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PODCAST

Sweet Valley Diaries

Marissa Flaxbart

After years of wide-eyed blogging about the surreal 1980s perfection of Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High book series (and the surprising psychodrama that lurks below the town's perfectly-tanned surface), host Marissa Flaxbart is now forcing people to read the series with her. But beyond its obsession with the ubiquitous-yet-obscure book series, SWEET VALLEY DIARIES is a podcast about nostalgia — '80s nostalgia in particular — and the ways this nostalgia can (spectacularly,

arts books

All Episodes

62:30

Book #74: THE PERFECT GIRL

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/08/10

Only the very best of friends agrees to read the Robin books. This week, Marissa's BFF since high school, Mary Kate Battles, is back for more punishment as we watch Robin destroy herself. Fully 70 books after her maltreatment in POWER PLAY, this one attempts to atone for that sin, but fails at every turn, because it's 1991.CW: Eating disorder, body shaming, weight talk. Oh my.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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79:27

Catch Up With: ROBIN WILSON (and Book 46: DECISIONS...

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/08/03

Episode 74 has been delayed by a week, so this seemed like a great time to try something new! Marissa catches you up on a character's arc over the series. In this case, Robin Wilson, whose first appearance in Book 4 made a thud so resounding that it's echoed through the entire series. Robin is the star of Book 74, so why not get up to speed by listening to her most recent star turn, in Book 46: DECISIONS, which is replayed following Marissa's dissertation on Robin.Advertising Inquiries:

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19:37

Extra Drama #73: I Don't Know If This Was Handled Well

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/07/27

As our first Gen Z guest, Phoebe explains the concept of "Warrior Cats" to Marissa. Also, how is Sweet Valley High like the Duggar Family? What's Jessica really up to? And more questions Marissa's guests can't stop asking her/answering for her.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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67:17

Book #73: REGINA'S LEGACY

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/07/20

It's a camera. Regina's legacy is a Nikon film camera. And when you take a photo with the camera, and squint at the negatives just so, maybe you'll see Regina's ghost giving you a thumbs up for thwarting a drug cartel. Phoebe Danaher is here to help Marissa explain all this, and to spotlight our scary, older, date-of-the-month, Chad! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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60:22

Extra Drama #72: Two Cool Cats, Not Interested in Drama

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/07/13

All of the name-dropping, none of the star-fuckingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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65:26

Book #72: ROCK STAR'S GIRL

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/07/06

Sometimes when a rock star has a teen girl living in his house it's actually not an issue. How is this possible? Well, the teens of Sweet Valley might have it twisted, but Gabe Mara and Marissa will explain it all.Some music in this episode comes from Purple Planet."Toumani Diabate Plays the Kora"Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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19:20

Extra Drama #71: How to Make Jessica Wakefield Famous

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/06/29

Is being famous really so great? What IS Eric Parker's talk show? Can one night on television launch a whole career in entertainment? These are the kinds of questions Jessica Wakefield should have been asking, but instead Marissa and actual professional actor Alex Jennings are asking on her behalf.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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62:31

Book #71: STARRING JESSICA!

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/06/22

Don't let the apparent middle-agedness of the cover model fool you -- that's 16-year-old Jessica Wakefield all dolled up for her star turn on the Eric Parker's national evening talk show. Or, at least it's one of those Wakefield girls. Actor Alex Jennings (THE GOLDBERGS) returns (#7: DEAR SISTER was her last appearance) to talk all this out. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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13:03

Extra Drama #70: Emotional Hostage Situation

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/03/23

Jordan Crucchiola is back, and she gets a dose of the Feeling Seen treatment as Marissa asks what Sweet Valley High student she felt most seen by.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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69:40

Book #70: MS. QUARTERBACK

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/03/16

Today's esteemed guest, is Jordan Crucchiola is the host or co-host of several podcasts -- AUGHTSTERION, DISASTER GIRLS, and of course, the one that Marissa produces, FEELING SEEN! And she's the perfect person to discuss this tale of Claire Middleton, the girl who would be quarterback. Will Ken Matthews's head be turned (now that he can see again)? Is a supposedly nice girl who does shitty things more dangerous than an out-and-out Jessica? These questions and more are addressed in this

