Photo credit: OWN
Iyanla Vanzant is heading back to the stage for two powerful new television events. OWN has announced October premiere dates for a pair of OWN Spotlight specials hosted by the Emmy-winning author and life coach.
The specials mark Vanzant’s return to a live studio audience format after several years away from that setting. The announcement comes shortly after her show “Iyanla: The Inside Fix” premiered as the top-rated program among African American women.
Mothers and daughters confront painful truths
The first special, “Mothers & Daughters: Torn Apart with Iyanla Vanzant,” premieres October 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Vanzant works with three generations of mothers and daughters as they confront difficult truths in front of a live audience.
The special aims to show healing happening in real time rather than through a scripted or edited format. Vanzant has built much of her career around this kind of unfiltered, in-person confrontation with pain.
A second special tackles communication gaps
The following week brings “What Black Men Say vs. What Black Women Hear with Iyanla Vanzant,” airing October 16 at the same time. This special gathers a live audience for a candid conversation about the communication divide between Black men and women.
Vanzant has spoken about how many relationship struggles stem from years of unmet needs and unspoken truths rather than any single moment. She has described her approach as helping people listen and speak beyond their fear in order to reconnect.
Where and when to watch
Both specials air on OWN before becoming available for streaming the next day on discovery+ and HBO Max. Bunim/Murray Productions, a Banijay Americas company, produced both specials for the network.
OWN Spotlight specials regularly feature candid conversations and documentaries hosted by Oprah Winfrey and other creators. The series focuses on stories and issues shaping Black communities across the country.
Why the conversations matter
These specials offer a rare space for Black women in particular, who often carry families and communities through hard seasons without much room to process their own pain. The format invites vulnerability without the fear of judgment that can come with more public conversations.
Vanzant’s work goes beyond identifying what has broken between people. Her specials focus on helping participants repair relationships and rediscover the grace and honesty needed to move forward.
Source: OWN press release, Warner Bros. Discovery Communications
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