Open Book with Jenna

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, the powerhouse behind Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. As ACOTAR celebrates its tenth anniversary, Sarah reflects on her early writing days, the manuscript she scrapped, and the debut that changed everything. She opens up about the impact of BookTok, balancing motherhood with deadlines, and why fantasy and romance offer more than just escapism — they offer hope.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

Jessica Soffer joins Jenna Bush Hager for a special Read with Jenna book club event to discuss her New York Times bestselling novel ‘This Is a Love Story.’ Together, they explore the book’s themes of motherhood, memory, and identity. Jessica shares how Central Park and the city of New York deeply influenced her writing and answers live questions from readers. She also gives a glimpse into what’s next in her writing journey.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

TikTok star, lifestyle creator, and podcast host Christina Najjar—widely known as Tinx—joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her debut fiction novel, Hotter in the Hamptons, which follows the story of an influencer facing cancellation. Tinx opens up about her journey into content creation, the responsibilities influencers carry, and the vital role of female friendships. She also shares her candid perspective on modern dating and some of her favorite reads!

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

Emily Henry is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling author who has written five consecutive number one Bestsellers. She has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the Beach Read’ and has helped redefine the romance genre. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Emily to discuss how she began writing fan fiction in middle school, and the teachers that encouraged her along the way. She opens up about how she first discovered the romance genre, and how she has embraced writing and reading books that bring her joy!

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

“Giggly Squad” podcast hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo join Jenna Bush Hager to discuss their new book “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously.” The duo opens up about the importance of prioritizing friendship, how their bond grew while filming Bravo’s Summer House, and what they hope readers take away from their book. Plus, they share their advice for pursuing your dreams and creating a life you love—all with a healthy dose of laughter.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels including 'The Wedding Date' and 'The Proposal.' Jasmine joins Jenna to talk about her captivating new romance novel 'Flirting Lessons,' how she stayed resilient and optimistic through a hundred rejections, and how she made the leap from law to literature—and found bestseller success. Plus, she gives her best book recommendations.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Aliza Pressman, psychologist and author of the bestselling book “The 5 Principles of Parenting,” offers effective tools for parents to make their parenting journey less overwhelming and more enjoyable. She sits down with Jenna Bush Hager and shares valuable tips on raising resilient children by striking a balance between fostering autonomy and providing supportive parenting. Plus, she answers common parenting questions.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Comedian Heather McMahan has made audiences laugh with her relatable and authentic comedy for years. Jenna Bush Hager and Heather sit down to discuss her rise in comedy - from performing at her junior prom, to going on tour. They chat about how Heather knew as a kid that she was destined to be a performer, how comedy legend Joan Rivers impacted her career, and how social media helped skyrocket her career to the next level. Plus, she opens up about how she navigated the loss of her dad and how comedy has been a form of healing.

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

Ego Nwodim has entertained viewers with her standout impressions and roster of hilarious original characters for the past seven seasons of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Jenna Bush Hager sat down with the hilarious Ego Nowdim to chat about her earliest memories of making people laugh, the life lessons improv taught her, and her journey from pre-med to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live. Plus, she opens up about her SNL audition process and the five critical minutes hopefuls have to showcase their talents.

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty novels including ‘The Nightingale,’ ‘The Four Winds,’ and “The Women.’ A former attorney, she has made it her mission to tell the often forgotten stories of women in history. Kristin sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how books were a constant in her life growing up, how her mom knew she was destined to become a writer, and how she transitioned from a lawyer to best-selling author. She also reveals the intense research she does for her historical novels, and how her latest novel ‘The Women’ was more than twenty years in the making.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels including ‘Fourth Wing,’ ‘Iron Flame’ and ‘Onyx Storm.’ Her latest and highly anticipated novel ‘Onyx Storm’ is the fastest selling adult novel in twenty years and sold 2.7 million copies in its first week. Rebecca sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she drew on her experience with chronic illness and life in a military family to write “Fourth Wing,” and her process to plot out five books in the series. She opens up about balancing fame with motherhood, how readers have resonated with her books and why becoming an author was the dream she always had but never knew was possible.

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2025

Jenny Han is a literary powerhouse and New York Times bestselling author of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series. She is also the creator and co-showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty television series. Jenny sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she built a media empire that showcases diverse characters and young women coming into their own. She opens up about how she made the leap from writer to showrunner, what it’s been like to have her books adapted and why coming of age stories resonate with audiences of all ages.

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2025

Coco Mellors is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author. Her second novel, “Blue Sisters" was a Read with Jenna book pick. Jenna Bush Hager sat down with Coco at a Read with Jenna book club event to talk about the deep, complicated and unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and how her own relationship with her sister shaped the book. Coco opens up about her struggles with grief and addiction, and why she wanted to tackle these difficult topics in the book. She also reveals how motherhood transformed her life, and ultimately the ending of her novel.

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2025

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re looking back at some of our favorite books, and literary trends from the year. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with her two friends, authors, and book lovers, Emma Straub and Isaac Fitzgerald. Emma and Isaac share how their families instilled their love of reading, the power of independent bookstores, and how to make reading a habit in the New Year. They also answer questions from Read with Jenna readers and share their recommendations for what to read in 2025.

