Little Women Takeover w/ Nicole Daniels

Summary

The Nightly — “Little Women Takeover w/ Nicole Daniels”
Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Kristen (Hatch Podcasts)
Guest: Nicole Daniels (Actor, Writer, Pop Culture Parodist)

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Episode Overview

This cozy, pop culture-infused bedtime episode of The Nightly brings listeners into a whimsical and affectionate discussion focused on period pieces—especially the enduring appeal of Little Women. Host Kristen welcomes Nicole Daniels, well-known for her period drama parodies, to talk about her new role as narrator for Hatch’s audiobook version of Little Women and to play games, dish on the March sisters, and share a few hot takes on pop culture’s gentler side—all designed to help you unwind for sleep.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nicole Daniels’ Pop Culture & Period Piece Passion

• Nicole introduces herself as an actor, writer, and social media content creator known for playful parodies of period films (A24, historical dramas, foreign films) and comedy sketches about work and nonprofits.
• Both Kristen and Nicole bond over their love for history and dressing up in period costumes as kids, finding kinship in what Nicole calls a “quiet, gentle community” (02:40).

Quote:
“We are a quiet, gentle community. All of us in our prairie dresses together. We're out there.” — Kristen (02:40)

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Becoming Jo March: Narrating Little Women

• Nicole shares her excitement and personal approach to narrating Little Women for Hatch’s Classics series, including dressing in a Victorian dress to truly get into character while recording (03:03-03:44).
• She especially enjoyed bringing Jo’s perspective to life and subtly voicing the other sisters.

Quote:
“I did bring in my, like, Victorian dress, and for one of the chapters, I did put that on... I felt very much in character for that piece.” — Nicole (03:23)

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Why Does Little Women Still Resonate?

• Kristen and Nicole dig into the four March sisters—Meg (the traditionalist), Jo (the independent writer), Beth (the kind, sickly one), and Amy (the brat who evolves)—and discuss who they identified with and why each sister still sparks debate and devotion (04:28-08:32).
• They compare “Which Little Woman are you?” to conversations around Sex and the City or Golden Girls.

Quote:
“It's almost like Sex and the City—like, which gal are you? Or the Golden Girls, Which Golden Girl are you? And you can kind of do that with Little Women, right?” — Kristen (04:43)

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The Amy Controversy: Manuscript in the Fire

• Kristen confesses her lasting anger at Amy for burning Jo’s manuscript, sparking a lively exchange on sibling dynamics and forgiveness (06:33-07:09).

Quote:
“She takes Jo's manuscript that she has been working on for years... and throws it in the fire. And at that point I'm like, Amy, you're over to me.” — Kristen (06:33)

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Laurie: Romantic Choices and Literary Debate

• They dissect Laurie’s journey from Jo’s spurned admirer to Amy’s ultimate partner, speculating if Laurie’s love was genuine or motivated by wanting to be part of Jo’s family (09:28-10:09).
• The hosts reflect on how adaptations (and casting choices) influence perceptions of the characters.

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“Spoon, Snore, Shove on the Floor”: A Pop Culture Game (Kiss, Marry, Kill)

Segments and Choices:

• Which Laurie?—Timothée Chalamet (Gerwig’s adaptation), Christian Bale (90s film), or Professor Baer (Jo’s eventual partner) (10:52-12:43)
  • Both would “shove” Professor Baer, “spoon” Timothée, and “snore” (marry) Christian Bale’s Laurie.
  • Quote:
    “Timothée Chalamet seemed more like a boy. Christian Bale, he seems more like a man.” — Kristen (12:28)
• Perfect Setting: Orchard House at Christmas, New York City in Fall, or Walden Pond in Spring (13:05-15:47)
  • Disagreement: Nicole favors New York (“snore/marry”), Kristen chooses Orchard House (“spoon”) and rejects Walden Pond for its noise.
  • Quote:
    “Orchard House at Christmas... I want to make out with that all night, actually.” — Kristen (14:21)
• American Girl Dolls: Samantha, Felicity, or Addie (16:20-19:28)
  • Both adore Addie (“snore/marry”). Nicole shoves Samantha, Kristen shoves Felicity (“not a horse girl”) and wants to spoon Samantha for her riches.
  • Quote:
    “Loving horses is not a personality, Felicity. Sorry.” — Kristen (19:17)

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Historical Interpretation and Childhood Dreams

• Nicole reveals she once worked as a costumed historical interpreter, thrilling Kristen who jokes about her dream of “churning butter” and dressing in a bustle (15:22-15:47).

