Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and CEO of Betches Media, joins Simone to reflect on how a $12 WordPress blog created with her childhood best friends grew into an unprecedented cultural force. She shares the origin of Betches’ iconic voice, the leap from pre-med to comedy, the fears and freedoms of coming out of anonymity, and the creative and financial discipline that fueled the company’s 15-year evolution. Aleen also opens up about redefining ambition and learning to trust her own voice, before she and Simone rewind the biggest pop culture moments of 2025, from Bennifer’s breakup to Beyoncé’s historic Grammy win, Taylor Swift's engagement, and the unforgettable Coldplay jumbotron scandal. 

Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and CEO of Betches Media, joins Simone to reflect on how a $12 WordPress blog created with her childhood best friends grew into an unprecedented cultural force. She shares the origin of Betches&rsquo; iconic voice, the leap from pre-med to comedy, the fears and freedoms of coming out of anonymity, and the creative and financial discipline that fueled the company&rsquo;s 15-year evolution. Aleen also opens up about redefining ambition and learning to trust her own voice, before she and Simone rewind the biggest pop culture moments of 2025, from Bennifer&rsquo;s breakup to Beyonc&eacute;&rsquo;s historic Grammy win, Taylor Swift's engagement, and the unforgettable Coldplay jumbotron scandal.&nbsp;

The Voice of a Generation: How Betches Became a Cultural Force with Aleen Dreksler

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f0e71ea2-0236-43c6-a932-b3a10138e98d/transcript

Is it bad to eat sweets after 6 p.m.? Will your cookie addiction cause premature aging? Is sugar going to kill us all? Social media definitely has answers to these questions...just not always factual or helpful answers. But today, dietician Vanessa Rissetto is here to give us the real truth about sugar. Settle in for a deep-dive into the nutritional facts behind our favorite carbohydrate. Vanessa debunks the biggest myths (yes, all sugar is basically the same), explains why kids are hardwired to chase sweetness, and shares simple ways to balance blood sugar and enjoy dessert without spiraling into a sugar crash. 

Is it bad to eat sweets after 6 p.m.? Will your cookie addiction cause premature aging? Is sugar going to kill us all? Social media definitely has answers to these questions...just not always factual or helpful answers. But today, dietician Vanessa Rissetto is here to give us the real truth about sugar. Settle in for a deep-dive into the nutritional facts behind our favorite carbohydrate. Vanessa debunks the biggest myths (yes, all sugar is basically the same), explains why kids are hardwired to chase sweetness, and shares simple ways to balance blood sugar and enjoy dessert without spiraling into a sugar crash.&nbsp;

Is it bad to eat sweets after 6 p.m.? Will your cookie addiction cause premature aging? Is sugar going to kill us all? Social media definitely has answers to these questions...just not always factual or helpful answers. But today, dietician Vanessa Risetto is here to give us the real truth about sugar. Settle in for a deep-dive into the nutritional facts behind our favorite carbohydrate. Vanessa debunks the biggest myths (yes, all sugar is basically the same), explains why kids are hardwired to chase sweetness, and shares simple ways to balance blood sugar and enjoy dessert without spiraling into a sugar crash. 

Sugar: The Good, The Bad & The Delicious with Dietician Vanessa Rissetto

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fbb40648-c43c-4ac2-9ad6-b39c0108e65c/transcript

Bangs. Braids. Big chops. Hair is more than style — it’s storytelling. Celebrity hairstylist Vernon François, who’s worked with icons like Lupita Nyong’o, Serena Williams, and Solange Knowles, joins Simone to explore how our hair shapes confidence, reflects our inner transformations, and helps us feel seen. From childhood insecurities to red carpet reinventions, this is a conversation about self-love, freedom, and the beauty of becoming who you are.

Bangs. Braids. Big chops. Hair is more than style &mdash; it&rsquo;s storytelling. Celebrity hairstylist Vernon Fran&ccedil;ois, who&rsquo;s worked with icons like Lupita Nyong&rsquo;o, Serena Williams, and Solange Knowles, joins Simone to explore how our hair shapes confidence, reflects our inner transformations, and helps us feel seen. From childhood insecurities to red carpet reinventions, this is a conversation about self-love, freedom, and the beauty of becoming who you are.

