130 episodes
Dolls of Our Lives Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney
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- History
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4.8 • 1.1K Ratings
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The series you loved, book by book. Join Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney as they explore the wild world of American Girl fandom. In each episode, Allison and Mary will dive into an American Girl book from their (and perhaps your) childhood. Using their knowledge as professional historians and finely tuned instincts as amateur pop culture critics, they’ll take you back to a very different time—the 1990s. Formerly American Girls Podcast.
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Happy Birthday, America: Julie's Journey
When your country is celebrating its 200th birthday, what kind of party do you throw? In the summer of 1976, Julie Albright wasted no time in getting herself involved in a complex bicentennial celebration. Along with her sister, Julie joins her cousin's family on a covered wagon trip to honor their country and Pony Express- riding- ancestor. On this "journey," Julie gets to meet a number of trinket-selling hucksters---and an elderly man who is descended from a signer of the Constitution. Julie also struggles with wanting to be a horse girl AND has some deep anxiety about being thrown off a horse. Last but maybe least, this book also includes a cameo by President Gerald Ford. We talked about which bicentennial events we would have wanted to attend and plans for the upcoming 250th.
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)
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 -
The Tea on Felicity: Our Interview with Mary Wiseman
Mary Wiseman has played many roles in her life. For years, Mary was a first-person interpreter in the role of Martha Washington at Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. During her time in Williamsburg, Mary also played an important role in the creation of Felicity Merriman. We talked with Mary about her involvement in Pleasant Rowland's plans for her company, the "birth" of Felicity, and her views on the uses of history. Don't miss this insider's take on the creation of a revolutionary character.
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
You can order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl
You can 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 -
Surprise! Special Book Launch Day Episode with Kat Dennings!
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 -
Dream Job Special Episode II: An Interview with Sydney Rose Paulson
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 -
Earth Day Everyday: Julie and the Eagles
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 -
Homes for the Holidays: Happy New Year, Julie!
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
Customer Reviews
Great!
I learn so much plus it’s just fun nostalgia. It’s nice and long too for those jogs and car commutes.
Too much content about The Bachelor
I wish the hosts would cut out the long intros about unrelated topics. I choose not to watch The Bachelor, so why would I want to spend 20 minutes listening to an intro about it on an American Girl podcast? I was really looking forward to a critique of the historical accuracy of these books but after 3 episodes I’m walking away. The hosts also clearly don’t respect the books; they spend the Josefina series making up a glib murder plot line. There are moments where they even make fun of Latinx culture because they haven’t previously been exposed to certain traditions. The premise of this podcast is great and has lots of potential but the execution is not for me.
Mean-spirited, bad faith interpretations, frequent unrelated tangents and very little history
I really wanted to like this podcast, I was so excited to stumble onto it as I had just began rereading the American Girl books, but it’s beyond awful. The concept is so good on paper. Two historians talking about the American Girl books and the historical context around them, what’s not to like? Unfortunately this premise hardly features in the podcast. The two hosts spend more time wandering down unrelated tangents about trashy reality TV, pop culture and astrology than they do talking about the American Girls and history.
I listened to the Felicity book episodes and one Samantha episode, as I was both hoping it would get better and didn’t want to condemn it without giving it a fair shot. I gave it more than a fair shot and I will say even listening to it at 2.5 speed, this podcast is a slog. What time they actually did spend talking about the books was filled with the hosts demonizing nine-year-old girls for acting like children and making the most bad faith interpretations of each character and action in the series. Except for Annabelle who they inexplicably adore and ignore all of her less than favorable actions. For example they make no comment on Annabelle calling Elizabeth “Bitsy,” a name that Elizabeth has said she doesn’t like and doesn’t want Annabelle to use, yet treat Felicity like she’s an awful person for calling Annabelle “Bananabelle.” They also act as if Felicity is the aggressor in their interactions, glossing over the snide and classist comments Annabelle has been making since their first meeting. I was especially bothered by the hosts theorizing in the Felicity’s Surprise episode that Mrs. Merriman’s life-threatening illness was just a ploy by her to get out of housework. Women’s health has historically been dismissed and women still face medical discrimination today. This take feels incredibly inappropriate and misogynistic and again the most bad faith take on a character.
I am also not entirely convinced that they are doing more than just skimming the books or reading a few paragraphs here and there in preparation for episodes as they will make comments or ascribe character motives that are refuted in the text and gloss over large portions of the stories. I am not sure if other episodes contain more history, but the ones I listened to had only brief discussions of slavery and Ben’s social status as an apprentice, though they were interspersed with frequent insults hurled at the protagonist, her family and her friends. They talk about how Felicity’s books not giving enough attention and weight to black characters would be upsetting for young black readers which is an entirely valid point, and yet are weirdly pro Queen of England seemingly glossing over the fact she was in that position as a direct result of the centuries-long horrors of British imperialism that also still affects people today. I don’t doubt that the hosts are historians, but it seems disingenuous to advertise your podcast as being hosted by historians and then spend more time talking about reality TV than history relevant to the episode’s subject.
The hosts also don’t give any acknowledgement to the fact that the books were written about and for young children and how this can affect what subjects are covered and how they are handled (e.g. Felicity’s tooth is very important to her as a nine-year-old and is given the same weight as the tea storyline because it helps connect the young readers to her character through shared experience and also when you’re nine, losing a tooth is a big deal). The books certainly have their flaws and show signs of their age. They are not perfect, but they do show the lives of young girls as they go about their daily lives, make new friends, learn about the world around them and yes, make mistakes but also learn and grow from those mistakes. They are early reader books that have for years continued to spark an interest in history and make history accessible for hundreds of little girls. To ignore the intent of the books only makes the hosts of this podcast look foolish.
I was also bothered by the hosts laughingly recounting how prior to the podcast they had shamed another American Girl fan for “misremembering” the Felicity books when they were the ones at the time incorrectly insisting that John Adams was a central character and the books took place in Boston. Overall this podcast is incredibly mean-spirited and a huge disappointment. If I could give it less than one star, I would. It seems as if the hosts would be better suited to making reality TV/pop culture podcast than a literary/history podcast as they seem to hardly cover or have any interest in the topics the episodes are allegedly about. I’m not sure who the target audience is as it is certainly not fans of the American Girls or their books. I guess it’s only for Molly fans as she seems to be the only girl they actually like.