Quote:
“The butter is waiting for you. The time is here.” — Nicole (15:42)

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Nicole Daniels: Where to Find More

Nicole invites listeners to follow her:

• Instagram: @nicoleolive
• TikTok: @nicoleolive.d

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If I'm given the choice between wearing a bonnet or wearing a motorcycle jacket, I'm probably going to choose the bonnet.” — Kristen (01:55)
• “[Amy] does something that I don't know if I'd ever be able to forgive. She takes Jo's manuscript... and throws it in the fire.” — Kristen (06:33)
• “Loving horses is not a personality, Felicity. Sorry.” — Kristen (19:17)
• “We are a quiet, gentle community. All of us in our prairie dresses together. We're out there.” — Kristen (02:40)
• “The butter is waiting for you. The time is here.” — Nicole (15:42)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Guest Intro & Period Piece Fandom — 00:53–02:40
• Nicole on Narrating Little Women — 03:03–03:44
• Sister Deep Dives: Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy — 04:28–08:32
• Amy’s Manuscript Scene — 06:33–07:09
• Little Women Adaptations, Laurie & Relationship Talk — 09:28–10:09
• “Spoon, Snore, Shove on the Floor” Game
  • Laurie's Portrayals—10:52–12:43
  • Dream Literary Settings—13:05–15:47
  • American Girl Dolls—16:20–19:28
• Historical Interpretation Dreams & Wrap-Up — 15:22–15:47
• Where to Find Nicole Daniels — 19:41–19:50

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The Nightly wraps up on a warm, nostalgic note, sending listeners to bed with visions of literature’s most beloved sisters. Kristen and Nicole sign off hoping you “dream of Little Women”—prairie dresses, period romance, horses and all.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Hello. You're about to drift into an episode of the Nightly, a podcast designed to help you unwind and relax. For the full phone free immersive light experience, visit Hatch Co. Enjoy.

[Kristen]

Hey there out there. Hi, I'm Kristen. Welcome to the Nightly from Hatch, a slumber party for pop culture lovers. And we have one of our very favorite pop culture lovers in the world with us today, the delightful Nicole Daniels. Nicole, welcome to the show.

[Nicole Daniels]

Thank you so much. I'm really excited to be here.

[Kristen]

So for those, the very few who may not know who you are, tell us more about who you are, what kind of pop culture you're connected to, what kind of content you put out in the world that I love so much.

[Nicole Daniels]

So I am an actor and writer, but I create lots of videos that are often parodies of period piece films, foreign films, A24. I also create a lot of content around work, both babysitting work and nonprofits. So there's a range. And I think I love period piece films being considered pop culture, which of course they are. But I think as a kid being obsessed with history, I definitely felt like I was more on the fringes of pop culture because I would much have preferred to be in a dress, like pretending I was fetching water for my mother, than anything else.

[Kristen]

Oh, Nicole, you and I are cut of the same cloth that way. I got my Laura Ingalls Wilder costume. I was supposed to go to the 50th anniversary of the Little House on the Prairie TV show two years ago, but there was a transit issue. I missed it. Unfortunately, it was in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. I missed it. I have watched and read Anne of Green Gables many times, so I'm with you. If I'm given the choice between wearing a bonnet or wearing a motorcycle jacket, I'm probably going to choose the bonnet. That's probably.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yeah, I think that's very fair. And I will say people in my comments are often like, where did you get this dress from? I would love to wear that. So I don't think we're alone.

[Kristen]

Yeah, we are a quiet, gentle community. All of us in our prairie dresses together. We're out there. All right. Well, speaking of period pieces, Nicole, we are here because you are the narrator of the newest Hatch classics, Little Women, which is out now on Hatch. So exciting. Can you tell us about it?

[Nicole Daniels]

I had the most fun recording it and just revisiting the story in that way. I am reading it really from the perspective of Joe, and it was so fun to get to be her and to bring to life the voices, you know, softly, of the other sisters and other people in their world. I did bring in my, like, Victorian dress, and for one of the chapters, I did put that on. And so I felt very much in character for that piece. But it was. It was a lot of fun, and it is such a cozy story.

[Kristen]

Oh, that is so fantastic that you dressed in costume. And I'm sure the listeners can hear that dedication.

[Nicole Daniels]

Exactly, exactly.

[Kristen]

Well, speaking of Little Women, can we talk more about your relationship with Little Women? Tell me about how it's touched you or angered you or whatever it's done for you.

