You know and love them as Enid and Winston on the Sweet Valley High TV series, and now Amy Danles and Michael Perl join us for a very special interview! Find out what iconic character almost made it to the screen, what special gifts Francine Pascal gave the cast, how a pair of borrowed glasses helped Michael get the part of Winston, and much much more. We absolutely loved chatting to these two very sound people - enjoy! This show is part of the HeadStuff Podcast Network. For more, go to HeadStuf...
Dec 09, 2021•49 min
When she's grounded for a few weeks, Jessica feels like the world has turned against her - and then she meets a group called the Good Friends. They may live on the wrong side of town and they might be *spits* vegetarians, but their charismatic and hunky leader Adam Marvel constantly tells Jessica how brilliant she is so of course she can't resist. Soon she's lying to both Sam and her family, tidying the Hershey Bar, wearing clothes that make Elizabeth's chinos look like the height of glamour and...
Dec 02, 2021•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 95
When the Pi Beta Alphas invite new girl Rose Jameson to join the sorority, Rose is ecstatic - but she's also scared that this WASP's nest will discover that she was born Rosa Jiminez in (gasp) Mexico! Rose is determined to keep her heritage a secret - even if that means denying her own grandmother, who's visiting from a parallel universe where Mexico has no shopping malls and everyone is a subsistence farmer. Meanwhile the fraternity pledge season becomes a battle between Todd and Bruce, and Jes...
Nov 18, 2021•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 94
Michael Harris was already in the Sweet Valley Bad Boyfriend Hall of Fame, and he's staying there for the foreseeable future after his appalling carry on in the misleadingly titled The Girl They Both Loved! Michael is obsessed with two things: dirt biking and his friend-turned-nemesis Artie Western. When his girlfriend April meets Artie in a cinema queue (sadly not to see an arty western), she discovers that he's a genuinely nice guy who inexplicably misses his obsessive, rage-filled old pal Mic...
Nov 04, 2021•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 93
Happy Halloween, listeners! To celebrate, we're sharing a very special spooky episode of our Headstuff+ bonus series Pi Beta Alpha - and if you like what you hear, you can sign up to Headstuff+ and join us in the Pi Beta Alpha clubhouse every fortnight, where we've been having a LOT of fun. Get ready for some truly superb Halloweencostumes (we were very pleasantly surprised by Todd and Liz), some top panto villain scheming from Bruce, some excellent Lila/Jess bitchery, some hot Lila/Winston acti...
Oct 30, 2021•47 min
It's Halloween! Well, almost. And as promised, we're reading a Super Thriller chosen by our listeners! You told us to read Murder on the Line, and we're glad you did, because this one is solid gold. Jessica and Elizabeth are interns at the Sweet Valley News, a newspaper with highly questionable work practices. When Jess discovers she can hear the phone calls of other people in the building, she has fun eavesdropping - until she hears a drug-dealing OTG called Greenback planning a murder! Will th...
Oct 21, 2021•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 92
Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised by a Sweet Valley book. This was not one of those times! Yes, The Long Lost Brother is a snooze-fest featuring a bunch of people we don't know and don't care about. Newcomer Sara's brother Tim has been released from the big house and is coming to Sweet Valley, which freaks Sara out. None of her new Sweet Valley pals are aware of his criminal past, and all her friends back east dumped her when Tim was convicted (he just stole a car, lest you think he's a murd...
Oct 07, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 91
Yet again, two Sweet Valley girls are competing for the same guy - but this time there's a twist! Jean West is thrilled when she receives a love letter from Scott Trost - until she discovers he's sent the exact same message to Claire Middleton. The two girls team up to get revenge on Scott with a scheme that has so many holes in it Whizzer Wilkins could use it as a basketball net. Meanwhile, in one of the most entertaining b-plots in ages, an increasingly unhinged Jessica becomes obsessed with a...
Sep 23, 2021•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 90
We had low expectations for yet another sports-centric book, but that was before we discovered that it featured what we can only describe as an OTG wrestler! When star athlete Tony Esteban injures his knee, he buys "magic vitamins" from a shady character called Lou . But while Tony is delighted with the results, his girlfriend Annie is worried by his new aggressive, obsessive demeanour. Meanwhile, Liz and Todd attempt to rekindle their romance with some truly unhinged - and surely PTSD-inducing ...
Sep 09, 2021•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 89
Karyn and Anna have a special announcement about Double Love merch! Check out the beautiful Double Love swag over at the Headstuff shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 02, 2021•9 min
What sort of town's Chamber of Commerce thinks it's a good idea to hold a teenage beauty pageant at a public school? Sweet Valley, of course! Jessica is determined to become Miss Teen Sweet Valley, which she worryingly believes will be a way to attract older guys, but Liz is horrified at the school hosting such an event and launches a protest movement with our fave series regulars. Ned and Alice try in vain to keep the peace as the twins go head to head - but who will be victorious? There's a sa...
