The Knockturnal attended Day Two of Hello Sunshine’s second annual Shine Away event, a two-day experience of workshops, panels, performances, culinary experiences, and wellness immersions designed to celebrate and inspire women.
The event was connected by AT&T and utilized the unique spaces at nya Studios in Los Angeles for a variety of activations, allowing guests to tailor their experience according to their goals for the weekend.
On day two of this year’s Shine Away, Naomi Watts, Tatyana Ali, and Lauren Makler discussed women’s health in a compelling conversation moderated by Dr. Mary Claire Haver; chefs Nadia Munno and Samah Dada spoke with Ellen Bennett about the power of social media as a tool to inspire up-and-coming culinary professionals and the next generation of food lovers; Connor Holloway and Francesca Hogi led an interactive workshop about strengthening communication and listening skills; Kerry Diamond and Asma Khan discussed breaking barriers and finding community in the food industry; Heather McMahan and Peoplehood’s Julie Rice hosted a fireside chat about business (presented by AT&T); Nedra Glover Tawwab, a therapist and New York Times bestselling author, held a workshop about creating balance and staying authentic in every aspect of life; Ashley Elston, Lauren Ling Brown, and Andrea Bartz, all authors of Reese’s Book Club picks, sat down with moderator Ashley Flowers to chat about their methods of crafting thrilling, page-turning stories.
Day one of Shine Away included conversations with the founder of Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon, along with Laura Dern, Octavia Spencer, Olivia Munn, Brooke Baldwin, Julia Boorstin, Sara Blakely, and more, as well as a musical performance by The Castellows.
Throughout the weekend, there were opportunities to network, learn, focus on professional development, explore female-founded brands, and converse with panelists and fellow attendees.
Guests could relax in between workshops at the AT&T Recharge Lounge, take professional headshots in the AT&T Headshot Studio, shop at Chase Ink’s market of small, women-owned businesses, visit the pop-up Reese’s Book Club Store (put together by Sheraton Hotels and Santa Monica’s Zibby’s Book Shop), stop by The Home Edit Experience (sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company) – a colorful display of imaginative living spaces emphasizing the importance of wellness in day-to-day life, attend a book signing and photo op with Reese’s Book Club authors, and enjoy culinary experiences throughout the weekend.
Hello, Sunshine debuted Drop of Sunshine, a new wine brand created in partnership with Treasury Wine Estates, which was served to Shine Away guests during happy hour.
Attendees received curated gift bags of female-founded brands, and at the end of the event, Reese Witherspoon announced Shine Away’s upcoming event series designed to inspire and empower the next generation of women.