Lindsay Ridgeway Meets World Again

Summary

Pod Meets World: "Lindsay Ridgeway Meets World Again"

Podcast: Pod Meets World – iHeartPodcasts
Date: February 9, 2026
Guests: Hosts Danielle Fishel, Ryder Strong, Will Friedle
Special Guest: Lindsay Ridgeway (Morgan Matthews, "Boy Meets World")

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Main Theme / Overview

This episode welcomes Lindsay Ridgeway, the longest-running Morgan Matthews from "Boy Meets World," for a candid and nostalgic conversation. The hosts and Lindsay revisit the memorable and controversial "tankini" episode ("Show Me the Love," Season 7, Episode 1), delve into behind-the-scenes moments, and discuss the real-life experiences and challenges faced as young actors on a beloved sitcom, especially regarding wardrobe choices, childhood stardom, and the evolution of the industry’s treatment of young performers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Tankini” Episode: Rewatch & Reactions

• Setting the Stage: Discussion centers around Season 7's opener, infamous for Morgan's "tankini" outfit.
  • Danielle frames the episode: “We are thrilled to welcome back a core member of the show and the Matthews family. It's the longest running Morgan in Boy Meets World history, Lindsay Ridgeway.” (14:57)
• Lindsay’s Perspective:
  • Lindsay was 15, a high school freshman, when shooting “Show Me the Love.”
  • She describes the wardrobe process: “I remember they made that shirt. I remember it did not come like that. Like, it was cut. It was hemmed. There was elastic. They sewed in, like, it was made to look like that.” (22:26)
  • Lindsay and her husband were shocked by some dialogue upon rewatching, noting how “audibly gasped a few times” at lines that “would be zero approval” today. (19:45)
  • On the discomfort of the outfit and not being able to speak up as a young actor: “You kind of reserve the right to decide how much of that you want to show. And … we didn’t really have the opportunity to say or feel like we could ... your brain just makes you stay quiet about it.” (34:40)

2. The Era’s Attitude Toward Kids and Wardrobe

• Industry Norms Then vs. Now:
  • Lindsay and hosts contrast the ‘90s kid actor experience with today’s environment:
    • “I don’t think I have worked with a single wardrobe stylist who wouldn’t be saying … especially if they were kids, are you comfortable in this? … In the last 10 years, if you’re not comfortable … I’m not even going to give it to them as an option.” – Danielle (57:08)
  • Will reflects on adult authority: “Until you become an adult, you assume the adults all know what they’re doing.” (58:07)

3. Female Agency & Character Choices

• The hosts mull over the sudden shift in Morgan's character and the unusual focus on her sexuality and wardrobe in a previously “boy-centric” show:
  • Ryder: “This is a very particular … new thing on the show … this anxiety about what women wear … that’s the first time that they’re actively trying to address it.” (25:25)
  • Will and Lindsay agree that Season 7 threw out previous characterizations: “There’s not a single character that exists in season seven that existed in season five.” – Will (26:13)

4. Reflections on Growing Up on “Boy Meets World”

• Personal Life:
  • Lindsay balanced acting with normal high school, mock trial, and dealing with her parents’ divorce. (18:09)
  • She shares, “Every week that I was not there, I was just at school … just at regular high school mobbing around with my friends. I joined the mock trial team…” (18:09)
• Fan Reception & Internet Commentary:
  • She’s aware of the split in fandom over the Morgan role: “There’s a popular opinion out there that my version of this character is not preferred to the first one. I get it. I see the Redditors out there…” (29:49)
  • She highlights the lack of creative agency: “I did it. We got notes. Michael's like, you gotta go. And then that’s what you do.” (30:43)

5. Mental Health, Career Choices, and Life After the Show

• Lindsay talks about anxiety and making a healthy exit from showbiz:
  • “I have had panic attacks yearly since the age of probably 16 or so.” (53:33)
  • “The industry itself … the performative aspect can get very overwhelming and very stressful… To have the awareness to say, like, I love this. I have appreciated the involvement … and I can be happy with that.” (53:32)
  • She now works in theater, not as a performer but behind the scenes.

6. Fun Behind-the-Scenes & Memories

• Mock Trial Medals: Lindsay still has them as a point of pride. (56:02)
• Gum Drawer: Collective nostalgia about the on-set gum drawer and the downside of chewing so much gum as kids. (43:43)
• Wardrobe Difficulties: The bridesmaid episode and wardrobe malfunctions turned into favorite bloopers. (51:13)
• High Heel Platform “Survival Tactics”: Danielle wore huge platform sandals to stand eye-to-eye with Lindsay in group scenes. (50:49)

7. Singing “Wind Beneath My Wings”

• Lindsay recalls pre-recording her vocals at Ray Colcord’s house for the musical episode “Better Than the Average Cory.”
  • “They made me pre-record it, though, which is so weird. Like, I had to go record it … at that person’s house who did all the random keyboard music.” (41:40)
  • Shares stories about Ben Savage’s unpredictability on set, gum chewing, and how these quirks became endearing shared experiences. (42:05)

8. Lindsay’s Favorite Episodes

• Cites “They’re Killing Us” (the documentary-style episode) as one of her favorites due to its unique format.
  • “To me, it’s one of the best … it’s so awesome. Like, that documentary style, how they would do the freeze-frames…” (49:34)
• Enjoys rewatching the “Scream” parody episode as an audience member, despite not being in it. (49:54)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Audibly gasped a few times, like, just like, what? That made it? That’s bad.” – Lindsay Ridgeway, on ‘90s dialogue (19:45)
• “If someone tried to put my kid in that outfit on tv, I’d be like, hell, no. Thank you. Try again.” – Lindsay (22:26)
• “It’s like Season 7: all the characters have been thrown out the window.” – Will Friedle (26:13)
• “But knowing what a beautiful voice you have and how performative you are, did you ever think about doing Broadway?” – Danielle Fishel (52:01)
• “I did theater as a kid … My plan after the end of this series and going into school was to go to law school. I want to be, you know, a trial attorney. That was my dream.” – Lindsay (52:14)
• “I have had panic attacks yearly since the age of probably 16… My most recent one is about five days ago, so there you go. I have to hide them from my kid, which really sucks…” – Lindsay (53:33)
• “It’s a fun thing … Then I don’t have to go back to the pressure of … still doing that and having to, you know, maintain a sense of self through that.” – Lindsay (54:00)
• “Are you guys going to celebrate Tankini Week? … You need custom tankinis.” – Lindsay, joking about a new tradition (56:39)

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Important Timestamps

• Tankini Episode Intro & Lindsay Returns: 14:14 – 15:40
• Lindsay’s Age, High School Life, and Mock Trial: 17:22 – 18:31
• Discussion of Tankini Wardrobe and Parental Reactions: 21:34 – 23:47
• Industry Changes – Consent & Wardrobe Now vs. Then: 32:28 – 34:40; 57:08 – 59:15
• Favorite & Most Memorable Episodes: 49:27 – 51:46
• Lindsay’s Reflections on Career Choices & Mental Health: 52:14 – 54:00
• Closing/Joking about "Tankini Week": 56:39 – 57:02

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Tone and Takeaways

This episode is warm, self-deprecating, and frequently hilarious, but also honest and introspective. It highlights how much has changed in the industry regarding child actor advocacy and reflects on growing up in the public eye. Lindsay Ridgeway is candid about the challenges and proud of her legacy, and the hosts provide thoughtful commentary on how they would advocate for more agency and care if they were starting out today. The episode ends with gratitude for Lindsay’s contributions and a funny call to celebrate “Tankini Week.”

