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• The moment she realized celebrities like Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez are playing an outdated PR game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

Before she was producing, starring in major films, and building her media empire, Tika Sumpter was a girl from Queens with a dream but no roadmap. In this raw and inspiring conversation, she shares how grit, hustle, and self-belief took her from waiting tables in New York to making it in Hollywood. From a chance encounter that led to her first agent to the game-changing roles that finally put her on the map, Tika gets real about the double standards in the industry, creating her own opportunities, and why betting on yourself is everything.

• Growing up in Queens and why the borough breeds some of the hardest-working people in the world
• The hustle of breaking into acting, from cold auditions to booking One Life to Live
• The Hollywood realities no one talks about race, casting biases, and what it really takes to “make it”
• Why Tyler Perry saw something in her that others didn’t and how he’s changed the industry
• Learning to bet on herself and take control of her career through producing, writing, and launching her own projects
• Motherhood and personal growth, how raising her daughter, Ella, helped her reparent herself
• Her latest creative ventures, including her children’s podcast and new book, I Got It from My Mama
• The biggest risk she’s ever taken, and why every woman should experience love and adventure in another country at least once

This conversation is about trusting your instincts, pushing past rejection, and never waiting for permission.

Follow Tika on Instagram here.

Grab a copy of he new book I Got It From My Mama here.

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

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 

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn the wildest "what ifs" into reality, this episode will leave you inspired to embrace your own boldest dreams. Danielle sits down with Michelle Khare—YouTube sensation, Streamy Award-winning creator, and the woman behind the wildly popular Youtube series Challenge Accepted. Michelle shares how she’s pushed herself to the limit with challenges like escaping from a water tank Houdini-style, training with NASA, and even becoming a black belt in just 90 days, and even transforming into a Victoria’s Secret model.  Together, they explore:

• How to tap into your inner daredevil and confront fear.

• The surprising mental and physical toll of taking on extreme challenges.

• Why Michelle believes "everything you want is on the other side of fear."

• How Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek shaped her fearless philosophy.

• The behind-the-scenes reality of creating high-stakes, docu-style YouTube videos.

• How rejection, resilience, and resourcefulness have shaped her career.

• The life lessons she’s learned from clowns, FBI hostage negotiators, and circus performers.

Book Reccomendation:  The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris 

Follow Michelle on Instagram

Watch Challenge Accepted on Michelle’s Youtube channel 

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

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!

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!

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

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!

Caroline Baudino, the force behind Instagram’s Shop with Caroline and host of the hit podcast Coming in Hot, joins the pod to share her unapologetic mission to inspire us all to “Get up and get dressed.” With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Caroline dives into:

• From zombie to thriving: The wake-up call that made her take back her life and chase her dreams.
• The menopause conversation: How perimenopause and menopause transformed her—and why we need to talk about it more.
• Social media success at 50+: Why she’s grateful her journey took off later in life and her must-know tips for starting out.
• Breaking the cycle: Growing up in a tumultuous household, how she redefined relationships, money, and her path to happiness.
• Dating wisdom: Her best advice, plus why women in their 20s and 30s need to stop “Rushing to the End.”
• Dressing for life: The empowering story behind her motto “Get up and Get Dressed” and why it’s more than just fashion.
• The special occasion is you: Why we should stop waiting for “someday” and celebrate ourselves now.
• Happiness hacks: The tools she uses to maintain a positive mindset and why it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Caroline’s energy and honesty will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to tackle life on your own terms. 

Follow Caroline on Instagram here!

BOOK REC: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and The House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett  

Check out Strong Girl Publishing here.