Turn off Your Socials with Angel Reese

Two-time WNBA All-Star and fellow podcaster Angel Reese joins Michelle and Craig to dish about their favorite reality TV shows and what it's like to exist in the world as a tall person. Angel opens up about the importance of protecting her peace, what she misses about her life before fame, and why she approaches her career with the same strategy she uses on the court. NOTE: This episode was taped prior to Angel's trade to Atlanta. Have a question you want answered? Write to us at imopod.com http://imopod.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Michelle Obama?

  You have a beet face for a game?

• 0:02Speaker 01

  Not beet, but I'll do like a little concealer and a little blush and keep it on.

• 0:05Craig Robinson?

  What's beet for the male listeners?

• 0:10Speaker 01

  That's like the guys, your face is like done.

• 0:12Michelle Obama?

  Your face is clean, like they, like the makeup artist, beet your face, girl.

• 0:16Speaker 01

  Beet to the gods, you're beet.

• 0:17Michelle Obama?

  To the gods. So that's why having a good beet means your face is done and it's made up.

• 0:22Craig Robinson?

  Got it. Okay.

• 0:23Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, it's an adjective. Yeah.

• 0:25Speaker 01

  It's me.

• 0:26Craig Robinson?

  I thought it was a noun.

• 0:30Craig Robinson?

  You don't have makeup on in the game, do you?

• 0:32Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 0:32Michelle Obama?

  We just said that. Where were you?

• 0:35Craig Robinson?

  I missed that. I didn't think you missed.

• 0:37Speaker 01

  I wear a little some some.

• 0:38Michelle Obama?

  He was trying to understand what a beet is.

• 0:46Michelle Obama?

  This episode of IMO is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.

• 0:52Craig Robinson?

  Meech.

• 0:53Michelle Obama?

  Craig Robinson.

• 0:54Craig Robinson?

  How are you?

• 0:54Michelle Obama?

  I'm doing great. I'm doing pretty good. How about you?

• 0:59Craig Robinson?

  I feel busy.

• 1:00Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 1:01Craig Robinson?

  But that's, when you have kids still in school, it's a busy time.

• 1:05Michelle Obama?

  And you're in basketball season.

• 1:06Craig Robinson?

  That's right.

• 1:07Michelle Obama?

  So, and again, how many teams are you facilitating?

• 1:12Craig Robinson?

  So I'm coaching eighth grade as well as assistant coaching high school. And then I'm, the NABC is preparing for the final four, which is in April.

• 1:24Michelle Obama?

  The NABC is?

• 1:25Craig Robinson?

  National Association of Basketball Coaches.

• 1:27Michelle Obama?

  Which is your side job.

• 1:28Craig Robinson?

  It's my full-time job.

• 1:32Craig Robinson?

  And you know, the interesting thing, the final four is in Indianapolis this year.

• 1:37Michelle Obama?

  Oh, so that's good for you.

• 1:39Craig Robinson?

  That's good for me because it's close by, but all three divisions are having their championship in, in, in Indy, in the Indianapolis area.

• 1:49Michelle Obama?

  So that's gonna be hectic.

• 1:50Craig Robinson?

  Division one, division two, division three. So it's gonna be, I won't say hectic. I'll say it'll be a festival. Yeah, this is, it's, it's rare that they have them all together. So it's sort of a celebration of the game.

• 2:01Michelle Obama?

  Talking about basketball.

• 2:03Craig Robinson?

  Oh, man.

• 2:04Michelle Obama?

  Talking about.

• 2:04Craig Robinson?

  Yes.

• 2:05Michelle Obama?

  Talking about some goats, talking about.

• 2:08Craig Robinson?

  Talking about an honorary Chicagoan.

• 2:11Michelle Obama?

  Yes, we've got, I'm really excited.

• 2:15Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 2:16Michelle Obama?

  For our, for our guest this episode. Craig, why don't you do the honors and then we can get to.

• 2:22Craig Robinson?

  I will, I will. We are talking about, today we have Angel Reese on. She is an NCAA champion, two-time WNBA All-Star. In addition to her incredible achievements on the court, she hosts the podcast Unapologetically Angel.

• 2:42Michelle Obama?

  A fellow podcaster.

• 2:44Craig Robinson?

  Which I'm really interested in talking to her about that. She's also an entrepreneur with brands like Reebok, Victoria's Secret, Reese's, which is one of my favorite candies, and Beats. And in 2023, she founded the Angel C. Reese Foundation, dedicated to empowering girls and women through sports, education, financial literacy, and more.

• 3:08Michelle Obama?

  That's great.

• 3:09Craig Robinson?

  And she wore her heels today, so she's taller than me, which I'm, makes me feel so good. Without further ado.

• 3:17Michelle Obama?

  Angel Reese.

• 3:24Michelle Obama?

  You are gorgeous. Gorgeous, gorgeous. I know, I'm short today. Well, this is what we call in our family, normal height. Yes. You know, it's like tall queens and we wear our heels. Yes.

• 3:36Craig Robinson?

  Wear your heels, ladies.

• 3:38Michelle Obama?

  Me, my girls, it's like brothers better, you know, better. Watch out. Get the confidence up. It's like you might have to be looking up for a second. But girl, you are gorgeous. Thank you. Gorgeous. So happy to be here. I am so happy to have you here. Thank you. Oh, my God, reading your, your resume, your introduction, I would think you'd be about 50 years old.

• 4:05Speaker 01

  I'm dead, that's so funny.

• 4:07Michelle Obama?

  But I'm like, mm, you're a baby.

• 4:09Speaker 01

  I am a baby.

• 4:10Michelle Obama?

  You are a baby.

• 4:11Speaker 01

  I know, and I try to like, remember that. Sometimes I get caught off guard, like, I'm still 23, I'm like, living this life once, and like, try to give myself so much grace.

• 4:19Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 4:20Speaker 01

  Um, but at the same time, it's like, it's all coming so fast. Like, everything came so fast for me, so I'm still soaking it up.

• 4:26Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, but you are handling yourself beautifully.

• 4:30Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 4:30Michelle Obama?

  I mean, it's not just what you do, but the way you carry yourself, girl.

• 4:34Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 4:35Michelle Obama?

  I mean, it is really a joy to watch you manage it all. And you do it with a smile on your face, with an excellent attitude.

• 4:42Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 4:43Michelle Obama?

  So, I am just...

• 4:44Speaker 01

  It's an honor of coming from you, the queen, the queen, the queen, thank you.

• 4:49Craig Robinson?

  You know, I don't think they were making girls like you when I was growing up.

• 4:53Speaker 01

  What does that mean?

• 4:54Craig Robinson?

  Man, I mean...

• 4:56Michelle Obama?

  What, yeah, what does that mean?

• 4:58Speaker 01

  What does that mean?

• 4:59Craig Robinson?

  All of what you said, and can get 10 rebounds a game.

• 5:02Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 5:04Craig Robinson?

  And can get 10 rebounds a game.

• 5:06Speaker 01

  I mean, Lisa Leslie, you know, she was...

• 5:08Craig Robinson?

  She was.

• 5:08Michelle Obama?

  Lisa Leslie is my girl, I just saw her at the All-Star game.

• 5:12Speaker 01

  Yes, I saw you guys, yes.

• 5:13Michelle Obama?

  Oh, we missed you.

• 5:14Speaker 01

  Yes, I know.

• 5:14Michelle Obama?

  You were on TV.

• 5:15Speaker 01

  I wasn't there, I wasn't there, no, no.

• 5:16Michelle Obama?

  I saw her across the way.

• 5:18Craig Robinson?

  But see, she's still young, I mean, it's just, oh, man, it's so nice to see.

• 5:22Speaker 01

  It's a breath of fresh air.

• 5:23Craig Robinson?

  It sure is, yes, yes. And the passion with which you play is so fun.

• 5:29Speaker 01

  I love it.

• 5:29Michelle Obama?

  Well, let me start, because, um, I hear that I am a reality TV fan, and I know you are into Love Island. The girls got me into Love Island.

• 5:43Speaker 01

  Really?

• 5:43Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, because I wasn't, yeah, I would always just click past it because it just seemed, like, too much.

• 5:48Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 5:48Michelle Obama?

  And then one time, they were like, "Mom, you just have to sit here and watch with us." And I think it was the season before last.

• 5:54Speaker 01

  Yep.

• 5:55Michelle Obama?

  And man, was I hooked.

• 5:57Speaker 01

  It's good.

• 5:58Michelle Obama?

  I mean, oh, it's crazy, it's crazy.

• 6:00Craig Robinson?

  I can't help you here.

• 6:01Speaker 01

  You're not watching?

• 6:02Craig Robinson?

  No.

• 6:03Michelle Obama?

  He doesn't watch any of it, we're trying to get him more...

• 6:05Speaker 01

  What's your show?

• 6:07Craig Robinson?

  Not, not reality TV.

• 6:09Michelle Obama?

  It's some old, you know, he's watching old TV.

• 6:12Craig Robinson?

  First of all, Wide World of Sports isn't on anymore.

• 6:15Michelle Obama?

  But if it were, he'd be watching it.

• 6:17Craig Robinson?

  Wide World of Sports, now who sounds like they don't know pop culture? Goodness. You know what? I watch movies.

• 6:25Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 6:26Michelle Obama?

  Old movies.

• 6:27Craig Robinson?

  And I watch things to prepare for the podcast.

• 6:29Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 6:30Craig Robinson?

  And then I'm watching basketball probably because of my job and because of my kids. Because I'm watching you, I'm watching a lot of basketball.

• 6:40Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 6:40Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 6:41Michelle Obama?

  So he's watching nothing fun?

• 6:42Speaker 01

  But sometimes you gotta watch some trash TV or something that just, you're like, oh, okay.

• 6:47Michelle Obama?

  That part. Are you watching Tra- Traitors?

• 6:49Speaker 01

  I haven't watched Traitors.

• 6:50Michelle Obama?

  Oh, girl.

• 6:52Speaker 01

  I don't wa- like, I watch TV sometimes, but like when something is trending, it is good.

• 6:56Michelle Obama?

  Tra- Traitors is good.

• 6:58Speaker 01

  Okay, what is that on?

• 6:59Michelle Obama?

  Well, it's on, it's on Bravo. Is it on Bravo?

• 7:02Speaker 01

  Peacock, okay, I need to watch that.

• 7:03Michelle Obama?

  But all these celebrities, a lot of them from reality TV, so Rob from Love Island is on it this year.

• 7:09Speaker 01

  I'm gonna watch that.

• 7:10Michelle Obama?

