Oprah’s Super Soul Special at the Apollo, Part 2 (Nov 19, 2025)

Guests:

• Stephen Colbert
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Yara Shahidi
• Jessica Williams & Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens)

Episode Overview

Live from Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater, Oprah hosts an inspiring gathering with some of today’s most influential creators and thinkers. In this special episode, Oprah engages with Stephen Colbert (comedian and late show host), Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of Hamilton), and Yara Shahidi (actor and activist), delving into themes of hope, community, faith, activism, and the sustaining power of love and authenticity in divisive and challenging times. The episode closes with comic relief and reflection from Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens), celebrating the impact of collaboration, resilience, and self-awareness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephen Colbert: Humor, Faith, and Hope in Challenging Times

(Timestamp: 01:58 – 13:28)

• Balancing Comedy and Social Commentary

  • Colbert reflects on the grind of a daily comedy show and the deep responsibility of connecting truthfully with audiences during consequential times.
  • “We want to tell jokes and thereby build a community of people who can all share their feelings with each other. I get to say all the words, but we’re sharing our feelings because they’re laughing back… This feels like a lonely time right now.” (Colbert, 03:21–03:49)
  • Discusses the challenge of making light of the news without becoming its primary source for people, instead aiming to be “an addition, a catalyst to what they’ve been thinking all day” (04:36–04:55).

• Faith as Sustenance

  • Colbert, a practicing Catholic, shares that his mother would always encourage him to “look at this moment in the light of eternity,” fostering humility and acceptance.
  • Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 6:27 – “Do not worry about tomorrow...” which provided comfort during a time of anxiety and spiritual loss.
  • “The words of Christ speak off the page. There’s no effort for me to read them... It’s like he’s talking directly to us now.” (Colbert, 08:35–09:02)

• Hopefulness Versus Fear for America

  • Colbert voices enduring hope, referencing America's foundation on the idea of equality and resilience through crisis.
  • “Our country remains the last best hope of mankind and it is already great... As long as that idea does not disappear… America will always be the last best hope of mankind.” (Colbert, 09:51–10:56)

• Embracing Love—Even for Your Opposition

  • He acknowledges the challenge of loving those we disagree with most.
  • “That’s the challenge, the last challenge, is to love the people you disagree with the most… Because loving the people you agree with, anybody can do that.” (Colbert, 13:05–13:23)

2. Lin-Manuel Miranda: Art, Empathy, and Purpose

(Timestamp: 16:32 – 28:21)

• Fatherhood and Vulnerability

  • Fresh from welcoming a newborn, Miranda shares the chaos and learning curve of having two young children, and how it shifts household dynamics and his emotional world.
  • “That’s what two is like. You kind of sometimes have to tag team… in the short week as being a father of two.” (Miranda, 17:39–17:43)

• Creating Hamilton—Intent and Inspiration

  • Miranda discusses the evolution from writing musicals about communities (In the Heights) to building Hamilton around the force of a singular, complicated character.
  • “With Hamilton, it’s about Hamilton, and his force of personality is so strong… either they’re falling in love with him or they want to kill him.” (Miranda, 19:38–20:07)
  • Details the painstaking process (e.g., taking a year to write “My Shot”) and the need for lyrical density to honor hip hop as influential as Jay Z (20:06–21:18).

• Moral Clarity & Empathy in the Current Era

  • Reflects that post-2016 election, many felt new clarity on the values they must defend, particularly civil rights and LGBTQ rights.
  • “We’re living in a time of enormous moral clarity… Here are the things we can’t go backwards on… What can I focus on? What won’t let me go unless I do something about it? Because you can drown in how many people need help all over the world.” (Miranda, 21:42–22:47)

• Platform and Activism: Puerto Rico

  • Shares his plan to bring Hamilton to Puerto Rico, with affordable tickets and proceeds aiding arts funding post-Hurricane Maria.
  • The performance is deeply personal—he recounts performing In the Heights in Puerto Rico as a healing experience for himself and the community.
  • “It’s impossible to talk about this without crying... To be a kid whose Spanish sounds pretty gringo to Puerto Ricans… and to feel that love back, it closed something in me I didn’t even know was open.” (Miranda, 24:21–24:52)

• Art as Prayer and Resistance

  • Recounts writing his Tony acceptance sonnet in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting:
    • “We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hunger, hope and love last longer. That feels like a prayer.” (Oprah quoting Miranda, 26:40–27:01)
  • Miranda: “If we’re survived by the people who love us and remember us, then we’ll kind of go on forever.” (Miranda, 28:18–28:21)

