Kris Carr's Blog - Posts Tagged "oprah"

I am in a special club, a club that wasn’t easy to get into but is amazing to be a part of. I was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show in October of 2007. That electrifying experience literally changed my life. But not in the ways you might think. Well sorta in the ways you might think. It definitely opens doors and adds a heaping dose of street cred and prestige to your mission when you can say, “I was on Oprah.” I still get stopped on the street by people who recognize me from my episode with the brilliant Randy Pausch – a Bodhisattva in life and in death.

Oprah brought me into millions of living rooms. She introduced me to Dr. Oz and together we introduced the world to green drinks! Folks who never would have heard about a woman living and thriving with a stage 4 cancer met me that day. They watched as I talked about how great I feel since changing the way I was living (eating, drinking and thinking). And guess what? They ALL emailed me. Well, not all but a heck of a lot. Some of you reading this today may have joined the Crazy Sexy revolution because of that powerful episode …

OK, now let me dish some behind the scenes backstory. It wasn’t easy booking that spot; let me tell you. Oprah’s producers are the best in television. They’re tough, smart and they mean business. They also protect the great mother like a pack of media savvy wolves. First I had to prove that I had cancer. Um, a doctor’s note took care of that! It didn’t matter that my film, Crazy Sexy Cancer had aired on TLC. They needed to hear from Harvard. I guess after the James Frey debacle, producer folk stopped taking chances. Next came background checks (no, I’ve never been arrested, but it’s on my bucket list) and a slew of interviews with me. I must’ve had over a dozen calls with the producer who FINALLY booked me. By the time I got the green light, there was literally no stone left unturned.

But nothing prepared me for the big day. I didn’t meet Oprah 'til it was time to get my ass on set, about 7 minutes before the cameras rolled. The studio audience that seemed so small from the comfort of my living room was huge! Funny digression: Brian was backstage and when it was all systems go, leave the green room, hit the stage and rock … he suddenly had to pee. Um, nope. Oprah was ready. You can hold it buddy. We both entered from backstage, but he was told to take a seat in the front row. Well in classic BF form he strutted out and leaped over a pair of legs in tights. Those legs in tights were Oprah’s! I thought we’d get tossed, but he just got a look from the crew and I sauntered on (in clothes given to me by my friend and mentor, Donna Karan). Thank you, Donna!

OK, so back to the big moment, well what I can remember of it. Oprah was reading her cue cards (specs on me and her questions) when she stopped and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Oprah.” I wanted to say “NO DUH! HOLY SHIT! I CAN’T BELIEVE I AM MEETING YOU! I LOVE YOU! YOU’RE MY IDOL!” But instead I said, “Hi Oprah, I’m Kris. Thanks so much for having me on your show.”

Then we flew. Time flew. Space flew. Spirit flew …

In between segments, we talked about my perfume (aromatherapy). Oprah had actually never heard of patchouli! I think she must have been very busy in the 1960s. Doubt she was a flower child. And then came the moment I will never forget. “You are a crazy sexy teacher”… next, an unconditional mother love hug, like the kind that you want to melt into, the safe and protected kind. And then the show was over. P.S. Her big diamond and gold earrings were absolutely fabulous. I think they kept me rooted as I really wanted to leave my body several times that day. I mean, come on, it’s OPRAH!

Watching her final show last week brought tears to my eyes: “We’re all called. Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it.” – Oprah

Well, Oprah, ever since I was diagnosed with cancer, that’s what I’ve been doing, and for the past 8 years I’ve been teaching others how to do the same. I knew I’d meet you. I knew we’d talk. In fact I still have the journal entry from 2003 that says, “Oprah, save a seat for me, I’m coming.” Thanks for saving that seat. And I hope to sit with you again one day. This time we’ll talk about my new passion … prevention. My calling is simple. In this lifetime, I will personally take a big pHat bite out of chronic dis-ease. I’m not leaving till I do. :)

Peace and legends,

KC

P.S. Take this one soul nugget from my journey to Oprah: Believe in your message, your magic, your shine. What are the Oprah opportunities in your life? Don’t block them. Being scared is natural. Shutting down your Goddess-given gifts is not. Be bold. Be brilliant. Show the world whatcha got.