The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

On this special live episode of Bookmarked in collaboration with Apple Books and Apple TV, 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 & Stupid by Angourie Rice & Kate Rice
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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