Podcrushed – Aly & AJ
Hosts: Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari
Guests: Aly & AJ Michalka
Release Date: January 7, 2026
Overview
This episode of Podcrushed welcomes Aly & AJ Michalka, the pop-rock sister duo known for their early days on Disney Radio and their journey into more mature, indie-leaning music. The conversation explores their shared childhood in showbiz, the complexities and blessings of working as sisters, their pivotal moments in music and acting, and how they’ve navigated fame, heartbreak, and identity from adolescence to adulthood. The tone is intimate, playful, and heartfelt—like friends reminiscing in a kitchen—offering both nostalgia and new insight for fans old and new.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Sisterhood, Family, and Early Bonds
[09:07 – 19:00]
- Aly & AJ discuss their deep sisterly bond, tracing it back to their upbringing and their parents’ efforts to foster closeness.
- They recall moving between LA and Seattle, being homeschooled, and their early focus on music and acting.
- AJ: "Everything was a game. Going to dinner with our parents was a game. Reading a menu was a game. Ordering… every single thing." [15:55]
- Their best friend Raymond, met at age 12 at Young Actors Space, remains in their lives decades later.
- Both reflect on how sharing games and creative play as children built the basis for their enduring collaboration.
2. Early Careers in Entertainment
[19:00 – 32:00]
- Aly booked her first TV show "The Guardian" at age 12, calling it a formative mentorship experience.
- "I learned a ton from Farrah [Fawcett]... [Dabney Coleman] was a mentor for many, many years." [19:00]
- Both share memories of acting classes at Young Actor Space and their first forays into songwriting, noting how guitar sparked their creativity differently than piano.
3. The Disney Channel Years
[28:14 – 44:00]
- Aly recounts her audition process and pilot for “Phil of the Future,” including the now-iconic “shrinking Raviv” episode that led to their first original song on TV.
- “I don’t even know how I had the balls to be like, hey, writers and creators of the show. I write music with my sister…” [39:00]
- Their first song, "Protecting Me," was about their parents but fit the script by coincidence.
- The success of the song led to their record deal, marking them as pioneers in the Disney actor-to-popstar pipeline (after Hilary Duff).
- “I was like, no, no, no. I’m in a duo with my sister...” [40:22]
4. Navigating Fame, Friendship, and Love
[53:46 – 61:29]
- Both sisters reminisce about being “late bloomers” in dating, with their first crushes and relationships often shaped by their work environments and the pressures of young stardom.
- Aly reflects on a poignant, short-lived teen romance with a fellow actor, which became the inspiration for two songs on their first album.
- AJ’s relationship with Joe Jonas is discussed lightly, highlighting the close-knit nature of the Disney music scene and the experience of growing up in the spotlight.
5. Collaborative Synergy and Sibling Bands
[46:13 – 48:53]
- The group discusses the unique chemistry of sibling bands, pointing out that working with a sister bypasses a lot of common band drama and ego clashing.
- “There’s no ego in the game, so we’re willing to just kind of own whatever that is and move on…” [47:12]
- Their deep trust allows for real creative partnership, which they credit as the secret to their duo’s longevity.
6. Music Evolution, Hiatus, and Comeback
[72:15 – 74:52]
- The sisters talk about the evolution of their sound—from "Rush" and "Potential Breakup Song" to their new work.
- They note their core “lifer” fanbase and reflect on their decade-long hiatus, expressing some regret but recognizing the value of their artistic journey.
- “I would tell my 12-year-old self... don’t go away. Just keep touring, even if it’s not new music.” [92:27]
- Aly: “It made us grow up a little faster than we would have. But we also moved out of our parents’ house when we were like 21 and 23, which is late.” [90:16]
7. Motherhood & Creativity: Silver Deliverer
[75:24 – 86:36]
- Aly shares her transformative home birth experience, and how, just a week postpartum, she returned to the studio to record "Silver Deliverer," bringing her newborn son along.
- “Cutting vocals while he’s feeding… in the control room… it was a time capsule of that energy that we were able to experience together.” [81:25–84:04]
- Themes of motherhood, femininity, and life transitions are embedded in their new album, shaped in real-time by family and community.
8. Tour Life and Looking Ahead
[86:36 – 88:51]
- The duo teases their upcoming "Places to Run" 2026 tour—an extension of the Silver Deliverer tour, with new setlists, visuals, and more immersive experiences.
- AJ’s son will join the road, continuing the family-bands legacy.
9. Advice to Their Younger Selves
[89:02 – 92:54]
- Aly: “I think I would tell myself to embrace and hold onto the childlike wonder in life longer than even most people want to hold onto it for… soak up every moment, don’t grow up too fast.” [89:20]
- AJ: “Don’t go away. Just keep touring… even if it’s not new music. You know, keep going out there, keep doing shows.” [92:27]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On sibling collaboration:
“When you’re siblings, there’s a little bit less ego involved, so it’s easier to define people’s strengths and weaknesses…” —Aly, [47:12] - On early music and TV synergy:
“I was like, hey, writers and creators of the show, I write music with my sister, and I think I have a perfect song for this episode.” —AJ, [39:00] - On feeling like outsiders among pop acts:
“We never really, like, cracked the Billboard 10… But there’s such a core following who have stuck with us since the beginning.” —Aly, [72:23] - On motherhood and music:
“I was holding the baby and cutting vocals while he’s feeding. It was just a time capsule of that energy.” —Aly, [81:25–84:04] - On tour life with a toddler:
“He's just like a little road dog… it'll be a cool childhood, you know? He’ll probably be so over it or say, ‘I have to do this with my life.’” —AJ, [88:37–88:51] - On advice to their younger selves:
“Don’t grow up too fast… soak up every moment.” —Aly, [89:20]
“Don’t go away. Just keep touring… even if it’s not new music.” —AJ, [92:27]
Timestamps – Important Segments
- Sibling Bonding & Childhood [09:07–19:00]
Life in LA/Seattle, best friends, family dynamics - Working in Entertainment as Kids [19:00–32:00]
Early roles, acting classes, first songwriting - Disney Pipeline & First Album [28:14–44:00]
"Phil of the Future" anecdotes, double audition for record deals - Navigating Young Fame [53:46–61:29]
Dating, heartbreak, first loves, Joe Jonas - Collaborative Process of Sibling Bands [46:13–48:53]
Insights and philosophy on artistic partnership - Viral Comeback and Musical Growth [72:15–74:52]
TikTok resurgence, audience changes, evolving sound - Motherhood & Silver Deliverer [75:24–86:36]
Home birth, recording with a newborn, creative process - Touring as Moms and Next Steps [86:36–88:51]
- Advice to Their Younger Selves [89:02–92:54]
Final Thoughts
This episode offers a warm, insightful look at Aly & AJ’s intertwined personal and professional lives. Fans get rare, candid stories behind the television shows, heartbreaks, and songs that shaped two unique careers. In true Podcrushed style, the episode is both nostalgic and deeply encouraging—a lesson in the enduring power of sibling love, imagination, and staying true to your roots.