The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

This week, Danielle is joined by Alex Aster, the prolific, Romantasy Queen of Booktok. Coming out of 2025, in which she published four novels, Alex is back with Starside, her first foray into adult fiction – and, later this year, Barbie: Dreamscape, a YA retelling of the beloved Mattel doll. Alex and Danielle talk perseverance in publishing, the power of storytelling, and which romantasy tropes give Alex the ick (spoiler: hardly any of them do). BOOKS MENTIONED: A Guide to Literary Agents by Robert Lee Brewer Lightlark Series by Alex Aster Starside by Alex Aster Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster Curse of the Forgotten City by Alex Aster Summer in the City by Alex Aster Barbie Dreamscape by Alex Aster See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode, Danielle sits down with Rufi Thorpe, the author of Margot’s Got Money Troubles, the wildly original novel that’s now been adapted into a highly anticipated Apple TV+ series. They talk about the chaos and comedy of motherhood, the reality of being in your twenties with no roadmap, and the power of choosing your own path even when it makes people uncomfortable. Plus, Rufi reveals her delightfully messy writing habits and gives some fun BTS details from the show. BOOKS MENTIONED: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Danielle is hanging out in an icon’s closet. And not just any icon – Lisa F*cking Rinna. Fresh off her book tour for her new memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, Lisa is here and ready to show up as her full self – silly, joyful and growing — always growing! Lisa takes Danielle behind the scenes of writing her memoir, deep dives into some juuuicy Real Housewives drama – and even devises a little acting role for herself, should, you know, the opportunity arise. BOOKS MENTIONED: You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It by Lisa Rinna Pretty Mess by Ericka Jayne Believe Me by Yolanda Hadid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re talking with author (and puzzle entrepreneur) Rachel Hochhauser about the March Reese’s Book Club Pick, Lady Tremaine. It’s not just a re-telling of Cinderella — it’s an un-telling that dares to ask: what if the wicked stepmother wasn’t wicked … but a mom trying her best to provide for her children? And what if a marriage isn’t a happily ever after … but the beginning of a whole new story? Danielle and Rachel talk puzzle-solving strategies, falconry, and decentering men and romance in women’s stories. You may think you know the story of Cinderella, but you’ve never read it like this. BOOKS MENTIONED: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Cinderella by Charles Perrault Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re time traveling with Phillipa Gregory, prolific author and feminist historian (and maybe Danielle’s new bestie???). Philippa is the woman behind over 50 historical fiction novels that trace narratives across Medieval and Tudor England, including The Other Boleyn Girl, which was adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Her latest novel, The Boleyn Traitor, follows the infamous Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law, Jane Boleyn, through her life as a spy in the English court. And this story, as so many of Philippa Gregory’s do, brings a complicated, sometimes unlikeable, largely forgotten woman to the forefront. Because Philippa doesn’t really trust pure, pious women. She’s drawn instead to the truth – that women in from history are just as layered and diverse as we are today. BOOKS MENTIONED: The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory Wild Acre by Philippa Gregory The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Richard III by William Shakespeare This Little World: A New History of Tudor and Stuart England by Nandini Das The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer Ulysses by James Joyce Mine Own Executioner by Nigel Balchin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is a big one. For the first time ever, three romance royals sit down together: Beverly Jenkins, Tia Williams, and Kennedy Ryan. They talk about pioneering Black love stories when the industry didn’t make space for them, reshaping modern romance with depth and desire, and why a happily ever after is anything but predictable — it’s powerful. From writing Black female desire without apology to protecting your creative vision, this conversation is funny, honest, and deeply moving. And at the end the three create the most unhinged romance ever! BOOKS MENTIONED: Night Song by Beverly Jenkins Iola Leroy by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Frances Harper: Poems, Prose, and Sketches – This collection features “Bury Me in a Free Land”. by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger The Perfect Find by Tia Williams Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan Seven Days in June by Tia Williams Through the Storm by Beverly Jenkins Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Hazard and Somerset by Gregory Ashe Ghalen by Walter Mosely Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re talking to director and screenplay writer Maggie Gyllenhaal about her upcoming film, The Bride! Maggie reveals how she gave a character from the 1930s with only a few minutes of screentime a big dose of main character energy. Danielle and Maggie also discuss the unthinkable thoughts of Mary Shelley, IMAX screenings, and what it was like to narrate a 48-hour audio book. Plus, get a sneak peek of the March Reese’s Book Club Pick, Lady Tremaine. BOOKS MENTIONED: Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Mating by Norman Rush See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re back with the author of the February’s Reese’s Book Club pick, Philippa Malicka, and we’re diving deep into her debut novel, In Her Defense. A whirlpool of love, lies and deceit, In Her Defense raises the chilling question: If you can’t trust your own memories, what else, or who else, can you rely on? Danielle and Philippa get into process, character development, reclaiming your own agency – and how, sometimes, writing a new story can feel like falling in love. BOOKS MENTIONED In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka Hamlet by Wiliam Shakespeare The Glass Essay by Anne Carson Stranger, Baby by Emily Berry Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbra Trapido Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Dogger by Shirley Hughes The Secret History by Donna Tartt Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special live episode of Bookmarked, we’re celebrating Laura Dave’s newest novel, The First Time I Saw Him—January’s pick from Reese's Book Club—and the highly anticipated second season of The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+. Danielle Robay is joined on stage by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Laura Dave, Angourie Rice, Judy Greer, and Rita Wilson for a candid, funny, and deeply thoughtful conversation about bringing the story into its next chapter. BOOKS MENTIONED The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave The Cocktail Party by T.S. Eliot The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad Trust by Hernan Diaz Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Heartburn by Nora Ephron James by Percival Everett Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice & Kate Rice See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever struggled to feel like you matter, you’re not alone. Feeling