Oprah | List Producer

A Gratitude List

August 24, 2011/8 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Fellow List Producers, Health, Learning With a List, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success, TV, Wine/by Paula Rizzo

Have you ever started to feel sorry for yourself and gotten in a real funk? That happened to me this week and it’s so unlike me. I’m not an unhappy person! I’m usually very upbeat and spunky. I put other people in a good mood. So when I found myself slipping into a foul mood I stopped myself immediately. What’s my problem? I have so much to be grateful for!

1. My job: Just today I had a wonderful shoot at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx with the Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham. Chris travels all over the world looking for medicinal plants and medicines. I joked with him today that being in the Garden with him was the closest I’d get to going to the Amazon with him. I’ve worked with Chris for nearly 3 years and have featured him here as a fellow list maker. Read more

A List of Spa Vacations

August 22, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Health, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Travel, Weddings, Wine/by Paula Rizzo

The wedding we went to this weekend was gorgeous. The night before the nuptials a wicked storm rolled through New Paltz and cut out power to the entire town, including our hotel and the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. What an adventure! Luckily we got power back in time for dinner and the wedding the next day.

The ceremony and reception was at Mohonk Mountain House, which is absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend taking a trip to see it or stay there if you can. It’s very expensive but I think it would be a great experience. Read more

The Ultimate Magazine List

June 22, 2011/3 Comments/in Beauty, Benefits of List Making, Fashion, Food, Health, Increase Productivity, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I love reading magazines. It’s my guilty little pleasure and has become a borderline obsession. My husband makes fun of me because our coffee table is always overflowing with the last few months of my favorites. But I have to have them all and reference them to take notes. Eventually I give them to my mother-in-law because she also has this magazine addiction.

As a self-proclaimed magazine connoisseur – here is my list of favorites that you must try:

1. Health Magazine: It has the perfect mix of mind, body and soul – and recipes too! They have great contests and events for their readers. One of my favorite features is the “To-Don’t List,” which highlights tasks overwhelmed women don’t have the worry about. Perfect! I also like the “What the Yuck” column by Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa – I worked with her briefly when we were both at WPIX in New York City. Read more

5 Lessons I’ve Learned from Oprah

May 25, 2011/12 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Learning With a List, Oprah, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Today is historic. Today is the airing of the last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. If you’ve been following my blog you know how much I love Oprah. It was on my life list to make it to a taping of her show – been there, done that! It was fabulous.

As a journalist – I’ve gotten my inspiration from women like Oprah. I would watch her show everyday with my mother and I wanted to be just like her. Oprah has said many times that if she weren’t in TV she would have been a teacher. Well she’s been just that to many people in all walks of life through the years, including me.

Here’s my list of some of the lessons I’ve learned at “Oprah University:”

1. Give:

Oprah’s been both praised and ridiculed for all the gifts she’s given away in her “favorite things” episodes. From iPads to lasagna pans – she’s given it all away to screaming fans. Don’t forget the free trip to Australia and oh yeah…the “you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car,” giveaway. Read more

Oprah Confiscated My List!

April 14, 2011/9 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Oprah/by Paula Rizzo

Chicago has great food, great people and great energy. But something very strange happened when I got to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” studio. After all my research and planning about what I might ask Oprah – the Harpo security staff confiscated my list! I know! Crazy, right?

They announced they would take our cell phones and cameras. I get that. But they also took my reporter’s notebook, my favorite mechanical pencil and my business cards! Maybe they thought I would rush the stage and ask for an autograph? Please – I’m a harmless list maker!

A few days before getting to Chicago– we were told we’d be viewing the new documentary called “I Am” by director Tom Shadyac before the show taping. We would be able to ask questions in an open-mic forum to Tom and OPRAH!!!!!! So I read as much as I could about the film on my flight from NYC to CHI. What can I say? I’ve always been an overachiever – which my husband will say is a euphemism for a nerd. Read more