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Nicole Byer
Want to watch this episode? Catch the full video on YouTube. Just hit the link in the episode description.
Danielle Fishel
This is a headgum podcast. So the third date, he says, I was training for a half marathon at the time. He goes, you're training for a half marathon. Let's go for a run tomorrow and then get dinner, okay? And I say okay when I tell you that he was very proud of the fact that he ran track and field in high school and. And thought his mission on this date was to be my marathon coach. And was literally running beside me, clapping me along, hand on the small of my back, pushing me along to run faster. And then when I was like, I do just want to remind you, I told you that I do not run fast. I am new to this. I need to run at my pace. He was like, all right, fine. I'll just run ahead of you. And then did. Then just ran ahead of me, would then stop, turn around, jog in place, wait for me to catch up to him, hand on the small of my back, occasionally finish our run. We're gonna go get sushi. And he stops and says, some of my friends are nearby at a bar. Do you wanna stop in and say hi? Why, no, I didn't.
Nicole Byer
No.
Danielle Fishel
But I did. And they were all waisted. One of them was shirtless, and the other one was wearing a NASA foam Hel. I said hello and tried to be as polite as possible. I'm like, can we please just go get sushi? We go get sushi at the place he recommended, and at the end, when the bill comes, I offer to pay. And he said, okay.
Nicole Byer
I would have ran right into the ocean. That man is an absolute menace. He's probably still out there, probably still pushing women around. If you know Roy Wood Jr. From the Daily show or caught the episode of this podcast when he was a guest, you already know he has such a sharp, funny way of looking at the world. He's put all of that into a new memoir called the man of Many Fathers. It's a memoir about fatherhood told through the lens of Roy losing his own dad when he was 16. He ended up finding father figures in some pretty unexpected places, like from a man in Philly rebuilding his life after prison, or fellow comedians like Trevor Noah. The book is full of these really funny stories, like how to channel your anger and the golden rule of how not to get caught snitching. It's essentially about how raising a good son means paying attention to the mentors who showed up for you. Roy has reached millions of people from headlining the White House correspondence dinner to his new Hulu special, Lonely Flowers, which is very funny. And he brings the same sharp wit and wisdom to this person.
Danielle Fishel
Book.
Nicole Byer
It is written and read by Roy, so you get his perfect delivery throughout. Pick up the man of many Fathers. Written and read by Roy Wood, Jr. Wherever books and audiobooks are sold, me and my friends love to take trips together. And we took this trip to Joshua Tree, and I was like, I don't want to stay in a hotel. I want to stay in, like, a really, really, really cute house with, like, a good kitchen. Because when I'm, like, going to do, like, a girls trip, I absol. Love, love, love, love to just, like, cook in the kitchen and not have to order room service and not always have to go out to a restaurant or whatever. And look, I love my friends. I really do. But lately, I don't get to see them as much as I like. So when we finally plan a trip together, it has to count. I want every second to be quality time. That's why when I'm traveling with friends, I look to book a stay on Airbnb. Airbnb is great because you can book an entire place to yourself. And next time you're traveling, book a stay on Airbnb so you can actually stay together. Why won't you date me? Why won't you date me? Why won't you date me? Please tell me why. Ooh, baby. Welcome to another episode of why won't you date me? A podcaster me, Nicole Byer was trying to figure out why I was so single. Even though you could come on my purse and say, it is a bag charm. My guest is an incredible actor, director, and producer. You know and love her as Topanga Lawrence from the iconic show boy meets World and Girl Meets World. She hosts the new pop culture podcast Teen Beat, which I've guessed it on, and I'm so excited she's here. It's Danielle Fischl. Wait, did I. Your last name, right?
Danielle Fishel
You did.
Nicole Byer
Oh, thank God. Woo.
Danielle Fishel
No need to pick that up.
Nicole Byer
I usually ask before I say it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, you do.
Nicole Byer
And then it was happening.
Danielle Fishel
You just knew it. You knew it intuitively knew it.
Nicole Byer
Danielle, I have some questions.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Nicole Byer
You're a married woman.
Danielle Fishel
I am. I'm a married woman.
Nicole Byer
How did you meet your partner?
Danielle Fishel
Like all partners? We went to high school together.
Nicole Byer
Yes, yes, yes.
Danielle Fishel
Now, that's how we first met. So we met in 1995 at high school, and we were acquaintances. My husband did the morning announcements, so everyone knew him because Everyone heard his voice every day, and he was a very funny guy. And so everyone knew who he was. And then a lot of people knew who I was. Cause I was on tv. I was on Boy Meets World. So we were two people that were popular, but different. Yes, but so therefore, you know, you know each other. And then he graduated two years before I did. And we would run into each other at different events, whether it was they were no longer school events, but, like, once I had graduated high school, and we'd run into each other at clubs or he then went into the entertainment industry. So we'd bump into each other at, like, you know, Sirius radio in New York. And so we just kind of were in and out of each other's lives as, at best friends and at least acquaintances.
Nicole Byer
And then when did you, like, officially get together? How long after high school?
Danielle Fishel
2017.
Nicole Byer
Oh, okay.
Danielle Fishel
I graduated in 99.
Nicole Byer
Okay.
Danielle Fishel
So a solid 18 years. Wow. Yeah. And we were acquaintances and friends through
Nicole Byer
all that time, throughout that whole time. And then what led to you guys getting together? Did you reach out? Did he reach out?
Danielle Fishel
I had been married before. I'm racking up the rings and we're on tune now. Who's to stop me? Who's to stop me?
Nicole Byer
Who would you say? What the future holds.
Danielle Fishel
Why would I stop? And I had gotten a divorce and felt very much like it was a come to Jesus time in my life of very easy to point the fingers and be like, whoa, look at these slouches. It must be them. But I really did recognize, like, girl, what's.
Nicole Byer
It might be something inside.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, it might be something to look at here. And so I really, like, pulled back. I, like, took myself off social media. I just really turned inward and did a lot of work. And then some years passed and I went back into the social media world and I tweeted something. Back when Twitter was a place I would even visit, I tweeted something. Just the most banal, benign thing you could think of. It was like a picture of me and my brother for International Siblings Day. Remember that?
Nicole Byer
Oh, wholesome.
Danielle Fishel
Wasn't it sweet?