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For Listeners

Whether you’re a longtime “Boy Meets World” fan or new to Pod Meets World, this episode offers an engaging, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of making a hit ‘90s sitcom, revisiting growing pains (literal and figurative!), wardrobe disasters, and the bittersweet process of moving forward from childhood fame. Lindsay Ridgeway’s openness about her experiences and the hosts’ chemistry make for both thought-provoking and warm listening.

Transcript

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.

[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will.

[Will Friedle]

Friedle from Pod Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

Going to be really focused today. Well have become dawn of time and.

[Will Friedle]

I'm I'M not going to say it's just me. I'm going to say it's all of us.

[Danielle Fishel]

Not me.

[Ryder Strong]

No sweepy generalizations are to come down the pike. Wait for this, to hear this.

[Will Friedle]

Wait for this. So for the last 24 hours, sue and I have had no hot water.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, no.

[Will Friedle]

And it's like we're cave people.

[Ryder Strong]

If you like, barricaded part of the.

[Will Friedle]

House and, oh my gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

Turned on each other for resources.

[Will Friedle]

The world has turned upside down because we can't take a warm shower. And we were talking about how funny it was that it's like people have been able to shower a warm shower for like a hundred years.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Of the 10,000 people have been around 100 of the end. We the shower turned off. We look at each other like, what do we move? What do we do?

[Danielle Fishel]

I would have been in a hotel.

[Will Friedle]

Just give up.

[Ryder Strong]

Just.

[Will Friedle]

Just give up.

[Ryder Strong]

Just wave the flag of surrender and die.

[Will Friedle]

Just give up.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, what do we do?

[Will Friedle]

Water. That's probably something with the magical tankless water heater which somehow makes water out of a thing that I don't know. But it led to another Sue Will conversation, which I wanted to pose a question. Okay, so you have to choose. And this is a full bubble around you. It's not just your house. This is you forever.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh.

[Will Friedle]

Do you live without heat and air conditioning, hot water, or the Internet forever?

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, God, that's a tough call. No, I mean, you can't.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, this is what we did.

[Ryder Strong]

But then you're still, like, trying to live your normal life like you just like we're regular.

[Will Friedle]

Regular life. It's just everywhere you go. It's not like everyone else.

[Ryder Strong]

Just.

[Will Friedle]

Just you.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, then you need the Internet just to function as a human being. We couldn't do this anymore.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. I could live without a hot water.

[Will Friedle]

Really?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I think I'd live without hot water because air conditioned. If I'm live. If I'm in Los Angeles. If I live in Los Angeles. Yeah, yeah, you need air conditioning.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, I know. It gets to be 117 in the summer.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, so wait, you'd go without air conditioning?

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, no. I also can't sleep unless it's 65 degrees in the room.

[Will Friedle]

Thank you.

[Danielle Fishel]

So I.

[Will Friedle]

65 is too hot for us.

[Danielle Fishel]

I opt for the sweet, sweet sleep of death.

[Ryder Strong]

I never get hot water anywhere.

[Will Friedle]

Nope, you get. It's like. It's like just Cassandra, where no matter what story she tells, no one believes.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think I have to go without The Internet. I. Cause here's the thing. People around me have the Internet. I don't. But so if I'm with someone, like, say I'm with Ryder, who's already decided he has the Internet. I just like, Ryder, can you open up MapQuest? And Ryder, can you search for a place I just have to rely on?

[Ryder Strong]

You just annoy everybody around.

[Danielle Fishel]

With air conditioning and hot water.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

I've had multiple conversations. I, I've, I've known two people who went to dumb phones.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

You know where they can. And that's exactly what happens is they just antagonize everybody around them because you're like, hey, could you call the lift? Can you get an Uber for us? And it's like, what?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, yeah, I'll send you money.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And then if you send like a photo, it just completely backfires. And like, could you email that to me? And so, yeah, it's a. So yeah, I, I, you would be that person. But it would probably be better for your mental health to turn off the Internet.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. Also, hold on. They're your friends that got dumb phones. They're using them like around the clock.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it's like a flip phone.

[Ryder Strong]

They're like just a phone text and then they can, they can call people.

[Danielle Fishel]

But that should be like. I feel like a dumb phone's a great idea to set limits on your use of the smartphones. So, like, if you're going out with friends to dinner and you're gonna need to get an Uber and, or do other things, I feel like that's a time where you go, well, I'm, I'm gonna bring the smartphone. But like, from this hour to this hour, I use only the dumb phone. I feel like people are not.

[Will Friedle]

I always assume if you have two phones, you have a second family and a miss or something. Like anybody who's like, I just always.

[Danielle Fishel]

Think you're a drum.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

There's phones for work.

[Danielle Fishel]

I have two phones now.

[Will Friedle]

Do you really? Do you really?

[Danielle Fishel]

I have a content phone.

[Ryder Strong]

A content phone.

[Danielle Fishel]

Content phone. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But you'd be okay without the Internet? No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, it's not that I, I don't want the second phone, but.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

What.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like when I was dancing, do you know how many hundreds of four and five minute long videos I have of me up in dance rehearsal? But because I needed to be able to go back and watch it and hoping to try to catch one. That's perfect. And like, my phone was like, okay, you have 300 gigabytes of dance videos. It's like, okay, I've got to do something with these.

[Will Friedle]

So I finally just should have danced in 5G. Would have just been easier.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, well, I guess, I guess I'm Danielle. You've.

[Danielle Fishel]

I've decided I'm the Internet.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm going to say the Internet. I'm going to.

[Will Friedle]

I, I, I, I agree. I, I need hot water and I need to sleep in comfort. So I'd have to get rid of the Internet.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I would be three people just sitting around a table going, welcome to Pod Meats World.

[Ryder Strong]

And nobody.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, nobody's there. It's like the three tables around us.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Can you look up.

[Will Friedle]

Just three of us on gumball.

[Ryder Strong]

So how do we even watch? We couldn't even finish the rematch.

[Will Friedle]

That was, that was. The thing is then that led to the conversation of what the Internet actually touches.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Because I mean, then you're talking about everything you stream. Usually you're, you're doing Internet phone calls. I mean, the web, it's like, it's everything.

[Danielle Fishel]

So, so much. We have DVDs for Boy Meets World. We could always watch the DVD. The Boy Meets World DVDs. All of us. Being married helps us because you're our partner. If they were in the same scenario, they can keep the Internet.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. And then you're married until Jensen finds your second phone.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because I'm a drug dealer.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

That's the problem.

