American Girl Talk

Julie and the Eagles

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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 Francisco daily. Will Julie save the eagles? Was this just a PSA? Tune in to find out!

Chapters

0:00 - The weirdest book yet. Meet Alex!

11:42 - Chapter One: A Cry in the Park!

19:54 - Chapter Two: Feathered Friends

31:47 - Chapter Three: Endangered

40:56 - Chapter Four: Earth Day

51:27 - Chapter Five: Trying to Fly

55:12 - Chapter Six: Happy Birthday, Julie!

1:00:49 - Peek into the Past: Save the Planet!

1:09:03 - Final Thoughts: What's going on in this book?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy New Year, Julie!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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!

Chapters

0:00 - New Holiday, new friend - Meet Alexis!

7:40 - Chapter One: Changes for Christmas

20:31 - Chapter Two: Problems and Puzzles

38:58 - Chapter Three: Good Fortune

50:53 - Chapter Four: Gung Hay Fat Choy!

1:00:24 - Peek into the Past: Christmas is the same

1:02:19 - Final Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Julie Tells Her Story!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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 only Julie’s school year, but her entire outlook on life.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Meet Paige!

8:18 - Chapter One: Homework!

21:27 - Chapter Two: Meet Charlotte!

30:07 - Chapter Three: This Little Piggy

38:31 - Chapter Four: The Big Game

46:00 - Chapter Five - The Best Thing Ever

53:53 - Peek into the Past

59:25 - Final Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Julie!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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 Meet Julie!

13:28 - Chapter One: Moving Day!

30:18 - Chapter Two: Capitols and Cupcakes!

47:49 - Chapter Three: Jump &hots and Rebounds!

57:09 - Chapter Four: Career Day

1:06:08 - Chapter Five: Girls Can Play Too!

1:18:48 - Chapter Six: Dumpsters and Hoopsters

1:23:38 - Peek into the Past: Divorce! Title IX! BJK!

1:25:33 - Final Thoughts!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Felicity - THE MOVIE!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

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, and speculation on whether the version we watched was too bootlegged, and enjoy your favorite dolls getting back to some good old-fashioned yappin!

New episodes will start in March, with Caroline covering Julie!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Samantha - THE MOVIE!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

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 purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Looking Back on the OG 8 American Girl Dolls

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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, we talk about why we love the girls, what we wish was different, and of course, whose dad was the hottest of them all.

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Kaya!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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, and our hatred of how the US Government treated native people. It's an episode that contains multitudes!

Check out this week's poll to help us decide what we're covering in January!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Two Women Left Wanting.

3:47 - Chapter One: Smoke on the Wind

25:13 - Chapter Two: The Rogue Stallion's Herd

44:05 - Chapter Three: Trapped by Fire

53:26 - Chapter Four: Gifts

1:05:53 - Looking Back: We Really Hate Organized Religion (today)

1:26:40 - Closing Thoughts: Goodbye, Kaya!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kaya Shows the Way!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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 you emotionally lose a sister, and how finding a new path (allegedly) might just mean you never have to take your sister's oath seriously. It's a sister story, and not much else, but as always, we have a good old time, so tune in!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Spoilers abound

2:44 - Chapter One: The Sound of the Falls

16:08 - Chapter Two: Dangerous Crossing

30:27 - Chapter Three: Stranded by the Strome

42:02 - Chapter Four: A New Path

56:49 - Peek into the Past: We love nature!

1:04:53 - Closing Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kaya and Lone Dog!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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 (horse girl being out of play, currently). Kaya learns how to nurture, Sparrow begs to be mauled by a bear, and Kautsua continues to be in everyone's business. Tune in!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Dog Girls Unite!

7:06 - Chapter One: Starving Dog

25:20 - Chapter Two: Newborn Puppies

38:17 - Chapter Three: More Warnings

50:18 - Chapter Four: Danger for the Pups!

58:05 - Chapter Five: A Sad Parting

1:08:06 - Peek into the Past: Wrong Book?

1:19:28 - Closing Thoughts: Vibes!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kaya's Hero

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

*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 aren't taught is what is going on with any of these ceremonies, and that's an issue for Caroline and Celia to harp on. Tune in for some high highs, low blows, and a baby that just isn't actually that sick!

