The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

Taryn Delanie Smith and Achieng Agutu are co-hosts of the new talk show “Influenced” from Hello Sunshine. They join Danielle and Simone to pop off about a gold medal podium moment that will go down in history, a controversial relationship trend known as tolyamory, and the media’s impact on body image.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do I make a good first impression? What's the polite way to end an awkward first date? Manners expert and self-described “Miss Manners with a touch of Machiavelli” Sara Jane Ho has the answers. She’s the host of Netflix’s “Mind Your Manners” and the founder of an etiquette school in China and she’s on a mission to help women move confidently through the world. She joins The Bright Side to empower our besties with practical etiquette tips to get you ahead in life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the summer of 2013, Laura McKowen hit rock bottom when she drank too much at her brother’s wedding, leaving her four-year-old daughter alone in a hotel overnight. This year, she’s celebrating a huge milestone: 10 years sober. Laura McKowen is author of “We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life” and “Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else)” and the founder of The Luckiest Club, an online sobriety support community.  On this week’s Wellness Wednesday, Laura takes us on her decade-long journey to self-discovery through sobriety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dynamic Gaby Dalkin is a renowned cookbook author, chef, and journalist. Gaby shares her expertise on mastering summer grilling, debunking the myth that grilling is just for men. The woman behind the viral "slutty brownies" also opens up about her deeply personal fertility journey, and how she maintained perspective in the face of it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keala Settle’s role in the 2017 film The Greatest Showman launched her into the spotlight, but behind the scenes, she was struggling with the fame and newfound attention. Now, the Tony-nominated actress is appearing in the upcoming  movie adaptation of “Wicked,” and she joins The Bright Side to talk about her complicated relationship with fame and her journey to self-love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirbie Johnson is a skincare and makeup guru known for her work with publications like PopSugar, The Cut, and her popular “Gloss Angeles” podcast. She pops off about celibacy and fidelity, the strange new TikTok trend of “Octopus Eyebrow,” Blake Lively’s new haircare brand, and more. We also learn about her latest project, “The Powder Room,” where she offers a behind-the-scenes look at the beauty industry — starting with an interview with Selena Gomez. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary Andrea Joyce is a Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer who’s covering her 17th Olympic Games in Paris. The author of “Legends of Women’s Gymnastics” shares her firsthand experiences from the Games, including the magical moments of the opening ceremony and the emotional highs of witnessing historic performances. Plus she shares the thrill of reporting from Paris, in the heart of the Olympics (and yes, it might be as great as it sounds).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s “Wellness Wednesday,” we’re looking at the fostering a healthy relationship with money. Lindsay Bryan-Podvin is a financial therapist, the founder of Mind Money Balance, and the author of “The Financial Anxiety Solution.” She breaks down our emotional connection to money, the importance of understanding one's early money messages, and overcoming negative money beliefs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re launching a new recurring segment called “Mom Friend,” a judgment-free zone to explore the often-overwhelming work of parenting. Helping guide us on this journey is Emily Oster — economist, founder and CEO of ParentData, and bestselling author of some of the most-talked-about parenting books of the last decade, including “Expecting Better,” "Cribsheet," "The Family Firm," and "The Unexpected." Emily brings research-backed data to the conversation, so you can make the best, most informed decisions for your family. Can you drink during pregnancy? What about while breastfeeding? How worried should we be about screen time? And when is the best time to freeze your eggs? Listen and find out.   Have a parenting question? Send an email or voice memo to hello@thebrightsidepodcast.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 found when we delve deep into the history of a place. You can find “The Cliffs” on Apple Books or wherever you get your books.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.