Michelle Obama is once again reflecting on a viral moment from her time as first lady -- this time, with a tongue-in-cheek reminder that not even White House duties shielded her from daytime TV dares.

During a recent interview on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Mrs. Obama revisited a famous 2012 televised pushup contest with Ellen DeGeneres, using the story to highlight how her fitness routine and self-expectations have evolved with age, as the New York Post reports.

Now 61, Obama joined Poehler, 53, in a candid conversation about the physical effects of aging. While discussing current challenges like sore joints and slower recoveries, the former first lady brought up the moment she was pulled into a pushup competition on national TV during her first term in the White House.

That moment took place on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February 2012. DeGeneres, noting that Obama was known for her dedication to fitness, invited her to prove it by seeing who could do more pushups during a live taping. Despite being fully dressed for a daytime appearance and holding the position of first lady at the time, Obama accepted the spontaneous challenge.

Playful challenge unfolds on national television

Obama completed 25 pushups on air, earning audible cheers from the audience and admiration from DeGeneres. However, as Obama recounted during the podcast, the TV host later claimed that the pushup form was in question, saying the first lady didn’t drop down far enough. Obama addressed the comment in a humorous tone, attributing the debate to her anatomy rather than poor execution.

“My arms are very long, and she’s a much smaller person than I,” Obama told Poehler, suggesting her long limbs may have made the pushups appear less deep. “Anatomically, I don’t think I can [go all the way down],” she added, laughing.

Back in 2012, DeGeneres had initially teased, “I was just wondering if you could do more pushups than I could do,” which prompted Obama to playfully respond, “You know, it depends on how your back is. I know you’ve got these back issues.” The contest concluded with Obama outperforming DeGeneres, at least in number, though the two continued to joke about the outcome in the years that followed.

Discussing aging with humor, honesty

In the recent podcast episode, Obama admitted that her workout habits have since changed. “Now I do them on my knees,” she said, referring to modified pushups. She added, “I have nothing to prove,” noting that standard pushups, while still possible, are now more physically challenging for her.

The former first lady explained that she no longer feels the pressure to live up to the same level of physical proof she once believed was necessary, especially when in the public spotlight. “I don’t need to do regular pushups,” she emphasized, drawing laughter from Poehler, who shared her aging-related struggles during the chat.

Poehler chimed in with a personal anecdote about developing frozen shoulder in her 50s. “And guess what? Nobody knows what causes it, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” the comedian said, naming it among the many invisible health issues that affect women but often get little attention or understanding.

Longstanding friendship between Obama, DeGeneres highlighted

Despite the competitive tone of that 2012 pushup moment, Obama and DeGeneres have maintained a close friendship. The two continued to appear side-by-side over the years, even after DeGeneres' show ended in 2022. One such event included a joint appearance during the Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry tour in Washington, D.C., in November 2022.

Though DeGeneres’ time as a daytime host concluded following a workplace culture investigation into her show, both women have continued engaging with public appearances, albeit in different formats. DeGeneres, along with her wife Portia de Rossi, now resides in a restored $18 million farmhouse in the Cotswolds, U.K., where they moved following the end of the program.

Obama, meanwhile, has remained active through various speaking engagements and media appearances. She most recently addressed persistent speculation about the state of her marriage during an April 2025 appearance on the Work in Progress podcast hosted by Sophia Bush.

Responding to rumors, reflecting on expectations

During that April episode, Obama opened up about some of the emotional burdens that come with public life, especially as a woman. She commented on the pressure many women feel to avoid letting others down, even at the expense of their mental or physical well-being. “That’s the thing that we as women struggle with -- disappointing people,” Obama said.

She also addressed the divorce rumors that had been circulating about her and husband Barack Obama, 63. “So much so that people, they couldn’t even fathom that I was choosing myself, that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” she remarked, calling out the assumptions that are often made when public figures make decisions not easily understood by the general public.

Obama’s appearance on Good Hang illustrated once again her comfort in blending light humor with more substantial reflections. Her recounting of the pushup competition balanced laughter with a grounded reminder that everyone, even a first lady, changes with time, physically and otherwise.

Celebrating strength beyond the physical

While the 2012 pushup contest was initially interpreted by many as an entertaining moment of fitness and spontaneity, Obama’s retelling revealed deeper insights. Her willingness to engage back then showed her as relatable and game for fun. Her current take on it highlights how growth includes becoming more secure in one’s identity, without needing to prove capability on cue.

Her humorous yet honest attitude was echoed by Poehler, who provided not just comic relief but also real solidarity on the matters of aging and visibility. The two women created a dialogue that acknowledged the difficulty of aging while refusing to let go of joy and humility.

It’s a combination Obama has leaned into more in recent years. Whether tackling physical challenges or persistent public scrutiny, her intended approach has continued to center on authenticity and grace. That, more than her pushup count, is what lingers in people’s memory.