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Narrator/Ad Voice
This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.
Danielle Fishel
As cat parents, Ryder and I know the feeling of being ignored by our cats. I often wonder, does my cat even love me?
Ryder Strong
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Danielle Fishel
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Will Friedle
been@ the pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks any questions? That's why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, each episode features real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most, breaking down the questions you wish you'd asked from which meds may not mix well to what vaccines you need before a big trip. They'll bust myths, decode trends, and share practical advice you can actually use. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, quick question. How long is too long to leave laundry in the washer?
Danielle Fishel
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Ryder Strong
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Danielle Fishel
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Will Friedle
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Ryder Strong
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Will Friedle
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Danielle Fishel
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Will Friedle
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Ryder Strong
All right, important question. If you saw a sandwich on a deli menu called the Feeney, what's on it?
Danielle Fishel
Well, obviously something wise. Maybe Dietz and Watson Oven Classic Turkey because it's classic, dependable, and somehow still teaching you lessons.
Will Friedle
Oh, I'm adding the Black Forest Uncured Ham smoked the Old World way with cracked pepper and sea salt pepper because Feeny would never cut corners.
Danielle Fishel
Neither does Dietz and Watson. They've been handcrafting premium deli Meats and artisan cheeses for over 85 years. Family owned, Doing things the right way, even when it's the hard way.
Ryder Strong
They sent us some of their stuff, and I have been crushing the flavored cheddar cheeses. Real New York state cheddar, small batch, super creamy.
Will Friedle
And I've been making breakfast with their chicken sausage. No antibiotics ever. No nitrates or nitrites added. It's just radio. Really good.
Danielle Fishel
Simply made. Simple as that.
Ryder Strong
Visit dietzwatson.com the right way to learn more about the deets difference.
Will Friedle
So randomly Ryder, but both you and I right now are on call for jury duty.
Jereisha Hawk
Oh, my gosh.
Will Friedle
Have you ever. Have either of you ever been picked? Have you ever been, like, part of a jury?
Danielle Fishel
Oh, you have a story. Yeah, it was wonderful.
Ryder Strong
It's a great experience. It was hard, but it was great.
Will Friedle
Nobody picks me.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, it's like the ninth time I've
Will Friedle
been on jury duty, like, been on call, and nobody ever picks me.
Ryder Strong
It's super fun.
Marisol Nichols
In.
Ryder Strong
In my jury selection, there was a woman who was just like, I hate cops. Cause they were like, you know, they had. There was a component of the case involved, you know, listening to the cops or trusting cops. And she was like, no, I can't. And the judge kept. She was like, but come on, you've had. How many bad experiences have you had? She's like, I don't care. I can't be objective. I hate cops. And it was just like, okay. After a while, it's like, she couldn't.
Will Friedle
You just went out?
Ryder Strong
Yeah, just get out of here.
Will Friedle
Just leave. So the only time I came close, I flew back. This was when I was still trying to keep my Connecticut citizenship status, so I would fly back for jury duty from California to keep living in Connecticut.
Ryder Strong
Why did you do that? Because you thought you were gonna move back sometime?
Will Friedle
I thought I was gonna move back. I was also just from Connecticut. I had my Connecticut driver's license, everything. It was just fighting, you know, fighting against living in California, which I've been here for 37 years.
Ryder Strong
When you flew back, you had to hold on to two eagles to get there.
Will Friedle
Exactly. But the most powerful eagles in the country. So bald eagles, just. They saying America and eagle. Um, but no, I. I got to the voir dire section, and the guy next to me was shaking, literally shaking. And he just is. His legs were shaking. He just did not want to be there. So we had a case where it was like they weren't allowed to write down the victim's name or they weren't allowed to say it out loud, so they wrote it down on a piece of paper. It got to the guy. He opened it. I could tell it didn't even look at. He went, yeah, I know her. The judge went, what? What? He goes, yeah, I know her. Good friends with her family. And the judge is like, I. Okay, you're dismissed. Like, thanks. And he was like. He made a shape in the door. Like Wile E. Coyote getting out of the thing. It was.
Ryder Strong
Yeah. And that was why people want to get out. So, I mean, I guess just time and stuff, but, like, it's also expensive.
Danielle Fishel
If you. If. If you have a job that you're gonna now have to. Even though they legally have to let you out, you don't get paid for your job.
Ryder Strong
Right.
Danielle Fishel
And they pay you, like, what, 50 bucks a day?
Ryder Strong
I just find it. I just found it so educational, and it made me feel good about the justice system. You know, I'm sure there are situations where it doesn't make you feel good about the justice system, but in my case, it made. It made me feel like, you know, I don't know. I just like.
Will Friedle
How long were you on the case?
Ryder Strong
Only, like, over a week, so maybe seven days total. Okay.
Will Friedle
That's long.
Ryder Strong
Yeah. Yeah. And it was a rape case, which is hard, but it was really. Yeah, it was. I still am friends with somebody I met on Jury Dude. We were on Jir dude together when we started going to lunch. Of course you are.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Ryder Strong
She's one of the people. I saw her when we were in North Carolina doing a show. Came to a show. You guys probably met her. Aaron.
Will Friedle
Yeah. So that was, of course, perfectly in keeping with Ryder. Yeah, no, the.
Ryder Strong
The.
Will Friedle
The whole thing is just I'm. I'm on pins and needles because I got to call every night to see if I have to, you know, get to the jury room. So I don't know it's going to be. I personally think there should be professional jurors. No, I think it should be a job. Absolutely. Why not take a bunch of. Usually people that are retired, because then
Ryder Strong
they will get paid off.
Will Friedle
Because then it's like, you're paid to do it.
Ryder Strong
That's like lobbyists.
Marisol Nichols
Why?
Ryder Strong
No, because.
Will Friedle
No, you get a. Same salary, but it's. And you actually learn a bit about the. About the legal system.
Ryder Strong
And that's.
Will Friedle
Your lawyer job is to be a juror. No, but that's your job.
Ryder Strong
No, because the point is to respond without expertise. To respond from just a citizenship level, you know, to not be necessarily an
Will Friedle
expert, but then have to break down scientific, you know, facts and all this kind of stuff. You should have a little bit of. Of. Of knowledge in this situation.
Ryder Strong
You can, but I think. No, the whole point is that you're supposed to be like, if you're on trial, you know, you want people who aren't experts so that the lawyers have to present the, you know, evidence.
Will Friedle
I would argue that the person who's, like, not doing great in their life right now and is a plumber and called in the jury duty would be easier to bribe than the person who's the professional juror who's making a decent salary to be a juror.
Ryder Strong
You'd think so, but I feel like politics proves otherwise. Right.
Danielle Fishel
I remember from when I was on a jury multiple times, it being like somebody saying something like, yeah, but I don't believe that. I feel like. And somebody else being like, no, you're not allowed to go off vibes, man. Like, we. You know, it really has to be about what was presented. And I did find that it was kind of hard for me to take out my feelings right from the situation. Be like, well, yeah, I mean, I. And then things that they were like, well, that was. That was stricken from the testimony. It was like.
Marisol Nichols
But I heard it.
Will Friedle
Yeah, right. My friend said the same thing. They're like, don't think of a white elephant. Don't think of a white elephant.
Ryder Strong
It's like, okay, that's all I'm thinking
Will Friedle
of now is a white elephant.
Danielle Fishel
I'm actually not allowed to take that into consideration, am I?
Will Friedle
Sure.
Danielle Fishel
I'm not taking that into consideration. Like, you're double question. You question yourself a lot.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Thankfully, in my situation, it was like, was this an insurance fraud situation based on a. Based on an accident that had happened and this person had. Was trying to get a lifetime's worth of, I think, PT based on an accident that had happened. But they had also been in several other accidents and had been in PT at other times.
Ryder Strong
Oh, my God.
Danielle Fishel
For other aspects of their life. And so the company was trying to say, this is a professional needed pt, and now you're saying we should be this insurance company. This person who hit you should be responsible for PT for the rest of your life based on. But you. So it was kind of stuff like that. But yeah, it's. It is.
Marisol Nichols
It's.
