Jennie Garth Meets World

Summary

Pod Meets World: "Jennie Garth Meets World" (May 25, 2026)

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts | Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Ryder Strong | Guest: Jennie Garth

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Danielle, Will, and Ryder sit down with Jennie Garth—iconic star of Beverly Hills, 90210, entrepreneur, and author—to discuss her new memoir I Choose Chasing Joy: Finding Purpose and Embracing Reinvention. Together they explore the challenges of growing up in the public eye, navigating fame in the '90s, dealing with memory gaps, embracing self-discovery at midlife, and Jennie’s advocacy for women’s empowerment and mental health. They also reflect on the parallels between their lives as young TV actors and Jennie’s experience, offering fans deep nostalgia and thoughtful insights.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jennie Garth’s Late-Career Self-Discovery

[17:14–18:54, 77:59–80:00]

• Jennie shares why turning 50 prompted her to reflect on her life and embark on new ventures (podcast, book, women's summit):

  • "You reach an age where you got to make assessments and figure things out...I was just really searching." (Jennie Garth, 17:29)
  • She discusses "choosing herself" as a central theme, finding intention, and shifting from reactive actor to pro-active creator.

• Advice for those entering new stages of life, especially mothers/young women:

  • "Let go of the perfection...No one's living an Instagram life in real life." (Jennie Garth, 77:59)
  • Emphasizes connecting with your inner child and fostering self-love as the most important relationship.

2. The Child Actor Paradox: Early Professionalism & Lost Youth

[19:16–21:52, 49:56–53:17]

• The group reflects on how young actors both matured quickly (managing jobs, responsibilities) and felt stunted in personal development compared to peers:

  • "I felt like I had a 10 year bubble of my life gone." (Jennie Garth, 19:19)

• They discuss memory gaps and the psychological toll of early fame:

  • Jennie admits to blocking out parts of childhood and her early career, explaining memory loss and later understanding it as a potential result of being overwhelmed and trauma:
    "I always thought I was heading for some early diagnosis or something, because I have a very bad brain, like, my memory." (Jennie Garth, 20:11)

3. Women’s Empowerment & Mental Health

[21:52–24:38, 24:38–28:43]

• Jennie talks about her women’s empowerment summit, "I Choose Me", and the impact it had:

  • Focus on community, storytelling, and fostering connection:
    "When we share our stories, we kind of have that moment of like, 'Oh, that's how I'm feeling too.' And now I feel a little less alone." (Jennie Garth, 23:51)

• Shares takeaways from Dr. Daniel Amen on brain health:

  • Importance of seeing mental health as brain health, and using brain scans to individualize treatment.
  • "You can improve your brain health...it's not a one-way ticket to, you're gonna be slobbering in the corner." (Jennie Garth, 27:04)
  • She credits movement, supplementation, and paying attention to alcohol’s effects as critical steps.

4. Life Behind and Beyond 90210

[34:11–41:25, 43:26–47:48]

• Jennie recounts her rural upbringing, being "discovered" by a Hollywood agent, and her early roles before landing 90210.

  • Fun anecdote: She sent VHS audition tapes to her manager (still with her after 40 years).
  • Reflection on giving up a dance-focused pilot in favor of “Beverly Hills, 90210”.

• The cast’s sudden global fame, dealing with body image and public scrutiny, feeling unprotected as young stars:

  • "I look back on it, like, who the hell was protecting us? There was no one having conversations around how to protect young people working in the industry..." (Jennie Garth, 39:48)
  • Only later, watching the show back for her podcast, does Jennie truly see its cultural impact and understand why it resonated.

5. Drama, Tabloids, and On-Set Dynamics

[46:32–54:48]

• The group compares sitcom and drama sets, reflecting on the scrutiny the 90210 cast received, especially regarding age differences and female cast drama.

• Jennie candidly addresses rumors and tensions, and how youth and stress led to conflicts, but time and maturity brought forgiveness:

  • "Anything that happened during those times has long been forgiven...there was not, it wasn't always fun and great all the time, but it was part of the process..." (Jennie Garth, 50:00)

• Impact of tabloid culture on self-perception and public personas:

  • "I think that was more damaging, the way they fed it to the audience, the viewers..." (Jennie Garth, 52:27)

6. Navigating Success, Money, and Self-Care

[61:20–62:59]

• Jennie shared how, at the height of her success, she mostly bought gifts for others, not herself:
  • "I got my dad a truck. I bought a farm for my parents to live on...I didn't need anything but my dog and happy people around me." (Jennie Garth, 61:20)
  • Only later did she try to practice self-reward (diamond earrings, horse, puppy).

7. Separating Actor from Character—Drawn from Reality

[63:28–65:49]

• Discussion of how writers sometimes wove the actors’ lives into their characters:
  • Jennie says Kelly’s dramatic plots (addiction, pregnancy, amnesia) were never her actual life:
    *"None of the things that my character [experienced]…" (Jennie Garth, 64:11)
  • Increasing say over her character as she matured in her career.

8. What Jennie Garth Learned from Rewatching 90210

[65:49–67:56]

• Insights from rewatching her work with a modern lens:
  • Newfound love for her younger self and deeper understanding of how far she's come personally.

9. On Legacy, Parenting, and Advice

[72:04–75:03, 73:40–77:59]

• Working on What I Like About You deepened Jennie’s empathy for young actors and helped prepare her for raising teenage daughters.
• Her parenting approach is rooted in showing up, hard work, and self-forgiveness.
  • "Learning that I'm not perfect and I make mistakes...finding, along the way...the grace and the love for myself..." (Jennie Garth, 73:40)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On aging and reinvention:

  • "From 50 to 60, let's see what I can do...find all the places of things that I've always wanted to do but never pushed myself..."
    —Jennie Garth (17:29)

• On memory gaps and trauma:

  • "Why can't I remember huge chunks of my life?"
    —Jennie Garth (20:11)

• On body image and industry exposure:

  • "Who the hell was protecting us?...It was a constant minefield."
    —Jennie Garth (39:48)

• On the value of sharing stories:

  • "When we share our stories, we kind of have that moment of like, oh, that's how I'm feeling too."
    —Jennie Garth (23:51)

• Relatable advice to those turning 30:

  • "Let go of the...unrelenting quest for perfection. Nobody's living an Instagram life in real life."
    —Jennie Garth (77:59)

• On inner child and self-love:

  • "Find the little person inside of you...that is happening inside of you. That little person that was at some point abandoned by someone, maybe even abandoned by you..."
    —Jennie Garth (78:15)

• On the drama of the era:

  • "It made all other high schools suck because you were like, man, my high school is not like 90210 at all!"
    —Will Friedle (42:33)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jennie Garth’s self-reinvention at 50: 17:14–18:54
• Early career & childhood on a horse ranch: 34:11–35:45
• Casting and first roles leading to 90210: 35:47–38:41
• Onset of fame and lessons learned: 39:48–41:25
• Tabloid culture, on-set drama, and growing past it: 46:32–54:48
• Mental health and Dr. Amen’s brain approach: 24:38–28:43
• Dealing with money & self-gifting: 61:20–62:59
• Parenting daughters & lessons applied: 73:32–75:03
• Advice for those turning 30: 77:59–80:00

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Episode Tone & Language

The tone throughout is warm, candid, and reflective, peppered with humor and a clear sense of camaraderie among the hosts and guest. Jennie Garth is honest, a bit self-deprecating, and forthright—never shying from vulnerability or from gently poking fun at her own fame. The hosts match her openness, resulting in both nostalgia and deeper insights into the shared experience of growing up on screen.

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This episode is highly recommended for fans of '90s television, anyone interested in the realities behind TV fame, and listeners looking for inspiration about personal growth, resilience, and the importance of self-compassion.

Transcript

[Jennie Garth]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Commercial Announcer]

Guaranteed Human.

[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

New customers only. Service renews monthly unless canceled. Credit card required Conditions apply to apps. HBO Max Basic with ads begins after DIRECTV five day trial. Learn [e-mail] restrictions apply.

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[Ryder Strong]

Whether you're calling the wise women in your life, video, calling your girlfriends across the country, or checking in on someone who always knows how to make you smile, staying connected matters.

[Will Friedle]

Those small conversations, shared laughs and quick hellos are what keep relationships strong, even when life gets busy. Some of the most life giving conversations start with just a phone call.

[Ryder Strong]

That's why AT&T guarantees a network you can rely on so you can focus on the moments and people that matter most. That's the AT&T guarantee.

[Will Friedle]

AT and T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details. Summertime is here and you know what that means.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beach trips?

[Ryder Strong]

Family vacations?

[Will Friedle]

Nope. It means it's time to find your next obsession on Prime Video.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh yes, we do love a good obsession here. Especially when you could talk about for years and suggest to everyone you know.

[Ryder Strong]

Steamy romance, addictive love stories and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because when a story hits, it really hits off campus.

[Will Friedle]

Elle, the Love Hypothesis and much, much more.

[Ryder Strong]

Slow burns, second chances chemistry. You can feel through the screen the

[Danielle Fishel]

type of Binge worthy shows and can't miss movies where you're fully invested. Staying up all night just to finish it. Just one more. Oh, all right. One more. You know the feeling.

[Will Friedle]

The kind of stories that pull you in and don't let go in the best way.

[Ryder Strong]

Your next obsession is waiting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Watch only on Prime.

[Ryder Strong]

I. I grew up in a gaming family. Like, everybody. It's board games, like all the time. Board games.

[Jennie Garth]

Awesome.

