American Girls

Fifty years after the Watergate scandal, and endless “gates” later, what can we learn from a children’s book about one of America’s most famous crooks? For this Patreon episode, we looked at the dense and at times, baffling children’s book called The Story of Watergate. Though this is hardly a cool bedtime read, it does shed light on an important moment of reckoning.   Original air date: June 17, 2022See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In anticipation of the Barbie movie coming out this July, we took a dive into the corporate history of America’s (smaller) doll. Join us for a review of Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. Robin Gerber’s dual biography charts the rise of Barbie under the leadership of the ruthless girlboss Ruth Handler. Her book shares fascinating information about the culture of Mattel—and explains how Barbie and Ken got their names. Much like the Barbie movie, whether you have a love or hate the doll, this episode is for you. Original air date: July 17, 2023See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A wise person once said: "having fun is never hard when you've got your library card." To this precious adage, we'd like to add an additional locale for future fun consideration: the fictional Telegraph Club. In this month's feature, we decided to read Malinda Lo's phenomenal YA book Last Night at the Telegraph Club. We discuss the fantastic resources in the book (a bibliography! timelines!) along with the super-accurate-yet-still-deeply-compelling historical adventures of protagonist Lily Hu. While trying to dodge accusations of Communism, keep up her high math grades to participate in the space race, AND help a friend win Miss Chinatown, Lily catches feelings for her classmate Kath. Tune in to hear us discuss their romance at the Telegraph Club -- and to discover whether this Space Girl finds the one who can "know the galaxies of (her) heart."   Original air date: May 30, 2021See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With so much recent discussion about the ideas and intentions of the "founders," we decided to watch the film version of the musical 1776...so you won't have to. Clocking in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, this performance will give you more questions than answers as to how the Declaration of Independence was actually written. We talk about Mr. Feeny's (a.k.a William David Daniels's) turn as John Adams, what's really going on with the depiction of Thomas Jefferson's wife, and the general fixation with leading white men of this era.   original air date: July 27, 2022See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I'll never forget the day I got stuck on Lisa Frank!" With these immortal words, Mila Kunis launched her career and the sticker obsessions of at least a million young people.  In this Patreon episode, we talk all about the world of Lisa Frank. We share our own favorite characters, discuss the complex naming conventions of some of the more popular designs, and delve into the dark world of the Lisa Frank Factory. We have also included some other bonuses you will want to put right next to your vintage Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers. This summer, it was our pleasure to work with Rebecca Doyle, a student and designer who dazzled us with her talent and sharp instincts. Check out Rebecca's awesome work! American Girl x Lisa Frank character pairings Lisa Frank Resource List for further reading, viewing, and shopping Original air date: September 27, 2021 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Halloween! On this episode we read Avi's Something Upstairs (1988). Seeing your favorite childhood keychain may take you back for a moment. But what if that keychain could also take you to another time period? Would you do what needed to be done to stop an injustice from repeating? Avi’s 1988 classic Something Upstairs asks and answers those questions, and boldly breaks the space time continuum. When protagonist Kenny moves to a new place, he finds that he's not alone in his attic bedroom. A ghost named Caleb has also been forced to reside there for centuries. Through this time travel story, Avi explores race and power across three centuries in Providence, RI. We talk about this twisty plot, the uses of ghost stories, and the real real estate that serves as the setting for this book. Avi's Website: https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2017/03/story-behind-the-story-20something-upstairs/ A Real Pardon Tillinghast: https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Pardon-Tillinghast-II/6000000004993081912 Walking Tour: https

