Sharing Her Story

When Oprah Winfrey was a kid, she moved around a lot. Her childhood was chaotic. But while she was still in high school, she got a job reading the news for a local radio station. She went on to become one of the world’s most famous talk show hosts.

Winfrey’s story has been an inspiration for many people. And it’s included in the latest season of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: The Podcast. In the podcast, notable women read from the popular book series of the same name. They read the stories of extraordinary women in a fairy tale format. This season includes episodes about entertainer Josephine Baker, gymnast Simone Biles, and others.

Winfrey’s story is read by her best friend, Gayle King. King is a broadcast journalist who has known Winfrey for many years. “I marvel at her accomplishments,” she told TIME for Kids. “She doesn’t have a family legacy to help her. She did this. She’s been breaking barriers and ceilings since she was 19.”

King hopes kids are inspired by the true stories on the podcast. She says Winfrey’s story shows girls how much they can accomplish if they believe in themselves. “You have to be fearless,” she says. “You have to know that you will make mistakes, and that’s okay, and they do not define you.”