On December 1, 2025, Dr. Samantha Harte, best-selling author, wellness advocate, and podcast host, brought her signature blend of vulnerability and empowerment to the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills for an intimate evening dedicated to mental health, authentic connection, and conscious living. The event featured candid conversations with two trailblazing reality TV stars—Mary Bonnet of Netflix’s Selling Sunset and Romi Imbelli from The Real L Word—who opened up about their personal mental health journeys in a way audiences rarely witness.
The wellness community gathering reflected Dr. Harte’s commitment to creating spaces where authenticity trumps perfection, and where sharing our struggles becomes the pathway to collective healing.
Romi Imbelli (reality star) talks about mental health with Dr. Samantha Harte on stage
Reality TV, Real Conversations
Mary Bonnet, Vice President at The Oppenheim Group and star of Selling Sunset, sat down with Dr. Harte to discuss what lies beneath the glossy surface of reality television.
“This is who I am and this is who I want to be. And I am both,” Mary reflected, speaking to the complexity of navigating how to keep growing as a person and living in her authentic identity while living in the public eye. When Dr. Harte asked what she would want people to remember if everything—the show, her best-selling memoir, the fame—disappeared tomorrow, Mary’s smiled, and answered fully grounded: “That I live by the golden rule—’Treat others the way you want to be treated.'”
Mary Bonnet (Selling Sunset)
Mary, who released her memoir Selling Sunshine in September 2024, connected with Dr. Harte over their shared experiences with siblings who struggled with addiction. As a teen mom at 16 who raised her son on her own, Mary faced intense judgment that shaped her understanding of resilience. Her recent health journey—including her recognizing her relationship to alcohol had become a numbing agent, so she pulled back and changed as she has deepened her commitment to wellness and listening to her body’s inner wisdom.
Moreover, Mary shared about her love for Bali and how after filming every season of Selling Sunset she has vacationed there to reset and recharge. Now, she wants to partner with her sister, Anna, to create a wellness retreat in Bali and dreams of creating an entire wellness center for those who need to take a breath and find their way back to their authentic selves again.
Ricky Rebel (recording artist)
Dr. Samantha Harte & Rasha Goel (emmy-nominated host) pose post interview with Dr. Harte’s book, “Breaking the Circuit”
Breaking Through to Authentic Self
Romi Imbelli, known for her groundbreaking visibility on The Real L Word, brought a powerful perspective on the weight of representation and self-acceptance. In a particularly moving moment, Romi recalled the first time she and Dr. Harte connected. “It was the first time I said it out loud, and I just started crying” Romi shared, “we’re all on our own journey…and this is my journey and it’s not for you to create my journey.”
The statement captured the delicate balance between living publicly and protecting one’s mental wellness—between honoring others’ expectations and staying true to your own path. “The pressure to be that survivor when I want to be soft,” noting her entire public persona was built on her sexuality and abrasiveness, where now as a mother married to man in Texas, she wanted to have a quiet life. A life that is hers to own.
Both women spoke candidly about the spiritual lessons learned from their time on television, the vulnerability required to write their truths, and what sets their souls on fire beyond their public personas. For those eager to hear the complete conversations and Romi’s first interview with Dr. Samantha Harte, the full interviews will be available as upcoming episodes on Dr. Samantha Harte’s podcast.
Derek Jameson (recording artist) & Matthew Dennis Lewis (actor) take part in the group stretch exercise led by Dr. Samantha Harte
Connection Through Conscious Practice
The evening extended far beyond conversation. An onsite massage therapist provided relaxation and bodywork for attendees, while Dr. Harte led the entire gathering in a group stretch and connection exercise. Guests were encouraged to introduce themselves to people they had never met, breaking down the barriers that often keep us isolated even in crowded rooms.
These intentional practices embodied Dr. Harte’s philosophy that wellness is not a solo journey but a communal experience—one that requires us to show up vulnerably, connect authentically, and support one another through life’s challenges.
Maximilian Acevedo (Actor) with featured wellness product Lumara Red Light Therapy Mask
Gifts of Wellness
Each attendee received a carefully curated gift bag featuring Dr. Harte’s book Breaking The Circuit: How to ReWire Your Mind for Hope, Resilience, and Joy in the Face of Trauma—a modern-day recovery guide that offers a fresh perspective on the Twelve Step program, making it valuable for both addicts and non-addicts alike. The book emphasizes that hitting rock bottom occurs on a soul level, when survival tactics have been exhausted and played out to the point of failure.
The event also featured premium beauty and wellness products also showcased including the Lumara’s red light therapy mask, Cynthia Bailey’s Glowissima skincare line, Clayton Shagal face creams, and Purlisse lip balms, among other carefully selected items that support holistic self-care.
Harte Conscious Creators – Featured Wellness & Beauty Brands
Transforming Pain Into Purpose
The evening honored the legacy of Dr. Harte’s sister, who lost her struggle with addiction a few years back, by creating a space where shame—what Dr. Harte calls “the most corrosive emotion”—could be replaced with compassion, understanding, and hope. As Mary Bonnet eloquently expressed, “I wrote my book so single moms know they have hope. Tonight is about authentic connection—when we share our struggles, we help others heal. That’s real wellness. That’s what Dr. Samantha Harte is all about.”
Dr. Harte’s message remains consistent: whether you’re navigating addiction, divorce, loss, or simply feeling stuck at “five out of ten” in life, transformation is possible. By sharing our stories and refusing to let darkness extinguish our light, we not only heal ourselves but create pathways for others to do the same.
Dr. Samantha Harte giving her keynote speech