[Nicole Daniels]

Well, I was absolutely in love with the 90s little women growing up.

[Kristen]

And I think the Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes.

[Nicole Daniels]

Exactly. And I think in general, Little Women has something for everyone. I'm biased because I love it, but I do think that with each of the sisters own personalities, I think that we can each see ourselves in all of them and might feel more of a connection to one over the other. But I think as a period piece obsessed kid, there were so many tropes that I loved and things that just spoke to me.

[Kristen]

I absolutely agree with you. It's almost like Sex and the City. Like, which gal are you? Or the Golden Girls, Which Golden Girl are you? And you can kind of do that with Little Women, right?

[Nicole Daniels]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Kristen]

But I do have to confess something to you. I maybe asked a pointed question when I asked about your relationship, what you love about Little Women. Do they anger you? And I'm gonna say one of them in particular really does anger me. Do you know which one I'm talking about?

[Nicole Daniels]

Amy. Yes.

[Kristen]

Oh, my gosh. Bratty little Amy. Oh. I mean, I know she evolves.

[Nicole Daniels]

She does. I feel like she has a great arc, though, in that way. She's like a refined painter by the end.

[Kristen]

Yeah. Okay, so listeners, if. If you aren't super familiar with Little Women, the four sisters are. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. And Jo is essentially the stand for the author Louisa May Alcott. So we're supposed to, you know, I think kind of most identify with Jo because the author does, but the other sisters are based on Louisa May Alcott's actual sisters. And so the four sisters are Meg, who's the oldest, she's very traditional. She's into marriage and children. Jo, who's more of a career gal, she writes, she takes care of the family. She's independent and strong. We have Beth, who has the heart of gold, the sweetest, most forgiving person in the world, but also very sick. I won't say what happens to her in the end, but she's not a healthy girl. And we have Amy, who is the youngest and at least in the beginning, is kind of a brat. And she does have an arc, though. I totally agree with you, Nicole. She changes the most probably of all the characters in the book.

[Nicole Daniels]

That is absolutely true.

[Kristen]

But I will say this. In the beginning, she makes me very angry. She's such a brat. And she does something that I don't know if I'd ever be able to forgive. She takes Jo's manuscript that she has been working on four years, handwritten, not in a MacBook Pro, written it, written it by hand for years. And Amy, mad that she can't go with Megan Jo to the theater one night because she's a little kid. She's not a grown up like Megan Jo. She can't go. And she throws a fit and grabs that manuscript of Jo's she's been working on for years and throws it in the fire. And at that point I'm like, Amy, you're over to me.

[Nicole Daniels]

And still such an iconic scene.

[Kristen]

Oh, just thinking about it gets me.

[Nicole Daniels]

I know, I know, but it's a great one with Amy and her little hair and her little pin curls and rollers. And I think Meg in many ways does the least for me. Like, she doesn't upset me, but I just find her, you know. Yeah. As you described, she's going for this more traditional life and I find there's less for me to kind of jump into when it comes to Meg.

[Kristen]

Yeah, she just does what's expected. She never seems to push back, ever, or belie expectations. And I'd say the other characters do more.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yes. Yeah. Even Beth, who's like helping out this family who's sick. And though that's very supported by her family, I do feel like she puts herself out there a little more. I also really loved Beth.

[Kristen]

Yeah, she really is pureness, kindness, loveliness. She really is in her own suffering. I mean, she's thinking about other people's suffering. And if she wanted to just devolve into a pity party for herself, deserved, she would be allowed to do that. But instead she's thinking about other people who have it bad and doing everything she can to put kindness in the world. She really is a sweetheart, isn't she?

[Nicole Daniels]

She really is.

[Kristen]

Makes me so mad. I do have to point out, for our international listeners here in the US, Little Women Part 1 and Little Women Part 2 was released as one book. So abroad, Little Women is usually released as Two books. The first book just takes the kids through their childhood, essentially. And book two, we get more of the romances. Things that happen with Laurie, like, spoiler Laurie after being rebuffed by Joe many, many times. This is Joe's boyfriend. I'm sorry, I wouldn't say he's a boyfriend. There's this guy named Laurie who's really, really into Joe, and he's been kind of, you know, making himself available to her as much as possible. And at the end of book two, rebuffed by Jo repeatedly, he chooses a different sister to be with. And. Can we talk about Laurie for a second?

[Nicole Daniels]

Yeah. It's so interesting because part of me is like, okay, did he and Amy, who he ends up being with, change so much over time that they really were in alignment and, like, quote unquote, meant to be with each other? Or is it partly for him this desire of wanting to be in the family, in Jo's family in some form?

