American Girl Talk

Are Julie’s parents divorced, or are they just the worst? This week, we’re recapping Julie Tells Her Story—where Julie is forced to confront divorce head-on and reckon with the reality that split custody kind of sucks. Family drama, high-stakes sports, and newfangled recording rules shape not only Julie’s school year, but her entire outlook on life. Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Meet Paige! 8:18 - Chapter One: Homework! 21:27 - Chapter Two: Meet Charlotte! 30:07 - Chapter Three: This Little Piggy 38:31 - Chapter Four: The Big Game 46:00 - Chapter Five - The Best Thing Ever 53:53 - Peek into the Past 59:25 - Final Thoughts This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

We're so back and getting groovy with America's very first daughter of divorce! As Julie navigates the new world of split custody, she learns some harsh lessons about relationships, sexism, and whether or not mom has a new, homeless boyfriend.  Chapters 0:00 - New Girl(s)? Alert? Meet Chelsea AND Meet Julie! 13:28 - Chapter One: Moving Day! 30:18 - Chapter Two: Capitols and Cupcakes! 47:49 - Chapter Three: Jump &hots and Rebounds! 57:09 - Chapter Four: Career Day 1:06:08 - Chapter Five: Girls Can Play Too! 1:18:48 - Chapter Six: Dumpsters and Hoopsters 1:23:38 - Peek into the Past: Divorce! Title IX! BJK! 1:25:33 - Final Thoughts!   This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Happy New Year, Dolls! We're back for one last yap (this year) and to look back at all the books we've read this year. What did we learn from reading 48 children's books in one year? Did they affirm our love of history? (yes), did they radicalize us politically? (also yes). In this bonus episode, we talk about why we love the girls, what we wish was different, and of course, whose dad was the hottest of them all.  This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Have you ever been bleu balled by a children's book? Because Changes for Kaya was NOT what we expected! We're okay, and we still love our girl, but...we were promised more. As we wrap up the original American Girl, we are forced to rant in equal measure about Kaya's inability to NOT be Magpie, and our hatred of how the US Government treated native people. It's an episode that contains multitudes! Check out this week's poll to help us decide what we're covering in January! Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Two Women Left Wanting.3:47 - Chapter One: Smoke on the Wind25:13 - Chapter Two: The Rogue Stallion's Herd44:05 - Chapter Three: Trapped by Fire53:26 - Chapter Four: Gifts1:05:53 - Looking Back: We Really Hate Organized Religion (today)1:26:40 - Closing Thoughts: Goodbye, Kaya! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

It's summertime, the salmon is frying, and Kaya is FINALLY reunited with her sister, Speaking Rain! The cover spoiled us, but that doesn't mean the reunion goes smoothly. In this week's dive into Kaya's story, we unpack what happens when you physically lose a sister, and what might happen when you emotionally lose a sister, and how finding a new path (allegedly) might just mean you never have to take your sister's oath seriously. It's a sister story, and not much else, but as always, we have a good old time, so tune in!Chapters0:00 - Intro: Spoilers abound2:44 - Chapter One: The Sound of the Falls16:08 - Chapter Two: Dangerous Crossing30:27 - Chapter Three: Stranded by the Strome42:02 - Chapter Four: A New Path56:49 - Peek into the Past: We love nature!1:04:53 - Closing Thoughts This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Have you ever thought about coping with your sister's kidnapping and your mentor's death by putting all of your hopes and dreams into a feral wolf-dog? Kaya is TOTALLY ok, by the way! This week, we're recapping Kaya as she takes a break from causing chaos and instead becomes the ultimate dog girl (horse girl being out of play, currently). Kaya learns how to nurture, Sparrow begs to be mauled by a bear, and Kautsua continues to be in everyone's business. Tune in! Chapters0:00 - Intro: Dog Girls Unite!7:06 - Chapter One: Starving Dog25:20 - Chapter Two: Newborn Puppies38:17 - Chapter Three: More Warnings50:18 - Chapter Four: Danger for the Pups!58:05 - Chapter Five: A Sad Parting1:08:06 - Peek into the Past: Wrong Book?1:19:28 - Closing Thoughts: Vibes! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

*Slightly bad audio today, (sorry!)*Have you ever had a girl crush on a strong, powerful, possibly barren woman in your tribe? Who among us hasn't, you know? This week, we're diving into Kaya's Hero, in which a girl crush on Swan Circling teaches Kaya how to be a better person (maybe). What we aren't taught is what is going on with any of these ceremonies, and that's an issue for Caroline and Celia to harp on. Tune in for some high highs, low blows, and a baby that just isn't actually that sick!Chapters0:00 - Devastation (cont)2:13 - Chapter One: Runaway Horse24:30 - Chapter Two: Lessons From a Basket40:03 - Chapter Three: Sick Baby50:34 - Chapter Four: Gifts From Swan Circling1:11:20 - A (Disappointing) Looking Back1:16:03 - Closing Thoughts - We All Need a Strong Woman This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

If you thought any of the other girls ended up in disasters of their own making, then buckle the F up because Kaya's about to take the finger cake. When Kaya and her sister get abducted by raiders in a mess entirely of Kaya's own making, Kaya must team up with a surly Salish boy carrying the energy of an angry NPC to try and find her way home. Will she survive? Is this all her fault? The answer to both is yes, but tune in for the roller coaster ride that is Kaya's Escape! Chapters 0:00 - Intro: The Books Are Getting Dark Quickly 2:17 - Chapter One: Taken Captive 17:20 - Chapter Two: Slaves of the Enemy 33:45 - Chapter Three: Escape!49:32 - Chapter Four: On the Buffalo Trail1:06:23 - Looking Back: Learns a Lesson? 1:15:42 - Closing Thoughts: Kaya's Fault! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Chapters0:00 - Meet Kaya: A Nez Perce Peek into the Past!16:12 - Chapter One: Let's Race!37:06 - Chapter Two: Switchings!52:06 - Chapter Three: Courtship Dance1:05:40 - Chapter Four: Rescued From the River (plus, a technical difficulty)1:14:52 - Bonus Peek into the Past1:22:25 - Closing Thoughts: New World, New Girl! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Two hens are clucking once again about your favorite girls - from Kirsten to Kit, we're covering the best books, why Learns a Lesson's never quite hit, and comparing how bad our Halloween hangovers are in comparison to last year (you had to be there). Tune in for a little break between seasons, and a fun chat with Caroline and Celia about all things American Girl! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Goodbye Kit! This week, we're wrapping up our coverage on this little writer girl by getting into uncle fights, becoming journalists, and perhaps most important of all, making a difference. Will Stirling's mom ever be caught poisoning his soup? Does the eggman come at dawn? Is dad ever going to get a job? Find out all this and less in Changes for Kit! Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Last Kit book! 2:34 - Chapter One: Something Wonderful 21:31 - Chapter Two: To Do 36:31 - Chapter Three: Letters with an 'S' 46:10 - Chapter Four: The Perfect Word 55:20 - Peek into the Past: WWII Saves the Day? 1:01:45 - Closing Thoughts on Kit! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Hobos and Bums and Tramps, oh my! When a young hobo wanders into Kit's backyard, she's immediately adventure-cucked. Living in a tent, eating communal hobo soup? What a treat! What a dream! Wrong! Turns out, being a vagabond is not nearly as cool as it seems, and actually scary! Oops! We could not have predicted this. Chapters 0:00 - Our Darkest Book Yet 2:01 - Chapter One: Stuck! 10:02 - Chapter Two: Just Plain Will 23:40 - Chapter Three: The Hobo Jungle 33:50 - Chapter Four: Do Something 46:29 - Peek into the Past: Too Poor for Summer! 57:33 - Closing Thoughts: Dark! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

The eggman cometh! Join us as we celebrate (or barely reference) Kit's upcoming 10th birthday!When Aunt Millie comes to town, she brings with her tons of ideas on how the Kittredges can actually save money and turn a profit with their failing boarding house business - but will the Kittredges be happy with these changes, or will they be inexplicably shamed by the idea of eating peaches out of a dented can? Only time will tell, and boy, does this book take its time getting to the point! This book? Boring. This episode? Very entertaining. So listen in, lest you summon the wrath of the ragman!Chapters0:00 - We're so back! What happened in this book?7:45 - Chapter One: Secrets and Surprises18:11 - Chapter Two: The Waste-Not Want-Not Almanac34:23 - Chapter Three: Grace44:31 - Chapter Four: The Penny Pincher Party55:10 - Peek into the Past: Dad's Can Abandon Kids!1:00:00 - Final Thoughts: Do You Believe in the Eggman? This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