Chapters

0:00 - Devastation (cont)

2:13 - Chapter One: Runaway Horse

24:30 - Chapter Two: Lessons From a Basket

40:03 - Chapter Three: Sick Baby

50:34 - Chapter Four: Gifts From Swan Circling

1:11:20 - A (Disappointing) Looking Back

1:16:03 - Closing Thoughts - We All Need a Strong Woman

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kaya's Escape!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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 energy of an angry NPC to try and find her way home. Will she survive? Is this all her fault? The answer to both is yes, but tune in for the roller coaster ride that is Kaya's Escape!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: The Books Are Getting Dark Quickly

2:17 - Chapter One: Taken Captive

17:20 - Chapter Two: Slaves of the Enemy

33:45 - Chapter Three: Escape!

49:32 - Chapter Four: On the Buffalo Trail

1:06:23 - Looking Back: Learns a Lesson?

1:15:42 - Closing Thoughts: Kaya's Fault!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Kaya!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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 Thoughts: New World, New Girl!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

The American Girl Dolls - Best Books (so far!)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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, and a fun chat with Caroline and Celia about all things American Girl!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Kit!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

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 get a job? Find out all this and less in Changes for Kit!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Last Kit book!

2:34 - Chapter One: Something Wonderful

21:31 - Chapter Two: To Do

36:31 - Chapter Three: Letters with an 'S'

46:10 - Chapter Four: The Perfect Word

55:20 - Peek into the Past: WWII Saves the Day?

1:01:45 - Closing Thoughts on Kit!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kit Saves the Day(?)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 not have predicted this.

Chapters

0:00 - Our Darkest Book Yet

2:01 - Chapter One: Stuck!

10:02 - Chapter Two: Just Plain Will

23:40 - Chapter Three: The Hobo Jungle

33:50 - Chapter Four: Do Something

46:29 - Peek into the Past: Too Poor for Summer!

57:33 - Closing Thoughts: Dark!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Kit!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 happy with these changes, or will they be inexplicably shamed by the idea of eating peaches out of a dented can? Only time will tell, and boy, does this book take its time getting to the point! This book? Boring. This episode? Very entertaining. So listen in, lest you summon the wrath of the ragman!

Chapters

0:00 - We're so back! What happened in this book?

7:45 - Chapter One: Secrets and Surprises

18:11 - Chapter Two: The Waste-Not Want-Not Almanac

34:23 - Chapter Three: Grace

44:31 - Chapter Four: The Penny Pincher Party

55:10 - Peek into the Past: Dad's Can Abandon Kids!

1:00:00 - Final Thoughts: Do You Believe in the Eggman?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kit's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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. But can she turn her Christmas around by performing a series of increasing random errands for her curmudgeonly uncle? Is it still "American Girl Talk" if Caroline is recording in Romania? Tune in to find out!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Romanian Girl Talk!

9:48 - Chapter One: Rick Rack

22:06 - Chapter Two: The Bright Red Dress

38:24 - Chapter Three: The Wicked Ogre

47:37 - Chapter Four: Jewels

58:58 - Peek into the Past: A Depressing Christmas!

1:04:01 - Final Thoughts: Best Doll Award?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kit Learns a Lesson (?)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 7 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 to be honest, but you can trust us to give you the DL on everything happening in Kit's world on this week's episode. Tune in - gobble gobble!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Valerie strikes again

3:37 - Chapter One: Messages

17:19 - Chapter Two: Pilgrims and Indians

28:55 - Chapter Three: Spilling the Beans!

36:44 - Chapter Four: Kit's Hard Times

47:50 - Peek into the Past: School - incredibly depressing!

49:50 - Final Thoughts: Did Kit learn a lesson?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Kit!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 discovers that life is not fair, and Caroline and Celia wonder why the adults in Kit's world lie so much.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: New Girl Alert! Caroline's Golden Gal and the Return of Valerie

5:16 - Chapter One: Good News

20:58 - Chapter Two: Read All About It!

31:09 - Chapter Three: It's Not Fair!

41:37 - Chapter Four: Mother's Brainstorm

54:31 - Peek into the Past: Depression? Very Depressing!

1:02:00 - Closing Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Breaking News - The Progeny of Samantha Parkington?

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Two Hens Cluckin' - Recapping What We've Recapped!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 snooping and gets to the bottom of our frenemy, Valerie Tripp's relationship to the American Girl Doll brand.

