Michelle Obama Shares the Life Advice She Gives Malia and Sasha on Call Her Daddy

Michelle Obama appears on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where she shares heartfelt advice on friendship and personal growth with daughters Malia and Sasha.

Former First Lady Opens Up About Friendship, Growth, and Staying Open

Michelle Obama is opening up about motherhood, friendship, and self-confidence and the advice she’s passing down to her daughters, Malia and Sasha. During a recent appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, the former first lady offered a candid look at the values she believes matter most, especially for young women navigating adulthood.

Speaking with host Alex Cooper, Obama emphasized that long-lasting friendships, not titles or achievements, are what truly sustain a person over time.

“Friendship Is as Important as Any Degree”

Reflecting on her own life, Obama said many details of her wedding to former President Barack Obama have faded, but the friends who stood by her have not.

“The value of cultivating friendships is important it’s as important as the degree that you got in college,” Obama said. “It’s as important as the job title, the salary, or all those things that people think define success.”

That belief, she explained, is something she actively shares with her daughters, Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24, as they build their own lives.

Advice for Malia and Sasha: Be Selective, But Stay Open

Obama told Cooper that while it’s important to be thoughtful about who you allow into your inner circle, young women shouldn’t close themselves off out of fear or insecurity.

“You’ve got to be smart and selective about who you let in,” she said, before adding, “Don’t be afraid to make friends. Be open. Stay open. We’re all going up this mountain together.”

She also pushed back on the idea of leaving people behind on the path to success, noting that she carried her close friends with her as her life changed and continued to make room for new connections along the way.

A New Chapter in Podcasting and Publishing

Obama’s appearance on Call Her Daddy comes as she continues her growing presence in podcasting. She recently launched her own show, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, alongside her brother, further expanding her influence in the audio space.

The conversation also followed the release of her third book, The Look, which explores her fashion choices and the intense public scrutiny she has faced over the years.

On Criticism, Aging, and Female Solidarity

During the interview, Obama spoke honestly about the pressures women face from unrealistic beauty standards to criticism that often comes from other women.

“It hurts more when it comes from a woman,” she said, acknowledging how society conditions women to judge themselves and each other. Still, she shared a coping strategy that has helped her maintain perspective: trying to understand what drives the person delivering the criticism.

She also reflected on aging, saying that while youth often comes with confusion, growing older has brought clarity and confidence.

“This decade is my best yet,” Obama said. “That is the power that we have as women we evolve.”

A Message That Resonates Across Generations

At its core, Obama’s message was simple but powerful: success fades, appearances change, but strong relationships and personal growth endure. It’s a lesson she lives by and one she hopes Malia and Sasha will carry with them wherever life takes them next.