【Dear Utol (2025): Week 8 Highlights Episode 45】

Michelle Obama did Tim Cook a serious solid for WWDC this year.

Cook announced on Dear Utol (2025): Week 8 Highlights Episode 45Monday that attendees would be getting a big surprise for day 2 of the company's annual developer conference: a fireside chat with none other than the former first lady of the United States. There was one sad caveat for anyone not lucky enough to snag a seat in the auditorium though — the event would not be livesteamed, per a note on the WWDC schedule.

But have no fear, it's 2017 and we found a trusty Periscope stream to get an inside peek at Obama's chat.

For the event, an elegant Michelle Obama, accompanied by Lisa Jackson — Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives — took to the stage to chat with developers about tech and empowerment.

She began conversation by describing her life after leaving the White House.

"We've are decompressing from what has been a decade journey that has been unbelievable. So we're breathing a bit" explained Obama.

Obama then moved on to delivered some comforting advice on how to deal with fear in life, explaining, "If we let [fear] consume us then we don't move."

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After a brief update on how she's been doing, Obama then got down to business in discussing the tech industry. In the chat, she called out the marketing efforts of tech companies, passionately arguing that women most definitely deserve a seat at the table.

"Women are in charge of everything, we do everything, we are in charge of everything in the household," she said with vigor. "If women aren't at the table then what you're saying is you don't really care about the dollar."

She then went on to chat about gender equality in the industry and the immense capabilities of women, saying, "That's where I look to the fellas at the room and say 'Are you ready? Are you ready to share that seat at the table? Make room.'"

Bring on the nostalgia...

But the talk wasn't only about tech. In the second half of the fireside chat, Jackson hit WWDC attendees with a heavy, unexpected dose of Obama nostalgia by sharing throwback photos of Michelle's time in the White House.

Michelle reflected on how inspiring the 50th Anniversary of the March on Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama was for her family, reflecting on how the country has come. "Just 50 years ago there was segregation and deep racism and 50 years later the first black president is standing there," she said admiring the photograph. "I want young people in America to know not to forget that history."

She went on to admire a shot of her with her daughters at The Great Wall of China, another of her promoting her "Let’s Move" campaign in her garden on the South Lawn, one of her trip to Cambodia to highlight the “Let Girls Learn" initiative, and finally, one of her and "her man," Barack.

And in case you were wondering, Barack is doing "alright," according to Michelle.

"He’s doing well everyone. He’s still there," Obama assured us.

Michelle's back with the Trump shade

Obama closed the talk by taking a not-so-subtle jab at President Trump.

"We are at a time in this country where we need problem solvers out there ... who believe in the power of immigrants, believe that global warming is real," she said. "We need people out there who are operating with a level of empathy."

Then Obama left the stage, walking out to "Best of My Love" by The Emotions ... only to be stopped by Tim Cook, who ran onstage to offer a hug and snap a selfie.

You can watch the full livestream in the Periscope below:

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