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Tiffany
This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.
Will Friedle
Ever been at 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 starting January 14th. 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.
Tiffany
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, check out season four of Mind the Business small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studios and Intuit QuickBooks.
Ryder Strong
In this latest season, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Janice Torres are talking to self starters about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and how QuickBooks helps you to 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. Save on appliances at the Home Depot.
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Tiffany
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Tiffany
At the Home Depot.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
How doers get more done Free delivery on appliance purchases of $999 or more offer valid January 8th through the 28th US only. Store online for details. Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable ind. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra, SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available@public.com disclosures these days, it.
Okta Advertiser Voice
Seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn, every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of just jeopardizing it. Fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent, secure any agent. Okta secures AI.
Will Friedle
So you know how some of the breakups that you've had in your life are difficult, Some are easier and I've.
Ryder Strong
Never had any breakups.
Will Friedle
That's right.
Ryder Strong
Riders is my first rider bin with.
Will Friedle
Alex for his entire life. No, but like, some people just don't want to let you go no matter what you do. They just don't. I've. I've had that recently.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
What?
Will Friedle
Yes. Where no matter how hard I try to leave, Terminex just doesn't want to let me go. I started dating Orkin. We're in a very healthy relationship.
Ryder Strong
But Terminex is just every day calls.
Will Friedle
And texts starting at 8am Actual physical people calling.
Ryder Strong
No, they're not like robo calls.
Will Friedle
It's Terminix. I think we can work this out. Do you like, I know you answer. No, I just. There'll be voicemails. Like, you could tell they've been drinking, They've been up all night crying. It's sad.
Danielle Fishel
Why did you break up with them?
Will Friedle
Because they were expensive and they weren't really doing much. And the Orkin guy, really cute. It just. It was new. It was exciting and so healthier.
Ryder Strong
It seems like it was healthier. It seems like you made the right decision.
Will Friedle
They were listening to me, Danielle, is what it was. As opposed to just, oh, we've been with. We've been with. You know, you're with somebody for three, four years and they start to kind of like, well, I didn't need to get all the cobwebs or all the spiders, and it's like, oh, you're phoning in our relationship right now.
Ryder Strong
So it's not about termites. I don't even know what Terminix.
Will Friedle
Terminix is just kind of an. Terminix work in its pest control. Exactly.
Ryder Strong
You know, and you pay them on a regular basis?
Will Friedle
Yeah, it's a monthly service. And they come.
Danielle Fishel
They come to my house twice a month.
Will Friedle
Terminex or Orkin Western. Oh, my God, you're with a third. Okay, interesting. So I'm in a relationship now with Orkin, but terminex this morning, 8. 8am hey, it's Terminex. Just thinking about you. Just wondering what you're up to. And I'm good without you. But if, you know, if you did ever want to come back, I'm sure we could work something. It's unbelievable. I've never had a breakup like this in my life. They won't let me go.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, I mean, I get it. You're hard to. You're hard to leave.
Will Friedle
Will, I. I understand it, too, but sometimes you gotta let go for the organ, man.
Danielle Fishel
I did. I did recently get an email from an ex that I have not spoken.
Tiffany
To in.
Danielle Fishel
13 years.
Will Friedle
Wait, a real one?
Ryder Strong
Not a message.
Tiffany
They had your.
Ryder Strong
Your email or did they.
Danielle Fishel
Yes, I knew that they. I knew that they had my email, but, like, 13, we've not said one word to each other for 13 years.
Will Friedle
Was it a good reach out? Was it a bad.
Danielle Fishel
He was asking for money.
Tiffany
Oh, God, no. Yeah.
Ryder Strong
Oh, that's. No. That's so sad. I thought you were gonna say it was like, you know, hey, I've been thinking about.
Will Friedle
Yeah. Or I did this to you back in the day and I wanted to apologize or something.
Danielle Fishel
So. GoFundMe.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Hmm.
Tiffany
Oh, my God.
Will Friedle
I thought I'd send it to your other email.
Ryder Strong
Go fund me.
Tiffany
Go you.
Will Friedle
That's the shirt I want. Go fund me. Go.
Danielle Fishel
Go fund me.
Ryder Strong
I said. Yeah, I'm a go you.
Will Friedle
Oh, my God, that's tough. So, yes, please, Terminex. I've moved on.
Danielle Fishel
Check out Western. Check out Western.
Will Friedle
I might have to check out Western because I'm having. I have a rat problem right now in the pool controls.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, no.
Will Friedle
So they have to. Before I get a new heater, they have to go in and get the rat.
Danielle Fishel
I think Western is actually.
Ryder Strong
Maybe you should start their own.
Will Friedle
Part of their love is a rat in a pool.
Danielle Fishel
Eastern.
Ryder Strong
Western.
Will Friedle
Because that would be exactly what I'm looking for? No.
Danielle Fishel
I think Western's really big on the rats. They're good at. They're good at them. Yeah. So maybe check them out. Check them out.
Will Friedle
Oh my God, a third date. I don't know.
Danielle Fishel
Oh God, so hard. Welcome to Podmeats World. I'm Danielle Fishel.
Ryder Strong
I'm Ryder Strong.
Will Friedle
And I'm 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. Starting January 14th. 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.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI, it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available@public.com disclosures these days it.
Okta Advertiser Voice
Seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn, every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business. Instead of jeopardizing It Fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agent's identity, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent. Secure any agent. Okta secures AI.
Jenna Kim Jones
Breaking news, everybody. Not everything is terrible. I repeat, not everything is terrible. The Ripple Effect with Jenna Kim Jones is proof that the Internet, it hasn't ruined humanity entirely.
Tiffany
Let me start by saying it's a great day to be a gray shirt team Rubicon. You know, it truly is a team. Those folks, myself included, all had one desire, which is helping folks in disaster. Trying to be a little bit of hope in a really, really bad situation.
Jenna Kim Jones
It's like magic, you guys. So put down your doom scroller and pick up your faith in humanity and join me, Jenna, for the ripple Effect. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. You really can.
Will Friedle
We give just that nugget of hope helping other people.
Tiffany
For some of our gray shirts, it's during a time when they need help. And by helping others, it helps them.
Jenna Kim Jones
Listen to the ripple effect with Jenna Kim Jones on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
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Danielle Fishel
Spears or Sabrina Carpenter or even a group of K pop singing demon hunters. The fate of our country's pop stars rested in, of all places, your local shopping mall. In the 80s and 90s, these centers of commerce were the primary Social space for teenagers and young adults. Whether it was Wet Seal, Miller's Outpost, Merry go Round, or just in front of a hot dog on a stick, this is where we hung out every weekend. Sipping an Orange Julius, playing in the arcade, or just standing by a payphone waiting for the boy or girl you like to walk by. And as a result, instead of trying to pull prepubescent fans into clubs or concert halls, record labels brought the artists directly to them to the mall for what they would creatively call a mall tour. These public appearances guaranteed built in foot traffic and an audience already primed to discover, shop and spend. Since the pre Internet music business depended solely on local buzz and radio play, these new marketing activations in the form of performances, autograph signings, and live radio broadcasts broke artists regionally in hopes it would spread like syphilis throughout the greater United States, despite the fact that it originate near a neighborhood. Contempo Casuals. And our guest this week didn't just benefit from the mall tour craze, she practically invented it. Her 1987 cover of Tommy James and the Shondell's I Think We're Alone now rocketed her from the food court to number one on the Billboard charts, where she also became the youngest female artist to ever claim the top spot with a debut album. And later that year, she'd start performing in much bigger venues now with a young upstart boy band at the time, a little group called the New Kids on the Block. And just last month, almost 40 years later, like all great things from the 80s, she came roaring back thanks to Stranger Things, which featured I think We're Alone now in their fifth season, suddenly sending her into international streaming charts. So this week on Pod Meets World, we are definitely not alone. Welcome to the show. 80s pop icon Tiffany.
Tiffany
Hello.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
Hi.
Tiffany
Hi, guys. How are you?
Will Friedle
Good, fine. How are you? Good.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you so much for joining us. This is an honor. I do. Before I jump into our interview, I am wondering if you can confirm a story for me about a time when we met in the 90s and you have to tell me how far because. Okay, so I. Because my memory is very shoddy, but I am pretty sure. Did we have a karaoke night together.
