In December of 1983, Bryan Stevenson hadn't yet become the renowned equal justice attorney he is today. He was just a 23-year-old law student working in an internship, eager to embark on the first phase of his professional career. That's when he had a life-changing visit to see a convict on death row.

Stevenson had arrived at the Jackson, Georgia, prison all those decades ago to tell a condemned man that he wasn't at risk of execution. Though he was delivering good news, Stevenson was visibly nervous. He recalls the experience during an interview with Oprah for "SuperSoul Sunday."