IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

To Find Your Confidence, Become the Little Mermaid with Halle Bailey

February 25, 2026

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  • Motherhood has been a transformative experience for Halle Bailey, instilling a stronger voice and a 'mama bear' protective instinct that has influenced her creative expression. 
  • Halle Bailey's experience being cast as Ariel in *The Little Mermaid* brought unexpected backlash, forcing her to develop personal resilience and use her own voice outside the shield of her sister, Chloe. 
  • Craig Robinson and Michelle Obama advise the listener questioner, a new mother returning to work, to prioritize self-forgiveness, recognize that 100% effort in all areas is often impossible, and value the support network outside of the mother. 

Segments

Halle Bailey Sings Opening
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle Bailey opens the show with a vulnerable song performance.
  • Summary: Halle Bailey sings a verse about the difficulty of expressing simple words and the fear of losing oneself or a relationship.
Hosts Catch Up on Life
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(00:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Craig Robinson discusses touring for his book and dealing with minor health issues.
  • Summary: Craig and Michelle greet each other. Craig mentions being busy touring his book and shares a story about getting an old man’s knee checked out during his yearly physical.
Introduction of Halle Bailey
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(00:03:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle Bailey is introduced as a Grammy-nominated singer and star of The Little Mermaid.
  • Summary: Michelle expresses her fondness for Halle, whom she considers like one of her children. Craig gives a formal introduction highlighting Halle’s career milestones, including her role as Ariel.
Recalling White House Visit
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(00:05:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle recalls the nervousness and fun of meeting the Obamas early in her career.
  • Summary: Halle remembers visiting the White House for the Easter Egg Roll, stressing over outfits, and how warm Michelle and Barack Obama were to them.
Halle’s Experience with Motherhood
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(00:06:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Motherhood has brought an intense, deep love and inspired Halle creatively, making her feel stronger.
  • Summary: Halle discusses how amazing motherhood is, the joy of watching her son discover things, and how pregnancy inspired her to use her voice more assertively.
Balancing Career and Motherhood
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(00:10:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle is learning to balance her career ambitions with being present for her young child.
  • Summary: Michelle asks how Halle manages work and motherhood. Halle emphasizes bringing her child with her everywhere until he starts school, inspired by advice from other influential women.
Michelle’s Perspective on Travel with Kids
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(00:12:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Children are resilient and benefit from experiences, though they eventually seek their own worlds.
  • Summary: Michelle reflects on taking her daughters on the campaign trail, noting that while they adapted well, by middle school they wanted their own lives.
Halle’s Early Performing Days
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(00:14:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle was inspired to perform by copying her older sister, Chloe, starting with backyard shows.
  • Summary: Halle discusses her upbringing in Atlanta, being influenced by great music, and how she and Chloe started performing together, including a memorable performance at Spelman Summer Camp.
Parents’ Support and Upbringing
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(00:20:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle’s parents provided crucial support and structure, teaching basic songwriting and encouraging their move to California for opportunities.
  • Summary: Halle talks about her parents from South Carolina, how her dad taught them song structure, and how they were supported in pursuing music, leading to their move to California.
Impact of The Little Mermaid Casting
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(00:27:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The backlash over her casting as Ariel was Halle’s first major shock regarding public opinion and forced her to find her own voice.
  • Summary: Halle identifies the controversy around her Little Mermaid casting as the moment the business felt different. She discusses how her grandfather helped ground her by putting the experience in the context of Black history.
Advice for New Working Mothers
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(00:41:44)
  • Key Takeaway: New mothers should be forgiving of themselves, as the system is not fully supportive, and 70% effort is sometimes enough.
  • Summary: Halle and Michelle advise a listener returning to work that it’s okay not to give 100% to everything immediately, emphasizing that children need a loving community, not just a perfect mother.
Craig’s Advice on Pacing Career
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(00:52:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Fathers should prioritize time with young children over rushing back to the career treadmill, as those years pass quickly.
  • Summary: Craig shares that as a father of two sets of children, he regrets missing time with his older kids due to work and advises Abigail to enjoy the present moments.
Halle’s Solo Music and Touring
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(00:55:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Halle’s first solo album, ‘Love or Something Like It,’ details her journey through love and relationships.
  • Summary: Halle discusses her solo album, calling it her diary entries, and mentions she plans to tour next year.
Wisdom on External Validation
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(00:58:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The key to overcoming discouragement is internal work: remembering your purpose and taking breaks from social media to stop needing external validation.
  • Summary: Halle shares that when feeling clouded by the industry, she grounds herself by remembering her purpose and taking social media cleanses to focus on internal fulfillment.