First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Reveals All! New Revelations on President Biden, Hunter’s Momentum & More

FIRST TIME EVER, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is here with you and me, in person on the Jamie Kern Lima Show! And she’s opening up and sharing things she’s never shared before…including revelations and updates on President Biden’s health, exactly what was happening behind the scenes in their last year in the White House, her son Hunter Biden’s newly explosive momentum (will he run for office?), and her view from the former east wing. Her life, her incredible career and her legacy that’s still very much in the making! We truly talk about all the things, and no questions are off limits! I even ask her the ones you’ve submitted and she answers them…all of them! She’s truly revealing all, and shares stories, behind-the-curtain insights and life-changing lessons she’s never shared before! Get ready to cry, to be in a bit of shock and to gain soul-filling inspiration! And when I say we talk about all the things, we truly talk about all the things! From questions on regrets, to President Biden’s health, to exactly what happened that night during the debate with President Trump, to how was it possible no one knew President Biden had stage 4 cancer, to the state of our country. From HER incredible life so far, to how she’s handled it all, from the devastating loss of one child to cancer and having another battling addiction…to how she handles haters and critics and friends who betray her…to how she and Joe summitted the highest peak possible in politics…the White House… She has a brand new book out called View From The East Wing, you can get it anywhere books are sold and it’s also on Audible where the first lady herself reads it to you. And Today, she’s opening up like never before and nothing is off limits! Also, I’m so grateful for your love and loyalty to this show, and there’s something I want to quickly share personally from me to you. I’ve had republicans, democrats and independents on this show - ranging from First Lady Michelle Obama in a special 3-part interview to actor Kelsey Grammer sharing his support of President Trump to James Talarico, one of the most momentous rising stars in politics right now. The intention of this 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…no matter how you vote, you love or you pray, you belong here! And I have to say, I’m so excited to share today’s conversation with you! And if you could take 2 seconds and hit the subscribe button on the ap you’re listening or watching on…that way you’ll be the very first to get every inspirational episode! And whether you're joining me today for yourself or because someone that you love shared this episode with you, I want to welcome you to the Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast family. And remember this episode is not just for you and me. Please share it with every single person that you know because it can change their life too. ____ Chapters: 0:00 Welcome to The Jamie Kern Lima Show 12:36 "As Women We Need To Protect Ourselves" 14:17 "God Are You Real?" 18:50 Signs, Communication & Prayer To Loved Ones Who've Passed 24:52 Facing Addiction In Your Family 29:42 The Rising Star Of Hunter Biden It’s such an honor to share this podcast together with you. And please note: I am 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. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Follow me here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Sign up for my inspirational newsletter for YOU at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ jamiekernlima.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Looking for my books on Amazon? Here they are! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WORTHY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Believe IT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• 0:00Speaker 00

  He struggled for years, actually. It was horrible. I just would start to sob. I just couldn't say the words. It was just too hard.

• 0:09Speaker 01

  This got so serious so fast.

• 0:14Speaker 01

  This is the worldwide premiere of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on the Jamie Kern Lima Show. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. The blue, it's like we're like sky and sunshine.

• 0:25Speaker 00

  Thank you so much for being here. I pray to Bo, you know, and I think he listens. And now with Joe, with his Joe's cancer diagnosis, I say, Bo, where are you? I need you. And some of those times when I feel that I I need to go to the cemetery and talk to him and I hope he listens.

• 0:53Speaker 01

  Do you feel his presence all the time?

• 0:55Speaker 00

  I do.

• 0:57Speaker 01

  Do you feel him with you right now?

• 1:01Speaker 00

  God, are you real? Like, where are you?

• 1:04Speaker 01

  Do you know for sure God exists?

• 1:08Speaker 00

  There are times in your life when you're going to question God because things are so hard. You don't want to hear your son talking about doing crack cocaine. It's just too hard and it tears you apart.

• 1:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:22Speaker 00

  It tears you apart. It tears your family apart. We weren't perfect.