[Ryder Strong]

It's the content phone.

[Will Friedle]

It's content.

[Danielle Fishel]

I didn't say what kind of content.

[Will Friedle]

I was like, you know, like, you meet my friend.

[Ryder Strong]

That's an apartment.

[Will Friedle]

Giant guy walks in.

[Danielle Fishel]

You guys think I'd be with a giant guy on the side.

[Ryder Strong]

That was Will's.

[Will Friedle]

You don't think, you don't think she'd be with a guy? You know, the six foot four kind of burly dude? Like. Yeah, that's what I see.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's Will's fantasy.

[Ryder Strong]

No, that's fantasy for Danielle. Oh, God.

[Will Friedle]

It's the next pre show chatter. What would our mistresses look like?

[Danielle Fishel]

What do you, who would you guys think my mystery.

[Ryder Strong]

Your cheating preference would be?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh, God.

[Will Friedle]

Having an affair just sounds exhausting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh my gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

Can you imagine, like, no. Trying to keep track of, like, trying to keep track of one person?

[Danielle Fishel]

Like also just the fear all the time.

[Ryder Strong]

Constantly.

[Will Friedle]

So much anxiety and the guilt and a little.

[Danielle Fishel]

No way.

[Janice Torres]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jensen and I have looked at each other so many times and been like, I would never cheat because I don't have the time. I just, just, if nothing else, where would we find the time? It'd be impossible.

[Will Friedle]

Seriously. Seriously. Sue and I look at each other and go, this is. This is it. So you better be happy or we'll find it somewhere. Cause this, we ain't going anywhere. This is it. This is what we got, bro.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's the best it's ever gonna get.

[Ryder Strong]

It's the definition of middle age. I think it's just, you know, good enough, not gonna get better than this. My body is just gonna let me down more and more.

[Will Friedle]

I know for the next she can do better. I just try not to let her know that. So I'm just like, yeah, you tell.

[Danielle Fishel]

Her she's lucky all the time.

[Will Friedle]

You're so lucky you couldn't do better than this. As I'm like, waddling back somewhere, coughing, This is the best you're gonna get.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh.

[Danielle Fishel]

Welcome to pod meets world. I'm danielle fishel.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm ryder strong.

[Will Friedle]

And I'm will friedell. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccine should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers, and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel, Ryder Strong and Will.

[Will Friedle]

Friedle from Pod Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you will definitely want to check out season four of Mind the Business. Small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio and Intuit QuickBooks.

[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Guys, don't miss our recent two part episode celebrating 50 million downloads of Pod Meets World. I now understand this is 50 million downloads, not listeners, but I'm still holding.

[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Well, when this week's guest first visited Pod Meats World back in season three, in passing, she mentioned something she wore called the tankini. We luckily had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, so she threw out the idea that when we did get to it, she could always come back and dig a little deeper. And so we got to it and yeah, we need her to dig deeper. Questionable outfits aside, it was nice to see young Morgan Matthews get her own storyline in Show Me the Love, the first episode of season seven. Considering we all knew the actress who played her could have handled much more over the four seasons she was on the show. Especially after we saw season six better than the average Corey when she showed off her ready for the stage musical talents with A rendition of the Wind Beneath My Wings or some out of character chops when she had a precocious Hollywood run in with Will outside the set of Kid Gets Acquainted with the Universe. And while on tour a while back, when we'd opened it up to the audience for questions, so many of them involved her and the actor transition that occurred in season three, which remains a rare untold story that even the podcast couldn't fully uncover. And so now post tankini like she predicted we would. We are thrilled to welcome back a core member of the show and the Matthews family. It's the longest running Morgan in Boy Meets World history. Lindsay Ridgeway.

[Will Friedle]

Hello.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Welcome, veterans.

[Janice Torres]

Hi.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Back again.

[Will Friedle]

Yay.

[Ryder Strong]

Will and Danielle don't lie. Did you kind of half expect to see a 13 year old pop up? Did part of your brain, like, part of my brain was still, like, waiting to see Lindsay exactly as she was in season seven. It was like, oh, right, right.

[Will Friedle]

Of course.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I have. I have turned 40 since the last time I saw you all. So we're all on the other side, fam.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, it's really crazy to me that the Morgan Matthews we have grown to love over four seasons is now 40.

[Ryder Strong]

Yep.

[Will Friedle]

You made it.

[Danielle Fishel]

You look, by the way.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It's true.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, almost exactly the same.

[Will Friedle]

You do.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I hope that's good. I hope that means that I don't need to consider surgical.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know, it does mean that. Please, please do not.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I think all of us look good, though. Every one of us. I think we all look the same. It was the fountain of youth, our set. That's what. That's what I'm gonna say.

[Will Friedle]

It's the meatballs. Maybe it was whatever the preservatives were in the meatballs at craft service, those.

[Ryder Strong]

Were final Craig Soups. Were they smart?

[Will Friedle]

Craig's Soups. That's what it was. Craig Soups.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I do not remember the soups. I don't.

[Will Friedle]

You don't.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I? No.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Craig Supes. Yes.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I've definitely heard you guys mention that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, you predicted the last time we saw you that we would be yearning for you to come back in season seven. And you're right, because we do now know what the tankini is, and we have some questions.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Trust. Yeah. Well, I also have questions about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

How old were you when season seven taped? It aired in September 20th. September 24th, 1999. So you would have been.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It was 99, right? Yeah. I was a freshman in high school, so probably like 15. Yeah, my birthday's in the summer, so I probably just turned 15 right before we started this season.

[Will Friedle]

When's your birthday?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

June. June 22nd. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Well, that's all right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Will really wanted you to have an August birthday.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I was seeing if you're an 11th brother.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

My sister does. My sister does.

[Ryder Strong]

You don't get the magical power of the 11th, bro.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

All right, well, I'm out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you remember what your real life was like, as you were. As we were coming into the seventh season? Like, what were you doing in your personal life?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, I mean, I was just going to high school. I probably had a birthday party, you know, June, summer before we came back. You know, every. Every week that I was not there, if I wasn't filming, I was just at school. I was just at regular high school mobbing around with my friends. I joined the mock trial team, so I was probably doing some of that as well.

[Danielle Fishel]

Mock trial. That's so fun. Wait, were you. Were you a lawyer? What did you get to be?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I. Well, I was on. I. We went to the national competition to my senior year in high school, so there we go. Yeah, I got to be an attorney and a scientific expert witness, depending on what side was competing.

[Will Friedle]

You've got to be careful with that stuff. I'm still mock wanted. Three states.

[Danielle Fishel]

And you were a criminal in all of that.

[Ryder Strong]

Is. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

That is not. That's. No. That's no small feat.

[Janice Torres]

Wow.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Look, you know. Yeah. So I was probably. Yeah. Just also preparing to begin high school. Started driving, most likely.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

My. My parents were also getting divorced at that time in real life.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, wow.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

So it's weird that that's like the vibe of this whole. For. Because I. Okay. I must say, I don't watch this show much like you guys. I have no idea what's happening. I don't remember any of this. And for sure. My husband, we've. We've been together over eight years now. He's never once watched this with me ever. Until this past weekend. So that was fun.