There comes a time in every woman's life when she must...flee from her family's summer estate holding precious heirlooms in trash bags? For this month's Patreon episode, we read Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. This short, punchy, and very readable family biography was written by Anderson Cooper (descendent of Vanderbilts) and Katherine Howe (descendent of some of Salem's finest). This book chronicles some of the Vanderbilts' finest moments during their ascent into America's elite, along with some of their more challenging times (see opening anecdote, and/or anything to do with Gloria). We consider what motivated Cooper to write the book, and what we can learn from another collective biography of the rich during a period of great economic inequality.   original air date: December 30, 2021See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In preparation for our upcoming Melody episodes, this month’s feature is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop (2022). Shine Bright is Danyel Smith's love letter to the important musicians in her life. A prominent music journalist, Smith has sat across from some of the biggest names in pop over the past few decades. In a series of biographical chapters, Smith shares her experiences with singular talents like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more, weaving in her own story as a fan. We discuss this insightful and well researched history of Black women in pop, sharing some of what we’ve learned from Smith. Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary @mimimahoney (Instagram) or @marymahoney123 (Twitter)   Original air date: June 25, 2023 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:

For our final episode, we took some twinspiration from the newest historical AGs: Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. When we meet Isabel, she is trying to perfect her Spice Girls choreography in time for a performance on New Year's Eve. Nicki, on the other hand, is learning how to make zines and skateboarding around Seattle. Both girls are struggling with sharing a bedroom, defining Girl Power, and the threat of a Y2K meltdown. We talk about twin tropes, our own pop culture memories from 1999, and the portrayal of Seattle in the book Finally, we wrap up by answering listener questions (Does Mary still miss Nan? What are our favorite house museums? Best part of doing the podcast?) and sign off one last time.  Thank you to all of our listeners! We so appreciate all of you, and the community we've made together. Thank you for being a friend!  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Qu

It's 1986, and Courtney Moore's summer break is off to a great start. After participating in Hands Across America, she's ready to hit the arcade, read her American Girl catalogue, and make new friends, including a boy named Isaac. But Courtney faces unexpected challenges when she hits the books that fall. When others learn that Isaac is HIV positive, he is forced to leave Courtney's school. For this episode, we brought in an expert to talk about Courtney's ensuing public health campaign and what someone her age would have known about the HIV crisis in the mid-1980s. Our special guest Myrna Moretti, a PhD Candidate at Northwestern University, also gave us great insight into how Courtney consumes technology, '80s arcade culture, and the real queer-led activist movement that fought for a cure for HIV/AIDS. Special Note: As we shared in the introduction, we have decided to end the show after covering "Meet Isabel and Nicki" on our next episode. We are so grateful for five wonderful years with this amazing commun

Join us as we travel back in time to our first episode! We’ll be back on April 1 with the second Courtney book (and a special guest!) Until then, enjoy younger versions of us when we were still learning how to podcast (but had timeless takes on Justin Timberlake). Subscribe to Mary’s newsletter, Landline, here: https://marymmahoney.substack.com/ You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org storefront. We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary

Do you think of yourself as part of history? What about the Care Bears and Ms. Pac-Man? When American Girl first revealed that there would be a new historical character set in 1986, we were in shock. Having recovered from that surprise, we were delighted to meet the young person behind the bop "Hey Courtney." Through Courtney Changes the Game, we meet Courtney Moore, a nine-year-old living in California who loves gaming, space travel, and recycling. We discuss Courtney's family dynamics, presidential history in the book, and the shock of the Challenger explosion in early 1986.  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org storefront. We love to hear from you! Drop us a lin

It's time for another American Girl road trip! In the second Claudie book, Brit Bennett takes us from Claudie's neighborhood in Harlem to her grandmother's house in Shellman, Georgia. Along the way, Claudie learns that there are different "rules" about living in the South and the North. She also sees a new side of her mother, an investigative journalist inspired by Ida B. Wells-Barnett. When Claudie returns to Harlem, she takes one of her grandmother's stories with her and offers an uplifting finale at the boardinghouse benefit concert. We discuss both of Claudie’s worlds and a bit about what’s happening in ours. Time Stamps: Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org s