[Ryder Strong]

And it's one of those things that, like, can be exhausting to other people who have to get invited to my house and have to play board games or. And it's also sometimes a little exhausting for me because my parents like to buy brand new board games all the time and spring them on us. And they try and find things that are either like, it's just hard to hit the sweet spot with a growing child because you're either getting a game that's too advanced and he doesn't want to play it, or it's way too simple and you're like, Snakes and ladders just sucks. Or Shoots and Ladders. Shoots and Ladders.

[Will Friedle]

Shoots and ladders. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

It's just like these games, you know, like sometimes, like, Candyland is the dumbest. Life is the worst. Oh my God, I hate life.

[Will Friedle]

Be a winner at the game of life by a dog.

[Ryder Strong]

Is that the commercial?

[Will Friedle]

Really?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Get. Get married. Maybe have babies.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

You don't.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh. No. I don't think I've ever heard.

[Ryder Strong]

No, I never heard.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

All right. So my parents bought this game and they. They brought it or they bought. They bought it at Christmas and we were going to play it and I was just like, this is the dumbest thing ever. This game. How is this a game? This should not be a game. Ends up being the funnest game in the world. I'm gonna play it with you guys. And here's why. It's a dumb game. There's no losing in this game. There's no points. There's no.

[Will Friedle]

So it's for the younger generation. Yes. Trophies for everyone. You just showed up.

[Ryder Strong]

All it is is quick, quick, quick. The whole thing. I set a timer and then I. If like, let's say it's Will's turn, I'm gonna set this timer. I think the timer is for like 30 seconds, maybe a minute.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

And then I pull out these cards and I have to ask you to name three things. Each card is named three things. So three things mice would be really good at.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

You have to name three things that mice would Be really good at.

[Danielle Fishel]

But, like, legitimately or.

[Ryder Strong]

No wrong answers.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, okay.

[Ryder Strong]

The only thing is to not have an answer and to take too long.

[Will Friedle]

So it's.

[Ryder Strong]

How many cards can you get through before the timer runs out?

[Will Friedle]

Okay, are you ready?

[Ryder Strong]

Are you ready? No wrong answers. Just don't stop talking.

[Will Friedle]

Wait, is this me? Is this. I'm going.

[Ryder Strong]

Go.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, God.

[Ryder Strong]

Three bad places to bring a fish.

[Will Friedle]

The desert, the sky, and the forest.

[Ryder Strong]

Three things you can say to a bank robber.

[Will Friedle]

Nice mask. Hey, don't put that gun in my face. And can I help you with that bag of money?

[Ryder Strong]

Three silly reasons to throw a fit.

[Will Friedle]

Danielle's always late, Ryder's Internet is screwing up, and we all sound like we're recording on potatoes.

[Ryder Strong]

Three places to wear cool sunglasses.

[Will Friedle]

Outside at the beach, on an airplane.

[Ryder Strong]

Three pieces of advice for a con artist.

[Will Friedle]

Commit to the bit. Costumes will make it happen. And a fake nose will get you far.

[Ryder Strong]

Three ways to defeat a clown in battle.

[Will Friedle]

Punching, stabbing, shooting.

[Ryder Strong]

Three things. That was great. You did better than almost everybody in my family.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh, that's so good.

[Ryder Strong]

Five, six. I think, like, we. We max out around five. I think you would be amazing. All right, Danielle, you ready?

[Danielle Fishel]

So good. Okay. Okay, I'm ready. Also, I am not late.

[Ryder Strong]

Don't think about it. Don't think about it. There's. The only wrong answer is not answering. Three new ways to pronounce your name.

[Danielle Fishel]

Donyell Fichel, Danielle Fichel, and Danny Fish.

[Ryder Strong]

Three things that make a party lame.

[Danielle Fishel]

People, drinks and snacks Terrible.

[Ryder Strong]

Three terrible materials to make a boat out of.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cotton, linen and DVDs.

[Ryder Strong]

Three reasons a dog might bark.

[Danielle Fishel]

Squirrels, firecrackers, and guns.

[Ryder Strong]

Three things you would not want to be locked in a room with.

[Danielle Fishel]

Spiders, Will Friedle. And. And cats.

[Ryder Strong]

Physic. 3 Physical traits an alien could have.

[Danielle Fishel]

Ears, long fingers and green slime.

[Ryder Strong]

Three ways to impress a movie star.

[Danielle Fishel]

Fancy.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, my God. I think you beat Will. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Tied. Tied at 6. Isn't it funny, though, that the second you try and get clever, like the second you threw Wilford Ellen, you brainstorm.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then I couldn't come up anything else after.

[Ryder Strong]

What was so funny is that you said three things a dog might bark at, and those three could have been the next one, because the next one was what you don't want to be locked in a room with. I was like, just say the same three, because there's, like, squirrels. Whatever.

[Will Friedle]

Wow. So who won when you guys were playing?

[Ryder Strong]

I usually did.

[Will Friedle]

Or me.

[Ryder Strong]

Or Indy. Because, like, it's about your ability to just, like, turn your brain off and to just talk, which, guess what? Kids can do really well.

[Danielle Fishel]

So can podcasters.

[Ryder Strong]

And like, yeah, you guys are amazing. I knew it was gonna be because you play like, you play with my parents, and they literally get through, like, three cards because it's just like they're. They're trying to be clever or they're just trying to think of the right answer. It's like the whole game is just, how do we turn your brain off and try and get through this as quickly as possible. And then you get really upset with a person. Takes too long to read the card.

[Danielle Fishel]

Come on, come on, two more time.

[Ryder Strong]

And then the real problem is, like, people get caught up on one answer for everything. So they'll be like, put it up your butt. And then like, that. You know that everybody realizes that that's, like, so funny that they're just going to say that for everything. Three things you can do with a light bulb. I wanted everyone. And then you get caught. You're like, that's. I can't just keep doing that.

[Will Friedle]

So it's called quick. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick. Dumbest game ever. I love it so much.

[Jennie Garth]

It's great.

[Ryder Strong]

It's the greatest party game. It's like, just how much can you turn your brain off and just go with it? And, like, it's genuinely hard for me. Like, it's genuine.

[Will Friedle]

Robin Williams would be. Would have been amazing at this game.

[Ryder Strong]

Amazing. His wit would have been like, yeah, but it's also. It goes through a curve. Like, it starts off. Everybody's pretty slow. You guys started off really fast. Usually people start off only able to get, like, three or four up to, like, 5ish. And then you start overthinking it and go back to, like, two, because in your brain's like, now I've run out. It's so fun to play.

[Danielle Fishel]

That is good. I know there were a couple of times that, like, I would say something. Like when I said green slime. Then as you were reading the next question, my thought was, that's not a. That's not a. That's not a. Like, I was like, oh, there's no wrong answer. You just keep going.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes, by the way.

[Will Friedle]

Yes. You're not late normally, which is good. But also, being locked in a room with me would be awesome.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, I know. That is true. I just wanted to get back at

[Ryder Strong]

you because I played and that's why it took you. It screwed you up a little bit

[Danielle Fishel]

because then you, like, how Do I? What am I? I'm gonna say something mean about you.

[Will Friedle]

Let me get back to you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Say something mean to me.

[Ryder Strong]

I say something mean to you, Fatty McFaddy. Fatty.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

I won't be in a room with you. Even though we spend all our time together on a buffet.

[Will Friedle]

All the time.

[Ryder Strong]

We're constantly together.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, that was really fun, writer. I enjoyed that game. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Jennie Garth]

Quick, quick, quick.

[Danielle Fishel]

We'll do it again. Welcome to PO World. I'm Danielle Fishel.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm Rander Strong.

[Will Friedle]

And I'm Will Fredell. Ronstoppable Eric Matthews.

[Ryder Strong]

You left out Batman. My go Batman. Left out Batman.

[Danielle Fishel]

Starting something new is exciting, but honestly, it's also terrifying. When I launched my hair care line Be Free by Danielle Fishel when it came to an online presence, I had no idea where to start.

[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Will Friedle]

hey, it's Will Friedle from Pod Meets World. It's hard to believe that the first phone call ever happened over 150 years ago. Just think about that. Over the last 150 years, so many special moments have happened with a phone call. I think back to the phone call I had to make on Hollywood Boulevard. Back to my agents in New York who told me that I booked the role of Eric Matthews on Boy Meets World. And it's one of the greatest phone calls I ever had in my life. I mean, hey, I even remember the phone call with Danielle and Ryder when we decided to start a podcast. That one wasn't as good. Almost four years later, here we are. And you know, over all these years and phone calls, AT&T has been there, connecting people in meaningful ways. This is more than a story of technological innovation. It's a story of human connection.

[Jennie Garth]

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[Danielle Fishel]

For the past three years, we have participated in what we originally called a re watch podcast, but have only recently found out it is technically public trauma counseling. We have laughed, we have cried, we've suppressed, we've disassociated. But above all else, we've grown. And this week's guest's new book, I choose Chasing Joy. Finding Purpose and Embracing Reinvention might just be the spiritual literature needed for this journey. She found fame in 1990 when she was cast as Kelly Taylor, the iconic, perfect on the surface, complicated underneath high schooler on Beverly Hills 90210, a cultural phenomenon phenomenon that not only pushed Fox from laughing stock to powerhouse network, but sent everyone on the show into an orbit beyond fame. She spent 10 years at Beverly High facing drug addiction, pregnancy, and amnesia, all while spending weekends at the Peach Pit and helping launch spin offs like Melrose Place and Models, Inc.

