PODCAST · history
American Girl Talk
by Caroline Schaeffer, Celia Tise
A show for all former (and current) historical fiction girlies to geek out and re-experience some of our favorite classic childhood books. If you had one or more historical events that you hyper-fixated on as a child, this is the podcast for you!
Episodes
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Changes for Rebecca!
We say goodbye to our girl Rebecca with labor unions, dangerous sleepovers, and a well-aimed rock that may have caused a TBI! Changes for Rebecca is another delightfully unhinged addition to the "changes" legacy of books, and boy, do we have some thoughts! Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Sarah's back with...
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Rebecca to the Rescue!
It's summertime and the living's easy! We kick off the season of fun with a boy becoming a man, egg salad on the beach, and a theme park that seems...mean! Rebecca goes to Coney Island for thrills, chills, and... spills from a 50-foot ladder? It's a lot for girl, never a woman, to handle!…
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Rebecca and the Movies!
Have you ever dreamed of being a star kidlet? Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had the chance to star in reel moving picture? Have you ever been worried that your family might find out, and the news of your exploits would bring shame upon your elders? Well fear not! 2/3 of those...
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Candlelight for Rebecca!
Fry up some latkes, it's time to wish you and yours a happy Hanukkah! It's that time of year again! But what time of year IS that time of year, Rebecca wonders - Christmas, or Hanukkah? When a school project sends Rebecca into a low-stakes guilt spiral, she's forced to confront faith…
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Rebecca and Ana!
Cousin Ana has touched down in the good old US of A, and Rebecca is so excited to have a twin cousin she neglects to consider that Ana may have her own thoughts, feelings, and trauma to deal with! Rebecca is back and iconically self-centered as she learns a lesson about family, patience, and the...
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Meet Rebecca!
Mazel Tov! We're back in time again with Rebecca Rubin, the daughter of Jewish-Russian immigrants living out her showgirl dream in the LES during the 1910's. Rebecca has it all - creepy twin sisters, a penchant for showmanship, and a loving family (?). What doesn't she have? $64 candles and a...
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Molly - THE MOVIE!
SPECIAL GUEST ALERT! Huge relief, too, because we needed the energy of heaven itself to get through 90 minutes of Molly. Join us for ol' times sake as we cover the brattiest girl on the homefront, wonder why Molly Ringwald's agent co-signed this project, and experience a drive-by aunt! This…
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Breaking News! Cookbook Reviews and More!
Hello! I have a shorter episode for you all this week! Life has been hectic and I didn't have time/company to record a regular episode, so I hope this will suffice! I'm talking about the recent CBS Sunday Morning interview about the American Girl Doll books, featuring the illustrious Valerie…
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Changes for Julie!
Election connection! As we wind down our time with Julie, she's revs up her political career! Spurned by an unjust detention, does her ambition for power prevent her from seeing her friend who is suffering the most? (hint: a little) Chapters 0:00 - Goodbye, Julie! Hello, Sarah! 14:28 - Chapter…
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Julie's Journey
It's a rootin' tootin' good time on the trail this week as Julie learns the legacy of America, the importance of setting goals, and that horses are cooler in practice than in theory. Join us as we go on a journey with our favorite 70s girl and discover the cult that is American Patriotism!…
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Julie and the Eagles
Did you know the earth was in danger in the 70s? Did you know that eagles need Hack Towers? Did you know that some American Girl books are weirder than others? This week, we're reading about Julie's foray into activism and discussing the practicalities of commuting from Berkley to downtown San...
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Happy New Year, Julie!
If you thought two Christmases was a bonus point for divorce, think again! Julie's first Christmas as a child from a broken home goes so horribly that only the Chinese New Year can save the day! But will mom, dad, Tracy, and their new lives get in the way of new beginnings? Tune in to find out!...
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Julie Tells Her Story!
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…
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Meet Julie!
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...
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Felicity - THE MOVIE!
Babes - we left for a while, but we're back. And while we've got a bittersweet announcement at the top o' the show, we've got GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS coming your way. But first - Felictiy! We watched Felicity: An American Girl Adventure! So you don't have to! Check out our hot takes, casting opinions,...
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Samantha - THE MOVIE!
Sam is so back and portrayed in living color on the silver screen. We're kicking back in our month off the books and watching a year in Samantha's life play out in front of our very eyes. What changed? What stayed the same? And why on earth is Grandmary so c*nty? This podcast is for entertainment...
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Looking Back on the OG 8 American Girl Dolls
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,...
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Changes for Kaya!
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…
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Kaya Shows the Way!
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…
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Kaya and Lone Dog!
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...
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Kaya's Hero
*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...
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Kaya's Escape!
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…
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Meet Kaya!
Chapters 0:00 - 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 Dance 1:05:40 - Chapter Four: Rescued From the River (plus, a technical difficulty) 1:14:52 - Bonus Peek into the Past 1:22:25 - Closing...
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The American Girl Dolls - Best Books (so far!)
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…
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Changes for Kit!
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…
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Kit Saves the Day(?)
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…
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Happy Birthday, Kit!
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...
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Kit's Surprise!
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.…
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Kit Learns a Lesson (?)
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...
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Meet Kit!
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…
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Breaking News - The Progeny of Samantha Parkington?
You heard it here last, folks! American Girl just released their new Girl of the Year, and she comes equipped with clothes, accessories, and...Samantha lore? Tune in for a quick lil' snack of an episode where we discuss this breaking news! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.…
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Two Hens Cluckin' - Recapping What We've Recapped!
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...
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Changes for Josefina!
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...
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Josefina Saves the Day!
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…
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Happy Birthday, Josefina!
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,...
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Josefina's Surprise!
Feliz Navidad! It's Christmastime for Josefina and her family, and everyone is wondering - for the first time since Mama's death - do they dare to be happy? The jury's out because Clara doesn't think so! She's hiding dolls, crashing out over altarpieces, and in general feeling glum about the...
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Josefina Learns a Lesson!
*AUDIO DISCLAIMER* The ghost of Mama cursed this episode, so the audio in the first part is...bad! Stick with it though! When a torrential flood kills a shocking number of sheep on the rancho, Tia Dolores swoops in to save the day! Josefina and her sisters must weave like their lives depend on it...
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Meet Josefina!
Hola! Bienvenido a un nuevo episodio de American Girl Talk! We're down in the land of enchantment with Josefina, our newest gal! She's shy, she hates goats, and she's not even technically American at this point! It's been a year since Mama died, and the Montoya's are barely scraping by...
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Two Hens Cluckin' - Another Look at the Girls So Far!
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.
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Changes for Addy!
It’s full-on weep city at AGTHQ as we close the final chapter of Addy’s journey — the bravest girl in the American Girl universe. In the winter of 1865 Philadelphia, Addy clings to hope: hope for her family to be whole again, and for the freedom she’s fought so hard to claim. But freedom doesn’t...
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Addy Saves the Day!(?)
It's summertime in the city! War is over, the church is planning a fair, and Addy is in a full-out brawl with mean girl Harriet over puppets and magic. But puppets and magic are no match for thieves and amputees...and you'll have to listen to find out what that means. Join us as we hee-hee…
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Happy Birthday, Addy!
Nothing says birthday quite like meeting a mystical blind woman, experiencing severe discrimination, and co-opting the end of the deadliest war on American Soil for your own birthday! Addy manages to do all these things and more. Celia is now a doll (Dollia), and Caroline is crashing out about...
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Addy's Surprise!
Merry Christmas in July! Addy's celebrating her first Christmas as a free girl, and she's locked in on getting Momma the best gift she can find. Life is complicated, though, and freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be when you're freezing in a garret with a barely functioning window. We delve…
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Addy Learns a Lesson!
Addy's back and she's learning all kinds of lessons in this week's episode! From proper spelling to the inner machinations of dealing with mean girls, our little lady is learning that wars don't just happen on the battlefield; they happen in the classroom as well! Where will her allegiances lie?…
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Meet Addy!
New Girl Alert! This week, we're covering Addy's harrowing journey to escape slavery and find freedom! It's full of horror, heartbreak, and unimaginable trauma - you know, kid stuff! Will she be successful? Will we, two white women, be able to cover this topic with the tact and delicacy it...
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Two Hens Clucking: Talking About the American Girl Dolls!
We're back for another yap in between our coverage of the American Girl Doll books! Join us as we recap our thoughts on Kirsten, Samantha, Molly, and Felicity - who we liked, who we hated, who we LOVED, and who still might need to brush up on her ESL classes! We're going through funny...
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Changes for Felicity!
Goodbye, Felicity—and hello darkness, my old friend. Revolution is brewing in Colonial Williamsburg, but that’s not the only upheaval in store for our favorite horse girl. Winter is a tough season for the Merriman family, and 1776 is no exception. In this final Felicity book, we dive into themes…
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Felicity Saves the Day!
It's summertime in Colonial Virginia and we feel weird about where Felicity's family decides to spend their idle time! But those feelings have NO time to manifest into a longer political rant because BEN IS MIA and it's up to his best girl to find him and save the day. Tune in for…
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Happy Birthday, Felicity!
Justice for Felicity! On the eve of her birthday, Felicity is confronted with an age-old question: Do adults overreact to things? Like a lot? Luckily for us, our girl can't be stopped, and she turns another ambiguous "birthday" book into something more akin to a Saves the Day adventure. And Ben…
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American Girls Gone Wild(ly) More Accurate!
Hey cuties! Short bonus episode for ya about some news we heard on le Reddit. Kirsten Learns a Lesson has gotten a facelift, and the inclusion of the Dakota tribe is less egregious! Yippee! We discuss that and more in a sweet Thursday special, and we would love to hear your thoughts! Kisses! This...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A show for all former (and current) historical fiction girlies to geek out and re-experience some of our favorite classic childhood books. If you had one or more historical events that you hyper-fixated on as a child, this is the podcast for you!
HOSTED BY
Caroline Schaeffer, Celia Tise
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does American Girl Talk have?
American Girl Talk currently has 74 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is American Girl Talk about?
A show for all former (and current) historical fiction girlies to geek out and re-experience some of our favorite classic childhood books. If you had one or more historical events that you hyper-fixated on as a child, this is the podcast for you!
How often does American Girl Talk release new episodes?
American Girl Talk has 74 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to American Girl Talk?
You can listen to American Girl Talk on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts American Girl Talk?
American Girl Talk is created and hosted by Caroline Schaeffer, Celia Tise.
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