The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

J. Courtney Sullivan is the author of “The Cliffs,” Reese’s Book Club pick for July. Known for her multilayered generational narratives, her work has received acclaim from icons like Gloria Steinem, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon. In today's episode, she discusses the central themes of her novel — the constraints and opportunities determined by a woman’s moment in history, and the poetry fou...

Daniel Musto is a celebrity stylist, co-founder of the clothing line Daniel Diamond, and TV personality. He joins Simone and Danielle to pop off about the hottest summer trends: from skorts and thong sandals to the rise of brat green, courtesy of Charli XCX. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian food icon and an Emmy-winning TV personality whose energy is as infectious as her culinary expertise is deep. The former host of “Everyday Italian” and “Giada at Home” shares insights into her early days at the Food Network, breaking stereotypes throughout her career, and the inspiration behind her latest chapter — the launch of her new platform, Giadzy .  See omn...

Finding ways to improve your sleep may feel daunting, but we've got you covered. Dr. Rebecca Robbins is a sleep scientist, Harvard professor, and co-author of “Sleep for Success.” For Wellness Wednesday, she joins the show to teach us how to maximize the quality of our sleep, break down the meaning of sleep debt, and provide us with tips we can bring into our bedtime rituals — starting tonight. Pl...

Olympic great Briana Scurry was the goalkeeper for the historic, gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team in 1996, the year women's soccer debuted at the Olympics. From her childhood dreams of sporting glory to her personal triumphs and challenges, Briana reflects on a pioneering career defined by extraordinary resilience and determination. She discusses her fight for equal compensation...

Comedians, writers, and partners in life Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne join the show to talk about how they first met and fell in love, co-directing their new film “Am I Ok?” starring Dakota Johnson, and a meeting with Reese Witherspoon that may or may not have gone off the rails. Plus, a party bus with Pedro Pascal?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malika Andrews is the host of ESPN’s “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown.” She joins Simone and Danielle to celebrate WNBA All-Star Weekend and to discuss Serena Williams standing in her power. They also pop off about this year’s Emmy nominations (how is “The Bear” a comedy?), and honor the legacies of three greats we lost recently — Shannen Doherty, Richard Simmons, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.  See omnys...

Sanya Richards-Ross is a record-setting athlete and the second most decorated women's track and field Olympian of all time. She’s an Olympic champion and commentator, and has been featured on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” She's joining Simone and Danielle to talk about resilience, what it's like to compete at the highest level in the world, and what she's most looking forward to this summer in...

From P!nk to Alicia Keys to Olympian Shawn Johnson, celebrity fitness trainer Jeanette Jenkins has worked in the health and wellness industry for over 30 years with a range of clientele, from entertainers to athletes. She’s the founder and president of The Hollywood Trainer LLC and the creator of “The Hollywood Trainer Club.” Her mission is simple – to help everyone find the athlete inside them. F...

Jo Piazza is a bestselling author, podcaster and journalist. Her latest novel, “The Sicilian Inheritance,” is based on her own unraveling of a true story about her great-great-grandmother's mysterious death. She talks to Simone and Danielle about all the forms of storytelling she is interested in, how her family has shaped who she is as a writer, and the ways in which fiction and nonfiction inters...

Rebecca Lowe is one of the world’s leading soccer sportscasters, having spent over 20 years covering the sport on both sides of the Atlantic for outlets including the BBC, ESPN, and currently at NBC, now in her sixth consecutive NBC Olympics Daytime Host assignment. In the run up to Paris, Rebecca joins us with an insider’s take on not one but many different athletes’ roads to the Olympics. Rebecc...

Julissa Bermudez is a TV host, beauty and lifestyle influencer, and founder of república skin. She joins the show to Pop Off about A'ja Wilson's historic basketball achievement before diving into entertainment news, including newly announced "Devil Wears Prada" and “Shrek” movies. The conversation heats up with Kim Kardashian's new legal series and Ellen DeGeneres' rumored retirement from Hollywoo...

Alexene Farol Follmuth shares her journey from writing fan fiction under a pseudonym (Olivie Blake) to publishing young adult novels like “Twelfth Knight,” the summer YA pick for Reese’s Book Club. She delves into her passion for adapting Shakespeare and infusing personal experiences — such as dealing with bipolar disorder and societal expectations of women — into her works. Alexene's insights off...

Frustrated with viral skin care misinformation, Dr. Shereene Idriss posted her first video debunking myths in 2018. Since then, Dr. Idriss has grown a community of of more than three million skincare “nerds” across her social media, and has founded a science-backed skincare line called Dr. Idriss. For Wellness Wednesday,  the Internet’s favorite board-certified dermatologist joins the show to shar...

American breaker (not “breakdancing!”) Sunny Choi joins Danielle and Simone in the studio to talk about her preparation ahead of the Paris Games. In just a few weeks, she will represent the United States in the first-ever Olympics to feature breaking. Sunny opens up about finding the courage to turn her entire life upside in her early thirties and pursue a second shot at the Olympics. See omnystud...

Glynnis MacNicol, author of "I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself," joins the show to discuss how single women can (and do) embrace joy and self-discovery — and how to redefine success and pleasure in middle age. Plus, Simone and Danielle get into societal pressures, gender biases in success timelines, and examples of late bloomers who defied societal expectations.  See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Today, we revisit some of the amazing food and wine experts who have graced our show. It starts with Joanne Lee Molinaro, the Korean Vegan, who shares her journey blending Korean culture with veganism, emphasizing compassion and empathy in her recipes. Next, Allison Morris, a level-three sommelier, imparts some wine wisdom — like why you shouldn't trust the second-cheapest bottle on a menu. Then,...

On this special 4th of July episode, we celebrate American women who shaped history. Mattie Kahn, author of "Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America's Revolutions," shares stories that are often overlooked in history books. She highlights how Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Claudette Colvin, the teens who helped in the Revolutionary War, and more defied expectations and fought for change. Mattie als...

Jamie Kern Lima founded IT Cosmetics, and followed the little voice inside to go from self-doubt to building a billion-dollar beauty brand. From childhood dreams sparked by Oprah to battling no after no, Jamie shares how she turned rejection into resilience, trusting her intuition against all odds. She shares practical tips on building self-worth and navigating life's challenges with courage and a...

We have the power to contact our besties with the tap of a finger, yet we live in a loneliness epidemic. Journalist and author Anna Goldfarb wants to know: why? And what can we do about it? In today’s installment of our friendship advice segment “Asking for a Friend,” Anna delves into the research behind her book “Modern Friendship.” Anna’s findings reveal the importance of infusing your friendshi...

Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin are the dynamic duo behind “The Home Edit.” From their serendipitous start over a blind lunch date to becoming a runaway success, Clea and Joanna share their journey from launching their company to landing a Netflix show, and hosting “Extreme Home Makeover.” They discuss their unique approach to organizing — including their famous rainbow method — and reveal the secr...

Andrea Lavinthal is the Beauty and Style Director for “People,” so when it comes to things like body hair, TikTok trends, and “age-appropriate” fashion, you know she has opinions. She joins this week’s Poppin’ Off to discuss celeb beauty hacks like natural lip plumping, the viral sunburn makeup trend, ketchup couture, and much more. Plus, Andrea gives her favori...

Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar are sisters — and the bestselling co-authors of “You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey” and “The World Record Book of Racist Stories.” Amber and Lacey share hilarious anecdotes from their childhood in Nebraska to their thriving careers in comedy and writing. From Amber's groundbreaking role as the first Black woman to write on a late-night network talk show, to L...

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a leading expert in stress management and resilience. She joins the show to give actionable advice on navigating stress and burnout, and finding joy amidst life's challenges. She lays out how stress impacts our bodies, the differences between healthy and unhealthy stress, and gives practical techniques like "stop, breathe, be" to manage stress in real time. Dr. Nerurkar share...

Before becoming a beloved advice columnist and the bestselling author of “Everything I Know About Love," Dolly Alderton got her PhD in being an “agony aunt” through decades spent in conversation with other women. She joins us on the show to delve into the intricacies of love and heartbreak, the evolution of female friendships, the tumultuous yet transformative nature of our early thirties. We also...