What Your Hair Says About You with Vernon François

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ca0e3a38-e449-405a-a79e-b393010065dd/transcript

Women are waiting longer than ever to have children — but what if fertility didn’t have to be a race against time? Lauren Makler, Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, is on a mission to make egg freezing more accessible and empowering. Her company offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs for free and store them for up to ten years when they donate half to a family in need — redefining the fertility industry with empathy, transparency, and choice. In this episode, Lauren shares how she’s transforming reproductive care and helping women take control of their fertility journey. Whether you’re curious about egg freezing, considering donation, or want a glimpse into the future of fertility, this conversation is eye-opening and inspiring.

Women are waiting longer than ever to have children &mdash; but what if fertility didn&rsquo;t have to be a race against time? Lauren Makler, Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, is on a mission to make egg freezing more accessible and empowering. Her company offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs for free and store them for up to ten years when they donate half to a family in need &mdash; redefining the fertility industry with empathy, transparency, and choice. In this episode, Lauren shares how she&rsquo;s transforming reproductive care and helping women take control of their fertility journey. Whether you&rsquo;re curious about egg freezing, considering donation, or want a glimpse into the future of fertility, this conversation is eye-opening and inspiring.

Women are waiting longer than ever to have children — but what if fertility didn’t have to be a race against time? Lauren Makler, Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, is on a mission to make egg freezing more accessible and empowering. Her company offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs for free for up to ten years when they donate half to a family in need — redefining the fertility industry with empathy, transparency, and choice. In this episode, Lauren shares how she’s transforming reproductive care and helping women take control of their fertility journey. Whether you’re curious about egg freezing, considering donation, or want a glimpse into the future of fertility, this conversation is eye-opening and inspiring.

The Fertility Revolution: How Lauren Makler is Changing the Game

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0cbcbf2c-0b54-484e-aa4c-b38d01276541/transcript

What if laughter was more than just entertainment—it was a tool for connection and growth? Comedian and author Chris Duffy joins Simone to share how humor can change the way we connect, cope, and care for each other. They unpack his “three pillars of humor,” share stories that hit both the funny bone and the heart, and remind us that sometimes the best way to take life seriously is to laugh at it.

What if laughter was more than just entertainment&mdash;it was a tool for connection and growth? Comedian and author Chris Duffy joins Simone to share how humor can change the way we connect, cope, and care for each other. They unpack his &ldquo;three pillars of humor,&rdquo; share stories that hit both the funny bone and the heart, and remind us that sometimes the best way to take life seriously is to laugh at it.

Live, Laugh, Learn: Why Humor Makes Us Happier — with Comedian Chris Duffy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b2ed1328-4b46-44d1-8e65-b38600f8c860/transcript

Today on The Bright Side, we're sharing our live podcast recording from Shine Away: Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine's weekend of inspiring panels and meaningful moments that celebrate and elevate women. Simone took the stage at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to interview Chrissy Teigen — cookbook author, entrepreneur, and health advocate. Chrissy was there as a Sanofi spokesperson to talk about something very close to her heart — Type 1 Diabetes — a disease that her son, Miles, was diagnosed with at the age of 6. Chrissy talks about how her and her family got the diagnosis, quickly became a public face of the disease, found a supportive community online, and are now spreading the word about the importance of early screening. To learn more about early screening go to ScreenForType1.com.

Today on The Bright Side, we're sharing our live podcast recording from Shine Away: Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine's weekend of inspiring panels and meaningful moments that celebrate and elevate women. Simone took the stage at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to interview Chrissy Teigen &mdash; cookbook author, entrepreneur, and health advocate. Chrissy was there as a Sanofi spokesperson to talk about something very close to her heart &mdash; Type 1 Diabetes &mdash; a disease that her son, Miles, was diagnosed with at the age of 6. Chrissy talks about how her and her family got the diagnosis, quickly became a public face of the disease, found a supportive community online, and are now spreading the word about the importance of early screening. To learn more about early screening go to&nbsp;<a href="http://screenfortype1.com/" data-stringify-link="http://ScreenForType1.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">ScreenForType1.com</a>.

