Sweet Valley Diaries podcast

Sweet Valley Diaries

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, hilariously) fail us. It's a riotous cultural conversation about which parts of the past we long for and which ones we want to leave behind for good. It's about friendship, honesty, and learning to speak your truth in the face of a boyfriend-stealing cheerleader or an evil triplet. It's all the life lessons you could ever hope to learn from two size-6, blonde-haired, aqua-eyed, identical 16-year-old twins. Strap in.

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, hilariously) fail us. It's a riotous cultural conversation about which parts of the past we long for and which ones we want to leave behind for good. It's about friendship, honesty, and learning to speak your truth in the face of a boyfriend-stealing cheerleader or an evil triplet. It's all the life lessons you could ever hope to learn from two size-6, blonde-haired, aqua-eyed, identical 16-year-old twins. Strap in.

 

#187

Sweet Valley News & Help Rebuild the Palisades Library/Support LAPL Staff

Support the [Palisades Branch Recovery Fund] (https://lfla.org/laplrecoveryfund/) Support... more

17 Jan 2025

10 MINS

10:27

17 Jan 2025


#186

Extra Drama #82: A Legend of Readin'

A correction email about ROSA'S LIE and truly the most epically hyperbolic Reader of t... more

27 Jun 2024

09 MINS

09:27

27 Jun 2024


#185

Book #82: KIDNAPPED BY THE CULT!

When there's an exclamation point in the name of the book, you know it's going to ... more

20 Jun 2024

1 HR 27 MINS

1:27:20

20 Jun 2024


#184

Extra Drama #81: Becoming Rosalita

Christian Dueñas is back for more on Rose Jameson/Rosa Jimenez. We also imagine an all-boy... more

06 Jun 2024

20 MINS

20:47

06 Jun 2024


#183

Book #81: ROSA'S LIE

Welp, Season 9 is starting with a bang. We've got another racism book on our hands. Th... more

30 May 2024

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:49

30 May 2024


#182

SUPER STAR: BRUCE'S STORY w/Jack & Tanner

Oh-h My-y God, we've got an EXTREMELY special episode at long last! As only the Super ... more

09 May 2024

1 HR 26 MINS

1:26:38

09 May 2024


#181

Mini Extra-Drama #80: Double the Sweetness

Don't forget about the Reader of the Month letter from book 80! Advertising Inquiries:... more

14 Dec 2023

08 MINS

08:20

14 Dec 2023


#180

Episode #80: THE GIRL THEY BOTH LOVED

It's another mis-titled misadventure of random characters, and this time All Time Favo... more

09 Nov 2023

1 HR 30 MINS

1:30:54

09 Nov 2023


#179

Extra #79: Maybe Elizabeth Isn't the Best Character Judge

Bryanna McGeough joins Marissa again and shares her criteria for choosing with Sweet Valle... more

02 Nov 2023

18 MINS

18:03

02 Nov 2023


#178

Book #79: THE LONG-LOST BROTHER

What could be worse than having a twin brother who stole a car? For Sarah Eastborne, the a... more

26 Oct 2023

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:02

26 Oct 2023


#177

Extra Drama #78: Jackson's Funtime Fashions

Claire and Marissa explore the dreamworld of Jessica Wakefield. Plus, a particularly lyric... more

19 Oct 2023

20 MINS

20:42

19 Oct 2023


#176

Book #78: THE DATING GAME

At long last, we will find out if Scott Trost is as sexist as he seems. Or, we'll at l... more

12 Oct 2023

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:41

12 Oct 2023


#175

EED #77: Listener of the Month, July 1991

I got my hands on a US edition of CHEATING TO WIN, but it didn't arrive until after la... more

05 Oct 2023

06 MINS

06:00

05 Oct 2023


#174

Extra Drama #77: They Never Did Sweet Valley Babies

Guest Tabatha Myers tells us about her history with Sweet Valley; then, a close look at th... more

28 Sep 2023

15 MINS

15:00

28 Sep 2023


#173

Book #77: CHEATING TO WIN

The latest in our series of Very Special Episodes, this is the one about accidentally bein... more

21 Sep 2023

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:12

21 Sep 2023


#172

Extra Drama #76: Yo!

Let's rap about the ethical implications of beauty pageants! Plus, the second Reader o... more

14 Sep 2023

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:29

14 Sep 2023


#171

Book #76: MISS TEEN SWEET VALLEY

In this book, Jessica asks Elizabeth how being named the prettiest, smartest, and most tal... more

08 Sep 2023

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:28

08 Sep 2023


#170

Extra Drama #75: Amy Regulation Disorder

More excuses for Amy's behavior, tips for how to look like you're paying attention... more

31 Aug 2023

24 MINS

24:12

31 Aug 2023


#169

Book #75: AMY'S TRUE LOVE

"Tennis" anyone? Marissa is joined this week by Brian Duss for a Very Special Epis... more

24 Aug 2023

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:22

24 Aug 2023


#168

Extra Drama #74: Why We're Like This

Mary Kate and Marissa share stories from middle and high school and beyond about the effec... more

17 Aug 2023

22 MINS

22:16

17 Aug 2023


#167

Book #74: THE PERFECT GIRL

Only the very best of friends agrees to read the Robin books. This week, Marissa's BFF... more

10 Aug 2023

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:30

10 Aug 2023


#166

Catch Up With: ROBIN WILSON (and Book 46: DECISIONS Replay)

Episode 74 has been delayed by a week, so this seemed like a great time to try something n... more

03 Aug 2023

1 HR 19 MINS

1:19:27

03 Aug 2023


#165

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

As our first Gen Z guest, Phoebe explains the concept of "Warrior Cats" to Marissa... more

27 Jul 2023

19 MINS

19:37

27 Jul 2023


#164

Book #73: REGINA'S LEGACY

It's a camera. Regina's legacy is a Nikon film camera. And when you take a photo w... more

20 Jul 2023

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:17

20 Jul 2023


#163

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

All of the name-dropping, none of the star-fucking Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https:/... more

13 Jul 2023

1 HR 00 MINS

1:00:22

13 Jul 2023


#162

Book #72: ROCK STAR'S GIRL

Sometimes when a rock star has a teen girl living in his house it&#39;s actually not an is... more

06 Jul 2023

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:26

06 Jul 2023


#161

Extra Drama #71: How to Make Jessica Wakefield Famous

Is being famous really so great? What IS Eric Parker&#39;s talk show? Can one night on tel... more

29 Jun 2023

19 MINS

19:20

29 Jun 2023