[Danielle Fishel]

Did he, like.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Because I watched that episode and, you know, he was just like, how 90s is this? He was like, man, this is. You know, we remember. Like, you remember, it's not a normal, like this type. Type of. Some of the dialogue in this episode specifically, like, want season seven, episode one. Like, it wouldn't be written now, like, 100%. There would be zero. Zero approval.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Like, I audibly gasped a few times, like, just like, what that. That made it. That's bad. And so, yeah, he was. He was definitely remembering that. That, like. But not only that. He's like, well, other shows just had completely unreal stuff too, like Family Matters and all these other shows that just their plots kind of went so far down, you know, I think after seven years of time, there's nowhere left to go. So they're just creating all this extra drama for no reason. Much of which is this, this outfit situation, which I. Yeah, I think the shorts were better. I appreciated your guys. Danielle, thank you for telling them that hot pants are not pants. That's definitely. You guys learned your lesson.

[Danielle Fishel]

They learned something. They learned something that day. Ye.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

That I have a daughter, so I have to learn also very hard on the wardrobe situation. So how old is your daughter?

[Danielle Fishel]

She's five.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

She is five. Yeah, yeah. Going on 35, let me tell you. Oh my gosh.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know that happens to, I mean, my boys are also, you know, 6 and 4. Going on 26 and 24. Especially my 6 year old. The dude, the tude he has. Sometimes I'm like, do you think you are?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, like, well, here. Are you paying the mortgage of the home? I don't think so.

[Danielle Fishel]

By the way. Slacker, get out there and start.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, right, right. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

So what do you remember from this infamous tankini week and the do were there a lot of wardrobe fittings? Yeah, we're calling it Tankini Week.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It's like Shark week, right. I'm starting it in my home. It's going to be a fake here this year. Every, I don't know, I'll pick a random week, be like, guess what? I. So it's funny, my parents were here over the holidays and I was just like, yo, you guys remember this? Or like, what's up with that?

[Danielle Fishel]

Right?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

And it's funny how much, like, I don't know about your guys's families and what they remember or don't. I know I was, you know, I'm, I'm probably in the range of what, four to five years younger than you guys. It seems so much less like as, as adults now, the time frame, you're 10 years, but yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

All right.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was 10 years.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I was being good.

[Will Friedle]

That's very sweet.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It's a range. Time is a construct. But, you know, I mean, but then at that point back, you know, in school years, it means it's a lot more. It feels like more time. Right. Than it does now. And so I know I was still fairly much younger than, than most of these folks. And so, you know, my parents are just like, oh, yeah, that's just like, that's just what was happening then. I was like, cool. If someone tried to put my kid in that outfit on tv, I'd be like, hell, no. Thank you. Try again. I remember they made that shirt. I remember it did not come like that. Like, it was cut. It was hemmed. There was elastic. They sewed in, like, it was made to look like that. They took, like, another random tank top and, like, cropped it up. I specifically remember that. So, yeah, I don't know. And I feel like. Like, as I was watching, obviously, I couldn't actually physically watch the screen. Also, I don't know how you guys do this. I don't know how you watch all these. I had. I. It's just like.

[Will Friedle]

Edibles helpers.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh, gosh. Is this water weed? Don't know. I don't. Who knows?

[Ryder Strong]

You do get used to. I will say. I will say, like, the first couple of times we watched the show was awful. But, like, I feel like we've all.

[Will Friedle]

Gotten over it after a while.

[Ryder Strong]

It's the first episode or two that hurts a lot.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Disassociated, some might say, from reality.

[Ryder Strong]

Exactly. Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I. I definitely felt the same uncomfortable feeling that I. That I did at that point in time. I mean, you know, I. As a teenager, you already don't, you know, And I think. But I think it has changed. I think that women and girls today wear so much crazier stuff than we did when we were that age, like, in 1999. So I think at the time, it was like, what is this? And why is this. Why is this going to be the focal point of that? And then, like, to call it a bra? And like, that one line that Rusty says about the moms that I was just like, I forgot.

[Danielle Fishel]

What line was it?

[Will Friedle]

Which one?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

The. The. Go put on your. That unsexy crap your mother wears. I was just like, you have got to be kidding me. That is insane. So then it. It spun me out, and then I'm like, okay, pause. You know, like, my husband's name's Chris. Like, Chris, let's discuss this. Like, I don't remember any female writers. Do you guys? I don't remember this. It was like. I'm like, dudes wrote this. They're like, that's hilarious.

[Danielle Fishel]

There were actually. I think there were more women on staff this season.

[Will Friedle]

Season were more women than ever.

[Danielle Fishel]

More women than any other season. I think there may have been more.

[Ryder Strong]

Women, which is nuts. Yeah. Because they actually.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, that is.

[Ryder Strong]

This is a very particular, like, new thing on the show that we haven't seen, which is this anxiety about what women wear, because, you know, it's obviously been a very boy centric show. And, like, if there's any commentary about what women are wearing, it's like, in relation to Topanga or, like, it's more about desirability. And, like, this is the first time that they're actively trying to address it. And I just think they just. It's so they threw Rusty's character just out the window.

[Danielle Fishel]

It just doesn't make sense.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like the Alan Wiener would have no problem with this or would engage with it in a way that could.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Be, I don't know, in an intellectual fashion.

[Ryder Strong]

It seems like it.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Or just he would listen to his daughter.

[Will Friedle]

You know, like, in fairness, though, the more that I'm watching season seven, the more I realize literally all of our characters have been thrown out the window.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

All of them.

[Will Friedle]

There's not a single character that exists in season seven that existed in season five. Like, they just. It's not a thing.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It's true.

[Ryder Strong]

It seems like. I mean, there was a desperation about getting canceled, like, fear of getting canceled. There's a sense of, like, grasping at straws. Like, there's a sense of them, like, what is the show going to be? Is it Eric being this crazy? This type of crazy? Is it going to be a show about Morgan now? Is it. You know, they didn't know. They're just kind of like, trying everything.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It can't. It can't be it. She wears bras and like that, you know, she can't do that. Like, she's. She's taken out for wardrobe reasons alone and that. And that other kid, like, I feel bad for him. I was watching the. What's his name? God, what's his character's name? I literally already forgot the kid who I'm going on the date with. What's his name?

[Ryder Strong]

In real life? His name is Jacob Chase.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

But I'm like, I feel okay. There we go. Poor Jacob Chase, wherever you are, I love you. You're having a great life, I'm sure, and 100% positive, but that I saw his face, even. Yeah, that's awesome. I'm glad he didn't let this experience scar him, because I saw his reaction on screen and I was like, the awkwardness we both felt in that dialogue and in that exchange and being in front of those people. And then, of course, you have, like, unhinged Ben coming in. Like, you guys gotta watch out. And you're like, oh, God, who is this gremlin coming from the stairs? Like, lecturing us in the middle of the kitchen. The whole thing was just like, you're watching it. You're just like, I can't look. Like I can't look at it. But then if you are looking at it, you can't really look away from it because it's, like, very unhinged.