Tiffany
With Lance Bass and with Lance and.
Danielle Fishel
Vince Vaughn and I, Janet Jackson, girl.
Tiffany
That like kept stealing the microphone and. Yes. And I was a big.
Danielle Fishel
And Debbie Gibson.
Tiffany
Are you kidding? I think maybe Deb came later. I don't remember Deb.
Will Friedle
Okay, 500 episodes of pre show chatter and this is the first time we're hearing about this.
Danielle Fishel
What?
Will Friedle
Are you kidding me?
Tiffany
I don't remember Deb, to be honest with you. Okay, but do you remember Janet Jana Jackson? She did, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
And she did not sing.
Tiffany
Oh, I don't know. I remember Vince Vaughn, and I remember Lance, and. And I remember boycotting the Plan originally because we were, like, eating downtown, and they were like, we're gonna go to this club and do karaoke. And I was like, oh, I probably won't go because I don't really do karaoke. It's just really not my thing. And a couple cocktails later, and then I was like, okay. You know, And I came over there and I remember just going, oh, my God, I know this song. Oh, my God, I know this song. They were like, okay. We had the microphone and I was singing and having a good old time. So I remember the evening, but I became a little karaoke mike hog that night. I was so embarrassed. That's so funny. I went from not doing. Doing karaoke to I know every song because I will do it all. We were. And I just like. And I remember we had a great time. It's the first time I met Vince Vaughn. And of course, Lance and I have been buddies for a while, so it was great to, like, hang out. I don't remember Deb being there. And I do remember. Yeah, Janet.
Danielle Fishel
Actually, Janet was there. And it is true that I didn't remember if Debbie was there. That was the thing. I was like, am I adding in?
Tiffany
Actually, Deb came to dinner and said hello, but didn't go. Think she went. Yeah.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
Wow.
Will Friedle
Ryder, do you remember that time we went bowling with the cast of Friends in Tom Cruise?
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Oh, yeah.
Tiffany
Yeah.
Will Friedle
That was awesome.
Ryder Strong
We just never mentioned it.
Will Friedle
No, we never brought that up. It was just so totally cool. Remember Tom was doing that thing? Oh, yeah.
Ryder Strong
When Tom showed you how to bowl, like, you became a better bowler.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Of course.
Danielle Fishel
How's the Tom cake? How's the Tom cake you get every year?
Tiffany
You know, amazing karaoke since my episode. My. My little night out, though, again. Because I was like, no, I don't really karaoke. And then. But I just remember being a total, like, everybody going, oh, my God, are we gonna get a chance?
Danielle Fishel
That's so funny.
Tiffany
I love every song and you want to sing it to us? If it helps.
Danielle Fishel
If it makes you feel any better about the night. I didn't remember you being a mikh.
Tiffany
So, you know, it's not like anybody.
Danielle Fishel
Walked away from it going, gosh, that Tiffany show. Did you? I did.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Tiffany
We all sang together. I did have. I did have buddies. I did wrangle in other people.
Danielle Fishel
We did. I think we did group songs. I think I did a duet. I don't think I did, like, a performance.
Tiffany
Now I remember that. Yes, yes. And we did the dance, the whole nine yards.
Will Friedle
It's ironic that you did. I think you're alone now, together, pretty much.
Tiffany
It's a requirement of mine nowadays. I don't want to be alone. The girl is always alone. I'm like, why am I alone? I don't need to be right.
Danielle Fishel
I want to go to start the interview. I want to go all the way back to Star Search. It's a nostalgic hallmark for us. And you finished second place. You were only 14 years old. What do you remember from the Star Search experience?
Tiffany
I actually think I was 12 at the time.
Danielle Fishel
Wow.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
Really?
Tiffany
And I remember Melora. I think her name was Melora Hardin. No, it wasn't Melora. It wasn't. It was. I forget. Oh, gosh. I forget her last name, but her first name was Valora, but wasn't Melon Harden. And she came out and she, like, was Ponytail Girl. And she was. You know, all that because I start off in country at 9 years old, and I just learned that if you want to sing, which I did, you know, I drove my family nuts. By the time I was, like, four or five, always singing in my bedroom, my family didn't know anything about the music industry. So my stepfather said, well, dude, this is what you want to do. Then you'll hop up here and sing in front of everybody. Which was not a problem. And then. Are you.
Will Friedle
I'm sorry, are you thinking of Melissa Moultrie?
Tiffany
I am. Thank you. Thank you. Melora Hardin. I took acting classes from her mom. Diane Harden actually became a friend of mine later on. So, yeah, the backstory of Tiffany. So again, my family not knowing anything about the music industry, it was all just kind of connections. We started singing at the VFW Club in Norwalk, where the band said, well, you've got to do this. And then you've got to go into LA and you've got to have headshots, and you've got to do acting classes and modeling classes and dancing classes and all of that. So we became in the, like, the little circuit there. And then someone said, well, you know, of course you gotta start auditioning for all of these commercials or talk shows, whatever it was. And I got the episode for Star Search and I remember going to the audition and seeing all the other girls and, you know, they were like, fresh face and all of that. And somebody said, well, she'll need some work for her performance skills. Tiffany will need to work on that because she's a great voice, but she needs to open up. So they took me to the Valley. I'm in. I'm from East LA originally, Norwalk. And they took me to the Valley to this hippie dippy dippy doo studio where this like guru acting teacher was like, okay, so you're gonna feel it and you're gonna like, be really, really, like, you're in into yourself. And then I'm singing I am love, Jennifer Holiday. And you're like. And then all of a sudden you're gonna see, and then you're gonna walk out and you're gonna be bigger than. And I was like, all right, okay, this seems weird. Like, why don't I just perform? But I guess I'm doing it wrong. So that's what we did on Star Search. But we also dressed me in a tuxedo, which was advised as well. Oh, she'll need costuming. So I looked like a scared stuffed penguin. To me, you looked great.
Will Friedle
I was just looking at it.
Tiffany
You looked great. And then that performance from hell, in my opinion. And here Melora comes out and she's just like, you know, whatever she did with her little ponytail and she was cuter than life. And I remember watching her before, before I did going, oh, she's won it. Like, that was adorable. You know, I mean, she just had it. And why am I doing all this extra stuff that's not really ingrained in me? So I think that was the first time. Of course you take advice and you could be wrong, but I really went against the grain on that one for what my intuition was. And then when I lost, I remember crying, but I was like, I understand why I lost. That was pretty. I mean, but you, you definitely had.
Danielle Fishel
The last word with the show, however, I mean, you were the first person to have a number one by any recorded by any contestant. So you may have come in second place, but you definitely had the last word. I mean, it was only two years later then you would release your debut album, the self titled Tiffany. So how did it progress from runner up two big record deals so quickly?
Tiffany
Well, we. I mean, we stayed in the circuit. I mean, again, once my parents were like, okay, I guess she has to take acting class and she has to do this. And again, running me back and forth to L. A was not convenient. But yeah, again, it was something I wanted to do. And so my Parents were like, you know, we'll try it for a while. And my, you know, we were able to do it on the weekends. My mom was, you know, stay at home mom so she could drive me. My. My real father got involved. At one time, I had my aunts, you know, that were recruited to drive me to audition. It was a family affair, literally. And to the point where I was actually staying up in LA with a family friend so I could be closer to auditions because, you know, sometimes you get, you know, that call and you just have to run. So during the summer I was able to do that, and that was a little different for me. But, you know, that led me to meeting a lot of different people. I was told, you have to do demos. We didn't even know what a demo was. So we were putting songs together and I worked. My first producer was Bobby Sherman, actually, and I went to his studio and recorded some. Some songs there. And then I. I worked with a bunch of other people thinking I was going to do rock music at one point. Yeah, because, you know, I had turned from country to rock music. I had an older cousin who I used to sneak her. Her vinyls and listen to them. And that's where I found Stevie Nicks and Heart. And I was like. And Pat Benatar. I was like, I want to be these ladies, you know. So I did some. Some rock demos, but people were like, how old are you? You're 12. That's never gonna work out. Come back when you're older.
Ryder Strong
So you started with country because that's what your parents were into. Is that like they. Okay.