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Josefina!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 Tia Dolores is meant to be with Papa. Can Josefina mastermind the relationship into existence? We're literally giggling, kicking our feet, listening to this one, so tune in!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: We were SO RIGHT

3:02 - Chapter One: Gifts and Blessings

19:36 - Chapter Two: Sleet

42:03 - Chapter Three: Josefina's Plan

49:38 - Chapter Four: Heart and Hope

1:01:36 - Peek into the Past: Oops - Manifest Destiny!

1:08:59 - Closing Thoughts: Goodbye to our delicious slowburn

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Josefina Saves the Day!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 need AND throw in something a lil extra to make Josefina's day! But can we trust this Americano? Are all people who play music inherently good? Have Papa and Tía Dolores touched each other, or are they straight yearning? Are we delulu? Find out!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Josefina!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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, speculate on the logistics of snake attacks, and wonder if mallow root really could save the day!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Are Papa and Tía Dolores F*cking?

3:54 - Chapter One: Spring Sprouts

19:23 - Chapter Two: Tía Magdalena

30:11 - Chapter Three: Second Chances

40:57 - Chapter Four: Rattlesnake!

51:27 - Peek into the Past: Childbirth and Suspicious Wedding Lore

56:11 - Closing Thoughts: A Manic Episode, and a Budding Romance

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Josefina's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 holiday season. Can Josefina and Tia Dolores lift her spirits? Will Josefina unlock a classic American Girl Hyperfixation? Does Celia cry for the first time reading one of the books? Find out all this and more on this week's episode!

Chapters -

0:00 - Intro: Christmas in Summer Never Felt So Good!

10:51 - Chapter One: Christmas is Coming!

32:25 - Chapter Two: Where is Niña?

46:06 - Chapter Three: The Silver Thimble

50:45 - Chapter Four: La Noche Buena

1:00:21 - Peek into the Past: Put Christ Back into Christmas!

1:06:47 - Final Thoughts: Grief, for Girls!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Josefina Learns a Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

*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 to save their family's fortunes, but could weaving lead to worse things - like forgetting the legacy of their dead mama? Inexplicably - maybe! Join us as Josefina becomes the first girl in AGT history to barely learn a discernible lesson in Josefina Learns a Lesson!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Shy but Introspective Gal

2:24 - Chapter One: Light and Shadow

20:08 - Chapter Two: Turning Blankets Into Sheep

30:57 - Chapter Three: Rabbit Brush (Cursed Chapter)

40:12 - Chapter Four: The First Love 52:21 - Peek into the Past: School! Barely!

58:18 - Did Josefina Learn a Lesson?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Josefina!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 (emotionally)! When Mama's sister, Tia Dolores, comes to visit all the way from Mexico City, the rancho comes to life again. Can Josefina convince her aunt to stay? Do Tia Dolores and Papa give off weird vibes? Tune in to find out!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Nueva Chica!

9:58 - Chapter One: Primroses

32:35 - Chapter Two: Abuelito's Surprise

51:34 - Chapter Three: A Gift for Tia Dolores

1:02:15 - Chapter Four: Josefina's Idea

1:13:12 - Peek into the Past: The book retold

1:21:49 - Closing Thoughts: Cute, Shy, and Historical!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Two Hens Cluckin' - Another Look at the Girls So Far!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 5 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Addy!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 come without cost, and we’re reminded that not every story ends neatly — or happily. Join us as we laugh, cry, and ugly-weep our way through Addy’s final book, and reflect on why stories like hers are so powerful — and why some would rather they go untold.

Chapter Markers

0:00 - Intro: Weeping and Book Bans

8:43 - Chapter One: Pieces of a Puzzle

13:21 - Chapter Two: A Missing Piece

21:31 - Chapter Three: The Last Piece

29:19 - Chapter Four: Together(?)

40:34 - Peek Into the Past: Changes for America

45:34 - Final Thoughts: Goodbye, Addy, and Thank You, Connie!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Addy Saves the Day!(?)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 haw-haw and sometimes sob our way through yet another Addy book!

Chapter Markers

0:00 - Welcome Back! Another Saves the Day!

10:02 - Chapter One: Seeds of Hope

24:26 - Chapter Two: Hope and Determination

31:59 - Chapter Three: Healing

43:18 - Chapter Four: All for One!

48:51 - Peek into the Past - Being Poor Isn't Fun!

53:43 - Final Thoughts - Did Addy Save the Day?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Addy!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 Addy's tragic journey and her latest foster dog.