  Put that on your.

• 7:11Craig Robinson?

  But he's on Love Island, you're saying?

• 7:13Michelle Obama?

  He was on Love Island.

• 7:14Speaker 01

  Oh, okay.

• 7:15Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Rob.

• 7:16Craig Robinson?

  What's the point of Love Island?

• 7:18Speaker 01

  You're gonna find love on an island.

• 7:20Michelle Obama?

  And everybody's in a bikini.

• 7:21Craig Robinson?

  And everybody's naked.

• 7:22Speaker 01

  Yeah, and also last week, um, I.

• 7:24Craig Robinson?

  That's right up my alley. Right up my alley. I'm really missing something here. I'm missing something here over here.

• 7:32Speaker 01

  Last week I had Jenae Craig on my podcast. She was on this season, not this season, but the last season. Um, and she was telling me, I was like, were you not nervous going on there? Like, you had to kiss other people, all these different people, like your parents are watching, you don't have a bikini on. She was like, at first I was like, yeah, like my mom, they're very religious. So her mom was like, don't do that again. Like, she didn't tell her mom. She hid it from her mom for so long. And she was telling me, she was like, she wouldn't do it again, but she loved the results from it and everything that came from it, but.

• 8:02Craig Robinson?

  Wait, her mom found out on TV?

• 8:04Speaker 01

  Yes, her mom did not.

• 8:05Craig Robinson?

  Oh, that's wrong. That is not right.

• 8:08Michelle Obama?

  Now, I do think that that's, that's a little, you know. I would be thrown if I looked up and Sasha or Malia were on TV in a bikini and I didn't know.

• 8:17Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 8:18Michelle Obama?

  I'd be like, girls.

• 8:19Craig Robinson?

  And, and smooching up with a bunch of people?

• 8:23Michelle Obama?

  It's more than smooching up.

• 8:24Speaker 01

  They're doing it all.

• 8:25Michelle Obama?

  It's hot and heavy.

• 8:26Speaker 01

  They're having a good time.

• 8:26Michelle Obama?

  What? Yeah, and they all sleep in the same room and they get paired up, they get coupled up.

• 8:31Craig Robinson?

  That is...

• 8:32Speaker 01

  And they're like, young, they're like, everybody's like, within their twenties and thirties and like, trying to find love.

• 8:37Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 8:38Speaker 01

  And it's like, you, I always, I always ask all of them, like, are you here to intentionally find someone? Or are you trying to win the money? Because I've been at it, they're spitting candy on the table.

• 8:46Craig Robinson?

  So you're not trying to get married like a bachelorette?

• 8:49Speaker 01

  You are.

• 8:50Michelle Obama?

  It's not the end goal, it's not like you're gonna get married, but this is just your boyfriend and girlfriend.

• 8:55Speaker 01

  But you also need to live outside the villa. Like, a lot of them have lived outside, like Serena and Leah, they're like, still with their partner and they're still living outside the villa, because you're in a villa. Like, you need to see what their everyday life is, looks like outside of it.

• 9:07Michelle Obama?

  So a lot of these couples get out and they get out into the real world. And sometimes the relationships last and sometimes they don't.

• 9:13Speaker 01

  Yeah, some of them don't.

• 9:14Michelle Obama?

  But anyway. You...

• 9:16Craig Robinson?

  You're trying to get me to watch, I'm, I'm trying to be interested.

• 9:20Speaker 01

  It's gonna be funny for you to watch.

• 9:21Michelle Obama?

  I know, I can't wait. How do you like podcasting?

• 9:24Speaker 01

  I like it. I feel like I get to know different people in different professions that I never really think I would talk to. This is actually my first time going on somebody else's podcast. Because I like being in the one in control, I'm like, I can ask you this, you can't ask me that. So this is my first time doing it, so I like to like now be able to be in a different seat and what it feels like. But I do really enjoy like getting to know everybody. I make my space so people can come on there and be themselves and to feel like a safe space. Like, I don't want them to come on there and feel like this is a trap, we're trying to get drama, we're trying to get clickbait. Like, I don't want any of that. Like, I want them to just be able to come on there and just have a good time. And everybody that's been on there just ha- has had a good time and I really love it.

• 10:03Craig Robinson?

  Who is the oldest person you've had on?

• 10:07Speaker 01

  Probably Shaq.

• 10:09Craig Robinson?

  Oh, yeah.

• 10:10Speaker 01

  Shaq is probably the oldest.

• 10:11Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 10:11Craig Robinson?

  And he isn't even that old.

• 10:14Speaker 01

  Shaq's probably the oldest, yeah.

• 10:15Craig Robinson?

  Okay, okay.

• 10:16Michelle Obama?

  Shaq has been pretty instrumental. I saw the Reebok documentary.

• 10:19Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 10:20Michelle Obama?

  It was good to see him and in the sort of the quest to get Reebok back on the map.

• 10:27Speaker 01

  Yep.

• 10:28Michelle Obama?

  How's that going? How are you feeling?

• 10:30Speaker 01

  It's been great. I mean, when I first started talking to him, Shaq went to LSU and I went to LSU as well. So his daughter was in the recruitment process of trying to come to LSU. And he asked me one day, it was like, what would it take for you to come to Reebok? And I was like, I'm not really interested in signing a shoe. Like, this was before I won the championship. So people knew who I was and I had a good following, but like, I hadn't done much. I didn't do anything. And I feel like being able to sign to a shoe brand was something that was like big.

• 10:57Craig Robinson?

  Wait, this was when you were still in college?

• 10:59Speaker 01

  This was when I was in college. And I hadn't even won the championship yet. I won the championship my junior year, but this was like September, October of my junior year. So I hadn't won anything yet.

• 11:07Craig Robinson?

  So you were more concerned with winning, having a winning pedigree than cashing the check?

• 11:14Speaker 01

  Yeah, I wanted to win first.

• 11:15Craig Robinson?

  Okay, Angel.

• 11:16Speaker 01

  Because I didn't want it to look like I was just based off of my name. And when he was like, what would it take? And I'm like, I don't know. Like, I'm not really looking for it. Like, we'll figure it out when it gets there. So when I finally won the championship, we were still in talks and connections. And he was like, anything you ever need, like, I'll make sure I get it for you or I'll help you out. And after I won the championship, all the different shoe brands started reaching out. So I was like, okay, well, I want to go where I'm prioritized.

• 11:43Craig Robinson?

  Right.

• 11:43Speaker 01

  And to be prioritized as a woman, as a black woman, and helping a brand to come back and regenerate where it was, that was something that was really important to me. I mean, everybody wore Shaq's, everybody wore AI's. So they didn't have a woman that was the face of their brand. And Shaq told me, he was like, you could be the face of Reebok. And I didn't believe him at first. And I was like, I don't know. Because I know how women can be perceptive and I just know how it could be for a woman in trying to get into that industry. And I was like, he was like, just trust me.

• 12:11Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 12:11Speaker 01

  So I signed to Reebok and we started just working together and building certain things. And I told him, like, I want to incorporate fashion with basketball. And that was the biggest thing for me. And since then, it's just been history. Being able to create this shoe was just, it's just been phenomenal.

• 12:28Michelle Obama?

  Man, how, where did you get your savvy and your maturity? I mean, just, you know. You had a strategy coming into this. I mean, you know yourself. And I also saw the documentary on NIL.

• 12:44Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:44Michelle Obama?

  Right? When you were at LSU.

• 12:46Speaker 01

  Yep.

• 12:47Michelle Obama?

  And watching you handle all of that. I mean, going to school, playing, starting.

• 12:52Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:53Michelle Obama?

  The pressure and still basically working a full-time.

• 12:57Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:58Michelle Obama?

  Brand. Where did you get your sophistication, your strategic thinking?

• 13:04Speaker 01

  Yeah. Probably from my mom. My mom was an independent, single mom that raised me and my brother. And I knew I had to get to college on my scholarship. There was no way she was going to be able to pay out of pocket for school. So I was like, OK, let me find something that I know that I really love and enjoy to do that can get me to college. So I was highly recruited, sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade. I went to the University of Maryland initially.

• 13:26Michelle Obama?

  Maryland.

• 13:27Speaker 01

  Maryland. Baltimore.

• 13:29Craig Robinson?

  Baltimore.

• 13:30Speaker 01

  Baltimore. Because I wanted to stay close to home. I wanted to stay close to my family. My grandparents were the ones that took me places during tournaments. And then my mom took my brother places. And we always made sure, they made sure it worked for us. So I always wanted to make sure I did it for my mom. And then when I finally transferred to LSU, I had already been posting on Instagram, like, I love fashion. I love having cute stuff.

• 13:52Michelle Obama?

  Me too, girl.

• 13:53Speaker 01

  I love putting on my heels. I loved all of that. So I was like, I need to make sure I continue to have a brand outside of basketball. That was just something that was important to me. I didn't know about NIL initially. I was like, we should be getting paid. It was new. We should be getting paid. So the first two years, I wasn't getting paid. None of us were getting paid.

• 14:09Craig Robinson?

  Right.

• 14:09Speaker 01

  And when we, the deadline, it was like July 1st. I was like, I need to find somebody to help me get my brand aligned with things that I want to do. And it was slow in the beginning. I always tell this story. I'm not assigned to an agency, but I was working with Janine. That's my agent I work with now. That's Kirsty. She's not here. Janine's not here, but shout out to Janine.

• 14:31Michelle Obama?

  Janine.

• 14:32Speaker 01

  I signed to an agency initially that Janine was with. And they told me that I wasn't going to make more than $2,000.

• 14:38Craig Robinson?

  This was at the very beginning of NIL.

• 14:40Speaker 01

  This was the very beginning of NIL. So I told myself, I know I'm going to make more than $2,000. I don't know what y'all talking about, but I know I'm going to make more than $2,000. And me and Janine left. We did our own thing. It was just me and her.

• 14:51Craig Robinson?

  And she left the agency?

• 14:52Speaker 01

  She left the agency with me.

• 14:54Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 14:54Speaker 01

  We took a bold step and we're like, we're gonna do this on our own. So we started doing it, started doing it, and then when we won the national championship, that's when we added two more people, but we're a very, very small group. Like, a lot of people are signed to really big agencies, but we're very small. It's just us. Like, it was all women at one point.

• 15:11Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 15:12Speaker 01

  Um, and then we had my financial leader, uh, my financial advisor, my lawyer. Those are the guys that handle the big stuff.

• 15:18Craig Robinson?

  You let some guys in there?

• 15:19Speaker 01

  The guys, we had a couple guys.

