Dolls Of Our Lives podcast

#Books #Storytelling #Books and Writing #History #Allison Horrocks #Mary Mahoney #Society #Allison Horrocks And Mary Mahoney #American Girl

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Episode Notes [01:14] Unexpected Email from Employer [05:49] The Deferred Resignation Program [06:34] Initial Reactions and Concerns [08:01] Evaluating the Offer [08:21] Enhanced Standards of Conduct [08:55] Personal Reflections and Concerns [12:21] Seeking Advice and Making a Decision [13:01] Option One: Do Not Resign [14:56] Option Two: Resign [16:44] Insights from Conversations [21:30] Making The Decision [23:51] Final Thoughts and Gratitude Resources Mentioned Sebastian Junger The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson Donald Trump Elon Musk Steve Bannon Russell Vought Derek Sivers Sumner Crenshaw Brian Fretwell at Finding Good Chad Littlefield The Thought Leaders Practice by Matt Church Simon Cowell Beauty Pill Producer Ben Ford Questions Asked Is it legitimate, and can it be trusted? How are you feeling? What questions come to your mind? Where does your mind go? Are you seeking safety? Would this have been an adrenaline rush as you raced to send the resignation response? What an "enhanced standard" regarding loyalty and trustworthiness was? What are these new "enhanced standards?" Are they beyond what my Constitutional oath requires? If I don't resign, how bright will the target on my back glow? My leadership has supported all my work, but would termination direction come from higher up the chain of command? What would you recommend if we talked over coffee? What questions would you ask? How would you use listening? How would you use silence? How is this scenario playing out in your mind and body? What is coming to the surface for you? How might that influence what you are about to say to me? What are the chances of my name popping on a list and getting fired? How about the chances of being part of an official Reduction in Force and early retirement? Would the administration make a better offer? What do I know about the pending job market? What did I expect the workplace to be like and did I want to be there as the contractions took place? Will the administration pay me through the end of September or will they renege? Can I sufficiently build the Curated Questions business to transition by 1 October? - Do I have the faith or confidence to step into this future as a sole practitioner and grow Curated Questions into all I envisioned? Was this purpose calling? What would I expect the job market to look like at the end of summer if I hadn't developed the income streams to maintain our lifestyle? What is your recommendation? Did it change from your initial recommendation? Where in your body are you feeling the uncertainty? Are you processing this scenario in parallel with your decision as if you had received the email? What additional questions should I have considered? Who else should I have consulted with? How would you have changed my risk rating? What is the correct length of the pregnant pause before making an important announcement? What processes would you use in my circumstance, and what would be different? What questions are at the top of your list to get to a decision? Who would be the members of your pantheon you would counsel with to gain clarity? Apart from the heady analysis, what other key practices would you include in your journey through a similar situation?…

Dolls of Our Lives

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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.

188 episodes

Dolls of Our Lives

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updated about a year ago

Series home•Feed

188 episodes

#Books #Storytelling #Books and Writing #History #Allison Horrocks #Mary Mahoney #Society #Allison Horrocks And Mary Mahoney #American Girl

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1
Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s by Sarah Ditum 1:08:12

26 weeks ago1:08:12

1:08:12

People often say that fame comes with a price. But how high should that price be, especially for women? This month, we read Sarah Ditum's Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s, a pop history book that explores this question. Through Toxic , Ditum re-evaluates the lives and careers of nine women who made headlines in the period she calls the "upskirt decade" or "tabloid 2000s." From Britney Spears to Jennifer Aniston, Ditum offers a new perspective on people who were constantly under the microscope of Perez Hilton -- and the glare of paparazzi cameras. We talk about Ditum's nine short biographies and consider how this book serves as a history of the internet. Original air date: March 27, 2024 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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The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families by Charly Palmer and Karida L. Brown 1:06:10

26 weeks ago1:06:10

1:06:10

Just over 100 years ago, W. E. B. Du Bois created a magazine just for children. The Brownies’ Book : A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun reached thousands of children in the early 1920s...including (the fictional) Claudie Wells. For this month's episode, we reviewed a 2023 tribute to The Brownies' Book curated by a team of scholars and artists. Their Love Letter to Black Families includes material from the original Brownies' magazines, such as poems by Langston Hughes and historic photographs, along with newly commissioned collages, essays, and tributes. We talk about how this book that was largely made in homage to Du Bois and the Harlem Renaissance speaks to children and adults living in the contemporary, post-2020 world. Original air date: February 23, 2024 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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Meet Me at the Fountain 1:04:17

26 weeks ago1:04:17

1:04:17

This episode, we're going to a place where the lights are bright, the music is dim, and everything smells vaguely like cookies, pretzels, and overpriced lotions. That's right, we're going to the mall. Despite many predictions of near death, the mall is alive and well in many parts of the USA (and parts of the world). For this episode, we discuss Alexandra Lange's 2022 book Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall. Lange's architectural history takes us all the way back to the beginning, which in the case of malls, is not that long ago. Starting with early American malls in post-war America, Lange offers a sharp overview of how malls came to be and considers where they are still thriving now. We talk about our own relationships to malls and bigger questions raised by these American institutions. Is the mall a useful third space for communities? Or, are malls simply the best place to be wowed by build-a-bear operations and rollercoasters? Original air date: January 29, 2024 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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It's Britney… 1:04:40

26 weeks ago1:04:40

1:04:40

There may be a timeline where we do not cover Britney Spears's new autobiography. But this is not that timeline--and in this universe, our December 2023 Patreon episode is all about The Woman in Me. We talk about the highlights from Britney's book that have already gotten the most media attention (namely, a boy band member's indiscretions). But we also dive into the less discussed, yet profound and surprising insights Britney offers about recent years in her life. From her upbringing in Louisiana to her Vegas residency, this book is filled with great Britney lore and a good deal of tragedy. We discuss Britney's voice as an author and the continued reckoning led by other mistreated early '00s pop stars. Original air date: December 20, 2023 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .…