Aug 26, 2021•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 88
There's only one place we want to celebrate our fourth birthday, and that's at Fowler Crest! Our flat-faced queen finally takes centre stage in an almost-Wakefield-free book (hurrah!). Lila's dismayed when her dad hooks up with glamorous Joan Borden, a woman who inexplicably takes her insipid teenage daughter Jacqueline on all her dates. Lila comforts herself by stealing car -acing Evan Armstrong from his girlfriend, with a little help from her favourite enemy. But will she be able to stop the B...
Aug 12, 2021•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 87
It's our birthday! And what better way to celebrate than to answer the excellent questions sent in by you, our beloved listeners? Join us to find out how the podcast got started, which Wakefield is our least favourite, which moments sum up ultimate Sweet Valley for us, what book we find most ridiculous, what Lila's Olympic sport would be and much, much more. And thanks for listening! Here's to the next four years.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 86
At last, Sweet Valley has a canonically queer character - and to mark this momentous development, we're joined by two very special guests, the brilliant James and Cian from Sissy That Pod! What will these Sweet Valley virgins make of the SVH gang? There's a lot to discuss - Amy sets her sights on recently single Tom McKay, but Tom's more interested in Enid's stylish cousin Jake, whose visit to Sweet Valley triggers the most tame sexual awakening ever. All this and a very unprofessional youth cou...
Jul 29, 2021•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 85
Brace yourself, listeners, this is another grim book, as Francine and Co attempt to make amends for over 70 books worth of fatphobia, with unsurprisingly mixed results. Robin Wilson feels like her life is out of control, not least because of her absolutely terrible long-distance boyfriend George, who is fueling her insecurity constantly raving about his new flying class partner Vicky. Convinced that George would keep loving her if she was thinner, Robin starts restricting her diet - and ends up ...
Jul 15, 2021•2 hr 17 min
Pi Beta Alpha is our special bonus series for Headstuff Plus members - and this week we're sharing our new episode with you all, because, in a delightful coincidence, this episode of the Sweet Valley TV show is based on Regina's Legacy - and to our surprise, it's MUCH more entertaining than the original! Yes, the story of Liz accidentally documenting a criminal gang on film is pared down to the basics and is all the better for it. It's got lakeside frolics, an evil hunk, Enid being a horndog, th...
Jul 08, 2021•46 min•Ep. 84
Don't get your hopes up, listeners - this book's connection to the saintly Regina (RIP) is tenuous at best. Skye Morrow gives Liz a camera that belonged to her late daughter, which is highly convenient/contrived because Liz has just become the most enthusiastic member of Sweet Valley High's new photography club! After Liz takes a pic of some suspicious men on a beach, she becomes the target of criminals who are determined to get hold of the incriminating photo. But when one of the crooks mistake...
Jul 01, 2021•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 83
There's a new girl in Sweet Valley High, and Enid and Liz are her new best friends. Yes, Andrea Slade has left boring old New York City for exciting Sweet Valley, and she never wants to leave, especially after she falls for Dennis Reynolds - oh sorry, it's creepy Nicholas Morrow. When Lila and Jessica discover that Andrea is living with the object of their obsession, rock star Jamie Peters, they jump to an even more creepy conclusion - one that threatens to wreck Andrea's newfound happiness. Mea...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 82
Brace yourselves, everyone: this book contains one of the best scenes in Sweet Valley History and maybe even one of the best scenes in the history of western literature! Yes, apart from a boring subplot about Liz becoming a volunteer Secca Lake park ranger, Starring Jessica is solid gold. It's got Jessica wildly overestimating how famous she'll be after appearing in talk show! It's got scheming (SO much scheming)! It's got some excellent bitchy banter between our favourite frenemies! And best of...
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 81
Breathe a sigh of relief, listeners - we don't have to put Ken Matthews in the bin after all! SVH needs a new quarterback, and Ken, who has mostly recovered from his accident in That (not actually) Fatal Night, is determined to try out. And when newcomer Claire Middleton announces she wants to try out too, our beloved himbo prince supports her all the way! Phew! But not everyone is cheering on the new girl - Ken's girlfriend Terri fears she's losing him to this football goddess and, less underst...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 80
Take a deep breath folks, this isn’t the usual ridiculous fare - it’s so serious there aren’t even any outfits. Yes, Sweet Valley is tackling racism, when Andy Jenkins, seemingly the only Black boy in Sweet Valley, becomes the target of horrible Charlie Cashman’s vile abuse. His white friend Neil wants to help - but when Neil feels rejected by Andy, things take a genuinely shocking turn. For once a Sweet Valley book without a perfectly happy ending! We’re as surprised as you are. Even Saint Eliz...