Today on The Bright Side, we're sharing our live podcast recording from Shine Away: Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine's weekend of inspiring panels and meaningful moments that celebrate and elevate women. Simone took the stage at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to interview Chrissy Teigen — cookbook author, entrepreneur, and health advocate. Chrissy was there as a Sanofi spokesperson to talk about something very close to her heart — Type 1 Diabetes — a disease that her son, Miles, was diagnosed with at the age of 6. Chrissy talks about how her and her family got the diagnosis, quickly became a public face of the disease, found a supportive community online, and are now spreading the word about the importance of early screening. To learn more about early screening go to ScreenForType1.com.

Chrissy Teigen on Motherhood and Type 1 Diabetes Advocacy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0c6d6be6-c6be-4919-ada8-b3800143d388/transcript

Buckle up, today we're getting philosophical! Matthew McConaughey joins us for a vulnerable and reflective conversation that reaches far beyond the pages of his new book, Poems and Prayers. We unpack some of life’s most elusive questions—Why are we here? What does it mean to live well? McConaughey personally opens up about his evolving relationship with uncertainty, the power of reinvention, and how he learned to live in the in-between spaces—where identity shifts, purpose gets blurry, and the answers don’t come easy. This isn’t a conversation about having it all figured out. It’s about learning how to live fully, honestly, and in pursuit of something deeper.

Buckle up, today we're getting philosophical! Matthew McConaughey joins us for a vulnerable and reflective conversation that reaches far beyond the pages of his new book,&nbsp;Poems and Prayers. We unpack some of life&rsquo;s most elusive questions&mdash;Why are we here? What does it mean to live well? McConaughey personally opens up about his evolving relationship with uncertainty, the power of reinvention, and how he learned to live in the in-between spaces&mdash;where identity shifts, purpose gets blurry, and the answers don&rsquo;t come easy. This isn&rsquo;t a conversation about having it all figured out. It&rsquo;s about learning how to live fully, honestly, and in pursuit of something deeper.

Buckle up, today we're getting philosophical! Matthew McConaughey joins us for a vulnerable and reflective conversation that reaches far beyond the pages of his new book, Poems and Prayers. We unpack some of life’s most elusive questions—Why are we here? What does it mean to live well? McConaughey personally opens up about his evolving relationship with uncertainty, the power of reinvention, and how he learned to live in the in-between spaces—where identity shifts, purpose gets blurry, and the answers don’t come easy. This isn’t a conversation about having it all figured out. It’s about learning how to live—fully, honestly, and in pursuit of something deeper.

Matthew McConaughey on Reinvention, Doubt, and the Search for Meaning

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9513e319-fd2b-4fe3-b4a7-b3780136b9ab/transcript

Two words absolutely nobody wants to hear? "You're fired!" As taboo as we tend to make losing your job, it's something almost everybody will experience. Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill know exactly how it feels, and today, they're joining the podcast to share personal stories, inspirational narratives, and essential advice from their brand-new book, "All the Cool Girls Get Fired." Together, we're saying goodbye to the shame around getting let go and all the cool girls are tuning in.

Two words absolutely nobody wants to hear? "You're fired!" As taboo as we tend to make losing your job, it's something almost everybody will experience. Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill know exactly how it feels, and today, they're joining the podcast to share personal stories, inspirational narratives, and essential advice from their brand-new book, "All the Cool Girls Get Fired." Together, we're saying goodbye to the shame around getting let go and all the cool girls are tuning in.

Why All the Cool Girls Get Fired with Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c2374c20-9015-46b0-83d9-b3720110d015/transcript

Malin Åkerman is living proof that life only gets better with age. The star of The Hunting Wives joins us to spill on how the role of Margo Banks landed in her lap during a career standstill—and why it’s become one of her all-time favorites. From the freedom of playing a deliciously complex character to the instant chemistry she found with Brittany Snow, Malin takes us behind the scenes of her latest project while opening up about her own evolution. She gets candid about breaking free from people-pleasing, leading with “no,” and trusting her gut. Rooted in her Swedish upbringing and decades of experience, Malin shows us what it means to know yourself and step fully into your prime.

