The Oprah Podcast

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the world as it evolves daily while offering limitless potential. Millions of Americans now turn to chatbots for guidance on finances, work and even relationships from life coaches to therapists and also companionship. But alongside their usefulness come serious risks that are often underestimated. In this conversation Oprah joins experts, families and a live audience to explore the potential hidden dangers of engaging with AI chatbots. Oprah speaks with the parents of a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide after his troubling interactions with a chatbot. We hear from UCSF psychiatrist, Dr. Keith Sakata, about the rise in reports of “AI-induced psychosis,” the potential negative mental health consequences of chatbot use and warning signs that a chatbot relationship has gone from helpful to harmful. Executive Director at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Helen Toner, offers insight into how AI chatbots are developed to have human-like interactions, AI sycophancy and what people can do to hold AI companies accountable. We also hear from people who experienced devastating consequences from their use of AI chatbots from quitting a job, isolating from loved ones to becoming convinced they needed to warn the government of impending doom. This is a candid, eye-opening conversation about the risk of AI chatbots for parents and families navigating this new technology. 00:00:00 - Oprah introduces the dangers of AI 00:04:20 - Megan joins to talk about her son 00:09:10 - Discovering her son’s chatbot conversations after death 00:11:30 - Protecting children 00:12:30 - Warning signs 00:18:00 - Chatbots inappropriate relationships with kids 00:19:00 - What parents should know 00:21:50 - Defining AI psychosis 00:25:00 - AI and human-like interactions 00:28:00 - Chatbots sycophantic nature 00:30:40 - Hannah shares her AI chatbot experience 00:35:00 - Dangers of long interactions with chatbots 00:36:30 - When Hannah’s mom was concerned 00:38:20 - Hannah getting back to herself 00:39:00 - Withdrawal from chatbots 00:40:20 - Hannah now 00:42:15 - Red flags of AI psychosis 00:45:00 - The lure of the chatbot 00:46:50 - Allan shares his AI psychosis 00:52:30 - Help from the Human Line project 00:54:00 - Human connection is the cure 00:55:00 - What we can do The Human Line Project https://www.thehumanlineproject.org/ Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World-renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel returns to The Oprah Podcast to share her brilliant relationship insights with a live audience. Esther has incisive advice for Gen Z women who’ve given up on dating, a mother of five struggling to heal old wounds in her marriage and a single mom who put her dating life on hold to focus on raising her son. Plus, Esther reveals what she learned during her first-ever therapy session between a man and his AI chatbot girlfriend. She also reflects on the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking book Mating in Captivity — and why, in today’s age of disconnection, its message is more crucial than ever. BUY THE BOOK! The 20th anniversary edition of Mating in Captivity, published by HarperCollins and written by Esther Perel, is available wherever books are sold. https://www.estherperel.com/mating-in-captivity 00:00:00 - Welcome Esther Perel 00:03:00 - Desire in long-term relationships 00:05:12 - Relationships in 2006 vs. 2026 00:08:45 - We’re more connected and less accessible 00:10:32 - 3 most common sex challenges today 00:13:00 - Esther’s dating advice 00:17:30 - One person can’t be everything 00:21:05 - The love myth we learned 00:22:50 - What to look for in a partner 00:25:30 - Relationship ambivalence 00:29:40 - Relationships with chatbots 00:36:36 - Chatbot relationships are here 00:37:57 - When couples therapy took off 00:39:00 - Healing from relationship ruptures 00:42:00 - Importance of repair 00:46:00 - How to date again 00:48:28 - Healing from heartbreak 00:54:50 - How Esther understands people Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After their extraordinary, history-making trip around the moon, Oprah has an in-depth conversation with the crew of Artemis II: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. From launch to landing, the Artemis II astronauts captured the world’s attention while offering a message of unity and hope from space. The crew shares how they were transformed after spending more than nine days traveling farther into space than any human being has ever been and how seeing the Moon and Earth from space changed their perspectives on life itself. Oprah talks to the astronauts about their jaw-dropping photographs, plus the emotional impact and iconic moments they experienced. They’ll also talk about what it was like to train together for years, the conversations with family about putting their lives at risk, and the stellar team on the ground that guided the mission. Their outstanding character, indomitable spirits and remarkable camaraderie shine through. 