[Will Friedle]

Wait, they were in high school for 10 years?

[Ryder Strong]

Went to college. They went to Occidental. Occidental was the location for their cold day. Okay, good.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then rebooting it all to revisit the character in 2008 for the self aware spinoff 90210. She'd later co star with Amanda Bynes on the sitcom what I Like about yout and make it all the way to the semifinals with partner Derek Hough on season five of Dancing with the Stars. Plus, she's a fellow podcaster with I Choose Me and her own Rewatch Endeavor, 90210 MG, both here at iHeart. And she's an entrepreneur with her own lifestyle and clothing line sold exclusively on qvc. And yes, her newest memoir, Self Help Manifesto, invites the reader into her real story of growing up on TV and facing Hollywood's impossible beauty standards, all while facing loss, heartbreak, and the challenge of motherhood. She's seen it all, and now in her 50s, she's aging with confidence and just learning to put herself first. Sounds familiar, right? Well, let's commiserate now with our guest this week, a TV legend, Jennie Garth.

[Jennie Garth]

Hi. Hello, Ryder. Hi, Danielle.

[Danielle Fishel]

Good to see you, too. Good to see you. Thank you so much for coming. On our podcast, our conversations, you and I are usually confined to me telling you how cute your coat is at an I Heart party. That's usually the extent of conversation.

[Jennie Garth]

It's a passing.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's a passing. I'm like, you're so cute.

[Ryder Strong]

See you later. Bye. Oh, my God.

[Danielle Fishel]

So we wanted to start by talking about your book. I choose Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention. What was it about turning 50 that made you want to look back on your journey with a new perspective?

[Jennie Garth]

Well, I don't know if I wanted to. I kind of felt like I was forced to. You kind of reach an age where you got to make assessments and figure things out. You got to look back and you got to think, what do I want next? You know, I mean, we can't otherwise it is. I was just in a place of like, wandering around lost, with really no direction and no kind of like, passion for much. I was just really searching. So at 50, I kind of thought, you know, I have from 50 to 60, like, like, let's see what I can do. Yeah, let's like, dig in and find all the places of things that I've always wanted to do but never pushed myself or never, you know, really was brave enough to try. And so that's kind of what was the catalyst for doing the I Choose Me podcast, doing the clothing brand and, and then the book and the women's summit. Like, it's all sort of like under this, this beautiful umbrella of choosing yourself. And I'm, you know, just loving that everything's kind of connected back to the. The one thing that feels aligned for me and feels purpose driven and feels like I'm making a difference in people's lives, maybe one by two or one by one or whatever it is, but like, it feels more intentional than just like, waiting for my manager to call me and say, hey, there's an audition you could put yourself on tape for.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right, right, right.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. No, I feel like that's the acting curse. Right? Especially when you're a young actor. It's like you just get into the habit of waiting for that opportunity to come and then maybe you'll get the part or maybe you won't. And yeah, I feel like in some ways maybe we were all a little slower to learn to take care of ourselves in the regard of, like, go get your own, create your own opportunities, you know?

[Jennie Garth]

Do you think. Did you guys feel that? Because I've talked about that before. I felt like I had a 10 year bubble of my life of like, my personal development, my, like, choosing what I wanted to do in life gone. I feel like I'm 10 years behind people that went the normal route and went to college and like themselves out.

[Ryder Strong]

But then in other ways we were more mature. Right. Because we were like, working full time and in working with Adults who are older than us. So it's like. It's this weird paradox or contradiction.

[Jennie Garth]

You know, it is like, you here, you have three house payments, right. And four employees, but you don't know how to manage your. Really?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. Sounds about right.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think doing this podcast, an unexpected result for us has been the realization that we have all apparently blocked some things out. So when you were looking back on your life, is that something you noticed you had also experienced?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, for sure. I mean, there's childhood stuff that I blocked out that, you know, you don't really. You don't really want to go that far back and that deep. But I really believe that you have to just kind of reveal all your secrets, or at least to yourself, and then be selective about things that you want to move forward in the conversation. But I found that I, you know, I had this memory issue, too, so I always thought like, I was heading for some early diagnosis or something, because I have a very bad brain, like, my. My memory. So it was something that I was curious about before I even started writing the book. Like, why is my brain like this? And why can't I remember huge chunks of my life?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, I experienced that.

[Jennie Garth]

To have a picture. If I see a picture, I'm like, that's. I kind of see that moment that that photo was taken in, but I don't really have anything around it. So always just really curious about, like, why my brain is dialed in that way. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Were you always like that? I mean, even when we were you, you know, when you were younger, did you have trouble remembering, you know, earlier in your life, or was this something that was happening more later?

[Jennie Garth]

I don't remember, Will.

[Will Friedle]

Okay, perfect.

[Jennie Garth]

I think I didn't. I think I was. When I was closer to it, it was fresher, but then just life got so, like, lightning speed on every front in my world that I think, you know, I always say I don't have enough gigabytes for that. Like, I just feel like it's really crowded in there with things that I don't need to remember and things that I do need to remember, like what time my interview is with you guys today.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right. Yeah. Totally. Totally understand. You're just coming off of the I Choose Me tour with a big blowout in Los Angeles, a second annual live Women's empowerment event. And just some of the guests who were there. Naomi Watts, Amanda Kloots, Sarah Shahi, Val C.H. murkovsky, who heard that women were going to be there and showed up. This was a massive undertaking how did it go? And did you have a nervous breakdown?

[Jennie Garth]

I think it was amazing. Last year we did it. We had an incredible slew of guests last year, one of them being Naomi Watts. And then this year we had bosom of St. John all the way to Val Murkowski, Tyler Merritt, just some really. And then of course, my beautiful friend Dr. Daniel Amen, who's the neuroscientist about brain health, he came and just really kind of dropped the mic and gave everybody in the room some really serious things to start thinking about as far as longevity and taking care of our brain. So I loved having him there. But it, it is this weird, like I build for it all year and then all of a sudden it's a week away and everybody's panicking and we don't have the cups and where's the backdrop and who's going to get the flower? Like it's a. It's all on deck for, for a good solid two weeks probably.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

But it went off without a hitch. An incredible like I heart produce helps me produce it on the ground. So it goes off like, you know, jingle ball or some like miraculous. I don't know what happens but. And I feel like the women in the room, it was a very, like, we all felt like we were absorbing good things, positive messages. And I feel like everybody who was there was there till the last minute, like listening and just taking it in and enjoying that. The camaraderie between the women. Everybody kind of like minded, looking for something. What's next? Or how do I, you know, prioritize myself? So it's just a great day of really important messages and people sharing their stories. Like you, you know, when we share our stories. I certainly found like when I share my story, whether it was talking about the book or things in the book or whatever, I've always been very sharing. Well, not always, but recently. But that, that's the thing. When we share our stories, we kind of have that moment of like, oh, I'm, I'm. That's how I'm feeling too. And now I feel like a little less alone. Maybe I should talk a little bit more openly about it. So really it's just about my goal with doing the whole thing. I don't need to make one single dollar. I just like helping people. And that's the event that I feel like has a lot of impact because were together in the room and it's all like planned for that for you to leave with something tangible that you can take into your life.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is there Anything you can share with us from your doctor friend about what's the brain health, what's one brain health thing we should be doing?

[Jennie Garth]

Well, Dr. Daniel Amen really did change how I thought of my brain health. I didn't think of my brain health before I saw him. I thought that I had a damaged brain. I thought maybe I'm slipping into some unwanted laboratory with my brain. And he was able to do a spec scan and look at my actual brain organ. And from there, you know, I've. I've struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life since I was a teenager and been on medications and on and off them, on and off them, and never, you know, really struggling to find the right cocktail, if you will. And he was like, why would you. Why would a psychiatrist just give medication to a brain without looking at it? Like if, if you were going to heart doctor and you, you know, they, they need to look at your brain, give you an ultrasound and see where you're clogged in order to know how to proceed, taking care of it. So that's kind of. His whole passion is about the brain, is actually looking at it on a spec scan and he can see like areas of the brain of that are more active and. And less active. So there's incredible activity over here, which is kind of sucking all the activity from over here. And that is where we find a lot of imbalances as far as how to emotionally regulate, how to handle, like if you're an introvert, how to handle situations where you. Is required for you to be an extrovert, stress, anxiety, all those things, especially when you are sort of thrust into the. To the spotlight. And I can only speak from my situation, you know, from the farm to like being that kind of globally famous. It has a very strong effect on certain synapses in your brain. I never would have thought about this. Like, has he studied the brains of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, like the biggest superstars on the planet, and can see significant areas that are overactive and significant areas that are underactive. And it explains so much about the things they're struggling with in their lives. So his work is really fascinating and I've learned a lot. But like, one of the most important things I learned straight away was you have. He told me you have a beautiful brain. I was like, oh, okay, thank you. That makes me a lot better.

[Will Friedle]

That's a cool compliment.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you.

[Jennie Garth]

You have two concussions. I can see two dents from. Let's figure out where those came from. So we were Able to kind of like pinpoint things in my life. And then he said, and the best part is you can improve your brain health. Like, it's not. This isn't just a one way ticket to, you're gonna be slobbering in the corner. You can actually be super proactive about taking care of your brain. So all of that stuff. He's got great books too that are just like easy to understand, which was shocking.

[Will Friedle]

Now you're saying taking care of your brain, is it something, is it more cognitive stuff, like it's, it's exercises you do or is it medication?

