Listen to Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King discuss their friendship

When I imagine the perfect friendship, I think of what Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King have. For about 47 years, through life and career changes, they publicly cheered each other on with enthusiasm and love. What’s their secret to keeping a friendship so strong for so long? I wanted to know, so I called them to talk about their nearly half-century together.

This week, as part of our 6-day Energy Challenge, we explored the parts of life that fuel us, such as rest, exercise, food and a sense of pleasure. Healthy friendships like Winfrey and King’s are, unsurprisingly, high on the list. They are a crucial ingredient for well-being and an important part of feeling uplifted and invigorated.

Winfrey, the media mogul, and King, a longtime journalist, met in 1976, when they worked at a television station in Baltimore. One night, when a snowstorm hit, King couldn’t get home and Winfrey invited King to spend the night. They immediately connected and have been best friends ever since.

“We’ve kind of become the gold standard for friendship,” Winfrey said. “I actually think that’s deserved.”

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• They are completely honest with each other. “She’s a blunt truth teller,” King said of Winfrey. “Even if you don’t want to hear it.”

• They enjoy each other’s company. They are in a committed relationship without “a lot of drama or theatrics,” King said, adding that they “enjoy each other very much.” (Given the number of times they made fun of each other during our conversation, I agree.)

• They can communicate at a glance. “Sometimes we both think, ‘I want to stab myself in the eye with a fork right now.’ Oh my God. Why am I here?’” Winfrey said of some of the events they have attended. “A few times Gayle has said, ‘Should I give you my fork?'”

Watch the interview: The iconic friendship of Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King