The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

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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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+.
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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.
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