Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Guest Talks About Life Without the 'Oprah Effect'

I'd be really surprised if a professional writer didn't write this story. If he is a professional writer, then it may have been him.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I have full heart felt confidence if Elizabeth Kubler Ross was involved the motive to share with others the reality of 'us' when experiencing death of a loved one was the message. I too had my Mom die, this was unexpected and shocking and early to what my expectations were. My heart felt like it would never feel normal again. Sharing our experiences does impact others.... and we may never know who, how or why exactly.... I have faith that Oprah is a woman of truth and if she stated your families honest sharing hit a cord inside of her.... I can respect this. Wishing you peace in your heart!

Yes, this was excellent writing, I agree with that. However, I'm not sure I got the point correctly. What I read between the lines is a young man very much in pain, first of all, because he lost his mother....(and I totally understand that, because it must me horrible to lose a mother at such a young age.), and second of all, someone who just may be holding some resentment because Oprah got a new Cheerio phrase and and an "aha moment" out of his appearance, and he got nothing. Am I missing something here, or is that what many of you are also reading.

absolutely wonderfully well written..my condolences to the author and thanks for the view into life.
MM

If it had no affect on you why are you still talking about it? Just move on with your life and forget about Oprah and her Show. You say that losing your mom was the best thing that ever happened to you. You are still young. Maybe I misunderstood that comment. Does your sister feel the same way you do? I don't really expect an answer to any of my questions?

I think Zach missed the point of what Oprah was doing when she aired his family regarding the loss of their mother to cancer. Oprah is famous and no doubt has clout with her faithful viewers...but I don't think she does this just to get a hot story on the air. I believe she does it because she really cares and loves all people. So, why does she have "sensational" stories? It is this:

She understands that we, all people of all creeds and races, face and share many joys and many pains...no one is exempt. Oprah does this so that people can see others that have similar experiences, both good and bad. Her show is a "feel good" show that helps people to know that no matter what is happening in their lives they are not alone. That no matter how bad life may seem...we can overcome and even turn a tragedy into a learning experience.

So I say to Zach...get over your self-indugence. Why are you making your proclamation to the world of how Oprah didn't affect your life? What are your real intentions of putting your announcement to the world? Oh, did I hear sensationalism? Naaaa...I must have heard wrong. Sorry...

It wasn't about you. It was about your mom... about people listening and saying " I can relate to that" or maybe I should take a look at my own life... it's not so bad. That is what I think Oprah meant when she said you were her favorite guest. It brought Oprah back to the fact that she was just a person like everyone else and she should enjoy what she has around her and make sure she takes nothing for granted. I wish you would have gotten it... but you didn't. It seems to me you are still wraped up in yourself and for some reason are mad at the world. I advise you to get those letters out and reread them again. Your mother is trying to tell you something ... You just aren't listening.

Brad, expressing your true feelings helps someone learn to deal with death of a loved one better. I know from experience. My only son died suddenly at the age of 17. A mixture of shock, disbelief, and bitterness all flooded through me at the same time. I wish someone could have told you of an organization that helps children better deal with the death of a parent. I was told about an organization, "Compassionate Friends", whose members are only parents who have lost children. The church, other family members, and friends, could not help me in my deep sorrow. This organization, completely undenominational, did more than anything to help me in my time of need. Somehow, in my hours of greatest need, the telephone would ring, as though a member of Compassionate Friends knew it was time to call me. That call would help me through the worst times. I wrote a book about my life, including the life and death of my son. That, too, was a great healing factor. It was a self-publication, expenses incurred only by me, but many of my friends and relatives told me how much the book helped them. Brad, you are so talented, think about writing your own biography. I assure you, expressing your feelings in words will be a healing factor for you. I'm praying for you. God bless you and your family.

Zach, honey. It isn't about you. And, before you head off to take part in yet another Oprah reunion, or, Heaven forbid, some other talk show exploitation, let me go ahead and give ya tha heads up - it isn't gonna be about you then, either. Believe it or not, even though you're the one living it, and breathing it, and experiencing it - 99.99 percent of the time it isn't about you. Crawl on out of your narcissistic shell, broaden your view a bit from your own little world, and attempt to see the big picture, would ya?

It's fascinating that so many people responding here actually seem angry with this young man for just expressing his own personal opinion, and rather eloquently at that. At 25, I'm guessing he's a college graduate now, and no doubt is a very good writer all on his own, so those who accuse that this was written by someone else, or written by "Oprah haters" are way off base!

And you know what? His personal opinion is just that: HIS personal opinion! And he's entitled to it! For maybe just a little while longer we still have a free country, and while it's still tenuously free, we're supposed to still be able to express personal opinions, and without having to be called names for doing so!

If HE felt exploited by Oprah, I believe him! She's not God, she has a tremendous ego, and she does focus on things that work for her needs and for her shows, (that's why she's so successful--& that's not a crime either), so it's very possible he's right on target -- I mean, anything for ratings, huh? That's the way TV is sometimes... That doesn't make him an Oprah Hater, as so many posting here are accusing him of! It just makes him an independent thinker who is expressing himself with his OWN opinions about his OWN experience... Why should anyone be angry with anyone sharing their own personal opinion?