Tiffany
And I loved country music, but, yes, that's what was playing in my home. Gotcha. So I actually came to Nashville for the very first time. I live now in Nashville. I've been here 17 years, but I came the first time when I was 10. And my manager at that time was May Axton Hoyt. Axton member Joy to the World Joel. He wrote that for Three Dog Night. But he also was the dad in Gremlins. Yes. So Hoy became a good family friend after my dad like, you know, basically beat him down with my daughter. My daughter was a sing at every stop along his tour. My dad would follow him around California. And, you know, of course he had the security guards first, then the tour manager. And then finally, after many attempts, you know, he got. Got Hoyt's attention and wait, because I've heard about you. You're the guy with a daughter that wants to sing. I got it. I got the message. You Know what? Come on the bus, let's put this tape in and hear what she's sounds like, you know. And he put the tape in and he looked at my dad, he said, okay, this is weird. You're telling me this girl's nine years old. She sounds like a 30 year old girl. And my dad said, oh, yeah, no, she's got a really good voice, I think, you know, I mean, you know, he goes, all right, bring her here tomorrow night. She can't come in the club, but she can stand outside the door. I'll have her up for two numbers. Joy to the World. And what else does she sing? And my dad said, well, she sings Delta dawn, you know, that's her favorite song. So. So I did. I got up with Voight, and again, the reaction to my voice at that time was, that's weird. You're a little girl, but you sound like an old lady. Like, what's happening here? So that was it. Dwight said, you know, I don't know what else to do but to send you to my mom out in Nashville. So I came out here when I was 10 and recorded demos, did all the circuit, did all the shows, but, you know, I was Ted. There was no material for me to sing. I wasn't divorced by then. I wasn't struggling with addiction or booze. Yeah, I don't have no man to stand by at the time. So, you know, they were really struggling for material and I was just advised to keep coming back. But by that time I went, you know, like I said, back to LA and just started doing a lot of, like, the acting and dancing and that's when I did Star Search.
Danielle Fishel
So when did you. How did you then find out that you were going to be doing a debut album called Tiffany?
Tiffany
I was doing another demo in Burbank, California, and the producer who owned the studio walked into the session and was like, who is singing that? And, you know, I was like, I'm over here. It was like, again, this is this young girl singing this, because at that time I was 14. And he goes, I don't know anything about country music because I went back to country. I was kind of doing edgy country. And he said, I don't know anything about country music, but, you know, I what about pop music? I'd love to, you know. So literally, he pulled me into the lobby, got a guitar and started singing. I saw him standing there, started singing a bunch of other songs and just finding my range, really. And then said, you know, I want to make a meeting with your Parents. And at that time, my stepmother, my dad were getting a divorce, so I was staying with my. My real father. And he did not want me in the music industry, you know, although he had been, you know, taking me to auditions and he was, you know, helping my parents and everybody kind of got along in my. But he just really thought, you know, I don't know, now that I've seen it, she might get her heart broken. You know, it's a really kind of. Can be a shady industry. I really rather her go to school and go to college, although she's talented. So he was very reluctant, but we won him over. And then we had that meeting with George. And then at that point, my mom was more stable where I could go and live with her. And, you know, and so my mom signed the contract and that was. That was it. I was 14 when I recorded the album. And even then we had people really reluctant to sign me to a major label. So I was going in with my bump box to crash, literally luncheons at all these executive luncheons. And I would just, you know, we did one for Clive Davis. I remember George was like, look, they're going to try to stop you. As soon as you walk in this door, press play and start singing and just keep walking and here's the table they'll be at, and don't let anybody stop you. And so we did that quite often, oh my gosh.
Ryder Strong
Bombarded, burst into a room.
Tiffany
But the word kind of got around that that's, you know, there was this little girl that could really sing. So then we did some showcases live at the studio where they saw me sing live, and I would sing out to all the tracks. And at the end of it, I had like four or five different labels that wanted to sign me. So it worked, you know, with mca and the rest was history.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, but your first single was not. I Think We're Alone Now. It was actually a song called Danny, and that song fails to chart. So here you are, 14 years old, runner up on Star Search. Your big break with the album. The first single falls a little short. How are you feeling at this point before the massive success? Like, everything feels so close and yet so far.
Tiffany
Well, you know, I don't think that I really knew what that meant, to be honest with you. Put out Dani. I can tell you how I felt about the COVID of the single. You know, I was asked to come from school to do the photo shoot for the album cover. And I go out there, somebody came and got me from Norwalk, drove All the way up to LA to the photographer's studio, Randy St. Nicholas. And I remember Randy going, okay, where's the wardrobe? No one had purchased anything for me. And I come from school with my feathered hair, my Vans, my jeans, and my chip nails, if you notice there's chip nails there, you know? And she's like, okay, great, well, I can start shooting her. I have a jacket and I have a sweater from my car. And that's how I got the jean jacket and the blue sweater, because I was wearing that blue T shirt from school. So we started, and then they quickly went to Benetton, I think Benetton, and got me, like, these pastel colors. And if you know me, I'm not a pastel girl.
Danielle Fishel
Me neither.
Tiffany
So they got me all these really pastel and then some overalls. And then somebody's idea was to crimp my hair. Totally cool. I'm doing it now. But we all know in the 80s you don't double crimp.
Will Friedle
We did. We knew that. We knew that.
Tiffany
We did, though.
Will Friedle
We did.
Tiffany
We should know that. Okay, okay, okay.
Will Friedle
Can I ask quickly what a double crimp is?
Tiffany
Oh, poof. That's it.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Oh, okay.
Will Friedle
Oh, oh, big hair.
Tiffany
Frigola.
Will Friedle
Gotcha.
Tiffany
Big hair.
Will Friedle
Okay.
Tiffany
Big, double crimped out frizzola hair. So I had been waiting. They crimped my hair, and I thought, oh, that's kind of cool. And they even put some lip gloss on me. And, you know, I was okay with the overall. Then the. In the, you know, pastel clothing, whatever. There was a big sign that says Danny plus Tiffany. And I was like, okay. And then we waited and we waited, and I don't know, they were talking about a bunch of stuff. And then we crimped my hair again. And it literally went. And then it was like, okay, we gotta give you this. Like, come on, we gotta hurry all of a sudden. Which is classic industry, right? You wait, you wait. And then all of a sudden it's hurry, hurry. I'm like, we're not prepared. We went full circle. Now we're not prepared again. So I went on, and I was just like, oh, my God. I. I don't like the way I look. Like, I don't wanna say anything because I'm. I'm thrilled to be here. And I don't know how this really works, but this doesn't really work for me. So the only thing I could do was lean against the wall, cross my legs, not smile, and try to be edgy and cool in my Own mind. And that was Danny plus Tiffany. And so I remember when I saw the artwork, I was like, oh. And then when I heard the song didn't do, I was like, because the artwork. Because of that hair. But we had sent it out to radio, and it just. It wasn't. It wasn't happening. Like, we weren't. It wasn't testing well. And so my manager quickly changed it to I think we're low now. The label didn't even know about it, really, and that saved the day. But the funny thing now is, in all the shows that I do worldwide, the most requested song is Daddy Nobody.
Danielle Fishel
Isn't that crazy?
Tiffany
Yeah, it is really crazy. So I make a joke about it when I put it in the show, because I do. You know, I kind of. I flip around my shows all the time. You never know what you're gonna get. I like to keep people wondering, you know, I mean, we have production, but then I have it loose so that I can flip things out. Because a lot of people write to me that they're coming to the next show, and I think that's boring. They don't want to see the same thing. So I'll tailor make things for the night a little bit, especially for the venue of what I want to do. And I've been recently pulling old cuts that I haven't done in, like, 20 years, so it's a lot of fun for me. And Danny has been in and out of the show, and everybody goes crazy for it. And I'm like, hold on. Did you guys not get a vote for song? Was that a lie or something? Because this song bombed, and now it's like the most requested song, so I'm having fun with that. Yeah. And hence I'm crimping my hair. Right. Nowadays, though, I know Rat Bells.
Will Friedle
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Danielle Fishel
Well, along with changing the single to I think we're alone now, another incredible plan is concocted. Your management team sends you to tour shopping malls around the country.
Will Friedle
Brilliant.