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

Jamie Lee Curtis is a Hollywood legend, an Oscar & Emmy Award winning actor, and a New York Times Bestselling Author. Jamie joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her new show “The Sticky” and upcoming film “The Last Showgirl.” She reflects on her forty years of marriage, her path to sobriety, and what it was like growing up with famous parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She also opens up about her career blossoming at the age of 66, the importance of women lifting each other up, and the books that changed her life.

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2024

Riley Keough is an Emmy nominated actress and producer, starring in hit shows like “Daisy Jones and the Six.” She’s also part of one of the most famous families in American Pop culture. Her mother Lisa Marie Presley asked her to help her write her memoir, then weeks later passed away. Riley decided to finish her mother’s memoir using her notes and recordings. Riley sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about what it was like to listen to her mom’s personal recordings for the first time, how she filled in the gaps of her mother's story, and what she hopes readers take away from her mother’s life. Riley opens up about her own grief, and how her mother handled grief after the loss of her father, Elvis Presley. Riley also reveals the significance of the title of the memoir ‘From Here to the Great Unknown.”

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

Actor and comedian Matt Rogers co-hosts the pop culture podcast "Las Culturistas” with Bowen Yang and stars in Netflix’s new dark comedy series “No Good Deed.” Matt joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about his Prince of Christmas Tour, why he regrets not telling Mariah Carey about his prince of Christmas title, and his journey from prom king to pop culture podcaster. He also opens up about his disappointment at not getting hired on Saturday Night Live, but how writing his song “RockaFellaCenta” was a form of healing.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2024

Jon M. Chu is a visionary director known for his blockbuster films like ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ ‘In The Heights’ and the hugely anticipated movie musical ‘Wicked.’ He sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how he welcomed his daughter on the movie’s premiere day, and what it was like to turn the lens on his own life and work in his memoir ‘Viewfinder.’ Chu also reveals how he discovered the story of “Wicked” before it became a Broadway hit and what it means to him to reimagine this iconic American story as a son of immigrants.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

Keke Palmer is an Emmy Award Winning actress, singer, podcast host, and mother. She rose to prominence at the age of twelve through her breakout role in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ and has gone on to star in more than twenty-five films. In her latest memoir ‘Master of Me’ Keke tells her own raw and intimate story. Keke sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how she navigated fame at a young age, how becoming a mother gave her clarity about her priorities in life, and how she’s embraced who she truly is rather than conforming to others expectations. She shares the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way and how she has reclaimed her story, her power, and her purpose.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2024

Liane Moriarty is a global sensation who has written numerous best sellers including ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Apples Never Fall,’ and ‘The Husband's Secret.’ Jenna sits down with Liane to discuss how her dad encouraged her love of writing when she was a kid, the impact her books have had on readers, and what it was like to have several of her books adapted for television. She also reveals her next book, a ‘Big Little Lies’ sequel.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

Ann Patchett is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Ann sat down with Jenna Bush Hager for a conversation about what inspired her latest children’s book, “The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts” and what it was like to revisit her beloved novel "Bel Canto" for the special annotated release. Ann shares how she knew she wanted to write at a very young age, the nun that inspired her love of books, and how she started the next chapter in her career by opening Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024

Nicholas Sparks is the king of love stories who has sold over 130 million copies worldwide. He’s a New York Times bestselling author, with twenty-four books to his name. His emotionally gripping novels have captured readers' hearts and eleven of his novels have been adapted into films. Sparks sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how his journey led him to writing the bestselling book, The Notebook, the inspiration for his novels, and his latest novel, Counting Miracles.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2024

Stanley Tucci is an award winning actor, author, and dad. He’s appeared in roles such as The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, and The Lovely Bones. His latest role includes, food lover, social media star, and one of America's favorite home chefs. His latest novel ‘What I Ate in One Year’ chronicles a year’s worth of meals and allows him to reflect back on a year with family and friends. Stanley sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to share his love of food and how a viral instagram post catapulted him to a different level of fame. A lover of all things culinary, he gives readers a taste of a year in his life and reveals his favorite meal, why moving to Florence as a child was one of his most formative years, and who are some of his dream dinner guests.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2024

Emily Henry is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling author who has written five consecutive number one Bestsellers. She has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the Beach Read’ and has helped redefine the romance genre. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Emily to discuss how she began writing fan fiction in middle school, and the teachers that encouraged her along the way. She opens up about how she first discovered the romance genre, and how she has embraced writing and reading books that bring her joy!

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2024

“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert and his wife of more than 30 years, Evie McGee Colbert, partner on a new cookbook, “Does this Taste Funny.” Stephen and Evie sit down with Jenna Bush Hager to share their favorite family recipes and funniest memories cooking together. Stephen and Evie reveal who holds the title of ‘best chef’ and who they’d love to invite to one of their famous dinner parties.

