I'm Oprah Winfrey. Welcome to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. I believe that one of

the most valuable gifts you can give yourself is time, taking time to be more fully present.

Your journey to become more inspired and connected to the deeper world around us starts right

now.

And in San Antonio, Brunei Brown is a fifth generation Texan. The oldest of four, Brunei

was raised with tough old-fashioned pull yourself up by your bootstraps, Texas values. It wasn't

until her mid-twenties that she discovered a deep-seated passion for teaching, and after

earning her bachelor's master's in PhD, she became a professor at the University of Houston

Graduate College of Social Work. Her research focuses on vulnerability, courage, shame. It led

Brunei to re-examine her own life and gave her the strength to open up about her own spiritual

awakening in a 2010 TED X talk, a regional version of the famous Idea Sharing TED conference

that spotlights innovators and thought leaders. Much to Brunei's surprise, sharing her fears

resonated with people, not just in that Texas auditorium, but around the world, garnering

more than 8 million views on TED.com. Brunei has written three books now based on her groundbreaking

research. I thought it was just me, the gifts of imperfection, and her New York Times

number one bestseller, Daring Greatly.

I can't even tell you how long people have been saying you should have Dr. Brunei

Brown on. You should have Dr. Brunei Brown on. And I'm like, who is Dr. Brunei Brown?

Now, this is so interesting. Your name starts coming up, and I see you in the TED talk,

and then I see you on. I think it was Katie's show. Somebody gives me the book. I'm like,

OK, I hear you. I hear you. And now you are here. Oh my God. I know. I know. And when

I met you, it felt like, and when I was reading Daring Greatly, I say, oh God, this is

...