Acquired Oprah (Harpo Studios)
Explore the incredible journey of Oprah Winfrey, from a challenging upbringing to becoming the world's wealthiest Black woman. Discover how she transformed media with her interactive talk shows and the inception of Harpo Studios. Delve into her groundbreaking book club that reshaped reading habits and the 'Oprah effect' that revolutionized consumer behavior. Highlighting her innovative car giveaways and legacy in influencer marketing, the discussion captures her lasting impact on both culture and business. Prepare to be inspired!
02:12:59
Early Trauma
- At nine years old, Oprah was raped by a 19-year-old cousin, a trauma that led to a downward spiral.
- She ran away, drank, and engaged in risky behaviors, a stark example of childhood adversity.
Vernon's Influence
- After running away and meeting Aretha Franklin, Oprah moved in with her father, Vernon.
- Vernon instilled discipline, requiring weekly book reports, fostering a love for reading.
Strategic Pageantry
- Oprah strategically used the Miss Black Nashville and Miss Black Tennessee pageants.
- This provided a platform and credentials for television, showcasing her poise and presence.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Venture Capital Insights and AI Innovations
02:01 • 4min
Oprah's Early Life and Journey to Resilience
06:20 • 26min
The Evolution of Daytime TV
32:07 • 6min
The Syndication Landscape
38:20 • 6min
Oprah's Rise: A Transformation in Television
43:52 • 14min
The Rise of Oprah: From Local to National
57:33 • 16min
The Launch of Oprah's Iconic Book Club
01:13:35 • 2min
Launching an Engaging Book Club Experience
01:15:29 • 3min
Revolutionizing Cybersecurity and Cultural Influences
01:18:02 • 2min
The Oprah Effect: Transforming Consumer Behavior
01:19:53 • 6min
Oprah's Media Evolution and Strategic Triumphs
01:26:01 • 16min
Oprah's Influence: Legacy and Economics
01:42:15 • 12min
Oprah's Influence: The Evolution of Influencer Marketing
01:54:36 • 11min
Oprah's Philanthropy and Investment Insights
02:05:30 • 4min
Transformative Investments and Podcast Recommendations
02:09:13 • 3min
#25026
How to marry the man of your choice
Margaret Kent
This book provides a comprehensive approach to dating and relationships, covering topics such as dressing to advantage, orchestrating successful dates, dealing with previous marriages and children, and maintaining a healthy relationship.
It offers practical advice and insights to help women make informed choices in their search for a partner.
#38681
In the Kitchen with Rosie
Oprah Winfrey
This cookbook, 'In the Kitchen with Rosie', offers a collection of 50 recipes that focus on low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt cooking.
It includes a variety of dishes from soups to desserts, all of which are favorites of Oprah Winfrey.
The book emphasizes 'clean eating' and provides a practical guide for everyday healthy meals.
#40639
God's Trombones
James Weldon Johnson
Gregory Pardlo
James Weldon Johnson's 'God's Trombones' is a poetic tribute to the powerful rhetorical traditions of African-American sermons.
The collection includes poems like 'The Creation', 'The Prodigal Son', and 'The Judgment Day', which reflect on biblical narratives and their resonance with African-American experiences.
Gregory Pardlo provides an introduction to this edition, highlighting the work's significance in the Harlem Renaissance.
#7692
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Dark Tower series
Stephen King
#865
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
Song of Solomon
A. C. Crist
The Song of Solomon is a lyric poem that extols the virtues of love between a husband and his wife.
It presents marriage as God's design, emphasizing care, commitment, and delight within the marital relationship.
The book is divided into three main sections: courtship, the wedding, and the maturing marriage.
It also contains themes of physical and spiritual love, and some interpretations see it as an allegory for Christ's love for the Church.
#1722
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
The Color Purple
Translator Lunine Pierre-Jerome
Alice Walker
The novel is written in the form of letters, primarily from Celie to God and later to her sister Nettie.
It depicts Celie's journey from a life of oppression and abuse to one of independence and self-realization.
The story explores themes of feminism, gender equality, sexuality, and the struggles faced by African American women in the rural South during the 1930s and 1940s.
Celie's life is influenced by various characters, including her lover Shug Avery, her sister Nettie, and her husband Albert, as she discovers her own strength and finds joy despite the hardships she faces.
#327
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
Seven powers
Alex Rovira
We close out Season 6 with the story of perhaps the single most successful media entrepreneur of all-time: Oprah Winfrey, and her juggernaut conglomerate Harpo Studios. Born to a poor single mother in the segregated 1950's deep south, Oprah's rise from terrible adversity to wealthiest Black woman in the world ranks among the very greatest American success stories. And oh yeah — along the way she single-handedly created the entire influencer economy, rewrote the blueprint of a modern power broker, and set the world record for most cars given away at one time (276). Sit back, listen and get ready to live your best life.
Sponsors:
WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25
Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentry
ServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsn
More Acquired!:
- Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodes
- Join the Slack
- Subscribe to ACQ2
- Merch Store!
© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLC
Survey link!: http://acquired.fm/survey
Carveouts:
- David: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07959YG1R?
- Ben: Reply All "Long Distance" https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/6nh3wk
Sources:
- http://blackeconomics.co.uk/wp/oprahs-empire/
- http://www.oprah.com/entertainment/the-oprah-winfrey-show-by-the-numbers-oprah-show-statistics/all
- http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Oprah-Shows-Most-Shocking-Moments_1
- https://diverseeducation.com/article/1205/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey_Network
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WW_International
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-oprah-regrets-famous-wagon-233648610.html
- https://freakonomics.com/2008/08/06/so-much-for-one-person-one-vote/
- https://hbr.org/podcast/2018/01/black-business-leaders-series-oprahs-path-to-authentic-leadership
- https://stmuhistorymedia.org/from-rags-to-riches-the-story-of-oprah-winfrey/
- https://www.amazon.com/Oprah-Biography-Kitty-Kelley/dp/0307394875
- https://www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-Lessons-Learned-Company/dp/0399592091
- https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-09-25-9809260006-story.html
- https://www.cnn.com/ampstories/entertainment/how-oprah-winfrey-built-her-business-empire
- https://www.forbes.com/profile/oprah-winfrey/#c52ce3e5745f
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifereum/2014/09/29/how-oprah-went-from-talk-show-host-to-first-african-american-woman-billionaire/#7f21cfb76163
- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oprah-gives-away-nearly-300-new-cars
- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/you-get-a-car-oprah-winfrey-giveaway-studio-audience-gift-tax-members-guests-pay-show-a8208051.html
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/an-anxious-america-gets-set-for-life-after-oprah-2285528.html
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-21-ca-27886-story.html
- https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500692140/making-beyonc
- https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/12/news/jackson-interview-high-in-ratings.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/business/media/23carr.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/business/media/end-of-oprahs-show-tightens-races-for-tv-ratings.html
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-oprah-phenomenon-by-the-numbers
- https://www.robertfeder.com/2016/06/15/legendary-tv-exec-dennis-swanson-retires/
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/05/13/oprah-winfrey-untold-story/
- https://www.thebalancesmb.com/oprah-winfrey-entrepreneur-1200951
- https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jan/12/oprah-winfrey-unlikely-to-run-for-us-president-but-could-win-if-she-did
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/oprahs-last-show-averaged-8957-million-fewer-viewers-than-mash-finale/2011/06/08/AGD5AUMH_story.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cooRceBiE8E