Add news
News Every Day |

At SXSW, Michelle Obama tackles despair and loneliness in a podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson

Trying to find authentic, consistent joy in the midst of a reality that is relentlessly delivering devastating blows feels akin to finding a needle in an impossibly large haystack. But according to Michelle Obama, it is possible—and the power lies in acknowledging the depth of despair and apathy while still finding reasons for hope.  

At SXSW this week, the former first lady and her older brother, Craig Robinson, who is executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, took the stage for a live session of their new podcast, IMO. The pair were joined by Laurie Santos, a cognitive scientist, the Yale professor behind the school’s most popular class to date, “The Science of Well-Being,” and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, to discuss how to cultivate a hopeful mindset given the state of the world.

On the current climate and drawing from childhood lessons

Obama acknowledged the tense political climate, job loss, and growing divisions among Americans.

“I worry about folks being out of work, and I worry about how we think about diversity and inclusion. I think about how we treat one another and the voices that we hear, and what that does, what models that’s setting for the next generation,” she said. 

“Who do we want to be as a country?” she continued. “All of that keeps me up at night, and I know that a lot of people are struggling with some of those things. But I find in those moments that it is better not to try to figure that stuff out alone.”

The siblings shared anecdotes from childhood to underscore several themes—the value of in-person interactions, the limiting of social media consumption, and how childhood experiences led them to develop the skills necessary to cope with adversity.

They were raised by parents who, Obama pointed out, had many reasons to wallow in despair. Their father was a blue-collar worker raised in desegregation who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a young man. The two discussed what it was like growing up with a parent with a disability dominating his life, yet rarely missed a day of work and still managed to raise two successful children. 

“For me and Craig and our families, you know, we always try to step outside of our loneliness and talk as a family and as a community to share those concerns,” Obama shared.  “And I hope that our listeners are pushed to do some of the same things too.”

On tackling apathy and negative emotions 

An audience member posed the question to panelists: “How do we plan for a future that looks different from the one that we were promised, without feeling apathetic?”

To Santos, a crucial piece of it is acknowledging that these times are not normal, and so feelings of apathy and disconnect are normal.

“All too often we can get into this, like, toxic positivity bag, where it’s like, I’m feeling kind of embarrassed that I’m so upset and frustrated and overwhelmed and sad about what’s going on in the world,” she said. “We’re supposed to feel that! Negative emotions are normal in an abnormal world.”

All three speakers agreed that social media and technology play an active role in exacerbating unhappiness. To combat this, Santos urged the audience to consider the impact scrolling on a timeline can have on the psyche and be deliberate in how we spend our time.

“Social media companies wouldn’t have the algorithms if all our eyeballs weren’t on phones anymore. And we actually have more agency than we often remember in that fight,” she said. 

On finding hope

A recurring theme in the conversation was rooted in finding ways to help others, even in small ways. Impacting the people around us and our loved ones, was a surefire way to find joy.

“Our mom used to say, ‘You’re responsible for your own passion.’ And that was some of the most empowering advice she ever gave us,” said Robinson. “How can we help those out there who don’t have a Marian Robinson or a social group? How can we help them work through making themselves happy?”

For Santos, hope did not mean toxic positivity or simply remaining optimistic.

Hope says things are not fine, but I can actually see at least a few paths for things to get better,” she said. 


УЕФА

Игорь Денисов: золотая карьера после триумфа в Кубке УЕФА

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

The Spectrum: State of the State; Columbus business leader

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target

13 mouthwatering Irish recipes Americans are missing out on

Jared Padalecki Teases 'Supernatural' Reunion With Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins on 'The Boys'

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "17 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "17 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "17 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

Six Ways to Understand DOGE and Predict Its Future Behavior

Treating Hernia Types and Managing Pain

Side Side Side - Definition, Theorems, Similarity Rule, Formula, Examples

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

13 mouthwatering Irish recipes Americans are missing out on



Sports today


Новости тенниса
ATP

Даниил Медведев опустился на 8-е место в рейтинге ATP, Андрей Рублев — на 9-е



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Спорт и микроэлементы. Как избежать дефицита витаминов



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Аналитика в качестве инновационного подхода к беттингу


Новости России

Game News

Stellar Knight Idle 1.9.0


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Russian.city

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Google

Суд в Москве ограничил штраф Google в рамках спора с российскими каналами


Губернаторы России
Росгвардия

Начальник Управления вневедомственной охраны войск Росгвардии по Нижегородской области провел прямую линию


Bluetooth-сканер штрих-кодов SAOTRON P04 на базе CMOS-матрицы

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

Шаг во Вселенную: как человек вышел в открытый космос

В гордом одиночестве: Боярская появилась на премьере сериала «Опасная близость» без супруга


Концерт «Душеполезные песни на каждый день» проходит в Пскове. ФОТО

Пианист Станислав Корчагин сыграет воронежцам Листа и Дворжака с симфоническим оркестром ВКЗ

В Петербурге исполнили посвященную Мравинскому симфонию Шостаковича

Краснодар продемонстрировал яркие таланты: итоги отборочного тура детского благотворительного фестиваля «Добрая волна»


Супердевочка: Андреева сокрушила Соболенко в финале турнира в Индиан-Уэллсе и выиграла второй «тысячник» подряд

Россиянка Андреева обыграла белоруску Соболенко в финале турнира в США

Россиянка Мирра Андреева одержала победу в финале турнира WTA в Индиан-Уэллсе

Елена Рыбакина получила приятный сюрприз от WTA после неудачного выступления


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


ТСД SAOTRON RT41 GUN: практичный, производительный, надёжный

Bluetooth-сканер штрих-кодов SAOTRON P04 на базе CMOS-матрицы

Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области назначило единое пособие родителям с детьми до 17 лет и беременным женщинам с учетом новых правил

Подмосковные росгвардейцы задержали подозреваемого в мошенничестве на территории магазина


Кондрашов Станислав Дмитриевич не уверен в будущем ИИ в продуктах Apple

Программа стратегического партнерства России и Таджикистана, поддержание мира в Средней Азии: о чем договорились Путин и Рахмон

L’Antidiplomatico: Италию удивило, как Путин обошел ловушку Запада с перемирием

Как сэкономить время на уборке: выбираем клининг


Как прошел четвертый день Московской недели моды

Очарование хризантем в Москве с доставкой от AzaliaNow

Сергей Собянин: Участок соединит две магистрали

Танцы народов мира исполнили в Музее Победы 


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Персональные новости Russian.city
Олег Митяев

"Почти у каждого из нас бывает драма": В Пскове отменили концерт Митяева



News Every Day

13 mouthwatering Irish recipes Americans are missing out on




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости