Dolls of Our Lives

Latest Episodes:

127: Surprise! Special Book Launch Day Episode with Kat Dennings! Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

It’s book release day! To celebrate, we have a bonus episode featuring Kat Dennings. Kat sat down with us to chat about all things American Girl, starting with her early fandom. Tune in for an important millennial pop quiz, discussions of Kat’s AG-inspired fashion choices, and her current favorite things in pop culture. 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) Join us at book events (virtual and in-person in CT, MA, and RI). Find out more here. 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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

126: Dream Job Special Episode II: An Interview with Sydney Rose Paulson Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

For years, @5Hensandacockatiel has been one of the bright lights on AGIG, the community of American Girl creators on Instagram. More recently, the artist behind the handle has gotten her name in American Girl catalogues, and her artwork featured in an AG store. On this episode, we chatted with Sydney Rose Paulson, a long-time AG fan and podcaster who works for/with the brand. Sydney talked about her journey loving American Girl, from childhood play to her current career. Sydney also shared how she manages her collection, how to take a great doll photograph (hint: action!), and her recent experience at a Taylor Swift concert (a story you will definitely want to hear). 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Pre-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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

125: Earth Day Everyday: Julie and the Eagles Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Julie Albright doesn’t want much for her tenth birthday. All she’s really asking for is $1,000 to save a pair of national treasures—what could go wrong? Book four finds Julie fighting for a new cause after a chance encounter with a hurt animal. This time, Julie wants to see eagles fly again. We discuss her latest campaign, Earth Day, and news on the 2024 Girl of the Year. 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 Join us at our virtual book launch with Margaret Lyons! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/allison-horrocks-and-mary-mahoney-dolls-of-our-lives-tickets-715394683757?aff=oddtdtcreator Join us at in-person book events! https://dollsofourlivespod.com/join-us-at-book-events Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Pre-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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

124: Homes for the Holidays: Happy New Year, Julie! Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

Surprise! It's the winter of 1975 and time for Julie's third story. After a family fight breaks out on Christmas, Julie starts dreaming of a happier new year. With the support of her friend Ivy and the Ling family, Julie gets excited about new traditions. We discuss 1970s Christmas celebrations, the Ford White House, and what in the world is going on with the Albright family's finances. Episode Resources: Ford White House Christmas https://www.mlive.com/news/2017/12/gerald_and_betty_ford_christma.html Ping Pong Diplomacy https://diplomacy.state.gov/ping-pong-diplomacy-historic-1971-u-s-table-tennis-trip-to-china/#:~:text=Their%20trip%20was%20the%20start,people%20understanding%20and%20cultural%20exchange 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Pre-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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

123: Little Miss Watergate: Julie Tells Her Story Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

What do paranoid presidents and curious children have in common? Both find tape recording devices to be life-changing. In Julie’s second book, she learns a lesson about the power of surveillance and gets dubbed Little Miss Watergate. We follow along as she struggles to write a report on the best and worst things to ever happen in her life. We discuss what Julie does and does not know about current events, her parents’ relationship, and the Peek into the Past on schooling in the 1970s. 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Pre-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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

122: A San Francisco Treat: Meet Julie, An American Girl Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Julie Albright is going through some CHANGES and we are along for the ride! If you missed the six book format, you’ll be thrilled to dive into Julie’s world with us. In Meet Julie, we are introduced to the Albright family, BFF Ivy, and a coach/villain who rejects Title IX. Throughout this book, Julie has to overcome a number of challenges, including a move, career day, and sexism in middle school sports. We invite you to grab your handbags, gladbags, and other groovy Julie gear to treat yourself with a trip back to the ‘70s. 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl 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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

121: Melody and the Motor City: An Interview with Kayla Chenault Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Some journeys start with a dream, or just a favorite doll. Author and public historian Kayla Chenault grew up with American Girl. Kayla's fascination with the 1940s (via Molly) even led her to pursue volunteering and then working at a local historical society. In this episode, Kayla shares her perspective on Melody’s stories and depictions of her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. Tune in for a spooky story about one possibly haunted Molly, a local's perspective on Melody, and a deep dive into the riots of 1967. To learn more about Kayla's work, follow her on Instagram: @kayla.c.author or visit her website: https://kc-writes.com/ To join us at BPL on Thursday, November 9th: https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/64d14e9a591918360006d3f8 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl 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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

120: Music in My Heart: Our Journey with Melody Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

People say that music has the power to take us anywhere. American Girl took that literally with the third Melody book, Music in My Heart. In this choose-your-own adventure novel, we follow a protagonist as she goes back in time and navigates Melody's world. This forces us to decide whether we'd rather make music with Melody's brother or learn about the Civil Rights movement alongside her sister. With more than a dozen options for read-throughs, this book has something for everyone, including a Rosa Parks cameo. We discuss this genre of book, the choices we made in our journey with Melody, and our viewings of the Barbie movie. Resources we reference: Leslie Jamison. “The Enduring Allure of Choose Your Own Adventure Books.” The New Yorker. The New Yorker, September 12, 2022. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/19/the-enduring-allure-of-choose-your-own-adventure-books. ‌ ‌Beyonce's Assistant Choose-Your-Own Adventure Game by Landon: https://twitter.com/CORNYASSBITCH/status/1142592498730061824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1142592498730061824%7Ctwgr%5Eefe00af6e1d134b64b50971351d4c8d6ced087d9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjunkee.com%2Fbeyonce-assistant-choose-adventure-game%2F210734 Show 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl 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 @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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

119: Pop, Protests. and a Playground: Never Stop Singing Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Denise Lewis Patrick, you’ve done it again! In the second Melody book, our main girl takes on a number of new challenges. In addition to becoming a backup singer, Melody has decided to renovate a community park and participate in a boycott. We follow Melody and her family through the summer of 1964 and consider how her story sheds new light on a key moment in American history. We also learn that this backup vocalist has amazing main-character energy. 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl 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 @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. Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

118: Meet Melody: No Ordinary Sound Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into Melody Ellison’s world. While growing up in a busy home in 1960s Detroit, Melody is getting singing lessons and an education in civil rights activism. In her first Beforever book, Melody must gather up the courage to sing a solo in the wake of a national tragedy. Meet this aptly named American Girl and learn about the side characters whose voices sing in concert to make “no ordinary sound.” 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 Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl 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.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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