00:00:00 - Welcome the crew of Artemis II 00:03:40 - Re-entry to regular life 00:07:00 - The journey back to earth 00:09:40 - Life-altering experience 00:10:50 - How they were selected for Artemis II 00;12:48 - Naming the moon crater 00:17:02 - Watching the Earth set 00:19:50 - Talking to the Chaplain upon landing 00:21:20 - A defining moment 00:24:10 - Piloting Artemis II 00:25:20 - Being at ease with not knowing 00:25:50 - Is there other life out there? 00:28:20 - Being comfortable with being uncomfortable 00:33:30 - The crew was not ready to return 00:34:30 - Christina Koch’s message to girls 00:36:20 - Staying humble 00:40:00 - Discussing death with family 00:44:00 - Discussing death with the crew 00:47:30 - Suits can keep you alive for 6 days 00:50:04 - Training not to panic 00:54:50 - Representing humans in space 00:58:30 - In the hatch after landing 00:59:58 - Message from Reid’s daughter 01:01:40 - The guilt of pursuing your dream 01:03:40 - What they want to share with the world Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that experiencing awe can improve your health and your overall well-being? Oprah talks with University of California, Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner to delve into his latest book "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." During this inspirational conversation Dacher explains how each of us has the potential to experience awe every single day and shares how encountering awe can lead us to greater fulfillment and happiness. Based on his extensive research Dacher outlines and describes what he calls the “Eight Wonders of Life” or the eight experiences that most commonly trigger awe. Throughout the discussion Oprah and Dacher each share their own deeply personal encounters with awe. BUY THE BOOK! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622175/awe-by-dacher-keltner/ 00:00:00 - Welcome Dacher Keltner, author of “Awe” 00:04:30 - Awe decreases depression 00:07:40 - Awe and death 00:10:20 - Finding awe everyday 00:11:05 - 8 awe experiences 00:20:20 - how Awe affects our health 00:21:36 - Awe vs gratitude 00:24:45 - How awe can heal divisions 00:26:50 - Making space for awe and kids 00:28:20 - Develop an awe practice 00:29:50 - Psychedelics and awe 00:36:00 - Everyone can experience awe The Science of Happiness Podcast What does it take to live a happier life? Learn research-tested strategies that you can put into practice today. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/the_science_of_happiness Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is revenge the root of all forms of violence? Oprah sits down with James Kimmel, Jr., a revenge and violence researcher and lecturer in the psychiatry department at the Yale University School of Medicine and the bestselling author of the eye-opening book, The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction - and How to Overcome It. From bullying to school and mass shootings to terrorism and even war, James Kimmel Jr’s 20-year research argues that the root cause of all human aggression and violence in the world is the one universal human emotion: revenge. After being bullied as a teenager, James Kimmel, Jr shares the horrific moment he almost became a mass shooter himself, and why that became the catalyst for his life’s work. James Kimmel Jr shares a research study that could reveal just how prone you might be to seeking revenge. He has also created The Non-Justice System & The Miracle Court App, a 5-step scripted virtual courtroom where a person who has been wronged can play all the roles in a simulated trial - victim, defendant, judge, jury, and warden. Oprah and James Kimmel Jr also hear searing stories from the audience including a woman whose neighbor shot and killed her dog, a woman who got revenge on a boyfriend who cheated on her, a wife and mother whose intense revenge addiction landed her in the hospital. And how a mother, who lost her precious 6-year-old son to gun violence at Sandy Hook Elementary, came to forgive her son’s killer. BUY THE BOOK! The Science of Revenge https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739999/the-science-of-revenge-by-james-kimmel-jr-jd/ https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-science-of-revenge/id6670186929 00:00:00 - Welcome James Kimmel, Jr. author