Oprah’s Master Class: The Podcast

Grammy-, Golden Globe- and Academy Award-winning musical genius Lionel Richie opens up about his childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama, the prejudices he endured, and what he learned from his father about conquering adversity. Lionel hasn’t stopped making music since his debut with the Commodores in 1968 and later, a hugely successful solo career selling more than 100 million records in total. In 1985, producer Quincy Jones gave Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson the challenge of a lifetime: write a song to help end famine in Africa. Lionel reflects on what became the worldwide phenomenon known as “We Are the World.” Lionel also explains how taking a three-year hiatus from the business may have saved his life.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear Simon Cowell critique himself? The infamous talent scout turns his critical eye on his own life and opens up in a surprisingly frank way. He imparts some of his life lessons on rejection, failure and, eventually, great success. He speaks about honesty, ego and why it's important to trust your instincts. He also talks about being a bad kid, an even worse student and how he learned to use his natural sense of rebellion to get ahead in the music business. Simon explains why he nearly turned down being a judge on "American Idol," and recalls the moment he first saw "Britain's Got Talent" sensation Susan Boyle.

Rock legend and philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi has sold more than 125 million records with his eponymous band, Bon Jovi. Here, Jon takes us inside the group's meteoric rise to fame and the dramatic lessons he learned along the way. Jon says that when times were rough for the band, his ideas about loyalty were put to the test, but, he explains, he eventually learned to honor his partnerships. Through his experiences, Jon teaches us to believe in ourselves and shares how he learned to never take no for an answer.

Oscar-winning actress and humanitarian Susan Sarandon explains why she credits her success to the fact that all of her plans failed. A New Jersey native and the eldest of nine siblings, Susan grew up in a strict Roman Catholic school system, which she says shaped her world view in a way that eventually led to her social and political activism. Susan talks about her first big break when she auditioned for an independent film on a whim and how she was soon starring in big feature films, such as "Bull Durham," "Thelma & Louise" and "Dead Man Walking." Susan also opens up about aging in Hollywood and what she believes is at the root of true beauty.

Hip-hop legend, Grammy winner, TV and film star, devoted husband and father, LL Cool J has accomplished it all. Nevertheless, it's easy to see a scenario where it never would have happened. As a kid growing up in Queens, LL almost lost his mother and grandfather when they were shot by his father during a fit of rage. Incredibly, once his father turned his life around, LL's mother grew to forgive him and allowed him back into LL's life. LL says this powerful lesson taught him how forgiveness is a key to happiness. Now, after decades in a loving marriage to his wife, Simone, LL explains how she and their four children keep him grounded and balanced.

With persistence and sheer will, Kevin Hart worked his way up from selling sneakers in his hometown of Philadelphia to selling out stadiums all over the world as a stand-up comic. Today, Kevin is a blockbuster comedic force breaking box-office records in movies like "The Secret Life of Pets," "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and "Night School," making him one of the highest-earning comedians. Kevin opens up about both his professional journey and his personal life. He explains that no matter how successful and famous he gets, his strong upbringing by his dedicated mother, as well as his difficult relationship with his father, taught him to value his wife and children above all else. Kevin also opens up about his first failed marriage and shares the different approach he's taken with his marriage to model Eniko Parrish.

Two-time Oscar-winning actress, author, political activist and fitness pioneer Jane Fonda discusses her celebrity upbringing, her film career and her controversial activism. Jane explains why it's never too late to become who you were meant to be. She was famous from the day she was born. Despite what appeared to be a storybook upbringing, hers was a complicated childhood scarred by her mother's suicide and an emotionally distant father. The survival mechanisms she developed as a child and her ensuing quest for perfection laid the foundation for the life lessons she would not unravel until many years later. Now, from the vantage of what Jane calls the "third act" of her life, one of the most scrutinized women of our time opens up like never before, sharing how she learned to forgive herself and let her vulnerabilities show, and why she feels that she is finally "whole."

Legendary performer, Patti LaBelle, has electrified audiences more 50 years. When Patti was a little girl growing up in Philadelphia, she says she was so shy, her mother used to bribe her with quarters to play with other children. But in the privacy of her bedroom, a singer was born, when Patti started performing using a broomstick as a microphone. Years before Lady Gaga and Madonna, Patti, along with Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, revolutionized music with their out-of-this-world fashion and over-the-top hairstyles. Their glam-rock girl group, Labelle, scored a number one hit with "Lady Marmalade." When the women parted ways, Patti went solo, and despite crippling anxiety at her first show, she received a standing ovation and never looked back. A bestselling cookbook author, sweet potato pie queen and self-described cheesecake addict, Patti took charge of her health and made drastic changes to her diet after being diagnosed with diabetes, the same disease that contributed to her mother's death. She also discusses the deaths of her three sisters from cancer, and shares how their deaths influence the way she lives her life. Patti has a recurring role on this season of OWN’s hit show Greenleaf, playing the part of Maxine Patterson, a famous Christian motivational speaker and the CEO of a global, faith-based self-help empire.

Actor, producer and Grammy-winning musician Lenny Kravitz talks about how his mixed cultural background influenced his signature retro music style and how he challenged the industry with his unconventional image. Lenny's mother is Roxie Roker, a black actress known for her character Helen Willis on the hit '70s sitcom "The Jeffersons," and his father is Sy Kravitz, an NBC News producer of Russian Jewish descent. Lenny opens up about his upbringing and how his father's infidelity affected him as a young boy. In 1987, Lenny, then 23 years old, eloped with his girlfriend, actress Lisa Bonet, the young star of "The Cosby Show," whom he met backstage at one of his concerts. While the marriage didn't work out, Lenny says, his romance with Lisa was a wonderful experience, one that led to the birth of their daughter, Zoe. Lenny opens up about staying close with Lisa, whom he calls his "best friend," and about learning to be a new kind of family. Lenny also explains why, despite his incredible success as an artist, his favorite place to find peace is a small Airstream trailer parked on the edge of a Bahamian beach. Plus, Lenny imparts the best lesson he's learned about love.

Emmy-winning actress Lynn Whitfield talks about fighting for better roles in Hollywood, how she learned to be a better mother, coming to terms with aging, and finding grace through faith and family. Lynn discusses growing up in a close-knit community in her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and not really experiencing racism until high school. When she did, she says, it taught her to stand up for herself with the strength and conviction she'd learned from her mother. Lynn also shares how, as a teen, she found herself struggling to be perfect while dealing with her parents' divorce. After graduating from Howard University, Lynn headed to New York, where the entertainment business quickly taught her humility, and she realized how difficult it was to book decent acting jobs in a fiercely competitive industry. After relocating to Los Angeles and paying her dues, Lynn finally started landing bigger roles, including the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker in "The Josephine Baker Story," for which she earned an Emmy. The TV movie led to her having her daughter, Grace, whom she had after falling in love with and marrying the project's director, Brian Gibson. However, her marriage to Gibson didn't last because, she says, she didn't have a spiritual base. That's when she returned to faith, which she credits with giving her the guidance and strength to raise her daughter alone after Gibson tragically died. Today, she stars as Lady Mae in OWN's hit series "Greenleaf," a role she was initially hesitant to take but now relishes. Despite all her accomplishments, Lynn says she is constantly readjusting, always striving to find her inner truth.