• 15:20Craig Robinson?

  You let some guys in there?

• 15:22Speaker 01

  My mom does a lot of stuff, um, too.

• 15:24Michelle Obama?

  Your mom does?

• 15:25Speaker 01

  My mom is very, my mom sees all my accounts. I didn't trust anybody with my money except my mom.

• 15:28Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 15:28Speaker 01

  And I knew, and nobody was gonna backdoor me.

• 15:31Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 15:31Speaker 01

  Outside of my mom. Like, I, I knew my mom was gonna be the one for me, so I kinda had the plan and I took risk. I was like, I'm gonna do this, this is what I wanna do. I know I'm gonna be able to do fashion, I'm gonna be able to be a basketball player. If I wanna start a podcast, I can do it, and I just had big dreams.

• 15:45Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 15:45Speaker 01

  And luckily, I was able to accomplish them at such a crazy fast pace. Um, but I definitely had a plan, for sure.

• 15:52Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, yeah. You, so you, you do this podcast thing. We, we, we treat this like you're at our house, so we like jumping around on all different stuff. Cause I wanna go back to, when, when did you fall in love with basketball? Did you play other sports? I wanna hear about you growing up.

• 16:08Speaker 01

  Yeah, so I did. I ran track, I did cheerleading.

• 16:11Craig Robinson?

  Running track, did you run field? What did you do?

• 16:15Speaker 01

  I was running.

• 16:15Craig Robinson?

  Well, what, what events?

• 16:16Speaker 01

  Let me tell you the story. I was running the 400 one time.

• 16:19Michelle Obama?

  Ooh, that's, ooh, god.

• 16:21Craig Robinson?

  With them long legs?

• 16:22Speaker 01

  My mom was out there. And I was running, I did my first lap, and I just stopped in the middle of the track. And I fell out, and I was like, mom, I can't do it. She was so embarrassed.

• 16:33Craig Robinson?

  It was at a meet?

• 16:34Speaker 01

  It was at a meet. It was thousands of people.

• 16:36Michelle Obama?

  Well, let me tell you, that's what the 400 makes you feel like. Like, you wanna stop. Like, your body is telling you, stop.

• 16:43Speaker 01

  I couldn't do it. So I tried cheerleading and I had a next door neighbor that I used to hang out with and I used to tell like I hate cheering. I hate cheering, but I'm just gonna do it. She snitched to my mom one day and told her that I hated cheering. My mom took me off the meet one day at the cheer meet. She's like, you're not doing this. If you don't wanna do it, don't do it. So she was a coach and I used to go around and play basketball. She used to coach a third grade team.

• 17:04Craig Robinson?

  Your mom was a coach?

• 17:05Speaker 01

  My mom was a coach. She coached like a third grade team.

• 17:07Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:07Speaker 01

  And I was like four or five years old and I used to just go and play basketball around the gym and play while she was practicing.

• 17:12Craig Robinson?

  Now, was your brother playing at this point?

• 17:14Speaker 01

  My brother was not playing yet.

• 17:15Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:16Speaker 01

  He wasn't playing yet.

• 17:16Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:17Speaker 01

  He wasn't. He was a late bloomer.

• 17:19Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:19Speaker 01

  So we started playing with with each other probably like when we were eight and nine and she coached us.

• 17:24Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:25Speaker 01

  So I was on an all boys team and it was just me. I was the only girl and she coached us and she said she would never do that again. Me and him used to fight. We used to go at it. Like it was crazy, but it really helped me and it really built me. Um, but I really enjoy like I would never take that that point for granted, like having my mom like coach me.

• 17:40Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 17:41Speaker 01

  Yeah, it was fun.

• 17:42Craig Robinson?

  And so what grade was this?

• 17:46Speaker 01

  This was like, oh, fifth grade.

• 17:48Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 17:48Speaker 01

  It's sixth grade.

• 17:49Craig Robinson?

  By sixth grade and seventh, you started getting recruited.

• 17:51Speaker 01

  Yeah, I was getting recruited. I was playing. Well, when I was in third grade, I was playing on a fifth grade team. So by the time I was in fifth grade and sixth grade, I was kinda already advanced. Like I had already knew what I was doing. I was also short. I was short and I was a point guard when I was younger. I used to wear goggles.

• 18:05Craig Robinson?

  Oh, man.

• 18:06Speaker 01

  So that's kinda where I had my like ball handling skills from, cause I was a guard, um, when I was younger.

• 18:10Craig Robinson?

  It makes sense.

• 18:11Speaker 01

  And then I just, eighth grade is when like I just shot up and got tall and I was just like, ugh, I hate, I hated it. I hated being tall. Cause like all the guys were like, oh, the tall girl, the giraffe in the classroom. Yeah, yeah. I never understood.

• 18:24Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, we don't know, cause we don't catch up until later.

• 18:26Speaker 01

  You don't get, you don't get into, until too late, until you see late. But like nobody instilled, like my grandma used to tell me like you're tall for a reason, but I never understood. Like grandma, you're not at school with me when these kids are like

• 18:37Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 18:37Speaker 01

  being mean to me and bullying me and stuff like that. But now like I get it and I really embrace it.

• 18:48Craig Robinson?

  So this summer, the FIFA World Cup is bringing fans from all over the world into cities across the US. People traveling, looking for a place to stay, trying to catch the games and soak up the atmosphere. I'm actually looking to plan a little vacation myself around that time. So I realized, maybe I could list my place on Airbnb while I'm away. When you leave town, your home is just sitting there. But if you become a host with Airbnb, you can make sure your place gets used while making some extra cash for your next trip. So if you've ever thought about hosting, this summer might be the perfect time.

• 19:28Craig Robinson?

  With soccer fans arriving from all over, your home might be exactly what someone's looking for. Check it out, maybe you live in a FIFA World Cup host city. If you've ever thought about hosting, this summer is a great time as we welcome FIFA World Cup fans. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.com/host. My life, pretty hectic right now. And what was making it all so much harder was how spread out all of my tracking was. I had reminders in my calendar, in my email, in a notes app. Then I found Yahoo Mail, now with Planner.

• 20:13Craig Robinson?

  Planner brings your tasks and events together in one place, so everything stays organized and you don't miss what matters. So if I've got a dinner reservation buried in my inbox, or a reminder I flagged for myself, it's all there in one view. Planner also pulls key details from your emails, like appointments, school events, and bill reminders, and turns them into actionable plans, saving you time and effort. Planner is extremely helpful when life gets busy and you start getting that feeling like you've missed something. And it's honestly saved me from forgetting events more than once. And the best part is, it's already right there in Yahoo Mail.

• 20:57Craig Robinson?

  No need to download a whole new app, even with your Gmail connected. So check out Yahoo Mail Planner and see how it works for yourself. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance, a company committed to helping people move forward and live fully. The older we get, the more we know ourselves, right? The easier it is to make big decisions and all of that. It's always been interesting to me that life requires us to make huge impactful choices at a very young age. Where to live, what to study, and of course, how or even whether to buy a home. Progressive is a company founded on the belief that insurance should do more,

• 21:41Craig Robinson?

  and they understand there are many hurdles first time home buyers are facing these days. That's why I appreciate what Progressive is doing through their Open the House initiative. It's all about helping more people take that first step toward homeownership by giving them the knowledge, tools, and financial support to make it feel more possible. Since 2024, Progressive has committed more than $16 million toward making the dream of homeownership a reality. This includes a $3.5 million investment this year towards the Up Payment Program, Progressive's Down Payment Assistance Program aimed at first time home buyers. Want to learn more about the Up Payment Program

• 22:26Craig Robinson?

  and Progressive's commitment to first time home buyers? Visit progressive.com/openedhouse to find out more about housing challenges and access resources and support to empower them in their housing journey.

• 22:47Michelle Obama?

  Where's your, does your height come from?

• 22:49Speaker 01

  My, my whole family. My granddaddy's 6'5".

• 22:51Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 22:52Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 22:52Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 22:53Speaker 01

  Everybody's tall. My mom's 6'1". My dad's 6'9". My brother's 6'9". My brother, other brother's 6'9". So everybody was tall. So in high school, I was being heavily recruited. And then my first years, I played volleyball. I won two championships in volleyball.

• 23:05Craig Robinson?

  Oh, you just went everywhere.

• 23:07Speaker 01

  I love volleyball. It was so fun. And I, I thought it was something that could just continue to help me. I think that kind of helped me with rebounding as well. I'm sure.

• 23:14Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 23:14Speaker 01

  It probably did. My mom was a great rebounder, though. She has a record held at UMBC in Maryland, so.

• 23:19Craig Robinson?

  But she, did she say to you, all right, you gotta get 10 rebounds a game?

• 23:24Speaker 01

  No, she's, she's never been the type to be like, you need to do this, you need that. She always let me be free. Like, she always let me, because she trusted. And she knew that I would work hard and know that I can get to my goals because I worked hard. She trusted me. Now, my brother, on the other hand, when he went to college, she was like, "What are you doing this?" But she knew that I was gonna always be successful because she trusted me.

• 23:44Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 23:46Michelle Obama?

  Did you guys, I do, were you guys, what was your relationship like with your mom? Was it like, were you like friends? Was she like, "I'm not one of your little friends"?

• 23:55Speaker 01

  Yeah, that was that. And so I got to college. I loved her when we got to college. I didn't have to come home at a certain time, do certain things. And me and my brother are 11 months apart. So, we used to try to be like, yeah, we used to try to be like, hey, let's do this. Let's not tell mom this and tell mom that. So, we were super close when we were younger. And then when we got older, we just all like, like best friends, like all of us texting the group chat and just have a good time. And I think parents understand, once you're out of, once you're out of the house and like, we're adults and we understand what life is about now because you've taught us so many great things. And I don't think, I think you know that we're not gonna do anything crazy or get in any trouble. Because I know you're gonna get on me today.

• 24:34Michelle Obama?

  It's like, you gotta be more afraid of me than you are of your little friends.

• 24:38Speaker 01

  Yes, I'm still afraid of my mom.

• 24:39Michelle Obama?

  Yes, yeah. And I say that too. My girls say the same thing. I was like, I'm good with that. You know, I think, I think a little fear is, is, is, is good for all the parents out there. It's like, let your kids like you when they're adults. But until then, they should be a little afraid. Just a little afraid.

• 24:57Speaker 01

  Yeah, I'm still, yeah.

• 24:58Craig Robinson?

  I tell my kids, I'm easy to manage.

• 25:00Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 25:01Craig Robinson?

  Just do what you're supposed to do. I'm easy to manage. Did you guys go to the same high school?