Danielle Fishel
It's. I agree, Ryder, that the educational aspect of it was. Was fascinating. And I went into it thinking, I'm gonna hate this. And then you didn't.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Didn't hate it.
Marisol Nichols
Kind of.
Jereisha Hawk
It's.
Will Friedle
I mean, I would have to miss some podcasts and I'd have to miss some stuff, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Danielle Fishel
No, you would enjoy it.
Will Friedle
I think it would. Especially being raised. Being raised by two lawyers. I still. I think I saw my dad in court once. I've never been really in courtrooms or done anything, so I think it'd be fun. By the way, I don't know why I said plumbers not making any money.
Danielle Fishel
They make so much money.
Will Friedle
Make a fortune, they make a fortune.
Ryder Strong
Plumbers, plumbers.
Danielle Fishel
400 an hour.
Will Friedle
Yeah, that's.
Danielle Fishel
That's an exaggeration. But.
Will Friedle
But it's a lot. Plumbers.
Danielle Fishel
A lot of money.
Will Friedle
Yeah. Make a lot of money.
Danielle Fishel
Also worth it. Can't. Can't do the plumbing. Not gonna. Not gonna open that up.
Will Friedle
I honestly think it was so funny. I was thinking about that the other day. Like, if I went back to school, it would be a trade school, and I think I would learn plumbing.
Marisol Nichols
I think that's really.
Will Friedle
Yeah, I do. I think. I think it's. You're your own boss. I could see people. Yeah, I have it all day now. I might as well have the education. Exactly. God, I'd call it drop a pencil plumbing to see if you could get it right in the crack or. Yeah, be great. It could be good.
Danielle Fishel
Welcome to Pod Meats World. I'm Danielle Fishel.
Ryder Strong
I'm Ryder Strong.
Will Friedle
And I'm Will Friedle. Remember when dinner was whatever mom threw together?
Ryder Strong
Now it's jobs, kids, and chaos.
Danielle Fishel
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Will Friedle
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Ryder Strong
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Danielle Fishel
The kids ate without fighting, which is a modern miracle.
Will Friedle
Authentic regional recipes. Whether it's Danielle's vacation vibes or Ryder piling on the salads, drinking True Nature is a total win.
Danielle Fishel
Head to TrueNatureMeats.comWorld and get 20% off, plus free New York strip. Brazilian garlic beef and Mediterranean chicken.
Ryder Strong
Won't last long, so hurry.
Will Friedle
TrueNatureMeats.comWorld we're obsessed.
Danielle Fishel
Go to TrueNatureMeats.comWorld and join us.
Will Friedle
And now, insights into TurboTax business.
TurboTax Host
Jresha, your journey's pretty incredible. Engineer turned entrepreneur, and now you're helping hundreds of coaches and freelancers build thriving businesses. What made you realize you didn't have to do it all alone?
Jereisha Hawk
It was when I realized the cost of figuring everything out was too expensive. Not just financially, but in my time and my momentum as well.
TurboTax Host
You're now partnering with TurboTax Business and something we hear from listeners is that talking to a real expert makes all the difference. How does having a TurboTax expert fit into this bigger message of you don't have to go it alone?
Jereisha Hawk
Yeah, a surgeon wouldn't try to perform an operation on themselves. Most lawyers wouldn't represent themselves in court. I think the same thing needs to be true with how we approach taxes and business, that you shouldn't be trying to do everything and figure it out on your own, especially when those financial decisions that you're making have really large consequences. And that clarity comes from working with someone who actually knows what they're doing, who can remove that layer of anxiety that most business owners are feeling and quietly carrying around, especially as it relates to taxes.
TurboTax Host
And for anyone listening who's been sitting on a business idea or maybe a side hustle, what's one small step they can take to move forward? And how can tapping into a turbo tax expert help them feel more confident as they get started?
Jereisha Hawk
Open a separate bank account today, specifically set aside for money for your taxes. It sounds small, but that one of separation creates clarity that most business owners don't have. You stop panicking at tax time. You stop guessing what's yours to spend versus what belongs to the IRS. And then before you file anything, talk to a TurboTax expert.
TurboTax Host
Final question. Where can people find more of your insights or learn TurboTax experts for business?
Jereisha Hawk
You can find me on Instagram @jereishahawk. I also have a podcast called Jereisha Said. That's where I go deeper on some of these topics. And if today's conversation around the financial side really resonated with you, check out turbotax.com backslash business. Especially if you're a sole proprietor or a single member llc, you're newly self employed trying to file taxes for the first time.
TurboTax Host
Jeresha, thank you so much for joining us today.
Jereisha Hawk
I'm really happy to be here.
Will Friedle
Thanks for having me giving you the
TurboTax Host
inside tips on your small business taxes.
Will Friedle
Hi, this is Ryder Strong and Will Friedle from Pod Meets World.
Ryder Strong
When I think of important phone calls, I think about one from 30 years ago that changed my life forever. I remember getting word that I was cast on a new Friday night sitcom called Boy Meets World and a phone call from the agent and the rest is history.
Will Friedle
Well, did you know that 2026 will mark the 150th anniversary of the first ever phone call. It took place on March 10, 1876.
Ryder Strong
And from the call that sparked it all, from the first long distance phone
Will Friedle
lines, to the first lines across America and the first lines across the Atlantic,
Ryder Strong
to the first round the world call, the first commercial cell Service and the
Will Friedle
first 911 system, AT&T has been connecting people for 150 years in so many different ways.
Ryder Strong
Can you imagine all the important phone calls that have taken place over 150 years?
Will Friedle
How many lives were saved?
Ryder Strong
How many people asked if your refrigerator is running?
Will Friedle
You hang up first.
Ryder Strong
No, you hang up first.
Will Friedle
Okay, let's just hang up at the same time.
Ryder Strong
It's been 150 years of connecting. An absolutely mind blowing stat.
Will Friedle
And one of the reasons it's come this far is AT&T. Thanks. AT&T. And happy birthday phone calls.
Jereisha Hawk
Connecting changes everything.
Marisol Nichols
AT&T.
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.
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
Marisol Nichols
foreign.
Danielle Fishel
Topanga found themselves in a less than ideal college living situation. You know, in the merry dorms that every college offers, they did have at least one thing going for Them. A good actress living next door. She played Kelly, the young mom neighbor having issues with her colicky baby, visiting the newlyweds for some change of scenery. She stood out during our rewatch, mostly because we've become so used to subpar performances from ourselves. And she was just great. Subtle, emotional, connected, not checked out. Wonder what that felt like. And then when we started researching her in real life, we realized her on screen talent isn't even the most interesting thing about her. Best known as Audrey Griswold in 1997's Vegas Vacation, she was one of the rotating actresses to play the part with her version, traveling to the city of Sin with her father Clark, and finding trouble on the strip with one Nick Papa Giorgio. Or more recently, you saw her on Riverdale where she played Hermione Lodge, Veronica's very cool but also criminally villainous mom. And in movies like Scream 2, can't hardly wait and Spiral from the saw franchise. And TV shows galore like Charmed, Beverly Hills, 90210, Friends, Teen Wolf, and 24. The list just goes on and on. But outside of the industry, she has somehow worked with former FBI and CIA agents, Navy SEALs and local cops to help trap child sex predators in sting operations, acting as bait, playing many roles to help bus criminals both here in the US and globally. She's even started her own non profit organization to spread awareness of the epidemic and prevent more children from becoming victims, especially in our now very online existence. But even with a calling much more important than some 90s TGIF sitcom she appeared in two episodes of. We have convinced her to come on to talk to us today about her time on the set of Boy Meets World and so much more. So welcome to Pod Meets World, our neighbor who's getting very little sleep, actress and activist Marisol Nichols. Hello.
Marisol Nichols
Okay. I slept an hour. Oh. Because I got a new puppy last night. Oh my goodness.
Danielle Fishel
Who is that?
Marisol Nichols
He's not so happy about it.
Will Friedle
Oh, no. Really?
Marisol Nichols
Gingerbread?
Danielle Fishel
Gingerbread.
Will Friedle
Oh, no.
Danielle Fishel
Well, you know, Gingerbread is very tired now because she was up all night.
Marisol Nichols
All night, Exactly.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Ryder Strong
Oh, my God.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, my gosh.
Danielle Fishel
I can. I can. That little puppy on. I could smell the puppy breath from here. I just love it.
Marisol Nichols
Smells like baby powder. It's kind of amazing.
Danielle Fishel
So cute. And those super sharp little needle teeth the puppies have.
Ryder Strong
Are we. No one's going to comment that this is like life imitating art because the part you played on Boy Meets World was literally you not being able to sleep.
Marisol Nichols
I know. I. I know. I Rewatched it. I was like, oh, that's funny and ironic.
Danielle Fishel
Yep, there it is.
Marisol Nichols
Yes. Well, hello.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you so much for being here. We are so happy to get to talk to you. We recently watched your episodes of Boy Meets and we immediately thought, oh, look, a real actor working with us.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, my God, that's so kind.
Danielle Fishel
You were so, so great and so grounded. And we have talked a lot about in season seven for quite a bit of it. We are very checked out and we can see it in ourselves. And so to see you so grounded and present was really a bright spot.
Ryder Strong
Refreshing.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Well, look, coming onto that, I would have never even rewatching it. I was like, you don't check that at all. I was like, oh, I see why this show was such a success.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you. Well, we know that you grew up in Chicago, far away from the bright lights of Hollywood. Were you always an outgoing kid? A child actor type?
Marisol Nichols
No, not in the least. I was. I was really shy. I was really introverted for the longest time. And then. And then I became like, big chip on her shoulder kind of girl who blew off most of high school, blew up lockers. I was like a complete trouble.
Will Friedle
What? You were Sean Hunter. Sean Hunter?
Marisol Nichols
Really?
Will Friedle
That's writer's character. Yeah, writer's character from Boy. He blew up mailboxes.
Ryder Strong
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, okay. I blew up, by accident a whole row of freshman lockers.
Will Friedle
How do you. How does one do that? By accident.
Marisol Nichols
So if you remember, in the 80s, they had these clickers which were like curling irons you didn't have to plug in.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Battery everything.
Marisol Nichols
In the 80s, so in between classes, you could take your clicker and curl your hair really high.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And so I was blowing off class as usual during lunch hour and kind of opening up freshman lockers. And I saw this one that didn't have a lock on it. I saw this girl's locker with a. One of these butane curling irons. And so I don't know what I was thinking or why, but I took a piece of paper and I wrapped it around it and I lit it on fire. And I ran downstairs to the lunchroom and waited for the big fire alarm. And then when the fire alarm went off and everyone got out of class, I was like, you're welcome. You're welcome. Thinking that it was just a fire alarm. So then we were out there for, like, 45 minutes. And then the bomb squad showed up, and I was like, oh, like, this is way bigger than I thought. And they thought a bomb went off because the Entire. Because it was like a bomb. And the entire freshman. Like that row of freshman lockers blew up. Amazing. Toppled. Oh, it was a whole.
Ryder Strong
Did you cop to it? Did you say it was me?
Marisol Nichols
It was too late. I already told everyone it was me. Like an idiot.
Will Friedle
Did you get kicked out of school?
Marisol Nichols
I got kicked out for 10 days, which was actually fine with me because I didn't want to go to school anyway. So I kind of understand the punishment, but that's kind of who I was, so.
Will Friedle
Wow.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah. And I had just moved to LA when I shot your guys show. I think maybe I was there like less than a year.
Danielle Fishel
Wow.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah. No, I was not an actor in like 98.
Danielle Fishel
98 or 99.
Marisol Nichols
Is that when we shot it?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
I mean, okay. No, I moved the end of 95, so I've been.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Okay. And when you came to la, did you already have an agent? When did you decide you were going to be an actor?
Marisol Nichols
It was really weird. But there was a scout that was coming through, Julie Hutchinson. I wonder if she's still around from Universe. She was coming through Chicago and putting all, like, the Chicago actors on tape. And instead of me doing like a monologue, which you would normally do as a Chicago actor, she's like, you know, you're kind of right for this show that we're trying to cast. Why don't you read for that?
Danielle Fishel
What was the show?
Marisol Nichols
It was called My Guys. It was at Sunset Gower. So it was Paul Thomas Witt, if you remember.
Will Friedle
Sure.
Marisol Nichols
They did Golden Girls. They did, you know.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And they ended up like a couple months later flying me out and testing me, which I didn't even know what that meant. And I ended up getting the job. And so I came out with a show.
Ryder Strong
Wow.
Marisol Nichols
It was pretty cool.
Will Friedle
And a criminal record. A show and a criminal record. That's pretty great.
Danielle Fishel
So I did a little math, and it seems as though you booked Vegas Vacation real fast after moving to la.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, pretty fast.
Danielle Fishel
So you were doing the show My guys. Do you remember the audition for Vegas Vacation auditions?
Marisol Nichols
Because I auditioned for three months. Three months of auditioning. And every time I was like, they're never gonna cast me. Like. Cause to me, you know, Audrey Griswold was like the all American girl. You know, it's Marisol. And I was like this little Latina kid from Chicago. I'm like, it's never going to happen. And so they just kept bringing me in and bringing me in. And I think out of the last one was like, okay, we're Flying you to Vegas to read for it. And I was like, okay, we need
Danielle Fishel
to see you in Vegas.
Ryder Strong
You know, I screen tested for that.
Will Friedle
Did you?
Ryder Strong
Yeah, I read with Chevy. Like, I went back like four or five times too. And then I read with Chevy Chase, and Brittany Murphy was there auditioning.
Marisol Nichols
Brittany Murphy was originally Kat.
Will Friedle
She was. Okay.
Ryder Strong
That's what I thought in my mind. Britney had the part when I. When we walked out. And like, the rest of that day, I was like, oh, Britney got this part. And then I never saw the movie or anything. I guess I was just, you know, like, ah, I didn't get it.
Marisol Nichols
I did the exact same thing. I don't. Oh, you didn't hire me. Fine.
Will Friedle
I can watch it. Fine. Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
But, yeah, Britney, they offered it to Brittany orphan. I guess she turned it down. And so then they flew me out last minute to Vegas, and we're like, okay, well, let's do her again. And then I ended up doing it. Yeah.
Ryder Strong
Wow.
Marisol Nichols
But that was. That was the first time I've ever even been on a movie set. So I didn't know. I didn't know anything. I didn't know what a mark was. Like, I didn't. I didn't know anything. It was brand new.
Danielle Fishel
And you hadn't, like, doing the show, doing my guys. You didn't learn any of that stuff. Like, you didn't. You didn't have.
Marisol Nichols
I did, but we only did, like, six episodes. Okay. So I was still, like, brand new. And.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And I came from theater, so that was sort of like theater because it was a live audience, you know.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And so I was like, well, I'm just gonna do that thing, like, the theater thing. So this was sort of. You know, there's a lot longer, you know, on one scene. It was a very exhausting thing. Yeah. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
What was? Shooting in, like. Yeah, Vegas. Real Vegas casinos.
Marisol Nichols
Like, I was. Okay. So we were doing split shifts, which was like, I was dead, you know? Like, I was starting work sometimes at 2 in the afternoon and getting home at like, 4 in the afternoon or 4 in the morning and walking through a casino.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
So if you imagine after working 14 hours and then you're walking through ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. I actually have. I actually have a funny Vegas story, But it's gonna paint me in a very bad light. So just know that Worse than blue
Will Friedle
lap, a school is pretty cool.
Danielle Fishel
Go for it.
Marisol Nichols
But again, I was a very different person back then.
Jereisha Hawk
Totally.
Marisol Nichols
So I had to get up. I think it was. I was getting up at four in the morning for a pickup. You know. You know how it is. And the. And we were staying all in the Tropicana, like, the whole crew, almost everyone was staying in the Tropicana.
Danielle Fishel
Rest in peace.