[Jennie Garth]

Well, both. It can be both. He likes to start with supplementation before he goes onto medication for. Some people just need medicine. I happen to be one of those people. So I do a combo of supplements and medications and it's just about keeping that balance, you know, and maybe, you know, making sure you're regularly checking in on how your medication's working for you because things change, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

But also just like moving your body is the number one thing you can do. I mean, I think we're all starting to get these messages now. So it's not shocking, but like, just going on a walk every day is not only good for how you feel and your physical being, but it's also good for your brain health. You know, he talks a lot about no alcohol. I stopped drinking because it's that important to me. And there's, you know, other things that he talks about that you can do as well. Supplementation was a great place place to start as well.

[Will Friedle]

Now, the pictures that you had taken of your brain, is it like a regular MRI machine where you have to go into the tunnel of doom?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, it's a little bit of a different tunnel of doom.

[Will Friedle]

It's the partially open one. Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

I don't know what it is, but it is kind of like that. It's quicker than an mri and it's not noisy. It's much easier. And the really bad part about it is spec scans aren't covered under insurance. Of course, if you're really struggling with addiction, addiction or with depression, anxiety, memory issues, which I was. It was memory issues and that depression, anxiety. I was trying to figure out when I went to him. It was worth it to me to have some answers that I could build upon to like, sure. Figure things out moving forward.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I've done the, I've done the scans, the mri and it's like my doctor's like, now you just have to. You're fine unless you deal with you know, enclosed spaces or rhythmic banging. And I'm like, those are two of my triggers. So this will be a fun 60 minutes. Yeah, that's gonna be great. So. Okay, gotcha.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Do you have a dream guest for an I Choose Me event?

[Jennie Garth]

An event I've actually. I just saw Tiffany Haddish on. What's the show where they take him out into the wilderness with bear.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, the guy that. Bear Grylls.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, Bear Grylls. Whatever it is.

[Jennie Garth]

I just saw her doing that on my TV last night, and I just loved her attitude. And I love the way she's like. It seems like she parents herself. Like she knows how to really take care of, like, her little self inside of her. I found her very inspirational. I would love to have her on.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, good. Summer is busy.

[Will Friedle]

Cookouts, vacations, and farmer tans. That means more keeping up around the house.

[Ryder Strong]

Luckily, during Lowe's Memorial Day event, household upkeep is easier for less right now.

[Will Friedle]

Save $80 on a Char Broil Performance Series 4 burner gas grill. Just $199 so you can keep the

[Danielle Fishel]

food coming all summer long.

[Will Friedle]

Plus get up to 45% off. Select major appliances to keep dishes, clothes, and food fresh.

[Ryder Strong]

Summer is here. And so is the season's best lineup

[Will Friedle]

at Lowe's, valid through May 27, while supplies last. Selection varies by location. See associate or lowe's.com for details.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cat parents, gather round. Ryder and I have some important advice to share.

[Ryder Strong]

Guys, we have to stick together. Guys. Those of us with fur babies know the struggle. We understand the feeling of being ignored by our cats.

[Danielle Fishel]

But that's why we're here to help. Because sometimes I find myself wondering, does my cat even love me?

[Ryder Strong]

And there's only one solution to solve that. Sheba.

[Danielle Fishel]

You could be adored by everyone and still completely ignored by your cat.

[Ryder Strong]

It's time to feed your cat Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back.

[Danielle Fishel]

The promised land is here. Turn things around for your feline with Sheba's menu of products. Appetizers, entrees, treats, and even a kitten's menu.

[Ryder Strong]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Danielle Fishel]

adult cats, which my bill is. But we don't call him old. We call him ignorant, experienced.

[Ryder Strong]

It's made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world.

[Danielle Fishel]

No artificial flavors or preservatives. No corn, wheat or soy.

[Ryder Strong]

So even when they're licking the bowl clean, you can know you're doing the right thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Treat your cats right and introduce them to the delicious delicacies of Sheba.

[Ryder Strong]

To learn more, check out sheba.com Summertime is here.

[Will Friedle]

And you know what that means.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beach trips?

[Ryder Strong]

Family vacations?

[Will Friedle]

Nope. It means it's time to find your next obsession on prime Video. Video.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yes. We do love a good obsession here. Especially when you could talk about for years and suggest to everyone you know,

[Ryder Strong]

Steamy romance, addictive love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because when a story hits, it really hits off campus.

[Will Friedle]

L the love hypothesis and much, much more.

[Ryder Strong]

Slow burns, second chances chemistry. You can feel through the screen the

[Danielle Fishel]

type of binge worthy shows and can't miss movies where you're fully invested. Staying up all night just to finish it. Just one more. Oh, all right. 1. You know the feeling.

[Will Friedle]

The kind of stories that pull you in and don't let go in the best way.

[Ryder Strong]

Your next obsession is waiting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Watch only on Prime. We've all been there. You just need 10 minutes of peace and quiet to calm your overstimulation while finishing a peanut butter cup and hiding behind the refrigerator door. Just me.

[Jennie Garth]

Oh, okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, you want to give your kids something to do, but you want it to be good content, not something that sends them into an endless loop of clips that you have to worry about 24 7. That's where lingokids comes in. It's an App for Kids 2 to 8 that focuses on pure interactive joy. It turns their screen time into an adventure where they're exploring and playing in a safe space built just for them. You get a moment to breathe and they get an experience they're actually excited about. It's the kind of win win every parent needs. Lingokids. Everything kids love. Give your kids the play they love. And hand me that peanut butter cup. Download the Lingokids app now on your phone or tablet. And it's free. Well, let's get into your origin story a little bit. You grew up on a horse ranch with seven siblings. Were you guys filming little house on the prairie?

[Jennie Garth]

No, it was only me and three of my sisters that lived on the farm. You know, everybody would come over on 4th of July and stuff like that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right, okay. But only four of you lived there all the time. Yeah. Okay.

[Jennie Garth]

My four half sisters. And then my others are also half sisters and brothers. So it's kind of like his, hers and mine family, and I'm the mine. So I'm like Oliver. I kind of like to call myself Oliver, but it's not really like that at all from the Brady Bunch. But we. Yeah, it was like we garden, we grew our own vegetables. And I. My. My toys were animals, you know, my friends were. My best friends were my horse and my dirt bike. So it's a pretty idyllic way to. To grow up in the middle of, like, corn fields in the Midwest. Yeah, I wish I could go back to it, quite honestly.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah. Yeah, I bet.

[Danielle Fishel]

And eventually in Arizona, you were discovered by a Hollywood scout, which is how most people are scammed, to be honest. So in your case, though, this is actually real. How did your parents react when this guy said that you should be in LA because you looked like you should be a star?

[Jennie Garth]

Well, he was actually doing a favor for a friend of his. He was filling in as a judge at this tiny little pageant, which I had gotten coerced into doing by my mom to try to get a scholarship for. To go to school to become a dance teacher. So I thought I would do. And this guy was there and he. He looked very fancy, but he also had his wife with him, which kind of gave him. Gave him a little more credit, I thought.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jennie Garth]

Credibility. Much of a career.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, a little less smarmy.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah. And he was coming off being the head of casting for abc and he had just moved to LA to open up his own management firm. And he said, you know, read this scene. Here's some sides. Let's meet over the buffet breakfast tomorrow and you can read these with my wife. And from there they said, yeah, there's something about you. We think you should look into it. Like, you should start studying acting or doing it in school or something. So I started taking acting lessons and mailing him the VHS tapes that we would record. He would get them and then he would watch them and then he would send back his notes. So it was a lot of process of that until he thought, well, I think, you know, why don't you come out for this pilot season? Give it a try. So my mom and I drove out from Arizona to LA and got a little apartment and got our Thomas Guide out and found our audition points every day. That was that. That, you know, I just kind of really interestingly rolled right into it.

[Ryder Strong]

Are you.

[Will Friedle]

Were you a regular apartment kid or were you an Oakwood apartment kid?

[Jennie Garth]

No, no, I never stayed at Oakwood. My kids went to Oakwood School, which is a whole nother situation. But Oakwood Apartments. No, I had like, I think it was on Coldwater Canyon, right by the amp there. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

So when do you have the 90210 audition? Where does that fall in your journey to LA?

[Jennie Garth]

Gosh, I want to say not that long after, I think I got my first job was on a Disney movie called Teen angel which also starred Jason Priestley. That's where we first met. And then I did an episode of Growing Pains where I had one line, three words, one line. And then I got to star as Barbara Eden's daughter in a short lived show that she did with Don Murray.

[Will Friedle]

And she swear to cast.

[Jennie Garth]

I mean, yeah, so I was just like every day at work just jaw on the floor watching these professionals work and how they, you know, handle the set and the crew. And I learned so much like from the real pros of the industry on that show. And then 90210 came, like it just. There was a. It was pilot season and I had the opportunity to audition for, for one show and then another show. I had to pick one though. One was Kenny Ortega. Something about dancing in a school. I don't know. It wasn't High School Musical, like High School Musical. And then the other one was a teen drama set in Beverly Hills and it was produced by Aaron Spelling. And I thought, well, I, I'm always loved Aaron Spelling shows. I would love to get in front of him. That would be amazing. Just because he's looking to be so cool. And so I opted to do that one.

[Will Friedle]

But wait, you wanted to be a dancer and it was Kenny Ortega.

[Jennie Garth]

I know. That was the hardest part of it. I realized though, in my pageant moment when I met Randy, my manager, who's still my manager to this day, by the way.

