Paradise enthusiasts are aware that Sterling K. Brown‘s spouse, Ryan Michelle Bathé, makes an ideal host for the show’s companion podcast — though it required some persuasion.
“At first, I was somewhat hesitant about participating in the podcast because I thought, ‘There’s no way [they can surpass season 1],’” Bathé, 49, who also appears in a mysterious role this season, shared exclusively with Us Weekly. “[Creator] Dan [Fogelman] is brilliant. He has excellent writers, but I believed it wouldn’t match the quality of season 1.”
Bathé was thrilled to be mistaken. “How can you improve upon perfection? You just can’t replicate it. So, I was prepared for a sophomore slump. I was wrong. Not just a little wrong — I was very wrong.”
She added: “It’s remarkable. I don’t understand how they could create a flawless season of television in season one and then dismantle it, reshuffle the elements, and present it in an even more — or at least equally — compelling manner. I kept pondering that, and they’re all so modest.”
Related: Which ‘Paradise’ Stars Are — And Aren’t — Returning in Season 2 After Deaths?
Hulu’s popular series Paradise is making a comeback after unexpected cliffhangers and character deaths — but which stars are stepping back into their roles? Created by This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, the political thriller first debuted in January 2025, steeped in mystery. Paradise was introduced as a show “set in a tranquil, affluential community grappling with the aftermath of a shocking murder. However, in true Fogelman style, a twist revealed that Paradise was an underground bunker sheltering the world’s elite following an apocalyptic event that annihilated the rest of humanity.
At the heart of the hit Hulu series is Bathé’s husband, Brown, 49. As social media fans know, Bathé enjoyed sharing her reactions to the first season of her husband’s new show, featuring videos where she questioned some of his character Xavier’s choices.
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Given Bathé’s entertaining content, it was only natural for her to host the official companion podcast. Throughout the season, podcast guests will include Brown, Fogelman, and actors James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Krys Marshall, Jon Beavers, Thomas Doherty, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Enuka Okuma, Charlie Evans, and Aliyah Mastin.
Multiple writers and executive producers from the series will also feature, along with scientific consultant Jonathan Mijs and bunker expert Douglas Rushkoff.
“I wish I were clever enough for a long con. I’m not, but the stars felt like they aligned,” she shared with Us about the project, which kickstarted with a season 1 recap ahead of its weekly episodes on Mondays. “It felt like a gift to have it all come together.”
Bathé’s passion for the show allowed her to pose all the questions fans are eager to have answered, stating, “I genuinely love the show, and I hope that the way I watch it and the inquiries I raise resonate with the rest of the fandom. I’m a true fan — but I just aspire to make the fandom proud.”
Alongside her new hosting role, Bathé filmed scenes for season 2, which premieres on Monday, February 23. While details about her role are being kept under wraps, her link to Paradise allowed her to relish the entire show before its launch.
“I’ve done my fair share of binge-watching, but I also appreciate the delayed gratification that I’m compelled into [with weekly releases]. I’m training my brain, but I enjoy both binge-watching and weekly sessions when it comes to Paradise.
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Being the podcast host allowed Bathé to gain insights she wouldn’t otherwise access — despite being married to the show’s lead.
“I’ve learned better [than to ask Sterling about future plot points]. I tried to plead for spoilers regarding This Is Us,” she remarked about Brown’s earlier collaboration with Fogelman. “He’s like, ‘No, I’ll tell you nothing.’ He was aware of how This Is Us was going to conclude when he signed on. I only learned about it when the rest of the audience did.”
Paradise debuts on February 23 on Hulu, with new episodes of both the show and its companion podcast airing every Monday.
