Oprah’s Super Soul Special: Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling – Brave New Worlds
Date: October 22, 2025
Guests: Reese Witherspoon & Mindy Kaling
Host: Oprah Winfrey
Overview
In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Oprah sits down with actresses and creators Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling. The trio, fresh from their collaborative experience on Disney's “A Wrinkle in Time,” reflect on the power of representation, women’s ambition, overcoming personal and professional challenges, and their responsibility as storytellers. With humor and candor, they explore the impact of seeing diverse faces in leading roles, carving new spaces for women in entertainment, and the deeper spiritual meaning within life’s transitions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Enduring Power and Message of “A Wrinkle in Time”
Timestamps: 02:12 – 07:29
- Oprah opens by reflecting on the classic’s newfound relevance, asking Reese why the story matters now.
- Reese: "It’s such a book about what is possible and hope and positivity and about good versus evil. ...It seems so apropos right now to be talking about what do we cultivate in each other and how do we find our best selves and become warriors for the good in the world." [02:32]
- Mindy: On the book’s unconventional lead: “A fatherless girl who's in search for her father... at the time the book came out, that was a very unusual choice for a lead of a children’s book.” [02:58]
- They marvel at the trailblazing nature of Ava DuVernay directing (“the first hundred billion dollar film by an African American woman” – Oprah [03:15]) and the emotional impact of Storm Reid as a young Black girl in the main role.
- Reese: “I got emotional every time I thought about the little girls who don’t see themselves...” [04:07]
- The cast’s diversity and Ava's bold choice to recast the source material are discussed.
- Mindy: “I never seen a cast like that in a... science fiction movie, a Disney movie. And I think that was. Felt very special.” [04:48]
2. Playing Iconic Characters & Behind-the-Scenes Stories
Timestamps: 05:08 – 07:29
- Reese sheds light on her character, Mrs. Whatsit: “She’s sort of an innocent. …I’m annoyed with the children.” [05:08]
- Oprah: Loved playing Mrs. Which, “One of the wisest women of the millennia. ...Wise people never have to raise their voices.” [06:02, 06:07]
- Mindy talks about her “toughest role” as Mrs. Who, communicating only in quotations updated to reflect a broader, modern sensibility: “I was quoting Jay Z and Justin Bieber in addition to Rumi...” [05:42]
3. Cultivating Light in Dark Times
Timestamps: 06:27 – 07:29
- Oprah highlights the film’s core message, “The only thing faster than light is darkness. I think we are actually in those times. ...Every one of us has the power to be a carrier of the light.” [06:43]
- All agree on the film’s timely relevance and its power to inspire.
4. On Complacency and Being Warriors for Change
Timestamps: 07:29 – 10:53
- They discuss how complacency leads to “abandoning independent thought.”
- Reese: “I think our culture is more alive and vibrant than it’s ever been... I’m seeing women talking about things that they never spoke about, and they're feeling powerful because they're actually getting heard.” [07:47]
- Mindy: “Complacency is one of the scariest words for me... Being complacent, I think, is the thing that history looks back on the worst.” [08:18]
- Oprah asks, “What would you be a warrior for?”
- Reese: “Women’s stories and trying to create opportunities for women to tell their stories... just shine a light on those people.” [09:41]
- Mindy: “The plight of refugees... it just feels like every day, different part of our world... there is some kind of active genocide happening.” [10:18]
- On the modern connotation of “refugee”: “That term is used as untrustworthy, derogatory. And that never used to be the case, and that’s disturbing to me.” [10:53]
5. Ambition is Not a Dirty Word
Timestamps: 11:34 – 15:55
- Oprah spotlights Reese’s viral speech: “Ambition is not a dirty word.”
- Reese: “...Ambition was considered an unappealing aspect of femininity... I thought we need to start talking about and reframing this word ambition, because it isn’t about being selfish… it’s about wanting to create more and do better for communities, schools, the world, the government and reframe it.” [12:18]
- Mindy: "Ambitious, when applied to a woman... it means almost ruthless... it almost feels a little bit like shade." [13:04]
- Discuss the double standard: women are taught to value effortless achievement, minimizing “effort” and ambition.
- Mindy: “To show effort or to show that you want something... I think it’s fine to be effortful.” [13:55]
- They touch on downplaying successes and shifting perceptions.
- Reese: “Why don’t women talk about how great they are all the time?... I’m going to start wearing my Emmy like a necklace.” [15:10, 15:34]
6. Lifting Other Women Up & The Power of Representation
Timestamps: 15:55 – 19:43
- Reese: The thrill of seeing Laura Dern’s Emmy win, and celebrating women’s achievements in “Big Little Lies.” [16:34 – 17:48]
- Reese: “We sold six shows to different networks in the past two weeks... they’re all about women at the center of the stories and female creators behind the scenes.” [18:50]
- Mindy: The importance of women like herself being seen as worthy of love and attention on screen, especially for women of color.
- “Although I was having a fun, romantic love life and having friends and dating, that no one who looked like me... that was ever reflected in anything that I ever saw.” [19:43]
7. Grief, Spiritual Connection, and Divine Timing
Timestamps: 21:12 – 27:54
- Mindy’s loss of her mother coinciding with her show’s green light; Oprah draws parallels to other transformative losses.
