Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack & More

What this episode is about

Michelle Obama reflects on her journey from overachiever to a leader focused on uplifting others, sharing insights on hope, self-acceptance, and authenticity. Through her latest book, "The Look," she discusses transforming public scrutiny into a celebration of personal expression and encourages others to embrace their true selves and find confidence in their voices.

Key takeaways

• Leadership isn't about spotlight, it's about lifting others and letting them shine.
• Michelle's transformation of scrutiny into self-expression shows the power of positive perception.
• In a world of comparison, Michelle reminds us: true success is measured in kindness and mentorship.
• The more we give, the more we grow—it's like life’s reciprocity principle on steroids!
• Even icons feel inadequate; it's the effort to uplift others that defines true greatness.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Jamie Kern Lima (Guest) · 11 min speaking
• Michelle Obama (Host) · 16 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Michelle Obama, The Jamie Kern Lima Show, The Look, Inclusion
2. 10:00 – 15:00: East Wing, John Maxwell, Real Housewives
3. 15:00 – 20:00: The Look, Inclusion, Authenticity
4. 20:00 – 25:00: Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You, The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Self-Love
5. 25:00 – 26:21: Michelle Obama, Self-Love

Notable quotes from "Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack & More"

• I will say what my husband has said and he helps me. 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.

  about Michelle Obama · at 1:30

• Like a hug, but your brain and your spirit and your heart is Wow. Melinda French Gates.

  about Melinda French Gates · at 3:57

• There's a quote by John Maxwell that says, Great leaders don't climb ladders, they build ladders, right, to help all these other people rise. Like that is true.

  about John Maxwell · at 10:45

• Never ever. Guilty pleasure TV show.

  about Real Housewives · at 12:52

• 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…

  about Authenticity · at 19:27

• 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.

  about The Jamie Kern Lima Show · at 20:28

• I am worthy of my hopes and dreams. And I'm sharing how you can too in my new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life.

  about Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You · at 22:28

• 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.

  about Self-Love · at 25:17

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Michelle Obama — Person · Main guest · 4 mentions · first at 0:02
  She discusses leadership, stepping aside, faith practices, public scrutiny, and national hope while promoting her book "The Look."
• John Maxwell — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 10:45
  Cited for a leadership quote about building ladders for others, reinforcing the episode's theme of stepping aside and elevating others.
• Melinda French Gates — Person · Referenced prior guest / endorsement · 1 mention · first at 4:01
  Appears in a montage of testimonials about Jamie Kern Lima and the show, signaling credibility and prominence of the host's platform.

Books & papers

• The Look — Book · Promoted book (guest's book) · 3 mentions · first at 1:33
  Presented as Michelle Obama's new book about transforming public-image scrutiny into self-expression, inclusion, and impact.
  I will say what my husband has said and he helps me. 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.
• Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You — Book · Promoted book (host's book) · 3 mentions · first at 21:48
  The episode includes an extended promotional segment positioning the book as a guide to overcoming self-doubt and building self-love, confidence, and resilience.

Concepts & topics

• Inclusion — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at 1:43
  The host explicitly welcomes people who "vote differently" and Michelle frames national growth as becoming more open and inclusive.
  Time ever how she and her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and impact.
• Authenticity — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at 1:51
  Positioned as a goal for listeners—embracing one's voice and self-expression—especially in relation to "The Look" and the closing call-to-action.
• Self-Love — Concept · Core topic (promo/resource) · 2 mentions · first at 24:52
  Featured in the host's resource segment about overcoming negative self-talk and developing "unshakable self-love."

Places & events

• East Wing — Place · Referenced location/symbol · 2 mentions · first at 1:12
  Mentioned as being "demolished" and used as a symbol for confusion about national norms, traditions, and identity.
  What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing being demolished?

Media & podcasts

• The Jamie Kern Lima Show — Media · Primary platform / episode container · 3 mentions · first at 3:09
  The conversation occurs on this podcast; the host describes its mission of inclusion and love and invites subscriptions/newsletter signups.
• Real Housewives — Media · Referenced media (guilty pleasure) · 1 mention · first at 12:52
  Used in a rapid-fire segment to humanize Michelle Obama; she describes watching it as a "sociological study."

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 coming up in this incredible part three episode with Michelle Obama. How, especially as someone who's been this huge overachiever

0:10 Mhm. your whole life, how have you gotten to the place where you're not tied to the significance of that?

0:16 I believe that our jobs as leaders is to come in, do our part, bring others up.

0:26 Yes. Move out of the way. Let them cook. As the kids say, this stage of my life is purposefully and mindfully planning my step aside. I've never heard you share things like this before.