[Ryder Strong]

Wow.

[Will Friedle]

Wow.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah. We've been together for 40 years. I realized I wasn't a very good dancer. So Gotcha. Didn't take the crown on that one.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny. And yet you wanted to be a dance teacher.

[Jennie Garth]

You know, if you can't do it, you can't do it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly, exactly.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, so much of Beverly Hills 90210 was this chic, gorgeous cast, possibly the best looking cast ever assembled. And in your book, you talk at length about the public scrutiny you faced about your public appearance and the constant comparisons made between all of you. We have talked a lot about, about this on our podcast, especially about the 90s in body image. How do you reconcile all of that now? How do you look back on It.

[Jennie Garth]

I look back on it, like, who the hell was protecting us? Like, you know, there was. That nobody was having conversations around how to protect the young people that were working in the industry from. From those kinds of, you know, like just minefields. You know, it was a constant minefield. And there was. The sets were so loose and like, everything goes. Whatever happens, happens. And nobody complains about anything. If you complain, you're uptight or. Yeah, say something, you're, you know, so, like, yes. You just learn to swim, you know, in. In infested waters. And that's what I. That's what I look back on that time also very fun. I had a lot of fun. It was really, like, crazy. And like, go, you know, going to appearances and being mobbed and like, what. Why do these people want to get at me? Like, I get it, they like the show, but I didn't really understand it until I started doing the OMG Recap show. We do a podcast for that. And I had to watch the show from the very first episode to. We're. We're still in that show, by the way. We're in season eight, the middle.

[Will Friedle]

Wow.

[Jennie Garth]

But now, like, what a show. I. I am. I'm a viewer now. I'm a super fan. And of course I want to watch it every week. I want to know what's going to happen to these characters that I've now spent eight years growing up with. Yeah. So I get it. And now it makes so much more sense. But being in it was a completely different story.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, I remember growing up watching that show and starting at the beginning, and it was distinctly a soap opera for me. Like, you know, that's. That's what it came off as is. It came off as like, first of all, it's set in this mythical land of Beverly Hills. And as a kid from Connecticut, it was like, oh, my God, this is the greatest thing in the world. And then, of course, everybody's stunning. The Porsche and all that. It was just. It was the. It was. It was La La Land.

[Jennie Garth]

It was crazy. Nobody had seen what Beverly Hills looked like at that time. If you didn't live in Beverly Hills and weren't bred and grown. Grown up, but the world wanted to know what it looked like. And that was one of the, like, biggest. The greatest parts of that show was just opening up. I mean, it made that zip code famous. But, you know, that all proceeded as, like, social media happened. Now everything famous but that one just really. People attached to their. Their hearts, their childhoods, their teenage years. Their college years had such an impact act. And I get it now. Like, I love the show. I always loved the show, and I love on it. But sure, like, I'm.

[Will Friedle]

But it did. It made. It made all other high schools suck because you were. You're like, sitting like, man, my high school is not like 90210 at all.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, what the hell?

[Will Friedle]

No, but, yeah, it was. It was. It was literally a cultural phenomenon. I mean, it was also. I remember it was a. Was a merch machine. I mean, I had friends that had, like, the girls had 9, 020 sheets, and it was like, like, everywhere was everywhere.

[Jennie Garth]

It was everywhere.

[Danielle Fishel]

We.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, that. That's unfortunate for the cast because that was before we got to participate in any kind of benefits from that. So if you're sleeping on my face right now or Lyn's face on your pillowcase. And yeah, we didn't get anything from that stuff. It was so worth it. You know, there was a lot of systems that weren't in place in the early 90s as far as episodic residuals. All. All that stuff wasn't happening yet. So we. We learned after the math.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Did you enjoy it as an actor? I mean, were you excited? Because, I mean, I remember looking at the show and going, oh, these guys get to do some really meaty, dramatic, fun stuff. Yeah, you get to act. I mean, we were on a comedy show. You know, there's. We also got opportunities because our show was. Was better than a lot of other sitcoms. But, I mean, I always wanted to be on a 90210 style show. So. Were you enjoying it?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, you must have loved it. I didn't know I had never met a girl Beverly Hills, except Tori. I had never been like, I went to Beverly Hills once as a tourist. I never drove a BMW. Like, I had no idea about this world that I was all of a sudden portraying. And then, you know, as it went on, I think the writers got to know where sort of like my abilities, where what was my path, what was my lane. And they really wrote to that. So I ended up getting. Getting. When I was a little girl, I was called Puddles. That was my nickname. I cried a lot, like, I'm gonna eat. Talk about it in my book, I say, you know, I talk a lot about women expressing their emotions and not losing their voices. And I say, when I was younger, my nickname was Puddles, and people would make fun of me for my emotions. As I got older, I heard, oh, you know, your emotions are too much. Or like, you know, just people just saying, you're too emotional. And then now I've turned it into I'm emotion full. And I consider it one thing, greatest superpowers. So going to the show, that, like, deep well of emotions that I was always ready right there, always like wore my emotions on my sleeve, really. I was able to showcase like all my dramatic acting moments. So they ended up giving Kelly all those dramatic moments. I mean, it got spread out as the show went on, but like she was shot and burned and stalked and I can't even remember all the things. Like so many things. Every episode felt like an after school special with Kelly getting, you know, something bad happen happening to her. So I actually loved it though, because I had never gone to, you know, acting school or, or like, you know, I wasn't trained. I was just a person there showing up, getting the script and thinking, if I was this character, how would I portray her? How would it come out of me? How would it feel? And I love that feeling. I think I loved it most because. Because I got to step out of my, like, confusing shoes of my personal person and into this make believe world where I knew at the end of the scene, somebody would call cut and I wouldn't have to feel those things anymore. And so that became a beautiful, like, way to disassociate from reality. But at the same time, as an actress, it was so meaty all the time. I loved it.

[Ryder Strong]

That's awesome.

[Danielle Fishel]

Crazy. I remember kind of like a big joke about the show. Maybe the SNL hook was that the majority of the cast was too old to actually be in high school. Was that a joke you guys also made behind the scenes? Was that something you guys were talking about the minute the show skyrocketed?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, well, actually it was hidden. Like, the people that were older on the cast didn't joke about it and, you know, one didn't want to talk about it. They didn't want to lose their job. Jobs have any reason for the producers to look at them and say, oh, she does look, you know, older. Like, for instance, Gabrielle Carteris was older. She was probably older than all of us, for sure. Ian was older than all of us, older than his character. Jason was older than his character.

[Will Friedle]

Gabrielle, though, became like, when that came out and quote unquote came out, it became. It was so ridiculous where you would hear things like, like, you know, she's playing a high schooler. She's 47 years old, she's 68.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay. She's not.

[Will Friedle]

She was probably what 24, something like that.

[Jennie Garth]

She was probably, I think, 26.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

And it was.

[Will Friedle]

That's all. You heard those. Like, she's 62 years old.

[Jennie Garth]

I mean, she could still play 12 years old, her daughter.

[Will Friedle]

Were you. Were you close as a cast right away or.

[Ryder Strong]

Cause it's.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, it seems like it's different when you're shooting a single camera show where you might have days where you don't see some of your fellow actors. You know, hey, we're shooting these scenes today. We don't. Whereas we were always together. You know, we're kind of. We're rehearsing every day. So. I mean, were you close right away or did it take a while for everybody to kind of gel?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, we were close instantly. Like, we were. You know what it was. Single camera, which. Oh, my gosh. Can you remember back in those days, how it took to make.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, you're shooting a movie every day for 10 years.

[Jennie Garth]

Exactly. So it was. We were most often all there together every day because what if they needed to reset schedule something? They would just keep us in our dressing room alley and you would just be at their disposal from 6:00am to 8:00pm you know. Yeah. And. And we were always together, and that was a whole small way. And all of our dressings room rooms were off this small hallway. And it was in the soundstage in Van Nuys, California, like by the railroad tracks. And a porn studio we had. There were. We had no commissary to go meet anybody else in or anything. Just would bring us lunch. We wouldn't get out of there until the. It was dark, like, so it was all consuming for. For, you know, it got better as the years goes went on because they got better at scheduling and writing to the characters to try to kind of give some people some time away from that. But it was. We were together a lot and we. Were you young.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I was gonna say, were you all over 18? Was there set school or.

[Jennie Garth]

Corey and Brian were underage. So they were. They went to school.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Jennie Garth]

On set. I was emanc. In order. In order to do that show. I got emancipated so that I wouldn't have to. There was not a lot of time for the. I don't know. It was like something that asked me to do. I got emancipated. My parents let me do it and. And then. Bing. I was an adult, responsible, magically. Things. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, one of the things you mentioned, you guys spending a lot of time together. That was another aspect that was a lot of water cooler tabloidy talk. I think it's was the first time I remember hearing about how a young cast was clashing, and a lot of that focused on how Shannon was a primadonna. How did you guys navigate that kind of tabloid talk while you were on set? Especially since I'm sure most of it was probably extremely exaggerated.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, I mean, thank goodness there was no social media then.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

So you had to wait for those papers to come out and print. I think that we were all young. I always. Because I made mistakes. Other people made mistakes. We were young. We were growing up under unusual circumstances. High stress environment, highly competitive, no stability whatsoever. And anything that happened during those times has long been forgiven by any of us, I would imagine. I can't speak for other people, but for myself, like, yeah, stuff went down. Like, there was not. It wasn't always fun and great all the time, but it was part of the process of being in this situation the way we were. And I don't think, you know, there's no love lost. We all, at the end of the day, have the greatest love for one another and like this invisible string that connects us. But yeah, it was hard to navigate in the moment because we were not equipped to handle those kinds of complex relationships and the behaviors that went on because of the, you know, not being developed completely abilities. So a lot it was. It was hard to navigate and. And I write about a little bit of it in my book, but I don't, you know, there's still things that I didn't write about that I, you know, it's interesting. Once you open the door and you start to, like, look into your past, then, like, you can't help but see, oh, there's a little more light. I'm gonna open the door a little bit more. So even now, after I' in the book, I'm like, wait a second, that's thinking more about that situation. And then like, wow, the impact of that, you know, it's. It's an interesting journey to like, look back at your life like that.

