Special: What's Holding You Back?

Original Air Date 4-6-2000Psychologist Dr. Linda S. Austin— author of What’s Holding You Back?: Eight Critical Choices For Women's Success—discusses the psychological “glass ceiling” that some women face in their lives and careers. She shares the role that fear plays in holding people back and explains how to overcome it. Dr. Austin also coaches women through making critical choices, like taking risks and learning to deal with difficult people. Plus, Oprah talks to Olympian luger Bonny Warner, who shares her success and how she accomplished her life goals.

Original Air Date 10-28-1999Oprah highlights the importance of friendship in our lives, and dedicates a show to reuniting women with best friends with whom they have lost touch. Friendship expert, sociologist and Friendshifts author Dr. Jan Yager gives reasons why friendships shift and shares advice on rekindling relationships. She also explains how to recognize if a friendship is worth salvaging and why it’s important to understand that the relationship may not be what it was before

Original Air Date: 3-9-1987Oprah talks to moms and dads about the everyday chaos of parenting and sits down with experts who offer real-world strategies to help survive it all—without losing your sanity. From toddler tantrums to mealtime meltdowns, this episode is packed with practical, proven advice to help parents feel more calm and in control. Guests include Brooke Beebe, author of Best Bets for Babies and Tips for Toddlers, who transformed her own parenting struggles into wisdom by connecting with thousands of families and child care experts. Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours, introduces his no-nonsense “reality discipline” approach to setting effective boundaries. And Dr. James Comer, a Yale-trained child psychiatrist and Parents Magazine columnist, shares valuable insights drawn from decades of research and hands-on experience.

Original Air Date: 4-25-2007Oprah dedicates a show all about dogs. How to train them, feed them and love them. She introduces her personal dog coach, Tamar Geller, who's revealing a powerful new training method Oprah has been using for over a year and a half — and swears by. Plus, holistic veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein, author of The Nature of Animal Healing, joins the conversation to share groundbreaking insights into caring for your pets from the inside out."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.