0:40 I have never had this in-depth conversation. There are so many questions you want to know and Michelle is revealing all in this episode.

0:51 Do you have a favorite prayer? Barack still says his prayers too at night. Sometimes I I hear him at night.

1:00 How did you learn to be so cool? Yeah. Will you ever change your mind ever in the future about running? What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing East Wing being demolished?

1:15 Demolished. You know, it it was I think in my body I felt that's the part of it that hurts

1:23 for the person who needs to feel some hope in their life right now. What do you say?

1:30 I will say what my husband has said and he helps me. 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. The look will ignite your confidence and inspire you to embrace your own authenticity, beauty, style, and to trust your own voice.

2:00 I was right. I was absolutely right. I didn't even know it. Oh my with my goodness. Oh my goodness. Jamie,

2:08 what you just gave like, thank you. I will. Yeah, I know. You pulled it out of me. How did you get to be such a light? Where did that come from? What planet could you make down from?

2:20 I don't want to cry my makeup off. You just want me to cry mine off. I mean, it's like Jamie.

2:29 Welcome to the Jamie Kurran 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

3:25 into your inbox from me for free. Just join my newsletter at jamie kernlema.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.

3:44 Welcome to the Jamie Karn Lima Show. Oprah, how have you defied the odds? Her show is unlike any I've ever done.

3:54 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.

4:04 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.

4:26 Jamie Kern Lima is her name. Everybody needs Jamie Kern Lima in their life. Jamie Kern Lima.

4:35 Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern Lima, what for you would you say is is your greatest life lesson? [snorts]

4:46 Oh gosh, Jamie, you're killing me. You are going so deep. I have never had this in-depth conversation about faith and I really am grateful to to be in this moment with you. Um but my greatest life lesson do unto others

5:08 you know we are each other's brothers and sisters keepers and we do have space to do that you know um yeah I really do believe that that that you know what you put out you get back. I do believe that,

5:33 you know, um, and I'm by no means perfect, you know, talk to my staff, they're like, "Oh my god, what does she want us to do now?" And, you know, but it is hard for me not to scoop up everybody in my orbit, you know, and just parent them. Sasha said this the other day. We were at dinner and she says, "Gh, mom loves to parent a thing." Oh, whether it's a our dog Sunny or there's like, "Well, this is what I would do." I I do just do have that sense of like if I can help you, if I can mentor you, if I like this is what I know and what I've experienced is the more I give, the more I get back. It's just

6:23 I don't do it because of that, but that's what I've seen. Yeah. Come to be. Um, and so that means we have to be get very careful about our words and our attitudes and how we show up. That's the going high piece, right?

6:38 The going high piece is can I go low? Yeah, of course I can. In my mind, behind the scenes, it's there. It's not that you don't have the feeling,

6:47 right? You can be disappointed and angry, but what you put out when you have a platform

6:56 and other people are listening, my god, I think that I have a complete responsibility to be that light.

7:07 Um, [clears throat] and it comes back multiple times. Uh, so yeah, be the light. being

7:18 that's the that's the greatest lesson I've learned. You know, one of the things I think is so powerful is that idea like if you need something, give it. You know, like there's so many people that don't feel seen or they feel invisible and it's just like there's moments, you know, you walk into a coffee shop if you're able to or you know what walk down the street and if you actually see someone else like if you really see somebody like there you'll see this moment in their eye where they realize they're seeing and it's like in that moment they see you back

7:48 and it's like there's there's [snorts] so much we can do um in that vein. That's such a beautiful lesson. I want to say uh something's really rare because you talk about your mom talks about how you you know if you colored outside the lines as a little girl you'd throw that page away and you know you to your point earlier you've done so many things in such a

8:12 and and yet you've talked a lot recently where you know because there's a lot of people that call you their forever first lady and and you've said a couple times recently like y'all that was nine years ago that was eight years ago now Michelle most people they are tied to something that the world calls significant right whether it's like they won the thing in high school and that's their thing that they will forever

8:36 how especially as someone who's been this in amazing overachiever huge overachiever

8:43 uh your whole life how have you gotten to the place where you're not tied to the significance of that

8:50 yeah it's it's it's work um but it goes to the the mentoring piece, right? Um I believe that our jobs as leaders is to come in, do our part, bring others up.

9:10 Yes. Move out of the way. Um let them let them cook as the kids say, you know. Um, and it's hard to let the young people cook if you're there in the kitchen

9:26 directing and nope, don't use that recipe. And you know um so this part of my this stage of of my life is purposefully and mindfully planning my step aside not my exit.

