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!