1
Dolls of Our Lives! (Our book Q&A) 59:17

26 weeks ago59:17

59:17

You asked and we answered! This month’s Patreon episode features your burning questions about our book, Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl, out this month. What part of the book changed the most? Which topics required the most research? We cover these topics and more. This book would not exist without all of you, so this episode is also another chance to say thank you for your support! Original air date: November 30, 2023 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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Our So-Called Patreon Episode: Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek 1:08:01

26 weeks ago1:08:01

1:08:01

For this year's October Patreon, we chose a topic that can be truly scary: revisiting high school. A lot of people have turned to sitcoms to see what their teenage years might be like. With her latest book, journalist Thea Glassman makes a case for the importance of teen dramas such as Dawson's Creek, Glee, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In revisiting seven hit shows from the late 1990s/early 2000s, Glassman pulls from insider interviews and offers perspective on why we ought to care about these characters. Through seven essays, Glassman gives us plenty of moments for nostalgia, asking us to remember Carlton's dance moves and the angst of the drawn out Joey/Pacey/Dawson love triangle. Whether you watched these particular shows or not ( Friday Night Lights, anyone?) you will appreciate Glassman's take on youth culture. We discuss the sitcoms we loved as well as what we're enjoying these days (including some content on the other end of the life spectrum, ahem, Golden Bachelor ). Original air date: October 27, 2023 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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Wishbone 58:13

26 weeks ago58:13

58:13

Did you know one of the greatest interpreters of literature is a dog? Wishbone is one of the greats, and on this ep we get into why. Original air date: October 16, 2023 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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The One Where We Got Tamagotchi Pets 1:01:56

26 weeks ago1:01:56

1:01:56

For this episode, Mary and Allison bravely took on a pair of brand-new Tamagotchi digital pets. It's true what folks say: the days are long, but the Tamagotchi years go very fast (especially when you hit the reset button). Learn about the origins of digital pets and hear our cautionary tales about the care and keeping of virtual creatures, including Neopets. Original air date: August 23, 2023 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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American Girl Fans in a Barbie World 1:12:36

26 weeks ago1:12:36

1:12:36

In anticipation of the Barbie movie coming out this July, we took a dive into the corporate history of America’s (smaller) doll. Join us for a review of Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. Robin Gerber’s dual biography charts the rise of Barbie under the leadership of the ruthless girlboss Ruth Handler. Her book shares fascinating information about the culture of Mattel—and explains how Barbie and Ken got their names. Much like the Barbie movie, whether you have a love or hate the doll, this episode is for you. Original air date: July 17, 2023 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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Like a Diamond: Shine Bright 1:04:26

26 weeks ago1:04:26

1:04:26

In preparation for our upcoming Melody episodes, this month’s feature is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop (2022). Shine Bright is Danyel Smith's love letter to the important musicians in her life. A prominent music journalist, Smith has sat across from some of the biggest names in pop over the past few decades. In a series of biographical chapters, Smith shares her experiences with singular talents like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more, weaving in her own story as a fan. We discuss this insightful and well researched history of Black women in pop, sharing some of what we’ve learned from Smith. 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) Original air date: June 25, 2023 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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Lavender House 1:09:15

26 weeks ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Is this novel about a lavender haze or smoke and mirrors? How about both? In Lev AC Rosen’s Lavender House, a family of soap makers tries to keep their side of the street clean. There’s one big problem: someone in the Lavender home probably committed murder. Set in the Bay Area in 1952, Rosen’s novel imagines a home where queer love makes a chosen family—-and a poisonous mother tries to tear it apart. We discuss recent book bans and echoes of repression in historical fiction. Original air date: May 26, 2023 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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Are You There God? It’s Us, Mary and Allison 1:00:53

26 weeks ago1:00:53

1:00:53

For this monthly, we read Judy Blume’s iconic novel about faith and girlhood. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret may be from the 70s, but we found it to be a relevant and fun read as 90s girls. Protagonist Margaret is a curious and thoughtful pre-teen who has recently moved to a new suburb with her parents. Throughout the book, Margaret navigates questions about religion and her body while talking privately to god. Return to this classic book with us just in time for the release of a feature film version! Original air date: April 21, 2023 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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Early Sunday Morning 1:02:15

26 weeks ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Imagine leaving your home in Washington, D.C., and moving to Hawaii mere weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Barry Denenberg takes on this thought experiment and a world of family conflict in one of his offerings to the Dear America series. In this episode, we cover the absolute whirlwind that is Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii 1941. Released on October 1, 2001, Denenberg’s novel provides a brutal portrait of a young girl making sense of the attack on the USS Arizona. We talk about how this compares to the Nanea books and Denenberg’s unflinching approach to children’s literature. 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) Original air date: March 18, 2023 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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Kaitlyn Tiffany, Everything I Need I Get From You 1:01:34

26 weeks ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Writer Kaitlyn Tiffany is a smart culture critic, podcasts host, and longtime fan of One Direction. All of these things are almost equally relevant to our episode this month. Her new book, Everything I Need I Get From You, offers insight into the idea of the screaming female fan, from Beatlemania to the present. Tiffany, a longtime follower of 1D, asks important questions about the internet and what it means to be a fan. Why did a 1D devotee make a shrine to Harry Styles’s vomit? What’s at stake in fandom communities on the web? Why have many people traded anonymity on the web for having a brand? Maybe the internet is just a bunch of tubes, but Tiffany makes us think about them as complicated echo chambers, too. Original air date: February 15, 2023 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .…

1
The Princess Diaries and a Prince's Memoir 57:18

26 weeks ago57:18