Former President of the United States and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, have announced a new partnership between their Higher Ground production company and Spotify to produce a series of podcasts that will be exclusive to the streaming service.
Per a statement shared by Rolling Stone, the Obamas will help develop, produce, and lend their voices to select Spotify podcasts. The shows will reportedly cover “wide-ranging topics,” though no specific topics or issues were mentioned. It’s also unclear when the first podcast will premiere.
President Obama shared his thoughts on the new partnership. He explained,
We’ve always believed in the value of entertaining, thought-provoking conversation. It helps us build connections with each other and open ourselves up to new ideas. We’re excited about Higher Ground Audio because podcasts offer an extraordinary opportunity to foster productive dialogue, make people smile and make people think, and, hopefully, bring us all a little closer together.
Michelle Obama added,
We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to amplify voices that are too often ignored or silenced altogether, and through Spotify, we can share those stories with the world. Our hope is that through compelling, inspirational storytelling, Higher Ground Audio will not only produce engaging podcasts, but help people connect emotionally and open up their minds — and their hearts.
The former POTUS has never strayed away from professing his love for music and the arts. As 2018 came to a close, Barry O shared a list of his year-end favorite books, movies, and songs of the year.
You can check out a list of Obama’s favorite songs of 2018 below, which includes the likes of Leon Bridges, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Brandi Carlile, Cardi B, J. Cole, Prince, Chance The Rapper, Courtney Barnett, Hozier, Mavis Staples, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and more.
[H/T Rolling Stone]