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The Bright Side

The Bright Side

iHeartPodcasts and Hello Sunshine

Start your day with The Bright Side, a daily talk show from Hello Sunshine! The Bright Side paves the way for a new era in women's stories, featuring unique, nuanced, and relatable conversations that bring women together. “For generations, women have been confined to singular identities. Fun or studious. Mom or career woman. Beautiful or intelligent,” says Simone Boyce, co-host and Emmy-nominated journalist, and producer. “By celebrating the breadth of women’s stories, we hope our audience feels empowered to own every page of their own story.”

Boyce is joined by Danielle Robay, journalist and TV host, and each week they invite wellness and friendship experts, celebrities, athletes, authors, and entrepreneurs to delight us with their knowledge and lived experiences. “As hosts, our goal is to add value to every conversation by curating practical takeaways for optimistic, empowered living,” says Robay. “I like to imagine that we’re planting little seeds the audience will nurture in the garden of their own minds."

“We created The Bright Side for anyone longing for a positive counterbalance to the negative news headlines that seem impossible to escape,” Boyce says. "So, when we thought about launching the podcast, we envisioned it for listeners who want to stay connected to the cultural conversation and walk away feeling inspired.” For Robay, she hopes listeners walk away feeling lighter and brighter. “We are navigating life's twists and turns with optimism, humor, and a sprinkle of sunshine. But most importantly, we are navigating them together.”

Listen to The Bright Side wherever you get your podcasts.

  • 50 minutes 44 seconds
    Writing Women Back Into History: The 1930s Mob Case Behind June’s Reese’s Book Club Pick

    June’s Reese’s Book Club Pick, A Pair of Aces, takes two women from different worlds, and brings them together to reveal the truth. The novel’s two authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, are doing the same thing in real life. This week, Danielle, Marie and Victoria get into the nuances of writing historical fiction, finding stories that no one else was willing to tell, and why women have always banded together - and been stronger for it. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 June 2026, 7:30 am
  • 44 minutes 49 seconds
    Jessica Knoll's Masterclass on Thrillers, Unreliable Narrators & Our Obsession with Dark Stories

    Jessica Knoll has built a career writing women who refuse to stay silent. In this episode, she and Danielle explore female rage in fiction, why women's anger still makes people uncomfortable, and what makes revenge stories so satisfying. Jessica also discusses her new thriller Helpless, which releases on July 7th, the enduring influence of Gillian Flynn, and the writing lessons that shaped her career.

     

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

    Helpless by Jessica Knoll

    First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

    Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

    Whidbey by T Kira Madden

    Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

    The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

    American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

    The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

    Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

    Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn 

    I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This by Chelsea Devantez

    The Secret History by Donna Tartt

    A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

    Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 

    Carrie by Stephen King 

    The Color Purple by Alice Walker

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 June 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Your English Teacher’s Favorites with Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix

    Let us say this: this week’s conversation is a real literary kiki. We’re in the studio with Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, two of our favorite girlies with taste - taste in movies, in fashion, and of course, books. Fresh off the launch of the latest season of their podcast, Lemme Say This, Peyton, Hunter and Danielle are going down all our favorite rabbit holes. Illicit Gossip Girl book clubs, Barnes & Noble crushes, the art of The Artist’s Way, and why notes in the margins are a love language.  

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    Odyssey by Homer

    A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

    Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

    The It Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

    The Clique by Lisi Harrison

    Meet Samantha: An American Girl by Susan S. Adler

    To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

    What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

    You, Maybe by Rachel Vail

    The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

    The Mediator by Meg Cabot

    Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

    Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

    Specials by Scott Westerfeld

    The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin

    Goosebumps by R.L. Stine

    The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

    Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

    Anamorphs by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant

    Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

    Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

    Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

    The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri

    Strangers by Belle Burden

    Famesick by Lena Dunham

    The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron 

    Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

    Adult Braces by Lindy West

    Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

    Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

    Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell 

    Martyr! By Kaveh Akba

    Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth

    Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst

    Untamed by Glennon Doyle

    Luster by Raven Leilan

    Heartburn by Nora Ephron

    Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates by Dave Stangle and Mike Stangle

    Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul by Jack Canfield, Kimberly Kirberger, and Mark Victor Hansen

    Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel

    Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson

    Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

    Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

    Enter the Villa by Anna Peele

    The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

    The Half of It by Madison Beer 

    Platonic by Marisa G. Franco

    Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    9 June 2026, 8:00 am
  • 53 minutes 24 seconds
    Two-Time Reese's Book Club Author Ann Patchett Thinks Everything is Autobiographical

    Ann Patchett is an author, bookstore owner, two-time Reese’s Book Club pick author, and overall icon on everybody’s bookshelf. Her newest novel, “Whistler,” is out today. In it, a woman reunites with her long-lost stepfather on a fateful day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What follows is a story of family, loss, and the brief connections that change our lives forever. Ann joins the podcast to talk about her unique writing process, working through grief and love in her latest novel, and her favorite books hitting the shelves at Parnassus Books in Nashville. 

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

    Run by Ann Patchett

    Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 

    State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

    Whistler by Ann Patchett

    This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

    Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

    Swing Time by Zadie Smith

    Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich

    John of John by Douglas Stuart

    The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen 

    The Color of Water by James McBride 

    Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead 

    Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

    This is Happiness by Niall Williams

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 June 2026, 7:00 am
  • 6 minutes 34 seconds
    BONUS: Driving out of the middle slump with Cindy Pham

    A great book is like a great pair of shoes — it can take you somewhere you never expected. But it’s also like that new car feeling — full of possibility, a little thrilling, and totally transformative. In the first episode of this special miniseries sponsored by cars.com, Danielle sits down with booktuber and author Cindy Pham to talk about the tools that have helped her navigate change in her life. 

