Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-nominated actress and singer Vanessa Williams opens up about her Miss America controversy, motherhood, aging in Hollywood and how she believes success comes from "giving your whole heart." Vanessa, who describes herself as a woman of “great faith and spirit,” shares her beliefs on a higher power, forgiveness, optimism and gratitude. In 1984, Vanessa was a junior at Syracuse University when she was crowned the first African American Miss America. Vanessa discusses how she prepared for the pageant, how she survived what she describes as the “racist” backlash for winning and why she resigned with six weeks left in her reign. A mother of four, Vanessa explains how she managed a successful career, reveals the major role she turned down while raising her children and why she doesn’t regret any of the sacrifices she’s made.

Vanessa Williams

Hear the greatest life lessons of some of the most respected and renowned actors, musicians, public figures and athletes. Handpicked by Oprah, these luminaries reveal their lives with candor and insight — in their own words. Listen as Jay -Z, Justin Timberlake, Ellen Degeneres, Shaquille O’Neal, Reba McEntire, Dwayne Johnson and Jane Fonda, (just to name a few), share what they’ve learned about life and their own insights into their personal stories.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Dr. Condoleezza Rice reveals herself as the woman behind the Washington power player in an intimate and surprising interview. Dr. Rice shares the lessons of her childhood in racially charged Birmingham, Alabama, and how her parents instilled in her a sense of strength and conviction to succeed. She also reveals her candid thoughts on her years in the Bush administration, and what the events of 9/11 and the war on terror have taught her. Dr. Rice reveals how her background, ideals and vision helped shape her and ultimately gave her a front row seat to witnessing history.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Revolutionary surfer, author and model Laird Hamilton shares the lessons he says he’s learned from surfing with passion, enthusiasm and a sense of wonder. Laird is a veteran big-wave surfer who elevated the sport to an art form. He has risked his life to surf the biggest waves in existence, some that are more than 80 feet tall and move 50 miles per hour. Laird describes the first time he rode a giant wave as a mystical experience that inspired in him a fearless awe. Laird shares why he sees the ocean as a teacher: its power connects him with his spirituality and the waves teach him how to stand proudly and how to fall with grace.

Laird Hamilton

Golden Globe-winning, and Oscar-, Grammy-, and Emmy-nominated actress Diahann Carroll has many firsts to her name, including the first African-American woman to win a Tony Award for a leading role and the first African American woman to star in her own primetime television sitcom, “Julia.” Diahann opens up about the prejudices she faced, how she helped create the role of Dominique Deveraux in the television soap opera "Dynasty,” and her battle with breast cancer. Diahann also explains how she learned to ignore the people who discouraged her passion for singing and instead began following her own internal compass.

Diahann Carroll

Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor, director, screenwriter and musician Billy Bob Thornton opens up about his family, relationships and success, and shares his advice on how to keep the artist inside of you alive. Billy Bob explains how he dreams about the movies he wants to write, even if he knows they might fail. He says it's more important for him to create films that satisfy the artist inside than to generate an impressive weekend box office. Billy Bob also describes the sadness that has never gone away since his younger brother Jimmy died suddenly of a heart condition. Billy Bob says he’s come to accept that he’ll only ever be “50 percent happy.” He also shares his poignant advice for anyone who has lost a loved one.

Billy Bob Thornton

Oscar- and Golden Globe-winner Goldie Hawn says she already knew at the age of 11 her goal in life--it wasn't to be a dancer, an entertainer or even an actress. Her goal was simply to be happy. Even from such an early age, this guiding principle has been at the core of Goldie’s most valuable life lessons. When she turned 50, Goldie says she wondered what else she was going to do with her life, and began searching for ways to give back. That's when, she says, she discovered the beauty of getting older: making the world a better place with the wisdom she's accrued over the years. Goldie also discusses her extraordinary career, her famous daughter, Kate Hudson, and her relationship with longtime love, Kurt Russell.

Vanessa Williams

Download our free app to listen on your phone