Prince Harry and Former President Barack Obama casually chatted for NPR’s BBC Radio 4, released to listeners on Wednesday. During the interview taped in September, the British royal interviews Obama about everything from the power of social media to life outside of the White House.
Below is a breakdown of all the hot topics discussed.
Obama still credits his wife, Michelle Obama, for getting him through his time in office.
As he’s noted on more than one occasion, First Lady Michelle Obama was gracious but unconventional in her role during his 8-year tenure as president. “She is not someone who was naturally inclined to politics, so in some ways, despite the fact that she was as good of a First Lady as there’s ever been, she did this largely in support of my decision to run,” Obama told Harry.
On Inauguration he felt mixed emotions.
Last January when passing on the torch to President Donald Trump, Obama had mixed emotions about the future of this country. “That [feeling of satisfaction] was mixed with all the work that was still undone, and concerns about how the country moves forward,” he said. “But overall, there was a serenity there. More than I expected.”
Aretha Franklin is his Queen of Soul.
During the lightening round of questions, Obama is asked to chose between Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner —he went with the “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” singer.
Obama is adusting nicely to civilian life.
If it seems like the Obamas are living their best lives since leaving Pennsylvania Avenue, it’s because they are. “One of the interesting things about leaving the presidency is realizing that my life had been so accelerated,” he said. “Everything felt like, and still feels to some degree, like it’s moving in slow motion.” Adding, “The fact that I can wake up and if I want to spend an extra 45 minutes talking to Michelle and take a long breakfast — I can do it. That feels great.”
Trump is never mentioned but the dangers of social media are.
Not once is the current commander in chief’s name mentioned. But Obama does touch upon how social media can be used for good and evil. “There might be conservatives or liberals, but people generally could agree on a baseline of reality. One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can just be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.”