     

    From start to finish, cars.com has everything you need to choose the right car confidently. 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 46 minutes 44 seconds
    The Art of Suspense with Reese’s Book Club Author Alexandra Andrews

    This week on Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club, Danielle Robay sits down with bestselling author Alexandra Andrews to discuss May’s Reese’s Book Club pick, The Fine Art of Lying. Alexandra unpacks why stories about wealthy people behaving badly are so irresistible and how female desire gets tangled up with wonder and meaning. She also shares her unconventional writing process, the pressure of following up a hit debut, and the surprising advice that finally helped her finish a novel.

     

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews 

    Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel

    All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley

    Transcription: A Novel by Ben Lerner

    Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

    Who Is Maude Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews 

    The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion 

    Why I’m Not an Atheist by Christopher Beha

    All Fours by Miranda July

    Normal People by Sally Rooney 

    Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel 

    Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 

    The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

    The Woman in Cabin 10 Ruth Ware

    Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 40 minutes 14 seconds
    From Fan Fiction to Debut Novel: Internet Star Brooke Averick Is the Ultimate Fangirl

    This week, we’re “obsessed” with creator and debut author of Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It, Brooke Averick. First known as her online moniker, “@ladyefron,” Brooke Averick’s socials exploded after she posted a TikTok reading a letter to her older self. Brooke Averick has gone on to accrue thousands of followers, host the podcast Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast, and is now a published author. Brooke Averick shares her first obsessions, her current crushes, and how writing Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It may have helped her more than therapy.

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    The Clique by Lisi Harrison

    The Series of Unfortunate Events by Limony Snicket 

    The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

    Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 

    Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 

    Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

    Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

    Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

    Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 42 minutes 37 seconds
    Belle Burden on Her Memoir, Writing Through Pain, and the Sandwich Story the Internet Can't Stop Talking About

    The hottest book of the year so far isn’t a steamy beach read or a page-turning thriller. It’s a heartbreaking — and empowering — memoir about a divorce. This week, Danielle sits down with Belle Burden to talk about her memoir, “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.” 

    Belle Burden had a picture-perfect life. A husband in finance, three kids, a pristine apartment in Manhattan, and a summer home on Martha’s Vineyard. Then, one day — right at the start of the pandemic — she found out that her husband was having an affair. And the next morning, he tells her he wants out. Out of the house, out of the marriage — even out of custody for their kids.

    Belle talks about the upcoming Netflix adaptation of her book, starting over after watching her world as she knew it fell apart, and why she wishes a book like hers had existed long before now. 

     

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    Strangers by Belle Burden

    Barefoot Contessa by Ina Garten

    The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin 

    The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand

    The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

    When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter 

    Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

    Heart the Lover by Lily King

    Go Gentle by Maria Semple 

    Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 41 minutes 24 seconds
    Booktuber Cindy Pham on Escapist Book Trends and Her Debut Novel

    This week, we’re joined by BookTube royalty and queen of reviews Cindy Pham. Now stepping into her author era, she’s here to talk about it all: what’s on her TBR, why she’s drawn to messy, flawed characters, and how years of reviewing books have shaped the way she writes her own.

    Cindy also shares the story behind her debut novel, The Secret World of Briar Rose, from first drafting it as a teenager to returning years later with a completely new perspective and a fully developed frontal lobe. Plus, we get into reality TV deep dives, bookish trends she’s loving and side-eyeing, and the hilarious promise of a future rant video about her own main character, because no one is safe, not even her.

     

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser 

    This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar

    A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

    Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 

    The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham

    That Asian Girl Is a Problem by Rachel Phan (Coming Soon)

    Just Between Us by Adeline Kon 

    Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow

    What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

    How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

    I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

    The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

    Book Lovers by Emilty Henry

    The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

    The River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

    Know My Name by Chanel Miller

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 May 2026, 7:00 am
  • 56 minutes 47 seconds
    Fate, Fandom, & the Making of Into the Blue with Reese’s Book Club Author Emma Brodie

    This week, we’re back with Emma Brodie, whose second novel, Into The Blue, is April’s Reese’s Book Club Pick - and Emma and Danielle are going down aaaaall the rabbit holes. From what makes a good fandom, to how improv comedy is, in fact, inherently sexy, to the BTS secrets of filming reality TV, their convo is just as lush as Emma’s decade-spanning, sci-fi tinged, “will they, won’t they” romance. 

    BOOKS MENTIONED:

    Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

    Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie

    Hitmakers by Derrick Thompson 

    The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory 

    Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 44 minutes 11 seconds
    New Book, New Faction: Veronica Roth Revives the Divergent Universe

    This week, Danielle is chatting with Veronica Roth, who’s fresh off a major announcement: Divergent. Is. Back. The original trilogy has sold over 35 million copies since it debuted 15 years ago. Veronica has been publishing countless novels and short stories ever since, but now she’s ready to revisit the Divergent universe — with a new twist. “The Sixth Faction” is an alternate universe retelling that dares to ask: what if Tris never left Abnegation, and joined Dauntless? Danielle and Veronica talk about hot tubs, dystopian fiction, and learning to love your own work in all its imperfections. And don’t worry — Tris and Four will still have a meet-cute. 

    Books Mentioned:

    Divergent by Veronica Roth

    The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth 

    Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

    1984 by George Orwell

    Allegiant by Veronica Roth

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 April 2026, 7:00 am
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