Super Soul Special: Diana Nyad, Part 2: Find a Way

Oprah's Super Soul

Oprah

Society & Culture

4.6 • 33.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Oprah’s conversation with marathon swimming champion and female warrior Diana Nyad continues. Diana captivated the world when, on her fifth and final attempt, she became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida, without a shark cage. Diana explains why it was important for her to dream big, achieve the impossible and find joy in the face of skepticism. While experts, friends and family said it couldn’t be done, Diana's iron-will would not be swayed. When faced with unending obstacles and excruciating pain, her spirit would not be defeated. More than just a mantra for Diana, "find a way" is a prescription for fulfilling dreams and uplifting the spirit. Find out why Diana says the near-impossible swim elevated her sense of presence and mindfulness.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Oprah Winfrey. Welcome to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. I believe that one of the most
0:07.8	valuable gifts you can give yourself is time, taking time to be more fully present. Your journey
0:16.6	to become more inspired and connected to the deeper world around us starts right now.
0:24.4	Welcome to part two of our conversation.
0:27.1	Last time we talked, Diane and I had described how she defied all odds when she made that 53-hour
0:33.0	landmark swim from Cuba to Florida. For more than three decades, that span of water lingered in her
0:39.0	imagination, the possibility of conquering it, remaining an unfinished dream. Diana's historic
0:45.0	journey was chronicled in the documentary The Other Shore. Instead of breaking her will,
0:50.5	the obstacles she faced on each attempt were met with a personal mantra that carried her long even as she continued to fall short of her goal.
0:59.0	The mantra, find a way.
1:01.0	By her side, throughout the journey, was a dedicated team led by Diana's business partner and best friend Bonnie Stoll.
1:09.0	Now, almost as soon as you finish to swim from Cuba, I could not believe this. And you're walking up on the shore. That moment, in that moment, is that just surreal? Because you can't even believe it's happening? I have to tell you the truth. In all the swimming practices, you have to go, the words are, until no more seawater lies beyond. So we're talking about even if seawater's up to your ankles, you're not done yet. You got to go, the words are, until no more seawater lies beyond.
1:30.8	So we're talking about even if seawater's up to your ankles, you're not done yet.
1:34.1	So that's why the team was saying, keep back, keep back.
1:34.9	So tell me this.
1:40.9	When you now step back, when we started this, you were saying, very proud of yourself,
1:42.7	are you amazed?
1:45.0	I mean, because when the rest of the world looks at you,
1:50.9	I call you a warrior woman, but it does seem like an impossible thing for a human being to do.
1:52.8	Are you kind of amazed at yourself?
2:02.6	I'm more proud of myself because, you know, when the question comes, can you, can you quite believe it? Can you really grasp on it? Do you have to see the pictures?
2:04.6	Have you wrapped your brain around?
	...

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