Chapters

6:25 - Chapter One: Double Dutch

15:13 - Chapter Two: Sunshine 2

3:08 - Chapter Three: Bitter Medicine

36:39 - Chapter Four: Brotherly Love

44:11 - Chapter Five: Changes in the Wind

50:41- Peek into the Past: Uno Reverse Felicity

56: 26 - Final Thoughts: Shy Girls are People Too

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Addy's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 into Addy and Momma's living situation, their generous spirits (which are even more generous than ours), and a surprise visitor who makes Caroline cry! Tune in for a cool read in this hot season!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Caroline is Crying

8:28 - Chapter One: The Winds of Winter!

17:53 - Chapter Two: Something Pretty!

25:40 - Chapter Three: Freedom Ain't Free

30:20 - Chapter Four: The Cost of Freedom

43:54 - Chapter Five: Christmas Surprises!

59:44 - Peek into the Past: Wartime Christmas Bummers

1:04:20 - Final Thoughts: We Love a Sweet Little Story

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Addy Learns a Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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? Is Harriet the worst? Should Sarah have gotten her own doll? Find out all this and more as we yap and gab in a slowly yet inexplicably lightning room (video only joke)!

Chapters

6:49 - Chapter One: A New Home

17:18 - Chapter Two: Freedom?

26:10 - Chapter Three: Tested!

34:40 - Chapter Four: The Lines Are Drawn!

43:25 - Chapter Five: The Spelling Match

50:26 - Peek Into the Past: Support DEI Initiatives!

58:13 - Final Thoughts: Did Addy Learn a Lesson?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Addy!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 deserves? Tune in to find out!

Chapters

0:00 - New Girl Alert! Meet Addy!

10:07 - Chapter One: Whispers of Freedom

15:48 - Chapter Two: Sold!

34:56 - Chapter Three: A New Plan

43:34 - Chapter Four: Into the Night

1:00:25 - Chapter Five: Freedom Taken

1:12:17 - Peek Into the Past: Slavery = BAD

1:17:01 - Final Thoughts: What do we think of Addy?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Two Hens Clucking: Talking About the American Girl Dolls!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 hypotheticals, astrological charts, and fan fiction for your favorite not-real-book-couple (ifykyk).

So take a seat, grab some loose tooth tea, and join us for a little peek into our past coverage!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Felicity!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 of friendship, rebellion, and whether we should be shipping Felicity and Ben (??). Oh—and we also casually confront the idea that death comes for us all. Tune in while you still can!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Something has changed

6:13 - Chapter One: A Cardinal and a Bluebird

23:16 - Chapter Two: Friends Divided

39:34 - Chapter Three: Grandfather's Errand

55:09 - Chapter Four: Into the Valley

1:16:44 - Chapter Five: Patriot

1:24:37 - Peek Into the Past: Viva la Revolucion!

1:27:41 - Final Thoughts: Goodbye Felicity!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Felicity Saves the Day!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 3 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 semi-problematic character shipping, an absolutely problematic inability to deal with an icky part of American history, and lots of gags and goofs with your favorite horse gal.

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome Back! The Felicity Timeline

7:10 - Chapter One: King's Creek Plantation

21:07 - Chapter Two: Faithful Friends

38:39 - Chapter Three: The Note in the Bird Bottle

50:51 - Chapter Four: Runaway!

1:09:08 - Chapter Five: Penny Saves the Day!

1:23:36 - Peek into the Past: A Lackluster Explanation of Plantation Life

1:28:20 - Final Thoughts: Did Felicity Save the Day?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Felicity!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 is there! And, more complicated racial dynamics!

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome back! Jumping right in

2:09 - Chapter One: Springtime Promises

15:41 - Chapter Two: Posie

39:29 - Chapter Three: Grandmother's Guitar

49:15 - Chapter Four: Drumbeats

1:06:21 - Chapter Five: The Long Dark Night

1:15:34 - Peek Into the Past: Women have it rough!

1:18:57 - Final Thoughts: The 'Birthday' Books

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

American Girls Gone Wild(ly) More Accurate!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Thu, 22 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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 podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Felicity's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Ye Olde Merry Christmas Season hath abounded, and Felicity has been invited to the governor's ball! It's delicious, she's excited, we're excited, and Mama's so excited she nearly works herself to death trying to ensure that Felicity has everything she needs to have the most fabulous Christmas of all time. But will Christmas even be fun if your mom is on her deathbed?