• 25:07Speaker 01

  Initially, no. He went to a public school and I went to a private school my four years. And then I, I, I used to tell him like, I don't like the situation. And I used to tell my mom, like, I wasn't liking the situation, so he needs to come with me. And like, I used to always watch over him. I didn't like the situation at the public school.

• 25:21Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 25:22Speaker 01

  Because public school sometimes is like, it's too much going on. I think he needed the undivided attention of being at a private school.

• 25:27Craig Robinson?

  What is it with these little sisters taking care of their older brothers?

• 25:31Speaker 01

  No, this is my little brother.

• 25:32Craig Robinson?

  Oh, this is your little brother. Okay.

• 25:34Speaker 01

  I kinda felt like I knew what was best for him.

• 25:36Craig Robinson?

  I got you.

• 25:37Speaker 01

  And he was successful. He was able to still thrive, but I had to like, watch him. Like, I always say to my mom, like, my mom like, just lets me be independent. And she's like, still babies my brother. I'm like, you have to let him live life.

• 25:49Michelle Obama?

  That's what happened here, too.

• 25:51Speaker 01

  See? The mama's voice.

• 25:53Michelle Obama?

  Yes, they are.

• 25:55Craig Robinson?

  It's rough. It's a rough life.

• 25:56Michelle Obama?

  I had to take her to the White House before she noticed. She's like, Craig, Craig, is Craig fine?

• 26:02Speaker 01

  That's what my mom does, too. I'm like, she's like, is Juju fine? I'm like, I don't know. Call him. He just got, he's playing with the G League in Toronto. And she went down and set his room up. I'm like, what are you doing, mom? You didn't come set my room up. But I love it because I know that that's what makes him feel comfortable. And that's what makes me feel comfortable for him.

• 26:24Craig Robinson?

  Because you know he's set up.

• 26:26Speaker 01

  He's good. Yeah, he's good. I'm like, Juju, you good? You need something? I'm like, he's like, alright.

• 26:29Michelle Obama?

  So how do you feel about girlfriends in his life? Alright, let's talk about that for a bit.

• 26:36Speaker 01

  I am open to what he likes and loves, but I definitely will let him know, like, this might not be the best situation for you. And I see it at the end.

• 26:45Michelle Obama?

  Right.

• 26:45Speaker 01

  It always folds out how I say.

• 26:48Craig Robinson?

  You already, you always know what you're talking about, right?

• 26:50Speaker 01

  I always know what I'm talking about. I'm like, mom. I'm like, mom. She's like, just let him live. Like, he has to go through it.

• 26:55Craig Robinson?

  Poor kid.

• 26:55Speaker 01

  I'm like, mom, this is not.

• 26:56Michelle Obama?

  It's like we're watching him.

• 26:57Speaker 01

  If she do something to my brother, man, I'm not gonna be happy.

• 27:00Michelle Obama?

  It's going down. Mm-hmm.

• 27:02Speaker 01

  Don't play by your brothers.

• 27:02Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, let's understand that, ladies. Don't be messing with Angel's little baby.

• 27:07Craig Robinson?

  So he not, he hasn't met anybody who's like you?

• 27:11Speaker 01

  I don't think he's capable of being with somebody like me.

• 27:16Craig Robinson?

  Okay.

• 27:16Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 27:17Craig Robinson?

  To expound.

• 27:17Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 27:18Speaker 01

  I don't think he's able to be with the woman that has her own. I think a lot of men are not able to have.

• 27:28Michelle Obama?

  That requires.

• 27:30Craig Robinson?

  Present company excluded.

• 27:31Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, you, okay.

• 27:32Speaker 01

  I think it's hard.

• 27:33Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 27:34Speaker 01

  I think it takes a strong man to be able to be open to a woman that has her own, that works on her own, that does her own things and doesn't necessarily need you.

• 27:42Michelle Obama?

  And that is not catering to, you know? It's like when you have your own thing, you don't have time to make sure you're this, make sure, because you're, you know, you're, you know, you've got your own pathway.

• 27:55Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 27:55Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 27:55Michelle Obama?

  And it is, it is a difficult thing. I mean, I feel very blessed that, you know, my husband in his, before all of this,

• 28:04Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 28:04Michelle Obama?

  he had to be completely secure with all that was me.

• 28:08Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 28:08Michelle Obama?

  How I thought, how I moved, how I, you know? And it's a rare thing.

• 28:13Speaker 01

  Yeah. My mom, that's how my mom was. Like, my mom was very like. She taught me how to cut grass if I needed to. If I need to change like attire, like she made me so independent. Like if I'm coming in a relationship, sir, I don't need you. You're just a plus to me. And I kind of, when I tell my brother, I'm like, you want a woman that is also ambitious. Because you don't want to deal with, you don't want to be with somebody that's not driven, that is not going to push you to be better. Because when you're slack and you need somebody to

• 28:39Michelle Obama?

  That's right.

• 28:40Speaker 01

  Tap you on the butt, but hey, you gotta get up and come on.

• 28:42Michelle Obama?

  I say a relationship is like a basketball team. It's like everybody's got to be able to shoot, dribble, score and defend everybody. It's like you wouldn't pick your team and be like, I only dribble.

• 28:54Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 28:54Michelle Obama?

  And it's like, you know, because you never know what life is gonna have before you. You know, it's like you want, you want a partner that is bringing what you're bringing to the table. Because life happens. Somebody could get sick.

• 29:08Speaker 01

  Life, life.

• 29:09Michelle Obama?

  Somebody could, life be life.

• 29:10Speaker 01

  Life be life.

• 29:11Craig Robinson?

  Can we just, can we just pause for a moment? And I want to let the producers mark this time that my sister used a basketball analogy. For the first time in a whole year.

• 29:23Michelle Obama?

  Analogy.

• 29:24Craig Robinson?

  Not with me.

• 29:26Michelle Obama?

  But I do when I'm talking to men, trying to get them to understand. It's like you want a partner that can bring it all.

• 29:33Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 29:33Michelle Obama?

  And I tell my daughters, you have to be able to do everything.

• 29:37Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 29:37Michelle Obama?

  I don't want you to ever count on somebody. I've seen too many friends who, you know, they, they, they served the role. They did what they were supposed to do and then somebody walked out on them.

• 29:48Speaker 01

  Yep.

• 29:49Michelle Obama?

  Or somebody died.

• 29:50Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 29:51Michelle Obama?

  Unfortunately.

• 29:52Craig Robinson?

  It, it, it takes us a while. We, we

• 29:54Speaker 01

  How long?

• 29:55Craig Robinson?

  When we get older.

• 29:56Speaker 01

  How long?

• 29:56Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, really, how old?

• 29:57Craig Robinson?

  I would say for me, I was probably in my early 30s when I was like confident.

• 30:04Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 30:05Michelle Obama?

  Well, don't, I like, I think that

• 30:07Craig Robinson?

  But it, it's not the same for everybody though. Like there's some guys who probably have that at 25 and they're, I've met some guys who've, who've had it early. But I would, I would think around 30 is the, is the right age. Especially for somebody as polished and as you are. Yeah, you might, you might, yeah.

• 30:28Craig Robinson?

  Sorry, I cut you off.

• 30:29Michelle Obama?

  No, no, no, no, I, I, cuz I wanna hear your opinion as the man.

• 30:33Speaker 01

  I never understood though.

• 30:35Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 30:35Speaker 01

  But is, is it a, I, I wanna know, do you feel like it's a threat? When you were younger, in your earlier days, do you feel like?

• 30:41Craig Robinson?

  No, cuz I grew up in a household of strong women. I, I, I didn't see it as a threat. It was more, I wasn't ready to be respons, to be as responsible as you.

• 30:51Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 30:52Craig Robinson?

  Or as my sister was at an earlier age.

• 30:55Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 30:55Craig Robinson?

  I was still, you know, I was trying to play basketball. I'm trying to be out there and see what, what this all brings. And then, when I stopped playing, I was trying to make a living.

• 31:04Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 31:05Craig Robinson?

  And I was really focused on that.

• 31:06Speaker 01

  I think it's like the lifestyle too. Like, you get so caught up in the lifestyle, especially the guys. You're caught, you, you see, you have so much access to everything.

• 31:15Michelle Obama?

  Yes.

• 31:16Speaker 01

  And you don't understand what it even looks like to be in a real relationship or be with someone that is driven and has their own, like, oh shit. I woke up today because I saw you woke up at five and now I'm about to get up and get up at 5:30 because I'm motivated to keep going and get up and do things. And I think that is important, especially at 23, I've seen so much in the dating world. And I think being able to be around people, um, and be around someone that really understands and is very ambitious and talks long-term things. I like to be educated too cuz I don't know everything.

• 31:46Michelle Obama?

  That's right.

• 31:47Speaker 01

  Tell me about the investments and how, how to do certain things and assets. Cuz I wasn't taught that in school. They don't teach us that in school.

• 31:52Michelle Obama?

  No, they don't teach that anywhere.

• 31:54Speaker 01

  Oh, yeah, anywhere. But I think that is really important and I, and I think I've had an eye-opener to that and not just, over the years, just, just being in the life and the space that I've been now, like, realizing like it's bigger than the lifestyle. Like, at the end of the day, we, we have to turn the social media off, everything that we see, and we have to sit and lay down in bed together and, and this is reality.

• 32:14Michelle Obama?

  How do you, how are you managing that? I mean, your, your, you are, first of all, it's your generation.

• 32:19Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 32:20Michelle Obama?

  It's your profession.

• 32:20Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 32:21Michelle Obama?

  It's the, how do you, how do you make the separation?

• 32:24Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 32:25Michelle Obama?

  How do you keep yourself sane?

• 32:27Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 32:27Michelle Obama?

  And still, you know, get the job done?

• 32:30Speaker 01

  I think I try to have some type of normalization of knowing where I've come from. Um, I'll never forget that. I don't wanna ever feel like I'm bigger than anything. So, I always sit back and, and just think like, I'm so grateful, I'm so thankful. Um, I love being able just to come home and turn my phone off and just relax and just doing the things that I enjoy, laying in bed, just laughing and just having a good time with the people that I love and enjoy, so. I think over the years, it's been hard for me to realize that. But I think the maturity of just understanding like, social media isn't real.

• 33:05Michelle Obama?

  Say that again.

• 33:07Speaker 01

  Social media is not real.

• 33:08Michelle Obama?

  Okay, everybody.

• 33:10Speaker 01

  I think we get so caught up in that.

• 33:14Speaker 01

  Years prior, I would comment back at things and let things continue to bother me. But now it's just like.

