Special: Family of Alcoholics

From October 1, 2008: Oprah talks to Brenda Slaby, a mom and assistant principal who accidentally left her 2-year-old daughter, Cecilia, in the backseat of her car while she was at work. Cecilia died of a heatstroke after being in the car for 8 hours in temperatures rising above 90 degrees. Brenda discusses how she became perceived as what she calls “the most hated mom in America,” and other mothers also share their stories of feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfect. Then, poet, author and Zen Buddhist teacher and priest Norman Fischer explains why there’s no such thing as multitasking, offering tips to refocus your attention and sharing why he believes it’s important to ask for help when you feel too busy. 

From April 4, 1989: Oprah talks to a family with three generations of alcoholics about repeating the family cycle and how alcoholism has affected their lives. Psychologist and author Janet Geringer Woititz discusses her New York Times best seller, Adult Children of Alcoholics. She explains how to recognize the characteristics of children of alcoholics and how to break the cycle of alcohol abuse. She also gives advice on how to stop enabling and start helping loved ones who suffer with alcoholism. Janet Geringer Woititz passed away at her home in Roseland, New Jersey, in 1994. 

From January 8, 1993: Oprah interviews self-help author and Oprah Show regular guest Harville Hendrix, who teaches us how to make our relationships not only last longer, but become happier. He talks about overcoming trust issues, childhood wounds appearing in adulthood and how marriage is a structure for healing. He also works with several couples on making their love last and discusses his books Getting The Love You Want and Keeping The Love You Find. Oprah explains how Getting the Love You Want helped improve her relationship with Stedman Graham. Of Harville’s work, Oprah says, “I saw relationships not solely as the kind of romantic pursuit our society celebrates, but as a spiritual partnership that's meant to change how you see yourself and the world.” Harville is a New York Times best-selling author, international speaker and couples therapist with more than 40 years of experience as an educator, clinical trainer and lecturer who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show 17 times. 

From January 22, 2002: Oprah Winfrey and New York Times best-selling author, psychologist, and television host Dr. Phil McGraw discuss his book “Self Matters: Creating Your Life from the Inside Out.” Dr. Phil helps guests with low self-esteem discover their real value and unlock their true potential. He reveals why we matter and explains the difference between our authentic selves and what he calls our “fictional selves.” Dr. Phil discusses how we can unlock certain skills, gifts, abilities and wisdom he says we were all born with in the core of who we are. Plus, Oprah shares the earliest life-defining moment that helped lead to discovering her authentic self. The information in this program is for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have any questions about your mental health, please seek advice from a professional health care provider.  

From September 26, 2007: New York Times best-selling author, rabbi, psychotherapist and Sandcastle Program founder M. Gary Neuman talks to families about how to help their children cope with divorce. He explains how divorce affects boys and girls differently, how to discuss divorce with children and the three rules in telling your children you’re getting divorced. Gary talks to the children of three families about the affect their parents’ divorce has had on them. He also helps initiate healing with the parents through love and connection.

From October 24, 1997: Oprah revisits five lessons she learned over the years about to how help families around the world learn to be happier. Some audience members say, “I love you” for the first time and Oprah shares ways to show love without having to say, “I love you.” She also reveals some of her favorite tips from family-focused books, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, by Steven Covey, and Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Plus, Oprah talks with former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, about the lessons they’ve learned from their son Hunter, who at the time was dying from Krabbe’s disease. After being given only three years to live, Hunter passed away in 2005 at the age of eight.

Original Air Date: October 9, 2007Oprah Show correspondent Lisa Ling travels to India with a couple so desperate to have a baby that they've hired someone who lives more than 10,000 miles away to carry a baby for them. Oprah talks to this couple and later talks to Alexis Stewart, Martha Stewart's daughter, who says she spends $28,000 every month on fertility drugs. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods  You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN   

Original Air Date: October 19, 2007It's the side of the story we rarely get to hear, straight from the source. Former mistresses confess they've been the "other woman." Then, betrayed wives reveal the moment they found out and how their lives changed forever. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods  You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN   

Original Air Date: September 25, 2007It's the sex talk your parents never had. Open marriages, sex over 60, friends with benefits, erotica. What's really going on in America's bedrooms? Oprah explores America’s sex life and sheds light on the subject. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods  You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN   

Original Air Date: December 31, 1986For some it’s overeating, for others it’s smoking, but other bad habits include nail-biting, overspending and hairpulling. Oprah interviews self-help authors Dr. Shad Helmstetter Ph.D and Bob Meehan and a panel of women to discuss their motivations for quitting their negative additions. Featured expert Bob Meehan passed away in 2021. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPods  You can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN