Ryan Michelle Bathe Guest Stars in ‘Paradise’ Season 2 with Husband Sterling K. Brown, Hosts Hulu Recap Podcast
Feb. 24, 2026 — Los Angeles — Actress Ryan Michelle Bathe has joined her husband, Sterling K. Brown, in a mystery guest role for Hulu’s Paradise Season 2, which premiered on February 23, 2026, while also hosting the show’s official companion recap podcast that debuted with a Season 1 recap ahead of weekly episodes.
Bathe, known for roles in Boston Legal, First Wives Club, The Endgame, and others, shared her excitement and initial skepticism about the podcast during interviews tied to the premiere. She admitted to being “a little bit lukewarm” initially, fearing a sophomore slump after Season 1’s success.
“Initially, I was a little bit lukewarm about doing the podcast because I was like, ‘There’s no way [they can top season 1],’” Bathe told Us Weekly. “How do you top perfection? You can’t match perfection. So I was going to try it but I was [preparing] for a sophomore slump. I was wrong. Not only was I wrong — but I was so very wrong.”
She praised Season 2 as “incredible,” noting how creators “take it apart and take the pieces and put them back together in an even more — or just as interesting — way.” The podcast features guests including Brown, Dan Fogelman, James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, and others.
Avoiding Spoilers from Husband
Bathe joked about resisting spoilers from Brown, the series lead and executive producer, drawing from past experiences on This Is Us.
“I know better [than to ask Sterling about what happens]. Because I tried to beg for spoilers for This Is Us,” she said in an interview with AOL. “And he’s like, ‘No, I’m telling you nothing.'”
Hosting the podcast provided her access to insights while preserving the fan experience.
Marriage and Family Insights
The couple, married since 2006 after meeting as Stanford freshmen, credited open communication for their nearly 20-year union, as detailed in a Parade profile published February 23.
“Communication is important. Learning how to fight fair. Learning how to speak responsively and not reactively to one another in the midst of things,” Brown said.
They share sons Andrew, 14, and Amaré, 10. Brown explained his decision to post their photos online on the Armchair Expert podcast, citing safety concerns for Black boys, per a Yahoo Entertainment article.
“The more I put them on social, the safer they are,” Brown told host Dax Shepard.
The pair have collaborated previously on This Is Us, Army Wives, and their podcast We Don’t Always Agree, launched in 2024, according to a People profile.