Danielle Fishel
I mean, performing and winning over fans one at a time. It's the revolutionary, the beautiful you Celebrating the good Life Shopping Mall Tour 87. First question, could they have come up with a longer name?
Tiffany
Probably, yeah. I had nothing to do with the name. I think, you know, again I was. Although I had been signed and although, you know, I had the big battle of all the labels wanting to design me, once the album was done and delivered, there was just this reluctance to move forward. A lot of people were like, well, where does she perform now? So I started doing clubs in New York, which the music did really well. But I wasn't even allowed to be there, right. I was A minor. So I would go and do my thing, my 30 minutes, you know, of show and then I'd have to go out the door. So there was no connection to fans and we were really struggling. How is this gonna cross over?
Ryder Strong
How you know, that's so.
Tiffany
It's just, it's not working. So. Almost lost my record deal. They almost shelved me. And it was my A R guy, Larry Salters at the time, who was walking through the mall with his daughter and he thought, so smart. They have hair shows and they have fashion shows. Why can't they have music. There's. You know. And then they approached me. My management sent down, and they said, we're thinking malls. You'll sing in malls. And I was like, well, I'm saying in front of grocery stores, I sang in front of the banks, I did all the VFWs. I mean, I did hoedowns and all these things, backyard parties. So it wasn't like a shocker to me. Plus, that's where my age group hung out.
Will Friedle
Yes, right. Bring you to the audience. Bring you to the audience. Why not? Perfect sense.
Tiffany
I was already really at the mall on the weekend, so I was like, yeah, yeah. I mean, that. That's where my people are. And I remember doing my first mall. We flew out someplace out in San Francisco in the Bay Area. And literally, of course, the word hadn't gotten out yet. There was all these chairs, and then this little stage, and. And we just had like a. Like a, you know, little music system. So it didn't sound, you know, go through the mall too much, but in the direct area, it was quite loud. And I remember some of the retail stores, they were complaining, so I let management deal with that. They weren't happy. Didn't know I was coming. But I remember there was a lot of people that sat in the chairs that were maybe a little elder. You know, they just.
Ryder Strong
Just wanted a place to sit or.
Tiffany
Like, moms that were pregnant just needed a break. And then all of a sudden, I come out. I'm like, I think we're in those now. And they're like, oh, my gosh, what is this?
Ryder Strong
You know, it's a lot happening.
Tiffany
And a few people, like, again, some of the stores were yelling and screaming. They didn't want us. There was blocking traffic, and they didn't want all. You know, So I cried a few times in the first part of the mall tour because it was just like, well, I'm really excited to be here, and I think this will work. But then they don't want us here. But you know what? That just stop. A slice of pizza. And I was good. I just was back on that stage. You're resilient, as, you know, the kid. And then it started to grow to where the radio picked it up, the local news picked it up, and then we would have a couple hundred people and then a couple thousand people. But the charm of the. The mall tour was I did get to meet people, and I got to talk to my. Connect with my fan base. I loved. Literally, we would. There would be a bunch of people behind Me, and we'd go shopping and look at the stores together, and we'd go and have pizza. And then I'd be like, oh, I gotta get back, and I do another show. And then the line would. The tribe would grow even bigger until we couldn't do it anymore. But, you know, I made lifelong friends. I still have some of my friends from the mall tour. And I think that there was something, again, magical about that, because it really was that connection. I came from country music, where it's all about the fan. Yeah. So doing the mall tour was all about the fan. But let's also face it, you know, my age group, you know, in the 80s, was all about being together. So, you know, all three elements just worked for me. You know, I really. I missed that. I cried again when we got too big for the mall and we had to go to bigger venues because it was a nice problem to have. Yeah. But it really was that, you know, I don't know, that nostalgia, that feeling of, you know, we're in the ball together and this is fun, and my buddies, you know.
Will Friedle
Well, it was also just such a crossover too, because I. In. So in 87, I was 11. And so when the video dropped of. Of, I think we're Alone now in the Mall tour, I think every guy my age instantly fell in love with you. Like, instantly fell in love with you. And it was one of those things where you were essentially probably the first pop star, true pop star that I watched that was. I mean, we weren't the same age, but close enough to where it was like, oh, my God, she's at the mall. All my friends are at the mall. She probably sings and then go gets an Orange Julius. Like.
Tiffany
That was my. You. You've done good, girl.
Will Friedle
Exactly. So there was something about it that. Seeing you not only there, obviously looking stunning, but hearing the music, which was really catchy, but also seeing you at a place that my friends and I.
Ryder Strong
Go, yeah, relatable, just made you so.
Will Friedle
Relatable and so like, oh, my God, this is somebody I could hang out with. This is somebody I could have a crush on. This was so. It just. It kind of revolutionized the whole what pop music was for somebody my age, 11, 12, 13. Because it was like, you're looking at a friend of yours. Like you're looking at somebody you would go to school with. And that was something that had never been done before. It was slick without being overly produced. So it just looked like, man, I could hang out with you. It was the coolest. It was Totally the coolest. Yeah. Yeah.
Tiffany
And I mean, as an entertainer, it has really spoiled me because that is kind of the connection that I've wanted with my fans forever, consistently. So. People come to meet and greets, and they're like, oh, my gosh. Because I always take what, you know, we have a writer, what's called a writer, and they provide all the meat and cheese or whatever you want. And I always keep the band portion separate, but in my meet and greet, I always have, like a little green room and chairs, and I bring all the coffees, teas, water, beer, whatever it is, you know, and I sit there and I feed people, and people walk in and I'm like, sit down, take a chair. We're not in it, you know, and they're like. And even sometimes the venue's like, I'm like, no, this is going to be 30 or 40 minutes. This is a meet and greet. We're gonna hang out. That's what this is. And I'm always like, guys, got a big night. Have some cheese and crackers. You know, have some coffee if you need it. Make yourself. And people are like, this is. I've never had this. Right. Because mostly it's a step and repeat, and it's in and out. And I go, no, you're. We're meeting each other like we did on the mall tour. I want to know you. And that. And that's the chuckle thing, is because I always go, how are you? What are you doing? I mean, you thought you were going to talk to me and interview me. No, I'm getting in your head. It is, you know. Yeah, it's. It's. I'm spoiled from the mall tour because I got to literally do that, even as a kid. Go to pizza.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Tiffany
And. And, and. And hear about. Oh, I've never been to Albany, New York, before. And I, you know, I remember talking to some girls and going, what's it like here? Like, what do you do? I know we have the mall, but, like, what's the fashion here? And, like, you know, and I would go back to small town, you know, California, Norwalk, and I'd be like, I just came from Albany. And they did their hair like this. And then this is the fashion there. And my girlfriend's being, ooh, really? You know, and I thought I was like, bigger than life.
Will Friedle
But that's the thing. That's what was so genius about it, is, you know, these guys grew up in California, and as a kid from a small town in Connecticut, I'd watch movies growing up that took place in California. There's the beach and all this stuff. And it just seemed like it's magical world. But a mall is a mall. So my mall in Connecticut was the same as the mall here in California. And seeing you play the mall, it was like, oh, you might as well be here in Connecticut with me.
Tiffany
Yeah.
Will Friedle
So really brilliant.
Ryder Strong
I have a question. Because we grew up, you know, when we were working, it was a very controlled situation in terms of location, right. We're going to set. And so we had three hours of school guaranteed.
Will Friedle
Like, how.
Ryder Strong
What were you doing? Because it sounds like by the age of 10, were you even going to school anymore?
Will Friedle
What was happening?
