The Oprah Podcast
The Oprah Podcast

Nov 12, 2026 · 1h 18m

Oprah puts caregivers at the center of Favorite Things

Oprah’s Favorite Things: Caregivers Get the Surprise of a Lifetime

The celebration reframes gift-giving as recognition for people whose essential care work often goes unseen and unsupported.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1Oprah dedicates her revived Favorite Things tradition to caregivers, from nurses and EMTs to family members supporting loved ones.
  2. 2The gifts emphasize rest, warmth, connection, and practical relief for people whose daily responsibilities leave little room for their own care.
  3. 3Allen Levi and Vicki Rawlings connect caregiving to intimate acts of love, resilience, and creative transformation.

Don't miss

Allen Levi describes how caring for his brother was defined by small acts of love, connecting the gift spectacle to the intimate reality of caregiving.

The brief

Oprah revives Favorite Things after 15 years, dedicating the holiday event to caregivers and opening with Claudina’s account of caring for her daughter with a rare genetic disorder.

The gifts move from pajamas, sleep aids, mattresses, and bath rituals to cooking tools, travel essentials, warm clothing, and technology—comfort framed as practical support.

Author Allen Levi discusses Theo of Golden and the small acts of love that shaped his experience caring for his brother, giving the celebration its emotional center.

Artist Vicki Rawlings and her daughter Brooke describe how a health crisis led to botanical artwork made from found natural materials, turning recovery into a shared creative practice.

A foldable iPhone, a Jacob Collier performance, and Oprah’s closing blessing extend the episode’s central message: caregivers need connection, gratitude, and care returned to them.

Books & mentions

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