It turns out—no! We follow Felicity's emotional journey through fancy dresses, Kirsten-esque chores, and grappling with the emotional burden of maybe contributing to your mom's downfall! It's fun and charming, so tune in!

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: How Ill Were You As A Child?

8:49 - Chapter One: An Invitation to the Palace

27:44 - Chapter Two: Sugar Cakes and Christmas Hope

37:36 - Chapter Three: Tidings of Comfort and Joy

47:11 - Chapter Four: Gloom and Shadows

56:20 - Chapter Five: A Season for Surprises

1:07:25 - Looking Back: Same Christmas But Different!

1:12:27 - Final Thought: Charming!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Felicity Learns a Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 13 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

We're back with another school story, ladies! Join Celia, Caroline, and a special guest as we SPILL THE TEA—ever so politely, of course. Felicity is off to finishing school, where lessons for girls include snacking, gossiping, and perfecting the art of becoming a well-mannered woman of leisure. But when politics creeps into the parlor, our favorite 9-year-old must choose between keeping the peace and standing up for her principles. Will it be manners or morals? Either way, it’s delicious.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: Special Guest!

9:06 - Chapter One: Apple Butter Day!

25:34 - Chapter Two: Loose Tooth Tea

45:42 - Chapter Three: Tea in the River

54:06 - Chapter Four: Bananabelle

1:08:39 - Chapter Five: A Bright Red Cardinal Bird

1:24:16 - Peek Into the Past: Going to "School"

1:29:09 - Closing Thoughts - Felicity LEARNED!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Felicity!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 6 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

We’re so back, babes—back in time, that is! The year is 1774, and all of Celia’s horse-girl, fan-shipping fantasies are about to come true with Meet Felicity. Our heroine is a spunky nine-year-old living in colonial Williamsburg, and her heart is set on yearning. She yearns for everything—horses, britches, apprentices...independence? And she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Join us as we giggle and kick our feet through the delightful adventures of Felicity Merriman! And if you stumble across any juicy fanfiction for this story, send it our way—you know exactly what we’re looking for.

Chapters

0:00 - New Girl Alert! Celia's Dreams Come True

7:01 - Chapter One: Merriman's Story

21:57 - Chapter Two: Penny

34:15 - Chapter Three: Jiggy Nye's Threat

47:01 - Chapter Four: Ben's Promise

58:03 - Chapter Five: Independence

1:10:14 - Peek Into the Past - Colonial Towns and Giant Virginias!

1:16:35 - Final Thoughts - Are We Obsessed?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Two Hens Clucking - Recapping Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This week, we're taking a break from reading and getting straight to yapping as we compare and contrast the OG 3 Girls - Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly. Join us for historical ponderings, undeserved superlatives, and some potential fan fiction about the series so far, and stay tuned next week for our next girl, Felicity!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes For Molly!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The end of the war is near as Molly experiences the universal girl-sperience of feeling ugly! With Dad coming home and the position of Miss Victory all but hers, Molly goes on a hair-raising mission to be a new Molly. But! Will she lose herself along the way? We wrap up the Molly books with some of the bleak realities of war, girlhood, and facing our own inner demons that we relate to Molly sometimes, despite our best efforts not to! Tune in and get ready for V-day!

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome back - we did it! (finished Molly)

4:58 - Chapter One: Hurray for the U.S.A!

13:23 - Chapter Two: A Hair-Raising Experience

21:24 - Chapter Three: The New Molly

27:03 - Chapter Four: The Show Must Go On!

35:59 - Peek into the Past: War is Bad, and so are Women(?)

39:26 - Final Thoughts: Will We Miss Molly? Are We Ready to Meet Felicity?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Molly Saves the Day(?)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Molly's on a warpath and taking no prisoners as she and her two best friends (citation needed) go to Camp Gowanagin for their very first summer camp extravaganza. When a Color War splits the dynamic trio up, Molly must decide if she chooses friendship or betrayal. You will be shocked by her choice.

We can't emphasize enough how much of a monster Molly is in this book, so you'll just have to tune in to find out. Meanwhile, does any want to join Celia and Caroline in a color war?

Chapters

0:00 - Intro: We're back! To hating Molly!