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9:02

Extra Drama #69: Ms. Jacobi's Experiment in Prejudice

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2023/03/09

Hey! It's a little more from Book 69, FRIEND AGAINST FRIEND! Instead of snappy conversation, today's episode is a little update on the show and an extended passage from the book. After Andy Jenkins was attacked, sociology teacher Ms. Jacobi takes it upon herself to teach her students that prejudice can be easy, arbitrary...and enticing! But also bad. The point is that it's bad. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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81:14

Book #69: FRIEND AGAINST FRIEND

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/09/01

What could be better than a kind of hamfisted '90s attempt at tackling racism? Almost anything? Well, good (if shocking) news: that's not what this is. Neil Freemount and Andy Jenkins star in a very special episode of Sweet Valley Diaries: FRIEND AGAINST FRIEND.Huge thanks to Kali Baker Johnson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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18:55

Extra Drama #68: Hold Me Till I Hate You

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/08/12

Andy Greene is back and we're talking bands, band battles, battles with band instruments, and bad band boys.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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78:55

Book #68: THE LOVE BET

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/08/04

High school juniors Dana Larson and Aaron Dallas have sworn off of love forever. To address this crisis, Elizabeth and Todd concoct a scheme as disappointingly chaste as it is poorly conceptualized, then take sides on a bet over whether it will work. Meanwhile, Jessica and Lila agree to be roadies for a new band in town, sight unseen. Just another week in Sweet Valley, CA! Andy Greene (Gossip Guys, The Naked Man, Wanderings) joins Marissa to unpack it all.Advertising Inquiries:

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18:06

Extra Drama #67: The Parent Ruse

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/07/15

Now that The Parent Plot is behind us, Marissa, Rebecca, and Sommer talk about their relationship to a film that, despite its similar title, was clearly NOT the source material for Sweet Valley High #67. Apologies to the Lohan Stans, this one is for the Mills Maniacs.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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62:57

Book #67: THE PARENT PLOT

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/07/07

Rebecca Russell and Sommer Austin are back for one last ride as we bring the Wakefield Trial Separation Saga to an end...and say a fond farewell Ned Wakefield's mayoral bid, too! Will Jessica and Elizabeth join forces to trick their parents into falling back in love? Or is all their scheming totally pointless and things just play out the same way as if they hadn't tried at all? Listen and learn! Plus, a Collinswatch to end all Collinswatches (but don't worry, we'll still have

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13:35

Extra Drama #66: A Trio of Elizabeths Fails to Run Away

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/06/24

The cover of WHO'S TO BLAME? suggested that it was going to be a big running away book. It wasn't (only a little running away was involved), so Marissa, Rebecca Russell, and Sommer Austin are sharing their own failed runaway tales, such as they are. And yes, a high school mime troupe is involved.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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64:34

Book #66: WHO'S TO BLAME?

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/06/16

It's a Chicago Ladies in Comedy Reunion, with Rebecca Russell returning and now comedian Sommer Austin joining the Wakefield Separation Arc zoo crew. Jessica's finally going to meet the guy she met on the Teen Party Line, Elizabeth is making bad choices out of depression, and Steven can't stop coming home from college. Hijinks (and a pretty meager attempt at running away) ensue! Some music in this episode comes from Purple Planet. Thanks for the music!Advertising Inquiries:

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25:45

Extra Drama #65: Comedy in the 2000s & Divorce in the...

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/05/12

Ned and Alice Wakefield don't get a lot of love here at Sweet Valley Diaries, but they're both hurting now, so...eh, we still have some criticisms. Everyone's a great fictional parent in hindsight! PLUS learn the exciting comedy origin story behind Marissa's friendship with our fabulous guest Rebecca Russell. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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68:32

Book #65: TROUBLE AT HOME

Sweet Valley Diaries ·

2022/05/05

Rebecca Russell joins Marissa for the first book in the Great Wakefield Divorce (!?) Trilogy. Everything's on the line (and/or the party line) and no questions will be answered! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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