May 06, 2021•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 79
Our beloved Dana Larson is fed up with love, and she's written a song to prove it! When Liz realises that soccer star Aaron Dallas has also given up on romance, she decides to fix him up with our favourite classic-movie-loving rocker. Will these opposites attract? Liz has made a bet with Todd that they will - though this bet doesn't really make much sense, as you will see. Meanwhile, Jess and Lila get jobs as roadies for the amazingly named Spy Lazarus of Spontaneous Combustion, Anna reveals her...
Apr 22, 2021•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 78
Bonjour les amies! We may be stuck in Ireland but Jessica and Elizabeth are off to France on a spring break student exchange, where they stay with the worst host family ever - Avery Glize, who is nice but basically leaves the twins to their own devices, and her sultry yet surly son René, who hates the beach (gasp!) and is so rude we find ourselves defending the Wakefield twins. What is the reason for his terrible behaviour? Join us as we head to Cannes (if only!) to eat pain au chocolat and hang...
Apr 08, 2021•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 77
It's election season in Sweet Valley, but the real battle is taking place between Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Liz wants her parents to get back together, but Jess wants to fix Ned and Alice up with new love interests - and we get very excited by one of her selections! As well as lots of twin scheming, we've got an OTG political advisor, a very awkward dinner and a digression about Anna's neighbourhood cats. This show is part of the HeadStuff Podcast Network. For more, go to HeadStuffPodcast...
Mar 25, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 76
Surprise surprise, it's still mostly Ned! But poor old Liz is convinced that she's responsible for the fall of the Casa del Wakefield, and the guilt has sent her into a quite a state. Having lost her faith in love, she's ignoring Enid's sensible advice, pushing away Todd, going on dates with boys she doesn't like - and worst of all, she's even letting down Mr Collins (he's back!). Meanwhile Jessica, who doesn't care about the implosion of her family at all, finally meets the mysterious Charlie -...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 75
Ugh, Ned Wakefield. He's having a midlife crisis and he's taking it out on poor old Alice, who is under pressure at work - her firm are hoping to get the job of designing the new wing of the Sweet Valley Mall. Cover it in Spanish tiles, Alice! When Ned defends the Wakefields' friend, mayoral candidate Peter Santelli, on a corruption charge, tensions rise in the Casa del Wakefield. Elizabeth is stressed out but Jessica, of course, doesn't care. In fact, Jess says and does such ridiculously stupid...
Feb 25, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 74
This may be one of the most entertainingly ridiculous Sweet Valley storylines yet - and you know we don't say that lightly. Steven becomes obsessed with both hang gliding and Tricia-lookalike Andrea of Unique Boutique, and if he'd ended up kidnapping Andrea a la Carl the orlderly we wouldn't have been surprised. Seriously, he needs therapy and poor Cara deserves so much better! Meanwhile Jess has her sights set on a boy with principles, and all is not well with Ned and Alice. Uh oh. It's another...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 73
Hold the front page of the Oracle - we've got exciting news! If you'd like to support our Sweet Valley shenanigans AND get exclusive access to our new fortnightly Sweet Valley High TV recap series Pi Beta Alpha, you can join Headstuff+ for as little as 5 euro a month. Listen on to find out more - and get some tantalizing hints about the contents of our first bonus episode. This show is part of the HeadStuff Podcast Network. For more, go to HeadStuffPodcasts.com, where you can also become a membe...
Feb 02, 2021•8 min
Watch out Sweet Valley! There's a new Liz Wakefield in town - and she's got a surfboard. Yes, not content with her daring new non-permanent perm, Liz's determination to prove that she's not boring leads her to start secret surfing lessons. Her teenage teacher Sean wants Liz to win a surfing competition in order to win a bet - but his interest in Liz soon becomes more personal (and yes, he's yet another boy who doesn't take no for an answer). But when Todd doubts Liz's frankly unconvincing cover ...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 72
It's Christmas! And because time has no meaning in 2020, we're celebrating with the super thriller Deadly Summer - and we were NOT prepared for how dramatic this amazing book is. It's right up there with Murder in Paradise, and we don't say that lightly. The twins are interning at the Sweet Valley News when a dangerous bombmaker escapes from a local psychiatric hospital, seeking revenge on Sweet Valley High. it would be a crime to spoil all the details, but let's just say that at one stage Liz c...
Dec 24, 2020•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 71
