Super Soul Summer: Rainn Wilson Why Are We Here?

This episode originally aired January 24, 2018. Oprah’s heart-to-heart conversation with the late Dr. Maya Angelou continues. Dr. Angelou shares some of her greatest life lessons on aging brilliantly and living with gratitude. She is moved to tears as she recalls the revelation that changed her life forever, and reveals the best piece of advice she ever received.

This episode originally aired January 22, 2018. In the first of a special two-part podcast, Oprah has a conversation with her beloved mentor, the late poet, author, icon and activist Dr. Maya Angelou. She's also the woman Oprah called her mother, sister and friend for more than 30 years. Oprah says, "She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet, but at the heart of her, she was a teacher." Dr. Angelou discusses her last book, "Mom & Me & Mom," delving into one of the deepest personal stories of her life: her relationship with her mother. Dr. Angelou shares intimate memories of her childhood, including the nine words her nurturing yet fiery mother said to her that changed her life forever, challenging her to find strength in the face of adversity.

Original Air Date: November 20, 2017 Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. New York Times columnist, political pundit and bestselling author David Brooks reveals how we can discover and build a stronger, more meaningful moral character and deeper inner life. David shares his personal and well-researched path on the road to “save his own soul.” He takes listeners on a journey through history, sharing examples of people who cultivated their own character with self-sacrifice and honor. David also shares his thoughts on vulnerability, the importance of believing in yourself and gaining strength from those around you.

Original Air Date: October 29, 2017 Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Benedictine monk, author and scholar Brother David Steindl-Rast guides us to the source of lasting joy and the essence of grateful living. He invites listeners to exercise gratefulness as a spiritual practice and a source of well-being that can be embraced every day. He also shares lessons on love, hope and life. Brother David Steindl-Rast says, “Hope is something very different from our hopes. Hopes are something we can imagine… but hope, in a truly spiritual sense, is openness for surprise.”

Original Air Date: March 28, 2018Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Oprah sits down with the Rev. Ed Bacon, a retired priest from the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the author of the book "8 Habits of Love." Saying that we often obscure our ability to identify grace in our lives, the Rev. Bacon reveals how to recognize grace in your life, especially during the toughest times. He tells Oprah that people operate from a place of either fear or love when it comes to their relationship with God, and explains why he believes there is a bit of God in all of us and why we should embrace it. Plus, the Rev. Bacon offers a surprising and enlightening answer to the question of whether religion and spirituality can work together.

Original Airdate: July 30, 2018 Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Spiritual thinker, teacher and author Adyashanti explores the meaning of grace and how it shows up when and where we least expect it. Adyashanti offers practical insights into how and why the thoughts in our heads must not be mistaken for our true identities. He explains why all negative energy is looking for resolution and reveals a surprising way to let go of painful emotions and unlock true happiness. Adyashanti also discusses his books “Falling into Grace: Insights on the End of Suffering” and “Resurrecting Jesus: Embodying the Spirit of a Revolutionary Mystic.”

Original Air Date: August 29, 2017Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Actor Rainn Wilson of “The Office” fame comes with his own list of “Life’s Big Questions.” Rainn reveals his uniquely spiritual upbringing and how it has affected every aspect of his life. Rainn also discusses his meaningful digital platform, “SoulPancake,” which challenges people to be “creative, explore their souls and dig into life’s big questions.” Rainn’s revelations about his beliefs in regards to art and prayer causes Oprah to say, “That made the hairs on my head raise.”

Original Air Date: May 21, 2018Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. Does this sound like you? After years working at the same job, you realize you've just been going through the motions for as long as you can remember. Wes Moore, a war veteran, entrepreneur, Rhodes Scholar and New York Times best-selling author, believes we can all discover and pursue our life’s purpose. “If your job no longer brings you joy, there's an important question you need to ask yourself: ‘What is your real work and who will you fight for?’” In his book “The Work,” Wes, a former combat officer in Afghanistan, a White House Fellow and a Wall Street banker, discusses his journey of self-discovery, which led him to walk away from financial success to create a more meaningful life.

Original Air Date: July 18, 2018Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. We've all been there: You have a strange or unpleasant encounter with someone, and you keep replaying it in your head all day long. You wonder what you did to offend this person, and you invent a story about why he or she mistreated you. In her New York Times best-selling book "Rising Strong," research professor and social scientist Brené Brown describes three phases everyone goes through in these moments: the reckoning, the rumble and the revolution. To create a true revolution in your life, Brené says, "You first must come to terms with the false stories you tell yourself. These erroneous tales can be quite dangerous and hold you back from your higher purpose." Here, Oprah sits down for a conversation with Brené, who has inspired millions through her insights on courage, vulnerability, shame and worthiness.

Original Air Date: July 25, 2018Enjoy this episode, specially selected for our Super Soul Summer—a series celebrating some of the greatest Super Soul moments and messages to inspire and uplift your spirit. This is one of Oprah's favorite SuperSoul Conversations. New York Times best-selling author, spiritual teacher and intuitive Caroline Myss reveals how to tap into your intuition to discover your life's purpose. Caroline says that if you're alive, you have purpose, but sometimes we can lose clarity as to what our path should be. Caroline details three daily practices to help you hone in on your true purpose, and offers a list of telltale signs that you are fulfilling your divine potential. She explains how you can tap into your gut instinct to help you make the right choices. Caroline also shares what she believes love is, whom she most wants to forgive and what wisdom she's gained with age.