• 1:27Speaker 01

  I mean, none of us are. I've never heard you talk about this before. So many people felt, oh, the next star in the family is Bo. And now you look online and a lot of the buzz is, wait a minute, the next star in the family is Hunter.

• 1:43Speaker 00

  Yeah, he'll love hearing that.

• 1:45Speaker 01

  What if it's Hunter? What if everyone thought it's Bo?

• 1:49Speaker 00

  I love hearing that as his mother.

• 1:50Speaker 01

  But it's Hunter. I mean, look what's happening.

• 1:53Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 1:53Speaker 01

  Look what's happening right now.

• 1:55Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 1:55Speaker 01

  How do you and President Biden feel about his recent explosion of?

• 2:00Speaker 00

  We're just so proud of him.

• 2:02Speaker 01

  If Hunter decides to run for office.

• 2:06Speaker 00

  Oh, my gosh.

• 2:08Speaker 01

  If Hunter decides to run for president.

• 2:11Speaker 00

  Uh huh.

• 2:12Speaker 01

  What would you tell him? What would President Biden tell him?

• 2:20Speaker 01

  First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made history as the first first lady to hold a full-time job as a college professor while also serving in her full-time role in the White House and across the country as our first lady. She's carried unimaginable tragedies and loss from losing her son Bo to cancer to her other son Hunter battling extreme drug addiction to now President Joe Biden being diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer. Get ready to cry and be in a bit of shock and to gain soul-filling inspiration. And when I say we talk about all the things, we truly talk about all the things, including

• 3:02Speaker 01

  the questions that you submitted, I asked them and she answered all of them. From questions on regrets to President Biden's health to exactly what happened that night during the debate with President Trump to how was it possible? No one knew the president had stage four cancer to the state of our country. From her incredible life so far to how she's handled it all. From the devastating loss of one of her children to cancer to having another one battling addiction to how she handles haters and critics and friends who betray her to how she and Joe summited the highest peak possible in politics, the White House. She has a brand new book out called View from the East Wing.

• 3:46Speaker 01

  You can get it anywhere books are sold and it's also on Audible where the first lady herself reads it to you. And today she's opening up like never before and nothing is off limits.

• 3:58Speaker 00

  I've been through an early divorce and I learned, you know, the hard way. Like you need to have your own money. You cannot be asking somebody to support you.

• 4:10Speaker 01

  With your first husband and you were left like with nothing.

• 4:14Speaker 00

  It was a big lesson and that's what I do try to tell women that usually the man comes out better than the woman in any divorce, usually.

• 4:24Speaker 01

  To this day, do you think that's true?

• 4:25Speaker 00

  I do.

• 4:27Speaker 01

  Do you believe you were destined or called to be first lady?

• 4:30Speaker 00

  When we were in the White House, I think every morning I would open my eyes and think, oh, my God, look where I am. Like, what an honor to be here.

• 4:42Speaker 01

  I am so happy you're here and so excited for this conversation we're having together today with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. The intention of this show is to be a force for good and a force for love. I have guests on that might vote differently or love differently or pray differently from you and me because I believe to help heal humanity through love, we must first understand the humans who make it up. And I am so happy that you are here. No matter how you vote, how you love, how you pray, you belong here. And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone shared this episode with you, welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast family.

• 5:25Speaker 01

  I'd be so grateful if you'd take two seconds and just hit the subscribe button on the app or listening or watching on. That way you're going to be the very first to get every inspirational episode. Plus you can also get weekly inspiration into your inbox from me to you for free. Just join my newsletter at JamieKernLima.com. And thank you so much for sharing this episode with every single person you know who might need some inspiration of their own today or perhaps some hope because we are all in this one life together. And right now, as the first lady shares in this episode, President Joe Biden is in the fight of his life battling stage four cancer. While the first lady agreed that today no questions were off limits.

