Straight from The Oprah Podcast
Carl Safina joins Oprah to talk about the inner lives of animals, and what they teach us about love, family, and being human.
Oprah Winfrey Asks Carl Safina, 'Do Dogs Really Love Us?'
Bestselling ecologist Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words and Alfie & Me, joined Oprah to explore the emotional bonds that unite humans and animals—especially the love shared between people and their dogs. He was joined by neuroscientist Dr. Gregory Berns, whose groundbreaking MRI research offers scientific proof that dogs truly love us, too!
Key topics discussed include:
Rethinking our relationship with animals (0:03:20) and the shared emotions between humans and animals (0:09:08).
The question of whether dogs have consciousness (0:10:34) and if they truly love us (0:11:40), with Dr. Berns presenting scientific proof through his MRI research (0:22:25).
The role of dogs in our lives (0:25:40) and their capacity for complex emotions (0:26:57).
Extraordinary true stories of hero dogs who saved their owners' lives, including Gabby's dog saving her from a fire (0:31:46) and Amanda & Gabriel's dog alerting them to Gabriel's stroke (0:36:35).
A segment featuring Christina, founder of Black Women Love Dogs (0:41:42).
Concluding thoughts on what is "Beyond Words" about our relationship to animals (0:50:10).
The Books Behind the Conversation
Alfie & Me:
What Owls Know, What Humans Believe
Alfie & Me by Dr. Carl Safina is a memoir about raising an orphaned screech owl named Alfie and the deep bond that formed between her, Safina, and his wife. Despite her injuries, Alfie not only survived but eventually raised her own wild family.
Beyond this intimate story, the book becomes a reflection on humanity’s uneasy relationship with nature. Safina contrasts Western traditions that separate humans from the natural world with Indigenous perspectives that see all life as interconnected. Through Alfie’s journey, he explores healing, kinship, and the urgent need to restore respect for the living world.
Beyond Words:
What Animals Think and Feel
Dr. Carl Safina's book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, explores the concept of shared emotions and understanding between humans and animals. The book challenges people to rethink their relationship with animals and highlights the idea that there is a shared consciousness and emotional capacity that goes "beyond words" in our connections with the animal world.
Psst… introduce Alfie to the kiddos!
✨ Step Into the Magic of Owls in Our Yard! ✨
Meet Alfie, the Eastern Screech Owl, in Owls in Our Yard!—a children’s book by Carl Safina that will delight kids and grown-ups alike!
Owls in Our Yard! is a beautiful story filled with heartwarming photographs and Carl Safina’s warm narrative. It’s a celebration of the bond between humans and wildlife, perfect for sparking curiosity and joy in young readers and those young at heart.
