I loved this episode because we witnessed a turning point for a contestant. Cameron went far in the beginning because, given his business background, he was smart and organized. In a competition like this you have to be efficient with your time since everyone is always up against a clock. But in the early challenges, Cameron didn’t show as much heart as some of the other contestants and there were times when the other judges and myself were conflicted. We were judging not only on raising money but whether or not the givers connected with the people they were helping. Did the giver understand the person's struggle or was it just about having the most impressive reveal? And, until Atlanta, we weren't convinced Cameron was making those heartfelt connections.

But I had the pleasure of interviewing Cameron at the toll booth and first of all, he did a really good job managing the toll! I think everyone in America, after watching what it takes to be a toll booth worker, should have a newfound respect for that job–-you have to be very organized and a quick thinker. But what I was more impressed with was that he really bonded with Beverly, who couldn’t have been more different than him, and that he went back to her home and made those same connections with her daughters. And that's the moment I saw a change in Cameron, and in elimination the judges told him that. Plus, the way Cameron brought the challenge full circle when he went back and paid the tolls for the other cars is what made the judges fall in love with him – he had moved from strictly a business person to someone who saw the whole giving back big picture. That was a turning point for him.

I made an unexpected connection of my own during this episode. I got to visit Rachael at Palmetto Senior Center. When I got there, Rachael was quilting with a group of women in their 70s and they wanted me to try to quilt. I don't spend very much time with elderly women, and I don't quilt that often either. Yet all of a sudden, I was having so much fun quilting and talking with these firecracker women that I had to admit to the producers that for a second I forgot my job because I was having so much fun!

It just goes to show that you really never know who you will connect with. So many of us only expose ourselves to others in our same social, professional or financial situation. But giving back is the perfect opportunity to start making connections that we wouldn’t otherwise pursue. And those often turn out to be the most lasting and the most life-changing relationships, because they open our eyes to a whole new world.

As moved as I was by this episode, next week's really is a heart-wrencher. But I will say that the givers are charged with making miracles happen – and it was a challenge that was incredibly close to my own heart. I'll blog about that next week, but you need to tune in next Sunday first!

When I was asked to be on "Oprah's Big Give," I hadn't heard about the show yet. I was at home, it was about 7:30 at night, and I was on my way upstairs to feed the kids when the phone rang. I answered, and the voice on the other end was Oprah! So, naturally, I said "Hi, Oprah. Let me go get Chris for you." And she said, "No, I'm calling for you." She was on the phone with the production team, and they told me all about the show and asked if I wanted to be a judge. I was in shock for four days!

I spent the weekend thinking about whether or not I would do it—not because I didn't want to, just because being a judge on a television show was so out of the realm of what I've done. Plus, I'm a mom and a wife and I wanted to be sure I could fit it in my schedule. But then Chris told me that if I want to do it, I should just do it. Plus, he had just finished doing a movie, so he was great and totally played "Mr. Mom" while I worked.

Then, after the initial shock wore off, I was in awe of the show's concept. And then, once I arrived on the set for the first day and met the contestants and really understood what the show was going to be, I just felt so much pride. It's the television version of what I do everyday in my own life—I spend an awful lot of time speaking on behalf of giving back. And one of my big things that I always say is that you don’t have to be rich to give back. If you take an honest look at other people's lives, there's always something you can do to help. What I was so proud of with "Oprah's Big Give" is that we were able to get that message across.

I first met the contestants in the airport hangar, and we, as judges, really didn't have a lot of time with them. We met them briefly, but we didn't get to speak with them. But here's what I knew immediately: It was the most energetic group of people I'd never seen in my life! We were cracking up at how excited they were—especially when they met Oprah!

There isn't one person who stood out so much that I thought, "They will go far." But once we got to the first elimination, and we read the info on what each team had been up to, we could see who was hardworking, who put their own contacts to use, and who was creative. And of course, we were also looking at whether they actually addressed the needs of the individuals they were helping. By the first elimination, I thought I could see some stars. Brandi stood out for me—she's just so super cute and peppy and sweet. She has that personality that really jumps out at you. And Carlana, of course, is also awesome. She does some amazing things—she's in a wheelchair and she flies a plane!

I was definitely worried about the first elimination. But there was a strict criteria we had to judge by—creativity, leadership, presentation and accomplishment—so that helped us in the first judging. It was difficult the first time because everyone was new, both the judges and contestants. For me, Eric and Stephen were the absolute winners of that first challenge. And there was no doubt that Marlene was going to get kicked off. She has a great personality—you'd want her on your team to cheer you on and keep you pepped up, but not to do the work.