• 6:08Speaker 01

  And so I do ask the most pressing questions so many of us want to know. I also want to ask you to join me in praying for President Biden's health and strength and in praying for and sending love to his entire family during this time.

• 6:28Speaker 02

  Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

• 6:31Speaker 01

  Oprah, how have you defied the odds?

• 6:35Speaker 03

  Her show is unlike any I've ever done. A revelation. When you listen, it feels like a hug.

• 6:41Speaker 01

  First Lady Michelle Obama.

• 6:44Speaker 03

  Jamie, you are going so deep. I have never had this in-depth conversation. I've actually never said that out loud to anybody in an interview before. You know how to get there.

• 6:56Speaker 03

  Your brain and your spirit and your heart is like, wow.

• 7:00Speaker 01

  Melinda French Gates.

• 7:02Speaker 03

  When I look into Jamie's eyes, I feel like I am on some other cosmic level with her.

• 7:09Speaker 01

  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

• 7:11Speaker 00

  I wasn't expecting that one.

• 7:13Speaker 03

  I could see the light around her. She's infused with light.

• 7:16Speaker 01

  Maria Shriver. I never made that mistake again. Imagine overcoming self-doubt, learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

• 7:32Speaker 03

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

• 7:41Speaker 03

  Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern Lima.

• 7:47Speaker 01

  She flew here today to join you and me in person and I am so excited to say, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

• 7:58Speaker 00

  Thank you. Thank you for inviting me, Jamie.

• 8:00Speaker 01

  I'm so happy you're here. How are you doing? How are you feeling?

• 8:04Speaker 00

  I'm feeling good. I've been out on my book tour. I'm feeling really good about it. The audiences have been great. I've heard a lot of positive comments and it's, it's good, you know, because I think the, a lot of times nowadays, things are so toxic that it's nice to embrace people who are embracing you and, and our administration. And, and I feel like they're embracing me as a, as a person.

• 8:34Speaker 01

  This idea that success leaves clues. When we, when you look at your life so far, right? And this is for everyone listening or watching us right now who's like, is this book for me? When we look at your life so far, I think every person listening or watching can connect to your life and some of the things that you've carried or that are carrying right now on so many levels, whether it's how did you hang on to your own identity and passions when things in your life are changing or your husband's life are changing? How do you carry grief and loss? How do you, how do you maintain your faith when it feels like things are so unfair that are happening?

• 9:15Speaker 01

  And just all of the different things you have navigated, have carried, have faced, you know, of course, anyone in politics in that world, the lowest of lows and betrayals, but also summited the highest peaks and made it to the White House twice. So I just want to ask you off the top, how you do that? How you've gotten to where you're at? How you, how you still carry it off?

• 9:39Speaker 00

  Well, you know, I think one of the things that, a theme that runs through my book is independence. And I think from a young age, I wanted to be independent, make my own money. I worked between 11th grade and 12th grade and then after 12th grade at the shore, I went down with a couple of girls to get money for college. I know your listeners, probably many of them are working women. And it was important to me that I maintained my job, not, not only as second lady, but as first lady. And.

• 10:13Speaker 01

  You were the first in history, first first lady in history.

• 10:16Speaker 00

  Right.

• 10:17Speaker 01

  To hold a full-time job.

• 10:18Speaker 00

  And get a paycheck. And get a paycheck. And that was important to me. And so I think I really tried hard to maintain that, to maintain. You know, my mother always said, know yourself. And well, know thyself is what she would say. And, and I always tried to hold true to that. And I, one of the things that I loved in my life was teaching and.

• 10:45Speaker 00

  So when I became second lady, my staff said, there's no way you're gonna teach. And I said, yes, I'm going to continue to teach. And I figured a way to do that. And so I taught at a community college for all eight years. And then in between, and I loved that community college so much because it had so much diversity. And so in those four years in between second lady and first lady, I actually commuted on a train, on Amtrak, to, in the mornings, to my job at Nova. And then I would train back at night. You know, I'd get off the train, take an Uber to the college and teach and come back.

