Former First Lady Michelle Obama's highly anticipated podcast venture with her brother Craig Robinson faces unexpected challenges in the streaming world.
According to Daily Mail, the new show "IMO [In My Opinion] with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson" has failed to meet expectations, ranking 34th on Spotify and 19th on Apple Podcasts despite launching with significant publicity in early March.
The podcast's performance comes amid growing competition in the audio streaming space, with newer shows like Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" outperforming IMO despite launching a month later. The sibling duo's show has also been overshadowed by established podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience and The Mel Robbins Podcast.
The statistics paint a concerning picture for the former First Lady's media venture. Her YouTube channel, which hosts the podcast, has gathered only 67,000 subscribers, significantly trailing behind competitors like Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast with 1.2 million subscribers and Joe Rogan's impressive 19.6 million following.
Higher Ground, the Obamas' media production company, produces IMO following their previous successful ventures, including films like "Leave the World Behind" and "Rustin." The company also produced Michelle's previous podcast, "The Light Podcast," which concluded last February.
The podcast's first episode centered on the siblings' relationship and their experience during the Obama presidency. Subsequent episodes featured notable guests including Issa Rae, Seth Rogen, Lauren Rogen, and psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos.
A Media Matters study highlights broader challenges for left-leaning content creators in the alternative media landscape. Conservative voices maintain a strong presence, with Joe Rogan leading right-leaning figures at 39.9 million followers.
Other conservative personalities like Charlie Kirk, Ben Shapiro, and Jordan Peterson each maintain over 18 million followers. In contrast, prominent left-leaning show host Trevor Noah reaches only 21.2 million viewers, while platforms like The Young Turks and The Breakfast Club attract approximately 12 million followers each.
Democrats have recognized this disparity, with some strategizing to find their own "Joe Rogan of the left." California Governor Gavin Newsom has also entered the podcast arena with "This is Gavin Newsom," which currently ranks 47th on Spotify and 57th on Apple Podcasts.
Michelle Obama shared personal insights during the podcast's inaugural episode about her time in the White House. During this episode, she expressed her initial reluctance toward Barack Obama's presidential ambitions.
The former First Lady revealed how her brother played a crucial role in convincing her to support her husband's political journey. She emphasized the unexpected nature of their path to the White House and the challenges it presented.
Recent statistics indicate the podcast's first episode attracted approximately 50,000 views upon release, highlighting the competitive nature of the podcast industry and the challenges faced by new entrants, regardless of their public profile.
Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson's podcast "IMO" continues to face significant challenges in the competitive streaming landscape. The show's current rankings on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts indicate a struggle to capture audience attention despite the hosts' high profiles and connection to the Obama legacy. As the podcast industry becomes increasingly saturated, even well-established public figures must contend with fierce competition from established and emerging content creators.