of “The Science of Revenge” 00:04:00 - James Kimmel share his story of revenge 00:10:15 - Lawyers sell revenge to the masses 00:13:15 - How revenge is an addiction 00:16:00 - Understanding how revenge leads to crimes 00:17:30 - When revenge becomes addiction 00:27:00 - Woman shares her desire for revenge 00:28:20 - Types of forgiveness 00:37:55 - How can we speed up forgiveness 00:39:30 - How this man resisted getting revenge 00:43:30 - Mother of son killed at Sandy Hook 00:50:50 - Recovering revenge addict 00:57:00 - The motive is revenge 00:59:00 - The power of forgiveness Additional Resources: https://www.revengeanonymous.org The Non-justice System: miraclecourt.com What's Your Revenge Score? https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/quiz Connecticut Violence Intervention and Prevention - https://www.ctintervention.org/ Choose Love - https://chooselovemovement.org/ Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oprah sits down with renowned organizational psychologist and professor Adam Grant to talk about lessons from his latest #1 New York Times bestselling book "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.” Known for his research on human potential, Grant shares how anyone can achieve greatness and unlock potential by cultivating character traits like resilience, curiosity, perseverance and embracing discomfort. He shares personal stories of overcoming his own limitations and insights from people who’ve accomplished the extraordinary. Joining the conversation is the first Black Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and people from around the country via Zoom who desire to harness the power of hidden potential. BUY THE BOOK! 'Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things' by Adam Grant:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719611/hidden-potential-by-adam-grant/ Adam Grant 2026 Day-to-Day Calendar: Something to Think About: Daily Insight from the Psychologist and Author https://www.amazon.com/Adam-Grant-2026-Day-Calendar/dp/152489933X Adam Grant: https://adamgrant.net/about/biography/ 00:00:00 - Welcome Adam Grant, author of Hidden Potential 00:04:13 - How character and personality differ 00:06:10 - Action and confidence 00:09:00 - Critics as coaches 00:11:50 - Standing in your values 00:14:15 - What makes a good leader 00:17:18 - First Black Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley 00:22:45 - How potential gets overlooked 00:24:10 - How ‘Hidden Potential’ helps educators 00:27:30 - Three priorities for a school to thrive 00:30:25 - Tap into your hidden potential 00:33:28 - Confidence in your ability to learn 00:34:50 - Managing perfectionism 00:38:00 - Appreciate your progress 00:39:30 - What keeps Oprah motivated 'Move by Move: Life Lessons on and Off the Chessboard' by Maurice Ashley:https://mauriceashley.com/move-by-move/ Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oprah sits down with actor Jeremy Allen White and writer-director Scott Cooper for a fascinating conversation about their stirring new film, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. The film is a revelatory look at Bruce Springsteen during a personal and professional crossroads; the film explores the mental health struggles and creative reckoning behind the making of his deeply personal album Nebraska. Oprah calls White’s Golden Globe–nominated performance “mesmerizing” and praises Cooper for “elevating quiet struggle into cinematic poetry,” describing the film as “a gift” and a meditation on “what it means to be human.” The film also stars Jeremy Strong, Odessa Young, Stephen Graham, Johnny Cannizzaro, Gaby Hoffman, Paul Walter Hauser and Grace Gummer. SEE THE FILM! Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Golden Globe nominee Jeremy Allen White, written and directed by Scott Cooper, and distributed by 20th Century Studios is now available on Demand. https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere/umc.cmc.44ij3fzlajh43wxngtyxd6ioi 00:00:00 - Oprah introduces the movie Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere 00:03:22 - Oprah, Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper at Santa Barbara Film Festival 00:05:00 - Jeremy on getting cast as Bruce Springsteen 00:06:30 - Scott on telling Springsteen’s story 00:08:35 - Scott on asking Bruce to make this film 00:12:00 - How Jeremy prepared to become Bruce Springsteen 00:14:50 - Jeremy on learning guitar 00:18:20 - Scott on using black and white photography for flashbacks 00:25:27 - How playing Springsteen changed Jeremy 00:28:10 - Scott on how making the movie changed him 00:29:10 - Springsteen and mental illness Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices