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Dear Hollywood

by Alyson Stoner

Society

It’s time to expose Hollywood. Child stardom is a unique cultural phenomenon with a notoriously dark shadow. Precocious young talents skyrocket to success only to repeat horror stories of addiction, decimated fortunes, and suicide. What is behind the toddler-to-train wreck pipeline? Why hasn’t it stopped? How are you connected to it at home? Host Alyson Stoner reveals intimate firsthand accounts alongside comprehensive expertise & action plans to change entertainment and inspire your own life path and healing. Subscribe & follow @alysonstoner to join the conversation. For the FULL Story, pre-order Alyson's memoir "Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything" here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted

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Episodes

  1. Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything - Exclusive Excerpt

    Hear an exclusive audio excerpt from Alyson Stoner’s new book Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything. Available wherever books, ebooks, and audiobooks are sold. For more details and to purchase, follow this link: https://bit.ly/45a7TLH

  2. Fresh Out of Rehab

    I found an old journal entry reflecting on my first audition after returning from rehab and wondering if entertainment was the path I ultimately wanted to be on... For the full story, order Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything out now: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted

  3. My Shame Connected to Sex

    While writing my memoir, I discovered a box of my journals that helped me tap into my old experiences. For the full story, order Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything here: bit.ly/semiwelladjusted

  4. Reading My Diary from the Set of Camp Rock

    What was I thinking about while on the set of Camp Rock? While writing my memoir, I discovered a box of my journals that helped me tap into my old experiences. For the full breakdown, order Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything at https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted

  5. Why I Don't Want Kids

    While writing my memoir, I discovered a box of my journals that helped me tap into my old experiences. This entry was from when I was 19 or 20 years old and struggling with the societal pressures of having children. Pre-order Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything at:...

  6. The Game Plan to Change Hollywood

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Be first to learn more about the Artist Well-being Toolkit here: https://www.movementgenius.com/artist-wellbeing-toolkit Bring our team to your production or performance...

  7. Creating a Celebrity Persona and Facing Stalkers

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Alyson reveals some of the risks and dangers around becoming a child celebrity, including navigating superfans, stalkers and predators encircling their life. They explore...

  8. The Psychology of Fame

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. If fame has addictive properties that mirror substance abuse, why would we hook a child to a “drug” that remaps...

  9. Kidfluencers: Behind the $8B Industry

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Is Kidfluencing the latest step on the toddler-to-trainwreck pipeline? Kidfluencing is an $8B industry that has very few protections in place for children. Whether…

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  10. The Truth About Influencers and Brand Deals

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Every time we scroll, we’re bombarded with ads and sponsored content. Much of this is delivered directly by social media influencers, including child influencers. In an...

  11. What it’s Really Like to Be An Influencer

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted As Alyson prepares listeners to examine Kidfluencing, they share their own personal foray into the digital media landscape at the dawn of Twitter, Instagram and TikTok....

  12. The Truth About Social Media Platforms

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Over 95 million photos and videos are posted on Instagram daily. Some people turn content creation into a livelihood and become digital influencers. Yet, rarely do they...

  13. Stage Parents, Toxic Socialization, and Poor Life Skills

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Stereotyped as living vicariously through their children, stage parents are demanding and competitive, prizing their child as the best talent in the industry. When does a...

  14. Child Stars: Broken Family Dynamics

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Hollywood notoriously rips apart families and relationships, so who would let their child get into such a wild industry? Many parents don’t realize the breadth and depth…

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  15. The Psychology and Aftermath of Auditions

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted TW: Simulating Trauma. Out of 500,000 hopeful artists, only 205 will make it. Everyone else will face repeated rejection at auditions. So, what does a child really face...

  16. Why Child Stars Have Chronic Illness and Mental Health Issues

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click https://betterhelp.com/alysonstoner for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a...

  17. The Hunger Games: Rehab and Plastic Surgery

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted TW: Eating Disorders. Alyson shares the audition process that landed them in rehab, along with the intense journey of recovery, therapy sessions, and what happened...

  18. Becoming a Product: Eating Disorders and Body Image

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted TW: Eating Disorders and Abuse. What is the impact of commercializing a child’s body as a product? What are the effects of Hollywood on a child’s body image? Alyson…

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  19. How Hollywood Culture Leads to Narcissism

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted What happens when child performers - due to fame and the industry - accrue copious access to wealth, material luxuries, status, and power? What traits and behaviors show...

  20. The Cause and Effect of Being Owned, Controlled and Manipulated

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted TW: sexual violence/abuse. Hollywood was not built with children in mind, nor is it prepared to protect children on set. Alyson explores the risks and unsuitable…

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  21. A Child’s Body: Open Access

    For the FULL story, preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Child stars face a strikingly bizarre reality where the world gains excessive, intimate and unchecked access to their physical body and personal life. From directors and...

  22. Why Child Stars are Set Up to Fail

    Preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” to get the FULL story here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted In the kickoff episode of Dear Hollywood, Alyson introduces the toddler-to-train wreck pipeline, a century old system involving child entertainers who enter the…

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  23. Introducing: Dear Hollywood

    Preorder my memoir “Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything” to get the FULL story here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted Why do child stars repeatedly suffer the same horror stories of drug addiction, psychiatric hospitalizations, decimated fortunes, sexual trauma, incarceration, and even...

About this show

It’s time to expose Hollywood. Child stardom is a unique cultural phenomenon with a notoriously dark shadow. Precocious young talents skyrocket to success only to repeat horror stories of addiction, decimated fortunes, and suicide. What is behind the toddler-to-train wreck pipeline? Why hasn’t it stopped? How are you connected to it at home? Host Alyson Stoner reveals intimate firsthand accounts alongside comprehensive expertise & action plans to change entertainment and inspire your own life path and healing. Subscribe & follow @alysonstoner to join the conversation. For the FULL Story, pre-order Alyson's memoir "Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything" here: https://bit.ly/semiwelladjusted

Hosted by

Alyson Stoner

Categories

Society Culture

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Dear Hollywood have?

Dear Hollywood has 23 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on August 27, 2025.

What is Dear Hollywood about?

It’s time to expose Hollywood. Child stardom is a unique cultural phenomenon with a notoriously dark shadow. Precocious young talents skyrocket to success only to repeat horror stories of addiction, decimated fortunes, and suicide. What is behind the toddler-to-train wreck pipeline? Why hasn’t it...

How often does Dear Hollywood release new episodes?

Dear Hollywood publishes monthly, based on its 23 episodes since July 2023.

Who hosts Dear Hollywood?

Dear Hollywood is created and hosted by Alyson Stoner.
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