Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s new podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, has sparked controversy, as existing podcasters claim the name is causing confusion among listeners.
Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, recently announced the launch of their podcast through their media company, Higher Ground. The series aims to explore life’s everyday questions and features high-profile guests like Issa Rae, Keke Palmer, Tyler Perry, and Dwyane Wade.
While many fans expressed excitement about the show, a UK-based podcast, In My Opinion Podcast, which has been operating since 2021, voiced concerns. The hosts, DTM, Uzoma, and Mulinde IV, commented on Obama’s Instagram post. They say the podcast name was leading to confusion among their followers.
“Dear First Lady, we admire you and your work immensely, but the name of your podcast is causing confusion amongst our followers,” the UK-based podcast wrote. “If possible, would be great to have a discussion with someone from your team to resolve this.”
Their concerns gained traction as supporters called on Obama to reconsider the name. Some fans defended Obama, suggesting the name IMO could also stand for “I’m Michelle Obama.”
Others pointed out that multiple podcasts share similar names, making disputes like this inevitable.
Research reveals that other In My Opinion podcasts exist, including a Detroit-based show with episodes dating back to 2017 and another version on iHeart Radio’s Spreaker platform.
Obama has not publicly addressed the concerns. However, she and Robinson are set to record a special live episode at SXSW in Austin, Texas, this week.
As debate over the name continues, one thing is clear—Michelle Obama’s podcast already has the star power to stand out.