Nicole Byer
The Internet used to be a nice place.
Danielle Fishel
It was so sweet.
Nicole Byer
International Siblings Day. Women Crush Wednesday. Man Crush Monday. Where did it go?
Danielle Fishel
Where did it tbt all those things. Yeah, it was a sweet time. And I posted that picture. And he just, I think blue, like, sent me a blue heart. And I saw his name pop up. And I hadn't talked to him in a couple of years, and I thought, that's always been a good guy. Nothing more than that. Nothing romantic. Just. That's always been a good guy. And then, as I was now back into social media, I was seeing more of his tweets, and, gosh, he's really funny. And then he tweeted something about Rebecca Black, who had sang the Friday song.
Nicole Byer
Friday. Friday.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly. And I knew her mother. Her mother was a vet who had put my dog to sleep. Small world.
Nicole Byer
Small world.
Danielle Fishel
And I just felt like he needed to know that. And so I messaged that to him, and that opened up a more direct conversation between us where we were like, we should hang out again. It was not romantic at first. It was just like, we've known each other for 25 years. Let's get together. What are you up to? What are you up to? And so then we had a phone conversation, and that led into texting regularly. And next thing I knew, I was like, I think we like each other.
Nicole Byer
Oh, my. So when was your first date?
Danielle Fishel
Our first date was March of 2017.
Nicole Byer
Okay.
Danielle Fishel
And we had probably. I'd probably got that tweet from him sometime in, like, January of 2017. And then we were married November of 2018. So we went real quick.
Nicole Byer
Okay. Yeah, but that's. Sometimes you go quick when you're like, this is my person. This is the person I. I'm having the most fun with. We have things in common.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Nicole Byer
I just like spending time with you.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. And we got to cut a lot of the, like, getting to know you stuff, because there was a little bit of history. We have a little bit of history. And when you grow up in the same neighborhood and, you know, there's. You just. I didn't have to worry or spend the first few months wondering if he was going to murder me. I felt confident that he would not.
Nicole Byer
That he would not.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. And so that saves at least three years.
Nicole Byer
That saves a lot of time. You know, this man is not a killer.
Danielle Fishel
No, not. Not as far as I'm aware. Still haven't figured that out, so. But I feel good about that.
Nicole Byer
Can I ask, Maybe this is something you've spoken about a lot and you don't want to. You don't have to, but I feel like I remember you were. You know, you started off as a kid, and then there was, like, countdowns to you turning 18. Same with, like, the Olsen twins and, like, all these, like, young women who are thrust in the spotlight. Like, how did that feel in the moment?
Danielle Fishel
Very good question.
Nicole Byer
Are you sure?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. No, it is a very good question. And it's something that I'VE had. I've talked a lot about on our podcast, only re because we are just now on Pod Meets World at season seven of Boy Meets World, which is where a lot of things shifted for me about the way I felt about that. Yes, I was aware when I was young that I was, for lack of a better term, a sex symbol. That there were people who, guys were like, oh, my gosh, I have a crush on her. I like her. And as a young teenager, that felt very thrilling. To when you're, like, just coming into, like, understanding what sexuality is and recognizing it as a bit of a power, and yet how do I wield it? Do I even want to wield it? What does that mean? It's all very overwhelming. And I was a bit of a late bloomer and was a, you know, a little bit afraid of what any of that could mean. And then when I did turn 18, I had gained only the littlest bit of weight. And you. You would think the way I then was perceived and or talked about was just to be discarded. Like, what a shame this young girl, this child, this. Who weighed 98 pounds, her whole teenagehood,
Nicole Byer
went through puberty and boots, now has
Danielle Fishel
five pounds and weighs probably 115 and is now 18. And ugh. Was the feeling I had on set. The feeling I had from people who had grown up watching me and had no problems sharing these thoughts with me. And so all of a sudden it was like, now I am actually a woman, albeit still a very, very young woman. I felt very old. You know, I felt very, like 18 was. You can say nothing to me. I am grown. But now, of course, we look at 18 year olds and we're like, still children. I want to hug you, absolute children. Swaddle you and just give you a hug. And so then it became difficult because I didn't realize how much of my self worth had been tied up in the idea that people found me attractive. And then when people no longer found me attractive, I felt bad about myself.
Nicole Byer
Oof, that fucking sucks. It sucks. Oh my God. I empathize. I have no idea what that feels like, but I can, like, truly empathize with that. Like, just to wake up one day and have the world be like, yuck, we don't like it. Boo. Ugh, what an actual nightmare. How did you figure out how to, like, keep a good head on your shoulders and pull yourself out of that?
Danielle Fishel
It took 10 years. It was truly some of the roughest years of my life. From like 18 to 26, 27 years old. You Know like a lot of depression or, and I'm not saying I had depression, but like something like that where it can be a self perpetuating cycle where like I don't feel good about myself, so therefore I don't take care of myself. Well, not taking care of myself is making me not feel good about myself. And that kind of cycle existed for a lot of years and it wasn't then until I decided, you know, hey, you know what? I don't think I need this business anymore. I don't think I need that anymore. I think what I really need is to find something else that brings me joy and that I love. And when I decided to go back to school and study psychology, that's when I all of a sudden just felt very much like I'm in control of my life. But I had felt like I'd really handed over all the power to other people.
Nicole Byer
I mean, you say felt, but maybe you didn't.
Danielle Fishel
I had.
Nicole Byer
Because you were a child and then you have a bunch of adults telling you what to do. And as a kid you're like, well, surely these adults mean well and have my best interests at heart. And it's like, actually maybe they didn't correct because they really could have produced a little bit also, it's like adults are in charge of publications that like would put shit out about. It's like, what are we doing?
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Nicole Byer
It's so wild.
Danielle Fishel
It was a rough time. The late 90s, early aughts, and you know, honestly, we're getting back there. It's shocking how so many of the images and things I see of people in the public eye are like, bring me back to that time of like, oh gosh, that's right. Where that feeling of like, everyone weighs 94 pounds. And if it's. It's hard.
Nicole Byer
Wild. Yeah, I remember it was like, I mean, we all remember it was like a picture of Jessica Simpson just taking it. Like, not even a bad angle, but they were like, look at this fatty.
Danielle Fishel
And it was like they were like these jeans.