• 33:20Michelle Obama?

  Well, you know, girl, it takes some people until now, my age, 62, to realize that. It's just beautiful that, you know, and look, I adore you. It's fun to watch you, but I also want to make sure you're protecting your soul through all of this. And a lot of young people don't even know that they need to protect themselves. So I'm glad to hear that you understand this fully.

• 33:48Speaker 01

  Yeah, I think now, I've, I've, over the last two years, I've been able to understand it. Do I think what has happened to me over the years is normal? No, not at all. And is acceptable? No, not at all. But understanding this is my new reality of what life is about. And being able to just be grateful and graceful of everything that I'm able to enjoy. Of just being able to come home and let my hair down and then just walk around the house. So like just being able to enjoy the little things. And like now, that's just the things I enjoy. I can't go to the grocery store and do the same things I used to be able to do. Go to the concert and just have a good time or just go to the hair. Like now I just enjoy the little things at home when I can.

• 34:30Craig Robinson?

  I have to back up and because you said you were talking about being bullied when you, because you were tall. I think, and, and correct me if I'm wrong. All the stuff that you've had to go through has prepared you for what you're handling now. And I, I have to say, so I started following you when you were at LSU. So I didn't know you when you were at Maryland. So when you started being on TV and I was like, oh, look at this beautiful woman getting all these rebounds. And, and being able to really play. Like, like I could tell you could handle the ball. I could tell you can see the game by the way you pass. You're seeing now, sports is like reality TV. The media wants to manufacture some stuff.

• 35:15Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 35:16Craig Robinson?

  And I, I just want you to know that I noticed how you've handled yourself.

• 35:20Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 35:21Craig Robinson?

  And it has been absolutely with aplomb. You, you can't, you can't really teach that. You can talk to people about it.

• 35:31Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 35:31Craig Robinson?

  But you can't teach what you went through.

• 35:34Speaker 01

  Yeah. I don't think anybody will ever, ever understand.

• 35:36Craig Robinson?

  And so if for the, for those young people, not just women coming up behind you, how would you talk to them about what you went through?

• 35:47Speaker 01

  I think it was a really pivotal point in my life.

• 35:53Speaker 01

  I think it was a character builder for me to be able to go through what I was going through, especially at a time where I won.

• 36:00Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 36:01Speaker 01

  But am I losing at the same time where I'm feeling like I'm getting pulled by the wins, but I'm also getting pulled by the losses? And how do I find a medium where I'm able to just cope with both?

• 36:10Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 36:11Speaker 01

  And figuring that out and like, I've had to eliminate people out of my life, eliminate people out of my circle, being able to find people that genuinely just, outside of Bayou Barbie, Shy Town Barbie, outside of everything, like Angel. Who's Angel?

• 36:25Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 36:25Speaker 01

  And just being able to enjoy great company. I think that's really important for me and just continuing just to be confident. I think everybody always asks me like, are you all right? Like, yeah, I'm as all right as I can be. And everything is not great, but I try to wake up every day and just be grateful for every moment. Every moment hasn't been great, but I wouldn't change this life for anything because I have had some really good moments and I don't want bad moments to outshine the good moments. Cause I know I've been able to bless my family, bless the community, being able to start a foundation. I never would have thought I was able to start a foundation. At this age, girl? I, I never would have thought that.

• 37:02Craig Robinson?

  Mm-hmm.

• 37:02Speaker 01

  Being able to just continue to thrive in basketball, have a sneaker and just being able to do so many great things. I try not to let the negative outshine the positive. But like I said, I keep my circle very small. I love one who I love one. I am big on loyalty. I love the people around me. I, I appreciate you guys for making this a safe space for me because like you said, the media has not always been great for me.

• 37:25Craig Robinson?

  No, no.

• 37:27Speaker 01

  I I'll I'll take a fine.

• 37:29Michelle Obama?

  Mm hmm.

• 37:29Speaker 01

  I'll catch a fine, especially in the WNBA. I I'll take a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall.

• 37:36Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 37:36Speaker 01

  So I really appreciate you guys for allowing me to come on here and this feel like a safe space and one of the safest spaces that it's been in a very, very long time for me.

• 37:44Michelle Obama?

  Well, we've had our share.

• 37:46Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 37:46Michelle Obama?

  You know, I mean, I, you know, it's, you know, I completely understand. You know, the challenges that you face and but doing it at 23. I mean, you know, by the time we got in the White House, we were in our 40s. So it's like a big difference to have to deal with that kind of spotlight.

• 38:06Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 38:06Michelle Obama?

  Um.

• 38:07Craig Robinson?

  So so the tell me this, the the negative stuff that you've been through, I don't want to stay on the negative, but the negative stuff you've been through, has it changed your passion or love for the game? All right, good.

• 38:20Speaker 01

  I don't think anybody can dictate the love and joy or take that away from me.

• 38:23Craig Robinson?

  Good.

• 38:24Speaker 01

  I think um I've been through so much.

• 38:28Craig Robinson?

  Mm hmm.

• 38:28Speaker 01

  At a pivotal time, like I said, when I was winning so much. Now it's like everything is a win to me. The small things are a win to me, so I don't even let the negativity get to me. Like it it it doesn't bother me. You see it, I see it, we all see it. And it's like is I I I've grown I've grown to have a skin where you can't break me.

• 38:51Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, good, good.

• 38:52Speaker 01

  You you you just can't break me. And I feel like I've learned over the years also when I've spoken out on those things, of things that I have gone through, it's backfired or.

• 39:02Michelle Obama?

  Right.

• 39:03Speaker 01

  Anything, anything you say, I feel like you damn if you do, damn if you don't. You you say something and it's a problem, you don't say something, it's it's still a problem.

• 39:09Craig Robinson?

  And and you know that the people you have surrounded yourself with, um, your family, your team.

• 39:20Craig Robinson?

  That's, those are the only people you need to care about. That's what our mom used to tell us. Just worry about who's at this kitchen table right here. Don't worry about these other folks.

• 39:30Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, it's like, come here, come home to be loved.

• 39:32Craig Robinson?

  You need love, come to your team, go to your team or come to home.

• 39:37Michelle Obama?

  Yeah. And that's true for everybody, quite frankly.

• 39:41Craig Robinson?

  Everybody should be that way, but it's hard. Especially your generation when everything is judged. And hearing you talk about social media like a 60-year-old makes me happy. Because I know you're not sitting there swiping and then going down a rabbit hole of like, oh, man, I might, I might just give up playing because the same work that I can, I can be a fashion designer, I can be a shoe salesperson, I can, you can do whatever you want.

• 40:10Speaker 01

  Yeah, no, it just, yeah, it just makes it go harder.

• 40:12Craig Robinson?

  Good, good.

• 40:13Speaker 01

  I'm so, yeah, I have so many goals. It's like, if I stop now, I proved you right and I proved you right. Like, and I have nothing to prove to anybody but myself. And I just know, like, I want to continue to do the things that I want to do. Nobody can, I'm not going to let the outside control my own narrative of what I want to be and what I want to, what I want to do.

• 40:40Craig Robinson?

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• 41:23Craig Robinson?

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• 42:08Craig Robinson?

  to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. That's Z O C D O C dot com slash I M O. Zocdoc dot com slash I M O. Thanks, Zocdoc, for sponsoring this message.

• 42:27Craig Robinson?

  April is the make or break month for momentum. That beginning of the year push is in the rearview, and it's up to us right now to decide if we'll keep grinding or if we're coasting until summer. Take this show, for example. There is so much that goes into running a podcast. And if there's one thing I could tweak this month to make the rest of 2026 easier for me, it would be finding tech that actually works for us instead of slowing us down. That's why so many businesses start with Shopify. It's built to take the guesswork out of running and growing a business. With everything from your storefront to payments

• 43:10Craig Robinson?

  to marketing, all managed in one place. I'll say this, when we're ready for I M O merch, and I know we want it as badly as you do, we definitely will be checking out Shopify. Whether you're just wanting to test an idea out or you're getting serious about launching your own brand, it's never been easier to get started, and you can do that on Shopify dot. My kitchen has never quite felt completely put together, like it's always felt like something is missing. And then Kelly and I found these striped linen cafe curtains on Wayfair, and the effect has been perfect. Once we realized we wanted some curtains, it was just a matter of typing our ideal item

• 43:54Craig Robinson?

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• 44:37Craig Robinson?

  Head to wayfair.com to shop all things home. That's W A Y F A I R dot com.

• 44:44Speaker 03

  Wayfair, every style, every home.

• 44:46Craig Robinson?

  Com slash I M O right now.

• 44:55Craig Robinson?

  Okay, what part of your game are you working on this summer?

• 44:58Speaker 01

  Everything.

• 44:59Craig Robinson?

  Ooh, okay, that was quick.

• 45:01Michelle Obama?

  See, and that, but then you still sounded like a baby right then.

• 45:04Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, I know, everything.

• 45:05Speaker 01

  Everything. This has been a good offseason for me, though. This is my first time I was able to have a real offseason.

• 45:11Craig Robinson?

  Mm-hmm.

• 45:11Speaker 01

  Um, and have rest.

• 45:14Michelle Obama?

  What's been the difference?

• 45:14Speaker 01

  So, when I came to college from college.

• 45:16Craig Robinson?

  You go right to the league.

• 45:17Speaker 01

  Yeah, the way WNBA works, you go right to the league. I was drafted on April 15th. I was in Turner Camp by April 29th.

• 45:24Craig Robinson?

  And right after the college season.

• 45:26Speaker 01

  Right after the college season. Yeah, there's no break. So, I did that my rookie year, and then last year, and then this is the first offseason. So, I was able to enjoy my offseason and do some of my sneaker stuff and just continue to build my game. And then now, I, well, I trained for the USA team, because that's a big goal for me to play on the 2028 L.A. team. So, I trained and did a lot of stuff with that in December. And they just announced that I made the World Cup team, so I'm looking forward to that. And then I'm gonna go and play on Rival for the last three games, and hopefully we get to the finals and run it back. So.

• 46:02Michelle Obama?

  How is Chicago?

• 46:03Speaker 01

  The city is beautiful.

• 46:04Michelle Obama?

  Which is why we're not there.

• 46:05Craig Robinson?

  Oh, man.

• 46:06Michelle Obama?

  It's the best.

• 46:07Speaker 01

  The food, the vibes, like.

• 46:09Michelle Obama?

  The city, it's like a small town, big city.

• 46:12Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 46:12Michelle Obama?

  You know, people are really nice, lovely. It's like that midwestern, you know, everybody's sweet. It's sort of, I always say it's because it's southern.