[Ryder Strong]

It's so interesting to me that, like, the tabloids were writing about you guys because, like, we had, of course on set, dynamics and drama, but nobody cared, like, for whatever reason, I guess, because we were a kids show. And even though you guys were a teen show, for some reason, you captured the imagination of the adult world too. And it's so interesting. And I guess it's because you guys were so edgy, right? Like you were dealing with. You were addressing teen issues in a way that Adults were also watching and sort of keeping up with. But it strikes me as really weird now because I don't read about teenage actors nowadays. Like, I don't know who does. It's so weird that.

[Jennie Garth]

That you don't do that. And I don't do that because we're too old and there are too many famous people now, so I can't keep up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right, right, right.

[Jennie Garth]

But you're. I mean, you're right. Like, I guess it just looked, like, sensational. It looked fantastical. And. Yeah, that's, you know, an untapped world that nobody knew about. So it. And then, you know, the writing pitted the characters against one another in. In a lot of ways. And then that would eke out into the audience and then the viewers. Viewers would attach to whoever they wanted to. Whose team to be on, whether they were Brenda or Kelly or Dylan or Brandon or Brandon and Kelly or Brandon. Yeah. You know, just like a million different teams to be on, which was really sad because that, I think, was more damaging the. The way they fed it to the audience, the viewers, and then the way the viewers kind of like, still to this day, I have people who hate me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Me. Right.

[Jennie Garth]

Another character's boyfriend.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

And I'm always like. And. And they actually call me words, like ugly words. Yeah, right, right. I'm like, wow, okay. If you need me to explain it to you, I can, but I'll just do my job.

[Will Friedle]

But I think you're right. You hear more quote, unquote, drama happening on drama sets than you do on comedy sets, because the drama is part of the show.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's a character.

[Will Friedle]

People. People want to add that drama to the real life.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like a side effect of success. Right. It's like you're doing your job well. You're drawing them into characters so well that then they're going to want to know more about the actors. And then it's like, yeah, Danielle and

[Will Friedle]

I just heard this with a lot of the professional wrestlers where it's like, if you're a heel.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And you're so good at your job as a. As a bad wrestler, then they hate you in real life as opposed to going. Going like, you're so good at your job that I hate you in the most wonderful way.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

It's more like you're an. You're a real villain because you're good at what you do. So. Yeah. It's really strange to watch it, but you would. You'd hear about that all the time. Well, you know, they're dating in real life or they got into a fight over this. But you never heard about stuff like that happening on the set of Elf, you know? You know what I mean? It was like, because it's a comedy, nobody. Nobody cared. They kind of can just let that go. Go where the drama surrounding your lives had to really be part of the drama surrounding what was going on.

[Jennie Garth]

And it sold the show. It sold. They want. They perpetuated it.

[Will Friedle]

And then couple that with the fact that you've completely broken the mold and you're in the zeitgeist everywhere. I mean, you are pop culture in the early 90s, 903. It's everywhere. I'll never forget, it made the news in Connecticut when Luke Perry went to a mall and they had to escort him out. And there were people, like, trying to London, like, looked like tens of thousands of people there. It looked like the Beatles and it was insane to watch this stuff. It was crazy.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah. I mean, we all got our share of that fear put into us of people rushing the stages, people getting crushed and crying and, like, passing out. And, you know, it was very traumatizing. So many levels. But, you know, the bottom line is that. That now when people look back, the way they remember the show is so. It's so touching. It's so. Yeah, it's really meant something to them. And it. And so many people have said, like, that got me through my teenage years. You were my friend. I didn't have any friends, but I had you on my wall and I watched the show and I wrote you letters, and you wrote me letters back. Like we were. I was on it with the fan mail back then. You know, I could feel the people, the pain in the people and them wanting connection. And it just had such a, you know, I feel like, a really important impact on a lot of people. So I. I love that about the show.

[Will Friedle]

Well, I think one of the other things it did is, as you're saying, very few people knew, like, could pull the curtain back on Beverly Hills. But at the same time, then it's showing that, wow, they're going through the same thing in their high school that I'm going through in mind, Even though they're in this mythical land.

[Jennie Garth]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

So it kind of showed, no matter where you.

[Ryder Strong]

You do.

[Will Friedle]

You do a great drama that takes place in a high school on Mars, the kids are still going to be going through the same thing they are in Iowa. So it was that. That was the kind of thing where it's like, yeah, they're. They're prettier than me and they have nicer cars than me and they have more money than me, but they also have exactly the same problems I do.

[Jennie Garth]

And I think that was the, like, leveling. Yeah, that's how I felt. I still feel as a human. Like, I talk about that because we're all, all here as humans on this earth trying to figure this experience out. None of us have directions or, you know, nobody's really telling us what to do. At the end of the day, it's all our decision making. So I always talk about, like, just accept, like, looking into one another's eyes as humanity and thinking, oh my gosh, you are just like me. Like, it's just there's something so, like, community building about that, you know, Unless, you know, you look at people and you just hate them, that's a whole different story.

[Danielle Fishel]

Summer is busy.

[Will Friedle]

Cookouts, vacations, and farmer tans. That means more keeping up around the house.

[Ryder Strong]

Luckily, during Lowe's Memorial Day event, household upkeep is easier for less right now.

[Will Friedle]

Save $80 on a Char Broil Performance Series 4 burner gas grill. Just $199 so you can keep the

[Danielle Fishel]

food coming all summer long.

[Will Friedle]

Plus get up to 45% off. Select major appliances to keep dishes, clothes and food fresh.

[Ryder Strong]

Summer is here. And so is the season's best lineup

[Will Friedle]

at Lowe's, valid through May 27 while supplies last. Selection varies by location. See associate or lowe's.com for details.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cat parents, gather round. Ryder and I have some important advice to share.

[Ryder Strong]

Guys, we have to stick together. Guys. Those of us with fur babies know the struggle. We understand the feeling of being ignored by our cats.

[Danielle Fishel]

But that's why we're here to help. Because sometimes I find myself wondering, does my cat even love me?

[Ryder Strong]

And there's only one solution to solve that. Sheba.

[Danielle Fishel]

You could be adored by everyone and still completely ignored by your cat.

[Ryder Strong]

It's time to feed your cat, Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back.

[Danielle Fishel]

The promised land is here. Turn things around for your feline with Sheba's menu of products, appetizers, entrees, treats, and even a kitten's menu.

[Ryder Strong]

Even the pickiest eater will love their new grilled entrees.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just snap, peel and serve for two gourmet servings and zero messy leftovers.

[Ryder Strong]

Its protein rich formula is made with real chicken and seafood, 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins and nutrients for

[Danielle Fishel]

adult cats, which my bill is. But we don't call him old, we call him experienced.

[Ryder Strong]

It's made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world. World.

[Danielle Fishel]

No artificial flavors or preservatives. No corn, wheat or soy.

[Ryder Strong]

So even when they're licking the bowl clean, you can know you're doing the right thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Treat your cats right and introduce them to the delicious delicacies of Sheba.

[Ryder Strong]

To learn more, check out sheba.com Summertime is here.

[Will Friedle]

And you know what that means.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beach trips?

[Ryder Strong]

Family vacations?

[Will Friedle]

Nope. It means it's time to find your next obsession on Prime Video.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh yes, we do love a good obsession here. Especially when you could talk about for years and suggest to everyone you know,

[Ryder Strong]

steamy romance, a addictive love stories and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because when a story hits, it really hits off campus.

[Will Friedle]

L the love hypothesis and much, much more.

[Ryder Strong]

Slow burns. Second chances chemistry. You can feel through the screen the

[Danielle Fishel]

type of binge worthy shows and can't miss movies where you're fully invested, staying up all night just to finish it. Just one more.

[Ryder Strong]

Ooh.

[Danielle Fishel]

All right, one more. You know the feeling.

[Will Friedle]

The kind of stories that pull you in and don't let go in the best way.

[Ryder Strong]

Your next obsession is waiting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Watch only on Prime. You know that moment when your kid asks for your phone and you're already bracing yourself for whatever random video they'll disappear into? That's why I started handing them Lingokids instead. It's still screen time, but not that kind of screen time. With Lingokids, they're actually playing, singing, tapping, exploring stories they're learning without the need to complain about about it. And I love that it's colorful, high energy and designed so kids stay curious instead of just turning into media zombies. They think they're getting a treat, but I know I'm giving them something special built just for them. Lingokids. Everything kids love. Download the Lingokids app now on your phone or tablet. It's free. Did you treat yourself to anything when the show took off and became a smash hit?

[Jennie Garth]

Well, I treated other people to things. I, you know, got my dad a truck. I bought a farm for my parents to live on. Wow. Because it made them happy. I got my first husband a Harley, a convertible Corvette boat, a musician, myself.