- Mindy: “...when she passed away, there was something. She was able to help me in another way. It was within the hour...” [21:52]
- On still feeling her mother’s guidance: “I have been surprised at how my relationship with her has continued even though she’s not here.” [23:24]
- Her mother’s wisdom: “Before you can I love you, you need to be able to say I. …Before you can give yourself to somebody else, you need to know what you stand for.” [24:50]
- Reese opens up about processing her mother’s grief through “Wild,” and the deep energetic connection to their family histories.
- Reese: “Kids hold the grief of their parents. ...It was profound. …Wild was a very healing process for me to discover my mother’s grief and to talk to her about it.” [27:03]
8. Women in Leadership & Changing Workplace Culture
Timestamps: 27:58 – 31:06
- Reese: Fosters camaraderie on set to break down barriers, inviting everyone to connect outside work.
- Mindy discusses changing the dynamics for women and minorities in writers' rooms, working toward inclusion and actively resisting the “only one” mentality.
- “...if I can hire, there isn’t only going to be one Indian woman, one African American woman, one woman period in here. There’s going to be space for lots.” [29:16]
9. Rejecting “Likable”—Embracing Relatability & Complexity
Timestamps: 30:43 – 33:18
- Both women express disdain for the word "likable" (especially as used by male executives).
- Mindy: “Likable is likable to men. ...I think relatable is important.” [31:06]
- Reese: On playing “ambitious” or “unlikable” characters and facing career consequences: “...Tracy Flick is lots and lots of things, but not necessarily likable. And I had a hard time getting jobs after that performance because studio heads thought I was crazy. Like, too ambitious.” [32:39]
- Oprah and Mindy note the audience’s hunger for fully-realized, flawed, and multi-dimensional female characters.
10. Spirituality: Angels, Ancestry, and Destiny
Timestamps: 33:18 – 36:26
- They reflect on guardian angels and ancestral support.
- Reese: “I know I have angels... to me that’s divine intervention, or somebody took care of me that day, I wouldn’t be here.” [33:55]
- Oprah: “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000. ...There’s a whole pack behind me.” [35:44]
- Mindy: On feeling ancestral support, referencing Ava's shirt: “I am my ancestor’s greatest dream.” [36:12]
11. Hardest Decisions & Lessons Learned
Timestamps: 36:16 – 41:10
- Oprah asks about the most difficult decision made to fulfill their destinies.
- Reese: “For me, probably leaving an abusive relationship... I could never be the person I am today. ...The fact that I stood up for myself... And it’s part of the reason I can stand up and say, yes, I’m ambitious...” [36:26 – 37:55]
- They discuss the universality of women’s experiences with abuse, underlining the importance of storytelling and visibility: “...not a woman there that hadn’t been affected, affected by abuse.” [38:05]
- Oprah examines the psychological impact of non-physical abuse and the realization that all forms are equally harmful.
- “One day in my 20s... I had become that woman who would allow myself to be psychologically, verbally assaulted and that there was no difference between that and being actually hit.” [39:34]
- Lessons that took the longest to learn:
- Mindy: “Lesson that it’s okay to say no?” [40:23]
- Reese: Agrees, “But I still haven’t learned.” [40:28]
- Oprah: Chimes in, “That would be mine, too.” [40:30]
- They humorously discuss the pressure to always say yes and the need for self-preservation.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Oprah: “Every one of us has the power to be a carrier of the light.” [07:01]
- Reese: “An ambitious woman is not a terrifying thing and it’s not a repellent thing.” [12:34]
- Mindy: “Complacency is one of the scariest words for me... Being complacent, I think, is the thing that history looks back on the worst.” [08:18]
- Reese: “Why don’t women talk about how great they are all the time? ...I’m going to start wearing my Emmy like a necklace.” [15:10]
- Mindy: On grief and guidance, “I’ve been surprised at how my relationship with her has continued even though she's not here.” [23:24]
- Oprah: On ancestral support: “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000. ...There’s a tribe behind me.” [35:44]
- Reese: “For me, probably leaving an abusive relationship... It changed who I was on a cellular level.” [36:26]
- Mindy’s mother’s wisdom: “Before you can I love you, you need to be able to say I... Before you can give yourself to somebody else, you need to know what you stand for.” [24:50]
Suggested Listening Guide (Timestamps)
- 02:12 – The resonance of “A Wrinkle in Time” today
- 06:43 – The film’s message of light versus darkness
- 09:41 – What each guest is a “warrior” for
- 12:18 – “Ambition is not a dirty word”
- 18:50 – Shifting the television landscape for women
- 21:12 – Grief, spiritual presence, and Mindy’s personal journey
- 27:58 – Female leadership and building inclusive workplaces
- 31:06 – Debating “likable” versus “relatable” for female characters
- 36:26 – Reese on leaving an abusive relationship
- 40:23 – Learning the difficult lesson of saying no
Tone and Style
- The conversation is frank, supportive, and warm, interwoven with personal stories, humor, and a sense of purpose. Oprah guides the dialogue with probing questions that elicit vulnerability and wisdom from her guests, maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect and inspiration. Reese and Mindy reply in their authentic, candid voices—sometimes playful, sometimes earnest, always real.
Conclusion
This episode is a powerhouse of insight on courage, representation, ambition, and healing. Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling illustrate the profound impact of telling diverse stories, championing each other, and owning their unique journeys. It’s an episode that encourages listeners to be warriors for light in a challenging world, find strength in their voices, and honor the complex humanity of themselves and others.