QUESTION EVERYTHING

PRETTYSMART
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Feb 27, 2025 • 1h 5min

How Bethenny Frankel Broke the Rules and Built an Empire

Bethenny Frankel is a self-made businessperson, TV producer, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, and social media force with 8.5 million followers. In this auhtentically Bethenny (unfiltered) conversation, she breaks down the mindset, business moves, and personal struggles that struggles that made her a powerhouse. Bethenny doesn’t just play the game—she rewrites the rules. From making millions to exposing the fakeness of Hollywood, social media, and reality TV, nothing is off-limits in this no-holds-barred interview. In this episode, Bethenny shares: The game-changing deal that made her the first reality star to monetize fame The brutal truth about money, power, and relationships Her rise as an accidental influencer on TikTok and how she exposes the industry’s biggest scams The unspoken truth about money and power in relationships—"Whoever makes the gold makes the rules" Paris Fashion Week, walking for L’Oréal, and the moment she finally felt worthy The moment she realized celebrities like Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez are playing an outdated PR game The future of media, reality TV, and why she refuses to fake it How she became the blueprint for celebrity liquor deals (before George Clooney and Ryan Reynolds cashed in) Fake designer bags, "cringe" reality TV, and why she refuses to play along with the new wave of inauthenticity The real reason she sold Skinnygirl (and why she fought to keep the intellectual property) Why Lisa Rinna texted her mad about her brutal review of Harry Hamlin’s tomato sauce Follow Bethenny: Instagram TikTok YouTube channel Podcasts: Just B Rants with Bethenny Frankel  Just B Dating  Check Out: Forever Young Wines Mingle Mocktails
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Feb 20, 2025 • 1h 5min

I Got It From My Mama: Tika Sumpter on Hustle, Healing & Life’s Biggest Lessons

Tika Sumpter, an accomplished actress and producer known for her roles in Gossip Girl and South Side with You, shares her inspiring journey from a waitress in Queens to Hollywood star. She discusses the hustle it took to break into acting, the double standards within the industry, and her experiences with race and casting biases. Tika reflects on the impact of motherhood on her personal growth, the importance of betting on yourself, and how her new children's podcast and book, I Got It From My Mama, celebrate creativity and resilience.
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Feb 13, 2025 • 49min

Tia Williams on What We Want Out of Modern Romance + Why She’ll Never ‘Raise a Man’

Bestselling author Tia Williams (Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde) sits down with Danielle Robay for a juicy, unfiltered conversation about love, dating, and why modern romance is more complicated than ever. From her days as the first Black beauty editor at Glamour to writing the books she wishes existed, Tia shares how her own experiences—including how dating a “charismatic psycho”—shaped her novels. What modern women are craving in love stories and why “friends to lovers” isn’t enough The end of ‘Build-a-Bear Boyfriends’ – why she refuses to write women who raise men Soft girl era vs. emotional labor: Why women still want to be “saved” (but in a new way) How romance novels went from ‘milky-thighed virgins’ to complex, powerful heroines Tia’s real-life whirlwind love story (spoiler: she knew instantly!) Her go-to beauty tip from her magazine days that actually works The biggest mistake writers make when trying to capture romance Follow Tia on Instagram Grab a copy of Tia’s latest book Audre & Bash Are Just Friends here. Book Reccomendation: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
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Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 14min

Breaking Free: Jennifer Esposito’s Journey From Hollywood’s Boxes to Authentic Storytelling

In this deeply honest episode, Jennifer Esposito, celebrated actress and the first female writer-director to step into the mafia genre, opens up about her 20-year battle against Hollywood stereotypes and systemic misogyny to bring her passion project Fresh Kills to life. From growing up in Brooklyn to being told she wasn’t “the girl next door,” Jennifer shares how resilience, rage, and relentless ambition shaped her career—and her personal revolution. Tune in as Jennifer shares: The emotional and financial sacrifices she made, including mortgaging her house, to create Fresh Kills. The deeply personal inspiration behind the film, drawn from her upbringing and industry struggles. Navigating Hollywood’s sexism and rejection, from being typecast to fighting against unfair industry norms. The power of female rage in storytelling and how anger becomes a catalyst for change. Why she believes “getting used to the wins” is her next great challenge. Iconic collaborations with Spike Lee, John Singleton, and more—and the lessons learned along the way. How Fresh Kills became a rallying cry for women finding their voice in a world that wants them silent. Book Reccomendation:  Long Walk to Freedom: the Autobiography of Nelson Mandela Stream Fresh Kills now on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Hulu! Follow Jennifer on Instagram 
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Jan 30, 2025 • 48min

Secrets to Overcoming Fear and Pushing Limits with Michelle Khare

Michelle Khare, a YouTube sensation and Streamy Award-winning creator, dives deep into the essence of bravery and resilience. She shares her wild adventures, from escaping a water tank like Houdini to training with NASA and earning a black belt in 90 days. The conversation reveals her philosophy that everything you want is on the other side of fear. Michelle discusses the mental toll of extreme challenges and the unexpected lessons learned from clowns and FBI negotiators. Get inspired to confront your fears and push your limits!
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Jan 9, 2025 • 60min

Reversing Aging and Rethinking Health: What Harvard’s ‘Mother of Mindfulness’ Wants You to Know: Dr. Ellen Langer