[Will Friedle]

Anything at all?

[Jennie Garth]

No, I didn't need anything but my dog on my lap and happy people around me. And I thought like, if I buy these people things, not my much, but like then they're going to be happy and everybody's going to be great. You know, it's going to be copacetic. And I wasn't until I think after one of the, like, you know, they would send you to New York for the upfronts and you have to schmooze with the PR people from the buyers, all that. You know the drill. I think there was a. I was staying at a hotel and there was a jewelry shop connected to the hotel, like one of those, like, curious little, pretty little stores. And I did go in there once and I bought myself a pair of diamond earrings. I never wore them. I still have them, but I bought myself some earrings that were expensive. Yeah. I was like, I. I should reward myself. Even like my last birthday, I just turned 54 and for a whole week, week and a half, I was like, I want to go shopping and buy myself something to like, just say, you know, you, like, you deserve this. Why not? And I have never gotten it done. I've been for a while now. Oh, no, I don't think it's not. It's just not that important to me, honestly.

[Will Friedle]

What about something like, are you still into animals? I mean, did you ever want to get yourself a horse?

[Jennie Garth]

I have.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

So there you go.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, I guess that would be. But my. We raised them on our farm up in the Santa Anita's Valley, so kind of like a community effort. And I got. I asked for a dog for Christmas this year. I was like, I don't want anything, but. Except a little tiny puppy that I can travel with because I don't like traveling alone. And I just like having like a little heartbeat with me and my husband. And my daughter found a little puppy and got her for me for Christmas.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, nice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, so sweet. We had Brian Austin Green on the show recently, and one thing we really connected with him on was the blurring of the lines between David Silver and Brian with the writers using real aspects from his life for his characters. That happened on our show and writer didn't really love it felt a little intrusive. Did you have that issue at all? No. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I did see that you had. You faced drug addiction, pregnancy and amnesia, possibly all in that order or all at once. So.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah. You know, multiple times. There was the diet pills, the cocaine with the boyfriend.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, oh, my God.

[Jennie Garth]

None of the things that my character. Right, okay. Like, I was like, I have no idea how to pretend to snort cocaine. Right. If you're to going goes, here we go. Give it my best shot.

[Will Friedle]

Was there ever in the 10 years a storyline where you went, no, not doing it.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, not not in the early years. Not in the first five years, probably. We had no control, no power. Nobody listened to us. But then as the show, you know, they needed us more to not leave our contracts or whatever. They saw that that could possibly happen or people got replaced or whatever. And also, they knew, like, they knew that I knew my abilities also. So I think that there were times when I would go in and say. I just. I. I don't see this as something my character would say or do or get herself involved with. Usually, you know, a lot of times, like with a love interest, they would bring me in on casting because I. It was important that, you know, the person worked with the character and, you know, you know.

[Ryder Strong]

Chemistry.

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, chemistry. I mean, I've said before I could have chemistry with a doorknob because I just want to get the scene done and go home. But I. There. There was. There have been a couple of occasions where now watching the show back, I'm like, ooh, I. I'm not that good. Like, I. That guy.

[Will Friedle]

So funny.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

You have rewatched now. Tons of 9,0210 episodes for 9 021. OMG. What have you come away with watching the show with a 20, 26 lens? Do you. You said you were a super fan.

[Jennie Garth]

I'm a super fan. I cannot believe some of the things the show got away with.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

And also just, like, knowing it's so cool to. To see me where I am in my life, like, my personal development and growth and then see how it was so stunted and it was so. It was so unfamiliar. I was making it up as I go and, you know, just, like, how to handle all that stuff on a personal level. So I have a very strong, like, new sort of appreciation, love for myself. That young girl that was in those moments, trying to figure all of that out. So this is one of the. One of the biggest, hugest takeaways from watching the show back is really appreciating that young person playing that role and what she was managing in her real life, too, but still showing up when they say, said action and, you know, always being, you know, what I was supposed to be, but just like a new. Just an understanding, too, of, like, why I have struggled with certain things in my life and where that might have come from. Like, just a lot of personal work aside from just a true appreciation for the. For the. The show being what it was, you know? Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Was there ever a time you were considering leaving?

[Jennie Garth]

I think maybe, like, see, like, when it was between 8 and 9 and 10 there were, you know, those were the times when I would have the thoughts. But honestly, I really never had a strong desire to leave the show because I had a young daughter. I was able to take her to work with me. I was able to pay for our house and her needs and I was appreciative of that. And you know, I come from of, you know, working middle class family where you work hard and you don't bite the hand that feeds you, you know, So I have a very strong work ethic and I think that really kept me there to see. I love seeing things through to the end, you know. Yeah,

[Danielle Fishel]

Summer is busy.

[Will Friedle]

Cookouts, vacations and farmer tans. That means more keeping up around the the house.

[Ryder Strong]

Luckily, during Lowe's Memorial Day event, household upkeep is easier for less right now.

[Will Friedle]

Save $80 on a Char Broil Performance Series 4 burner gas grill. Just $199 so you can keep the

[Danielle Fishel]

food coming all summer long.

[Will Friedle]

Plus get up to 45% off. Select major appliances to keep dishes, clothes and food fresh.

[Ryder Strong]

Summer is here. And so is the season's best lineup

[Will Friedle]

at Lowe's, valid through May20 while supplies last. Selection varies by location. See associate or lowe's.com for details.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cat parents, gather round. Ryder and I have some important advice to share.

[Ryder Strong]

Guys, we have to stick together. Guys. Those of us with fur babies know the struggle. We understand the feeling of being ignored by our cats.

[Danielle Fishel]

But that's why we're here to help. Because sometimes I find myself wondering, does my cat even love me?

[Ryder Strong]

And there's only one solution to solve that. Sheba.

[Danielle Fishel]

You could be adored by everyone and still completely ignored by your cat. Cat.

[Ryder Strong]

It's time to feed your cat Sheba and go from feeling ignored to truly adored in 12 days, guaranteed or your money back.

[Danielle Fishel]

The promised land is here. Turn things around for your feline with Sheba's menu of products, appetizers, entrees, treats, and even a kitten's menu.

[Ryder Strong]

Even the pickiest eater will love their new grilled entrees.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just snap, peel and serve for two gourmet servings and zero messy leftovers.

[Ryder Strong]

Its protein rich formula is made with real chicken and seafood. 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins and nutrients for adult cats, which my bill is.

[Danielle Fishel]

But we don't call him old, we call him experienced.

[Ryder Strong]

It's made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world.

[Danielle Fishel]

No artificial flavors or preservatives. No corn, wheat or soy.

[Ryder Strong]

So even when they're licking the bowl clean, you can know you're doing the right thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Treat your cats right and introduce them to the delicious delicacies of Sheba.

[Ryder Strong]

To learn more, check out sheba.com Summertime

[Will Friedle]

is here and you know what that means.

[Danielle Fishel]

Beach trips?

[Ryder Strong]

Family vacations?

[Will Friedle]

Nope. It means it's time to find your next obsession on Prime Video.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh yes, we do love a good obsession here. Especially when you could talk about for years and suggest to everyone you know

[Ryder Strong]

steamy romance, addictive love stories and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because when a story hits it really hits off campus.

[Will Friedle]

L the love hypothesis and much much more.

[Ryder Strong]

Slow burns second chances chemistry. You can feel through the screen screen

[Danielle Fishel]

the type of binge worthy shows and can't miss movies where you're fully invested staying up all night just to finish it. Just one more. Oh all right, one more. You know the feeling, the kind of

[Will Friedle]

stories that pull you in and don't let go in the best way.

[Ryder Strong]

Your next obsession is waiting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Watch only on Prime. If you're like me and have kids between the ages of 2 and 8, you know that not all apps are Created equal. My 4 and 6 year old will just explore like little screen time Magellans clicking any and every button button until I've received 10 notices of apps and in game coins they're trying to buy. In reality, I just want something that still gets them excited but also has them using their brains. And that is why I love Lingokids. It's an absolute blast and perfect to keep them engaged and thinking. It's a world of interactive games, music they'll want to sing along to and stories that spark their imagination. It's high energy, vibrant and it keeps them actively playing rather than just zoning out and ignoring my pleas to come to dinner. Whether it's a rainy afternoon or a weekend morning. It's the fun they're looking for and the quality you want. Lingo kids, everything kids love. See why millions of families love it. Download the Lingokids app on your phone or tablet now for free. You'd eventually go on to star on what I like about you with Amanda Bynes, who also was a child star. Did you ever feel like a big sister on set now in a position to have faced it and survived?

[Jennie Garth]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean when I met her like the first day we worked together I was turning 30 and she was turning 16 and we shared birth date. So huge different places in our lives and I was actually a little nervous going in and working with being the older one and working with a teenager. Like I had been before. And I thought, okay, this is weird. But luckily my character was her older sister, so. And then. And they were silly. It was fun, and it wasn't too. Too deep all the time. But I just. Working with a Amanda at that young, like, effort, effervescent age, she was just hopping all over the place. And if we were filming something and like, you know, when you film live, like, they'll. The audience will hear music while you're, like, getting notes from the director and stuff. And she would hear a song that was playing and she'd be gone. Like, that'd be it. She'd have to dance it out for the whole. With the audience or whoever was around her, and we'd all just wait. But I learned to, like, I love that about her. And it really honestly sort of helped me as I started to become the mom of teenage girls. Like, I was kind of nervous to be a mom of teenage girls, and I didn't, you know, I was a little bit intimidated by people. Young, young people, you know, and so being around her really made me feel like it's just. It's going to be fun and exciting, and it's so fun to watch them, like, live in the moment like she did.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

You have three beautiful daughters. What lesson have you taken from your own youth in front of the camera and then brought with you into parenting?