7:35 - Chapter One: Camp Gowanagin

21:29 - Chapter Two: We're in the Army Now

28:53 - Chapter Three: Creepy Crawlies

33:59 - Chapter Four: Victory at Sea

38:05 - Chapter Five: The Pink Army

41:37 - Peek into the Past: Rinse and Repeat

45:00 - Wrap-up: Did Molly Save the Day?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Molly!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 8 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

It's a birthday battle royale between Britain and the USA when Emily, a very disappointing British girl, comes to say at Molly's house during her birthday. Will Molly be an accommodating host, or will her inner monster rear it's ugly head?

Meanwhile, Caroline and Celia wonder if there is some infighting at the American Girl HQ's publishing room.

Chapters

10:58 - Chapter One: Guess What?

28:23 - Chapter Two: The Blackout

36:24 - Chapter Three: The Princesses!

45:02 - Chapter Four: Planning the Party

54:25 - Chapter Five: Yank and Bennett!

59:35 - Peek into the Past

1:04:00 - Final Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Molly's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 1 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

It's Christmas for Molly, and she's very worried it will be too realistic! With Dad away and Mom silently crashing out in the background, it's up to Molly and her siblings to string together a Christmas surprise. Will they pull of the surprise? Should they even be surprising Mom, a woman currently on the verge? Join Caroline and Celia as they ponder this, as well as Molly's sudden interest in dolls, in this week's chat.

Chapters

0:00 - Merry Christmas in April!

6:54 - Chapter One: A Different Christmas

25:10 - Chapter Two: Making Surprises

37:26 - Chapter Three: Keeping Secrets

47:45 - Chapter Four: The Merry McIntires

1:01:19 - Peek Into the Past - Convincing Americans Not to Speed

1:05:47 - Final Thoughts - Was This a Bottle Episode?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Molly Learns A Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This week, Molly definitely doesn’t learn a lesson—but Caroline and Celia do: just because a girl looks like a total nerd doesn’t mean she isn’t a total jerk! Molly completely loses it at the thought of not being her teacher’s favorite, going full WWII-era Regina George in a truly unhinged display of elementary school dominance. It’s weird, it’s mean, and—spoiler alert—it backfires spectacularly. Tune in as we break down this chaotic book about a mean girl who completely misses the point of school assignments!

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome back and oops - we're not Molly fans!

8:02 - Chapter One: Eight Times Seven

17:25 - Chapter Two: Lend a Hand

25:43 - Chapter Three: Top Secret

33:47 - Chapter Four: Spies and Allies

47:34 - A Peek into the Past (Or IS IT?)

53:16 - Final Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Molly!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

New girl just dropped! It's time for Celia and Caroline to Meet Molly, and boy, is she kind of the worst! Turns out there is more to this WWII girl than meets the four-eyes, and she is a bit of a bully when it comes to her friends, family, acquaintances, and mad lust for Halloween-costume-dominancy! Tune in to hear us discuss Molly, American Girls, World Wars II and III, and see just how many war allegories your mom can make over a plate of turnips.

Chapters

(0:00) New Girl Alert - She's a b*tch?

(14:00) Chapter One - Turnips

(29:01) Chapter Two - Hula Dancers

(41:02) Chapter Three - Trick or Treat

(47:12) Chapter Four - War!

(54:59) Peek Into the Past - WWII(I)?

(1:08:20) Final Thoughts on the New Gal!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

The Girls So Far - Yapping About Samantha and Kirsten!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Bonus alert! To stave off having to cover Molly for juuuuust a little longer, we're doing a look back at the gals we've covered so far - Kirsten and Samantha!

We compare, contrast, and predict the lives of our favorite historical 9-year-olds, and Celia drops some fan-fiction teasers that are sure to titillate your senses (they are about adults, FYI).

Tune in for a little less structure but all the regular fun as we yap about what we've read so far and what's coming up!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Samantha!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 4 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's a Coldrock life, for Nellie! Samantha's life continues to be a Victorian dream, while Nellie's slowly becomes a Dickensian nightmare. Luckily, Samantha has a not-so-foolproof plan to save her friend. On our final adventure with our favorite woke brat, Caroline and Celia say goodbye to Samantha and reflect on what it means to be an uncle-father.

Chapters

(0:00) It's Wintertime for us, and Samantha! Welcome back to Sam one last time!

(3:50) Chapter One: A New Home!

(23:24) Chapter Two: Searching for Nellie!