[Danielle Fishel]

I do think there was a real. The idea of being shocked when your kids are growing up and you see them as young people, young adults, rather than the little kid you remember is a great storyline. And it really was not that long ago we were talking about how much they infantilized your character and you. By. Even though you were like 14 years old, it seemed like they still had you in footie pajamas. And so to go from the whiplash of. Last time we saw her, she was in, like, suspenders with a flower coming out of her pocket to now all of a sudden she's wearing short shorts and a. And a crop top. It just feels like there's an easy. You could have been in something not at all scandalous or sexualized at all, and it still could have been too much for him.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

And it still could have been like, what happened to why are there no flowers in your hair? You know, to. To be like, what do you mean? You're going on a date? You' five? No, I'm not. You know.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Right, right. The situation alone, I think was enough. Yeah. It's like, you know, then you're putting this whole other layer on top of it, which makes it about the outfit, which then throws, you know, Betsy into this whole, like, why is she now the target? And she's having to, like, literally, you know, call her husband a pig over and over again in front of everyone there. It just. It spiraled very quickly, out of control, I think. But. But, you know, like, you guys all. All mentioned in. In your own way with your own characters and all the plot lines going on. I mean, I think everything is sort of taking that. That route, you know, but, yeah, I mean, I definitely think, you know, and. And I know, you know, there's a lot of. There are. There's a. There's a popular opinion out there that my version of this character is not preferred to the first one. I get it. I see the Redditors out there, y'. All.

[Ryder Strong]

There is really.

[Will Friedle]

Wait, Reddit does more than just. My wife cheated on me and I destroyed her life. I'm missing that.

[Ryder Strong]

Right?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Right. Or am I the asshole because my in laws are coming to my house and I'm kicking them out?

[Will Friedle]

Oh, it's my favorite.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah. No, for. I. Look, I. Yeah, I'm. You know, people liked the little. And Lily is great. She's so great. And she had such a really great timing instinct. And every. You know, her. Her earlier presence, I think, is what people were setting the standard for. And, you know, everybody's kind of like, oh, well, you know, the second. This second actor, you know, has such more of an attitude that she's so mean. And like, we. Like the first one, you know, And I'm only saying what they're writing down, you know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I was gonna say, do they know that you didn't write your own dialogue?

[Will Friedle]

Right.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

No, I'm assuming. I mean, but, you know, I was. And. And again, when you have. I think that child actors, you know, from what I understand of industry today, and maybe you guys have more insight being more in it than I am, but have more autonomy and sort of creating personalities around their characters. Right. Saying what they would like to do, like conversing with producers and directors and. And saying, like, hey, I don't really think that works. Or I think this is. You want me to say this in a way that I think is a little bit too far or too. Not enough. And I just don't think that was the case, at least for me at this time. It's like, I did it. We got notes. Michael's like, you gotta go. And then that's what you do. And that's what I remember. So it's like, I don't really, you know, I can't fault younger me for just doing what I'm directed to do by adults. Right?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. There's a big difference in. In having a voice and. And being given your voice. And we. I think a lot of younger actors back in the day, probably not just on our show, but that's what we, you know, obviously knew that was our world, I think. Yeah, that was our first what to say. I mean, again, I. And. And that was better than it was. I remember talking to. To the actor who played Peter Brady in. In the Brady Bunch who said, oh, we didn't. We didn't have parking spaces. We didn't have a dressing room. They all threw us in a big room. I didn't have lines to read for my audition. I just played with toys. It's like the kids were props in the 60s and 70s. So it's slowly getting better. And I think now Danielle can speak to this more than anybody else because she works with child actors a lot. But I think now the kids have advocacy and they Have a voice and they can, they can say, I don't want to do this, or I do want to do this, or work with the director on the characters. We didn't really have much, much of that 100.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

And I think there's more, there's more advocates like, you know, like the intimacy coordinators. Right. Like people go, you can, you can tell. So intimacy corner doesn't necessarily have to mean like an intimate scene. It can be like, yeah, I'm uncomfortable wearing this outfit. I feel like we got to work through that. What else can we do to make that actor feel A, B and C, Right? That, that's not a thing. Like we didn't have that. Like, you know, it's just like here you've got producers, you've got your director, you've got the actors, there you go, your parents are sitting off to the side waiting in the school you're going to return to when you're done, you know, So I definitely feel that if it were now and this same scene were being written and directed and put on tv, the process would have been completely different and the end result would have possibly been 100% not what you see. Right. What you see in that episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you remember feeling uncomfortable with what you were wearing? Did you express that to anybody? Because we, we have had episodes where we're in bathing suits. Like in season one or two, there is, you know, where we take off a robe and the audience goes, woo. For our 12 and 13 year old bodies in swimsuits. And we.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Which is bad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Stressed.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Mortified. Yes. You see how much of my middle section is hanging out there. I mean, like, that's not great. No, I don't. That's. And, and it doesn't matter. Like, it doesn't matter if you're a kid or, you know, now as an adult, like you, you know, you kind of reserve the right to decide how much of that you want to show. And that's sort of where, you know, where I'm coming from it now. It's like we didn't really have the opportunity to say or feel like we could sit because then it's like, you know, well, we'll go, we'll hire a kid actor that will do that. You know, you've got like 10 other kids that want to be on a network show, right? So like, well, you got to do it because this is like the utmost opportunity. And so I think there's that real dichotomy of wanting to say, like, hey, I don't really like that, but Feeling like I really can't say that because then I'm putting all of this at risk in some, you know, some way. Your brain just makes you stay quiet about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And you were coming in replacing another character. You were another person. So you were already intimately aware, already at a deficit that this is not forever. Like, you could be replaced.

[Will Friedle]

Well, there's four of us. Four of us on the zoom right now. Three of us replaced other actors playing our character.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, right.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, that's crazy.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I mean. Yeah, yeah, it's. It's a. It's cutthroat.

