American host and television producer, Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey reveals best guest she's ever had on her podcast
Oprah Winfrey announced she's expanding her podcast, "The Oprah Podcast." Starting on Tuesday, two new episodes will drop weekly. She spoke to "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King about her decision and revealed more about the guests she's had appear on the podcast.
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About Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has expanded her podcast, "The Oprah Podcast," as part of a multi-year deal with Amazon, with two new episodes dropping weekly starting July 21, 2026. She told CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King that she changed her mind about taking on more work because she loves "the intimacy and the ability to have just immediate connection with your guests" in the podcast format. Winfrey described author Alan Levi, who wrote "Theo of Golden," as the best guest she has ever had, noting that he was "the only person who actually went and shook hands with every single member of the crew afterwards and wanted to hear their story." In a conversation with Keke Palmer, Winfrey discussed her past relationships, stating that "all of the bad relationships were my best teachers" and that if someone is in a relationship where they are "taking a lot of stuff," it is about what that person lacks in self-value. She also reflected on her career in a Vanity Fair interview, revisiting moments such as the car giveaway, her role in "The Color Purple," and the show's mission to let people know "that you're not alone, but that we all belong to each other."
Transcript (59 segments)
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Interviewer0:00
We've got some big news about Oprah. There's only one. She's expanding her award-winning podcast in her new multi-year deal with Amazon. So, the Oprah podcast is what she's calling it. It joins Amazon's podcast networky. It's also home to New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelsey. They're doing all right. Baby is Kiki Palmer. Also good. An armchair expert with Dax Shepard. Also very good. Oprah knows who to hang with. Starting today, the Oprah podcast, which gets about 2 million views per episode. Thank you very much. Will drop two new episodes weekly. Oprah recently stopped by our studio. Tell us all about it. We're very happy to say that Oprah is here in the studio. It's sort of like, you know, the Knicks were here last month. We go, 'The champ is here. That's how I feel about Oprah. The champ is here.'
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Oprah Winfrey0:46
Oh, thank you. That's how I feel about you.
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Interviewer0:47
Yeah, the champ is here. Thanks, Oprah. Thanks. But I can remember very clearly. We go, I'm not looking for more work. I'm very
O
Oprah Winfrey0:54
I'm just gonna pick roses in my backyard.
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Interviewer0:56
No, you said I'm gonna go behind the gates. I'm gonna read. I'm gonna hang out with Satie. I'm just gonna change my life. Yeah. Well, I heard on the Oprah Winfrey show, you have the right to change your mind.
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Oprah Winfrey1:06
You have a right to change your mind. And one of the reasons I did is because I love the intimacy and the ability to have just immediate connection with your guests in doing a podcast. And I know that there are so many available and everybody has so many choices, but I love talking about what's current. We're not really celebrity driven, but if there is somebody who's interesting that I really want to talk to because at this time in my life,
I
Interviewer1:31
I just want to talk. You can do whatever you want.
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Oprah Winfrey1:33
I just really want to talk to people who I want to talk to and I'm interested in talking to. And so not too long ago that was Kristen Kbat, you know, the kiss cam woman who, you know, absolutely revealed to me and an audience that
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Interviewer1:50
and that was the first time that she had talked in front of
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Oprah Winfrey1:53
and it wasn't what everybody expected.
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Interviewer1:54
But the thing is Oprah, she had done a print interview.
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Oprah Winfrey1:57
Yes.
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Interviewer1:57
I read as I'm reading that print interview, I think, oh gee, I would really love to talk to her. I mean because a print interview doesn't translate when you're talking to the person in person. You can see their face. You can see their inflections and I think that after she did that interview, people looked at her differently but in a positive way. Do you
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Oprah Winfrey2:14
I think they looked at the whole situation differently because they heard her side of the story which had not been shared and there are just so many. I thought Belle Burton being able to talk about infidelity
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Interviewer2:28
infidelity. One of my favorite subjects. Continue.
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Oprah Winfrey2:31
Yes, I know. I heard you went viral on the podcast [laughter] talking about such things.
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Interviewer2:35
Yes, continue. People are, you know what, it's so interesting to me because I remember, and you will remember this too, and all those early years of the Oprah show, people would stand up and say, 'If my husband cheated on me, I would leave him immediately.'
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Oprah Winfrey2:49
Or I would kill him.
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Interviewer2:50
I would kill him.
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Oprah Winfrey2:51
I said, 'I would be in Niantic women's prison.'