like you matter is as fundamental a need as food or water, yet it’s a need going unmet by many. Danielle sits down with journalist and author Jennifer Wallace, who spent over six years researching and interviewing everyday people about losing and regaining that sense of mattering. They discuss what it really means to matter, the role social media plays in the mattering crisis, and how to show up for your loved ones and make them valued. Books Mentioned Mattering by Jennifer Wallace Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten Choosing Civility by P. M. Forni Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Doorman by Chris Pavone The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, M.D. and Marc Schulz, Ph.D See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What better way to kick off the month of love than with the queen of historical romance, Julia Quinn. The Bridgerton author chats all about how her series became a global phenomenon, the unexpected ways Bridgerton has reshaped the genre, and why historical romance deserves its moment in the spotlight again. And can you believe Julia almost became a doctor instead of a novelist? She’s sharing some behind-the-scenes insights for season 4 of Bridgerton and reminding us why we should still believe in happy endings. BOOKS MENTIONED In Her Defense by Phillipa Malicka Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn First Time Caller by B.K. Borison The Last Lady B by Eloisa James An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase The Duke and I by Julia Quinn The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It feels like everyone is talking about self care these days. But what's it actually supposed to look like? If you ask the TikTok algorithm, you'll get a lot of 12-step skincare routines, bullet journals and red light masks. But is self care really just about what you buy? Today, our guest Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is going beyond consumerism to talk about how we can add value to our lives...without swiping our credit cards. She's unpacking key lessons from her bestselling book REAL Self Care—from effectively setting boundaries, letting go of self-judgement, and using gratitude to get through even the darkest times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Bright Side, Simone Boyce talks with endocrinologist and Weightless author Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen about GLP-1 medications, food noise, hormones, and why “eat less, move more” doesn’t work for so many people. From epigenetics and menopause to muscle preservation and long-term health, this conversation reframes weight loss as body recomposition—and replaces shame with science. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bright Side is off this week, but we wanted to revisit one of our favorite episodes. Back in September, Simone sat down with Emmy-nominated actor Karen Pittman. She touched hearts last summer with Netflix's Judy Blume remake, Forever, and in the fall, she shook things up in the fourth season of The Morning Show on Apple TV+. After three seasons of watching Karen's character, Mia Jordan, follow the company line even at her own peril, the UBA executive is coming into her own and taking what's hers. It's a thrilling arc for a dynamic character, and one that Karen knows well. Acting was her second-act career, one that she fought for amid the ups and downs of her personal life. After grinding in the business for 20 years, Karen says it's the journey that she appreciates; a journey that has helped her leave imposter syndrome behind and take more risks — in life and her career. You can stream the fourth season of The Morning Show anytime on Apple TV+. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, world traveler Jessica Nabongo takes us on a whirlwind journey through her experiences visiting 195 countries -- and the surprising lessons she picked up along the way. From eating like a local to making friends just about anywhere on Earth, Jessica reminds us that the world is far kinder, funnier and more connected than we often think. Jessica shares the stories that changed her, the strangers who surprised her, and why solo travel has made her more trusting, more grounded and more open to the good in people. This conversation is a joyful, eye-opening reminder that exploring the world can help you rediscover the best parts of it — and yourself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kasia Urbaniak teaches women how to ask for what they want and reclaim their power. Today on The Bright Side, we sit down with Kasia to explore her multifaceted background, discuss the pitfalls of people-pleasing, and unpack power dynamics in everyday life. She also guides us through practical exercises to help identify our true desires, confidently speak up for ourselves, and take control of the moment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a pimple on your chin you are tempted to squeeze? If so, step away from the mirror and press play on our conversation today with Sofie Pavitt, a licensed esthetician and skincare product designer. Sofie has spent years developing Sofie Pavitt Face, her viral skin care product line, which includes everything from her mandelic clearing serum to the omega-rich moisturizer. Her work gets to the root of acne, is backed by science, and is fueled by a sense of fun. She unpacks for us how acne is made, why it affects us well past our teenage years, and how to love our skin in every decade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Cameron has become synonymous with creativity. She has sold millions of copies of her breakthrough book, The Artist’s Way, and is here to discuss her new book, The Daily Artist’s Way: 366 Meditations for Creative Living. From morning pages to believing mirrors, her tools have been tested by time and used by millions. In our conversation, she reminds us that creativity isn’t some elusive, mysterious entity. It is within all of us if we sit down, let go, and allow it to come through us. If you want more creativity in your own life, get your journal out and press play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably know Jordin Sparks from generational bangers like “No Air,” “One Step at a Time” and “Battlefield.” Or as the youngest winner in American Idol history. Or from her many show business accolades. But before Jordin became a certified pop princess, Simone knew her as just…a normal teenage girl. Today on the podcast, these two old friends reconnect to talk about the whirlwind Jordin has experienced in life, love and career since they first met two decades ago at summer camp. Jordin opens up about coming of age in the spotlight, the best wisdom she received from Whitney Houston, and how her most famous pop hit almost didn’t happen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and CEO of Betches Media, joins Simone to reflect on how a $12 WordPress blog created with her childhood best friends grew into an unprecedented cultural force. She shares the origin of Betches’ iconic voice, the leap from pre-med to comedy, the fears and freedoms of coming out of anonymity, and the creative and financial discipline that fueled the company’s 15-year evolution. Aleen also opens up about redefining ambition and learning to trust her own voice, before she and Simone rewind the biggest pop culture moments of 2025, from Bennifer’s breakup to Beyoncé’s historic Grammy win, Taylor Swift's engagement, and the unforgettable Coldplay jumbotron scandal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.