2012 Honoree

Daphne Oz

Co-host, ABC's "The Chew"

“I grew up going to church and I respect and value that influence in my life to look for a higher purpose and the synchronicity of the universe with all people, and of all people with each other. But, I also recognize that religion cannot be called upon to enforce strong morals, selflessness, and compassion–we have to make these commitments for ourselves and for society.”

What do you think of the media’s portrayal of women?

It would seem that discussing change is more difficult than discussing convention. It’s more comfortable to see anything as being defined simply and concisely rather than looking at the complexities. As this applies to women, I think the media often gives us a one-dimensional treatment that shortchanges so many of the things women should be praised for.

Have you seen any changes in the political landscape for women in the past few years? What are they?

I don’t see a change in the political landscape so much as in the social landscape and the way women are fighting for the right to “have it all” in a balanced sense, by which I mean to be recognized as complete beings. The challenge is accepting that women’s roles may have changed, but I don’t think our core beings have all that much. All these components have been wrapped up in the female psyche forever: women are simultaneously bold and meek; nurturing and ambitious; dependent and independent. The only recent development is how freely we are able to share all of these sides of ourselves. I don’t really understand why it’s so often framed as though two intricately related sides of a developed female identity are seen as being at odds.

Do you feel the extreme left and right wings of U.S. politics are destroying the United in the United States, or is it just healthy debate?

Absolutely destroying. Our inability to have rational dialogue that combines the best of both worlds and tries to find common ground is rooted in the fact that so much of the debate is emotionally, rather than rationally, based. It’s tough to argue emotion because it’s much harder for people to change how they feel than how they think. Speaking for young people coming up in the world now who look around us and don’t see that any party is truly looking out for the good of our democracy, its citizens, or, frankly, the planet in any sane, well-described way is very disconcerting.

Do you feel the decline of religion in the rest of the Western World will have an effect on U.S. society? If so, will it be good or bad?

I grew up going to church and I respect and value that influence in my life to look for a higher purpose and the synchronicity of the universe with all people, and of all people with each other. But, I also recognize that religion cannot be called upon to enforce strong morals, selflessness, and compassion–we have to make these commitments for ourselves and for society.

Can you tell us about one of the biggest challenges in your life that you think helped you become the person you are today?

When I was going through the process of pitching the proposal for my first book, The Dorm Room Diet, I was a high school student facing rejection after rejection. Sixteen different publishers all turned down my idea for a health and wellness guide written for young adults. The seventeenth was Esther Margolis, then president and founder of Newmarket Press, who loved the idea and ran with it. And here we are, a bestseller! It taught me that the opportunity is always right around the corner, that persistence pays off, and that if you love and believe in a project, an idea, a person, it is worth pushing past your comfort zone to manifest the dream.

Do today’s young people face a bigger challenge than you did?

I think today’s recent graduates, for all the chaos of the current job market, are actually looking at a much freer opportunity as they choose their career paths. In my parents’ and grandparents’ generations, you became a lawyer, a doctor, a businessman for life, or you stayed at home. Now, not only are we encouraged to make our own path and take risks, we are also encouraged to try many different options and to have multiple different careers. The focus is on doing something you can be the best at because you love to do it, not just to put in time to pay the bills.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t worry!

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Can I have two? Julia Child and Elizabeth Taylor. First, we would make supper and drink lots of wine, laughing and having a grand old time listening to all their stories! And then, we would round out the evening playing dress up with Liz’s jewels.