• 46:21Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 46:21Michelle Obama?

  You know, it's like black folks migrated from the south. Everybody went down south for the, it's like, it's got that, um, that, that southern welcoming vibe. I was hoping you were enjoying yourself.

• 46:32Speaker 01

  The culture there, like, they show up. They sell out our games. Like, they, they, they love, they love us. And going to a city where the legacy of Chicago and sports speaks for itself, like, it was an honor to be able to be in the city and.

• 46:45Craig Robinson?

  We still love the city, even though we don't live there.

• 46:48Michelle Obama?

  Yeah. But we've got the Presidential Center opening up in June, so. And we still have our home there. We live in Hyde Park.

• 46:54Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 46:55Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, so.

• 46:56Speaker 01

  It's nice.

• 46:56Michelle Obama?

  We are gonna be doing a lot of work and hopefully we can do some things together.

• 47:00Speaker 01

  Yes, yes, yes. I definitely will do that.

• 47:01Michelle Obama?

  With your foundation, you know, I'll be working with girls and young leaders. And it would be great to figure out some ways we can do some things together for the city.

• 47:10Craig Robinson?

  Talk about your foundation. I want the folks out here to hear about it.

• 47:13Speaker 01

  Yeah, so when I started my foundation, well, let's start back. When I was in high school, I went to a school called St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. If I'm here, the jail is right there in Baltimore City. There were about 250 students in the school, probably about 50 of us were women. And I always told myself, like, I want to be able to give a scholarship back to the school, however I can. If it's just to a woman, to a player on the team, somebody, I was like, I want to do that. So when I started, when everything happened with the national championship, I was like, this money can't just be sitting. I can't be just spending. I, I, I gotta give back to the community and give back to where I know I was from and where I was founded. So St. Francis was the first thing I was able to do. I was able to give a scholarship away first.

• 47:57Speaker 01

  Then I did my back to school event there and giving backpacks and everything away for the entire community. And that, and then I was like. Nobody ever taught me what it's like to have a lump sum of money. Because I'm a first generation of having this much money. And I didn't know what to do with it initially. And I'm learning on the go and learning on the fly. But how about as I'm learning, I'm teaching some young girls of how to do it as well. And how to be confident within themselves, to have a big sister like as myself. And being able to feel and touch them and they can see me. Because when you see it, you can believe it, you can be it.

• 48:28Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 48:28Craig Robinson?

  Wonderful.

• 48:29Michelle Obama?

  All right, let me switch. And I don't want to make this personal. But as a young person out here, because I had two young daughters.

• 48:38Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 48:38Michelle Obama?

  It's like, what do you make of the dating scene? You know, how, you know, and I know it's hard for you. It's like, because you're beautiful and you're smart and you know your own thing. I'm always like, what, what does it feel like being out here these days? And that's not about the who or no, it's just like, what's your take on this situation?

• 49:01Speaker 01

  I think, like I said, finding someone that doesn't care about all the extra stuff. I don't want you to fantasize over me because of what you see on social media. Like, you know I'm that girl. But at the end of the day, like when we go home, like you're still a genuinely good person. And I have my own, so I don't need to be with someone for their own. So I think it was very intentional for me. One, I date privately. That's what I've learned over the years, not putting your business out there. Sharing what you want people to know and keeping things private of what you want to keep private. But I haven't had like a hard life in the dating scene.

• 49:43Michelle Obama?

  I should say, I'm fine.

• 49:45Speaker 01

  I'm having a soft life. But I, I, I'm very big on like, like I said, like you treat me right.

• 49:51Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 49:52Speaker 01

  Yeah, but if you don't, like, yeah, yeah, you gotta go.

• 49:55Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 49:56Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 49:56Michelle Obama?

  I like.

• 49:57Speaker 01

  Do you feel like it's hard for your daughters?

• 49:59Michelle Obama?

  I mean, I, you know, they aren't lonely, right? But.

• 50:04Speaker 01

  They're attractive women.

• 50:05Michelle Obama?

  But, you know. You know, I do think just in the whole situation of young people, because it's not just my kids, but you know, the young women who are like, who are like my daughters.

• 50:17Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 50:18Michelle Obama?

  You know, just like we talked about, for women, it's, you know, the pickings are slim.

• 50:23Speaker 01

  Slim.

• 50:24Michelle Obama?

  Or they seem slim.

• 50:25Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 50:27Michelle Obama?

  Because it just feels like no one wants to commit.

• 50:30Speaker 01

  I think it's hard. I think you always want to have the, you walk in the grocery store and you need to reach up and find something and the man just walks in and grabs it for you.

• 50:39Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, everybody's got this romantic story, it doesn't.

• 50:42Speaker 01

  It doesn't happen. So I think just finding the reality of what genuine love is like. And I am young and still figuring things out. And I think you find someone that is helping you learn this life thing at the same time. Like I said, I'm big on loyalty. You ride with me, I'mma ride with you through any and all. So as long as we doing that and rocking, then we're good to go.

• 51:08Michelle Obama?

  We're gonna be okay.

• 51:08Speaker 01

  We're gonna be okay.

• 51:09Michelle Obama?

  Just fine.

• 51:10Speaker 01

  Just fine.

• 51:12Craig Robinson?

  What are the, I mean, you're in everything and I was looking through the research that we had. So you're trying to get into cooking more, huh?

• 51:20Speaker 01

  I do. I want to cook.

• 51:21Michelle Obama?

  Okay. Oh, you want to?

• 51:23Speaker 01

  I want to go to culinary school.

• 51:24Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 51:25Craig Robinson?

  Like serious cooking?

• 51:26Michelle Obama?

  You want to be like chopping dicey.

• 51:29Speaker 01

  We have a chef, but like, I want to be able to, I mean, I can do a little one too. But like, I want to be able to like dress the plate up and like have it looking like the restaurant.

• 51:37Michelle Obama?

  You want to have sauces.

• 51:38Speaker 01

  Yeah, like the sauces, the little drips of the sauce and like, that's what I want. I feel like I can't, like I said, basketball's gonna be done one day, I'm gonna have kids and like,

• 51:47Craig Robinson?

  Right.

• 51:48Speaker 01

  Yeah, the chef can do the thing one of these days, but sometimes I gotta put it together too.

• 51:52Michelle Obama?

  Right, right.

• 51:54Speaker 01

  It's not like my home cooking.

• 51:55Craig Robinson?

  I can just see your kids coming home, "Hey mommy, thanks for the little design on my plate."

• 52:00Speaker 01

  I also, I don't know if you guys know who Nora Smith is. Okay, she's like, um, she's

• 52:04Craig Robinson?

  No.

• 52:05Speaker 01

  She makes and cooks everything from scratch. I'm sure people, somebody back there knows.

• 52:09Michelle Obama?

  What, she's like milk and the cow?

• 52:11Speaker 01

  Toothpaste.

• 52:12Michelle Obama?

  And, oh, oh, you know.

• 52:13Speaker 01

  From scratch, Nora.

• 52:13Michelle Obama?

  I think I've

• 52:14Speaker 01

  Yes, your daughters know.

• 52:15Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 52:16Speaker 01

  So I want to like, I, I mean, not that in depth, but she makes everything.

• 52:21Michelle Obama?

  That seems a little extra.

• 52:21Craig Robinson?

  So you're gonna be making your own baby food?

• 52:23Michelle Obama?

  Like, they make, does she make Cheerios or something like that?

• 52:27Speaker 01

  She makes everything.

• 52:28Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 52:28Speaker 01

  Everything, there's nothing she hasn't made. So like, I, that like, interests me. I like stuff like that. Yeah. So I like watching cooking videos and stuff.

• 52:34Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, you're talking to somebody who gave up cooking a while ago.

• 52:37Speaker 01

  What happened?

• 52:38Michelle Obama?

  Uh, the White House.

• 52:41Craig Robinson?

  Hey, listen, now we're getting to the point where you and I got more in common than everybody else in America.

• 52:47Michelle Obama?

  I was like, why you want to do that?

• 52:48Craig Robinson?

  Here we go. No cooking, no, no commercial flights, no, you know.

• 52:53Speaker 01

  Do you enjoy the life?

• 52:57Craig Robinson?

  My life? I am having a blast. This, this has been, so, you know, so she's 62, I'm gonna be 64 on my next birthday.

• 53:06Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 53:08Craig Robinson?

  And being able to learn something completely new at this age, this whole podcasting thing, has been a godsend for me.

• 53:21Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 53:21Craig Robinson?

  Like, it is really fun getting to, I, I was telling my wife, I was like, I'm really having fun. I can't put my finger on it. And she said, you just like talking to people. And that's what I like.

• 53:33Speaker 01

  It's fun, yeah.

• 53:33Craig Robinson?

  And, and being able to do it with her.

• 53:35Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 53:35Craig Robinson?

  Cause we grew up kind of like you and your brother. We were close.

• 53:38Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 53:39Craig Robinson?

  And then when I started coaching, I was moving all around and then they moved to the White House. So we'd only see each other twice a year.

• 53:46Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 53:47Craig Robinson?

  Now we see each other once a month.

• 53:49Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 53:50Craig Robinson?

  And it's so much fun.

• 53:51Speaker 01

  I love that.

• 53:52Craig Robinson?

  So I'm, I'm really enjoying this part of, of life and I'm, I'm, I'm working with the Coaches Association for college. So I'm, I'm all involved in the NIL stuff.

• 54:03Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 54:04Craig Robinson?

  And the, uh, transfer portal and trying to be in on those discussions. And then I've got, we still have two younger sons who are high school and eighth grade, so I'm coaching their teams. So it's, I'm at a good spot.

• 54:15Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 54:16Craig Robinson?

  It might be a little too busy, but it's good.

• 54:20Speaker 01

  Is there anything you guys miss about like? The normalcy of like this one thing. I miss like going to the mall.

• 54:26Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 54:27Speaker 01

  Or just like casually just walking in and nobody knowing who you are.

• 54:29Michelle Obama?

  The first little things like I went to Mallorca, visiting a friend. The girls came with me.

• 54:35Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 54:36Michelle Obama?

  We're at this villa and we're staying there because we got all, we got all this security when we go abroad. It's just like the international, they require all this stuff. So, you know, nobody would know I'm anywhere except for the local police.

• 54:50Speaker 01

  Right.

• 54:50Michelle Obama?

  You know, um, so I was like, I just want to go into town. I just want to walk into this little beautiful town. And so we found a way to kind of ditch the big motorcade and we parked in my security and we got out. Cause we're learning how to do things stealthily. Cause it's usually the security that tells people, somebody's here.