Tiffany
I was. So all through my career, up until heavy touring, I was attending school. So I used to go to the studio right after school, do my homework while they were getting tracks together. And I would be there till 2 or 3 in the morning, go home, and then go right back to school. So a lot of my vocals were actually recorded at 1, 2 in the morning to get that rasp. My producer would go, what can I do to get that rasp? I was like, pepperoni pizza and no sleep. So he'd be like, all right, go to sleep for a couple hours. We'll wake you up. Because there was always. Back then, especially to tape. There was always something to do and, you know, and they were like, you know, splicing things and doing or whatever, recording guitars. I was there, the whole process. So, you know, sometimes they wake me up at one in the morning and I do a vocal. And then they would drive me all the way back home. It was an hour back home. And so, you know, that's just. I wanted to do it, so it wasn't a burden to me. My mom had a harder job because she had to wake me up for school the next morning. But, you know, we all made it work, really. It was a process. But then when I started to tour extensively and tour all over the world, I remember Rolling Stone wanted to come and do an article on me. And I was about. Oh, probably about eight months into my tour. And yeah, school had kind of taken the back side a little bit. And they were like, well, we want to show her the day in the life of Tiffany. And then we want to show her with her tutorial. And everybody was like, oh, that's a missing part right now. So basically, my drummer. Yeah, I mean, we were scrambling because you can't go and find one then because, you know, you'd really tip it off. And my drummer was a certified Teacher. So he said, look, I will help you guys out, but she really has to be in school with me. I'm not going to put my license and all my credibility and all this kids, but she should be in school. Yeah, I think we would. We had some, like, school packets from my high school that were. It was loose based, you know. But no, I wasn't really in school for. For a minute. And so we fixed that. So, yes, my drummer is still one of my. My besties. His name is Craig Yammick and we called him Big Bird because he's really tall. And yeah, he helped me graduate. I had my packets. We actually changed me to a private school where I would have these weekly packets to do. And I took my band on all of my field trips. We went all over the place. I love history. I love geography for that reason, because I was living it. Yeah. And, you know, and so I just drug everybody on field trips with me. And then, you know, we tailored a lot of my curriculum to being on the road. I got to write a lot of essays and things like that. But, yeah, I did graduate. I did graduate.
Danielle Fishel
You mentioned fashion, and your style was such a crucial part of the Tiffany story. You dressed like all of us dressed at the mall. Jean jackets, oversized sweaters, leggings, scrunchies. Was that also your real life wardrobe at the time, or did you have a different style?
Tiffany
Okay, no, that was really. I mean, I've always loved black. I've always loved. Again, as I started to find the rockers, Stevie Nicks, I always loved the shawls and all that, you know, so that was a big part of me. But girls my age weren't really wearing that, you know, it was hard to find that. I remember when I found my first actual, like, shawl. It was in Charlotte, Ruth and my dad, but I still have it, actually loved Charlotte. So my dad bought it. He was like, what? How are you gonna wear this? Like, you know, I said, dad, Stevie Hanks, I have to have this. So I ended up, like, being in my bedroom, like, twirling around, doing all Stevie's moves. So it was a thing. And I still have it. It's like a. It's a valued piece for me. But jean jackets, that was the thing, you know, Randy St. Nicholas made me the jean jacket girl by a safe. Literally, she had it in the car. But that was the fashion, you know, what I wore before that was, you know, again, vans, tennis shoes, feathered hair. You know, I was just, you know, just kind of like regular tees and I had to have my Jordache jeans. That was a big thing. So these 80s terms, it's just. So that was my jam. Big hoop earrings. We haven't changed there, guys. And you know, it's funny now full circle for me because I'm launching a jacket line now off of my online boutique called Radical Red. So for charity, I actually trick out your jacket. They're all one of a kind, custom. You can order a zoom package with me and you get to zoom like this with me. And basically there's like four styles. But then we trick it out for you. Your colors, you're grommeting. We do custom made patches. And I raise money for children's Miracle Network because I've been working with the charity for a while. And then being so extensive on the tours all the time, I thought, oh, gosh, what can I do to keep it up? I can't do the concerts, I can't be in Florida. Of all the places that we really, you know, kind of do hands on stuff, I thought I could go back to making jackets. That would be a lot of fun. And I, I'm really good at it because, I mean, that's what we did, right? Yeah, make jackets. So. So I paint, I tie, dye, I do all of that. I stitch, I do the lacing. And then I've partnered with another girl here. So we've been real successful with raising a lot of money. Even, even just recently on the top of this year, I've been banging out those jackets. And it's a lot of fun. And it does remind me of the age 80s. Yeah, it reminds me of the kid in myself. And then now as I'm, you know, I just went to Vegas and saw the New Kids on the Block. Wanted to make sure I saw their show. It's amazing. But then those are my girls, you know, the Blockheads are my girls as well. And they're all sitting there with their jean jackets and their leather jackets and I'm all, girl, I could check that out for you. I can do that. Talk to me later. Let's zoom in. But you know, it's. It's great because I mean, there was just something so magical about the 80s. I don't know really what it is. It's not just the music, it's not just the mall, it's not just the fashion. There was this connection. I think like you're saying it didn't matter if you were California or New York, somehow we were all living it together. It just there was that connection. You Just knew, even though you didn't know, you know, it was like. And I don't know that that's ever happened again. It was especially.
Will Friedle
Everything was big. Everything was big. Big hair, big jackets, big shoulder pads, big. You name it, big music. Everything in the 80s was big. And it was just. It was. There's something kind of wonderful about that. It's like the bigger, the better.
Tiffany
It was great and unique. I mean, you could be as wild as you wanted to be or, you know, for me, I always look at me and think I was pretty plain, although I wasn't. But for me, compared to, you know, people that I met later on, like Adam and. Or Cyndi Lauper, you know, or even like Billy Idol, you know, I was like, oh, wow, that's cool. They're in a costume, you know, and it's like. But it's not really. It's them, you know, and I was like, wow, cool. Different colored hair. And I always wanted to do more of that. And of course, I was highly discouraged from changing anything. Right as I wanted to grow up. I wanted to experiment with makeup. Oh, no. I wanted to change my hair color. Oh, no. You know, I. They were like, you just have to be the Tiffany doll for forever. And that wasn't really doable for me. I don't think that it was, you know, really gonna keep happening for a young girl because I saw my friends going in different directions and fashion was changing and, you know, as a young girl, you want to be a little bit, know, hot and sexy and try different things and. And finally when I did do that and knew inside I totally rebelled, changed my hair. It was like purple, black color bustiers came out. What do we do now?
Will Friedle
When you're having all this success, are you able to have any semblance of a real life? Can you date and, you know, hang out with your friends? Were you. Were you able to just kind of live the life of a 15 or 16 year old of any sense of normalcy or.
Tiffany
No, I did. I think that I did to some degree. I mean, I really loved touring and being on the road and I loved my band and I loved what I was doing. I think I've always just been grateful to be able to do it. So to me, that was my first love and my first passion. So going back home, I missed my family. I missed my little sisters, but I also got to bring them on the road here and there. You know, I think in my household there was a lot of problems. There was a lot of alcoholism, there was a Lot of divorces, chaos. So although I missed my family, I didn't miss that. And being on the road, for me felt safer. It was a more happier place to be and. And I was, you know, I was comforted there when I would go home. Although you're always torn be, especially being the daughter of an alcoholic, you always feel like you have to have that responsibility. I worried a lot, but then in a couple of days, I. You know, being home, I would wilt. I just would get, like, kind of depressed again. And I love my family, but, you know, people were making choices that I couldn't control. And by that time, I had other options of places to be. When I was really young and I hadn't, you know, gotten the music deal, I literally was like, sitting outside listening to Joan Jett, you know, listening to Bad Reputation, going, one day that's it. I'm gonna leave this town, you know, and. And kind of running away into music from the chaos in my home. Music was really my therapy. It was my comforter, was all of those things. So, you know, once I got successful, I was like, you know, I really just rather be on tour. Like, you know, I'd rather be with my band. It's happier. You know, I. I think I kind of also got to a point where I was like, I can't control this. Like, you know, I. I can't make decisions for people. And I hope my family gets healthier sometimes. You know, I look back at that time, it got worse to some degree, because there was money and there was fame and there was more pressure on my family. And then people, of course, were poking their nose, and that's when I had the emancipation and all of that. And for me, it was never like, I got bigger than my parents, and I wanted to just say, screw them. It really was. I couldn't do both. I couldn't be touring the world and all the expectation and all of that and coming home to a chaotic, not changing environment. So I wanted to go live with my grandmother at the time, which eventually I did do. But my mom, of course, had always really depended on me. You know, I was the oldest of the three girls, and, you know, she kind of, in her own way, depended on me to always be there. And so she didn't really want to let me go, you know, and it took her a long time to kind of let me go live with my grandmother. And it took all that ugly emancipation stuff, which got so crazy, really, because, you know, obviously you got attorneys, and then they start doing things that you didn't really authorize. It becomes their battle to some degree. And I was like, oh, no, I, I, I'm not thinking that way. And it's like, we've got to win this. And I'm like, well, this is my family as well. Hold on a second. You know, so I think I learned a lot there as well, being a celebrity and having all your mess aired out. I try now to, you know, talk it out. It's better to talk it out in person.