9:45 But it's like you got to step up whatever that is. Um and so I so it's the opposite of holding on to the thing. It's letting go. And I think that that's another lesson that I've learned from my mother. She was constantly letting us go,

10:06 constantly showing her confidence in us by giving us our competence by saying you can you can do this. You don't need me. And how many parents are willing to say that's not your win's not my win. That's your win. Um,

10:26 yeah, I'll it is also your loss and I will be there with you, but this is yours to own. Um,

10:33 so how I'm thinking about it is that I'm I'm trying to give back to and I can't give if I'm holding on to it. The position, the thing, the title, the feeling.

10:44 Yeah. Yeah. You know, there's a quote by John Maxwell that says, "Great leaders don't climb ladders, they they build ladders, right, to help all these other people rise." Like that is that is true leadership.

10:56 I mean it's like Jamie you are by far one of the most requested guests on the show and a lot Oh yeah and a lot of people have submitted questions so I'm just going to do them rapid fire.

11:08 All right. How did you learn to be so cool? I think I was born with it. No. How did I learn? That's so that's so so cute. I think it's a culmination. This is the beauty of this interesting life. You know, I grew up as a working-class kid on the south side. So many influences, so much, you know, that that's the beauty of our diversity, right? It's like just so many different experiences that I draw from, music, culture, people, language, travel. I think the more the more of it, it it creates that cool, right? because you're constantly I'm constantly borrowing from other people's cool.

11:54 Do you have a favorite prayer? Oh gosh. No, it's the it's it's it's the nightly prayer. The the prayers, you know, it's the end of the day. Barack still says his prayers too at night, but he does it in a really private private way. Um, which I think is is is really sweet. You know, sometimes I I hear him at night,

12:21 um, but it's that the end of the the day prayer when you when I've kind of settled in right before I go to sleep,

12:29 you know, and it's not a specific prayer, but it's a prayer of thought and being, you know, starting with the ones that I love and care about. It's almost the superstition of ending the night in your spirit. So,

12:43 yes. Yes. Uh, will you ever change your mind ever, ever in the future about running?

12:49 No. Never ever. Never ever. Guilty pleasure TV show. Oh, any Real Housewife. I watch them all. It's, you know, it's a sociological study.

13:02 Yeah. Yeah. I DVR them. And my husband's like, "That again?" Oh, yeah. I watch them.

13:06 That's what Barack is the same way. I'm That's why I say, "Well, you watch golf."

13:11 Yeah. Yeah. What did it feel like for you and your body when you saw the East Wing East Wing being demolished?

13:19 Demolished. You know, it it was it's it's not it's not about me. It's about us and our traditions and what they stand for. I think in my body I felt confusion because I'm like, well, what do who are we? What do we value? And who decides that? M

13:41 um that's the thing that's going through my head a lot lately. Who are we? What what are the rules because I'm confused?

13:54 Yeah. By what the what what are our norms and our mores? Not the laws, but how do we live together? Um that's the part of it that hurts. It's not the house. It's not the it's who I am just you know just trying to understand the assignment and uh so I think I I felt a loss for us as a nation but personally you know that was not our that's not our house that's that's the people's house. You've entertained so many guests, gone to so many parties. How do you know what to say at a social event when none of us learn this?

14:39 Oh my gosh. I I'm looking for that light, that connection. You know what? I I try to focus on the person right in front of me.

14:49 That's the That's the easiest thing. Tell me about you. What's going on in your life? I mean, that's the that's why I love my podcasts because that's I'm just doing it's like Jamie, I I would so we would be off and I just I can focus in on one conversation until somebody pulls me away. That's I love the seatmate conversation because I'm like, "Okay, let's figure you out." So, it's one person at a at a time and it's just it's a real curiosity. So that gets me through any dinner and me at a dinner party. We just don't go anywhere.

15:28 Yeah. We went to a friend's big birthday party and it was the other day and it was a it was pretty good. But I I don't have trouble connecting with people. I enjoy it. Deeply enjoy it. for the person who needs to feel some hope in their life right now. What do you say? I I will say what my husband has said and he helps me. If still in the course of human history, if we had to pick a time to be alive, it would be now. Um, we we have grown and we continue to grow as a nation. We just can't lose sight of that growth. We do have to understand our history and what what we've been through, what what we've decided we don't want to be any longer and why.

16:27 Um, just so that we don't keep making the same mistakes. Um, we've learned a lot about who we want to be. You know, we're more open people. We are more inclusive, more caring, and I think we feel better about ourselves for it. Um, we just but but progress is never a straight, clean, clear line.