Dr. Ellen Langer, known as the “mother of mindfulness,” and the first woman ever tenured in psychology at Harvard University and joins PRETTYSMART for an unforgettable conversation that will challenge everything you think you know about health, aging, and control over your life. With decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Langer has reshaped our understanding of the mind’s power to transform the body and revolutionized how we approach healing, decision-making, and resilience. In this eye-opening episode, we explore: The one phrase she lives by (it changed Danielle’s life).  Why the traditional “mind-body connection” is outdated—and how embracing mind-body unity can unlock extraordinary healing potential. The startling study that showed reversing aging isn’t science fiction—it’s science. How simple shifts in perception, like seeing daily work as exercise, can dramatically improve your health. What her groundbreaking research reveals about the illusion of control—and how to reclaim it in your own life. Why language, like the term “in remission,” shapes how we experience illness and healing. Her personal stories, from her mother’s miraculous recovery from terminal cancer to the fire that destroyed nearly everything she owned—and how she found meaning and growth in both experiences. Book Reccomendation: The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health by Dr. Ellen Langer  Follow Ellen here  
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Dec 26, 2024 • 46min

The 2025 Leap: 5 Life-Changing Moves for the Year Ahead

Transform your life in 2025! Danielle unveils her 5-step action plan to help you make this your most extraordinary year yet. Recorded with love and intention, this episode goes beyond goal-setting—it’s about designing a life that truly lights you up. Highlights include: The Annual Reflection: Why writing down your highlights and lowlights from 2024 can set the stage for clarity and momentum in the new year. The 5-Step Action Plan: Danielle’s meticulously designed, free resource to help you set meaningful goals and create a blueprint for success. Joy Over Discipline: Why joy is the secret ingredient to achieving your goals and how to align your aspirations with what truly excites you. Dream Without Limits: How to let go of limiting beliefs and give yourself permission to want what you really want. The Power of Questions: Key questions to ask yourself, including, What would you do this year if you knew you could not fail? This episode is packed with personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical tools to help you dream bigger, reflect deeper, and set yourself up for a transformative year. Plus, Danielle reveals her own goals, her word of the year, and the mantra guiding her into 2025. Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU. Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
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Dec 19, 2024 • 39min

Reality Check: What TV’s Guilty Pleasures Teach Us About Ourselves

Natasha Scott and Justine Kay, the dynamic duo behind the podcast Two Black Girls, One Rose, join us for a deep, hilarious, and thought-provoking conversation about reality TV and its impact on culture. What started as a love for shows like Laguna Beach and The Bachelor has evolved into a platform for dissecting race, relationships, and representation in pop culture. Natasha and Justine share personal stories, insights on building their brand, and why their podcast has become more than just commentary—it's a community. Whether you’re a reality TV junkie or a casual fan, this episode will leave you laughing, reflecting, and rethinking how we consume pop culture. In this episode, we dive into: Why Laguna Beach gave them their first glimpse into a world of wild teenage freedom. How Rachel Lindsay’s groundbreaking season of The Bachelorette exposed blind spots in traditional reality TV recaps. The nuances of race in reality TV: what producers get wrong and what needs to change. Why Couples Therapy is a must-watch for empathy lovers everywhere. The cultural phenomenon of Love Is Blind and how reality TV sparks real-life connections. The not-so-guilty lessons they’ve learned from reality TV—on love, friendship, and human nature. Follow Natasha + Justine.  Book Recommendations:  Natasha: Thick: And Other Essays" by Tressie McMillan Cottom Justine: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU. Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
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Dec 19, 2024 • 1h

The Seven Words That Saved My Life with Jessica Hoppe

Jessica Hoppe is a Honduran-Ecuadorian writer and creator of @NuevaYorka. She recently released her first memoir “First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery and the American Dream” Today she joins PRETTYSMART and shares: Her  battle with alcohol addiction—and why she took her story public. How society’s view of addiction differs for white people vs. people of color. The systems failing those struggling with addiction—and the changes we desperately need. The 7 words a stranger said that saved her life. How shame fuels addiction, and why we need to ask better questions. The weight of American Exceptionalism—and her own personal reckoning with it. Why your core beliefs might not be yours at all—and how to uncover what you truly stand for. Why she believes her story still makes some people uncomfortable. Follow Jessica Here Buy First in the Family Here Book Recommendation: Magical Realism by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal and Heavy by Kiese Laymon Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here! Download Danielle’s 2025 Goals + Manifestation Map here for FREE
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Dec 12, 2024 • 1h 4min

Texting Red Flags and Vision Boards: Clarke Peoples on Confidence and Curiosity

Clarke Peoples didn’t set out to become a content creator—but life had other plans. The Columbia University graduate found herself gaining a massive TikTok following by vlogging her life as an Ivy League student navigating the hustle, heart, and chaos of New York City. Now, as a full-time creator, she’s sharing everything from daily routines to life-changing advice, inspiring young women to embrace confidence, curiosity, and self-empowerment, especially in their dating lives! In this candid conversation, Clarke fearlessly dives into: Manifesting her dreams: How a vision board at 12 years old shaped her future. Lessons from her mom: The unforgettable ways her mom instilled wisdom. Academics and self-love: Finding confidence in her love of learning. Challenging assumptions: Why people assume she’s either wealthy or a sugar baby—and how she handles it. Her accidental rise: The unexpected journey to becoming a creator. Boundaries on social media: What she refuses to share online. Speaking up, no matter the cost: Why she’s committed to addressing social justice issues, even if it means losing followers. Redefining confidence: The importance of finding self-worth outside the internet. Dating unfiltered: App red flags, her love-hate relationship with kissing, texting etiquette, the most romantic gesture she’s experienced, and more. Reclaiming her power: Why she believes men don’t hold more value than she does—and how that shapes her approach to love and heartbreak. Race and the internet: The systemic issues she’s calling out and what needs to change. Follow Clarke on IG and TikTok Book Recs: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore & A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beya. Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!

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