• 11:30Speaker 00

  And then as first lady, staff was a little more hesitant. And not my staff, not my staff, the West Wing staff. They said, are you sure you want to teach? And why don't you just do volunteer work? And I thought, what would that say to teachers if I just did volunteer work? It would say like, your work isn't worth anything, so you're not getting paid for it. And I said to them, I am gonna continue to teach and you gotta, you know, you better figure it out. And they did, and I continued to teach. So I think that's a theme that I wanted to get across to women especially.

• 12:14Speaker 00

  You have to be able to stand on your own two feet, no matter what happens to you in life. As you know, we lost our son Beau to brain cancer at 46 years old. He had a wife and two children. I mean, now she had to, I mean, she did work. But now she had to support her family herself. And, and you know, I've been through an early divorce. I was, I went to college, fell in love with a guy first semester, kind of crazy. And I was divorced by the time I, I left school, you know, four and a half years later. But, and I learned, you know, the hard way. Like, you need to have your own money.

• 12:59Speaker 00

  You cannot be asking somebody to support you. And I mean, that's my personal feeling. Some, some women are very comfortable with that. And like my mother, I mean, my mother was a homemaker. But, but it was important to me to be independent.

• 13:17Speaker 01

  I always feel like our steps are ordered sometimes. And it's interesting, like when, with your first husband and even the bar, the business he was building when you were together, you didn't get any part of that.

• 13:28Speaker 00

  No.

• 13:29Speaker 01

  You were left, like with nothing.

• 13:31Speaker 00

  Yes.

• 13:32Speaker 01

  Yeah, big lesson early on.

• 13:34Speaker 00

  It was a big lesson. And that's what I do try to tell women, that usually the man comes out better than the woman in any divorce, usually.

• 13:45Speaker 01

  To this day, do you think that's true?

• 13:46Speaker 00

  I do. Did you just read Bell Burden's book, The Stranger?

• 13:51Speaker 01

  No.

• 13:51Speaker 00

  Oh, my gosh, you have to read it. Yeah. And I just gave it to my daughter to read. And I'm like giving it to women because she was a woman who had means but trusted her husband. And you know, everything was half for him and half for her. And she didn't protect herself. So it's not that we shouldn't trust the men in our lives, but we need to protect ourselves as well.

• 14:13Speaker 01

  Right, right. You know, you, you mentioned your son Beau. And I want to ask you about faith and about your faith. For so many of us, we can have faith. And then when things go horribly wrong or don't make sense or feel unfair, it is so easy to be like, God, are you real? Do you even exist? And if you do, how?

• 14:39Speaker 00

  Like, where are you?

• 14:40Speaker 01

  Where are you? How would you let this happen? In May of 2015, your son Beau died from brain cancer. You described the loss as totally shattering and say your life changed in an instant, that you lost faith, stopped praying and attending church for four years. When you have a son that, you know, had everything in the world going for him, I think you and President Biden both thought Beau will probably be president one day. And, you know, destined to be president, then he gets cancer. How do you reconcile God taking someone like Beau from this earth?

• 15:19Speaker 00

  Well, for me, I couldn't reconcile it. I mean, that was one of the biggest challenges. I think Joe, Joe perseveres and endures and can handle things because of his faith. I felt, I just felt so betrayed. And because I didn't, I really didn't feel Beau was gonna die. And because I couldn't imagine that God was gonna take him. I just couldn't imagine it. And I kept praying and praying and saying, I mean, you know, I think a lot of parents do this who lose children, say, take me.

• 16:02Speaker 00

  Or, you know, we just try to make all these bargains and deals. And, and then when he did die, I mean, it was just, I don't know. I never, ever gave up hope until Beau took his last breath. And, and so I, I just felt so betrayed by it. And I just could not, I couldn't understand it.

