The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Podcast
Oprah
Oprah is opening the vault of The Oprah Winfrey Show with 25 years of hand-picked legendary interviews, a-ha moments, ugly cries and unforgettable surprises. A lot has changed since she ended the show, but many of our personal struggles have stayed the same. We’re all still looking to connect, to be seen and to know that we’re not alone. We’re also looking for some joy, some laughs and some much-needed inspiration. As we head into this new decade, what better time to look back and reflect, to take stock of how we’ve grown and to be reminded that we’re all in this together. The Oprah Winfrey Show aired from September 8th, 1986 to May 25, 2011 with 4,561 episodes. The show remains the highest-rated daytime talk show in American television history, averaging between 10 to 20 million viewers a day.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 12, 2025 • 26min
Special: How to Overcome Shame
From April 9, 1999: Educator, motivational speaker and author of the New York Times best-seller Healing the Shame that Binds You, John Bradshaw counsels three women on how they can let go of the crippling shame they have carried with them for years. He also shares the steps to healing, the difference between healthy and toxic shame, and the importance of embracing the shame you feel. John Bradshaw passed away in 2016 from heart failure.
Aug 5, 2025 • 27min
Special: What Could You Give Up?
From January 12, 1999: Jim O’Connor—founder of the Cuss Control Academy and author of Cuss Control—explains why we use profanity, why we shouldn’t swear and which alternate expressions are better to use. Then, life coach and author of Take Yourself to the Top, Laura Berman Fortgang, gives advice on how to live a happier life by giving up some things. She also discusses boundary-setting and offers key questions to ask yourself in order to prioritize what really matters.
Jul 29, 2025 • 34min
Special: Real Life Heroes
Original Air Date: April 4, 2007. Oprah honors extraordinary everyday people who showed incredible courage in moments of crisis. She speaks with Rachel Supplee, who survived a bear attack, and her daughter Daphne, who fought the bear to save her. Alena Yokum recounts being trapped in a sinking car, and Larry Cummins shares how he risked his life to rescue her. Amy Hawkins, who was paralyzed after saving children during a tornado, appears with her husband Jerrod and their sons to share their family's powerful story of resilience. The episode ends with a moving surprise as Oprah reunites the Marines of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion with their families after seven months in Iraq.
Jul 22, 2025 • 36min
Special: Oprah's Magnificent Obsession
Original Air Date: Initial Airdate: March 30, 2007. In this awe-inspiring episode, Oprah dives into one of her greatest fascinations: Planet Earth, the groundbreaking Discovery Channel nature series that redefined how we see our world. The series explores a different corner of the globe from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. Oprah shares how the series forever changed the way she sees nature, and she sits down with its narrator, the talented actress, Sigourney Weaver, for a conversation that’s as eye-opening as the series itself. Together, they reflect on the wonder, wisdom, and jaw-dropping surprises the Earth still holds.
Jul 15, 2025 • 42min
Special: Near Death Experiences
Original Air Date: October 22, 1986 In this compelling episode, Oprah explores the mystery of near-death experiences. Guests who were pronounced clinically dead or endured severe trauma share astonishing stories of what they saw and felt after their hearts stopped. From floating above hospital beds to encountering deceased loved ones, and even experiencing a profound sense of peace and unconditional love, their accounts raise powerful questions about what happens after we die. Joining the conversation are Barbara Harris, Jayne Smith, and Helen Nelson, who describe their journeys beyond the brink—and back.
Jul 8, 2025 • 28min
Special: Design Your Dream
From October 9, 1998: Motivational speaker and author Gail Blanke discusses her New York Times best-selling book, “In Your Wildest Dreams.” She describes how to find your passion, the importance of defining your own life and why living the life of your dreams is the greatest gift you can give anyone. Gail also coaches audience members on how to design their own dreams.
Jul 1, 2025 • 32min
Special: Rules for Being Human
From September 15, 1998: Life coach and author Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott discusses her #1 New York Times best-seller, If Life Is a Game, These are the Rules. She coaches the audience through what she calls the 10 rules for being human. Dr. Carter-Scott details the importance of the lessons life presents to us, and explains why life will continue to repeat those teachings until they’re learned. Dr. Carter-Scott also talks about why she believes we are in control of our life’s outcome.
Jun 24, 2025 • 32min
Special: Making Peace with Your Family
From October 6, 1999: Teacher, speaker and author of Codes of Love Mark Bryan discusses how to deal with conflicts within the family. He also shares what he calls the “moment of truth” exercise, how to look at the past with a new perspective and coaches two families through the four steps to reconciliation: Remember, Reflect, Reframe, and Reconnect.
Jun 18, 2025 • 34min
Special: Difficult Conversations
From April 27, 1999: Oprah dedicates a show to women who have a hard time expressing their true feelings when in difficult situations and conversations. Assertiveness coach, Jan Ferris, shares the importance of boundary setting and tips for learning how to say, “No.” New York Times Business Bestselling authors of Difficult Conversations, Doug Stone and Sheila Heen, discuss why some conversations are more difficult than others, teach what they call the doubling technique and give advice for tough scenarios.
Jun 10, 2025 • 30min
Special: How Well Do You Cope?
From April 3, 1998: Oprah talks to people who have survived terrible tragedies. Dr. Paul Stoltz, keynote speaker and #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Adversity Quotient discusses how to turn obstacles into opportunities and how adversity leads to strength. Dr. Stoltz also explains what he calls the “constructive blame zone.” Holocaust survivor, psychologist and author Dr. Edith Eva Eger shares her traumatic experiences at the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp and explains how to overcome anything through the power of your mind.
