Best Allison Horrocks Podcasts (2024)

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139: It Takes Two: Isabel and Nicki 1:15:21

3M ago1:15:21

1:15:21

For our final episode, we took some twinspiration from the newest historical AGs: Isabel and Nicki Hoffman. When we meet Isabel, she is trying to perfect her Spice Girls choreography in time for a performance on New Year's Eve. Nicki, on the other hand, is learning how to make zines and skateboarding around Seattle. Both girls are struggling with s…

1
138: Courtney: Friendship Superhero and American Girl Consumer 1:19:45

3M ago1:19:45

1:19:45

It's 1986, and Courtney Moore's summer break is off to a great start. After participating in Hands Across America, she's ready to hit the arcade, read her American Girl catalogue, and make new friends, including a boy named Isaac. But Courtney faces unexpected challenges when she hits the books that fall. When others learn that Isaac is HIV positiv…

1
137: From the Archives: Meet Felicity 57:43

4M ago57:43

57:43

Join us as we travel back in time to our first episode! We’ll be back on April 1 with the second Courtney book (and a special guest!) Until then, enjoy younger versions of us when we were still learning how to podcast (but had timeless takes on Justin Timberlake). Subscribe to Mary’s newsletter, Landline, here: https://marymmahoney.substack.com/ Yo…

1
136: Ms. Pac-Man: Courtney Changes the Game 1:18:30

4M ago1:18:30

1:18:30

Do you think of yourself as part of history? What about the Care Bears and Ms. Pac-Man? When American Girl first revealed that there would be a new historical character set in 1986, we were in shock. Having recovered from that surprise, we were delighted to meet the young person behind the bop "Hey Courtney." Through Courtney Changes the Game, we m…

1
135: On the Road: Adventures with Claudie 1:08:44

5M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

It's time for another American Girl road trip! In the second Claudie book, Brit Bennett takes us from Claudie's neighborhood in Harlem to her grandmother's house in Shellman, Georgia. Along the way, Claudie learns that there are different "rules" about living in the South and the North. She also sees a new side of her mother, an investigative journ…

1
134: Hoops: Basketballs and Barriers 1:03:23

5M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

To round out our Julie coverage, we read something we think she would love: Matt Tavares’s Hoops. This graphic novel (based on a true story) follows an Indiana girls’ basketball team’s first season post-Title IX. We discuss the characters’ activism on and off the courts--and the ways that sexism persists in sports today. This episode also includes …

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133: Crossover Episode: Meet Kate Kennedy 1:18:46

6M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

On this episode, we chat with podcaster and pop culture critic Kate Kennedy. Kate is the author of One in a Millennial, a fresh new take on millennial culture (that also comes out this week). We talk about Kate’s early interest in American Girl and the process of writing her life story (thus far). Kate shares what it's been like to return to her ch…

1
132: You asked, We answered! A Book Q&A Episode (Patreon Preview) 1:02:11

6M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Happy 2024! While we take a break this week, we’re sharing a patreon ep from November where we answered patron questions about our book! Our patreon is a fun space where we share an extra listener-inspired episode per month, and offer access to our active discord community! Thanks to everyone who has bought, read, and shared our book! We love heari…

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131: The Hustle: Puzzle of the Paper Daughter, A Julie Mystery 1:02:43

7M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

We've already been through a lot with Julie Albright--but when a book promises a disco dance, we are in for the ride (and a mystery). In this episode, we travel with Julie to Chinatown and learn how to solve a crime after dinnertime. While reeling from roommate news and the discovery of a puzzling note, Julie has enough on her plate when she decide…

1
130: Votes for Women and Changes for Julie 1:03:06

7M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Julie Albright knows that few things are fair in fifth grade. Yet, even Julie is shocked to receive detention after passing a note and helping her new friend, Joy, in the classroom. On the heels of a useless afternoon in detention, Julie decides to run for office. While battling a fierce opponent promising time off and pizza parties, Julie also has…

1
129: Happy Birthday, America: Julie's Journey 1:06:33

7M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

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 thi…

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128: The Tea on Felicity: Our Interview with Mary Wiseman 1:02:55