• 16:32Speaker 00

  It's just, and I know I'm his mother and I would, you know, say he was an extraordinary person, but he really was. And so when something like that happens to you and you lose your faith, as I did for many years. And then Joe and I were in South Carolina. And we were attending a church service. I think we were probably campaigning, I can't remember. But we, a woman came up to me, I mean, it was the minister's wife. And we were sitting in the front pew. And she, she knelt down beside me.

• 17:17Speaker 00

  And she said, Jill, I want to be your prayer partner. And I thought to myself, prayer partner? What's a prayer partner? I don't even know. And she said, I'm gonna call you and we're gonna pray together. So I gave her my number. You know, I thought, you know, like, where's this going? And I can remember so clearly, the next week, I was in New York City doing, I don't remember what. But she had told me she would call me at like, I don't know, four o'clock. I left the restaurant, I went outside, I remember. And she called and prayed with me.

• 17:54Speaker 00

  And I felt like at that moment, that that was God's way of saying, Jill, you've had enough time. It's time to come home. So, so that's what, and to this day, I bet if you looked on my phone this morning, you would see a message from Robin, thinking of you, praying for you. You know, keep the faith. I mean, it's, and it's, how many, 11 years later? I mean, a long time. So, you know, that's, I don't know. So God does listen.

• 18:37Speaker 01

  And you felt it that day.

• 18:39Speaker 00

  And I felt it that day.

• 18:40Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah. I believe God uses people to come into our lives at the right time. Or I think God blocks our value from people who aren't assigned to our destiny. I think, I believe all that. With, with, with your son Beau, what is your, if any, relationship like with him now?

• 19:02Speaker 00

  Well, I think, you know, every morning, I, you know, this got so serious so fast. Every morning, I, I mean, I pray to Beau, you know. And I think he listens. And now with Joe, with his, Joe's cancer diagnosis, I get a little frustrated. And I say, Beau, where are you? I need you. And so some of those times, if, when I feel that I, I need to go to the cemetery and talk to him and hope he listens.

• 19:41Speaker 01

  Do you feel his presence all the time?

• 19:43Speaker 00

  I do.

• 19:46Speaker 01

  Like, do you feel him with you right now?

• 19:48Speaker 00

  Yeah, he's with me every day. I mean, you know, even when I'm not thinking about him. He's certainly part of my heart. You know, he's, I carry him, so.

• 19:59Speaker 01

  Yeah. Do you ever, um,

• 20:05Speaker 01

  and would you say Joe does as well? Like, does Joe pray to him or does Joe feel his presence as well?

• 20:10Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 20:11Speaker 01

  Have you ever

• 20:12Speaker 00

  For sure.

• 20:12Speaker 01

  Have you ever seen him or felt him show up in a situation?

• 20:15Speaker 00

  No, no, but you know, there are things, um, that happen, um, actually, this year, uh, the day that Bo died, um, we have a memorial service and, and we got back to the, our house, we live on a manmade lake. And as we walked in, like, an eagle flew across the lake. It's those sorts of things, like, whether they're real or they're not real, I do believe in that. So, um, you know, I, I do find, and maybe we need to find those symbols, I don't know, uh, but I, I do, I do see them in nature.

• 20:56Speaker 01

  Mm-hmm. Like, like when an eagle flew by, where you're like, that's Bo?

• 21:01Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 21:01Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 21:02Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 21:02Speaker 01

  I'm that way when I see butterflies with my mom, who I lost.

• 21:05Speaker 00

  Uh-huh.

• 21:06Speaker 01

  Yeah, I'll feel that. My daughter, who's, who's just turned eight, she'll, every time she sees a butterfly, she'll be like, Grandma, it's Grandma! And, um, but I feel like we know it in our spirit when you feel it.

• 21:15Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 21:16Speaker 01

  And it doesn't matter if it makes sense to anyone else, I feel like we know it, um.

• 21:20Speaker 00

  And I feel it in his children, too. He has, uh, two children, Natalie and, uh, we call him Little Hunter, but, you know, he's like six feet something, but, um, I see so much of Bo in them, too, and I think that connection's really strong.