Marisol Nichols
Exactly. And the room next to me at, like, midnight was having a giant party. And it was loud, and I was like, I have to get up in four hours. And I. So I called downstairs and I was like, hey, I'm here with the movie. Is there any way you could just move me for the night just so I can sleep? Because there's a party next door and, like, we'll get back to you. Instead, they sent security over there to tell them to keep it down. So the guy. You know, so I hear through the walls, Vegas, right. In hindsight, I understand. But I had to get up for work.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And so I didn't sleep at all. And at 4 in the morning, when I was about to walk out the door, they were quiet. And I was like. Oh, and like, every evil.
Will Friedle
My turn.
Marisol Nichols
Exactly. And so I. I had my big, like, ghetto blaster that I had brought from home because I was there for three months. And I put, like, Metallica and, like, whoever else I had on CD and moved the speakers against, like, the door.
Ryder Strong
Oh, my God. Hit play and walk away.
Marisol Nichols
Up and press play and walked out.
Will Friedle
Oh, ye.
Danielle Fishel
I love it.
Ryder Strong
That's great.
Danielle Fishel
Love it.
Marisol Nichols
Needless to say, production moved me to. I moved to a condo after that.
Danielle Fishel
I was gonna say they really should have thought about the idea that Cass needs to stay somewhere where they can get good rest. Not in a casino.
Will Friedle
There. Now, there's obviously been story after story that has come out lately about Chevy Chase and what it's like to work with him. Did you have a good experience shooting the film?
Marisol Nichols
Amazing. With me.
Will Friedle
That's great.
Danielle Fishel
That's great.
Marisol Nichols
He was fantastic. He, like. I remember I invited him out to pool, and he came. I was like, really? And he came and he played pool with, like, with me. And he was great. He was fine. I think he was. So. At the time, like, Howard Stern was attacking him. Like, everyone was kind of, like, on him. And I don't know if that humbled him, but he was nice. He was super nice. He took me.
Will Friedle
That's great.
Marisol Nichols
He was great.
Will Friedle
I'm glad to hear that.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, he was great. Was he good with you when you tested with him?
Ryder Strong
No. No, it was horrible.
Will Friedle
Was he really smoking a cigar while
Ryder Strong
we were in the room? Like, you know, and, like, I forget. I just have such negative feelings like, it was not good. Like, I just remember feeling challenged by him. I'm not sure what he said or what he did, but it was not like a, hey, let's be funny together. Let's have fun. It was like, show me what you got, kid. Is that all you got? You know, is that vibe? And I just remember walking out being like, screw this, I don't want this job anymore.
Jereisha Hawk
Yeah.
Ryder Strong
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
I'm so sorry. That totally sucks.
Ryder Strong
I'm glad he was good to you.
Marisol Nichols
It's fine with me. God, I'm sorry.
Danielle Fishel
Another one of your very early jobs must have been a little intimidating. You were on Beverly Hills 90210. It was like the hottest show at the time. A position you would find yourself in a few years later. Also on Friends.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
What is your secret to feeling comfortable and avoiding imposter syndrome in these high pressure situations?
Marisol Nichols
I think the whole time I'm like, I. I guess I think it's still gonna go away. Like, it's not really happening. Like, right. Like, like, like the thing. Like, they're never gonna hire me. Why would you hire me? Like that whole. And then I get there and that. And Friends was a bit of a. Like, oh, God. And I'm like supposed to pretend kiss Joey. Which was like, whoa. And like. And I'm just trying to play cool. Like you, you know, you're just trying to not make a jerk out of yourself. And like.
Danielle Fishel
Right, right.
Marisol Nichols
Just going to blend in.
Danielle Fishel
Blend in.
Marisol Nichols
And I don't know what I'm doing here and that kind of, that kind of thing. But fortunately, like with those, like, I've been on sets where they weren't so nice. These guys were super nice.
Will Friedle
Yeah, I've heard that before from a bunch of people.
Marisol Nichols
Nice. Like when you've got like a well oiled machine and then you've got new guys coming into that, that's really hard. Yeah. I've been on the other side of it where guest stars would come in and we're a well oiled machine. And for them it's kind of. It's overwhelming. Yeah. And it makes such a difference when everyone's nice. And you guys were super nice. The Friends cast were super nice. 90210 guys were super nice. So it made it very, very. It made it comfortable. I was very lucky like that, you know, not all sets are like that as you guys, you know.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, well, good. Now before we get into Boy Meets World, I'm gonna make you pick between two movies here.
Marisol Nichols
Okay.
Danielle Fishel
Which one was more fun to shoot Scream 2 or can't hardly wait. And why
Marisol Nichols
Scream 2?
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Why? Because I got to hear the voice. Like, that was. And so when I got to answer the phone and I heard, like, hello, Sydney? I was like, whoa. Like, because I was such a fan and I was such a fan of scary movies at the time. So I think Scream too, because it was just legend. You know what I mean? We Can't Hardly Wait was like, everyone in town is in this freaking movie, and I'm a little like, I hope I do a good job. And, like, it was a little like, okay. But Scream 2 was amazing, and we're shooting nights, and Sarah Michelle Geller couldn't have been nicer. Like, it was like, okay, good. This is good. Because you never know.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Yep.
Danielle Fishel
You could go either way.
Marisol Nichols
Go either way. Exactly. So I'd say Scream 2 and Wes Craven was iconic, you know?
Will Friedle
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
The other night, I warmed true nature meets Japanese teriyaki chicken in a skillet for 2 minutes.
Will Friedle
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Ryder Strong
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Danielle Fishel
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Ryder Strong
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Will Friedle
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Danielle Fishel
Head to TrueNatureMeats.com World. Try this with us.
Will Friedle
And now, insights into TurboTax business.
TurboTax Host
Jerisha, your journey is pretty incredible. Engineer turned entrepreneur. And now you're helping hundreds of coaches and freelancers build thriving businesses. What made you realize you didn't have to do it all alone?
Jereisha Hawk
It was when I realized the cost of figuring everything out was too expensive. Not just financially, but in my time and my momentum as well.
TurboTax Host
You're now partnering with TurboTax Business. And something we hear from listeners is that talking to a real expert makes all the difference. How does having a TurboTax expert fit into this bigger message of you don't have to go it alone?
Jereisha Hawk
Yeah. A surgeon wouldn't try to perform an operation on themselves. Most lawyers wouldn't represent themselves in court. I think the same thing needs to be true with how we approach taxes and business, that you shouldn't be trying to do everything and figure it out on your own, especially when those financial decisions that you're making have really large consequences. And that clarity comes from working with someone who actually knows what they're doing. Who can remove that layer of anxiety that most business owners are feeling and quietly carrying around, especially as it relates to taxes.
TurboTax Host
And for anyone listening who's been sitting on a business idea or maybe a side hustle, what's one small step they can take to move forward? And how can tapping into a TurboTax expert help them feel more confident as they get started?
Jereisha Hawk
Open a separate bank account today specifically set aside for money for your taxes. It sounds small, but that one act of separation creates clarity that most business owners don't have. You stop panicking at tax time. You stop guessing what's yours to spend versus what belongs to the irs. And then before you file anything, talk to a trouble tax tax expert.
TurboTax Host
Final question. Where can people find more of your insights or learn TurboTax experts for business?
Jereisha Hawk
You can find me on Instagram at jereishahawk. I also have a podcast called Jisha Said. That's where I go deeper on some of these topics. And if today's conversation around the financial side really resonated with you, check out turbotax.com backslash business. Especially if you're a sole proprietor or a single member llc, you're newly self employed trying to file taxes for the first time.
TurboTax Host
Jereisha, thank you so much for joining us today.
Jereisha Hawk
I'm really happy to be here.
Will Friedle
Thanks for having me giving you the
TurboTax Host
inside tips on your small business taxes.
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
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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.
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 all right, important question. If you saw a sandwich on a deli menu called the Feeney, what's on it?
Danielle Fishel
Obviously something wise. I'm thinking Dietz and Watson oven classic turkey because it's classic, dependable, and it makes you feel like you should have studied harder before lunch.
Will Friedle
I'm adding the black forest uncured ham smoked the old world way with cracked pepper and sea salt. And when the sandwich arrives, it has to yell Mr. Matthews at the table.
Danielle Fishel
And Dietz and Watson does not cut corners. They've been handcrafting premium deli meats and artisan cheeses for over 85 years, just like Feeny had been with us since sixth grade.