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Interviewer2:54
Yes. And then when it happens to you, you're looking at your shoes.
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Oprah Winfrey2:56
You're looking.
That's why you should never say this is what I would do. So I have watched how the culture has shifted, literally shifted in its opinions about so many things, and having a podcast gives you the opportunity to do that. And the thing I'm so excited about being with Amazon is that first of all now we're on Prime Video as well as YouTube and Wandery and Audible and all the other places you can get your podcast. Our first guest is, you know, I love him. You know I love
I
Interviewer3:25
Say his name. Speak his name.
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Oprah Winfrey3:26
Speak his name. Okay. I'm going to speak his name. Y'all may not know his name. His name is Alan Levi. But those of you in the country who are reading the book Theo of Golden.
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Interviewer3:34
Yes.
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Oprah Winfrey3:34
He actually is Theo of Golden. Yes. So he's written this book, Theo of Golden. So many millions of people are reading this book and
he came to sit on my front porch and my gosh, the best guest I've ever had.
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Interviewer3:51
Seriously.
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Oprah Winfrey3:52
Seriously.
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Interviewer3:52
Wow.
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Oprah Winfrey3:53
Out of a thousand that says a lot. You know why? Because he's the only guest.
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Interviewer3:58
I've never heard you say that he's the best and that's
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Oprah Winfrey4:00
I know you liked him. I know you really liked him.
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Interviewer4:02
No, no. The reason why he's the best guest, he's the only person who actually went and shook hands with every single member of the crew afterwards
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Oprah Winfrey4:10
and wanted to hear their story.
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Interviewer4:12
And also the only guest that has ever, when he was being asked questions by the viewers, had questions for them.
Wow.
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Oprah Winfrey4:21
Had questions for them.
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Interviewer4:22
He sounds like your type of guy. He's incredible.
This is the thing that I like about the podcast because I've been to many. But what I like is that you're incorporating an audience. You know, listen, I always say all the time, I miss the Oprah show. I wish the Oprah show was on because if it was on, you could do dot dot dot dot dot. You always say, 'I don't miss the Oprah show, but I do miss the conversation and the audience.' You always say that.
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Oprah Winfrey4:43
And I love having an audience there. Sometimes we have audience and sometimes not, but I love having the audience because I get my fuel from the audience. You know, you're looking at them and you're seeing if they're tracking and if this is resonating and if it's working or not working. So that experience of being able to create that
from my backyard with a podcast is really exciting and I'm really happy to be a part of
I
Interviewer5:07
I also think it's great as you mentioned it's not driven by celebrities, although listen, you know, once you enter the podcast genre, I think people go, 'Oh Lord, we ain't going to get nobody because people who won't talk will normally come and talk to you.' But so many people. Well, yes,
You've done Serena, Kate Hudson, Hugh, you've done everybody that you want to do. And you can in most 99.9% of the time pick up a call and get a guest, but that isn't what drives you. Did you?
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Oprah Winfrey5:33
You know, during the years of the Oprah show, that was never what drove me. Even though celebrities, yes, celebrities was not what fascinated or drove me. It was being able to have conversations with everyday people who are living their lives and trying to do the best they can. So, I continue to use my life and my ability to have conversations with people to try to help them lift up their lives. That's what we're doing on the Oprah podcast.
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Interviewer5:56
I will say this because I've heard you say, 'I'm not looking for more work, but two podcasts a week sounds like a lot to me.'
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Oprah Winfrey6:02
I'm worried about that. Is it a lot for you?
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Interviewer6:03
Don't worry. Don't worry about it.
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Oprah Winfrey6:05
Why?
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Interviewer6:05
I'm going to be all right. [laughter]
Listen, you're always all right, but it does seem like a lot. Mommy podcast to come up with the guests and the topics, but are you enjoying this? Because you've been doing it.
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Oprah Winfrey6:18
Oh, I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't enjoying it. I don't do anything that I don't enjoy.
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Interviewer6:23
So, thank you for the opportunity to talk about it. The Oprah podcast.
I'm very excited for this next chapter in your life. Cheering you on always. If I'm available, I'll come and be again. [laughter]
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Oprah Winfrey6:35
No, cheering you on.
Love to have you. Would love to have you.
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Interviewer6:38
I'm very busy. You know, [laughter] cheering you on. The Oprah, you can get the Oprah podcast on Prime Video and Audible as well as on YouTube. Lots of places to get this podcast and [laughter] on YouTube or wherever podcasts are available.
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Oprah Winfrey6:50
That's the whole idea.