Netflix Scores Big With Obama Show

By Ursula Scully | Streaming | March 9, 2018 |

By Ursula Scully | Streaming | March 9, 2018 |

Generally, I have a giant stack of fantasy (and sometimes science fiction) books on my nightstand. Lately, I’ve been exploring other genres and I decided to catch up on books I’ve long overlooked. I picked up Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope (yes, I’m 12 years late) and I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. Sure, there was plenty of politics, but the book was well balanced with many private family moments that really made the book shine. The book makes it very clear what we all already know: President Obama loves his wife and his daughters, and Michelle Obama deserves most of the credit for the family’s stability and success.

Reading this book coincided with the release of a new NPR podcast titled Making Obama, which I’ve also been enjoying more than I had anticipated. The podcast focuses on the time long before Obama began his race for the White House. It’s a really good listen and I recommend it, particularly if you’re from Chicago and are familiar with the local politics. But don’t let that deter you, you don’t have to be from here to enjoy the podcast. I think the entire country is familiar with our politics thanks to the Daleys and Blagojevich.

Today it was announced that Barack Obama is talking with Netflix to produce a series of shows. The focus would be to highlight inspirational stories. One idea mentioned in the NYTimes piece is to have President Obama moderate a series of discussions on health care, voting rights, immigration, foreign policy, and climate change. Another idea is for Michelle Obama to focus on nutrition, a program she spearheaded as First Lady.

Eric Schultz, an adviser to Obama said today:

“President and Mrs. Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire. Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.”

After reading The Audacity of Hope and listening to Making Obama, this is something I will absolutely tune into. The Obamas are passionate, driven, and thoughtful, and it’s clear that they have a lot more to say. I’m sure the people at the Netflix office can barely contain their delight from landing a deal of a lifetime.

Ursula lives in Chicago and likes potatoes very much. You can follow her here.