Nicole Byer
It's like, wait, what?
Danielle Fishel
What are we doing?
Nicole Byer
And I've always been fat. So I was like, well, if she's fat, oh my God, I'm the Loch Ness monster. This is wild.
Danielle Fishel
There was a time that I remember, like we did an episode on the show called she's having her Baby Back Ribs. And it was about me being fat. And I was a size 4. I was literally the jeans that they have me zipping up, pretending that I can't zip up because they were My husband's or my boyfriend's on the show. I remember being like, they're a size four. And I remember thinking before I started thinking, they're right. I'm gross. I do remember thinking, if my size 4 body is being talked about this way, what is that saying to everyone else who. A size four is the dream? So there were. I was at least at some point, capable of wrecking, a little conscious of, like, this is crazy.
Nicole Byer
This is actually really wild. This doesn't make sense.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly.
Nicole Byer
That's like in the Sex and the City movie where Samantha comes and they have her in jeans that are slightly too small, and they're like, damn. And it's like, well, she's still very thin.
Danielle Fishel
I know.
Nicole Byer
So thin. And a size 4 in the 90s. That's like a size 0 now.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
My God. So on your podcast, you talked about dating Lance Bass, which I think is so fun. That's so wild to me. And this was when he was in. In sync, right?
Danielle Fishel
Oh, yeah. This is peak. In sync, where people mean to you,
Nicole Byer
like, being like, that's my boyfriend. Or people loved it.
Danielle Fishel
Fans. Yes, fans were. There were some fans that were very much like, what?
Nicole Byer
Not her?
Danielle Fishel
And then, you know, terrible things about me written on message boards and all that. But there were also quite a few people who were like, oh, my gosh, I love her and I love him. I ship them.
Nicole Byer
This is great.
Danielle Fishel
This is, you know, back in the teen magazine days. And so my general feeling was not of being hated, but I know there were some. Sure, yeah.
Nicole Byer
And you dated for how many years?
Danielle Fishel
About a year.
Nicole Byer
About a year, yeah. And then you went to prom with him?
Danielle Fishel
He came to my high school prom.
Nicole Byer
What was that like? Were people freaking out?
Danielle Fishel
Freaking out. And here's where, again, Danielle, teenage Danielle. Just not the brightest bulb, because you would think that I would know. That's gonna be a disaster.
Nicole Byer
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
But I didn't, because I was like, well, I'm also famous. I knew that I was not on the same level as Lance, but I actually just gave all the credit to my high school peers and were like, they're not impressed by fame.
Nicole Byer
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
They have treated me normally all these years. Lance will show up, and it will be as if nothing has changed. And then we went to a prom pre party to take photos. And when I tell you the entire neighborhood was out with cameras and siblings and chasing, and I was like, oh, no. And Lance was such a good sport because Lance had never been able to go to his prom because he was a member of NSync. And so him going to my prom, he was like, this is gonna be me experiencing prom for the first time. And so he was a good sport about it. And then at some point at that pre prom party, he was like, I'm gonna have to go sit in the limo. And I was like, that's a good idea.
Nicole Byer
I understand that. And then at the actual prom, did he have to leave?
Danielle Fishel
You know what, it was okay. We kind of, everyone there was like excited, but mostly kept it cool. And then we did leave a little early to go back to our hotel room.
Nicole Byer
I think it's genuinely so funny that you were like, this will go normally.
Danielle Fishel
Totally. This will be fine.
Nicole Byer
You know, I'm on television, they treat me normally.
Danielle Fishel
Listen.
Nicole Byer
But it's like they see you every day.
Danielle Fishel
Correct. They're used to you every single day. Danielle. Boy meets world, NSync. It's a, it's a. It was a little different, you know.
Nicole Byer
Sure.
Danielle Fishel
But I really didn't think much about huge.
Nicole Byer
It was such a huge show. I watched it growing up, you know.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
And you've dated co stars?
Danielle Fishel
I did. I dated one, Mr. Matthew Lawrence, who was on the show with me. Yes.
Nicole Byer
And then you went on one date with Ben Savage. And then you guys were like, no, thank you. This actually didn't work out.
Danielle Fishel
That was such. Again, another wonderful, totally innocent teenager. We were like 14, maybe 15. So what is a date really, if not just going to dinner? And I don't remember where we went, but it was probably a taco place, like just right near the studio. And it really was the most casual, looking at each other going, we kiss.
Nicole Byer
We do.
Danielle Fishel
We do kiss all day. Like anyway, at work they're paying us and we do laugh, you know, we laugh a lot. What do we. Are we kind of do we like each other.
Nicole Byer
That's really funny.
Danielle Fishel
That was literally all it was.
Nicole Byer
They're all, we kiss.
Danielle Fishel
We kiss already. We get along all day.
Nicole Byer
Maybe this would be convenient date in real life.
Danielle Fishel
This would be convenient.
Nicole Byer
But that's like the true testament to chemistry. It's like, so we had chemistry on camera when we're doing our job, but off camera, oh, wow, you're a nice friend.
Danielle Fishel
It was, it was nice friends. You know what? I love giggling with you. And when they pay me money, we will kiss.
Nicole Byer
Your first boyfriend was Jonathan Taylor Thomas?
Danielle Fishel
It was, yeah. My very first ever boyfriend at 12 and he was on the home improvement set directly next door to us. So that was another very convenient romance
Nicole Byer
that you're dating just in a Proximity of things. You're like, this person's close to me. I don't know.
Danielle Fishel
When you're 13 and you have a full time job and full time school, guess what? It's gonna be either someone in your class or someone on your set. It's gonna be one of those cheap places.
Nicole Byer
It's cheap to be convenient.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. There's nowhere else. Like, there's nowhere. There's no cars to drive. You're just with your parents or with this group of people. But Jonathan was very special. Cause Jonathan's the first person I really remember being like, oh, no, I get it. I have a crush on someone. Like butterflies and nervous and just loved him to death. Aw.
Nicole Byer
I love that. I think that's really sweet.
Danielle Fishel
Love him still to this day.
Nicole Byer
I love that you're still in touch. I love that you still talk like, that's just so sweet to me. When I first moved to la, I went to a house party and he was there and I just looked at him and I was like, don't be weird. I was like, I have to go. Because I was like, the Lion King's right there.