[Jennie Garth]

Oh, my goodness. Well, as. As a. I think being in front of the camera, being young and having all that responsibility, I learned that there's. You. You have to be there. You cannot not show up for the job because there's a crew waiting for you, and they all want to go home to their families. And with my girls, I cannot not show up for them because they need me that much, too. Like, it's. It taught me, you know, again, that strong Midwestern sort of work ethic is in me whether I want it or not. So I really work hard and try hard to be the best mom I can. Can be. Just like, I've always tried to be the best at anything, best bring my best foot forward for anything I've ever done. So I think, you know, and then also just like, learning that I'm not perfect and I make mistakes, whether it's in, you know, on the set or as an actress or as a mom or whatever it is, and then finding along the way of my life, the grace and the love for myself and the self sort of respect to give myself, you know, a break sometimes or give myself grace and say, yeah, yeah, you could have done that a Little bit better. But there's tomorrow. Let's try for tomorrow. You know, I love that.

[Danielle Fishel]

I would be remiss if I didn't talk Dancing with the Stars with you for just one question at the very least. You were on season five, and you made it all the way to the semifinals. Are you. You surprised by the show's revival at all?

[Jennie Garth]

I can't believe that show's still on.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know one.

[Jennie Garth]

When it came on and they. They asked me to do it on season one, and I was like, oh, no, that's. That's not vetted. Nobody knows how this is going to go over.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Jennie Garth]

So I didn't do it until season three or five or whatever it was. I can't. I mean, it was so. I love watching it. But how. I mean, that's a long time that show's been on. Yeah, it's a long time, but I guess it's all, you know, it's the glitz, it's the sequins, it's the personal journey, the challenge that the contestants go through. And having done it, like, it is hard.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. It was Derek. You were partnered with Derek Hough. It was his very first season.

[Ryder Strong]

Wow. He's incredible.

[Jennie Garth]

Gotten off of a plane from London where he was doing some London show, and came directly to my house from the airport. He looked like a 12 year old.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

And I. I literally just laughed in his face. I was like, you're gonna be my dance partner. You look like you're my son. And we. So we just had fun all the time. But I never, ever, ever could take him serious or, like, do those, like, romantic things. Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Jennie Garth]

And still to this day, I just saw him last week and it was just so fun. It's just the same feeling over again. But I think that that show was. Really showed me how strong I was.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

And I was honestly, you know, no disrespect, but I was so happy when I got kicked off ever, because I did not like that kind of stress and the spotlight. I. I'm much more. I don't like that. It was hard. It was really hard. I had to go get hypnotized. Oh. Like, not pee my pants when they said Undancing the Wolf. Well, Danny Gar like, gives me PTSD pumps right now.

[Ryder Strong]

I know I talked to an American Idol winner, actually.

[Danielle Fishel]

Who?

[Ryder Strong]

He still. When he hears the. He's like, I have a panic attack every time.

[Jennie Garth]

I know who you're talking about. Like, he blacked out. Right. Like, blacking out. You don't Remember anything because it just, it's not. I'm not the person that's like, hey, look at me, everybody. Like, I don't love that.

[Will Friedle]

So it sounds like so much fun.

[Jennie Garth]

I did get in really good shape though, for. For that moment. Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, that's true. Well, I love your focus on finally taking care of yourself at 50. As women and mothers specifically, I think we get so lost in our roles and our expectations. If you could give advice to anyone who is listening, who, let's say is just turning 30 and maybe they're ready to start a family, what advice are you giving?

[Jennie Garth]

Giving them turning 30. That's gotta. I gotta rewind for that one. Turning 30. I mean, let go of the perfection, like the, the desire or the, the unrelenting quest for perfection. Nobody's living an Instagram life in real life. Yeah, I think we forget that. And I certainly get doom scrolled in and start to feel bad about myself. Like it's so useless and pointless and just, you know, do you. Don't try to live up to other people's expectations or standards and what I say to everybody I meet. Because this, I think, is the core of the foundation of us surviving this experience is look in the mirror and find the little person inside of you. We all have it. No matter how old we are, how much we say that, that is so woo woo. I don't want to talk to my inner child that is happening inside of you. That little person that was at some point abandoned by someone, maybe even abandoned by you, to reconnect with that little child inside of. Of you and really sort of like take care of her or him. And. And just because that right there is like, once you tap into that relationship with yourself, even if it's your younger self, that's the most important love relationship you will ever have in your life. Life. So you know what they say, all those stupid cliches. You can't fully love someone else until you love yourself. 100 true. And I heard that in my 30s, 20s, 30s and rolled my eyes. But knowing what I know, living the life that I've lived, like, that's the number one thing that I want people to. To know. Because you are on your own in this life. You are all you've got. And so making that connection as strong and that bond as strong, strong as you can with yourself, it's most important. I love that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thank you. You can pick up Jenny's book. I choose Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention wherever books are sold. And her I heart Podcast I Choose Me is available wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you so much for joining us today. This was really lovely to talk to you.

[Jennie Garth]

I enjoyed it. It's been a long time in the. Making each other backstage at a.

[Danielle Fishel]

In the.

[Jennie Garth]

I just saw you, I think, didn't I? In Vegas. I get confused.

[Danielle Fishel]

Were we.

[Jennie Garth]

No, Austin, right?

[Danielle Fishel]

South by Southwest, did you say?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I was there.

[Jennie Garth]

We were there together. We passed and. Yeah. So that we've come together for.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're all under one roof. I told you. We're not under one roof.

[Will Friedle]

But it brings you to really weird places because the last time you and I sat down and talked, we were in the Brady Bunch house.

[Ryder Strong]

Really?

[Jennie Garth]

That was the best day ever.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's so funny. You guys were in the Brady Bunch house. Writer and Jennifer. Anywhere in south by Southwest. And I. She and I were at the iHeart

[Jennie Garth]

Music Awards or QVC headquarters.

[Danielle Fishel]

Or the QVC headquarters. It could be anywhere. You never know.

[Ryder Strong]

We need like a 90s teen actor handshake or something.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Jennie Garth]

Or like a secret wink or something.

[Ryder Strong]

Exactly. I love it when we see each other.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny. Well, thank you so much for being here. It was great talking to you. We'll see you again in a weird place.

[Jennie Garth]

Thank you.

[Ryder Strong]

Bye.

[Will Friedle]

You know what?

[Ryder Strong]

I honestly can't believe. Believe how much I love the 90210 cast. Oh, they're great. Over the last, like, year and a half, I've actually. Because we've always been around each other. We've always been at events together and talking to them through our podcast and at conventions. In the last, like, two or three years, I have had so much fun connecting with them. And they're all very smart, very interesting people. They've all turned into, like. I don't know. It's. It's.

[Jennie Garth]

It's.

[Ryder Strong]

That's like a shock to me. And I guess that's just a result of me having, you know, absorbed them in the tabloid sense. And of course, I didn't read any of that stuff, but you just sort of know that there's drama and there's all this and then to, like, actually talk to them, and they're all so cool and down to earth, and I'm just like, God, I just fall. I just fell for the trap that we all do, which is assuming that actors are like, their characters or whatever. I don't know what else. We also.

[Will Friedle]

We really have no concept of how fantastic famous they were.

[Jennie Garth]

Oh.

[Will Friedle]

Back in the day.

[Danielle Fishel]

No way.

[Will Friedle]

It was. They were on such another level of fame. That it was, I could not imagine living that life. And for me in the movie for 10 years, that's what they did essentially.

[Ryder Strong]

But also they were like the first experience of seeing famous teenagers for me before I became one. So like they were like paving the way. And I remember being like, that's crazy what is happening. You know, and then sort of stepped into it myself and. But on a much smaller scale.

[Will Friedle]

But like they're also in a, in a very interesting way, they were kind of the bridge between the 70s and 80s child actor that ended up having lots of problems to then kind of, I mean, you never really heard about Jenny Garth got arrested last night. Like you didn't hear about that kind of stuff. So it was, they, they, they went from. They kind of were that bridge to being a more stable version of a teen child actor.

[Ryder Strong]

But didn't the tabloids want them to be on stage? Of course, I feel like they were milking the stories as much as possible. None of it was true or it

[Will Friedle]

was, it was the smallest little thing or it was a tiny little thing. I mean, they were not, they weren't getting arrested, they weren't doing drugs. They weren't doing all this stuff where you were really. It started in 1990. I mean, you had a lot of 80s stars and 70 stars. The, the different Strokes kids and all this stuff that were having really hard lives and they kind of started the, you know, you can be a help healthy teen child actor.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, thank you all for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. As always, you can follow us on Instagram Pod Meets World show. You can send us your emails. Pod meets worldshowmail.com and we've got merch.

[Will Friedle]

Na na na na na na na na.

[Ryder Strong]

Merch, merch.

[Danielle Fishel]

Pod meets WorldShow.com will send us out.

[Will Friedle]

We love you all. Pod dismissed. Pod Meets World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Ryan executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbakksh, producer Matty Moore, engineer and Boy Meets World superfan Easton Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon and you can follow us on Instagram @podmeats worldshow or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com

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[Jennie Garth]

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