3. Yara Shahidi: Authenticity, Generational Change, and Leadership

(Timestamp: 30:29 – 40:21)

• Embodying Authenticity and Self-Definition

  • Yara expresses gratitude for support to be “authentically myself” (31:23), a privilege she doesn’t take for granted.
  • “I haven’t had to feel too much pressure because I’ve been so fortunate to have support… for being authentically myself. I have not had to perpetuate a facade for the sake of love or support.” (Shahidi, 31:23–31:47)

• The Power of Access and Generational Awareness

  • Points to Millennials and Gen Z’s unprecedented digital access, which fosters awareness and accelerated political engagement.
  • “Millennials and Gen Z… have had the great fortune of an incredible amount of access… The digital age lets us learn these lessons at a young age. This administration has put pressure on my generation to really speed up our political awareness.” (Shahidi, 33:21–34:11)

• Youth Activism: Initiative 18 by 18

  • Yara announces her voter turnout initiative for first-time voters, underscoring young people’s role in shaping democracy.
  • “I’m launching an initiative called 18 by 18, which is to increase youth voter turnout for first-time voters… midterms are such an important moment for us to reclaim our government.” (Shahidi, 34:18–35:17)

• Impact of Black-ish on Identity

  • Describes how the show fostered a culture of meaningful conversation and activism, encouraging her to continue those discussions off-screen.
  • “To be able to be on a show in which that is our core goal really allowed us to have more conversations at such a young age…” (Shahidi, 36:02–37:01)

• Balancing Ambition with Groundedness

  • Shares the role of her family and personal rituals (chakra necklaces) in helping her stay centered.
  • “My parents have done a great job of giving me my semblance of normalcy… acting is something that we do, but it’s not who we are.” (Shahidi, 38:11–38:15)

• Oprah’s Blessing

  • Oprah shares a personal story and imparts: “Baby, your future’s so bright it burns my eyes.” (Oprah, 40:20)

4. Phoebe Robinson & Jessica Williams (2 Dope Queens): Humor, Self-Care, and Friendship

(Timestamp: 40:59 – 43:00)

• The comedians bring lightness and honesty about preparing for Oprah (“you don’t roll up in your sweatpants. You gotta bring it in!” – Robinson, 41:00).
• Williams talks about self-care routines, journaling, connecting with friends and family, and the distinction between experiencing emotions and choosing how to respond.
• “Your emotions, they’re real, but they’re not… you don’t have to succumb to them.” (Williams, 42:10)
• Their segment highlights the necessity of supportive friendship, laughter, and self-reflection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen Colbert:

  • “Our country remains the last best hope of mankind and it is already great.” (09:51)
  • “I don’t know how to do a nightly comedy show that’s also about love. But I’d like it in some way to be about love.” (11:56)
  • “That’s the challenge, the last challenge is to love the people you disagree with most.” (13:05)

• Lin-Manuel Miranda:

  • “With Hamilton, it’s about Hamilton… every other character is just trying to make sense of him. Either they’re falling in love with him or they want to kill him.” (20:07)
  • “It’s impossible to talk about this without crying… to be a kid whose Spanish sounds pretty gringo to Puerto Ricans… and to feel that love back…” (24:21–24:52)

• Yara Shahidi:

  • “I have had the great fortune of not having to perpetuate a facade for the sake of love or support.” (31:47)
  • “I’m launching an initiative called 18 by 18, which is to increase voter turnout and youth voter turnout for first-time voters…” (34:18)
  • Oprah: “Baby, your future’s so bright it burns my eyes.” (40:20)

• Phoebe Robinson & Jessica Williams:

  • “Your emotions, they’re real, but they’re not… you don’t have to succumb to them.” (42:10)

Segment Timestamps

• Stephen Colbert’s Interview: 01:58–13:28
• Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Interview: 16:32–28:21
• Yara Shahidi’s Interview: 30:29–40:21
• Phoebe Robinson & Jessica Williams: 40:59–43:00

Tone & Language

The episode is heartfelt, candid, and uplifting. Oprah brings warmth and genuine admiration to each conversation, encouraging her guests to share deeply. The guests reciprocate with openness, weaving personal stories with timely reflections about faith, resilience, activism, and hope.

For Listeners

This Super Soul Special at the Apollo is a powerful testament to how humor, artistry, and authenticity can build bridges—across generations, cultures, and divides. Whether discussing faith or family, social responsibility or personal growth, Oprah and her guests reveal the human stories and values behind their public personas, leaving listeners inspired to seek light in dark times and love—especially where it’s hardest.