8M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

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…

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127: Surprise! Special Book Launch Day Episode with Kat Dennings! 1:17:21

8M ago1:17:21

1:17:21

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 epis…

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126: Dream Job Special Episode II: An Interview with Sydney Rose Paulson 1:07:46

8M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

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 w…

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125: Earth Day Everyday: Julie and the Eagles 1:04:55

9M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

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 th…

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124: Homes for the Holidays: Happy New Year, Julie! 1:06:20

9M ago1:06:20

1:06:20

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 …

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123: Little Miss Watergate: Julie Tells Her Story 1:06:27

10M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

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 discu…

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122: A San Francisco Treat: Meet Julie, An American Girl 1:06:57

10M ago1:06:57

1:06:57

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, includin…

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121: Melody and the Motor City: An Interview with Kayla Chenault 1:00:15

11M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

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 h…

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120: Music in My Heart: Our Journey with Melody 1:04:07

11M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

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…

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119: Pop, Protests. and a Playground: Never Stop Singing 1:02:20

12M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

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 ke…

1
118: Meet Melody: No Ordinary Sound 59:09

12M ago59:09

59:09

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 …

1
117: Wannabe and the Pop Culture that Shapes Us with Aisha Harris 59:51

1y ago59:51

59:51

We are SO excited to bring you a special episode with Aisha Harris, author and co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. Drawing on her new book, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture that Shapes Me, we talk American Girl and growing up with pop culture in the 90s. We love Aisha’s new book, and we think you will too! Check out Aisha’s new book he…

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116: A 1940s Story: Mailbag and 40s Nostalgia 1:12:00

1y ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Join us on an exploration of 40s nostalgia. Inspired in part by the topics most likely to be suggested for Father's Day gift books, we discuss why *some* stories and subjects seem to persist in mainstream popularity, while others get less play. We answer your questions about 40s nostalgia and share some of our favorite things from the decade (see M…

1
115: Nights at the Museum (Patreon Preview) 59:56

1y ago59:56

59:56

Filing cabinet fans, here we go! For this Patreon episode, we are diving right into the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This 1967 classic features the Kincaid kids, who just need a break from home — and the allure of solving an art mystery. Whether you really love hanging files, eccentric older people, or beds in museums, this book has…

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114: Meet Josefina, Mourn for Selena (from our archives) 1:12:07

1y ago1:12:07

1:12:07

Join us as we turn to our archives to bring you one of our favorite episodes: In episode nine, we turn our gaze to the American Southwest & the youthful, plucky Josefina Montoya. Our analysis of Josefina’s books begins with two powerful questions—first, given the place and time, is this the story of a colonial girl? Second, just how many references…

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113: 1955: Maryellen's Red Era 1:09:40

1y ago1:09:40

1:09:40

Would you give up a ticket for a midnight (overnight) train to Georgia to make someone else’s dreams come true? In watching “Maryellen 1955, Extraordinary Christmas,” part of the “American Girl Story” series of short films, we learned that Maryellen certainly would do such a thing. She’d also do just about anything to make other children happy—espe…

1
112: Two Celebrations, a Camper, and a Cold War Contest: Maryellen’s Taking Off 1:01:51

1y ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Time for yet another tenth birthday and a great American road Tripp! In her second book, Maryellen celebrates her big day in style, throwing a movie star party that turns into a public health fundraiser. After doing her part to cure polio, Maryellen is free to enjoy her summer and look forward to her sister’s wedding. But Mr. Larkin (Dad) has other…

1
111: Cold Comforts: Maryellen, The One and Only 1:07:16

1+ y ago1:07:16

1:07:16

Of all the questions put out into the world, some confound, others inspire, and a few just beg for follow up. But only Val Tripp would be bold enough to ask (through Maryellen Larkin): "how hard could it be to cut bangs?" Maryellen knows that nothing is fair in fourth grade, including the fallout from a quick and hasty morning haircut. We cover Mar…

1
110: Dancing Dogs for Defense: Hula for the Home Front 1:02:40

1+ y ago1:02:40

1:02:40

By the spring of 1942, so much has changed for Nanea Mitchell and her family. In the second book of her series, we find Nanea adapting to life under martial law, returning to school, and missing her dear friend Donna. When Nanea becomes aware that some dogs are getting involved directly in the war effort, she becomes concerned about her own beloved…