[Will Friedle]

It is so in your. In your personal life at the time. So in. In season seven, the family kind of took a back seat, and so we're more in the college. And so you. The whole family was kind of coming on sporadically. You said you were now a freshman in high school. Were you excited when you got the call that you were to come do an episode? Or was this like, at this point, you're like, I just want to go to school. If I'm going to go to school, I want to go to school.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I mean, look, my school, I'm still best friends with, like, three people that I've been to school with. Some seventh grade. And this was like, standard. You know, people knew, if Lindsey's on class this week, like, we know where she is, she'll be back. But I will say that. But I was very used to, in general, being in an episode and then being written out by the time that that Wednesday pre tape came or even from Friday read. And then it's like, well, your scenes are cut. So, like, just go home. Okay. So sometimes, you know, you. Like you said, I'm sure that even me, Rusty and Betsy probably filmed things that just. Or were in a script at one point that that family plot line just got. Got tossed, you know, just out the window. And then we're not really needed. You know, so there were some times where that happened or I did film things that then never made it to air. So I was just kind of like, all right, it's cool. I got. I got two things going. I can either be there or I can be at school. It was interchangeable for me at the time. But, you know, knowing that it was our last season, because I think by then we did really know either that either way it was going to be half. Like, it was going to go to the sweeps week and then stop or then continue. Right. Like there was some sort of double.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, we got picked up for 13 and then got picked up for our back nine.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, yeah, right. So we, like, we knew we'd be there for a certain amount of time. So I, you know, then I'm already planning like, well, okay, so, you know, second semester school, I'm doing it. I'm joining these teams right at my school, doing what A, B and C. And then, you know, making the decision overall, I think for. For me being 15, turning then 16 by the end of that year, deciding about the industry in general and what that meant for me and what if it. If it was for me or not. And so, you know, I remember going on other auditions for things even while we still were probably filming because, you know, you never know what's going to happen and getting close on a few things and never, never actually booking those. And then, you know, at some point you can only take so much of that sort of. That sort of like, stop, start. And you just need to make a. Make a choice, you know, for yourself. So, yeah, a lot of that. A lot of reflection probably, too.

[Danielle Fishel]

We were actually really excited to see that there was going to be an Amy Allen Morgan, like, that there was going to be a big storyline. Do you remember then getting the script and being like, oh, it's kind of an episode about me. And then being like, why is this the episode about me?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah, I mean, it probably. It probably just seemed really out of left field. I mean, I can say that now it does really kind of come out of left field for. For me. I don't know how it feels for everybody else. And. And again, I haven't watched, like, religiously anything up to this point recently.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

So I can't really say. I just. I don't think it fits. I just don't think it fits with what's going on. I. I think, you know, this is that this season starts so clearly with, like, you know, your. Your parent drop, which, like, what was that? Like, what parrots were these? Was this the Desperate Housewives mom character?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Okay. And this is Marshall Cross, Mom.

[Danielle Fishel]

Marsha Cross, Mom.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Third. Marsha Cross. Okay, first of all, which effing mom is this? Because I heard from all these different people. Yeah, but I do. It wasn't Peter Torque, one of them, one of your dads?

[Danielle Fishel]

He was my first dad, and then Michael McKeon was my second dad.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yes. And. Right. And then, because my mom. He's in the monkeys. Right. Peter Tork. My mom, like, lost her mind, so she's like a huge man. I know. Yes. I think they stalked him when they were there.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think they did.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

They got.

[Danielle Fishel]

They both got pictures.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Our moms were like, we're showing up every day.

[Danielle Fishel]

We'll be there.

[Will Friedle]

We'll be there.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Here's piza. Because I do remember that, because my mom's like, you don't understand who this is. I'm literally 11. I know. I do not. I don't. Yeah. So I think this season starts so much with that drama that it just feels really jarring to move to that scene and then, like, where's the baby? Like, why is there no, like, soundtrack? Even a baby crying in the house? Like, there's just not. There's no. There's no. The only thing you see is, like, that bottle rack in the kitchen. Nothing else. There's no high chair.

[Danielle Fishel]

I hate to disappoint you, but we are now five episodes into season seven, and there is still no sighting and barely nary a mention. Barely.

[Will Friedle]

The next time we see him, he's like, eight. Yeah, it's the last episode where he has his own monologue or whatever. It's like, what the hell happened to the baby?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

But he's like, well, now I'm off to college, Mom. Well, no, it wasn't it Michael. Jacob's kid. Wasn't it his baby? That was the baby. Okay.

[Will Friedle]

I was like, AM I literally 4 years old? Yeah, it was crazy.

[Ryder Strong]

So, yeah, it went. He went.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I remember getting invited to that baby's bris. Did you guys go to that kid? I was there. Great spread.

[Will Friedle]

Great spread. Yeah, well, they did. It was good food. There's nothing like the food of the brisk, my friend. I love the food at a brisk. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, Lindsay, since your last visit, we also did get to see you sing in season six. Better than the average Corey, you performed Wind beneath my Waist.

[Ryder Strong]

And then Ben takes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, man. We got a taste of your beautiful voice. Do you have memories of prepping for that? Were you. Is it safe to say you were more excited for that week than tankini?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh, yeah. I mean, they made me pre record it, though, which is so weird. Like, I had to go record it. You know, the. You know, the. The person. And I always just think about, like, forgetting Sarah Marshall. When he's in his house, he's, like, doing TV theme music. That's a chopper, like, on the keyboard. Like, I had to go to that person's house who did all the random keyboard music.

[Will Friedle]

And Ray Colcord. Yeah. Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

I have.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I cannot remember, but you guys do. That's why I have you. Yeah. Ray. This magical Ray, man, I had to go to his home and record it. I think. I don't know why. I don't know if it's because they were what. I think it's. I think because I did have to lip sync it there so that they could dim the sound for dialogue happening over the song. Because I am actively singing in the background of the scene. Right. And so it's like, I can't really be doing it. Cause I'm far too loud for that to, like, I can't. Like, I wouldn't be able to regulate that level. But then. Yeah, I just. I remember never. Never knowing exactly when Ben was gonna come in, like, because he's so. He's so unpredictable. And things. Things did start. I listened to your recap episode of season. The. Season seven, Episode one, where you guys were talking about him always pulling crap. And that all started to come back to me. I was like, oh, yeah. They would be like, the bell. The bell would ring. It would be silent, and he would go, like, whisper things in people's faces. And, like, back up. And you're like, oh, go off. What's going on? I don't think he ever did it to me, but I remember seeing it happen to all of you guys. Yeah. I didn't like to play and just probably laughing. And then I was always chewing gum. I got in trouble for that. But, like, Michael Jacobs was constantly chewing gum, so I feel like that's a real double standard. So, like, that's.

[Danielle Fishel]

I also always chewed gum.

[Will Friedle]

We all did.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yes. Right? I mean, I always had to go spit it out. You had the gum. Go hiding it, I guess.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, we had to spit ours out.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Disgusting gum wall.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, I know.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

There was the. There was the gum draw.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, exactly. Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

The gum drawer. Yep.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

There was the gum drawer and the gum drawer. We had all that gum in that drawer in the kitchen.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's like they put a. But they give us a drawer specifically for gum, and then they're like, stop chewing gum.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

But honestly, I will say, as an adult who had to get Invisalign this year for my TMJ problems, chewing all that gum as a kid. Bad idea.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Kids out there, stop chewing so much gum. It's bad for your jaw muscles.

[Danielle Fishel]

I told my child, we are not a gum family. He just. He was like, can I have gum? And I said, nope, we're not a gum family. He's like, what do you mean, nope? We just don't chew gum in this family. It's just one of our family virtues.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

My husband has stopped me I'll be in an airport and I'll be like, yo, there's a lot of gum at the airport. I have unlimited access.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

And I can get as many backs as I want. He's like, if you start down this road, you know what's going to happen.

[Will Friedle]

This road called life.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It was only me. I'm really glad to know it's not just me. Truly. We can't buy gum. I replaced it with Altoids. Is it better? No one knows. I think it's actually worse. I'm unsure.