16:55 Um, and that's okay. Uh, so I would just remind us all that we are still growing and we're and in this country we're young. We're a baby country,

17:09 you [clears throat] know. It's like we're like a teenager. We're like a 13year-old, you know, and we're doing some dumb 13-year-old stuff right now, but we're going to we're going to continue to grow. We're going to learn. And there's going to be some pain and some loss and some failure. Um, but the trajectory is upward. We just have to keep moving forward. Keep moving forward. Learn from our history. Amen to that. I am so excited for the look for uh the launch of this. Also love your podcast. I I like laugh when your mom said that your brother's wine is so good and the whole thing and you're like no but we have White House wine and she's like just all of it and how he's the he was the favorite all the things still is. Uh and you're also doing a special podcast um with your trifecta and and so many special guests for the look.

18:15 So many people listening to us right now can just hop right on over. So we're going to link to that in the show notes here to check that out because that's so special. And um I just want to thank you

18:29 Jamie. Thank you. I mean this was this was emotional. It was funny fun. You are you are a light. I was right.

18:39 I was absolutely right. I didn't even know it. Um, and thank you for being the light for so many people. Um, your platform is important and it's been an honor and a privilege for me to be here with you. Uh, so just keep it up, girl.

18:57 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 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

19:52 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 Kerna 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.

20:40 Imagine what would you do if you fully believed in you. My weekly free inspirational newsletter is packed with tips and tools to help you find out. It's called Oneon-One with Jamie and it's delivered right to your inbox each Tuesday morning. It's a love letter from me to you, from my soul to yours, and I hope it brings you the words and messages you need at just the right moment. Plus, when you're a part of my free inspirational newsletter community, you'll be the first to get behindthe-scenes content, inspirational messages, and be the first to learn about upcoming events and more. It's the place to be, and I sure hope you'll join me there. So, if you're not on the list yet, you can sign up for free at jamie kernelma.com or click the link in the show notes below. And here's to becoming unstoppable together.

21:39 I am so excited for this book. You know why? Cuz it's going to save so many people. It's going to save me.

21:48 Were the your new beautiful book worthy? Get this book. This book, I'm telling you, it's a book that can change anybody's life who picks it up.

22:00 Anybody who's ever felt that they were not good enough, didn't measure up, something's missing in your life. I have to tell you,

22:07 it's powerful. It's happening. It's worthy. Imagine what would you do if you fully 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 believe I am worthy of my hopes and dreams. And I'm sharing how you can too in my new book, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life. If you're ready to truly trust yourself and break through that barrier of self-doubt and know that where you come from or even where you are right now doesn't determine where you're going, then worthy is for you. It's time to go from doubting you're enough to knowing you're enough. It's time to step into all of who you are and into the person you were born to be. And it's time to believe that you are worthy of it.

23:08 Because in life, we don't become what we want. We become what we believe we're worthy of. Join the worthy movement today by grabbing your copy of Worthy anywhere books are sold. Then head to worthybook.com now for free gifts, including my five-part course on becoming unstoppable and my 95page worthy workbook action plan that teaches you how to implement the tools from the book into your real life right now.

23:40 Worthy is groundbreaking. Yo, my worthy. You are worthy. This book is going to change lives.

23:47 This book literally will teach you how to actually feel worthy so that you can have the strength. You can have the confidence.

23:53 The lessons in this book and the strategies will change your life. You will never be the same again after you read this book.

23:59 Jaime's book worthy is a must- readad. It is going to inspire you, empower you, give you the hope that you need and the kick in the rear end that you deserve.

24:10 Jamie's book worthy is incredible. The gifts are going away, but they're all free right now on worthybook.com. 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 lifechanging. And I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you. 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.

25:08 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 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

Who speaks in "Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack & More"?

Jamie Kern Lima (Guest), Michelle Obama (Host).

What is "Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack & More" about?

Michelle Obama reflects on her journey from overachiever to a leader focused on uplifting others, sharing insights on hope, self-acceptance, and authenticity. Through her latest book, "The Look," she discusses transforming public scrutiny into a celebration of personal expression and encourages others to embrace their true selves and find confidence in their voices.

What is mentioned in this Jamie Kern Lima episode?

11 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Michelle Obama, The Jamie Kern Lima Show, The Look, Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life for You, Inclusion, East Wing. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 3) How to Feel Hope in Your Life & Future Right Now, Barack & More"?

The episode runs 26 min; the transcript is about 4,088 words in 77 timestamped sections.

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