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2024

TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager is an open book and is known for sharing all of who she is. Now Jenna will bring intimate, inspiring and entertaining conversations with celebrities, experts, friends, authors, and book lovers to a wider audience in her new podcast, Open Book with Jenna. Each week, she’s joined by a guest who shares candid stories about their life, current projects, and reveals how a favorite read or a first book may have influenced their path. Join Jenna as she continues her mission to connect people, create meaningful conversations, and share her love of storytelling.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2024

New York Times bestselling author Chris Whitaker joins Jenna Bush Hager at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about his Read with Jenna book pick, All the Colors of the Dark. They discuss what led him to writing, how the characters in this book were inspired by his own childhood, and how he has transformed tragedy into triumph.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2024

Literary Superstar Colleen Hoover joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her unexpected rise to literary fame, the anticipated film adaptation of her novel “It Ends With Us” and the impact her books have had on her passionate fans, known as “Cohorts.”

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2024

Sarah J. Maas is a New York Times bestselling author of the “Throne of Glass,” “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and “Crescent City” series. Between ages 16 and 22, she drafted a series of books ... before scrapping them all to start fresh. Maas sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her newest book, “House of Flame and Shadow,” the impact BookTok had on her career, and how she balances parenting and writing.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024

Savannah Guthrie and her former coworker Luke Russert share a heartfelt conversation about Russert’s journey around the world, which he embarked on after the death of his father, journalist Tim Russert.

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2023

Tara Westover tells Jenna Bush Hager about her sheltered upbringing and the route she took into the outside world, which she also recounts in her blockbuster memoir “Educated.”

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2023

Rumaan Alam, the bestselling author of "Leave the World Behind", a Read with Jenna pick, joins Hoda & Jenna with his recommendations for good books that would make great gifts to share the joy of reading this holiday season.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2023

Author and illustrator Mo Willems talks to Joe Fryer about 20 years of his "Pigeon" book series, and how he hopes his stories inspire play and imagination in children. Up next for Willems? An opera.

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2023

While New York Times bestselling author Steven Rowley writes about life and love with heart and humor in his novels, his own real life romance is one for the books. Rowley joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about his latest book “The Celebrants,” a recent Read with Jenna pick, and why he believes all parts of life — the happy, the sad, the messy and the beautiful — are worth celebrating. The two are joined by Rowley’s husband and author of “Big Gay Wedding”, Byron Lane, to discuss the couple's beautiful love story, one as romantic and inspiring as the stories you’ll find in the pages of their books.

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2023

Essayist Helen Ellis joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about the secrets to a successful long-term relationship, drawing from Ellis’ newest release, “Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage".

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2023

Kate DiCamillo didn’t let 473 rejection letters stop her. The author fills Jenna Bush Hager in on her journey to becoming the bestselling children’s book author behind stories like “Because of Winn Dixie” and “Mercy Watson.”

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2023

R.L. Stine sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss his popular “Goosebumps” series and how his spooky stories have impacted young readers around the world.

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2023

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Jenna Bush Hager catch up over a cup of coffee to discuss his hit Netflix show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” and the book it inspired. A laugh-filled conversation ensues.

Transcribed - Published: 26 October 2023

Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood joins Jenna Bush Hager for an exclusive interview about her recent book "Old Babes in the Wood," a collection of 15 short stories. Plus, she talks about her dystopian classic "The Handmaid's Tale" and reveals she's writing a new memoir.

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2023

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with best-selling author Amor Towles at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about his journey from banker to writer and his unique storytelling process.

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2023

Ruth Simmons opens up to Jenna Bush Hager about the journey detailed in her memoir “Up Home”. Simmons grew up in the segregated South and went on to become the first Black president of an Ivy League university.

Transcribed - Published: 5 October 2023

Beloved author Judy Blume is a literary trailblazer. Cherished by millions of readers across multiple generations, her books have acted as a rite of passage for kids and pre-teens. Blume joins Jenna Bush Hager for a conversation on the impact of her books, opening a bookstore and the 25th anniversary of her novel “Summer Sisters,” chosen as a recent Read with Jenna pick.

Transcribed - Published: 28 September 2023

"Solito" author Javier Zamora opens up to Jenna Bush Hager about the solo journey he took to the U.S. from El Salvador at the age of 9 and how writing has changed his life, helping him heal and share his story with others.

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2023

Literary superstar author Colleen Hoover joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her unexpected rise to literary fame, the upcoming adaptation of her novel "It Ends With Us" and the impact her books have had on her passionate fans, known as “CoHorts”.

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2023

In this podcast, TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager brings you intimate, entertaining, and revealing conversations with her favorite writers. Hear from authors as they share their creative process, their love of books, and what inspires them to share their stories with the world. Join Jenna as she continues her mission to connect readers, create conversations and share her love of reading. Follow now to hear new episodes of ‘Read with Jenna’ every week. And the fun doesn’t stop here! Want to join our Read with Jenna community of book lovers? You can find our monthly book list and sign up for our newsletter here: TODAY.com/ReadwithJenna You can also find us on Instagram on @ReadwithJenna

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2023