Higher Ground and Audible Announce “Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast”
Audible and Higher Ground today announced Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast releasing March 7, 2023. This is the first Original project in the newly formed exclusive, worldwide, multi-project, multi-year first-look production deal between Audible and Higher Ground. Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast will be released weekly; each of the eight episodes will be exclusively on Audible for two weeks, then available widely wherever podcasts are found.
Upon the release of her new bestselling book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, former First Lady Michelle Obama set out on a very special highly anticipated, six-city U.S. book tour. Inside intimate venues and in front of small audiences, Mrs. Obama held inspiring conversations with esteemed friends, like Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, Conan O’Brien, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Hoda Kotb, David Letterman, and more. Though only a few thousand people were able to attend the events live, these remarkable conversations can now be heard by everyone. Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast goes beyond the book as Michelle Obama and her friends share personal stories and insights listeners won’t encounter anywhere else.
Listen as Mrs. Obama and her friends explore themes like building meaningful relationships, issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, the habits and principles they have used to successfully adapt to change and overcome obstacles, and the importance of lighting up for others to reveal the richness and potential around us. As ever, Michelle Obama brings her trademark humor, candor, and compassion while she discusses her tools for living in today’s world.
Michelle Obama commented: “Like so many people around the world, I felt isolated, disconnected, and discouraged during the pandemic. Writing The Light We Carry was a way for me to make sense of it and reflect on some of the biggest challenges we all face in life—and the tour was an incredible way to share those stories with my readers and connect with real people once again. The best part is that this time around I got to bring some of my best friends and favorite personalities to join in the fun. That’s what Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast is all about—it’s a deeper examination of those fun and meaningful moments, lovingly made by our incredible team at Higher Ground and the fantastic people at Audible. I can’t wait for you all to take a listen.”
Dan Fierman, Head of Audio at Higher Ground, said: “After the remarkable reception to The Michelle Obama Podcast, we’re excited to bring listeners more wisdom, humor, and empathy from Mrs. Obama and some of her brilliant friends. With Audible, a company with a rich history of producing compelling audio storytelling, we have found a true collaborator. Using audio from her deeply inspiring The Light We Carry tour as a foundation for this original series, we look forward to sharing these incredible stories and profound conversations with listeners throughout the world.”
Zola Mashariki, Head of Audible Studios, said: “While only a finite number of tickets were available for Mrs. Obama’s tour events, listeners globally are invited into these intimate conversations through Audible. Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast feels like a phone call with a friend, filled with nourishing conversation and enlightening moments of empathy. The appetite for Michelle Obama’s work is immense; our global customer base has logged over 41 million hours of listening time with President and Mrs. Obama’s audiobooks. We’re honored to offer those avid listeners and new audiences Audible Original content that matches the elevated and thoughtful discourse the Obamas are known for – diving deeper into nuanced and earnest conversations in a way that only audio storytelling can accomplish.”
Audible and Higher Ground’s ongoing collaboration reinforces Higher Ground’s commitment to audio. Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast and the forthcoming slate of Audible Originals will reflect the companies’ shared mission to tell meaningful and entertaining stories that elevate diverse voices and experiences.
This collaboration joins Audible’s production and development deals with top industry creatives such as: George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani’s Hillman Grad Productions, Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD Productions, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s Flavor Unit, Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Enterprises, SBH, a joint venture between Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat and Charlamagne Tha God’s CThaGod World Inc, LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company, and James Patterson Entertainment.
Since its inception, Higher Ground, an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning media company, has brought powerful stories to life. Higher Ground’s hit podcasts, which have resonated with global audiences, include: The Big Hit Show, a series of audio documentaries hosted by Alex Pappademas focused on pieces of popular culture that have defined and changed our culture; Tell Them, I Am, a podcast collection of universal stories from Muslim voices; Renegades: Born in the USA, a series of conversations between President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen: The Michelle Obama Podcast, and The Sum of Us podcast series, based on Heather McGhee’s New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.
ABOUT HIGHER GROUND
Higher Ground, founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, creates, elevates, and celebrates stories and voices that bend the arc. From scripted and unscripted television, feature films, and animated series to podcasts and digital series, the company tells widely acclaimed stories across all platforms. Higher Ground produces film and television exclusively with Netflix and has a first look podcast deal with Audible. For more information on Higher Ground projects, visit HigherGroundMedia.com.