[Danielle Fishel]

Try the Listerine strips. You just put them on your tongue.

[Will Friedle]

Terrible.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, they're not. They're great.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh, no, I don't like those.

[Will Friedle]

You're gonna find out something does something bad to your tongue. And, like, you're gonna hear. Eventually you're gonna hear, like, if you took listerine strips between 2,020, join our class action. You might be impossible.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

You might be entitled to.

[Danielle Fishel]

All right, so I'm trying to make make you all rich.

[Will Friedle]

Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccine should you consider before a big trip, and even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers, and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel Rider Strong and Will.

[Will Friedle]

Friedle from Pod Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you will definitely want to check out season four of Mind the Business. Small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio and Intuit QuickBooks.

[Ryder Strong]

Mind the Business is part entertainment, part instruction manual, part inspiration. Each episode features practical tips and success stories that will resonate with entrepreneurs in any industry.

[Will Friedle]

In this latest season, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Janice Torres are covering topics on the forefront of running a small business.

[Danielle Fishel]

They're talking to self starters about everything from how AI helps them work smarter to weathering market uncertainties and enjoying the benefits of being your own boss and using Intuit QuickBooks to help you get more done in less time. You won't want to miss it.

[Will Friedle]

Listen to Mind the Business Small business success stories on the Iheart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Guys, don't miss our recent two part episode celebrating 50 million downloads of Pod meets world. I now Understand this is 50 million downloads, not listeners, but I'm still holding out hope.

[Will Friedle]

We take you inside our unforgettable experience at Yamava Resort and Casino. From the moment we checked in to the final encore.

[Ryder Strong]

We relaxed at the Serrano Spa, hit the blackjack tables and ate at the amazing Pine Steakhouse. It had everything you want for a fun getaway.

[Danielle Fishel]

Plus we saw Janet Jackson live on stage at the Yamava Theater and she did Rhythm Nation and I did the dance from the music video and 8 year old Danielle was in heaven and we got spatulas.

[Ryder Strong]

Stream the episodes now and relive the magic. That was our trip to Yamava Resort and Casino.

[Will Friedle]

You in?

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

I'm gonna say that again just because I have the verbal dexterity to do so. Be a 2 percenter with the active cash credit card from Wells Fargo.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, that sounds nice.

[Ryder Strong]

Learn more at Wells Fargo.com/activecash. Terms apply.

[Danielle Fishel]

Do you remember the final episode and what was your experience that final week of taping?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

You know, I remember the. I, I don't, I don't remember anything about the final episode in my, in my brain whole. I just like, I can't. And I think because we weren't in the final scenes, like the family was not like that classroom. Like that was all you guys, like together. We were, I mean, I was there, I was physically present on set, but I don't, I don't remember that. I remember the bridesmaid dress episode the most clearly out of all of this season.

[Will Friedle]

We haven't gotten there yet. We haven't gotten there yet.

[Danielle Fishel]

What Would you say is your favorite episode that you remember looking back from.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

From my perspective filming them, yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

And like just your. In general, your experience, like, what's your favorite?

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I mean, I. Well, I love that They're Killing Us episode. I. Honestly, it's. It, to me, it's one of the best. It's such a weird format that doesn't fit and it's. But it's so awesome. Like that documentary style, how they would do the freeze frames after the end of each scene. Like, I really liked the direction of that episode. Another one that I don't think I'm actually in at all is the one that's like the Scream one, the horror episode. I do like watching that one. Just. It's entertaining. Jennifer Love Fefferman. Because I remember that.

[Danielle Fishel]

I remember the Bridesmaids dress episode well, too. And the thing I remember thinking is, it was really nice to have you as a part of our girl group. Like a. Just a. You know, I mean, that is what happens in weddings. It's like people, you know.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Right. It's a whole family thing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And it was really nice that we. To have you included.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

In the wedding planning. It was fun and I. I love it.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I felt so short. I felt so short. Next to. It's just like, it doesn't matter what you do. There's no camera angle that will get both of us in that shot at the same time.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's why I'm wearing this 5 or 6 inch, honestly, platform sandals. Flipping every scene with her.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, God.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I can't remember if they put me in anything, but, like, my dress was specifically constructed to be removed in that fast fashion because I had to just like tear it off. They had like a better deal. Like, there's fit than better.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I just, I remember walking out in it and thinking this Velcro rig in the back is going to come down and I'm not going to be able to stop. It has to come at a certain time and the time is going to be wrong. And then like the little umbrella thing, it got stuck. And like I had.

[Janice Torres]

Oh, we have.

[Will Friedle]

That's one of our favorite favorite outtakes we have. We actually have that of you. You know, like, the umbrella gets stuck and then Danielle's gets stuck and then she trips over a bag and then. Yeah, it's a bit. That was a big. A big episode for bloopers.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

It was bonkers. Like, and you're just thinking like this poor wardrobe and props people. They're like, stop screwing up our, like, Handcrafted items that we made for, you know. Yeah. So I remember that episode more.

[Danielle Fishel]

But knowing what a beautiful voice you have and how performative you are, did you ever think about doing Broadway? You would have been perfect on Broadway.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I mean, it's. It's a stressful lifestyle.

[Will Friedle]

I'll.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I'll say that, you know, coming from. I did theater as a kid, probably the biggest. When I was 8, I was in Ruthless on the west coast premiere here, which is a huge show. They still do it many places now. And I mean, like. And I work it. I work in the theater industry now, just not as a performer. Right. And so I see it, you know, it's. It's difficult to maintain for a long time these people that can do it for so many years, like, hats off to them. It's. It's definitely something. Yeah. Like, I probably could have pivoted that way. My plan after the end of this series and going into school was to go to law school. I want to be, you know, a trial attorney. That was my dream. Talk in front of a courtroom.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, you've got the actor in you. I mean, that's what it takes. Yeah.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Yeah. I mean, truly. But then I worked for a lot of lawyers just to, like, get. Get the vibe, and I was like, oh, this is real stressful. And, you know, Will, I know you said you have anxiety. I. I have had panic attacks yearly since the age of probably 16 or so.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, really? Okay.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

My most recent one is about five days ago, so there you go. Yeah. I have to hide them from my kid, which really sucks. Like, I don't want her to, like, see them. So I. I definitely feel that I. I think that the industry itself and. And not to say that it's like that now or it's like that for everybody, but for me as an individual, just the performative aspect can get very overwhelming and very stressful. And so I think, you know, to have the awareness to. To say, like, I love this. I have appreciated the. The involvement that I've been able to have to the extent that I have, and I can be happy with that. I can know that I have so many different unique experiences in my life that have all brought me to be, you know, the best mom now and guider that I can be for my kid who's going to be navigating those same things in her life and those choices. That. That's kind of where I. Where I like. That's where I like to sit. That's where I like to maintain, you Know, being. Being aware of how it could have affected me in a negative way to continue, I think was. It was a really big choice. It was a big decision for me. I know. So I still hear that. I still hear that from my friends. Still hear it from. From my fan. Like, but what about this? And what if this happened? I'm like, this. It could have. But I also, you know, But I also know how important it is to. To be in tune with what you can do and what you can give as your own person. So, you know, it's. I mean, I still sing occasionally. I do it, you know, for. I get to do things for our actual enjoyment and instead of, like, having the pressure of having it be a job, if that makes sense. So, yeah. You know, and even. Even things like this, like talking to you guys, you know, like, I have. I. I don't. I. It's. It's fun. Like, it's a fun thing, you know, like. Like, oh, yeah, yeah, we could talk about this. And then I don't have to go back to the pressure of, like, still doing that and having to, you know, know, maintain a sense of self through that. So. Yeah. So it's hard. But I know in high school, like I said, I threw myself into. Into mock trial for sure, but. And that was fun. But that's a fake trial, which is why. Exactly.

