Michelle Obama, Craig Robinson Draw 700 to SXSW London IMO Podcast
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jun 2
Michelle Obama, Craig Robinson Draw 700 to SXSW London IMO Podcast
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jun 2
Some 700 people packed SXSW London’s Truman Brewery on Tuesday as Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson staged a live edition of their IMO podcast, reprising a format they first tried at SXSW Austin in March 2025.
Higher Ground’s show skipped its usual celebrity guest this time, with the siblings interviewing each other about career pivots from law, finance and coaching into more personally rewarding work.
Obama, 62, called this her “last chapter” professionally and said she wants to spend her time more deliberately, step aside for younger generations and share lessons from rooms of power with women and minorities.
She also urged young people to “live smaller” to avoid “golden handcuffs,” citing guest Dave Chappelle’s modest Ohio life as an example of how financial freedom can support risk-taking.
The London event extends a podcast that has featured A-list guests since its 2025 launch, even as the series has yet to post strong ratings in its first year.