Oprah's Super Soul

Super Soul Special: Dani Shapiro: What Do You Believe?

Oct 29, 2025
Bestselling author Dani Shapiro opens up about her spiritual journey, ignited by her son's innocent question about death. She shares how her Orthodox upbringing clashed with her personal beliefs, leading to rebellion and a search for deeper truths. Dani discusses the transformative power of tragedy and the challenge of embracing joy amidst fear. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the sacred in everyday life and the evolving nature of belief, encouraging listeners to follow their curiosity and seek connection.
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ANECDOTE

Three AM Existential Panic

  • Dani recalls waking at 3 a.m. into existential panic and feeling like she was falling with nothing to catch her.
  • Those nights forced her to confront a spiritual emptiness despite an outwardly successful life.
ANECDOTE

Turning Point In Tree Pose

  • Dani Shapiro describes waking in yoga with the word "devotion" flashing, which triggered her spiritual quest and book Devotion.
  • That moment made her realize she was in a spiritual crisis and needed to write to understand it.
INSIGHT

A Child's Question Starts A Search

  • Dani realized her rote "smorgasbord" answers failed her son and herself when asked about God and death.
  • That question sparked a deeper search to find what she genuinely believed.
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