Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel – Episode: Nicole Byer
Podcast: Teen Beat
Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Nicole Byer
Date: February 11, 2026
Overview
In this episode of Teen Beat, host Danielle Fishel welcomes comedian, actress, and “Hall of Fame podcaster” Nicole Byer for a vibrant, laughter-filled deep dive into her high school years and formative moments. Known for her exuberant honesty and comedic charm across shows like Nailed It! and Why Won’t You Date Me?, Nicole shares candid (and sometimes outrageous) tales from growing up in Middletown Township, New Jersey. The conversation bounces from school shenanigans and awkward crushes to shifting perspectives on fame, with both Danielle and Nicole reflecting on how their upbringings shaped them as adults.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Early Personality: Talkative, Nosy, and Inquisitive
- Both always talkative:
- Danielle: “All my report cards said, we really enjoy her, but, boy, she doesn't like to stop talking.” (06:37)
- Nicole: “I also was very nosy... I was in people's business.” (06:48)
- Reframing ‘nosy’ as curiosity:
- Danielle: “When you call it inquisitive... Curious. Wants to discover the world.” (07:05)
Hometown Adventures & Lore
- Middletown, NJ’s most exciting event:
- Nicole: “A deer jumped through his windshield... he didn't show up. He was absent.” (07:33)
- Danielle’s California high school stories:
- Menendez brothers, “Bling Ring,” and Jesse James Hollywood all attended or were connected to her school. (08:26–09:57)
- Nicole: “Did you grow up in California? ...People flee from Middletown, New Jersey. It's so boring.” (10:00)
Hangouts, Cliques, and Teenage Scenes
- Hangouts & infamous honey bear bong:
- Nicole: “I smoked a lot of weed out of a honey bear bong...” and regular trips to Chili’s after school plays. (10:22)
- Clique naming traditions:
- Nicole: “Our clique, like, took the first initial of our names and made, like, names for ourselves. Yeah, it was CK Len…” (19:55)
Famous Classmates and Alumni Rivalry
- Who’s the most famous now?
- Danielle: “I'm pretty sure you had a real strong GR on being the most famous alumni. But now... Olivia Nuzzi... went to your high school.” (11:40)
- Nicole: “Having an affair with RFK is psychotic.” (12:00)
Celebrity Heroes & Comedy Inspirations
- Late realization about acting as a career:
- Nicole: “Nobody told me I could be an actor until, like, junior or senior year of high school... I loved Monique on The Parkers... Living Single... Whoopi Goldberg.” (13:04–13:55)
- Favorite movie:
- Nicole: “My favorite movie is Ghost. I think it's a rom com. People disagree and say it's a thriller... it's really funny and there's a romance.” (13:35)
Encountering Fame—John Cena & Changing Perspectives
- John Cena stories:
- “He's so deeply funny... has zero ego... remembers crew members' names... he's just a kind, kind person.” (14:33–15:05)
- Changed her perspective on taking photos with fans: “If somebody wants a picture with you, what does that do to you? How does that take away from your day? ... Why wouldn't you make their day?” (15:16)
Friendships: Then and Now
- Clique names and lasting bonds:
- Most of Nicole’s old clique stays connected on social media; missed some reunions due to work. (20:55)
- Danielle still in close contact with her high school girlfriends and discusses the importance of friendships that pre-date showbiz. (22:02–22:49)
- Adult friendship:
- Nicole and Sasheer started their friendship before either found career success, appreciating hitting milestones together. (22:27)
Teenage Rebellion: Shoplifting & Trouble with Authority
- Shoplifting escapades:
- “I got arrested at Old Navy, which is crazy because they, like, pay you to take the clothes. But I love shoplifting. Still love it.” (23:07)
- “If I go to Gelson’s... I'm not scanning all of it. I don’t work here.” (23:21)
- Nicole recounts being arrested at Macy’s, narrowly missing grand larceny by $100. (25:04–25:38)
- Mouthy with police:
- Danielle: “I had a police officer once say to me, 'Stop running or I will make this an on site arrest.' ... I said, 'Aren't all arrests on site?'" (26:05)
- Nicole: “Now I would be... more cooperative. But I wasn't cooperative then.” (26:37)
Conflicts with Teachers and Memories of School
- Would teachers be surprised by Nicole’s success?
- Nicole: “I don't think any of them would be surprised... I was truly so loud. I talk so much...” (32:43)
- Both recount difficult (and sometimes mean) teachers, with Nicole mentioning teachers who accused her of cheating or were biased due to her being ‘a distraction.’