• 21:38Speaker 01

  Do you, as you sit here right now, do you know for sure God exists?

• 21:45Speaker 00

  Oh, for sure God exists. Yeah.

• 21:49Speaker 00

  For sure.

• 21:50Speaker 01

  Like, million percent certainty?

• 21:52Speaker 00

  Mm-hmm. Yeah. Don't you feel that way?

• 21:55Speaker 01

  I do, yeah. I think, I, I think I've dealt with so much God doubt in my life, different seasons of it, um, but I do, because it's this feeling I can't explain, that I, that I just know. Um, how, how do you know? And have you, I know, I know your prayer partner coming into your life 11 years ago is big, like, reigniting your faith.

• 22:19Speaker 01

  How do you know for sure? Like, to someone going, like, Dr. Biden, you know, First Lady, like, how, I struggle with God doubt. Like, how do you know for sure God is real?

• 22:30Speaker 00

  I think you've just got to feel it inside. You know, and I think I would tell that person that I struggled with it as well. And there are times in your life when you're going to question God, because things are so hard. And, um, so, you know, it's just, uh, but I think it's just something you feel inside you.

• 22:55Speaker 01

  Do you think our lives are divinely orchestrated, or like, do you believe you were destined or called to be First Lady?

• 23:02Speaker 00

  No.

• 23:03Speaker 01

  No.

• 23:04Speaker 00

  No, I don't. It, you know, it was, it wasn't a destiny, it wasn't, it was, um, actually, just a pretty incredible journey. I mean, I write in the book that I'm really an ordinary girl from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, who has lived an extraordinary life in so many ways. I mean, just the, the turns and, um, you know, like, it's like Robert Frost, you know, Two Paths in a Wood, and how, which one you choose, and how that determines your destiny, and where you go, and, and decisions you make, and, um, I don't know, when I look back, I mean, when we were in the White House,

• 23:45Speaker 00

  I think every morning I would open my eyes and think, oh, my God, look where I am, like, what an honor to be here.

• 23:56Speaker 00

  You know, I, every day I felt that, and I, I never took it for granted, and, um, and I always felt grateful.

• 24:06Speaker 01

  Even on the worst days?

• 24:07Speaker 00

  Even on the worst days.

• 24:09Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 24:09Speaker 00

  Because it was a responsibility, I think, that you carried, and, um, even if you didn't always make the, well, or someone in the administration, or Joe didn't make the right decision, or something that I didn't agree with, it was still an incredible part of the journey.

• 24:29Speaker 01

  Hmm.

• 24:31Speaker 01

  On the topic of faith, and what's fair, and how do we reconcile, I think so many people right now see so much going on in the world, or feel like, whether it's AI, or politics, or you name it, uh, they struggle with going, okay, if God is real, why is this happening, or how is this fair, how does this make any sense? Um, like so many Americans that have addiction in their family, I do, I think everybody I know maybe has had it, it affects somebody in their family. Your second son, Hunter, has talked a lot and shared a lot about his addictions.

• 25:11Speaker 00

  Hunt has struggled, uh, he struggled for years, actually, it was horrible. I mean, he went to rehab after rehab after rehab, and a lot of times I would say to Joe, um, have you heard from Hunter? And he'd say, no, have you? And I'd say, no. I mean, this is like weeks on end, and we wouldn't know where he was. And he has three daughters, and they would call and say, Nana, we don't know where our dad is, can you help us? And so we did do, um, two interventions, and, um, you know, the, the first time it fell through, because he

• 25:53Speaker 00

  must have felt it or something, and then the second time, uh, he walked in and, and saw the interventionist there, and just exploded, ran out of the house, and, um, I mean, said some really hurtful things, uh, that you would hope your child would never say to you.

• 26:17Speaker 00

  But you have to realize, it's, uh, it's the addiction.