To round out our Julie coverage, we read something we think she would love: Matt Tavares’s Hoops. This graphic novel (based on a true story) follows an Indiana girls’ basketball team’s first season post-Title IX. We discuss the characters’ activism on and off the courts--and the ways that sexism persists in sports today. This episode also includes a recap of the Julie videos, her days as a baller, and of course, our overall take on the Julie series.  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org storefront. We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook

On this episode, we chat with podcaster and pop culture critic Kate Kennedy. Kate is the author of One in a Millennial, a fresh new take on millennial culture (that also comes out this week). We talk about Kate’s early interest in American Girl and the process of writing her life story (thus far). Kate shares what it's been like to return to her childhood faves and what she’s learned along the way about girlhood and growing up. If you have *~ thoughts *~ On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In ~ you will want to get cozy on a 90s daybed and put this episode on a burned CD (via Limewire, somehow) to enjoy Kate's wisdom. Follow Kate on Instagram: @kateKennedy @bethereinfive Visit her website: https://bethereinfive.com/about-kate-kennedy Order One in a Millennial: https://bookshop.org/a/95526/9781250285126 Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our

Happy 2024! While we take a break this week, we’re sharing a patreon ep from November where we answered patron questions about our book! Our patreon is a fun space where we share an extra listener-inspired episode per month, and offer access to our active discord community! Thanks to everyone who has bought, read, and shared our book! We love hearing from you and seeing your posts about it. Thanks for all of your support! We so appreciate this community! Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org storefront. We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Fac

We've already been through a lot with Julie Albright--but when a book promises a disco dance, we are in for the ride (and a mystery). In this episode, we travel with Julie to Chinatown and learn how to solve a crime after dinnertime. While reeling from roommate news and the discovery of a puzzling note, Julie has enough on her plate when she decides to visit The Happy Panda, Ivy's family's restaurant. Following a great meal, the plot thickens when Julie and Ivy's beloved dolls go missing. Never one to ignore an injustice, Julie is inspired to launch an investigation. Both Julie and Ivy get more than they have bargained for, however, when they decide to also track down Ivy's grandmother's long lost friend. This book includes an extensive plotline about "paper daughters" and the process of detention at Angel Island in California. We discuss Julie's mystery solving skills, the story of Chinese immigration around San Francisco, and of course, the culminating event of the book, a Valentine's day disco dance.  Res

Julie Albright knows that few things are fair in fifth grade. Yet, even Julie is shocked to receive detention after passing a note and helping her new friend, Joy, in the classroom. On the heels of a useless afternoon in detention, Julie decides to run for office. While battling a fierce opponent promising time off and pizza parties, Julie also has to learn how to be a good friend and ally to Joy, who is mocked for being deaf. We discuss Julie's various activist streaks across all the books, the prevalent nostalgia for other days (mostly the 1950s) in this book, and representations of disability through the character of Joy.  Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org st

When your country is celebrating its 200th birthday, what kind of party do you throw? In the summer of 1976, Julie Albright wasted no time in getting herself involved in a complex bicentennial celebration. Along with her sister, Julie joins her cousin's family on a covered wagon trip to honor their country and Pony Express- riding- ancestor. On this "journey," Julie gets to meet a number of trinket-selling hucksters---and an elderly man who is descended from a signer of the Constitution. Julie also struggles with wanting to be a horse girl AND has some deep anxiety about being thrown off a horse. Last but maybe least, this book also includes a cameo by President Gerald Ford. We talked about which bicentennial events we would have wanted to attend and plans for the upcoming 250th. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't

Mary Wiseman has played many roles in her life. For years, Mary was a first-person interpreter in the role of Martha Washington at Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. During her time in Williamsburg, Mary also played an important role in the creation of Felicity Merriman. We talked with Mary about her involvement in Pleasant Rowland's plans for her company, the "birth" of Felicity, and her views on the uses of history. Don't miss this insider's take on the creation of a revolutionary character. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod You can order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl You can order our audiobook: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl (Digital Audio) Check out books we mention at our bookshop.org storefront. We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Insta