Danielle Fishel
There he is. There he is. And he's. He's one of those people that I wish everyone had the opportunity to know because he is better than you would think.
Nicole Byer
I love that.
Danielle Fishel
Even if you think he's gotta be amazing, he's better than that. He's so smart. His sense of humor is killer. And he's just a genuinely good dude. Cares a lot about animals, cares a lot about the environment. Reads, I can't say enough good things. Just a good person, good person.
Nicole Byer
Oh, that makes me so happy. Real quick, we gotta take a break. This episode is brought to you by IQ Bar, our exclusive snack, hydration and coffee sponsor. IQ Bar protein bars. IQ Mix hydration mixes and IQ Gel mushroom coffees are the delicious, low sugar brain and body fuel you need to win your day. Me, I've been grabbing the mint chocolate chip bars from the studio's kitchen when there's a break in between recordings. They have zero sugar added and a ton of fiber, so I don't get a sugar crash halfway throughout the day. Everything they make is clean labels, so it's free from gluten, dairy and soy. The ultimate sampler pack is a great way to try all IQ bar products and flavors. You get nine IQ bars, eight IQ mix sticks and four IQ Joe sticks. With over 25,000 five star reviews and counting, more people than ever are fueling their busy lifestyles with IQ Bars. Brain and body boosting bars, hydration mixes and mushroom coffees. Their Ultimate Sampler Pack includes all three. And right now IQ Bar is offering my special podcast listeners 20 off all IQ Bar products, including the Ultimate Sampler Pack plus free shipping. To get your 20 off off text date to 64,000 text date to 64,000 that's date to 64,000 message and data rates may apply. See Terms for details. The what oh what do you want for dinner Routine is the quickest way to kill the vibe with your partner. Instead of just ordering the same takeout, why not make it a date night and get in the kitchen together? Cooking a meal from scratch is actually such a hot skill to have, it's okay if you aren't a chef. Hello Fresh basically handles the hard part by sending you everything you need, pre portioned and ready to go. They have over 80 recipes a month, so you can actually try making things like Caribbean, Vietnamese or Moroccan food without having to go on a grocery store hunt. They send specific ingredients like lemongrass and other stuff already measured out, which takes all of the stress out of the guesswork. I made some beef bowls the other night and it has this ginger soy glaze and Sriracha mayo that is so good. Yum yum yum yum yum yum. Because nothing hits like home cooking, go to hellofresh.com date me10fm now to get 10 free meals plus a free NutriBullet Ultra Plus Plus a 2 in 1 compact kitchen system. A $189 and 99 cent value on your third box. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box. New subscribers only. Varies by plan. Must order the third box by May 31, 2026. You might not be able to drop everything and book a ticket to Italy, but you can go to the theater on April 10th for you, me and Tuscany. You, me and Tuscany is a brand new rom com from Will Packer, the guy who produced Girls Trip starring Halle Bailey and R.A. page. You, me and Tuscany has all the ingredients of your favorite romcoms heart, huge laughs and sizzling chemistry set in the enchanting vineyards of Tuscany. It's the movie escape we've all been waiting for. It's the perfect film for a date night or for a night out with your girls. Get lost in the sauce with you, me and Tuscany directed by Kat Coiro. Only in theaters April 10th. Do you have any advice for single people?
Danielle Fishel
Go on as many dates. Just do it. Say yes. Say yes to as many things. I tried a matchmaker once. Oh you did I sure did.
Nicole Byer
How did that go?
Danielle Fishel
Not great. But here's. But I would do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to. Because some of the stories I got out of those dates that I went on. Well, there was this one guy. So one of the things I told the matchmaker was important to me, was that I wanted someone. This was obviously before I married Jensen. I wanted someone who was secure in whatever industry they worked in, that I didn't care what the industry was. They didn't need to be creative or whatever. As a matter of fact, I preferred them not to be. But I wanted them to be like, good at that. And I want them to be passionate about it and good at it. And she was like, great, I've got this guy. I think you'll really like him. He owns his own home and he, you know all this stuff and he has a lot of. Also at the time I told her like one of my love languages, to use some outdated terms. We used to really believe in love languages. Was like time together, quality time together, and me having a schedule that's very flexible. In a perfect world, I'd be with someone who could also be a little flexible. She said, great, I've got the guy for you. And then he called me and he had a very high voice, which was a little shocking. It was higher than any voice I had ever heard on the phone to me. And I thought, but that's okay, no big deal. I'm not gonna judge a book by a phone cover at all. Like a phone call. I'm not gonna do that. We're gonna see how this goes. And in the phone conversation, we talked about just things we like, you know, And I mentioned that I like cars. I did not say I love them, that I know everything about them that I research. I just was like, I like cars. Yeah, they're cool. And when I see a nice one, I'm like, that's a nice car. You know, just. And he was like, oh, I love cars. And then I was like, oh, wow. I could tell this is a really big passion of yours. That's amazing. Well, then he showed. I lived in a tiny little suburb of Orange county and he showed up to pick me up for our date in like an insane Lamborghini.
Nicole Byer
Uh huh.
Danielle Fishel
That he was so excited to show me. And he was in like a pastel seersucker suit and he was so excited to show me this Lamborghini. And I was like, oh, wow, look at this.
Nicole Byer
Wow.
Danielle Fishel
And then he was expecting me to be very impressed and it was. It was an impressive car, for sure, but it was very low to the ground. I'd never been in anything even remotely like it. And then he was like. And wait till you hear how loud it is. And then he made it very loud. Whatever you have to do to make it loud. And peeled off down the street of my tiny little suburban Orange County. And there were, like, moms and dads and little kids that have seen me for years living here, have seen me also just go through a divorce and now see me get in this Lamborghini with a pastel.
Nicole Byer
She's having a midlife crisis.
Danielle Fishel
And he. And the ra. And I was just like this. Like, oh, my God. And then we went on the date, and he wouldn't stop talking about the fucking car. He talked about the car the whole night. And then he was all excited again to make it loud on the way home. And he dropped me off, and I walked inside that house and locked the door and thought, never again. Never again.
Nicole Byer
Honestly, what a treat. I would have married him. Cause I love cars. And if a man goes, wanna hear my car go loud? I go, yes, I do.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, man. I wonder if he's still single.