[Kristen]

If I can't have Joe, I'll have her little sister. Is it that. I don't know which, when you say.

[Nicole Daniels]

It like that, sounds awful.

[Kristen]

But that.

[Nicole Daniels]

I think part of me does wonder, is that what it is?

[Kristen]

Yeah. I mean, I think a lot of people over the years who've read or seen the movies wonder about this. And while we're at it, let's play a game, Nicole, that we love to play around here. The game is called Kiss, marry, Kill.

[Nicole Daniels]

Okay.

[Kristen]

But it's also known here in the pillow fort as spoon, snore, shove on the floor, whatever you want to call it.

[Nicole Daniels]

Okay.

[Kristen]

I have a few different options here, and I'd love to know where you stand on these ones. And we were talking about Laurie, so let's start with this one.

[Nicole Daniels]

Okay.

[Kristen]

Spoon, snore, or shove on the floor. Our options are Timothy Chalamet's version of Laurie in the Greta Gerwig Little Women, Christian Bale's version of Laurie in the Little Women that you love from the 90s. Or Professor Baer, which, spoiler listeners, is who Jo ends up with in the end of book two of Little Women. Huh.

[Nicole Daniels]

I feel like Timothee Chalamet and the Christian Bale version are so different, but I love them both, so I feel I think I could more easily shove on the floor. Professor Baer, like, honestly, a bit of a snore.

[Kristen]

I don't know.

[Nicole Daniels]

He does less for me, so maybe I'm gonna put him on shove. Like, kindly shove on the floor.

[Kristen]

Yeah, I'm shoving him, too. He's kind of Condescending and boring, too. Yeah.

[Nicole Daniels]

He's a like, I get why Joe was maybe drawn to him, but he that. Yet the condescension is the harder self for me.

[Kristen]

Yeah.

[Nicole Daniels]

Maybe spoon Timothee Chalamet and snore. Christian Bale.

[Kristen]

Ah, so you'd marry Christian Bale. Okay, I. I hate to sound like I'm copying you, but I totally agree. I could be married to Christian Bale's Laurie. Timothee Chalamet's Laurie. I'm like, maybe I'd kiss you at a party.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yeah.

[Kristen]

After we have a little dance. But I don't want to marry you. Whereas Christian Bale, he seems more like a man. Timothy Chalamet seemed more like a boy.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yes. He definitely was giving the younger years Laurie. Very convincingly.

[Kristen]

Exactly. Exactly. All right, so we agree on that one.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yes.

[Kristen]

Okay, next up, Orchard House at Christmas. Listeners. Orchard House is where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women. It's a history house. It's from the 1600s. So Orchard House at Christmas, New York City in the fall, or Walden Pond in the spring.

[Nicole Daniels]

Hmm. I think as much as I love Orchard House at Christmas, I might shove that on the floor. As cozy. As cozy and iconic as it is. But because I'm really. I'm in la and I'm really missing New York, and I love New York in the fall. I know we only see a little bit of that in the books and movies, but I feel like 1800s New York City in the fall is something I could really come back to. So maybe that's my snore. My, like, Mary and then spoon Malden Pond in spring.

[Kristen]

I think you and I disagree completely on this one.

[Nicole Daniels]

Oh, okay.

[Kristen]

All right. So I'm going to shove Walden Pond on the floor.

[Nicole Daniels]

Mm.

[Kristen]

And that's because Henry David Thoreau, in his book, he's constantly complaining about the train noise there. Wow.

[Nicole Daniels]

I don't remember that, but.

[Kristen]

And I'm like, oh, my gosh, that doesn't sound very relaxing. Also, he's on Walden Pond, essentially in his friend's backyard the whole time. Right.

[Nicole Daniels]

It was very cozy, ultimately, but I.

[Kristen]

Don'T know if I want to be in my friend's backyard compared to, like, the other options available. Right. So it's like, okay, I'm in my noisy friend's backyard, so I'm shoving that on the floor. Walden Pond. Goodbye, Orchard House at Christmas. I want to make out with that all night, actually. And as a matter of fact, this holiday season, I am going to try my best to make it there. For the first time, Orchard House at Christmas. So hopefully I can make that happen. I still don't know yet, but that's.

[Nicole Daniels]

Something that would be amazing.

[Kristen]

I love a history house at Christmas. I've also done the Biltmore estate, which is one of the Vanderbilt mansions, at Christmas once in Asheville. I just love a holiday house, especially if people are there dressed in historical costume.

