in order to do it well you have to love yourself you have to really start appreciating the you that is there um and using your voice that's all this journey to to now um and it didn't happen overnight
and it doesn't happen for anybody overnight and I don't think that any of us as women are free of it.
You know, we're we're all struggling in this way. Um struggling to grab hold of the thing in us that is true
um and embrace it and nurture it. And some of us succeed and some of us never succeed.
And I just want more young girls to think differently about themselves in the world and what beauty is and to focus more on what they do. Yes.
Than what they look like even though that part of it is fun. Yes. You know, right now in this moment, do you feel beautiful?
Absolutely I do. I feel the most beautiful that I've ever felt. Yeah. Um and as you know, that's not what's on the outside. That's health has always been as you know and many people know is is critical.
Yeah. to has been critical to my journey of acceptance because how I feel, you know, my health, my muscle tone, my stamina my
my posture, you know, my flexibility, my, you know, because the older you get, the more aches and pains come. So, you're con I know I'm constantly figuring out my body and doing that work and having the time now that I'm not showing up for the world.
Yes. I'm able to show up myself. You still are. Still are in a way. But I do feel the best that I've ever felt. And I would have never thought
that 60 would feel like this because 60 nowadays is very different. I mean, I I spend my time thinking about how old my grandparents were
when I thought they were old. Yes. Yes. you know, when I really thought they were old and they were my age, my grandparents who were grayhaired and retired and you know, there was just a different notion of what being 60 and 70 was.
And now it's totally different. U you know, and you know, I I push health for people. You know, not just how you look, but how do you feel? Because
yes, as women, the best times in our lives are now. Yes. And if we're not healthy enough to enjoy this time,
to get up and take that trip and walk through an airport for miles, to climb a pyramid, to, you know, to walk on cobblestones when we have the time, we have the money, we have the wisdom.
My what a waste that that would be. So, I'm living to be healthy enough to live the life I I at least I think I've earned.
Yes. This conversation with First Lady Michelle Obama is so incredible. We made it into more than one part. So, get ready to dive deeper into how to trust yourself, use your voice, and love who you truly are. You are not going to want to miss this incredible part two of our conversation with Michelle Obama. That's coming up in the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. Remember, this episode's not just for you and me. Please share this with every single person that you know because it can impact and change their life, too. And if you love today's episode, please click the follow or subscribe button for this show on the app you're listening to it on or watching it on. And if it added value to your life, if you could give it a rating or review, I would be so grateful. Five stars if you can. And again, just share it with every person you believe in. Share it with another person in your life who could benefit
from it. Maybe you know someone needs to step into their authentic self or love who they truly are. Please post the episode and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and lessons in this episode today. You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today. Before you go, I want to share some words with you that couldn't be more true. You, right now, exactly as you are, are enough and fully worthy. You're worthy of your greatest hopes, your wildest dreams, and all the unconditional love in the world. And it's an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kernma show here. I hope you'll come as you are.
Heal where you need. Blossom what you choose. Journey toward your calling and stay as long as you'd like because you belong here. You are worthy. You are love. You are loved. And I love you. And I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. you stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. When you build your self-worth, you change your entire life. And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You. If you have some self-doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill, Worthy is for you. In worthy, you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring lifechanging results like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back. Build unshakable self-love.
Unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness. Overcome limiting beliefs and imposttor syndrome. achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you were born to be? Imagine a life with zero self-doubt and unshakable self-worth. Get your copy of Worthy, plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below. Imagine what you'd do if you fully believed in you. It's time to find out with worthy. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration. which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox from me. If you
haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamie kernelma.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiema.com or in the link in the show notes. And please note, I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. If you love this incredible episode with First Lady Michelle Obama, I promise you, you're also going to love this lifechanging episode of the Jamie Karn Lima Show right here. It's up next just for you.
Questions about this episode
What is discussed in "Michelle Obama: How to Hear Your Intuition, Trust Yourself & Love Who You Are"?
In order: 0:00 Michelle Obama, The Look, Inclusion, Instagram; 10:00 Intuition, Prayer; 20:00 Self-doubt, Self-Love, Self-Worth, Self-belief; 30:00 Chicago, Melissa Winter, Midway Airport, Self-Love; 40:00 Air Force One, first ladies, Grand Canyon, Instagram; 50:00 The Look, Carl Ray, Lip fillers, Meredith Coupe; 1:00:00 Ian Brady, Michelle Obama, Representation, Self-doubt; 1:10:00 Michelle Obama, Self-belief, Self-doubt, Self-Love.
What is mentioned in this Jamie Kern Lima episode?
52 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Self-doubt, The Look, Michelle Obama, Intuition, Self-belief, Self-Worth. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.
How long is "Michelle Obama: How to Hear Your Intuition, Trust Yourself & Love Who You Are"?
The episode runs 1 h 13 min; the transcript is about 11,855 words in 230 timestamped sections.
More from Jamie Kern Lima
About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated November 18, 2025.