Nicole Byer
That's so funny.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, it was.
Nicole Byer
Wait, do you have another date from the matchmaker that you wanna tell me?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, I do have another one. I went on a date with a guy. We went to just have coffee. I learned from the last one, full dinner dates in the Lamborghini. Let's meet for coffee. And so we went and met for coffee. And he. He asked me a question about myself. I don't remember what it was, but I started to answer, and then he immediately interrupted my answer and started talking to me about him. But every story about him was. He was so down in the dumps. It was truly, like, I felt just so bad for him. And as you know, maybe you've picked up on the idea that I am. For the most part, I'm a realist. But, like, for the most part, I can. Life's gonna truck on. And, like, there's a meaning to this. We can. Everything he said was like, well, I wanted to, but then I got fired from my job, and I was like, oh, wow. I'm really sorry. How long had you been there? It was just, you know, I've been there for seven years. I really thought we were a family. And then they just let me go. And it was really. Honestly, it was very devastating. It was like, wow, I'm really sorry. He's like, yeah, well, so what do you Think about, he'd ask me another question, I'd start to answer it and he'd go, yeah, well for me. And the last thing he talked about was like about how his knees were now going and he was only 36 and he just, he needed to have a surgery. And I was like, well, you know, thank you for good luck. Good luck.
Nicole Byer
You wanted coffee cause you needed a pick me up.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
And we didn't get it done. So you gonna have to figure out them knees by yourself.
Danielle Fishel
I also went on a date with a guy from my dad's work and this turned into a three day date.
Nicole Byer
We. Oh, okay.
Danielle Fishel
Three separate dates. No spending the nights. Okay, but just three separate dates in a row. You had a question though.
Nicole Byer
Well, did your dad set you up or was this through the matchmaker?
Danielle Fishel
My mom set me up.
Nicole Byer
Okay, so how do you go on a three day date with breaks in between the days?
Danielle Fishel
I'll tell you. So my mom had seen this guy at my dad's company, at the company parties, and she was like, this guy's a babe. And so she, he had told me, there's this babe at your dad's office and I wanna set you up with him. And I was like, okay, I'm in. I'm interested in this. So she told, she, she gave me his number and then we talked on the phone. Great. Good phone conversation. Even texted a little bit. Great text conversation. My mom goes, so when it's not super awkward, why don't you invite. We're gonna have a barbecue. Why don't you just invite him over to our house for a barbecue where he can have other people. It's not just you face to face with the hottie guy from your dad's office. And I'm like, that's a good idea. Now is it also gonna be awkward for him that my dad, who is the president of the company, that now he's coming to my dad's house? Like, maybe that will be weird. So I don't know. But I'll leave it up to him. So I leave it up to him, we're having this barbecue. And he goes, I would love that, but I would actually just like to take you to dinner first without that being the first. And I go, I love that. Great. So we do, we go to dinner, but I meet him at his house and I walk in and he goes, well, let me give you the tour. Great. And he gives me the tour. But part of the tour really did include him saying, this is where the magic happens.
Nicole Byer
Like he's on an episode of Cribs.
Danielle Fishel
That's wild. It was. It was real. And I was like, oh, that's icky. I mean, that's gonna give me the ick. Yeah. But. Okay, we're just starting this dinner date, then we get in the car and he says, I've gotta tell you, I'm really looking forward to going to dinner because I need a drink. And I was like, oh, you know why? And he was like, I am so nervous. I'm so nervous right now. Why are you so nervous? He's like, I mean, I. I'm just nervous. I don't know. You're so beautiful. Very sweet. And I'm like, whoa. Okay. Well, that's nice. Thank you. We get to the restaurant, he sits down. They have not even given us menus. And he's like, can someone bring me a drink menu? I'm like, oh, gosh. And he's like, I'm just so nervous. And I'm like, I know, we did go over that. He's like, yeah, I'm so nervous. He orders a drink, I order a glass of wine. This was before I stopped drinking, but I order a glass of wine. And then he goes, I have a confession to make. I go, what? And he goes, I told a bunch of my friends we were gonna be here, and I told them to come, but to not act like they knew I was gonna be here. And so if a bunch of my friends walk up and Will you just. I'm gonna pretend that they don't know that. But I told them that I was gonna be here. I was just so nervous. I was just so nervous that I thought maybe I would want to have, like, somebody else to talk to.
Nicole Byer
And I go, somebody else to talk to? Yeah, at dinner.
Danielle Fishel
And I go, oh, okay. Within 15 minutes, about four people wander up, pretend to be shocked that we're there. He pretends even he should have just been like, I told her.
Nicole Byer
I told her.
Danielle Fishel
No. We all pretend.
Nicole Byer
This is the most fucked up acting exercise.
Danielle Fishel
I'm like, oh, so strange that you.
Nicole Byer
Woo.
Danielle Fishel
Hey, nice to meet you. Then it's time to order our meal. And I'm like, ravenous. And I go, I'm looking at steaks. And he says, I'm just gonna eat a dinner salad. I'm too nervous to eat. And at this point I'm like, sir, we have been on this date for like 45 minutes to an hour. I'm hungry. I'm not going to change my order because you're just eating a dinner salad. But Four times to tell me that you're very nervous is too many times. I'm starting to be like, do you need to go?
Nicole Byer
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Should we even get here? Should we leave? Anyway, he eats his dinner salad. I eat my steak. And then he's like, should we go for a walk? And I'm like, I guess I just. At this point, I'm just ready for the date to be over, but also realize the next day is this barbecue. Oh, no, he's already coming over. I couldn't get the first date not being good, so I just decided I'm gonna chalk it up to nerves. And maybe tomorrow in the afternoon, the light is he'll be a normal person. And it was a little better, although he just mostly ignored me and hung out with my dad all day at the grill, at the meal, in the kitchen, just followed my dad around, and my mom and I were like, I don't know. I don't know where this is. I don't know where this is going.
Nicole Byer
But then a third day of this happened.