Will Friedle
They're family owned, always doing things the right way, even when it's the hard way.
Ryder Strong
They actually sent us some of their stuff. And I've been loving the flavored cheddar cheeses. Real New York state cheddar, small batch, super creamy. It's dangerous how fast it disappears.
Will Friedle
In my house, I've been making breakfast with their chicken sausage. No antibiotics ever. No nitrates or nitrites added. It is so good. I'm thinking of opening a diner or something to just eat them there.
Danielle Fishel
That's the whole point. They know good taste. Doesn't need a long list of ingredients.
Ryder Strong
Simply made.
Danielle Fishel
Simple as that.
Will Friedle
Visit dietzandwatson.com the right way to learn more about the deets difference.
Danielle Fishel
Jumping into boy meets World. You play Cory and Topanga's neighbor, a young mom named Kelly living in the married dorm. Do you remember your audition at all?
Marisol Nichols
I think I don't.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Marisol Nichols
I think what happened, If I'm not mistaken, and maybe you guys know this, I'm 90. Sure. You had. There was an actress that was hired before me. Oh, they. They got.
Will Friedle
Oh, you replaced somebody.
Marisol Nichols
And I replaced somebody. Really nervous.
Will Friedle
Par for the course on our show.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
So that's what happened.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And I was more nervous because I didn't audition. Are they gonna like what I'm doing with this? Like, is this okay?
Danielle Fishel
So how did. Who did you know that were you. Someone was like, let's get Marisol in here.
Marisol Nichols
I think maybe it was because I had done 90210. I had done Vegas Vacation, but do
Danielle Fishel
you think it was casting or do you.
Marisol Nichols
Was it Michael?
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Casting. Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Because I didn't know anybody.
Will Friedle
Wow. Did you. So were you. Were you there for the table read or did you come in? So, yeah, I wonder. We must have read with somebody else and got.
Marisol Nichols
I don't remember that at all.
Will Friedle
Okay.
Marisol Nichols
I didn't do a table read.
Will Friedle
Okay. So yeah, we must have been there with somebody else.
Marisol Nichols
Wow.
Will Friedle
Okay.
Marisol Nichols
And then your director was. What was your director's name? He was super nice.
Danielle Fishel
Well, we had the week. The. Who did.
Will Friedle
Was it McCracken?
Danielle Fishel
Jeff McCracken. I assume it's Jeff McCracken.
Will Friedle
Very tall guy. Tall, good looking dude, brunette.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, yeah, he was really welcoming. Like, he was really probably. But it was. I remember there was a lot going on on your right side. There was a lot going on.
Danielle Fishel
There was a lot going on.
Marisol Nichols
Okay. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
You probably then also would have hopped right into. It would have been a Monday. So you would have had a producer's run through on like your first day of work.
Marisol Nichols
Yes, yes.
Will Friedle
Okay. I'm curious, what do you mean by there was a lot going on?
Marisol Nichols
Well, I can't remember. Like, I remember the producers weren't very happy.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Right.
Marisol Nichols
And I didn't know why. I didn't know why. And so they were. Someone was very angry.
Ryder Strong
I feel like we felt this when we were watching. This is the episode where we were like, something was going on.
Danielle Fishel
Something's going on.
Marisol Nichols
Because maybe something was very. And I. And I. It was. That was also like my first experience of seeing that.
Ryder Strong
This is after the honeymoon, right? This is post honeymoon. You guys come back.
Will Friedle
Well, yeah, so the honeymoon episode, it
Ryder Strong
would have been following that.
Marisol Nichols
And yeah, somebody was. They were just. They were very forceful in their notes. We'll put it to that.
Will Friedle
Oh, God. Every day. No, that was every single day.
Marisol Nichols
Well, it was like everyone was sitting down and it was like time for a meeting or something.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Will Friedle
No, that's.
Ryder Strong
That's just every.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah. And it was very. I was like, wow. Okay. All right. Okay.
Will Friedle
Oh, yeah, that. No, that was. Okay. So nothing was going on. That was just every day.
Danielle Fishel
It was just a normal one day.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, yeah.
Ryder Strong
That was just Tuesday on Boy Meets World. That's.
Will Friedle
Yes.
Ryder Strong
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
That's so interesting. Did you know of the show before you ended up on our set?
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, it was wild. I mean, for me, I was still this like, new kid from Chicago. And like, there's. There's something really not like, there's something really, I think, magical about being still green and not growing up in the business and like, okay. Like, there was a. There was a freedom, I think, that I had. That kind of changes a little as you go through the business. You know what I mean? You learn the ropes and you understand how things go. But there was more of. I think there was more of, like, an innocence and a freedom to create that that comes with being brand new.
Ryder Strong
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Do you remember the baby?
Marisol Nichols
A little. Yeah. Because I wasn't. I wasn't. Was it a real baby? It was a real baby.
Danielle Fishel
I think there was a real baby.
Ryder Strong
The second episode, I think it was. Right.
Will Friedle
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
There's at least one shot of the real baby.
Marisol Nichols
I remember that.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And. And I wasn't like, my daughter is the first time I've ever changed a diaper in my life. I didn't ever babysat. I just wasn't. And so I remember, like, oh, okay. Are you sure? All right.
Danielle Fishel
You trust me with this baby?
Marisol Nichols
She's like, okay, okay. Yeah. And I love how calmly I hand her over to you. Okay, here you go. I just met you. Could you watch my baby?
Will Friedle
Well, that was the thing we were always amazed by, is your character. They're like, you never knocked. You just kind of walked in with a baby. Like, hey, here's a baby.
Marisol Nichols
Right?
Will Friedle
I'm trying to find your second episode. I can't find. I'm trying to.
Ryder Strong
Looking at the second one.
Danielle Fishel
It follows it. It would have been right after it. Just the one right after it. So Jerry Levine.
Marisol Nichols
It says Jerry Levine.
Will Friedle
So there you go. So it was Jerry.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, okay, Jerry. So Jerry would have, as the director, been very warm and welcoming and as an actor. So.
Marisol Nichols
Yes, yes, he was an actor. I remember recognizing.
Danielle Fishel
There you go.
Will Friedle
He was in Teen Wolf.
Ryder Strong
He was Stiles from Teen Wolf.
Will Friedle
Stiles and Teen Wolf.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
That's amazing.
Will Friedle
And he was one of. He was that producer. One of that producer's best friends. They grew up together.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, wow. Okay.
Will Friedle
So, yeah. One of Michael Jacobs best friends ever. Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Okay.
Danielle Fishel
Now, during our rewatch, we found ourselves wishing that you had stuck around as Cory and Topanga's neighbor. Like a glimpse into another side of early adult decisions. Do you remember if it was always supposed to only be two episodes for you?
Marisol Nichols
I think it was, like, possibly recurring because I think depended on where you're. And I could see that, like, when rewatching the episodes, I'm like, oh, yeah, I could have seen that. Yes.
Danielle Fishel
It would have actually been great to see your. Your experience have more of an impact on Cory and Topanga. And their future. Do you remember watching the episode when it aired? Did you watch it?
Marisol Nichols
Oh, I didn't watch back then. Yeah. I didn't watch myself. Now I do, but I didn't back then because I was like, ah, it's just weird.
Will Friedle
And I don't know, even Vegas vacation. Did you go to the premiere or do any of that kind of stuff?
Marisol Nichols
We didn't have a premiere. And I remember there was a billboard on.
Ryder Strong
Okay, that's cool.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, I got a billboard. That was amazing. And then I did. I didn't end up watching it in the. I did end up watching it in the theater. I did. Because I was like, this is kind of cool and kind of weird and. And I'd never seen my face that big. So, you know, and why did I let them. Why did I wear my hair like that and like, things like that? So, yeah, so funny.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. You are in so much great TV and movies. Have you ever been recognized for Boy Meets World?
Marisol Nichols
Yes.
Will Friedle
Really sweet.
Marisol Nichols
Yes. Because people, you guys had huge fans. So a 100 I've had, and it'll be like, really? Like, I expect, like, 24 to come off world. I'm like, that's right. Yes.
Will Friedle
Wow. I was on that show. That's right.