• 26:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 26:22Speaker 00

  And, um, and then, this went on for a long time, I mean, he's written a book. Actually, you should talk to him, because he's really smart, and he's really funny. And he's doing so great now, he's overcome his addiction.

• 26:39Speaker 00

  The best thing is, he's helping other addicts. Um, I can't listen to his podcast, because I can't, uh, and maybe it's naive, but I am his mother, you don't want to hear your son talking about doing crack cocaine, or, um, it's just too hard. It's just too hard. And, uh, and so I try to, I don't, but he's so honest about it, and I feel like he's turned his life around completely. I mean, he's a beautiful artist, um, he does so many paintings, and, and now he's helping people in recovery, and,

• 27:20Speaker 00

  you know, like I said, he wrote a book, and I, I hope he writes another book to help people in recovery, and, and I think that he's given, uh, people with addiction hope. Uh, but I have to say, on my book talk, a lot of people have come up to me and said, I, like you did, I have addiction in my family. And, and it tears you apart.

• 27:46Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 27:46Speaker 00

  It tears you apart, it tears your family apart. And as a grandmother, I mean, trying to feel this, uh, you know, that I needed to protect his daughters, and, um,

• 28:02Speaker 00

  because it's a hard thing to see your parent going through that. It's one thing to see a sibling, but I think to see your parent, who's, you know, supposed to be your role model, and, uh, your strength in life, uh, to go through that.

• 28:17Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 28:18Speaker 00

  So, now it's, you know, we've put to, back together the pieces, and, um, and thank God, I mean, he's whole again.

• 28:28Speaker 01

  I love in your book, and I won't, of course, give it all away, because everyone

• 28:32Speaker 00

  Yes, don't give everything away!

• 28:33Speaker 01

  Right now, there's so much in there. I just love, everybody can relate to so many things in your book, but I love that you share, uh, your and Joe's journey of, of, of, of trying to do what you can, be there, understand when you have a child going through addiction, because as everyone knows who's gone through it, it feels so confusing, so impossible, so, you know, and, and so, that's one of the many amazing parts that I know people are connecting with in your book, and, and I think it's a

• 29:10Speaker 00

  And we weren't perfect. I mean, we tried so many things.

• 29:14Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 29:15Speaker 00

  And we were far from perfect, and that's why I know how much people struggle, because you do try everything. And when you keep trying, and trying, and trying, and it doesn't work, year after year after year, it's really hard.

• 29:33Speaker 01

  Right now, in this very moment, a lot of people are kind of having this, huh? And I'm just going to say it really blunt.

• 29:42Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 29:42Speaker 01

  And I've never heard you talk about this before, I've never heard you talk about this before.

• 29:46Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 29:46Speaker 01

  Uh, it's very right in this moment.

• 29:51Speaker 01

  So many people felt, oh, the next star in the family is Bo.

• 29:57Speaker 01

  And now you look online and a lot of the buzz is, wait a minute, I think the next star in the family is Hunter.

• 30:03Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 30:04Speaker 01

  And he just launched a Twitter that has exploded. He's talking about addiction and recovery and people all across the country, whether they are Republican or Democrat. I mean, they're connecting with it.

• 30:18Speaker 00

  Yes.

• 30:18Speaker 01

  He's exploding all of a sudden. And here's, here's what I think about, because I have people on the show who are Democrat, who are Republican, who are MAGA, who are everything. For me, it's not about that. It's about how do we really understand each other and help heal humanity through love and actually talk to people we don't agree with. For me, it's not about politics. But when I look at Hunter, I cannot help but think how so often God will use stories of redemption. God will use all of us to be forces for good in the world. And

• 30:52Speaker 00

  He'll love hearing that.

• 30:54Speaker 01

  What if it's Hunter? What if everyone thought it's Bo?

• 30:57Speaker 00

  I love hearing that as his mother. Thank you.

• 31:00Speaker 01

  I mean, look what's happening.

• 31:01Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 31:02Speaker 01

  Look what's happening right now. How do, how do you and President Biden feel about his recent explosion of?