It's a Depression-era Christmas, and Kit is NOT feeling the Christmas cheer - if you can even believe. Between Ruthie's dad threatening to evict her family as a New Year's gift and Ruthie giving her hand-me-down dresses, Kit is at her limit with financial stress, as any nine-year-old would be. But can she turn her Christmas around by performing a series of increasing random errands for her curmudgeonly uncle? Is it still "American Girl Talk" if Caroline is recording in Romania? Tune in to find out!Chapters0:00 - Intro: Romanian Girl Talk!9:48 - Chapter One: Rick Rack22:06 - Chapter Two: The Bright Red Dress38:24 - Chapter Three: The Wicked Ogre47:37 - Chapter Four: Jewels58:58 - Peek into the Past: A Depressing Christmas!1:04:01 - Final Thoughts: Best Doll Award? This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Our very first book where no lesson is learned - potentially! It's Thanksgiving at the Kittredge boarding house, and Kit is FED UP with all the boarders cramping her style. Dad will get a job any day, so there's no point in having them there, right? RIGHT? Wrong! Turns out, you can't trust adults to be honest, but you can trust us to give you the DL on everything happening in Kit's world on this week's episode. Tune in - gobble gobble!Chapters0:00 - Intro: Valerie strikes again3:37 - Chapter One: Messages17:19 - Chapter Two: Pilgrims and Indians28:55 - Chapter Three: Spilling the Beans!36:44 - Chapter Four: Kit's Hard Times47:50 - Peek into the Past: School - incredibly depressing!49:50 - Final Thoughts: Did Kit learn a lesson? This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

America may be depressed, but we certainly aren't (sometimes)! It's time to meet Kit - our spunky, plucky, Depression-era daddy's girl who just discovered her family is headed towards financial ruin! When a ghoulish boy and his maybe-questionable-mother move into the Kittredge house, Kit discovers that life is not fair, and Caroline and Celia wonder why the adults in Kit's world lie so much. Chapters0:00 - Intro: New Girl Alert! Caroline's Golden Gal and the Return of Valerie5:16 - Chapter One: Good News20:58 - Chapter Two: Read All About It!31:09 - Chapter Three: It's Not Fair!41:37 - Chapter Four: Mother's Brainstorm54:31 - Peek into the Past: Depression? Very Depressing!1:02:00 - Closing Thoughts  This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

It's time for another yap! We're taking a week off from reading about American Girls and we're simply talking about American Girls - Kirsten, Samanth, Molly, Felictiy, Addy, and Josefina! Join us as we rank, rant, rave and review what we've noticed and who's won our hearts. PLUS: Celia does some snooping and gets to the bottom of our frenemy, Valerie Tripp's relationship to the American Girl Doll brand.  This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

WE WERE SO RIGHT. Love is IN THE AIR in the land of enchantment, but yearning is also at full throttle - and Papa and Tia Dolores do not know what to do with themselves! When Tia Dolores announces she's going to leave the rancho and move to Santa Fe, Josefina full-on crashes out because she KNOWS Tia Dolores is meant to be with Papa. Can Josefina mastermind the relationship into existence? We're literally giggling, kicking our feet, listening to this one, so tune in!Chapters0:00 - Intro: We were SO RIGHT3:02 - Chapter One: Gifts and Blessings19:36 - Chapter Two: Sleet42:03 - Chapter Three: Josefina's Plan49:38 - Chapter Four: Heart and Hope1:01:36 - Peek into the Past: Oops - Manifest Destiny!1:08:59 - Closing Thoughts: Goodbye to our delicious slowburn This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

We can't even focus on this book because of the sheer amount of tension between Papa and Tía Dolores, but...  Josefina and her family are in Santa Fe to trade goods and save the ranch! When Josefina encounters the Rizzmaster Señor O'Toole, he says that he can help her family earn the money they need AND throw in something a lil extra to make Josefina's day! But can we trust this Americano? Are all people who play music inherently good? Have Papa and Tía Dolores touched each other, or are they straight yearning? Are we delulu? Find out! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company. 

Josefina's name day fast approaches, and she's LOCKED IN on becoming a healer. She's fostering goats, sniffing herbs, and cleaning pots off tall shelves - but will it be enough? Only time and bizarre circumstances will tell, so join us as we hyperfixate on what papa and Tia Dolores are doing, speculate on the logistics of snake attacks, and wonder if mallow root really could save the day! Chapters0:00 - Intro: Are Papa and Tía Dolores F*cking?3:54 - Chapter One: Spring Sprouts19:23 - Chapter Two: Tía Magdalena30:11 - Chapter Three: Second Chances40:57 - Chapter Four: Rattlesnake!51:27 - Peek into the Past: Childbirth and Suspicious Wedding Lore56:11 - Closing Thoughts: A Manic Episode, and a Budding Romance This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.