1
109: The Spirit of Aloha: Meet Nanea 1:05:31

1+ y ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Though she is only nine, Nanea just can't wait to grow up. Living with her family in Honolulu, Nanea dreams of being a teacher and sharing "the spirit of aloha" with others. Then, disaster strikes on December 7, 1941. Nanea's world gets turned upside down with the attack on Pearl Harbor. We discuss how Nanea's story can be compared to Molly's, whos…

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108: Talented and Nearly Ten: Meet Claudie, An American Girl 1:03:30

1+ y ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Once upon a time, a reader turned writer named Brit put an idea out into the universe. She told American Girl that she should write a book in the same vein as the stories she’d loved as a child. Cut to 2022, and Brit Bennett is the author of Meet Claudie, a new historical AG book. In this episode, we discuss Claudie’s meet book, which is set in Har…

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107: Extra, Extra: Newspapers in Kit's World 1:08:14

1+ y ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This just in: public historian Lauren Kennedy joins Dolls of Our Lives for a special supplement. Lauren works as Digital Projects Coordinator for Ohio Memory. In addition to being super knowledgeable about material culture and American Girl fandom, Lauren has the scoop on the ins and outs of Ohio's digital newspaper collections. We talked to Lauren…

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106: Patreon Preview: All-of-a-Kind Sydney 1:08:54

1+ y ago1:08:54

1:08:54

In 1951, Sydney Taylor introduced All-of-a-Kind Family to the world. Her novel about a Jewish family living on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century features five American girls: Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie. These tight-knit sisters love to read, eat candy, and occasionally, dust for their mother. We talk about our (first) rea…

1
105: Crossover Episode! American Girl Women 1:14:11

1+ y ago1:14:11

1:14:11

We’re taking a break this month, and are bringing you our recent appearance on the American Girl Women podcast. Here is a description from their feed: Laura and Lindsey are joined by dream guests and fellow American Girl kindred spirits Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney of the Dolls of Our Lives Podcast. The group chats about how they came to love …

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104: Big Schemes on the Big Screen: Kit Kittredge, An American Girl 56:59

1+ y ago56:59

56:59

Some American Girls wear capes and some take part in capers. In Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, we meet a rising star who could do both. We talk about the fantastic cast of the Kit movie, how the film differs from the books, and what we can learn now from its portrayal of the Depression. If you’re curious about the art of the steal and intense din…

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103: Changes for Kit 1:18:26

1+ y ago1:18:26

1:18:26

In the final book of the Kit series, our hero is ready to become an agent for change. But first, she’ll have to deal with a cranky relative…again. When conservative Uncle Hendrick gets injured, he makes it everyone’s problem. The upside to his unwanted residency at the Kittredge home? Kit learns how to engage with anti-New Deal rhetoric while typin…

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102: Covering Her Tracks: Kit Saves the Day 1:04:21

1+ y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

As the old saying goes: where there's a Will, there's a way...to end up in jail? In book five of the Kit series, our hero wants nothing more than to hit the road. After meeting Will, a self-described hobo traveling the country, Kit longs for adventure and a break from chores. Kit gets more than she bargained for, however, when she hops a train and …

1
101: No Party Like a Penny-Pincher Party: Happy Birthday, Kit 1:05:17

1+ y ago1:05:17

1:05:17

How do you throw a party on a tight budget? In book four, we learn that Kit has set very low expectations for her tenth birthday. Then, everything changes when a mysterious stranger comes into town. Enter Aunt Millie, who comes to the big city from Mountain Hollow. Millie has plenty of life lessons and home hacks, but her new ideas are not always a…

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100: Third Book's the Charm: Kit's Surprise 58:32

1+ y ago58:32

58:32

It's Christmas time and time for a...quarrel? By December 1934, all was not well in the Kittredge household. Kit and Ruthie have been fighting, the mortgage hasn't been paid, and Uncle Hendrick was acting out more than usual. Still, Kit does her best to keep spirits bright, making the most of visits to her cranky uncle and keeping the change along …

