Colleen Hoover Is Booked, Blonde & Busy... w/ Olivia Ponton

October 19, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Colleen Hoover on Writing, Adaptations, and Why She Avoids Her Own Reputation

Colleen Hoover has sold tens of millions of books, has multiple film adaptations in the works, and is widely credited as a "gateway drug" for reluctant readers. But when host Olivia Ponton asks how she'd introduce herself to someone who doesn't know her work, Hoover leads with something else entirely: "I have three amazing, kind children. I have been with my soulmate since I was 16 years old. I would introduce myself that way before anything in the writing career."

This preference for the personal over the professional runs through the conversation. Hoover describes using an alias for everyday transactions, feeling uncomfortable when people ask what she does, and experiencing imposter syndrome even after decades of success. "I don't like to start those conversations with people because it makes me feel so uncomfortable," she says. "Not that I'm not proud, but it's still strange to me."

The Writing Process: Chaos by Design

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What you'll learn

1 (00:30) **Welcome & Introduction** - Olivia Ponton introduces Colleen Hoover as the guest, calling her an "obsession" and noting her 26+ published books and multiple film adaptations.
2 (01:19) **Diet Pepsi Connoisseurship & Beverage Banter** - Colleen reveals her deep expertise in Diet Pepsi, explaining why it's superior to Diet Coke and how she stocks up when traveling.
3 (03:43) **Misconceptions & Avoiding Public Opinion** - Colleen discusses the biggest misconception people have about her and why she intentionally avoids both positive and negative feedback.
4 (06:27) **How Colleen Would Introduce Herself** - Colleen prioritizes her family and personal life over her writing career when describing who she is.
5 (08:51) **Bravo TV & The "Gateway Drug" Reputation** - Colleen shares her love for Real Housewives and explains why she's proud her books are considered a gateway to reading.
6 (12:02) **How Olivia Got Cast in "It Ends With Us"** - Colleen recounts how she personally DMed Olivia to offer her a role in the film adaptation while Olivia was mid-read of the book.
7 (16:53) **The Reality of Film Sets** - Colleen and Olivia discuss the grueling hours and surprising realities of movie production.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Olivia Ponton

Show Notes

Hiii angels!! 🪽

I genuinely cannottt believe I'm typing this, but today I am sitting down with THE Colleen Hoover 🎀🎀 ...the author behind 26+ books and the reason so many of us became readers in the first place!

With the Verity movie finally here, we are obviously getting into Dakota, Anne and Josh, plus the secret origin of Woman Down, her next thriller, and why her husband is banned from reading her books. And yes… I finally asked her: letter or manuscript?? iykyk

You DO NOT want to miss this one!

xoxo,

Olivia 🎀