Will Friedle
Yeah.
Tiffany
Family actually got really healthy. My mom did get sober after all of that, and so it was kind of like, you know, sometimes things have to get really ugly to, to, you know, to force a change. So, you know, I mean, it was really awful at the time. But, you know, in, in the long run, it became the healthier thing to do. She did get sober, and she's a great grandmother to my. Today, actually, as we're talking, was the day she passed away. So earlier today. Every year, my sister and I, my sisters and I, and now my whole family. I have two, a niece and a nephew, an extended family. We've, I've moved them all to Nashville. We go and have donuts in the morning and coffee and donuts in remembrance of my mom, because that was her jam. Donuts. Yeah. And we talk mom stories, you know, and it's really great to have that end of her life positivity and that. She got it together and was very present in all of our lives. And, yeah, it's a beautiful thing. So very happy about that. Yeah.
Will Friedle
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Danielle Fishel
So the mall tour plan works. The single I think We're Alone now hits number one on the Billboard chart. Your mall tour is successful. You do 60 shows as part of the mall tour, then you go on the Tonight show. You're selling out stadiums. And you had quite the openers on that tour with a little group out of Boston called New Kids on the Block. You fought for them to give them that huge opportunity. What were they like pre famed just trying to make it on the road?
Tiffany
Well actually, I mean there really was no fight. I got in trouble after the call that I made. But you know, I was at a venue in New York actually and for my opening act, we couldn't think of one that really fit. Some people said a comedian. I said, well what's funny to like a 16 year old isn't going to be funny to a 12 year old. And yeah, I don't know. And then we had tried a few other artists and it just wasn't really working. So I didn't have anybody. And they just play like, you know, 80s music and people would show up and so, you know, that's not great. You need an opening act, you know. So we were looking for somebody and my agent had just signed New Kids on the Block. So he brought them to meet me and my manager happened to not be there that day. And it was my best friend used to go on the road with me in the summertime. My girlfriend Sunita. You come on the road with me. So I'd had somebody my age and we were backstage having lunch and.
Will Friedle
Isn't there footage of this? Isn't there actual.
Tiffany
I don't know, I think there's footage of the first show, But I don't know if there's backstage footage.
Will Friedle
There's some footage that I saw one time of them almost, like, auditioning for you New Kids on the Block.
Tiffany
I didn't take that footage. I know. I. I know that I did. Maybe they did. I don't know, but I know they came back. And of course, John was like, hey, I just signed these guys. I'm thinking it might be a good fit. You know, I wanted them to meet you, you know, and I. You know, if you're up for it, then, you know, like to do a number, you know, I know that George isn't here, but. And I was like, okay. You know, and they came in, and it was like. Like, five really cute guys, you know, Sunita was like, yeah. You know, and. And then they put the bump box down, you know, and they started doing. I. I think it might have been hanging tough or. I think it might have been hanging tough or the right stuff. It was one of the earlier songs. Sorry, guys, I can't remember, but. But, I mean, they had all the moves and everything, and then they were really nice, you know, And I just was like, that makes sense to me. I mean, I love the songs. I love the moves. I love. You know, they seem really nice. And so I said, well, again, there's that country music element in me. If you want to do something, do it right now. You know, if you want to sing, you'll get up and sing right now. So that's where I came from. So I was like, look, I don't have anybody opening that for me tonight, so why don't we try it? It you have your tracks, you know, they were like, really? I was like, yeah. So they went out there and they opened the show, and I just heard all these girls backstage screaming, and I was like, yay. I did a good thing. I think this is gonna work out. You know, it just makes sense, really. And then I remember the next day, I got the phone call. You don't make decisions like that, you know? What, are you crazy? Like, you know, there's. There's. There's legalities here. There's things to negotiate. I was like, look, that's the business side. I don't know. But it worked. Like. And. And, you know, I kind of felt great helping another artist, you know, out. Another group out, because everybody needs to start, you know, So I never regret my decision. I. You know, I get a lot of girls now. Go. Thank you so much. I'm like, well, thank you. I mean, you guys, I think also the new kids really impressed me that night that they could have said, oh, well, we don't, you know, we're not ready. But they were on it, and so they had my respect right away. I could see they wanted to do it. They loved music. They just wanted to shine. They, too, were grateful for the opportunity, just like me. So we were speaking the same language. And then when they came on the road, it was fun to have people my own age, you know, it was a lot of fun. We had a lot of pizza parties, lots of pepperoni pizza, and singing at the end, the back of the bus. We were all singing. Like, I used to jam to, like, Guy and. Oh, gosh. Oh, tons of. Tons of. And we used to dance moves. And then the next year I brought dancers on with me. So there was a gang of us, you know, young, youngins at the time.
Danielle Fishel
So when do you start working on the second album?
Tiffany
Right after the first album. So the first album took me a year to record, and then, of course, you have all the pressure to follow that up. So the second album was very rush. We did it in between touring because I toured from America, I went on to Europe, then I went on to Asia, and I just didn't stop for almost two and a half years. I wasn't really home if I was. I was sleepy. It was like, you know, again, touring, touring, touring, and. And then, of course, we had to record the album, so it was very rushed. I wasn't crazy about a lot of the songs on the second album, and I voiced my opinion, which caused problems with the management. My producer, you know, because again, he looked at it as, well, you don't know anything. You know what, you're a producer now. You know, you're just a kid. Like, you know, And I was like, I'm not a producer. But I meant I am this. I'm a music buyer.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, I'm the target demo.
Tiffany
I'm their age group. And I can tell you that my friends wouldn't think this is cool. Cool.
Ryder Strong
It's also just so interesting that, like, he wouldn't be open to your input, considering you're. You're a growing person. Like, you're going to start having your own taste and learning what you like, and that's your job as an artist and as a person, is to get older and stand up for yourself. It seems like you would have to welcome that because it's going to happen. You're going to grow, you're going to have your own voice.
Tiffany
No, it wasn't like that. So, you know, I mean, just, I mean, I think that that's, that, you know, I would try to express my opinion and I think for him, for, you know, for George it was really. I've been doing this a long time and you know, obviously I was right because look who you are now. So for you to come back and start telling me how this is going to work is like not going to work out for me.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, there's a lot of ego there.
Tiffany
You know, and you know, I think maybe that's a decision later on that might, he might have of regretted a little bit. You know, he's, he's known to be a little stubborn. We're still friends, you know, he's, he's, he's the family member now. We've had our ins and outs and everything and I think, you know, talking to him sometimes he goes, yeah, you know, even my own kids, I should listen more. You know, you live and you learn, you know, but, but at that time I was really, you know, I was really struggling with it because I, I just wasn't crazy about a lot of the material and then I would actually go out and perform it and it would flop. So I was like, oh, now I gotta stick with some of these songs that aren't really working and I told you so kind of thing. The ballads I always loved, I think we picked some really great ballads on that album and I still enjoy singing those today, so. And then a lot of other of those ballads made hit hits in other territories like in the Philippines and other marketplaces, South Africa. So I think the second album, what it did do in a weird way was broaden my fan base. But there weren't those hits on the charts like the first album. So of course you get the critics going, oh, one hit wonder. And now she's over with goodbye. Go sell pizza somewhere, you know, disappear, Disappear from us.
Danielle Fishel
The second album was called hold an Old Friend's Hand and it did go platinum. I'd like to, I'd say, I mean it.
Will Friedle
What a flop.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
Come on.
Danielle Fishel
I mean, I understand that when you're trying to compare it to the success of the first album, but that also seems a bit like an impossible task to try and hold up to something that's really a once in a lifetime experience. So I mean it definitely was not a flop. And there have always been talk about your insane fame in Asia. What was, what was that like?