1
99: Hard Times: Kit Learns a Lesson 1:10:44

1+ y ago1:10:44

1:10:44

Have you ever wondered why you even tried? In book two, Kit takes on new chores at home and fights about the first Thanksgiving at school. She also somehow finds time to hatch an interior design plan with Ruthie. Despite this hustle, hard times start to really hit home. During Kit’s forced Tripp to a soup kitchen, the truth about dad’s business lun…

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98: Kit Lit 1:05:21

2y ago1:05:21

1:05:21

You know her, you love her, you may even be a bit jealous of her stunning haircut … at last, it’s time we all meet Kit Kittredge. In the summer of 1932, Kit is a comfortably affluent and (in AG terms) spunky girl living in Ohio. We quickly learn that Kit is fond of baseball, her typewriter, BFF Ruthie, and a good headline. She does not appreciate t…

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97: Fact, Fiction, and Real Estate: Tenement Life in Rebecca’s Era 59:28

2y ago59:28

59:28

Grace McGookey and Danielle Wetmore are museum professionals with very different relationships to American Girl. One was a huge fan, and one watched the rise of AG from afar. Years later, while working together at the Tenement Museum, they became colleagues and friends. They also got to be quite familiar with one Rebecca Rubin. During this episode,…

1
96: Real Housewives of the Lower East Side 56:48

2y ago56:48

56:48

For this Rebecca Rubin bonus, we chatted with Leah Sauter. Leah works as a historian, educator, and translator extraordinaire. In addition to generously sharing her own experience with Rebecca, Leah shed light on the significance of having Jewish American Girl as part of the historical collection. If you've wondered about Rebecca's puzzling bagel c…

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95: AAAMA: Summer Mailbag 1:21:44

2y ago1:21:44

1:21:44

Which American Girl would have the best Real Housewives tagline? Whose stories would most benefit from a rewrite? Is it possible to map 18" dolls onto seltzer flavors? During this episode, you'll hear our answers to these urgent questions and Meet Analee, a new member of our team. Think of this summer mailbag episode as a supercharged Ask Analee, A…

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94: Acting Out: Changes for Rebecca 1:07:17

2y ago1:07:17

1:07:17

A lot of ten-year-old kids wouldn't try to make a movie and participate in a labor strike. But Rebecca isn’t like other ten years olds, and she does both of those things, and more, in her final book. Radicalized by her visit to see family employed at a local factory, Rebecca speaks out about labor conditions. Despite her first directorial debut bei…

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93: What Happens at Coney Island: Rebecca to the Rescue 1:06:21

2y ago1:06:21

1:06:21

What Happens at Coney Island: Rebecca to the Rescue There comes a time in every American Girl's life when she is asked (totally unreasonably) to save the day. In Rebecca to the Rescue, our hero steps up, literally, and climbs a huge ladder at Coney island. Over the course of book five, Rebecca also questions societal gender roles, puts on an improm…

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92: Take Your Cousin to Work Day: Rebecca and the Movies 1:11:46

2y ago1:11:46

1:11:46

Lights, camera, and...action! Kid star Rebecca Rubin is ready to take center stage. Hot on the heels of her tenth birthday, Rebecca spends the day with her cool cousin Max at a movie studio. When the opportunity presents itself to take on a (non-speaking) role, Rebecca rises to the occasion, of course. During this episode, we talk about Rebecca's b…

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91: A Happy Hanukkah: Candlelight for Rebecca 1:03:40

2y ago1:03:40

1:03:40

For the third Rebecca book, author Jacqueline Dembar Greene drew on her childhood experiences to explore what makes a day on the calendar a “national holiday.” When Rebecca is pressured to make a Christmas decoration at school, she feels conflicted. Not only does her family not celebrate Christmas, she is getting ready for Hanukkah and thinking abo…

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90: Sister Act: Rebecca and Ana 1:07:09

2y ago1:07:09

1:07:09

We don’t mean to boast or brag, but the second Rebecca book is filled with lots of heartwarming moments and a few fun surprises. When cousin Ana finally gets to New York, she has a lot to learn from Rebecca. What’s the deal with the classroom dunce cap? Why are so many American laws unjust? How does anyone pull off a solid performance of “You're a …

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