[Will Friedle]

Exactly. No pressure.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Mock. No pressure. I have my mock trial metals somewhere back here. I keep them in a frame because I'm, like, really obsessed with it.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love, love that I mentioned this in your intro, but when we went out on the road with our live tour, so many of the questions in our Q and A involve you. And I just wanted to thank you.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Oh, my gosh.

[Danielle Fishel]

For being such an important part of the Boy Meets World legacy and the Boy Meets World lore. We are so honored that you joined us again. And. And to recap this Tankini Week and others of your life. Life.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Are you guys going to celebrate Tankini Week?

[Danielle Fishel]

We celebrate this week immediately.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm gonna rip open my shirt right now and have a tankini pants.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

I feel like you need. You need custom tankinis. Yeah. I'm saying definitely.

[Danielle Fishel]

Lindsay, thank you so much for being here with us. It's always so great to see you.

[Ryder Strong]

Good to see you, Lindsay.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Thank you, guys. It's awesome to see you all, too.

[Will Friedle]

Bye.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Bye, guys.

[Danielle Fishel]

Man, I was even thinking while she was talking about the tankini stuff and we were talking about how there are more advocates now for kids and. And kids Feeling like they have more of a voice, hopefully. How interesting it is that I don't think I have worked with a single wardrobe stylist who wouldn't be saying to the person they were fitting, especially if they were kids, are you comfortable in this? And. And not I. Any single wardrobe stylist I've worked with on in the last 10 years would have said, if you're not comfortable in something, I'm not even going to send. I'm not even going to give it to them as an option.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

So let's find. Let's keep finding things until you say, yes, I'm comfortable in this, and I'll only take pictures and send them options once I know you're comfortable.

[Will Friedle]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

And so it's just so interesting that it's like everyone back then had the feeling of, like, you get a script, what it says in the script you make come to life, and you do not express your opinion about it at all.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. You also. We've talked about this a bunch of times. You just. Until you become an adult, you assume the adults all know what they're doing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And it's not until you're older that you realize nobody has a clue.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

So you are a kid, and these are adults, and they know what's best for you, and this is a job and blah.

[Ryder Strong]

Especially when it came to wardrobe. Right.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Kind of like, okay, they know better than me. Just trust me as you need me. And it's like such a weird approach.

[Will Friedle]

Like.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, because making a decision about your wardrobe is a. Is a great character.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, you get to decide as an actor, like, what are you comfortable in? What do you want to act in?

[Will Friedle]

What is it?

[Ryder Strong]

You know? And then how does that help you or, you know, hinder you and what. You know, you gotta work that out.

[Will Friedle]

I think we would have thought even back in the day, we would have been like, oh, my God, just put on your wardrobe and shut up. As opposed to, like, I really want to talk about the pants. I really want to talk about the shirt.

[Ryder Strong]

Really?

[Will Friedle]

Come on. But that is what you should do. It's exactly what you're supposed to do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And the fact that I didn't express any of those things, or if I did, it was met with like, okay, well, who cares? You have to do it anyway. Is exactly why I was so checked out this season. It's exactly why I was just like, I'm just not. I'm not into it anymore.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, it's crazy to me that I also did it even for, like, photo shoots. Like, that's like, when I look back at, like all those Teen beat things, I would just show up and they would have clothes to put me in. Like, I'm never wearing my own clothes and any of them. Which is weird because they're a photo shoot that's supposed to be like, like Ryder at home or Ryder hanging out.

[Danielle Fishel]

In reality, they were a better version of me.

[Bowen Yang]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Which is partly why I was always so insecure. Like, you know, felt like I'm a bad celebrity because I'm like. But it, it just occurred to me, like, hey, guess what, Ryer? You could just show up, say, this is what I'm wearing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Take it or leave it. And they could leave it, like, you know, and would have been fine. But.

[Will Friedle]

Well, that's why social media and social media stars nowadays are so. It's so different because, because, you know, you say what you want about it, but usually it's them. Yeah. Like, these are the clothes I've put on. I mean, it's all still manufactured, but it's manufactured by you. So it's, you know, at least you have some agency over everything you're doing. Where we didn't, they'd throw us in. It wasn't even a room most of the time. It was a plywood 4x4 whatever thing with a. A fake curtain that you'd put over your clothes would be hanging on the thing and you go, I guess that's what I'm wearing.

[Ryder Strong]

Yep, that was it.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Crazy.

[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 Worldshow gmail dot com. And we've got merch.

[Will Friedle]

It's a merchy freak. Merchy freak. He's a maladjusted, woman hating merchy freak. That's for Lindsay.

[Danielle Fishel]

Pod meets WorldShow.com writer. Send us out.

[Ryder Strong]

We love you all. Pod dismiss. PodMeet's World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L. And Ryder Strong, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sugbash, producer Matty Moore, engineer and boy meets world superman Easton Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow us on Instagram odmeatsworld show or email us at hotbeatsworldshow mail.com hey, it's.

[Will Friedle]

Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Are you feeling those winter blues. Well, do not worry, they've got you covered with ways to boost your mood. Add a little sweetness to your day with big savings on all your favorite sweets. Shop in store or online and save on items like Gummy Savers 5 flavors Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sour Patch watermelon, M&M's party size stand Up Bags and Ferrero Rocher Mixed Variety squares. Offer ends February 24th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar, and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. The 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions, it's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors from cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring. It's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer floater cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite [e-mail] that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers.

[Will Friedle]

Janiece Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Small Business Success Stories, produced by Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're back for season four to talk to some incredible small business owners.

[Will Friedle]

The big thing about working at tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing.

[Ryder Strong]

Everyone's a rookie.

[Will Friedle]

That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about about us to be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Janice Torres]

Honestly, honestly, Honestly, no one wants to think about hiv, but there are things that everyone can do to help prevent it. Things like prep. Prep stands for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis and it means routinely taking prescription medicine before you're exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it. Prep can be about 99% effective when taken as prescribed bribed. It doesn't protect against other stis though, so be sure to use condoms and other healthy sex practices. Ask a healthcare provider about all your prevention options and visit findoutaboutprep. Com to learn more.

[Lindsay Ridgeway]

Sponsored by Gilead, this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.