(46:09) Chapter Three: Cold Rock House

(59:23) Chapter Four: Runaways!

(1:09:50) Chapter Five: Together <3

(1:20:25) Peek into the Past - Changing hemlines and changing America!

(1:26:35) Wrapping up - Goodbye Samantha, up next: Molly!

Join our bar crawl in Austin on March 15th!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Samantha Saves the Day!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Orphan lore finally drops as Samantha heads back to the site of her parents' tragic demise—for a fun summer getaway! Meanwhile, Grandmary is deep in a full-blown romance, leaving Caroline and Celia absolutely gagged at the idea of old love.

Chapters

0:00) Welcome back! American Girl Getaways, Samantha's TikTok, and random gabbing

(10:16) Chapter One - Piney Point! (The longest chapter ever written)

(47:17) Chapter Two - The Sketchbook

(56:45) Chapter Three - Teardrop Island

(1:05:12) Chapter Four - Through the Passage

(1:15:18) Peek into the Past - A random hodgepodge of Victorian facts: from summertime to land conservation

(1:20:40) Closing Thoughts - Did Samantha save the day?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Samantha!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Samantha kicks things off with a birthday party so prim and proper it could put a Victorian tea set to sleep—until the book suddenly swerves into an entirely different plot, like it just remembered it had somewhere way more interesting to be. Meanwhile, Caroline gets really into the suffragette movement and delivers a political rant so fiery, it might just make your MAGA uncle clutch his pearls. Buckle up!

Chapters -

(0:00) Welcome Back! Housekeeping, bar crawls, and timeline discrepancies

(13:30) Chapter One - Petticoats and Petit Fours

(28:50) Chapter Two - The Party!

(42:23) Chapter Three - New York City!

(54:41) Chapter Four - Follow That Dog!

(58:56) Chapter Five - Changes

(1:09:36) Peek into the Past - The crushing reality of being a woman

(1:15:00) Final thoughts!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Samantha's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Samantha Parkington had one wish for Christmas—a perfectly proper Victorian holiday. But when Uncle Gard shows up with his newfangled "special friend", Samantha does what any respectable 9-year-old would do—she crashes out.

In this episode, we’re recapping Samantha’s Surprise, the American Girl Doll book that taught us all that holiday meltdowns are way more socially acceptable when you’re a kid. Join Caroline and Celia as they revisit this millennial nostalgia classic, unpack Samantha’s historical tantrum, and discuss whether or not putting lit candles on a tree is a good idea.

If you grew up obsessed with American Girl books, spent hours flipping through the catalog, or just need a hit of historical fiction drama, this one’s for you!

Chapters

(3:30) Chapter One - Christmas Wishes

(20:25) Chapter Two - Presents and Party Dresses

(45:04) Chapter Three - Decorations and Disappointments

(1:01:06) Chapter Four - Someone Very Special

(1:14:45) Chapter Five - Exchanging Gifts

(1:25:16) Peek into the Past - Victorian Christmases and Woke Millionaires!

(1:30:00) Final thoughts and what's up next!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Samantha Learns a Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Samantha gets schooled (!) about the negative side of the Industrial Revolution and gives the wokest speech anyone has ever heard in Mount Bedford. Meanwhile, Nellie crashes out at public school.

Chapters

(0:00) Oops no video! One last time.

(8:20) Chapter One - Notes and Knee Bends

(17:17) Chapter Two - Nellie

(22:11) Chapter Three - Mount Better School

(29:53) Chapter Four - The Contest

(34:19) Chapter Five - Progress

(47:18) Chapter Six - Winners

(51:04) Peek into the Past: School Alert!

(55:55) Closing Thoughts and Predictions

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Samantha!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

New Girl Alert! Celia and Caroline jump into the life of fabulous Victorian b r a t Samantha Parkington, and everyone learns a little bit about haunted dolls, classism, and babies who look like adults.

Chapters

(0:00) A note from Caroline - Oops! No Video!

(1:08) Girl Alert! Samantha Parkington

(7:49) Chapter One - Jesse!

(28:06) Chapter Two - New Girl

(39:34) Chapter Three - The Tunnel

(45:51) Chapter Five - Gone!

(1:02) Chapter Six - A Fine Young Lady!

(1:14:05) Peek into the Past - Victorian style, Child Labor, and Vaccuums

(1:16:15) Conclusion - How is the New Girl?

