I know firsthand that educators are the most overworked and underpaid people around. It influenced me in that it was always about family first, and education was right next to that. There was never any question about whether I was going to college.

Being on TV in front of people is a lot different than sitting in a dark room with a microphone. When I had my radio show, I was on four hours a day for 20-something years. If you put a live microphone in front of Mother Teresa for that amount of time, she'd piss somebody off.

Being tall and big was probably more painful than being black.

Believe it or not, there are interesting elements in everyone. So, if I can't talk to everybody for at least 7 to 10 minutes, then I'm in the wrong profession.

I'm most proud of our son, having suffered several miscarriages before having him. As for the next mountain, it takes so much to maintain what's already going on that I don't have time to think about it. But I want some more seasons of the TV show, I'd like to write another book, and eventually, I'd like to retire and take vacations with my husband like my mom and dad do.

I love the confidence! I am who I am, and I know who I am. I respect what you have to say, but I'm not listening to you, and your opinion is not affecting me. I am a 49-year-old woman. Don't tell me! That's what I love!

I'm not a dancer, and it was very time-consuming. But I met great people, and it was flattering to be asked to be on. You don't understand how demanding that show is until you're on the inside. That is real work. Real work!