Obama discusses Stevie Wonder’s inspiring music and optimism in new podcast episode
In a brand-new podcast about Stevie Wonder’s incredible music career, former President Barack Obama and Stevie Wonder sat down for a heart-to-heart conversation.
The two talked about how Stevie’s music and positive attitude have inspired people all over the world, including Obama himself.
The podcast, called The Wonder of Stevie, is hosted by Wesley Morris and explores the life of the 74-year-old musician. It especially focuses on a five-year period when Stevie released five hit albums and won an amazing 13 Grammy Awards.
Many famous people, including Barack and Michelle Obama, share their thoughts on how much they admire Stevie Wonder’s music.
In the final episode of the podcast, Obama and Wonder had a special chat about how Stevie’s optimism has shaped his life. Stevie explained that being an optimist doesn’t mean ignoring the hard times, but instead, it’s about recognizing both pain and happiness and learning from them.
He shared how, after being born blind, his mother would cry every night, asking why this had happened. One day, Stevie told his mom, “Mama, you shouldn’t cry. Maybe God has something bigger planned for me.”
Barack Obama responded by praising Stevie’s positive attitude, saying that his way of seeing the world, despite its hardships, gave both him and Michelle hope. “Your spirit, through your music, has given hope to many people and still does today,” Obama said.
During their chat, Stevie also talked about how important it is to care about everyone, not just yourself. He said, “If you’re selfish and only care about yourself, then that’s not good. But if you care about others and want to help everyone, things will turn out fine.”
Wesley Morris, the podcast’s host, pointed out that this message is similar to one of Stevie’s songs from the 1970s called “They Won’t Go When I Go.” Stevie agreed and mentioned another song from that time called “Higher Ground,” saying he hopes to always aim for something better.
The podcast The Wonder of Stevie was created by Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios along with the Obamas’ Higher Ground company and Questlove’s Two One Five Entertainment. Stevie Wonder himself also helped produce the show.
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The podcast features many special guests like Dionne Warwick, Smokey Robinson, and Janelle Monáe, who all talk about how much Stevie Wonder has influenced them.
In a statement about the podcast, Stevie said he felt grateful for all the love and respect from people who admire his music. “As I look back on my journey, I’m so thankful for all the kind words and love from people who I respect and care about,” Stevie said.
All episodes of The Wonder of Stevie are available to listen to on Audible starting Thursday, September 12.
Exclusive News: PEOPLE