Tiffany
It continues on. I just did my Spotify rap for 2025 and Philippines is number one territory. So it was number two. Okay. The year before. And this year, this past year is number one. So we're coming back to the Philippines. It's always been like that. I mean, I, I've always loved touring Asia. And I think, again, nostalgia, they're just, they just embrace it. Full heart, you know, it's not like, oh, wow, yeah, from 30 years ago. They're still just like loving your music. It's just. It's part of their life. I don't know how else to say it. And, you know, every time I go there, I've been to so many countries there and, you know, the connection with the fans, just amazing. They're just crying. A lot of balance. Like I said, there's a lot of love for balance there. And, And I think that's the difference. Especially in a lot of the places like Singapore, they go, oh, the voice. Tiffany. The voice rather than Tiffany. I think we're low now. The girl that does the dance. I am that. But to them, I'm the voice. I'm the. This singer that sings all these wonderful, beautiful ballads, sappy songs that make them cry. And I love that, actually. So, you know, I love that they. They see me, they saw me and they heard my voice. Because for so long, especially in America, I had to be, no, I'm singing live. This is on. This is me. You know, And I think sometimes it got into my head where I wasn't really just able to have fun because I was so worried about critics saying, oh, she's manufactured. She's not a real singer. And for me, that was like my kryptonite, literally, because I grew up from country music listening to real singers, real songwriters, real performers, and, you know, for somebody to go, oh, she's just a one hit wonder. Some young girl, she can't really sing. That's been mentioned. I mean, that was like, what? You know, that is so not me. I am a singer through and through. I may not be the best dancer, I may not even be the best performer, but I can sit here in front of you and sing. That is what I do. So I, you know, it really got, you know, into my. Into my spirit a little time, you know, sometimes that I was just like, tonight I'm just gonna sing. I'm just gonna show them I could really sing. And I was so wrapped up in reviews and critics and people knowing that I was singing live that sometimes I wish I was just having fun because the fans were already there. I didn't have to really prove that to them. They wanted A moment with me, you know, so, you know, now I think I live in the best of both worlds. I think people do know that I can sing. I've done so many different genres of music, which is intentional. I have fun with music now. I do what I want to do, and I sing the songs that I want to sing. And, of course, I always sing. I think Rolo now could have been all this time, but it's really cool, all these years later for people still to be writing, oh, my gosh, I didn't know you could sing like that. I'm like, well, still trying to get the word out there.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
That's amazing.
Tiffany
It's awesome that, you know that I'm still able to do it. It's awesome that, you know that people are still paying attention, so. And I love my fans that go, you know, you sound like the record, but better. Your tone is better. Like, your range is better. And you've just gotten, you know, you were always my singer, but you just gotten better. And that, to me, really makes my night. It really does. That's when I feel like, you know, ah, okay.
Odoo Advertiser Voice
This is.
Tiffany
It's fun. This is fun because they've seen my talent.
Will Friedle
I have a question for you. I know you were arguably one of the biggest, busiest people on the planet at the time. 87, 88, 89. But do you recall ever being on a Nickelodeon show called Don't Just Sit There?
Tiffany
Oh. Oh, I don't know.
Will Friedle
I'm pretty sure you were on my show back in the 80s.
Tiffany
Oh, probably.
Will Friedle
Yeah, I did.
Tiffany
I did a ton of shows.
Will Friedle
I Googled it, and I was like, was she on Don't Just Sit There? And I think you were. So I'd love to try to find that footage.
Tiffany
Yes, we should find that. I mean, to be honest with you, before I even had the record deal, I was. I did a lot of, like, B movies. I was an extra. And a lot of stuff I did. I was like a background dancer for Kids Incorporated.
Will Friedle
Oh, yeah, I did a lot. That's.
Tiffany
Yes, that's when I was doing all of this. She's got to be a dancer. She's got to be a model. I took acting lessons with Jason Bateman from his dad. I did all these things. And I love to find that footage because it was like, me and Soleil Moonfry, we were in the trailer with the teacher, and I was only, like, 11, doing that kind of stuff. You know, being a Hollywood kid, I remember going to auditions and literally turning up, and it was like, Mario Lopez Ricky Martin, Martika, myself, and I mean, Melora Hardin, like, all these people together, wow. We all made it. I mean, again, I don't know what that is A. We're very talented people and very dedicated people. But I also want to say that, you know, I don't know individually all their stories, but there was, again, something about the 80s that, you know, people would say, I'm gonna make you a star. And they just, like, did it and followed it through. I don't know if that was selfish or their own claim to fame or money. I don't know. But all these people that I was literally doing auditions with became famous. What are the odds of all of that? I mean, I'm like, did auditions with them, used to hang out in the hallway reading sides with them. Oh, my God. Used to go to like birthday parties with them, like, after. And all our parents would get together. So funny, you know, and we were all wanting to be, you know, big and big and famous. We loved what we were doing. Wow.
Danielle Fishel
Well, Tiffany, you have been able to survive and thrive this wild ride, releasing handfuls of studio albums, famously appearing on How I Met yout Mother, continuing to tour. If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to young Norwalk Tiffany, maybe just on one of those very first mall tour shows, what piece of advice would you give her?
Tiffany
Oh, wow. You know, I mean, for me, and this is just being critical for myself, I loved. I would have loved to have learned to play an instrument really well, to take that time for myself because, you know, I'm now learning and it's not as easy as an adult in practice, and it's just not something that just comes naturally to me. But it's. It is a goal of mine to actually be able to play piano and sing my ballads. That's. That's something I want to do. Yeah. So I. I probably would have said, wait, there's a step here. You know, I want you to learn piano. I want you to be able to be self sufficient when you're writing. Writing songs. So that was a big thing for me. I wanted to be a songwriter. So I did take that time. Came back to Nashville when my son was very young and did nothing but that. I plugged myself into the Nashville songwriting community and just said, I want to be a songwriter. I want to be accepted as a songwriter. Not for me.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Tiffany
But as I want to make the cut. And I did that. So that is one of my proudest achievements for myself because again, all of my idols were songwriters. So for me, that would probably the one thing that I went Mississipp. You should have learned piano, Deb. Speaking of Debbie Gibson, you know, she plays beautifully, and I. And I love that when we've, you know, done work together and, you know, she goes to the piano and she plays, and I'm just like, oh, it's lovely. It's lovely to have that gift. I don't think I would change too much about me or my personality or my, you know, the. The things that I've went through at all. I'm very much always looking forward to things rather than in the back. And I think everything that I've went through has always made me an old soul, and that's okay. And very compassionate person because, you know, I had this thing about all my friends. Listen, I'll never judge you, but if, you know, if it's not good, we're not staying here. So don't call me because I'm a very proactive person. But I will get into the fire and in the flames with you, and you won't hear me complaining. But we are going forward. I'm very much that person. So I think all of the things that I went through made me that person. And I think it's so needed in life, whether you're a celebrity or just. Just, you know, just an aunt, you know, people need to be encouraged, they need to be loved, they need to be accepted, you know, and they need to be celebrated sometimes, you know? So, I mean, I think that's kind of what I try to do through my music and the people that I meet as my fans, but the people I work with as well, and of course, my family who make me everything. So there's not too much to. To change, you know, I think. I think if I had to go back and tell the little girl myself, I'd say, keep going, sister. You know, just ride it out. Don't. Even if. When people give up on you or they say it's. Prove them wrong, do it if you love it and live your life. End of story. I love that.
Danielle Fishel
Where can people find you now? Where can. Where can we support you and how can we support you?
Tiffany
Tiffanytoons.com for all things Tiff World, you can go. That's my main hub. And that'll take you to Radical Reds and all the. The jacket zooms that I do. I do have my own spice line out. Coming out with my own cookbook this year called Pop Life, which really talks about the touring and my foodie love of all my travels. Everywhere I've went, I've always went to local businesses. I like to eat outside the hotel and see what's, what's really going on in people's lives. And that's how you really get to know the culture and, and, you know, your travels. So that is reflected in the cookbook. But the cookbook is about 80s foods, all reworked, all legit for the adult kitchen now, so lots of fun. Back to the 80s. Stouffer's Pizza, reworked. We've got our puffy cheesy burgers, our Mac and cheese, all reworked. My favorite, which was chicken pot pie. When I would get home from, you know, school, my mom always had one, but I've made it my Mexican chicken pot pie. Being from east la, gotta have a little bit of something going on. And so I have my own spices as well that I'm, you know, I partner with a lot of restaurants and they're professionally bottled out of Flagler beach. And now I'm just working some food as well.
