In 1985 Richard Yao had just finished N.Y.U. Law School and was an associate in a big Wall Street law firm.
Before N.Y.U., he had attended Yale Divinity School - haunted by his Fundamentalist upbringing among Jerry Falwell’s missionaries in the Philippines. By the 1980’s, Falwell headed the so-called Moral Majority, with membership in the millions.
Richard dreamed of launching "Fundamentalists Anonymous," to help those addicted to too much religion overcome by the Fundamentalist Mindset. "There is a way out!" was his motto.
I am easily annoyed by visionaries without, um, moxie. If you dream of castles in the sky around me, be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and build a foundation!
I did what any good friend should have done. I took out a two-line ad in the Village Voice. (For younger readers, think Craigslist.) "There is a way out!" it said.
Phil Donahue continues to appear across the U.S.
A producer from The Phil Donahue Show called immediately. (For younger readers, think Oprah.) Phil’s shows generally focused on controversial issues such as abortion, civil rights, and war protests. Phil wanted us on the show.
Our message of "religious addiction" -- the first time mentioned on national television -- aired May 17, 1985. A time before e-mail, FaceBook, Twitter. Yet, more than 17,000 people who had been burned by this experience responded.
I suffered a hernia carrying heavy canvas sacks of mail back from the post office. The three telephones we had installed in our apartment rang off the hook.
Phil was sympathetic because he understood that personal stories are the most powerful weapon against bigotry. Raised Roman Catholic and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Phil told me he, too, had suffered from the Fundamentalist Mindset.
He knew that if we identified with tens of thousands of people who had been burned by the Fundamentalist experience -- economic and psychological victims of local preachers and national TV evangelists -- we would make a huge impact. A real difference in people’s lives.
We did. After four years of massive media attention -- every newspaper and every network -- and even testifying in Congress, we changed the playing field. The New York Times covered us closely.
The infamous Jerry Falwell retired, Jim Bakker landed in jail. Heritage USA and the PTL Club -- the money-making funnels -- folded.
All this began with just three appearances on The Phil Donahue Show. What power this man had, I marveled. No wonder he had been awarded an Emmy 19 times.
If Phil shot 30 shows a year -- he ran on national TV for 20 years -- how many other organizations must he have influenced and made stronger? How many other individual lives made better? Phil’s Museum of Broadcast Communications bio credits him with possibly inventing the talk show platform.
In 2007, Phil made the anti-war film Body of War. The film tells the story of a severely disabled Iraq War veteran and his turbulent postwar adjustments. I will be reviewing it here.
I ran into Phil last week -- the first time in 24 years. He was MC for a benefit of the perennial progressive candidate Mark Green in SoHo, New York City.
We had both weathered the years well. Mark, whom I also met in the mid-80’s, looked great as well too.
Phil introduced Mark’s warm-up act, Joy Behar of The View. He was so complimentary, she later joked she should run for Public Advocate instead of Mark.
After 24 years, it was great to see Phil again, and to meet Joy and actor-activist-talk show host Montel Williams.
It was a celebrity event. Tennis legend John McEnroe and his wife, rock-in-roll star Patty Smythe were also there.
Phil never minces words and always calls a spade a spade.
Media mavens like Phil and Oprah -- like Joy and Montel -- have a unique opportunity to better humanity from on top of their soapboxes. Phil and Montel are collectively the two longest male talk show hosts in America.
In addition to running the organization I founded ten years ago -- Orphans International Worldwide -- I am working on becoming a media maven.
As a freelancer for the New York Times, and a columnist ("blogger") for the Huffington Post and Daily Kos, I am doing what I can to make our world better though the written word. It is a start.
Phil Donahue featured me when I was 26 years old and his focus changed my life. I have carried his autographed book Donahue: My Own Story with me on many trips.
I aspire to make as much of a difference in the lives of young leaders -- and the world -- as Phil has. Thanks, Phil – the world is a much better place because of you.
Edited by Vanessa Kim (www.oneworldexp.com).