In a candid revelation, Michelle Obama has pulled back the curtain on the challenges of her high-profile marriage to former President Barack Obama during a recent podcast episode.

On the Oct. 1 episode of IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the former first lady addressed the ongoing work required to sustain a strong relationship, even amidst public perceptions of perfection, while also touching on personal struggles and rumors surrounding their union, as Newsweek reports.

Michelle Obama, 61, co-hosts the podcast IMO with her brother Craig Robinson, with new episodes released every Wednesday on platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

Behind the perfect public image

The discussion on Oct. 1 came at a time when the Obamas, who will celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary on Oct. 3, have faced public scrutiny.

Earlier this year, rumors of a potential divorce surfaced after Michelle skipped former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral and announced that she would not attend President Donald Trump's second inauguration.

Meghan McCain fueled speculation by claiming on her podcast to have heard split rumors from credible sources, though the Obamas have firmly denied these claims.

Navigating fame alongside personal challenges

Michelle Obama spoke frankly about the idealized view many hold of their relationship, often shaped by social media images of the couple sharing warm moments after significant public events.

She cautioned, "I try to be honest with the world, with the people who follow me and Barack, to our girls, because, you know, people look at our marriage as the ideal."

The former first lady added, "A lot of young people could look at that and go, 'I want a marriage like Michelle and Barack.' And it's like, well, let me talk about what marriage is, because even when it looks good, even when it's great, it's hard."

Therapy, marriage truths explored

Michelle further elaborated, "And so I think it's important because it's very easy to quit on a marriage."

She also shared that she and Barack, 64, have sought couples therapy to navigate tough times, emphasizing that seeking help is a normal part of enduring relationships.

"Even in the best marriages, getting help, having periods where you need support, you need to think things through, is a normal part of making it through," she noted.

The weight of notoriety

The former first lady also discussed the unique pressures of fame, describing the "loss of anonymity" as a significant challenge for her and Barack.

"It's hard for Barack and I to just be in the world unobserved," she explained, highlighting how simple joys like sitting in a park or grabbing coffee together are often impossible.

The couple, parents to Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24, have had to adapt to constant public attention, a struggle echoed by past IMO guest Taraji P. Henson, who in April spoke of the exhausting role women in the spotlight often play as emotional "shock absorbers" for their families.