American Girls

On this episode, we're joined by Colette Denali Montoya-Sloan, a member of the Pueblo of Isleta and a descendant of the Pueblo of San Felipe. A librarian interested in oral history and issues of Indigenous identity, Colette shared a wealth of experiences with us in this fun conversation! We heard about her earliest memories of American Girl, her first introduction to Kaya, and what she makes of Kaya's story now as an adult collector exploring questions of identity and narrative in her excellent Inky Marina blog (https://blog.inkymarina.com/) and Instagram account (@inkymarina). This episode will leave you with lots of great reading recs, resources, and questions, including what music should be played at Borders? 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 We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespo

Kaya has seen fire, she’s seen Speaking Rain, and finally, she sees Steps High again. While the final Kaya book brings change and some closure, that's not all--and really, what would a Kaya book be without some chaos? Forget being born in a cross-fire hurricane. In the final chapters, our hero endures yet another disaster, and goes through a wildfire, for her horse Steps High. Kaya once again rises to the occasion, saving her horse and learning some more lessons from her grandmother along the way. We discuss the overall trajectory of this series and the extra-long Peek into the Past on Nez Perce history. This episode also includes recent Free Britney updates.    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 We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https:/

Nan, Clara, Jill… we’ve met our fair share of American Girl sisters by this point. In this episode, we cover Kaya Shows the Way, which is billed as “A Sister Story.” While Kaya and her family are fishing for salmon, her sisters start to take two different paths. As Kaya takes notes on how Brown Deer is courting and preparing for marriage, Speaking Rain returns with an announcement about a vow of her own. We discuss these family dynamics, Kaya’s continued water safety issues, and what it means to go chasing waterfalls during salmon season. 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 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 @mimimahoney (In

In the fourth Kaya book, we are not treated to an ahistorical birthday party. Instead, a new canine friend enters the American Girl universe and brings some much-needed joy to Kaya. While struggling to deal with the loss of Swan Circling and her sister’s ongoing captivity, Kaya meets Lone Dog, an animal who changes her life, and possibly ours. As we quickly learn, Kaya's dilemma is less “who let the dogs out?” and more “can this dog come in?” In this story, Kaya also has to grapple with scary visions for the future and of course, self-doubt. Come for the discussion of animal life in Nez Perce culture--and stay for the aftermath of our alarming realization that this book is older than Olivia Rodrigo. 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 We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitte

Just one year after Mr. Enrique Iglesias asked: "would you dance if I asked you to dance?" Janet Shaw penned a heroic tale for the ages. In "Kaya's Hero" (2002) we meet Swan Circling, a brave woman Kaya deeply admires. When a baby falls ill, Swan Circling heroically steps in. This is a spoiler-free zone, but listeners should be prepared (unfortunately) for more tragedy in the Kaya journey. During our discussion, we talk namesakes, personal heroes, and the importance of mentorship. We also learn that sometimes, "a hero lies in you"-- yes that means you, Kaya. Examine the earliest documented Nez Perce saddle from the Spalding-Allen Collection: https://plateauportal.libraries.wsu.edu/digital-heritage/nez-perce-womans-saddle Native American History: A Tale of Medicine: http://www.thedifferentialdx.com/native-american-history-a-tale-of-medicine/ 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/dollsofourliv

In the second Kaya book, the American Girl team breaks format, and also places our protagonist in great danger. Instead of learning just one big lesson, Kaya learns many. After Kaya and her sister are kidnapped, Kaya has to use her smarts to plot an escape. Our coverage discusses Kaya’s enslavement and what this book teaches us about 18c life for Kaya’s people. We also shed light on the team behind these books and discuss alternative narratives by indigenous authors. Finally, we consider the relevance of Rutherford Falls and Rebecca Black’s ten-year anniversary remix of Friday.  An important word about content for our listeners: this book features upsetting themes including kidnapping, slavery, animal abuse, and threats of violence. We discuss these themes in the context of the book and history. 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 We love to hear from you! Drop us a line do