Marisol Nichols
Was I? Yes. Well, it's just because you guys had, what, hundreds of episodes, I'm assuming, or 100 episodes at least.
Danielle Fishel
158.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's a lot.
Danielle Fishel
So I want you to know you and will have something in common. A love for fantasy and sci fi books. Oh, really?
Will Friedle
Are you a fantasy fan?
Danielle Fishel
Do you want to trade suggestions?
Marisol Nichols
Well, have you seen Project Hail Mary yet?
Danielle Fishel
No.
Will Friedle
I hear it's amazing.
Ryder Strong
It's so good.
Will Friedle
I can't wait. I can't wait. I'm supposed to be going on Thursday. I'm supposed to be going on Thursday. Wasn't it from the same guy who did the Martian? Yeah, yeah. So, I mean, the Martian was phenomenal.
Marisol Nichols
Have you read the book?
Will Friedle
No.
Marisol Nichols
You have to read the book. Have you read the book Writer?
Will Friedle
No.
Ryder Strong
I just went and saw it and I was blown away.
Marisol Nichols
It's the favorite book I've ever read in my life. Like, I replaced Ender's Game. Like, it is incredible. And so my biggest thing was, like, how is the story gonna go compared to in the movie? Compared to the book?
Will Friedle
And they did it.
Marisol Nichols
Read the book. They did a great job. The book is even more.
Will Friedle
Are you more fantasy? Are you more sci fi?
Marisol Nichols
Both.
Will Friedle
Okay. Both that can be rare in the community to straddle that line. I don't know why.
Marisol Nichols
They're both great. Like, I'm.
Will Friedle
Like, I'm mostly fantasy. This is all my. This is my fantasy collection right behind me. So this is. Yeah, I'm a giant fantasy nerd.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, that's amazing. Okay. Oh, that's great. Yeah, I love. But. But you have to read the book.
Will Friedle
Okay. I hear. I hear the movie's just unbelievable, though. And apparently you have to see it in imax. Everyone's like, you just have to see it.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, I saw it in imax. I came crying.
Ryder Strong
Oh, my God. It's so funny.
Marisol Nichols
But it's incredible. It's incredible.
Will Friedle
Okay, I can't wait.
Danielle Fishel
Now it feels like Riverdale has some similar qualities to Boy Meets World with its cult connection to Die Hard fans. Was it fun for you to work with and help guide a new generation of actors on that show?
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, well, the guiding only happened first season until we went big and then, yeah, we got this. We're good.
Will Friedle
We're good.
Danielle Fishel
Thanks.
Marisol Nichols
But it was really fun, especially I got to reunite with Luke Perry again. And that was. That was really, really cool. And he remembered me, which was amazing.
Jereisha Hawk
Aw.
Danielle Fishel
What was he like to work with?
Marisol Nichols
He was great. He was such a pro and so great and has such great stories. Like, just amazing stories and very generous as an actor. Like, very much like a two way. How do we seen as great as we can make it?
Will Friedle
So he's one of those guys you never hear a bad thing about, ever. Not a single person I've ever talked to who's worked with him, met him, anything, ever said a bad thing about that. Man, that's awesome.
Marisol Nichols
He was just amazing. And we had like a little contest of me and Cami versus Luke and KJ of who bonded more and can't be like, well, we hung out or Cammie came over and Luke was like, yeah, me and KJ went camping. You win. Never mind. You win.
Will Friedle
Were you an Archie fan going into the show at all?
Marisol Nichols
A little bit, yeah. A little bit, yeah. So I knew who. I didn't know who Hermione was, so I was like, who's Hermione? And then when I saw the character, I was like, I can't play her. And then they changed the whole thing around. It was pretty awesome, but a little bit of a fan. Yeah. Yeah.
Will Friedle
Okay, cool. That was my jam growing up when I was a little kid.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, really?
Will Friedle
Archie comics all over the place. Yay.
Marisol Nichols
Oh, amazing. Okay.
Will Friedle
So it was really cool.
Marisol Nichols
So, yeah, we were very different.
Will Friedle
Yes. Very much so very, very different.
Danielle Fishel
Well, we have to get into your work as an undercover decoy in sex trafficking sting operations. We read that in our research originally, and we assumed. Crazy. The only. I assume you're the only Boy Meets World guest star who has done this. Unfortunately, we can't ask Phyllis Diller, but yeah. How did you get into this?
Marisol Nichols
This? I. I fell in. I fell into it. I. I had a woman who was briefing me on the most horrific things that you could possibly ever hear right after I had my baby. And just to be totally blunt, I was completely overwhelmed and horrified and couldn't sleep. And, you know, she would show me videos. Like, it was. It was rough. And I was like, well, I either am going to go crazy, like, just not being. Or I can do something about it and see if this will help me sleep and be a better mom and figure this out rather than, like, you know, go, you know, completely terrified. And so I just like, well, okay, let me just learn as much as I can to figure out if there's something I can do about it. And so then I just started diving in and diving in and meeting with everybody and anybody who would meet with me so I could basically learn and figure out what I could do. And then when I did all that, that my decision was like, okay, this is. No one knows about this back then. This is 2012. 2013. Yeah, 2014. No one knows. So I was like, okay, the only people that know about this are all the bad guys. So if I can make enough noise and the good people know about it, maybe we're all together, figure out what to do about it. And so at the same time, you know, I was going to, like, some Hollywood charity that. That some magazine was sponsoring and Associated Press were there, and they give you that little cheat sheet when you're walking the red carpet. Someone, Access Hollywood goes, why are you here? I'm here because, you know, so and so care about water, and I care about this when you really just memorize the cheat sheet. I was doing that, and I was like, well, what if I did the same thing for trafficking? And I gave the cheat sheet to, like, co stars? And I invited Access Hollywood, and so I literally put it together and kind of did that.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And then I needed a keynote speaker my second year of putting together this event, and this guy came along that was ex CIA and former Homeland Security that just did undercover operations for his entire career. And we hit it off because I was like, where have you been? I've been looking for who gets the kids, like, it's one thing to, like, learn all about it. It's one thing to rehabilitate. It's one thing to educate. Who gets the kids. That was all I cared about. And so we just hit it off. And one day he's like, do you want to come with me on an op? And I'm like, sure. To watch. He's like, yeah. And I'm like, okay. So it was me and his sister and a couple other people, and we went to Haiti, and it was like, whoa. And then on the way back, he was like, actually, I could use a female. We're about to go get some intel from this guy. Why don't you, like, come along and maybe you could. You want to do that? And I was like, okay, what do you want me to do? And he's like, okay. So you're. And you're the female who travels with us who puts together these parties. And here's a baseball cap with undercover, like, a little recording thing. And you're gonna put this pin on so we can record audio. And we got the camera there, and we're just gonna talk and get information. Cause we need to know where the guy's going next so we can follow him there. Are you ready? Let's go.
Will Friedle
Were you ever, I mean, in fear for your safety? I mean, this is. This is a world of.
Marisol Nichols
Not that one.
Will Friedle
But, I mean, it's like.
Marisol Nichols
Because it worked, because I could pull it off. And. And I, you know, I'm an actress, and so I didn't look like. Like, they look like cops. They're big, you know?
Will Friedle
Right.
Marisol Nichols
Ex military, you can tell. You know, And I don't look like one. One.
Will Friedle
And so I. I'm not trying to make a joke, but, I mean, you're one.
Marisol Nichols
Terrified.
Will Friedle
But not just that, but you're also. You're one person who's seen Vegas Vacation away from getting ratted out. Right? I mean, what. I mean, you could have been recognized at any time.
Marisol Nichols
They all got bigger. I had to wear different disguises, and I had to, like, use accents and, like, contact lenses and, like, change everything, because my biggest protection was going to be them not recognizing me. Right. When you go to these horrific situations in these third world countries or you're meeting pedophiles, they don't watch Riverdale.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Marisol Nichols
So. Right, right. They're not exactly the audience for it.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Marisol Nichols
I was more worried about the other Americans that were customers. I was more worried about them recognizing me than the trafficker. So. But to answer your question, yes. Terrified. Like, second Guessing it the entire time. At one time, I wrote a note to my daughter just in case I didn't come back. Oh, it was. It was. It was. I. You know, it was raw. It was. It was as raw as it gets as well.