His writing style is great, and I think he should write a book -- I know I'd read it...

People like Oprah will take advantage of anyone to get the ratings( and the big bucks), at the costs of anyone's feelings. Oh that is so sad!! Yes it is terrible that 2 young children lost their mother, but Oprah wants everone to see HER as the person who FOUND these sad people. Take your money Oprah and retire. We are tired of it. And God bless you Zach and Kate.

Sorry, but I am not jumping on the band wagon with this one. Personally, I feel that you came across as an ungrateful spoiled arrogant snob still looking for attention. I lost my mother recently and would have loved to have told my mothers story just to know that others shared my grief in their own ways and to let me know that I wasn't along in my feelings. Sometimes we go to deep where it becomes insensitive and uncaring even to the people involved. Lighten up and enjoy your place in the sun. Sometimes it may only last five minutes. You've been fortunate.

I agree with the writer. Oprah is a reporter first and foremost.
She worked aggressively and with all intention in climbing to
a powerful position. Nothing wrong with that! More people should
have that much drive to succeed, but I personally don't like Oprah
and how she exploits people for the sake of ratings. She is pushy
and her show of emotions seems forced and fake. In her defense,
she has done much good, but she also gave us Dr. Phil! Any regrets Oprah!

I agree! You write very well. And you are absolutely adorable. I am sorry you lost your mother at such a young age. Im sure it made it that much more complicated to have to share it on a TV show. I wonder about our society sometimes. We shouldnt feel our right to know exceeds someone's right to privacy. I wish you the best in life!!

Maybe you were Oprahs favorite guests because she made more money expoliting you than any other guests.

The whole mean-spirited, opportunistic premise of his web article is misleading. Everyone knows the so-called Oprah Effect has nothing to do with "the hearts and minds of her devoted fan base" and everything to do with their wallets. The Oprah Effect is a powerful marketing tool that instantly popularizes books, products, ideas, and people. The person that wrote this article is smart enough to know that.

There is a community that devotes a lot of time and energy to attacking Oprah with her downfall as its ultimate goal. I believe this young man was appoached by this community and has motives of cashing in on the anti-Oprah effect, which while not as lucrative as the "Oprah Effect", is still quite profitable. Write a book attacking Oprah and see how famous you become.

I'm sorry for that kid's loss and that he had to grow up without a mother, but he's now an adult and intelligent enough to know that producers didn't invite his family on the show to make a "difference" in their lives. While talking about one's loss is a healthy way to grieve and heal (not so much for a 13-yr old boy in front of millions of people), the purpose for having those families on the show was to educate and help others who had in the past, or would in the future, suffer from the loss of a loved one. His sister's story is an anecdote for how the most important things in life are often the simplest, and more importantly, illustrates how easily children get it... better than adults. Knowing what Oprah has shared about her humble and traumatic childhood and her early worldwind rise to fame, I find it plausible that that little girl's story taught Oprah a lesson she had not yet learned at that point in her life. It's sad that the writer is too much of a cynic and opportunist that he can't just be satisfied with the fact that he helped Oprah and possibly thousands of others.

You totally missed Oprah's point. If you feel exploited then you should blame your father, not Oprah. He's the one that put you on the show! Get over yourself!

I really like this, especially the concept of "cheerios moments" This story really rings true to me because my mother, too, has lung cancer. We struggle every day and though we don't have the money to go on the trips to make memories the way their family did, we make our own cheerios moments. I'm 23 and moved home when we found out about my mother's cancer (which was also in stage 4) though we don't have the money to take lavish trips we make sure to cherish every moment we have together. We do small things together like paint each others toe nails and she's been teaching me all of the recipes she used to make me as a child. Some of my favorite moments we have are in our kitchen. Cheerios moments are all about trying to make the best of a bad situation.

The article was elegantly written. But that was not what Zach was trying to get across.
In my opinion, today, Zach is questioning himself if he was 'exploited' by Oprah in discussing details about his mother's death at age 13 in front of an audience. Yes, Oprah likes to have guests to bring on her own tears and those of others.
Perhaps Zach, in retrospect, is feeling some guilt from the money Oprah paid for his and his sister's appearance. He was 13 years old, didn't fully understand dying and death and to this day he is questioning if he was, let's say, emotionally disrespected so that Oprah's ratings would continue rising.
I don't know how his father or guardian allowed him and his sister to go on the show while in the earliest time of them grieving their loss of their mother....I do not know if this experience was fully explained to him before he went on the show, if he agreed to go on the show and if he had follow-up therapy.
Yes, he was exploited by all involved, including the viewers since his appearance on the Oprah show had no effect on him, as he stated. His appearance on the show may have helped others deal with their own losses.
There was no adult to protect him during this time when he was feeling great inner pain. And to this day he needs to write about the experience. What does this tell you?