Malin &Aring;kerman is living proof that life only gets better with age. The star of&nbsp;The Hunting Wives&nbsp;joins us to spill on how the role of Margo Banks landed in her lap during a career standstill&mdash;and why it&rsquo;s become one of her all-time favorites. From the freedom of playing a deliciously complex character to the instant chemistry she found with Brittany Snow, Malin takes us behind the scenes of her latest project while opening up about her own evolution. She gets candid about breaking free from people-pleasing, leading with &ldquo;no,&rdquo; and trusting her gut. Rooted in her Swedish upbringing and decades of experience, Malin shows us what it means to know yourself and step fully into your prime.

Malin Åkerman is living proof that life only gets better with age. The star of The Hunting Wives joins us to spill on how the role of Margo Banks landed in her lap during a career standstill—and why it’s become one of her all-time favorites. From the freedom of playing a deliciously complex character to the instant chemistry she found with Brittany Snow, Malin takes us behind the scenes of her latest project while opening up about her own evolution. She gets candid about breaking free from people-pleasing, leading with “no,” and trusting her gut. Rooted in her Swedish upbringing and decades of experience, Malin shows us what it means to know yourself and step fully into your prime.

From Rom-Com Queen to The Hunting Wives: Malin Åkerman is the Moment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6955c314-8a02-4fee-bc5a-b36b00e21ff5/transcript

Right now, it feels like everyone is settling down—your childhood bestie, your old roommate, even Taylor Swift! But what if you're still single and searching for "The One?" In the age of dating apps, situationships and breadcrumbing, finding real romance feels harder than ever. Should the single ladies just...throw in the towel? We don't think so! Today, we're sitting down with relationship guru and friend of the show Sabrina Zohar to get her insights—on setting boundaries, learning from past mistakes, and who should pay on the first date. 

Get your Shine Away tickets here!

Right now, it feels like everyone is settling down&mdash;your childhood bestie, your old roommate, even Taylor Swift! But what if you're still single and searching for "The One?" In the age of dating apps, situationships and breadcrumbing, finding real romance feels harder than ever. Should the single ladies just...throw in the towel? We don't think so! Today, we're sitting down with relationship guru and friend of the show Sabrina Zohar to get her insights&mdash;on setting boundaries, learning from past mistakes, and who should pay on the first date.&nbsp;
Get your Shine Away tickets&nbsp;<a href="https://shineaway.hello-sunshine.com/event/eddb3575-ec80-4812-a371-354c900d7cbf/regProcessStep1" data-stringify-link="https://shineaway.hello-sunshine.com/event/eddb3575-ec80-4812-a371-354c900d7cbf/regProcessStep1" data-sk="tooltip_parent">here</a>!

Right now, it feels like everyone is settling down—your childhood bestie, your old roommate, even Taylor Swift! But what if you're still single and searching for "The One?" In the age of dating apps, situationships and breadcrumbing, finding real romance feels harder than ever. Should the single ladies just...throw in the towel? We don't think so! Today, we're sitting down with relationship guru and friend of the show Sabrina Zohar to get her insights—on setting boundaries, learning from past mistakes, and who should pay on the first date. 

 A Love Letter to Single Women with Sabrina Zohar

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0f689180-01fc-423e-85c4-b36400f33c77/transcript

The Bright Side, the hit podcast from Hello Sunshine, is back for a brand new season! Every Monday, join Emmy nominated host, Simone Boyce, as she brings you a dose of culture and inspiration - with celebrity interviews, the latest in health and wellness, smart takes on pop culture, and real conversations with women doing amazing things. The Bright Side is a destination for joy and connection; the show is designed to inspire, educate, and empower women as they navigate everyday challenges and live life to the fullest. 

The Bright Side, the hit podcast from Hello Sunshine, is back for a brand new season! Every Monday, join Emmy nominated host, Simone Boyce, as she brings you a dose of culture and inspiration - with celebrity interviews, the latest in health and wellness, smart takes on pop culture, and real conversations with women doing amazing things. The Bright Side is a destination for joy and connection; the show is designed to inspire, educate, and empower women as they navigate everyday challenges and live life to the fullest.&nbsp;

The Bright Side: A Hello Sunshine Podcast

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