Michelle Obama talks about healing after 'hurt' amid divorce rumours

Michelle Obama has spoken about healing after "hurt" during the latest episode of her podcast IMO which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson.

The former First Lady's comments come amid ongoing divorce rumours which persist, despite her husband of 32 years, former US President Barack Obama, having recently joined the pair on the podcast.

Michelle, 61, was offering advice to a listener who had asked the group for tips on making friends.

READ MORE: New book claims Princess Margaret had 'foetal alcohol syndrome'

Michelle and Robinson were joined by special guests Bowan Yang and Matt Rodgers from the podcast Las Culturistas who also offered up advice.

The former first lady said she'd had some "bad fights" over the years, including one with her brother after their father died in 1991.

Robinson admitted it was a "hurt fight" but they both concluded it had come from a place of "grief".

READ MORE: Sharon and kids make first appearance after Ozzy Osbourne's death

Michelle then said: "Don't be afraid of people and friendships or hurt because that's just a part of it and there's something really beautiful on the other side of that hurt," she shared.

"You get over it, you move on, you learn from it.

"The thing you learn about yourself at 35, 36, 37 is that you have that sensitivity," she admitted. "It takes a minute of practice to say, 'okay, that yelling wasn't about him, it was about me'."

She urged the listener to take chances when it came to forming friendships.

"It requires a plan and it requires you executing against the plan and you're going to get hurt and it's okay - you will heal from it and you will grow from it and it'll be alright," she said passionately.

Michelle and Barack Obama have been plagued by divorce rumours since Michelle failed to joined her husband at a number of key engagements, including former President Jimmy Carter's funeral and Donald Trump's most recent inauguration.

She later explained she was being more selective about how she spends her time.

Michelle spoke of attending couple's therapy during an appearance on Jay Shetty's podcast On Purpose.

"I believe in therapy, I believe in couple's therapy, I believe in it all," she told Shetty. "Whatever works for you.

"And at this phase of my life, I'm in therapy right now because I'm transitioning, you know?" she explained.

"I'm 60 years old. I've finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact. I'm an empty nester. My girls are in, you know, they've been launched."

READ MORE: The denim jeans we'd buy again (and again)

She explained that she's entering a new phase of her life, and its been a big change.

"I now don't have the excuse of, 'Well, my kids need this' or 'My husband needs that' or 'The country needs that,'" she continued.

"So, I'm getting that tune-up for this next phase because I believe this is a whole 'nother phase in life for me. And I now have the wisdom to know, let me go get some coaching while I'm doing it."

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.