Actor-director Andrew McCarthy (Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire) chats with Brooke about the nostalgia surrounding '80s films and how he struggled to be taken seriously after his Brat Pack fame. Andrew shares how he flew under the radar as a successful travel writer and details his most profound trip yet: a 500-mile walk along the Camino de Santiago with his eldest son.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles (Waitress, Girls5Eva) chats with Brooke about privacy, self-doubt, and what it’s like to fight for — and win — an authentic career. Sara also gets candid about the lingering effects of her parents' divorce, including why she and fiancé Joe Tippett waited to get engaged. Plus, we dig into her newest role mentoring up-and-coming musicians on Audible’s Breakthrough.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entrepreneur and media personality Bethenny Frankel kicks off Season 3 with a candid conversation with Brooke about her chaotic childhood and what growing up at the racetracks taught her about business. Bethenny reflects on her pre-Housewives days (including a nightmare audition for The Apprentice), how she moved forward after her divorce, and what led to her latest venture as a beauty influencer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politician, activist, and writer Stacey Abrams talks to Brooke about her deep love for classic TV, how she's coped with difficult political losses, and why her psychological thrillers had to be masked as romance novels. Stacey shares a story from her childhood that underscores her drive to change the system, and why she thinks she ruffles so many feathers in Washington. Plus, the "Rogue Justice" author reveals how a bad breakup helped define her life philosophy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor, dancer, and Broadway legend Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago, Cheers, Julia) joins the podcast! Brooke and Bebe swap stories about their very different Princeton days and dig into Bebe’s early years on Broadway — including her work with Bob Fosse and the time she lied in an open call (and still got the part!). Bebe shares what it was like to end her first marriage and opens up about the pressure of dancing on Broadway after having two hip replacements.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author, model, and former MTV VJ Karen Duffy joins the show to talk about the importance of having a “life philosophy” and how ancient wisdom helped her cope with a life-altering diagnosis. Brooke and Duff talk about aging out of the beauty industry and the difficulties they had trying to conceive their children. Plus, Duff shares a true story about her surrogate that’s worthy of a Lifetime movie.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor, comedian, and podcaster Rosie O’Donnell joins Brooke for a wide-ranging conversation about having a family member who suffers from addiction, the ways they learned to practice tough love, and what it’s like to come into your own in the public eye. Rosie opens up about her early stand-up career (including stealing Jerry Seinfeld’s jokes!), her controversial turn as a co-host on The View, and why producers of a cult-classic film pushed her to hide her sexuality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and therapist Amy Bloom joins Brooke to talk about her powerful new memoir “In Love,” which chronicles her late husband’s decision to pursue end-of-life treatment after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Amy shares how she made peace with her husband’s unwavering choice, how they approached their final months together, and the ways in which his death gave her a greater appreciation for her own life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke sits down with Dr. Nicole Bedera, a sociologist and leading researcher on sexual violence, to talk about the pervasiveness and danger of normalizing traumatic experiences. Brooke opens up about her own sexual assault and shares why she struggled to come forward. Then, Dr. Bedera debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding rape culture and shares what you can do to support survivors.

Resources:
https://www.rainn.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/resources.html
https://www.nicolebedera.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning journalist and all-around badass Lisa Ling (This is Life with Lisa Ling, Take Out with Lisa Ling) joins the show! Lisa talks with Brooke about her experience being raised by a single dad, what it was like dropping out of college to become a war correspondent, and how a trip to Taiwan helped repair her relationship with her mother. Lisa also reflects on her “uncomfortable” fight for equal pay, and shares how her latest project has given her a new appreciation for her Chinese heritage.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.