Danielle Fishel
So I, again, have a very high tolerance for bullshit I gave him. I said, okay. The first two experiences were rough. He was very nervous about the single date. He was nervous around my dad. Maybe he just followed my dad around because he was too nervous to sit and talk to me in front of my dad, cutting him some slack. So the third date, he said, says, I was training for a half marathon at the time. He goes, you're training for a half marathon. Let's go for a run tomorrow and then get dinner, okay? And I say, okay, but I need you to know one. I'm a treadmill runner. I don't run outside a lot. It's cold. It's hard to breathe. I'm not sure this is gonna be hot for a date. And also, I run slow. I'm talking like four and a half miles an hour, five miles an hour max. And he's like, that's no problem. Not a problem at all. You run at your pace. Great. And I'm like, okay, sure. Let's go for a run. We meet at the beach and we go for a run. Oh, no. And when I tell you that he was very proud of the fact that he ran track and field in high school and thought his mission on this date was to be my marathon coach.
Nicole Byer
No.
Danielle Fishel
And was literally running beside me, clapping me along, hand on the small of my back, pushing me along to run faster. And then when I was like, I do just want to remind you, I told you that I do not run Fast. I am new to this. I need to run at my pace. He was like, all right, fine, I'll just run ahead of you. And then did. Then just ran ahead of me. Would then stop, turn around, jog in place, wait for me to catch up to him, hand on the small of my back, occasionally took every. And then just run up ahead and then finish our run. We're gonna go get sushi. And he stops and says, some of my friends are nearby at a bar. Do you wanna stop in and say hi? Why, no, I didn't.
Nicole Byer
No.
Danielle Fishel
But I did. And they were all waisted. One of them was shirtless and the other one was wearing a NASA foam helmet. He then had a couple of drinks with them. I said hello and tried to be as polite as possible. By the way, my cheek. I am flushed as hell. I am not cute after running. Some women are adorable in a workout. Not me. I'm like, can we please just go get sushi? We go get sushi at the place he recommended, and at the end when the bill comes, I offer to pay. And he said, okay,
Nicole Byer
I would have ran right into the ocean. That man is an absolute menace. He's probably still out there. Probably still out there pushing women around
Danielle Fishel
by the smile of their backs. And when then he reached out to me about a fourth date, I said I was not honest. I said, you know, I think maybe this was too soon for me to date because I had just gotten out of a relationship maybe a few months before. And so I said, I really think this experience taught me that maybe I'm just not ready to be in a new relationship. And so you're great, really nice, liked you a lot, but it's just, I don't think this is for me right now. And he wrote me back and said, well, we both know that's not true. If you don't like me, you can just say you don't like me. And I was like, okay.
Nicole Byer
What a nightmare. What a nightmare.
Danielle Fishel
Bye.
Nicole Byer
What a nightmare of a human. What a. It's my.
Danielle Fishel
It's. It's the worst 3 day date anyone's ever had.
Nicole Byer
Daniel. This man was so poorly behaved, and then was like, hey, if you didn't like the way I was behaving, tell me exactly.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly. And I was like, if someone tries to. Even if he knew that that was a lie, that the truth was I just didn't like him, why do you then just accept that? Say, you know what? She's trying to be nice. She's trying to be nice. I'm just gonna let her off the hook. No, couldn't do it.
Nicole Byer
I wonder where he is now.
Danielle Fishel
I don't know. I should find him on Facebook.
Nicole Byer
You should. I really would love an update. I need to know if he's making some lady's life miserable. Miserable. We have to take one more break. This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Let's talk about money for a second. Dating someone who makes way more or way less than you can be incredibly awkward. You feel that weird tension the second the check hits the table and suddenly you're doing mental math on how it should be split. It's a massive stressor. And it turns out 88% of the US have started the year feeling financial stress. Money stress doesn't just go away. It leads to anxiety and sleep disruption. It's one of the biggest reasons couples fight. That's where better help comes in. They have over 30,000 fully licensed therapists who can help you unpack those feelings and build better strategies so you don't feel so alone in the process. What's great is their match commitment. You just fill out a quick questionnaire and they do the work to find someone who fits your needs needs. They've been doing this for over 12 years. And if you don't click with your first therapist, you can switch to a new one at any time. And that is super important because finding a therapist is a little like dating. You have to find someone who matches your vibe and can actually help you and like you. You understand how they speak to you. With over 6 million people served in an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, it's a system that actually works for real people.
Danielle Fishel
People.
Nicole Byer
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Danielle Fishel
Absolutely.
Nicole Byer
Like you were. That blows me away.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Yeah. It wasn't exactly. It wasn't a place where, at least for the majority of us, Will Friedle, who played Eric, feels differently. They kind of let him off a leash and really just let him do what he wanted. And when they needed to reel him back, they would. For the rest of us, it was mostly line readings and mostly being told what the intention was about, why this was written, how it should be said, and what is the only funny way of saying it. And there were very rarely exceptions to the one funny way to say it. And we would be told how that funny way is.
Nicole Byer
Was that frustrating or was that just how you thought it went?
Danielle Fishel
I didn't know any better because I had barely worked in any other capacity at all. So for the first several years, when me, a child actor who's a people pleaser, listen, you wanna just tell me what's gonna make you happy? And then I get to do it. It was the cat's pajamas. Great. Love it. By the time I got to be 17, 18, 19, and I've been doing it for a very long time now, I am burnt out. And yeah, then it was frustrating.
Nicole Byer
Did you ever, like, ask, can I try it differently? Or was that just like, not a thing?
Danielle Fishel
Usually the way we got to try it is if we didn't have a direct line reading and we'd do the first take and then if it wasn't what he wanted, we would hear no, and then run in to camera and then no and then tell us how to say it. And a lot of times it would also. The note would come in the way of like, you're doing ba ba ba ba ba ba. I want ba ba ba ba ba. And so then we would have to. And so we would do it that way.
Nicole Byer
Wow. What a fun environment to do art. My God. And was this in front of an audience? I can't. Yes, Right. That's crazy.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, there. There were. There have been stories that have come up on the podcast that I. I, as a young child, like, 12, 13, burst into tears in front of the live studio audience, and they had to stop down. And I don't remember it.
Nicole Byer
Of course you don't. You fucking block that out of your memory.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, block that shit out. That's awful.
Nicole Byer
Yeah, that's so awful. I can't imagine speaking to a child with anything but like, hey, let's work on this together, because you're a fucking child. That's so wild.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
What a wild way to run your set. I don't like it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, it's.
Nicole Byer
Let's get in a time machine and fix that.
