Former First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a new podcast, IMO, alongside her brother, Craig Robinson. However, despite her global recognition and heavy media promotion, the show has struggled to attract a significant audience.
Michelle Obama’s Podcast Debut Falls Flat
The first three episodes of IMO dropped on Wednesday, featuring Michelle and Craig sharing childhood memories from their upbringing on Chicago’s South Side. They reflected on their close sibling bond and the life lessons they learned from their late parents, Marian and Fraser Robinson.
Designed as a show offering family advice, IMO was expected to perform well. However, according to Trending Politics, the numbers tell a different story. Within the first 15 hours, all three episodes combined only managed to reach around 74,000 views, with individual episodes hovering around 20,000 views each—an underwhelming performance given Michelle Obama’s prominence.
Conservative Commentators Criticize the Podcast’s Poor Reception
Political commentator Benny Johnson called the launch an “utter failure,” pointing out that social media users flooded the comments with disinterest, stating, “Nobody asked for this.”
Michelle Obama’s first couple podcast episodes absolutely flopped not even getting a combined 20,000 views in the 15 hours after posting.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 13, 2025
The comments filled with people saying “nobody asked for this.”
What an utter failure. Who thought this was a good idea? pic.twitter.com/0osJ96liHv
Former MLB player John Rocker also took a swipe at Obama, making a controversial remark about how she could gain more attention.
Meanwhile, conservative commentator Alex Bruesewitz criticized the show’s low engagement despite mainstream media backing.
“The media machine pushed this podcast across every major outlet—something most content creators could only dream of,” Bruesewitz said. “Yet, even with all that free promotion, Michelle Obama’s new show barely gained traction. This proves that the Obamas’ influence has faded.”
Podcast Launch Comes Amid Divorce Rumors
The podcast’s disappointing debut comes at a time when speculation about Michelle and Barack Obama’s marriage has been making headlines.
In a past interview, Michelle admitted that during their years raising children, she “couldn’t stand” her husband for a decade—adding fuel to ongoing rumors about a possible split.
Will Michelle Obama’s Podcast Gain Momentum?
Despite the slow start, IMO is still in its early days. With Michelle Obama’s global reach, the show could still gain traction over time. However, if viewership numbers don’t improve, it may signal that audiences are not as eager to hear from the former First Lady in this format as expected.
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