- Notable: “Mrs. Hudsinski, my third grade teacher, she'd probably be surprised because she just didn’t like me.” (33:20)
Academic Apathy but Social Motivation
- School approach:
- Nicole: “I didn't go to high school to learn. I went to make friends.” (41:15)
- Danielle: “Without working nearly at all, I can get an occasional A, mostly Bs, and an occasional C. I mean, I'm fine with that.” (40:44)
Teenage Crushes & Passing Notes
- Nicole’s serial crushes:
- “Were you all about boy crazy? Same... There was Keith, Matt... Middle school was Joe. High school was Mark...” (41:26)
- “I loved Mark... In the hallway, I would just be like, ‘Hi, Mark.’ ...he had a girlfriend, and I simply didn’t care.” (41:45)
- Passing notes and young love dynamics:
- Both share vivid stories of unrequited crushes and elaborate note-passing rituals. (42:18–43:51)
School Dances, Drinking, and Coming of Age
- Dances and parties:
- Nicole skipped both proms but went to homecoming and afterparties. “I hated the idea of going with just my girlfriends. Which now is so silly.” (44:37)
- Danielle: “I lived for [dances]...I went to all the basic bitch dances.” (44:56)
- Underage drinking confessions:
- Nicole: “I drink a lot in high school... can’t drink Absolute Vanilla anymore because I would drink that just like straight.” (47:52)
- Danielle recounts her first drinking experience, resulting in a disastrous night with peach schnapps: “If I ever get a whiff of peach schnapps, it’s just over for everyone.” (48:16–49:57)
Fashion, Hair, and Style Experiments
- Nicole’s bold teenage style:
- “I was a redhead for a lot of my teens. Like burgundy red... Dyed my hair with Kool-Aid... had a very short Missy Elliott haircut, but it was tinted burgundy.” (59:37)
- Always looking for loopholes—dyed her hair with Kool-Aid because her mom wouldn’t let her use real dye. (60:25)
Parents’ Outwitting Tactics
- Moms always one step ahead:
- Danielle shares how her mom used calling the “time” phone number as a clever trick to catch her if she broke grounding and talked on the phone. (62:36)
- Nicole’s mom: “There’s nothing you can do that can surprise me.” — Nicole: “That’s a challenge. And I accept it.” (61:14–61:28)
Confidence—from Childhood to Now
- Self-belief from the start:
- Nicole: “You simply couldn’t tell me anything...when I did the first play I ever did... At no point was I like, ‘I’m gonna fail.’ Which is crazy.” (38:54–39:45)
Passion for Sonic the Hedgehog
- Rediscovered during the pandemic:
- “I played the Sega video games as a kid... never thought about Sonic again until the movie came out... I started sobbing at one part because I was like, oh my God. Sonic moves too fast to have, like, meaningful relationships. Sometimes I feel like I move too fast. I am Sonic.” (52:40–53:13)
- Danielle and Nicole compare Sonic and Mario; Nicole argues Sonic is better: “Sonic is... a real fantasy. He comes from outer space. He has lore. He has a backstory. Mario, he’s a plumber.” (55:21–56:10)
Pole Dancing & Dancing with the Stars
- Nicole’s Instagram pole dancing and Danielle’s reality show experience:
- Danielle tries to convince Nicole to do Dancing with the Stars; Nicole is hesitant: “It seems so hard... I pole dance and then when I'm tired, I go, all done. But I feel like when you're dancing for a TV show, they go, you're not all done.” (63:15–63:39)
- On pole dancing: “You can do it. You don't have to take off your clothes... You could just, like, move your body and...be like, I'm strong.” (66:07)
- “Do you have a pole in your house?” – “Oh, yeah... it just lives there.” (66:21–66:52)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Self-Confidence and Teenage Anxiety
- “You simply couldn't tell me anything…At no point was I like, I'm gonna fail. Which is crazy.”
– Nicole Byer (38:54/39:44)
On High School Priorities
- “I didn't go to high school to learn. I went to make friends.”
– Nicole Byer (41:15)
On Shoplifting and Authority
- “I got arrested at Old Navy, which is crazy because they, like, pay you to take the clothes. But I love shoplifting. Still love it.”
– Nicole Byer (23:07) - “If there's a self checkout, I'm not scanning all of it. Yeah, I don’t work here.” (23:21)
On Passing Notes
- “This is not about you...Get out of here.”
– Danielle Fishel (42:50/42:58, about teachers reading intercepted notes)
On Growing Up and Outwitting Parents
- “My mom would call that [the time phone number]…and she'd say, all I'm gonna do when I get home is hit redial and make sure it's the last number I called.”
– Danielle Fishel (62:36)
On Pole Dancing and Trying New Things
- “You can do it. You don’t have to take off your clothes... You could just, like, move your body and, like, climb up a pole and be like, I'm strong.”
– Nicole Byer (66:07)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:08] Show/guest intro & premise
- [06:23] Both hosts’ early personalities—talkative & inquisitive
- [07:17] Hometown stories: boring suburb vs. Hollywood crime lore
- [10:14] Teenage hangouts and early weed-smoking
- [19:55] Clique nicknames and high school friendships
- [23:07] Shoplifting stories & getting arrested in high school
- [32:43] Teachers’ predictions and school experiences
- [38:54] Nicole on self-confidence and unique fashion
- [41:15] School as a social, not academic, experience
- [44:37] Dances, parties, first time drinking
- [52:40] Sonic the Hedgehog, rediscovering comfort media
- [63:15] Pole dancing, Dancing with the Stars, and physical empowerment
Overall Tone & Style
Lively, cheeky, and honest—with lots of friendly teasing and confessions, plenty of laughter, and heartwarming moments of nostalgia and self-reflection. Both Danielle and Nicole keep the conversation light even when tackling tricky subjects, making listeners feel like they’re trading secrets with old friends.
Final Impression
This episode is a goldmine for fans of Nicole Byer, lovers of 90s/2000s teen nostalgia, and anyone who remembers the awkward, formative moments that shaped them (or just loves hearing great stories!). Nicole’s humor and candor make every story worthwhile, and the rapport between her and Danielle is infectious. The show delivers on its promise to use childhood memories as a roadmap for understanding—and laughing about—who we become.