Danielle Fishel
We joke about the time machine on our podcast all the time. We wanna go in the time machine and do. And do things differently. And, you know, when I think about the fact that I loved, or I thought I loved acting when I started Boy Meets World, Writer strong. Really love. Will Friedle. Loves sitcoms specifically, and the acting on sitcoms. And I think. I don't think it's out of turn to say that Ben Savage obviously loved being an actor.
Nicole Byer
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
And yet we were on a very successful show, and of the four of us, none of us really went on to continue in that field. And I think, you know, our showrunner would have a million reasons for why he did the things that he did. And, you know, there would be justifications and all of that. And I give him credit where credit is due. There were a lot of things where he was right. You know, there were a lot of times he'd be like, what you just did isn't as funny as this. And then he'd be, right. I would do it that way and it would be funnier.
Nicole Byer
But there's a different way to deliver a message.
Danielle Fishel
Agreement.
Nicole Byer
Agreed.
Danielle Fishel
Fully agree. But I do also think we didn't really learn to be in touch. We didn't learn a craft. We learned to mimic, which is its own skill set. But it doesn't help you much.
Nicole Byer
Go to a different project. And then you're like, well, no one on this project is telling me how to say these lines. So then how do I say these lines?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
So when you did Girl Meets World, how was it? It was a different experience. Obviously. It's years and years and years later. So did you do you think you came into your own as an actress or, or what?
Danielle Fishel
So Girl Meets World came about and I, I, Girl Meets World was a difficult few years for me and both personally I went through my divorce during that time and then professionally because had Girl Meets World never happened, I never would have even been able to articulate any of the things I just told you about the environment we grew up in. I did not know that that was the reason why none of us continued to work. I did not know that there should be a different way of speaking to children. I did not know that it had negatively impacted me at all. I, I was told and believed for all those years of Boy Meets World and all those years after Boy Meets World that everyone I worked with was a genius. Everyone who told me what to do was right and had my best interest in mind and was always looking out for me and was lovely and loving. And then as a 30 something, early 30 something year old woman who had taken space and time away from the entertainment industry, had gone to get my degree in psychology, had, was planning on, had just been accepted to get my master's in marriage and family therapy at Chapman University, get called to do this show Girl Meets World and I think well, what a once in a lifetime opportunity. Who gets to play the same character years later? The reboot was not a thing back then.
Nicole Byer
We were like one of the firsts.
Danielle Fishel
And so it was like this is incredible. I'm going to go back and do it. And then I saw all the same behaviors.
Nicole Byer
Oh.
Danielle Fishel
Played out in front of me, but through adult with rose colored glasses tossed off. And I started saying but wait, what are you doing? But wait, I will not let you talk to me like but wait, I will not let you talk to them like that. And I was aggressively shunned.
Nicole Byer
Oh.
Danielle Fishel
And was talked about behind my back and was called self righteous and was people who came to visit were told that I had gone crazy and that because I was no longer the little girl who wanted to just puppy dog eye him all the time.
Nicole Byer
That sucks. I'm sorry.
Danielle Fishel
It was a really hard and painful three years.
Nicole Byer
I'm very, very sorry that you went through that. And I feel like when women advocate for themselves, they're seen as a bitch or difficult or saying she went crazy. Which is an unhinged thing. Like just cause you're like I don't like the way this is working. Someone can't go. Let me take a step back and understand why you don't like it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Nicole Byer
I'm really sorry that you Went through that. That's. That sucks. That's so fucking shitty.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you. It was. It was shitty. And I don't, you know, there were lots of shitty things about that experience. But on the other hand, I'm incredibly grateful for the veil.
Nicole Byer
Oh, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
That it lifted for me because it really did help me even in my own personal life during that time. Then personally with getting a divorce and me having all that self reflection time, it was also a time for me to be like, hey, you know what else I don't think I've ever established for myself? Boundaries. What are those? And like, how do I make those? And that show was my first experience, really advocating for myself and speaking up for myself and saying I might ruffle feathers. But. But I have. I. If I don't say this, I will feel bad about myself later. And I can't. I can't do that. I can't allow myself to be dishonest with myself. So lots of good things to, you know, rough experiences, but grateful to have them.
Nicole Byer
And the shittiest part is you probably made the experience better for other people on this set, but it was at your expense.
Danielle Fishel
That's correct. And you know what? I would do that over and over again. I have no problem with that. I think that's one of my strong suits, is like, oh, I can take it. I got it. Go ahead, dish me your worst. We'll be okay.
Nicole Byer
I can take it.
Danielle Fishel
I can take it. But if it spares the shrapnel from other people, especially when you're talking about kids, give me the best shot you got. Go for it.
Nicole Byer
Well, Danielle, we have come to the end. No, I've had so much fun. You are truly a treat. This has been delightful.
Danielle Fishel
So are you. I really love being around you. We should do this just for fun. We should. For recording. Be my friend.
Nicole Byer
Let's do it. I'll date you. Oh, that was my next question. I almost ate this microphone, but that was my next question. Would you date me?
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Nicole Byer
I'd even have to ask.
Danielle Fishel
Hell yes. You are fantastic. You're a dream.
Nicole Byer
Thank you. Do you have anything you want to promote?
Danielle Fishel
I am going to be hosting the video companion podcast for American Idol.
Nicole Byer
Oh, wait. That's so fun.
Danielle Fishel
Starting March 30, every Monday, I will be at the live taping. And then I'll get to interview the people who get let go. And those episodes will be airing everywhere. You get podcasts and available on Hulu on Wednesdays, the Wednesday after American Idol.
Nicole Byer
That's exciting. I love that.
Danielle Fishel
Ooh,
Nicole Byer
I wonder if they'll be so sad anyway.
Danielle Fishel
They will be. But you know what? Here's the thing.
Nicole Byer
That's where my mind immediately goes. I was like, oh, no, their dreams are crushed.
Danielle Fishel
But are they? Or do they just have the biggest platform of their life to show their talent so that they can now spin into the next phase of their life?
Nicole Byer
That's a nice reframe.
Danielle Fishel
And you know what? I'm gonna have a Wheel of fun so that when they walk off, the first thing they're gonna do is spin a wheel. They're gonna win something that's not. You just lost American Idol. No problem. You're win something. It might be some shit from my house. It might be a quiz.