• 55:09Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 55:10Michelle Obama?

  Right? So we snuck in, me and the girls, a couple of friends of ours. We walked to this beautiful little boutique. We went in it and we shopped for two hours. We got a dressing room and I realized I had never been able to take my girls shopping like that. Like those are the little things like, like we, we had so much fun. And I was like, get what you want. Try that on. Oh, that looks cute. We just had that or the experience the other summer because I started driving.

• 55:40Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 55:41Michelle Obama?

  In Martha's Vineyard.

• 55:42Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 55:43Michelle Obama?

  It's small and, you know, I'm followed by people, but I'm in my own car, driving myself. And I was in the car with Malia and she's in the passenger seat and it's a little convertible. We had the top down and she's playing music and we're singing.

• 55:59Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:00Michelle Obama?

  That was the first time I had that experience with my daughter where I was driving and she was in the car and it was just us. Those are the things that, you know, you miss anonymity.

• 56:10Speaker 01

  Yeah. My mom always says that. She's like, I miss when we could just go to a restaurant.

• 56:14Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 56:15Speaker 01

  And just go eat and now everybody's walking up to the table. Or like just wanting a picture and you want to give everybody a picture and enjoy everybody, but you also want to enjoy your own time.

• 56:23Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 56:24Michelle Obama?

  And again, this is not a complaint, right? You feel like you gotta be like, oh, look at you.

• 56:29Speaker 01

  Not a complaint, not a complaint.

• 56:30Craig Robinson?

  No crying on the yacht.

• 56:31Speaker 01

  No crying on the yacht.

• 56:33Michelle Obama?

  But you know, you feel like you have to qualify all of those statements.

• 56:37Speaker 01

  For sure, yeah.

• 56:38Michelle Obama?

  But there is, there is a loneliness that comes with the isolation.

• 56:43Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:43Michelle Obama?

  And you're going through it young.

• 56:45Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:45Michelle Obama?

  You know, I mean, so it's like, it's, it's important to acknowledge that that's not normal.

• 56:52Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:52Michelle Obama?

  You know?

• 56:53Speaker 01

  Yeah, it's not, yeah.

• 56:54Michelle Obama?

  It's, it's not, and, and it is okay to feel a way about it.

• 56:58Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:58Michelle Obama?

  Right?

• 56:59Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:59Michelle Obama?

  Because I don't think, there are very few people who understand what it feels like to never ever be able to blend in. Like, first of all, we're tall.

• 57:08Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 57:08Michelle Obama?

  All right, so before this.

• 57:11Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 57:11Michelle Obama?

  We can't walk in any place without anybody going, well, who's that?

• 57:15Speaker 01

  That. It's always gonna be like that.

• 57:18Michelle Obama?

  It's always gonna be like that. Um, but, you know, I would imagine.

• 57:24Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 57:25Michelle Obama?

  You know, I can imagine.

• 57:27Craig Robinson?

  Yeah.

• 57:27Michelle Obama?

  What's that like, being 23?

• 57:29Craig Robinson?

  It's tougher for you being 23, and I'm, I'm still in the streets like a normal person.

• 57:34Speaker 01

  What does that mean? In the streets?

• 57:37Craig Robinson?

  I'm going to the mall.

• 57:38Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 57:39Craig Robinson?

  Going out to dinner.

• 57:40Speaker 01

  That's not the same street.

• 57:41Michelle Obama?

  You're not in the streets.

• 57:42Craig Robinson?

  I am in the streets like I was when I was in Chicago. I'm like in the, in the Wisconsin streets.

• 57:48Speaker 01

  Okay, okay.

• 57:48Michelle Obama?

  The suburbs of Wisconsin.

• 57:51Craig Robinson?

  But because I have young children, we're trying to give them a normal experience. So I have to endure all of the, and now with a podcast, I'm walking around with this face, looking just like her. They're like, aren't you Michelle's brother? And it's like, yeah, and I say yes and keep going.

• 58:09Speaker 01

  Once one starts, it's everybody, yeah.

• 58:11Craig Robinson?

  And you, so you, you learn how to navigate it, but it is, um, it's, it's an interesting way to exist.

• 58:20Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 58:20Craig Robinson?

  Right? And it's been this way since, really since I've been coaching. You know, when you start coaching at the division one level, you know, everybody knows you, but. When you have children, you're gonna go back to trying to give them a normal life. And, and maybe it dies down. But, you know, you'll be the host of a hit podcast. You'll probably have your own reality TV series.

• 58:46Speaker 01

  A cooking show that you can be a part of.

• 58:48Michelle Obama?

  I heard you're gonna be on Hunting Wives.

• 58:50Speaker 01

  I am, yes.

• 58:52Michelle Obama?

  I love that show.

• 58:55Speaker 01

  Hunting Wives is cr- You think we can get-

• 58:57Michelle Obama?

  We, I told him a little bit about it.

• 58:59Craig Robinson?

  If you're on it, I'mma watch it. I'mma watch it, cuz you're on it.

• 59:03Speaker 01

  Let's just give him a little warning, though.

• 59:04Michelle Obama?

  I give him a little bit of one.

• 59:06Speaker 01

  No, no, no, not a hate it. Just, you're gonna be surprised.

• 59:09Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, yeah. So, can you talk, talk about what role? What, how are you?

• 59:14Speaker 01

  Yeah, I'm a trainer.

• 59:15Michelle Obama?

  You're a trainer?

• 59:15Speaker 01

  I'm a trainer.

• 59:16Michelle Obama?

  So which trainer, which is the-

• 59:17Speaker 01

  So Brad is going to Baylor.

• 59:19Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 59:20Craig Robinson?

  See, I have no idea what you all talking about.

• 59:22Michelle Obama?

  That's okay.

• 59:22Speaker 01

  Yeah. I'm, Brad is going to Baylor. So, I'm gonna be his trainer.

• 59:27Craig Robinson?

  Do I have to watch the first season to-

• 59:28Michelle Obama?

  Yes.

• 59:28Speaker 01

  I think you should.

• 59:30Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, you should, you should.

• 59:31Speaker 01

  Just catch up. Once you watch the first episode, you're hooked.

• 59:34Michelle Obama?

  How was the experience?

• 59:36Speaker 01

  It was so good.

• 59:37Michelle Obama?

  Was this your first, like, playing a role?

• 59:40Speaker 01

  So I did, um, I worked with Idris Elba last two years ago.

• 59:45Michelle Obama?

  Well, tell us more. Idris Elba, come on I M O. He's the other one.

• 59:51Speaker 01

  We love him.

• 59:52Michelle Obama?

  He's the other one.

• 59:54Speaker 01

  Yes, I worked with him.

• 59:55Michelle Obama?

  And we can do it without Craig.

• 59:57Craig Robinson?

  Oh, that's wrong. Well, I like him.

• 1:00:02Michelle Obama?

  Nah, I don't care.

• 1:00:05Speaker 01

  It's Idris.

• 1:00:06Michelle Obama?

  Yeah. It's Idris, so you worked with Idris.

• 1:00:09Speaker 01

  So I worked with him on House of Dynamite.

• 1:00:11Michelle Obama?

  Hmm, I didn't see that one.

• 1:00:12Speaker 01

  It was a movie that came out on Netflix, um, probably in October, December.

• 1:00:16Michelle Obama?

  Okay, I gotta watch that.

• 1:00:18Speaker 01

  Um, and it was about, like, his presidency. And he was actually in Chicago. And you guys have to watch it. I was in the end of it. I was a basketball player on the court. And I was myself.

• 1:00:29Craig Robinson?

  Oh, okay, okay.

• 1:00:31Speaker 01

  But it was really good. He's the best. Like, when I met him, I was like, I love him. And we've been connected since then. Um, but yeah.

• 1:00:38Michelle Obama?

  Tell him to come on I M O. Tell him Michelle wants him on I M O.

• 1:00:41Speaker 01

  Idris.

• 1:00:42Michelle Obama?

  Idris.

• 1:00:43Speaker 01

  He's usually in London, so.

• 1:00:45Michelle Obama?

  Okay.

• 1:00:46Speaker 01

  He'll come.

• 1:00:47Michelle Obama?

  Okay, we can tape in London.

• 1:00:49Speaker 01

  We'll take it to London. Let's take IMO to London. Oh, yeah, yeah.

• 1:00:53Michelle Obama?

  But was it fun like being another character?

• 1:00:56Speaker 01

  It was fun.

• 1:00:56Michelle Obama?

  Did you have acting training? Or did you just use in your own? I believe, I believe.

• 1:01:03Speaker 01

  I just did. It was fun, though. Like, it was really fun. And I was on set and doing the normal things and just seeing like the set life. That's a long day.

• 1:01:11Michelle Obama?

  Isn't that a trip?

• 1:01:12Speaker 01

  It's a long day for one scene.

• 1:01:13Michelle Obama?

  And then all the angles and now you have to do it again and again and again.

• 1:01:17Speaker 01

  It's like crazy. And it was really cool, though. Like, I really, really enjoyed it and I definitely would do it again.

• 1:01:24Craig Robinson?

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• 1:02:08Craig Robinson?

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• 1:03:02Michelle Obama?

  I want to talk about fashion a little bit.

• 1:03:04Craig Robinson?

  Go ahead.

• 1:03:05Michelle Obama?

  It's like, first of all, what's that? That's cute.

• 1:03:07Speaker 01

  We are in Versace today.

• 1:03:09Michelle Obama?

  Oh, Versace, Versace.

• 1:03:10Speaker 01

  Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace. I love fashion.

• 1:03:13Michelle Obama?

  Yes, me too.

• 1:03:14Speaker 01

  Yes, I love fashion. What are you wearing today?

• 1:03:16Michelle Obama?

  Uh, this is Louis Vuitton.

• 1:03:17Speaker 01

  I love.

• 1:03:18Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, it's good.

• 1:03:18Speaker 01

  And it's long.

• 1:03:19Michelle Obama?

  It's good, it's long, well, I, you know.

• 1:03:22Speaker 01

  Tall girl friendly.

• 1:03:22Michelle Obama?

  First of all, they'll, they'll make it longer.

• 1:03:24Speaker 01

  Yeah, I like that.

• 1:03:25Michelle Obama?

  And then we still may have to alter here or there, pull out a sleeve, but I think this was okay. This is, I think they, I think they, they made it.

• 1:03:33Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:03:33Michelle Obama?

  For me.

• 1:03:34Craig Robinson?

  If anybody cares, I'm wearing American Tall.

• 1:03:36Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, that's all.