Danielle Fishel
Love it.
Will Friedle
Awesome.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for sharing your story and your time with us. It's always a pleasure to see you.
Tiffany
Thank you, guys.
Ryder Strong
Great to meet you.
Tiffany
Happy New Year, everybody.
Will Friedle
Happy New Year.
Tiffany
Talk to you soon. Talk to you soon. Thanks, guys.
Danielle Fishel
What an amazing story.
Ryder Strong
Yeah, what an amazing story. She's so. I love that she's such a people person and she's so, like, down to earth that when she had this, like, meteoric moment, it wasn't, well, now I can ignore everybody and be a superstar. It was like, like, well, how do I connect to more people?
Danielle Fishel
How can you?
Ryder Strong
It's like when she lost the. When the mall tour became the stadium door. It sounds like she got worse, but what about all my friends? Yeah, that's. That's like such an inversion of what probably most people would think, you know, if you've worked that hard for, you know. But it obviously was always about connecting for her. It was always about human and entertainment. And like, the fact that she was singing to get there was just kind of a side effect of, like wanting to have people. It's so cool.
Will Friedle
It's also just a bygone era because it. The idea that she's got a manager's like, we're gonna crash this record label. Yeah. Just don't let the security stop you. Hit the button and start singing. Now you just go on social media. You put up your own page.
Tiffany
Right, Right.
Will Friedle
Yeah. It's the easiest thing in the world where they're like gorilla style running into these record labels and just having her sing. That's crazy.
Ryder Strong
But she's so right. That that is like a bygone era. That there used to be this whole industry of like men, all men, who would just like swoop in for like child talent and be like, I'm gonna make you a star. And then they just like force that. Yeah, just make it happen and mulch.
Will Friedle
It's like, that's crazy. It's.
Ryder Strong
That was like a whole industry. It was people doing that and saying that. I mean, even we talked like nobody's angel. It's like they were kind of always looking for that person and it kept changing and like who the manager is, who the.
Tiffany
Oh my God.
Ryder Strong
What a weird thing.
Will Friedle
Like, I remember when I was 11 or 12, she was everywhere, yo. Yeah, Tiffany was everywhere. Tiffany.
Ryder Strong
It's the first song I remember being like addicted to like I had to keep period at that summer or whatever.
Will Friedle
She was so cute and it was like the perfect pop star. And again, you watch her at a mall and it was like, that's like where I'm from, you know, Just. It was such a brilliant concept.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, I know. I mean, Orange Julia sounded like it was her mall go to. What was your mall? Food court Go to, Will.
Will Friedle
Orange Julius.
Ryder Strong
Oh gosh.
Tiffany
Orange.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, Orange Julius writer. Did you have a mall go to food court?
Tiffany
No, not.
Will Friedle
How about you, Daniel?
Danielle Fishel
Panda Express. No. Panda Express.
Tiffany
Yeah, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Kung pao chicken and fried rice.
Will Friedle
Can I make a suggestion for our next Pod Meets World live? It's a mall tour. Cuz there's no malls really left in the world that are the same. But let's do a Pod Me Twirl tour. Hold on.
Ryder Strong
Oh my God. That's actually a really brilliant idea. But we love all tourists. Like middle of the day, like 12pm 12pm in the food court. And so like there'll be like assigned seating, but there'll also just be seats for people walking by. Just like need to take a break.
Tiffany
But also the people who are just.
Will Friedle
There to eat lunch.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
Yeah.
Ryder Strong
That's amazing.
Danielle Fishel
I love it. Will, you're a genius. 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 podmeetsworldshowmail.com and we've got merch.
Will Friedle
I need some more merch now. There doesn't seem to be enough around merch.
Danielle Fishel
Pod meets WorldShow.com will send us out.
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
We love you all.
Will Friedle
Pod dismissed. Pod Meets World is an iHeart podcast, produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Ryder Strong, executive executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sudbaksh, producer Maddy 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 @cvs it matters that we're not.
Tiffany
Just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store.
Danielle Fishel
Store we can't wait to meet you.
Tiffany
Store hours vary by location these days.
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Tiffany
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Tiffany
Health goals and wealth goals.
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Podcast: Pod Meets World
Host(s): Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Ryder Strong
Guest: Tiffany (80s Pop Icon)
Date: January 12, 2026
In this nostalgia-packed episode, Danielle, Will, and Ryder go back to the peak of 80s and early 90s pop culture to meet Tiffany, the singer who rocketed to fame with her mall tours and the hit “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Tiffany shares behind-the-scenes details of her teenage rise to stardom, memories of life on the road, the reality of being a young pop star, and her lasting connection to fans. The hosts explore how the unique intimacy of mall tours shaped a generation – and Tiffany's view of what it means to be a star.
[15:00]
[18:26]
“We started singing at the VFW Club in Norwalk… my family didn’t know anything about the music industry.” (Tiffany, 19:09)
[22:59]
[30:05]
Initial single “Danny” failed to chart, and Tiffany shares the nerve-wracking insecurity this caused.
Backstory on the awkward “Danny” single artwork and double-crimped hair disaster:
“The only thing I could do was lean against the wall, cross my legs, not smile, and try to be edgy and cool in my own mind. And that was Danny plus Tiffany.” (Tiffany, 32:02)
The last-minute switch to “I Think We’re Alone Now” became the saving grace.
Irony: “Danny” is now a fan favorite at concerts, despite tanking originally; fans go wild for it decades later.
[39:47]
“Some of the retail stores… they weren’t happy. But... that’s where my age group hung out.” (Tiffany, 41:51)
On connecting with fans: “I got to literally do that, even as a kid. Go to pizza… and hear about… what's the fashion here?” (Tiffany, 47:47)
[52:15]
[52:31]
“There was just something so magical about the 80s… there was that connection. You just knew, even though you didn’t know.” (Tiffany, 55:56)
[57:44]
“It really was, I couldn't do both. I couldn’t be touring the world… and coming home to a chaotic, not changing environment… Sometimes things have to get really ugly to… force a change.” (Tiffany, 61:53)
[67:40]
“My agent had just signed New Kids on the Block… They came in, and it was like five really cute guys… I said, well, again, there's that country music element in me. If you want to do something, do it right now.” (Tiffany, 69:38)
[76:36]
“For so long, especially in America, I had to be, no, I’m singing live. This is on. This is me. For me, that was like my kryptonite… I am a singer through and through.” (Tiffany, 77:08)
[81:03]
[83:29]
“I don’t think I would change too much about me or my personality… If I had to go back and tell the little girl myself, I’d say, keep going, sister. Just ride it out. Don’t—even if when people give up on you or they say it’s... Prove them wrong, do it if you love it and live your life. End of story.” (Tiffany, 86:32)
On Mall Tour magic:
“The charm of the mall tour was I did get to meet people… I made lifelong friends. I still have some of my friends from the mall tour. And I think that there was something magical about that, because it really was that connection.” (Tiffany, 43:19)
On fashion’s role in her story:
“Now I’m launching a jacket line called Radical Red… For charity, I actually trick out your jacket… and I raise money for Children’s Miracle Network.” (Tiffany, 53:03)
On surviving the industry:
“I wanted to go live with my grandmother at the time, which eventually I did do. But my mom, of course, had always really depended on me… and it took all that ugly emancipation stuff, which got so crazy.” (Tiffany, 58:12)
On being seen as “real” in Asia:
“To them, I’m ‘the voice’… I think that’s the difference… I may not be the best dancer, I may not even be the best performer, but I can sit here in front of you and sing. That is what I do.” (Tiffany, 77:08)
Find Tiffany online:
Connecting with fans remains a cornerstone—Tiffany still ensures her meet-and-greets echo her mall tour roots, emphasizing genuine connection over fleeting photo ops.
Wistful, joyful, authentic—the hosts and Tiffany share genuine laughter, poignant memories, and a deep appreciation for the era and for the power of kindness and connection in the business of stardom.
“If I had to go back and tell the little girl myself, I’d say, keep going, sister. Just ride it out… do it if you love it and live your life. End of story.”
— Tiffany (86:32)