Nicole Byer
It might be some shit.
Danielle Fishel
I'm gonna bring a random piece of shit from my house. It's gonna go up on that board.
Nicole Byer
You want a sock?
Danielle Fishel
Maybe not that shitty. I'm gonna find something little less shitty than that. But listen, I want to just show you how quickly you can something turn around.
Nicole Byer
Oh, that's really sweet. I love that. And then you also have Teen Beat.
Danielle Fishel
I sure do. Teen Beat, the podcast POD meets world, book meets world is coming out in November. We're gonna have a coffee table book that's coming out in November, but the book is available for pre order now.
Nicole Byer
And Dancing with the stars.
Danielle Fishel
You do Dancing with the Stars? Yeah. In April. I will be back for a few dates. I'll be in Texas, Kansas City, and Denver.
Nicole Byer
Oh, no. I was a. It's either Kansas City or Oklahoma City. Has a place where I had the best chicken I've ever had in my whole life. I'll have to look it up. I can't remember if it's Kansas City
Danielle Fishel
or if it's Kansas City. I'm going to need you to tell me where that is.
Nicole Byer
Okay. Okay.
Danielle Fishel
Note yourself.
Nicole Byer
Okay. Okay. I'm losing my mind. If you like this episode of why won't you date me? You can like it, you can rate it, subscribe. You can give me five stars on Apple podcasts. And if you write me something nasty, hitting on me to why won't you date me? Podcastmail.com I will. Read it. Keep it short. This person writes. Hi, Nicole, I want to have you over for a relaxing and sensual evening. Watching my cousin Vinny. As we start Netflix and chilling and things get hot and heavy. While I eat your pussy, you start to come so hard that the laws of physics, time and space are defied. Suddenly, Joe Pesci. Suddenly Joe Pesci emerges Out of the TV during the middle of the movie and joins us in a three step. He asks, how wet is your pussy? Regular, creamy or al dente?
Danielle Fishel
You really read these?
Nicole Byer
It is a line from my cousin Vinny.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, okay.
Nicole Byer
So this person really got me good. Wow, that is so. He's talking about grits. He goes, you like them regular, creamy or al dente? I like mine creamy. Anyway, then he disappears again. We both come again just from the shock and enjoy the rest of the movie. The end. And honestly, thank you. I loved it. Did you like it? Didn't seem like you did.
Danielle Fishel
No, no, that's not for me. No, this is not for me.
Nicole Byer
Seemed like you really hated it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, no. I'd like to remove myself from this situation real quick.
Nicole Byer
Goodbye. Tell me about your wedding real quick.
Danielle Fishel
It was the most magical day, truly,
Nicole Byer
I have to say. We ended this podcast and then I was like, fired up. Sabrina Carpenter, who surprised me, which was in my notes, and I meant to ask, and then I forgot and it came to me after we ended.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, so Sabrina and I met on Girl Meets World. Yeah, she played my daughter's best friend. And Sabrina and I just truly connected on that show and then have remained very close in each other's lives. And, yeah, I mean, I really consider Sabrina to be one of my best best friends, considering she is nearly 20 years younger than I am. I look up to her and admire her so much and value her input and focus.
Nicole Byer
She taller than you?
Danielle Fishel
She is not taller than me. I am taller than her. But we are very close in height. Very, very close in height. But, yeah, I really admire her instincts and I look up to her as a person. She's somebody who, from the time she was very young, has always trusted her instincts. And I am someone who assumed my instincts were always wrong, everyone else's were right. And I've only had. I've had to teach myself what even my instincts were telling me in my 30s and 40s. And so the fact that she's just so tapped into hers, I'm like. I just. I look up to her so much.
Nicole Byer
I love that. I love when you have a friendship with someone where maybe your blind spot is their strong suit, I don't know their strength. And it's like we just compliment each other. Like my best friend, we really compliment each other because she's just a little bit more grounded than I am. So she grounds me a little bit. And I just love that about her.
Danielle Fishel
And she probably loves that you get her out of that little. And you bring some joy and fun and frivolity to her life. Yeah. And then. Yeah. I love telling everybody. John Mayer was one of our groomsmen. My husband's groomsman. He sang our first dance song for us, which was Beyonce's. He does a cover of Beyonce's xo.
Nicole Byer
Oh, that's fun.
Danielle Fishel
That's to die for.
Nicole Byer
Oh, that's nice.
Danielle Fishel
And it was beautiful. And we had a no speech rule at our wedding. I think speeches suck. And we had a no speech rule. And John found a little way around it by singing a mini speech that he kind of wrote for Jensen at the end of the song, which was very beautiful. And. Yeah, we are very blessed with good, wonderful friends in our life. I love that. Yeah. So I hope you'll be one of them.
Nicole Byer
I will. I genuinely like you. I like you, too. I think you're wonderful. I think you have such, like. I don't know, you radiate positivity. And I like when people are happy and positive.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, me too.
Nicole Byer
The world's bad.
Danielle Fishel
It's bad.
Nicole Byer
Heard it here first. Not good.
Danielle Fishel
It's not good. It's just not good. And so we gotta spread joy, make joy, create joy. Find it where we can, and cultivate it with other people who are good at cultivating.
Nicole Byer
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Community feather.
Nicole Byer
Okay, well, bye. Bye again.
Danielle Fishel
That was a Headgum podcast.
Why Won't You Date Me? with Nicole Byer
Guest: Danielle Fishel
Release Date: April 3, 2026
In this candid and nostalgic episode, Nicole Byer chats with Danielle Fishel—iconic for her role as Topanga on Boy Meets World—about the complexities of being a 90s teen sex symbol, the pitfalls and positives of growing up in the entertainment industry, navigating adult relationships, and the wild world of dating (including laugh-out-loud horror stories). Danielle shares raw insights about self-worth, body image, boundaries, and the lasting impact of her early fame, while also reflecting with warmth and humor on the friendships and lessons gleaned along the way.
Danielle Fishel offers an open-hearted, funny, and unvarnished look behind the curtain of child stardom, dating under scrutiny, and redefining self-worth in adulthood. Nicole and Danielle strike a tone that is at once hilarious, empathetic, and deeply human, making this episode a rich listen for anyone who remembers the 90s—and for anyone navigating love, self-image, or boundaries today.