• 31:09Speaker 00

  We're just so proud of him. You know, that he can be so honest and say things other people won't say and feel comfortable with it because he's been through it. And it's just, I don't know, but as parents, like one of the toughest things I had to do was when Hunter was taken to court and they played his book on tape in the courtroom. To hear him tell his story in his own words, I mean, it was, it was like so heartbreaking.

• 31:50Speaker 00

  And I had my daughter, Ashley, our daughter, Ashley next to me and it's just hearing the sound of his voice, talking about it. And that's why I think, I don't know, it's, it's amazing how things have turned around. So you see, I do believe a lot of times that good things come from bad things. And I think now is Hunter's time to, to shine. You know, he's, he's doing really good things.

• 32:28Speaker 01

  I saw something he shared recently where he's like, I've hit rock bottom. I have nothing to lose. What's beautiful is everyone has seen me at my worst and you now know this is who I am. This is what I'm passionate about. This is what I'm offering to the world. And there's something that is so believable and relatable about that, that I think people are craving. I think when you have, whether people believe fake news is true or not, whether they, I think people have a hard time believing anything anymore. Right? I think everyone kind of knows there's so many conspiracy theories out there. There's so much content out there. Half the things we see on social media are now AI and they're fake.

• 33:12Speaker 01

  And you have someone coming out in such a just vulnerable, raw, real way of talking. And I think, I think the contrast of, of you and your husband and your entire family, one of the most successful and, you know, beautiful families, having the contrast of also the relatability of having someone that's gone through such addiction. Everyone can relate to that. He's now coming out and sharing and people are listening to what he has to say. And it's just, there's something, there is something happening and I can spot momentum a million miles away. There's something happening with Hunter Biden right now.

• 33:57Speaker 01

  Something's happening.

• 33:58Speaker 00

  Something good happening.

• 34:00Speaker 01

  Something's good happening.

• 34:01Speaker 00

  For so long, it was taboo, like you didn't talk about it. I mean, people just would never, ever say, you know, my child is an addict. And, and I, I couldn't say it. I mean, even when I read my book, my audio book, you know, I had written it, I had thought about it, but when I had to say it out loud during the audio session, they must've stopped three times. I, I just would start to sob. I, I just couldn't say the words. It was just too hard. And, and when you've lived so many years trying to protect and protect and protect

• 34:43Speaker 00

  and then, and now, you know, it's, and now, not that it's more acceptable, but people are talking about it. And people are saying, I'm suffering from this. And, and I taught in a psychiatric hospital for five years and I saw a lot of addiction in young children because I taught in the adolescent unit. But I don't know, when, when it's your own child, I mean, Joe and I really struggled, I mean, even with each other in talking about it. It's just, it's just too painful.

• 35:24Speaker 01

  Painful.

• 35:25Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 35:28Speaker 01

  If Hunter decides to run for office.

• 35:32Speaker 00

  Oh, my gosh.

• 35:34Speaker 01

  If Hunter decides to run for president. What would you tell him? What would President Biden tell him?

• 35:45Speaker 01

  This conversation with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is so incredible. We made it into more than one part and she is truly opening up like never before and sharing lessons that have changed her life and can truly impact and change yours too. You are not going to want to miss this incredible part two of our conversation with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. That's coming up in the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. Remember this episode's not just for you and me. Please share this with every single person that you know, because it can impact and change their life too. And if you loved today's episode, please click the follow or subscribe button for the 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 please give it a rating or review, five stars, really, really good.

• 36:30Speaker 01

  I'd be so grateful. And again, share it with everyone that you believe in. Share it with another person in your life who maybe could benefit from it or is making a change in their life or carrying grief or just needs hope and inspiration. You can also post the episode and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and lessons in this episode today. You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today. But 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.

• 37:14Speaker 01

  And it's an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kern Lima 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 like because you belong here. You are worthy. You are loved. You are love. I love you and I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. 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.