This episode finds us deep in two distant and distinct time periods: the 18th century and the year 2002. Set in 1764, Meet Kaya (2002) features a strong girl from the Nimiipuu people (also known as the Nez Perce tribe). Kaya enjoys riding her horse and being with her family. Though Kaya's stories don't follow the same arc as other American Girls, trust us that this book has a bit of everything, including lessons on "boasting," weaving, how to shed undesirable nicknames, and racing ambitions. Moving at a classic Janet Shaw warp speed, Kaya and her horse Steps High ALSO step up and save the day, well before book six. Join us as we go back in time (again) and for the first time, go beyond the OGAG six whose stories we knew well. Together, we try to learn what Beforever means as we puzzle over the year that gave us both the Justin/Britney breakup and this character billed as the "first American Girl." You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.c

Earhart. Bones. Thermopolis. Bedelia. In the great tradition of people named Amelia, one diarist from the mid-1990s stands alone. With her handy composition notebook, Amelia could keep track of the latest gossip, her family’s major move, and her growing interest in drawing noses. For this episode, we re-read Amelia's Notebook (1995) by Amelia (she's like Cher) and the one and only Marissa Moss. In addition to a careful study of each beautifully illustrated notebook page, we also plunged back into some of the vintage Amelia material published in the American Girl magazine. Of course, this episode also covers springtime treats, the early 2000s American Girl website, and an Amelia quiz. Grab an AOL disc, some colored pencils, and get ready for a dive in to a series of notebooks you have not thought about in 20 years but won’t soon forget. 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 We

What is it like to serenade World War II veterans and perform patriotic tunes for tourists? J.Mix, a dialectic creative artist from New Orleans, answered that question and many more for us in this episode. J.Mix developed a deep knowledge of WWII during her time as a singer and dancer with the Victory Belles. This is a 1940s inspired/Miss Victory style vocal act that pays tribute to servicemembers. While she was with the Belles, J. Mix was an employee of the National WWII Museum, a multi-million dollar business in Louisiana. Now, J. Mix is a leader in the movement to dismantle the museum. Together with other community activists, J. Mix works to raise awareness of discrimination within the museum, to push for greater accountability among stakeholders, and to create a more just representation of all people who sacrificed during the war. She also finds time to joyfully rollerskate and make her own podcast, The Self Aware Millennial.      Follow and support her work @JMixPlainsItAll, @DismantleWWIIM, and @TheSelf

What would Molly McIntire have known about the Holocaust? For this episode, we talked with Leah Sauter, a teacher and translator whose speciality is Holocaust history. Drawing upon her extensive work with survivor testimony and newspapers, Leah provided us with insight into anti-semitism in the United States and censorship in mainstream US media in the 1940s. Though Molly's books include just a few sentences on the Jewish experience during World War II, as Leah discusses in this episode, there are plenty of other sources that center Jewish resistance and a fuller picture of the war. Leah also shares advice on which movies and books on the Holocaust to avoid. If you've been wondering what was left out (or wrong) in the Peek into the Past sections of Molly's canon books and supplementals, this one is a must-listen. You may find Leah at @peculiarleah on Instagram; she is also an active flaired user on r/askhistorians. You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: do

Join us for a special episode as we celebrate our second birthday! If we held a party (we did), invited everyone we knew (did that too), you would see the biggest gift would be from us, and the card attached would say: free Britney! Join us as we talk about the Britney Spears documentary and share some wartime cake recipes. Thank you for being a friend! (and for listening)  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 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 @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your day? Listeners will get a free audiobook when you start a new monthly Libro.fm membership for $14

When Molly McIntire is told that everyone must do their part during a war, she takes that command seriously. While rocking a middle part and dancing in her town's tap dance revue, Molly ascends to the big screen in "Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front" (2006). Though many esteemed filmmakers have tried to capture war on film, few have been so bold as to include a soda jerk uttering the line: “Sorry girls there’s no ice cream today." Tune in to hear us talk about the iconic teen queen Molly Ringwald, who plays Molly's mother, and the fantastic cast of child actors. Once again, this American Girl film proves that there's no small parts (there is, however, little brother erasure).    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 We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollsli

In book six, Molly strives for her dream dance role of Miss Victory while acting miss-understood. Along the way, she ponders some big questions, such as whether curls will change her life and what it will mean to have her father home from the war. During this episode, we consider if any of us truly go home again...and probe what happened to a real life Miss Victory from the 1940s. This hair-raising journey pushes the reader to consider the power of a perm and the perils of endless war (mostly the former). As hosts and avowed Mollys, Mary and Allison take this opportunity to talk about Molly as a friend, performer, and hair transformer.  Essential Barbara Ann reads: Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich), 02 Dec. 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.  Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich), 06 Dec. 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. FASHION SHOW!  Teen Hair Tricks! The Onslow County news and views. (Jacksonville, N.C.)

