I’ve been to 22 graduations for all my daughter-girls who came from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa to colleges and universities across the United States. This one was extra special. Daughter-girl Bongeka first graduated summa cum laude at Spelman, then she got her master’s degree at Oxford, and this weekend she received her hard-earned Doctor of Medicine from Stanford University.
One of the great joys of my life was to see her walk across that stage! Knowing where she’s come from, a small community in KwaZulu-Natal, and how strongly she believed in becoming a doctor. She never gave up, and with a support team of good friends, fellow OWLAG sisters and professors, we all celebrated her achievement with great pride. Congratulations, Dr. Zuma. Well done! Well done!
Summer is here and I love to settle in with a big book that takes me through the season. So today I’m thrilled to announce that my next @oprahsbookclub selection is “Familiaris” by @davidw4words ! Many of you might recognize the author’s name because he wrote my 2008 book club pick, “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.” Now David has written a follow up to that epic novel with the origin story of the Sawtelle family and the legendary dogs they became famous for. This riveting family saga takes us on an extraordinary journey that brilliantly interweaves history, philosophy, adventure, and mysticism to explore the meaning of love, friendship and living your life’s true purpose. You don’t have to read David’s first book before starting this one but I’m sure you’ll pick it up after finishing. Get yourself a copy wherever you buy or download your books and follow us over at @oprahsbookclub to discuss it with other book lovers #ReadWithUs
It’s been 20 years since I’ve had the chance to reunite with my friends over at @sesamestreet and it was for a good reason: @shondarhimes ! They honored her with the Joan Ganz Cooney Award at their annual gala and I was happy to present it to her. Thank you Elmo and friends for welcoming me back like it was just yesterday!
We’ve all been Jill. Where the shame of our body image stops us from living our daily lives in small ways. Wearing black. Not posing in pictures with your loved ones. Skipping out on life events. Declining brunch. Next thing you know these small things pile up and years have gone by because we’ve been waiting for the weight. But what I want for Jill and everyone who tuned into the @weightwatchers#MakingTheShift conversation is freedom. Free yourself from these thoughts and show up fully in your life just as you are. Wear whatever color you want. Get in the picture! Call your girlfriends for brunch. Dismantle the shame and share it with your mother, daughters, friends. Open up to the breath and depth and possibilities of your life. Be bold—and let’s begin.
My intention for “Making The Shift: A New Way To Think About Weight” with @weightwatchers was to offer a safe space for different voices to have a conversation about our bodies, the thoughts that take over our lives, and how we’ve been affected by diet culture while also contributing to it. All my guests offered incredible points of view—you can swipe to hear nuggets of it—but one thing we all agreed on was that we are done with the shaming and we are creating a new path forward. You can watch the entire conversation on my Facebook page or on WeightWatcher’s YouTube or by clicking the link in my bio.
Hope you can join us tonight for @weightwatchers ’ “Making The Shift: A New Way To Think About Weight.” Tap the link in my bio to sign up. #MakingTheShift
We’re continuing the conversation at @weightwatchers ! Join us on Thursday, May 9 at 6 PM EST for “Making the Shift: A New Way To Think About Weight” live on @youtube . Tap the link in our bio to reserve your seat for free and receive a digital guided journal to follow along with the conversation. #makingtheshift
You know it’s a great show when you wake up the next morning humming the songs. @aliciakeys , I’m so proud and happy for you and what you so artfully accomplished with your new Broadway musical @hellskitchenbway —surrounded by a team of Fantastics and a spectacular cast. A mother-daughter love story on Broadway. Brava Brava my friend many times over.
This month at @oprahdaily , we are exploring what experts call the “mother wound,” a pain that gets passed from mother to daughter. I’m sitting down with @brookeshields to discuss her complicated relationship with her mother and hear about her healing. On the website we dive further into this complex bond because whether your mother is your greatest champion, harshest critic, or something in between, nobody’s family is immune to the mother wound. Tap the link in our bio to watch our conversation.
Happy 50th anniversary @people ! 19 covers togethers—starting with my first in 1986, five months after The Oprah Show debuted. Eternal gratitude always🙏🏽
Went to Japan on a girls trip in search of cherry blossoms. It rained, was cold, and only saw blossoms in hotel vases—but then we got to experience them on our very last day! Thank you Japan for your generous hospitality 🇯🇵🌸
My intentions for this ABC special: Let people know obesity is a disease. Stop the shaming and blaming (especially blaming yourself). And to educate people on what the weight loss drugs can and cannot do. Everybody’s body is different, so your health journey is unique to you.
“An #OprahSpecial : Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution” is available now on @hulu . There’s also an additional after show that answers more questions!
