The latest episode of the Michelle Obama show IMO featured actress, singer, and producer Cynthia Erivo in its new studio, marking the beginning of a new series of tapings. The move into the new space was praised for its "professional" sound and feeling "like progress". Michelle Obama (referred to by her sister as Misha) and her sister expressed excitement over the new studios and thanked listeners and viewers for helping make the first season of IMO a success. They acknowledged the significant growth of the show, which now "feels like home".
The guest, Erivo, a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winner and three-time Academy Award nominee, joined the hosts to discuss her upcoming book, Simply More, set for release on November 19, 2025, via Flatiron Books. The book is aimed at anyone who has been told they are "too much". Erivo is also preparing for the November 21 release of her film, Wicked for Good.
The hosts recalled Erivo’s history with the Obama family, noting that she was "just a baby star" when they last saw her while she was still performing in The Color Purple on stage. This reunion occurred during one of the United Nations Summit gatherings in September, possibly in 2016, where Michelle Obama would host the spouses of world leaders. As part of the entertainment, they partnered with Broadway, and Erivo performed the song "I Am Here". The performance "killed it," leaving everybody in tears, and Michelle Obama recalled getting a chance to hug Erivo backstage.
Erivo explained that Simply More is not a biography, which she plans to write when she is 70, but rather a collection of thoughts, feelings, and lessons she has learned up to this point. She wanted to share her insights in one place, like a "sharing gift," because her previous speeches had connected so well with people. The book is designed to be a "workbook in life," featuring questions, messages, and poetry at the end of each chapter, giving readers a peek into her creative thought process.
Michelle Obama and her sister related to Erivo’s book theme of being told she was "too much". Erivo’s feeling of being "too much"—too loud, too bossy, too talkative—started in the latter part of primary school. Michelle Obama also recalled being called "too loud" and "too bossy" in her family, acknowledging that she was "born bossy". Erivo noted that she, as a Capricorn and an observer, often sees a lot and doesn't speak until it's necessary, but when she does, her conclusions have been thought out and are usually right. Erivo even recalled being moved out of a mathematics class for asking too many questions, which subsequently caused her to fall behind.
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Erivo described her creative life as "like training" for an athlete, requiring constant practice and expansion. She affirmed that she is a "constant student progress" and that her voice, like a muscle, requires humming, scales, and daily warm-ups to remain ready. Michelle Obama compared this dedication to athletic training, asking how Erivo practices. Erivo emphasized the idea that no one can be the next Michael Jordan or Lionel Messi because those individuals already exist; she advises others to focus on being the "very best version of you".
The conversation also touched on the profound physical cost of inhabiting challenging roles, such as Celie in The Color Purple, a character who was repeatedly told she was ugly and unworthy. Erivo performed the role for 14 months (over 400 performances). After about 200 performances, Erivo’s body stopped recognizing she was pretending; when she heard the word "ugly," she heard it as referring to herself because the line between her and the character had become "so thin that it's almost nonexistent". This internalization is why she rarely sings the song "I Am Here," feeling that it represents the culmination of Celie's painful journey and should not be used as a "party trick".
Erivo also discussed the perseverance required to overcome microaggressions, particularly at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), which was a "majority traditional white institution". She was denied permission to take a backing vocal job that would have paid for her tuition, forcing her to work a weekend job and leading to her being "punished" by administrators who thought she was unfocused. Michelle Obama and her sister connected this to the experience of people of color who must be "twice as good" to succeed, stressing the need for diverse administration who can recognize the realities students like Erivo face.
The segment closed with Erivo’s advice to a listener struggling to balance creative life with obligations, suggesting that they must be "more selfish" and comfortable with silence and "aloneness" to allow creativity to happen. Michelle Obama's sister (Misha) added that her own creativity as a child was fostered by "a lot of time alone" without constant artificial distractions, which allowed her mind to be quiet and fill up with ideas.
The conversation on the IMO show, hosted by Michelle Obama, emphasized that the pursuit of creative excellence is an intensive journey that requires the focus of an athlete, the resilience to internalize suffering, and the bravery to demand space for one's authentic self, even in the face of institutional pushback.