One, two, three, four.. how will Molly handle her camp’s color war? Book five of the Molly series features another fictional island, frenemies, and a truly bizarre wartime Tripp to a woodsy summer camp. Proving that there’s no such thing as “too soon” at Camp Gowonagin, Molly and her friends recreate the D-Day beach landings to win a game. Molly wins, but much like the USA declaring victories around the world, at what cost? While Molly has to learn about swimming and friendly rivalry, we put this story in the broader context of life and death in camps during the 1940s.  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 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 @allisonhorro

It’s April 1944 in Illinois. Molly McIntire is gearing up for the big 1-0 when a new arrival comes to town. In book four, Molly gets new roommate— a refugee from London named Emily. Sure, there’s a war on, but that won’t stop Molly from turning life’s lemons into an unwanted lemon cake. Tune in to hear our coverage of Molly’s birthday week and a discussion of twilight birth that no one asked for. Trust us, this Molly mood is a Taurus-de-force.  "Shirley Takes the Cake" Evening Star. April 19, 1936: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1936-04-19/ed-1/seq-90/#date1=1936&index=2&rows=20&words=birthday+cake&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1945&proxtext=%22birthday+cake%22+&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 Birthday Party Descriptions. The Lexington Advertiser. December 22, 1938: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024271/1938-12-22/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1936&index=12&rows=20&words=birthday+cake&searchType=basic

For this holiday episode, we hear from YOU! We asked for some of your favorite holiday AG memories and like Molly’s mailman, you more than delivered. We also answer questions from listeners on friendship, dream AG books, and the future of the show.  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 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 @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your day? Listeners will get a free audiobook when you start a new monthly Libro.fm membership for $14.99 a month. You'll get two audiobooks for the price of one in your first month as a member. Valid in the US and Canada.Subscri

It’s Christmas time again, and all Molly McIntire wants is ... everything. Molly’s Surprise has some classic AG elements (hello, a doll gift) and a few distinctive surprises (including a heartwarming radio messages). Along with Molly’s love language (gifts) we talk about the history of the USO, how the holidays were advertised in local papers during the war, and Mrs. M’s ability to leave work at work. Grab your red striped pajamas, part your hair, and warm your circular glasses with a cocoa: it’s holiday time at the McIntires.   Sources we reference in this episode:     “The Daily Monitor Leader. [Volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, December 24, 1943, Image 18.” 2020. Loc.Gov, no. 1943/12/24: 18. https://doi.org/info:lccn/sn96077289. ‌“The Chronicle-Star Combined with the Moss Point Advertiser. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1941-1949, December 22, 1944, SECTION TWO, Image 10.” 2020. Loc.Gov, no. 1944/12/22. https://doi.org/info:lccn/sn87065528.  “Celebrating Christmas in World War 2 – Keep Calm and Carry On.

In the second Molly book, we learn 7x8 and who we can appreciate.  Molly’s plucky scheming streak continues when she refuses to take part in a group knitting project. Eventually, she surrenders and learns a lesson about allies and how to befriend an Alison. In our coverage, we continue to grapple with the great existential question of what it means to be a Molly, and much more. Tune in for our discussion of education in the 1940s, nationalism, and  lessons not learned on this season of Bachelorette.  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 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 @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter)

Molly wore a blueberry beret, and we think we love her. In this episode, we take a look at the first Molly book & the story that launched our love of American Girl. A surprising amount of this book hinges on a vegetable and a hula outfit. We tackle these plots and zoom out a bit to talk about wartime sacrifice and colonial costumes. We also talk about the Clare of it all and what is perhaps the most shocking season of Bachelorette to date. 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 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 @mimimahoney (Instagram) or  @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your day? Listeners will get a

Would Molly McIntire bring a boomer ethic into her workplace? Is there a world in which Samantha Parkington experiences burnout? In this very special episode, we talked with Anne Helen Petersen, journalist and author of Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation. In the spirit of the classic Care and Keeping of You Books, we chatted with Anne about self-care and social change. You won't want to miss Anne's Samantha story, her Kirsten insights, and her take on coping with the pandemic. Read and enjoy the Uncle Gard Zine ( http://bit.ly/UncleGardZine) 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 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