• 1:03:37Speaker 01

  American Tall is always good.

• 1:03:38Michelle Obama?

  It's American Tall, you know, we want to get him another, and also, American Tall needs to be a sponsor. So, American Tall.

• 1:03:46Speaker 01

  American Tall.

• 1:03:47Michelle Obama?

  I think we shout you out all the time, this guy.

• 1:03:50Craig Robinson?

  I don't always wear it. I have other designers.

• 1:03:53Michelle Obama?

  We're trying to get a sponsorship, okay, dude?

• 1:03:55Craig Robinson?

  Yeah, we are, yes.

• 1:03:56Michelle Obama?

  So, I mean, pay attention.

• 1:03:57Craig Robinson?

  I wear it most of the time.

• 1:03:58Michelle Obama?

  Pay attention. Uh, have you done any Fashion Week stuff? Any, did you, have you ever done Met Gala stuff?

• 1:04:04Speaker 01

  I've been twice, yeah.

• 1:04:05Michelle Obama?

  You've been twice, that's right.

• 1:04:06Speaker 01

  I've been twice, it's a crazy day.

• 1:04:08Michelle Obama?

  It seems like it, that seems a lot. Like, I don't know, that seems a bit much.

• 1:04:13Speaker 01

  And usually I fly in and fly out the same day because I have a game the next day or practice the next day. So usually I'll practice in the morning, um, and then I'll fly out that same day, like 11 o'clock, and I'll get there at like 1, 2 o'clock, and then it's go time. And it's like, go, like, there's stitching on me, hair and makeup, I've done hair and makeup on a plane before, um, my first year, and then last year, I went with Tom Brown and...

• 1:04:40Michelle Obama?

  Love Tom Brown.

• 1:04:40Speaker 01

  Love Tom Brown, so good. Um, and it was just amazing, so I'm, I'm looking forward to it again this year.

• 1:04:47Michelle Obama?

  Are you doing any of your own, are you thinking about clothing?

• 1:04:49Speaker 01

  Yeah, I want to start a shoe line. Um, extended heel line for larger, larger feet, larger sizes. Um, so I'm looking forward to that and doing a little bit more stuff with makeup because I do a lot of blush and setting spray during the games and stuff, so.

• 1:05:03Michelle Obama?

  Yes, your face is beat.

• 1:05:05Speaker 01

  Oh, thank you.

• 1:05:06Michelle Obama?

  Do you, you have a beat face for a game?

• 1:05:08Speaker 01

  Not beat, but I'll do like a little concealer and a little blush and keep it going.

• 1:05:12Craig Robinson?

  Uh, what's beat for a good knit, for the male?

• 1:05:16Speaker 01

  That's like the guys, okay, so like football, like terminology is when you guys wear the little.

• 1:05:21Craig Robinson?

  Oh, eye black.

• 1:05:22Speaker 01

  Yeah, I guess.

• 1:05:23Michelle Obama?

  No, but a beet, getting a beet on your face means that your face is so done.

• 1:05:27Speaker 01

  Your face is like done.

• 1:05:28Michelle Obama?

  Your face is clean, like they, like the makeup artist beat your face, girl.

• 1:05:32Speaker 01

  Beats to the gods, you're a beet.

• 1:05:33Michelle Obama?

  To the gods, so that's why having a good beet means your face is done and it's made up.

• 1:05:38Craig Robinson?

  Got it, okay.

• 1:05:39Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, it's an adjective, yeah.

• 1:05:41Speaker 01

  It's beet.

• 1:05:42Craig Robinson?

  I thought it was a noun.

• 1:05:46Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:05:46Michelle Obama?

  But you do a little concealer?

• 1:05:48Speaker 01

  Yeah, I do a little concealer and a little blushing, keep it pushing.

• 1:05:50Michelle Obama?

  How do you keep, keep it on?

• 1:05:52Speaker 01

  Setting spray.

• 1:05:53Michelle Obama?

  Okay, all right, so you can.

• 1:05:54Speaker 01

  But I'm gonna come out something soon.

• 1:05:56Michelle Obama?

  Like, I'd use your setting spray.

• 1:05:58Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 1:05:58Michelle Obama?

  Cause it's like, cause if you can keep a face through a game, that's like, you should definitely, everybody should want your setting spray.

• 1:06:08Craig Robinson?

  You don't have makeup on in the game, do you?

• 1:06:11Speaker 01

  Yeah, I wear a little bit of some, some.

• 1:06:12Michelle Obama?

  Where were you?

• 1:06:14Craig Robinson?

  I missed that, I didn't think you missed.

• 1:06:16Speaker 01

  I wear a little some, some.

• 1:06:17Michelle Obama?

  He was trying to understand what a beet is.

• 1:06:20Speaker 01

  Just a little one, two, it just became a thing. You know, Leslie, Leslie used to do that.

• 1:06:23Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 1:06:24Speaker 01

  I, I. Tanya Thompson used to have the red lip.

• 1:06:26Michelle Obama?

  And this is why women, we are so amazing, cause in addition to being able to dunk and rebound, we got, we looking cute on screen. One of you, you probably don't even put lotion on.

• 1:06:39Craig Robinson?

  I put lotion on. Well, no, because I'd be sweating and it was just sweating off.

• 1:06:45Michelle Obama?

  Yeah, well, not us women, we wanna, we wanna figure it out, get it looking good all the time. It's televised, right?

• 1:06:52Speaker 01

  We catch your attention, you said.

• 1:06:54Craig Robinson?

  Uh, no, yeah.

• 1:06:56Speaker 01

  Queen, beautiful, baller.

• 1:06:58Michelle Obama?

  And you gotta watch out about toweling off. I mean, how do you manage the towel off?

• 1:07:02Speaker 01

  It doesn't.

• 1:07:03Michelle Obama?

  You, you just pat, pat, pat.

• 1:07:05Speaker 01

  I know, I'm aware.

• 1:07:06Michelle Obama?

  I'm gonna watch you in the game before to see just.

• 1:07:08Speaker 01

  It doesn't ever slide down though, usually.

• 1:07:09Michelle Obama?

  You do a Beyonce pat.

• 1:07:10Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:07:11Michelle Obama?

  Like, she can be totally wet and it's like, how'd you keep your face on?

• 1:07:15Speaker 01

  Yeah, keep a little lip gloss on the bench, me and the girls, yeah. Yeah, all the girls do it. We all keep our little lip gloss on the bench, it's a thing.

• 1:07:23Michelle Obama?

  Will somebody tell you when you get a little timeout, girl?

• 1:07:26Speaker 01

  Girl, your lip, your lip, gotta get that together.

• 1:07:31Craig Robinson?

  Well, we'll get to our listener question.

• 1:07:34Speaker 04

  I have two questions. My first one is, how do you stay true to your purpose when the public expects so much from you? My follow-up question is, what would you say to young people like me trying to stay strong in a world that keeps testing us?

• 1:07:49Speaker 01

  I would just say, don't compare yourself to others. I think social media has us thinking that we have to rush and to do these things at a successful pace. And I feel like nobody's timing is like God's timing. I think you go at your own speed, you win at your own speed. And like I said, social media has had this in this chokehold that you have to succeed at a certain time, where if you don't, then you'll fail. And just don't, don't compare yourself to others. I think you move at your own speed.

• 1:08:18Craig Robinson?

  Run your own race.

• 1:08:19Speaker 01

  Run your own race.

• 1:08:21Michelle Obama?

  And life doesn't work that way. That's not true. That's not how life works. It's, you know, if you're lucky, life is long. I think the most important thing to do in the thick of it is just being a good person, you know? That lasts through everybody. It's like, think about how you show up in the world, how you treat other people, you know? What kind of friend are you? Do you, does your word mean anything? You know, do you have empathy for other people, something that, you know, sadly feels like it's lacking today? Can you put yourself in somebody else's shoes and have a level of compassion for them? Because we got a lot of successful people out there, people who are billionaires

• 1:09:06Michelle Obama?

  in the world, who are showing a lack of an ability to, to show compassion towards people who aren't like them, or who don't have what they have. And that is worse, you know, to me than anything. And I want our young people to start focusing on the inside, right? Because that's all you have at the end of the day, is how you show up in the world.

• 1:09:32Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:09:33Michelle Obama?

  Well, Angel, gosh, you are an angel. It is true. It's true. What are you looking forward to next?

• 1:09:41Speaker 01

  Well, now I'm training for USA, and we're going to-

• 1:09:44Michelle Obama?

  I think you're gonna make the team.

• 1:09:46Speaker 01

  Well, no, I made the team already.

• 1:09:47Michelle Obama?

  But I think it's gonna be fine, right?

• 1:09:49Speaker 01

  Yeah, it's gonna be fine.

• 1:09:49Michelle Obama?

  It's gonna be fine.

• 1:09:50Speaker 01

  But we're going to Puerto Rico and playing soon. So, first I'm rival, we win a championship, and then go to Puerto Rico and win, win some more. Just enjoy life, be happy.

• 1:10:02Michelle Obama?

  Yeah.

• 1:10:04Speaker 01

  I'm always like now, my new thing is being tired of the things that I prayed for. And I'm just grateful to be tired from the things that I prayed for. And I maximize my 24 hours and I manifest everything and just continuing just to have fun and enjoy great people. And I'm really thankful for you guys for allowing me on here.

• 1:10:23Craig Robinson?

  Oh, are you kidding?

• 1:10:24Speaker 01

  It was amazing.

• 1:10:25Michelle Obama?

  This is a real treat. You are a special, special person.

• 1:10:29Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 1:10:29Michelle Obama?

  You know, and I'm saying that to the word, don't mess with this girl. Don't mess with her spirit. Do not mess with this angel. Stop it, just stop it.

• 1:10:39Craig Robinson?

  That's right.

• 1:10:40Michelle Obama?

  Right?

• 1:10:41Craig Robinson?

  She got us with her now.

• 1:10:43Michelle Obama?

  Mm, for sure.

• 1:11:11Speaker 05

  I'm Emma Greed, host of Aspire with Emma Greed, the podcast where I sit down with people who don't just dream big, they build big. If you love Michelle and Craig on IMO, just wait until you hear their episode on my show. Michelle told me about the moment at 26 when she lost her father and her best friend in the same year. It made her walk away from her corporate law career to figure out her why. That's the kind of conversation you get on Aspire. We talk about mindset, ambition, and doing the work that actually moves the needle. So if you're ready to raise your standards and take charge of the life you're building, Aspire is where you start. Follow and listen to Aspire with me, Emma Greed, available wherever you get your podcasts.