Will Friedle
And how long did you do this for?
Marisol Nichols
Off and on for a decade. I mean, my last one was a year and a half ago. I got deputized as a sheriff with the sheriff in Michigan. But that stuff's easy because then you got cops there, and they're all. They're all, you know, they've got weapons on them. And. And it's not that. That's not as scary to me as when we're in third world countries. And it's. Yeah. For all. That's a free.
Jereisha Hawk
For all.
Ryder Strong
How does it compare to, like, acting? I mean, is it the same muscle? Is it the same process? Or does it feel different? Or, like, is there a different skill set?
Marisol Nichols
I'm a way better actor when I'm acting for my life. My entire, like, existence. Existence rests on convincing them that I am who I say I am. And this character that I am being, I am committing to. There's no cut. You know, you're 100% committed to this character. And I have to make sure that they think I am who I am. And my accent is fucking perfect, and they buy it.
Will Friedle
How much did the kind of bad you said you were growing up, the different person that you were kind of play into what you were doing then?
Marisol Nichols
It kind of. It's funny because it kind of came full, full circle because to me, the girls that I was trying to help rescue and help, like, I would have, like, had that been now. Like, I was Miss Runaway. I'm run away. I'm doing drugs. I'm doing, like. I was such a rebellious little girl that now, if that had been now, I would have been taken. I would have been fallen into that trap and in a heartbeat, thinking that you know everything, you're just naive and you don't know anything and you don't know it, and you think, you know, your home is the worst place that you could be, and so you're willing to be anywhere else, and then anywhere else turns out to be very, very real.
Danielle Fishel
Right. Right. And you're like, oh, my life at home was actually easy.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
So I felt an obligation. I felt an obligation to do whatever I could to help possibly either get them out of that situation or put one of those guys that would do this to another one behind bars so that another girl. This didn't happen to. I felt obligated. To be totally blunt, I felt obligated.
Will Friedle
Did you ever think there was a time that it's like, nope. Covers blown, Whatever. I'm screwed here. Really.
Marisol Nichols
100 terrified. Terrified.
Will Friedle
God.
Marisol Nichols
I remember, like, going to my partner. I'm like. I'm, like, literally under my breath, like, pretending to take a drink because they're giving us drinks and trying to get me drunk and, like. And I'm like, I can't do this. I can't do this. And he's like, yes, you can. Yes, you can. Terrify. Like, yeah, wait.
Danielle Fishel
They're trying to get you drunk. Why? So that you'll.
Marisol Nichols
Because that's what these people do.
Will Friedle
I mean, these people drink, right?
Marisol Nichols
This is a world where they're. They're partying, they're drunk, drugs, they're high, they're. They're doing the most debaucherous things. And I'm supposed to be that person, right?
Danielle Fishel
You're supposed to.
Marisol Nichols
I had to figure out how to take a drink and spit it out without them seeing, with cameras around, like, I had to do the whole shebang.
Will Friedle
What do you do if they're like, I'm sorry, this is so fascinating to me. What do you do if they, like, offer you drugs like they want? I've seen movies where they're like, I want. You need to do drugs in front of me.
Marisol Nichols
How I was gonna do.
Will Friedle
Oh, man.
Marisol Nichols
Act my way through it. Yeah, act my way through it. Figure it out. No, no, no. I want. I want to be aware so I can watch everything. I like it better this way. I don't know. Right. Figure it out as you. I mean, you literally just figure it out as you. As you go. There's no. There's a script. There's no nothing. There's an objective.
Will Friedle
So crazy.
Marisol Nichols
Objective.
Will Friedle
Right.
Marisol Nichols
Right. Make sure this is those guys. What are the exits? What are the entrances? What are the ages of the girls? What are the things? So we can get all that information over to the guys that are then going to come in as a second team and take them all down. But it's. It. It's.
Will Friedle
I don't know why, when Danielle is telling us about all this stuff, because, you know, they. We do the research and everything, but Danielle puts everything together, and she was telling us about this in my head. I thought you were, like, on Chris Hansen, Dateline, where you're, like, the girl. People come to the house. The idea that you're undercover in Haiti is insane. That's crazy.
Danielle Fishel
That's What?
Marisol Nichols
I mean, like, I actually did the Chris Hansen thing. I actually don't know when my episode airs, but I did the Chris Hansen thing in Michigan. And that's easy, right?
Danielle Fishel
So easy.
Marisol Nichols
There's everywhere. Like, who cares?
Danielle Fishel
What did you play? What role did you play in the Chris Hansen?
Marisol Nichols
The decoy. The, you know, 16 year old decoy.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, so you played it. You played the girl.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah. And. And you know. Yeah, completely. But that's, that's the easy part. That those things are the third world.
Will Friedle
Yeah. The idea of wearing a wire in a third world country is.
Marisol Nichols
That's a different notifying. No wire.
Will Friedle
No wire. Okay. But you had the camera though, right?
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, that's just. That was in one of the situations where we're interviewing the guy when we're going into the trafficking situation. We don't have any. Anything. That's a different story. That is a surrounded. You are in a.
Danielle Fishel
And that's for your safety, actually.
Marisol Nichols
Exactly. You're on their territory.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Because if they, if they discovered your wire, then you're done.
Will Friedle
You're done. You just disappear. You just disappear.
Marisol Nichols
No, that was my biggest concern was like, they're gonna. What if they take me? What if they shoot my partner?
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
What if the backup can't get.
Will Friedle
Was it just two of you? How many people are normally doing this?
Marisol Nichols
Three. Well, it was two of us. It was three of us to go into some of these situations because it made sense. But then we've got a whole team behind us that are like either circling in vans or like. I mean, I hate to say it, but we've got safe houses in case they hear gunshots.
Jereisha Hawk
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
And then we have escape routes for us to run in case something goes bad. Like it, it's.
Danielle Fishel
And who are you playing in this?
Marisol Nichols
It depends on the situation. Sometimes I'm a customer, sometimes I'm a trafficker who's like interviewing some of the merchandise, wants to learn. Sometimes I'm. I'm a girl who's being trafficked. Like, it just depends on the situation and what works.
Will Friedle
Please tell me you're writing a film about this.
Marisol Nichols
I know at one point Sony. It's funny because at one point Sony bought my life rights. When it all came out.
Ryder Strong
Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
Like, okay, what do you want to do? And I was like, I want to make a TV show. Like the word out of it.
Will Friedle
Great idea.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah. And then we pitched everyone like, we had a show, we had a script, had a showrunner, everything. And we pitched like, we pitched Apple and we pitched Amazon and Hulu. And other people. And everyone was like, no, we don't want to do a show on trafficking. And then Sound of Freedom came out like six months later.
Danielle Fishel
Right, right.
Marisol Nichols
Like, oh, okay. So. But yeah, there you go.
Ryder Strong
My God.
Will Friedle
Couldn't imagine. I couldn't.
Marisol Nichols
And I understand it because it's really. I mean, it's dark.
Danielle Fishel
It's dark.
Marisol Nichols
Dark.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, dark.
Marisol Nichols
It's as dark as it gets.
Danielle Fishel
Well, we know you have your own non profit organization focusing on things like protecting our kids online and even sharing your own experiences in the field. It's called the foundation for a Slavery Free World. How can people learn more about it?
Marisol Nichols
Well, they can go on slaveryfreeworld.org and there I also have education materials on that. But I also do a podcast called the Marisol Nichols Podcast where I have like, like guys that. I've gone undercover with different experts in the field. Like experts from like the national center for Missing Exploited Children. This is how you keep your children shaped. These are the things you should look out for. Experts from Meta. Like literally the head of global safety for Meta on there, telling parents and teenagers how to protect themselves online and what to look for and all of those. All of those things. So you can always go to my
Danielle Fishel
podcast, Marisa Nichols Podcast. That's amazing. One last thing you. Are you aware that you were in exactly 24 episodes of 24. Do you think that's a sign at all?
Marisol Nichols
I was just so happy I didn't die because I was waiting to die. Like, every time you get the script, you're like, did I die? Am I alive? Great. I was so happy.