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Changes for Kirsten!!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Kirsten's outfit isn't the only thing to die for in this episode! Celia and Caroline wrap up the Kirsten books with a bleak outlook on prairie life and the sinister nature of finder's keepers.

Chapters

(0:00) Welcome Back! Laura Ingalls vs Kirsten vs Childhood games

(6:04) Chapter One: On the Trap Line

(14:00) Chapter Two: Fire!

(22:46) Chapter Three: Good News?

(29:52) Chapter Four: Old Jack

(40:46) Chapter Five: Welcome Home

(43:02) Peek into the Past: A bleak look at Kirsten's future

(46:32) Goodbye Kirsten! Final Thoughts

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kirsten Saves the Day (?)

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Kirsten saves the day! Or does she? Let's find out! Listen in as our girl gets LOCKED IN on a honey scheme and bears the weight of her obsession by learning almost nothing from the experience!

Chapters

(0:00) Kirsten's journey - a year in Minnesota

(5:27) Chapter One: The Bee Tree

(12:17) Chapter Two: In the Berry Patch

(26:05) Chapter Three: Bears!

(29:27) Chapter Four: Bringing Back the Bees!

(31:25) Chapter Five: The Best Beswood Honey, Yeehaw!

(34:41) Peek into the Past: Pioneer Life - 1/10 do not recommend!

(36:49) Did Kirsten Save the Day? (no)

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Happy Birthday, Kirsten!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 7 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

This book is all about chores! Kirsten is an elementary school dropout, mama gives birth to another mouth to feed, and our gal gets to wear a fancy dress exactly once before getting back to menial household labor.

Chapters

(0:00) Welcome Back! Celia explains a Reddit scandal

(8:20) Chapter One: Tornado!

(21:20) Chapter Two: New Babies

(25:27) Chapter Three: Big Enough ;)

(31:02) Chapter Four: Party Plans

(35:06) Chapter Five: Friends Come Around

(38:45) Peek into the Past: A terrifying look at childbirth in the 1850s

(40:35) Final thoughts on Kirsten's birthday

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kirsten's Surprise!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Kirsten hyper-fixates on getting Trunk back, and Papa doesn't beat the allegations of being the worst. Caroline and Celia release a Christmas-themed episode they recorded on Halloween on New Year's Eve.

Chapters

(0:00) Welcome back! Kirsten so far

(6:33) Chapter One: Pestering!

(14:35) Chapter Two: A Crown for a Queen!

(26:43) Chapter Three: To Town at Last (feat. a horse with an insane name)

(32:34) Chapter Four: Braving the Blizzard!

(40:02) Chapter Five: Silent Night, Lucia Night (

44:03) Peek into the Past: Swedish Christmas, ye verily

(47:26) Wrap up: Final thoughts on Kirsten, feat. Laura Ingalls Wilder

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Kirsten Learns a Lesson!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Kirsten learns about girl crushes and manifest destiny but barely learns how to speak English. Caroline and Celia learn that sometimes, kids' books are boring!

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome back!

7:50 - Chapter 1: Miss Winston

29:56 - Chapter 2: A Secret Friend ;)

42:24 - Chapter 3: Visitors

48:28 - Chapter 4: Singing Bird and Yellow Hair

55:53 - Chapter 5: Belonging

1:00:13 - Peek Into the Past

1:04:32 - Future Predictions

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Meet Kirsten!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

A lil' Swede named Kirsten Larson crosses the Atlantic with her sick mama and toxic papa to come to America! Along the way, she gets lost in New York City (relatable), discovers that cholera is deadly (tragic), and loses her doll (unforgivable).

Listen in to hear how we feel about this! Not good!

Chapters

0:00 - Welcome to American Girl Talk!

6:16 - Our connection to Kirsten (fragile)

7:53 - Chapter 1: America!

23:31 - Chapter 2: Lost!

33:34 - Chapter 3: Journey Across a New Land

37:38 - Chapter 4: A Sad Journey

44:22 - Chapter 5: Home at Last (?)

59:54 - A Peek Into the Past

1:04 - First thoughts on our girlie Kirsten!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.

Trailer! OMG!

cmschaeffer94@gmail.com (Caroline Schaeffer) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 23:58:34 +0000

Introducing American Girl Talk - A show for silly women women who loved historical fiction as children, by silly women who loved historical fiction as children!

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasance Company.