[Nicole Daniels]

Maybe it's because that is what I did as a kid. Like, I was a costumed historical interpreter and worked at different sites at Christmas and the holidays and year round. And so maybe it's lost. I'm like, I've done that. I really know that one. That version.

[Kristen]

Okay, Nicole, I just went from thinking you were fantastic to thinking you're a goddess, because that is my dream job. I dream of being a historical interpreter someday, of wearing a bustle every day for the rest of my life. And you should. Oh, my gosh, Churn some butter, walk around some grounds and point out some bed warmers.

[Nicole Daniels]

The butter is waiting for you. The time is here. Oh, man.

[Kristen]

Okay. All right. This is amazing. Okay, so Orchard House at Christmas. I am totally spooning that. But snoring. Who am I going to lay side by side with for the rest of my life? It's going to be New York City in the fall. I live in New York. I love New York. I love the interpretations of New York in the fall from every century. I'm so into it. So, yeah, I'm with New York in the fall for the long haul. All right, let's do one more spoon, snore, or shove on the floor. American Girl Dolls version.

[Nicole Daniels]

Love.

[Kristen]

Okay, our three options are Samantha, the orphan living with her wealthy grandma in upstate New York in the early 1900s. Felicity the horse loving girl in Williamsburg, Virginia, whose community is divided over the American revolution in the 1770s. Or Addie, who escapes slavery in North Carolina in the 1860s and creates a new life for herself in Philadelphia, helping others to escape as well. So again, that's Samantha, Felicity or Addie.

[Nicole Daniels]

I mean, I guess I would Addie as the revolutionary she was. I'm like, okay, snore in the marriage. Like, that's the marriage. Right? The long term. I would be locked in with Addie. Yeah, I think Samantha I would shove on the floor. I love Samantha, but, I mean, talk about bratty tendencies. Like, she feels like a parallel to Amy to me. But I do love her. And I think Felicity would be spoon. Felicity seems just, like, so fun and cool and on her horse and.

[Kristen]

Yeah. Okay. Okay. All right, we have some disagreement. We're gonna have to fight over our wife here, Addie. Because Addie is absolutely the best. She's a hero. She's smart, she's decent, she's intrepid. She's kind. She's brave. I love everything about Addie. Addy is the best. We love Addie. So I guess we're in a throuple with her.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yes.

[Kristen]

I'm marrying her, but I'm spooting. I know this is gonna sound not very sophisticated of me, but rich girl Samantha, the orphan, I. I feel like she'd be a fun hang because she's so rich, and she'd just be like, yeah, I'm gonna buy you that dress, that doll. You like that doll? I'll buy that doll for you. Oh, you want a carriage ride? We'll get you in a carriage. Like, I just feel like that's true. Samantha's rich, and she throws around money like a clueless idiot. But, yes, I feel like it would be fun with her.

[Nicole Daniels]

And she is kind to Nellie, her, like, neighbor's servant. And then she does get more involved in, like, I guess, you know, like.

[Kristen]

Child labor issues and stuff.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yeah. Child labor issues. Yeah. Factories. So she does broaden her scope a bit.

[Kristen]

She does. And. And I know what you're saying. There are Amy tendencies in Samantha. But if it's just a spoon, if it's just a kiss, I'm like, I'll hang out with a rich girl for a night while she spends money on me. That would be fun. True and very true. As far as Felicity goes, I'm shoving her on the floor. I'm just like, I'm not a horse girl. I think that's what it is.

[Nicole Daniels]

Yeah.

[Kristen]

Loving horses is not a personality, Felicity. Sorry. Like, that's like saying, I drink coffee and it's my personality. It's not. No. So you can have her.

[Nicole Daniels]

Okay.

[Kristen]

Oh, my gosh, Nicole, this has been so much fun. Can you tell listeners where they can get more of you? I know everybody wants more of you because you're such a delight.

[Nicole Daniels]

That is very kind. Well, I am on Instagram @nicoleolive and on TikTok @nicoleolive.

[Kristen]

D. Everybody's gonna check you out because you're wonderful, and I've just had the best time with you tonight, Nicole. So good that I am ready to lay my head down on my pillow and dream of little women. So shall we call it a night?

[Nicole Daniels]

I think we should. Thank you so much.

[Kristen]

Thank you so much, Nicole. Good night.

[Nicole Daniels]

Good night, Sam.

[Narrator]

To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch Co. You can also follow us at Hatch Podcasts.