Will Friedle
There are so many shows that are like that. They said that when, you know, 24 is one. Sopranos was one. These kind of shows where you just, they wouldn't tell you and then you'd read the script and be like, oh, this is my last week of work.
Marisol Nichols
Here it is.
Danielle Fishel
Here's my last day.
Will Friedle
I didn't imagine in that rough. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
How old is your daughter now?
Marisol Nichols
She's 17.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, my gosh.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Would you ever let your daughter get into the entertainment industry? Is she in the entertainment industry?
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, she. She is more behind the scenes. So she's an artist. She's an incredible artist. It's ridiculous. Her stuff's like slowly starting to go viral now.
Ryder Strong
Wow.
Marisol Nichols
Which is amazing. She's like, Look, I got 11,000 views on my reveal.
Will Friedle
That's really cool.
Marisol Nichols
Just on her art on social media ever, just. Which is really amazing.
Will Friedle
Is she a painter? What kind of medium is it?
Marisol Nichols
She draws. She's an artist. She creates all these. But she's like. She creates all these characters, and then she makes soundtracks and theme songs for each character, color palette, wardrobes. Like, she's creating a whole show. She'll be one for me. She'll be one of those guys on, like, on YouTube that created a show and made, like, a gazillion dollars.
Danielle Fishel
She's like, yeah, let's plug her social media so we can find it.
Marisol Nichols
It. Yeah, it's Rainy Laney.
Danielle Fishel
Rainy Laney. Okay.
Marisol Nichols
Because her name is Rain Cute. And she won't let me follow her because she's worried that people will follow her because of me. It's a thing.
Danielle Fishel
She wants her own identity. Yeah.
Marisol Nichols
R A I N E Y dot L A I N Y.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, great.
Marisol Nichols
Rainy Cute.
Danielle Fishel
Amazing.
Will Friedle
Oh, wow. Oh, so she. Is she big into, like. Like, the manga stuff and.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, but she, like. Like, I don't know if you can see it.
Will Friedle
What's the other one I'm thinking of is. Yeah, she. It's anime. Is she big into kind of anime and stuff like that?
Marisol Nichols
And then she's such a good kid. Like, I'm very lucky. She's a. She's not like me at all.
Ryder Strong
She's not blowing up lockers like, oh, my God, no.
Marisol Nichols
She'll be. No, mama. Manga's too inappropriate. Okay. And, like, she would fast forward friends because she's like, it's too inappropriate. Wow.
Danielle Fishel
Look at her.
Will Friedle
This is cool. Yeah, it's very, very anime vibes. Digging that.
Danielle Fishel
So cool. Well, Marisol, thank you so much for being here and sharing your very interesting life with us and career. Good luck getting some sleep tonight with gingerbread. It looks like Gingerbread's out for a while, so. You know what they say. Sleep when the baby sleeps.
Will Friedle
Sleep when the puppy sleeps. Sleep when the puppy sleeps.
Ryder Strong
Oh, my gosh.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, my gosh. Look at that face. So time for you to just lay right down next door.
Marisol Nichols
Exactly. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much.
Danielle Fishel
It was great to see you.
Marisol Nichols
Bye.
Ryder Strong
Bye.
Danielle Fishel
That is.
Ryder Strong
That's an incredible.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Ryder Strong
What a. I just could never do that.
Will Friedle
That's the thing. So sue and I talk about stuff like this. As somebody who deals with anxiety.
Marisol Nichols
Oh.
Will Friedle
Trying to go into. Into situations where you have to be, like, the cool C. Like, in my head, I'd be like, yeah, I could do that. There's no way be able to do any of that stuff.
Ryder Strong
I've said it. I've freaking. I think I've said it before. I get nervous at airport security when I've done nothing wrong.
Will Friedle
Nothing on me. And I'm like, police officer behind you with the lights on. It's like, oh, my God, Nine. Nine gallons of heroin on me. Like, no, I've got nothing. Why. Why am I so upset? Oh, I couldn't imagine. What a life. I mean, again, Danielle, when you told us, I thought it was like, yeah,
Ryder Strong
she's doing it all here.
Will Friedle
And it's that kind of stuff where she's online, like, pretending to be going into, like, Haiti to do this stuff. That's insane.
Marisol Nichols
Yeah, yeah.
Ryder Strong
Takes a certain toughness.
Marisol Nichols
Absolutely.
Will Friedle
Hell, yes.
Danielle Fishel
I should have asked her. Did it end up making her feel better, or did it make her. Did it stress her? You know, like, she ran into it thinking, like, I'm not able to sleep. I have a baby, and it's ruined my life. The things I can't unhear and I can't.
Ryder Strong
She was motivated by doing good for the world, though, and I think. Think she's got to feel good about that.
Will Friedle
But I wanted. I didn't want to get too much into it, but I wanted to ask about the first friend who was showing
Ryder Strong
her all that stuff.
Danielle Fishel
Well, that's what I'm saying.
Will Friedle
It's like, was that the government showing, or was that just a friend, like, showing her all, like, stuff?
Marisol Nichols
I think.
Danielle Fishel
I think it was somebody who. Who works in the field.
Will Friedle
Is that okay?
Danielle Fishel
Who was like, I. I do this work, and here are the stories that I have because of it. Not like, a friend who's just like, watch this.
Jereisha Hawk
Yeah.
Will Friedle
Awfulness.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, yeah. No, no, no.
Will Friedle
Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Well, anyway, thank you for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. As always, you can follow us on Instagram Pod Meet. You can send us your emails podmeetsworldshowmail.com and we've got. Merch.
Will Friedle
I got nothing. I got nothing.
Ryder Strong
Merch.
Will Friedle
I got. I'm still. I'm still nervous for the stuff she did years ago.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly.
Marisol Nichols
Exactly.
Will Friedle
So I got nothing.
Danielle Fishel
Merch. Podmeetsworldshow.com will send us out.
Will Friedle
We love you all. Pod dismissed. Pod Meets World is Neiheart podcast, produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Rider Strong Song executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbaksh, 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 @podmeatsworldshow or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com you ever show up late to the game and your friends already saved your seat, your drink, even a plate
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Episode Date: April 6, 2026
Host(s): Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Ryder Strong
Guest: Marisol Nichols
This episode of Pod Meets World welcomes actress and activist Marisol Nichols, who appeared as Kelly, Cory and Topanga’s sleep-deprived neighbor, in two memorable episodes of Boy Meets World. The hosts and Marisol reflect on her time on the show, her unlikely path from Chicago misfit to Hollywood, and her incredible work fighting child trafficking as an undercover operative. The conversation is a mix of nostalgia, behind-the-scenes insights, and jaw-dropping accounts of real-world heroism.
| Timestamp | Segment / Subject | |-----------|---------------------------------------------| | 03:13 | Jury duty stories among the hosts | | 15:52 | Danielle introduces Marisol Nichols | | 18:09 | Marisol’s new puppy and sleep deprivation | | 19:39 | Childhood and “blowing up lockers” story | | 23:29 | Auditioning for Vegas Vacation | | 27:50 | On working with Chevy Chase | | 29:06 | 90210 and Friends guest spot experiences| | 30:41 | Scream 2 vs. Can’t Hardly Wait | | 36:48 | BMW role, replacing another actor | | 40:54 | Handling a real baby prop for the first time| | 43:51 | Sci-fi/fantasy recommendations | | 45:37 | Working with Luke Perry on Riverdale | | 47:09 | Genesis of anti-trafficking activism | | 51:09 | Close calls; writing a letter to her daughter| | 52:06 | “I’m a way better actor...” | | 58:07 | Her nonprofit’s mission and podcast |
This episode is a rollercoaster of nostalgia, candid confessions, and nail-biting real-life undercover adventure. Marisol Nichols shares stories from her pre-acting Chicago “troublemaker” years, her leap to Hollywood, and her time alongside the always-classic “Boy Meets World” cast—as well as insights into her more recent, high-stakes work to combat child trafficking. The hosts’ genuine warmth and surprise blend with Marisol’s hard-won wisdom, making this a standout, deeply human episode.