Podcasts by Lessons From Sweet Valley
“Lessons From Sweet Valley” is a podcast where we re-examine the Sweet Valley High series one book at a time and determine what lessons, if any, we can learn from them. Former SVH book nerd Kat Thomas will be joined by guests as they discuss the lives of twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and all of Sweet Valley’s cast of characters through a modern lens. Episodes released every other Wednesday.
Further podcasts by Kat Thomas
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Book 27 - Lovestruck (w/ Luz Gipson) from 2021-02-03T00:00
It’s the jock appreciation episode! Even though Kat and her guest, former film school classmate Luz Gipson, don't know much about football, they can heavily relate to SVH quarterback Ke...
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Book 26 - Hostage! (w/ Bettina Treviranus) from 2021-01-20T00:00
It’s time for a fun change of pace!! Something is up with Regina Morrow and the Sweet Valley Super Sleuth Team is ON IT! Kat’s guest, and mystery enthusiast from a young age, Bettina Trevira...
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Book 25 - Nowhere To Run (w/ Spencer Hall) from 2021-01-06T01:00
It’s young adult author Spencer Hall’s first journey to Sweet Valley and he brings some great YA takes! He and Kat spend most of the episode with The Droids drummer Emily Mayer as she deals ...
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Book 24 - Memories (w/ Maria Zlotorzynska) from 2020-12-23T01:00
Kat’s guest, SVH fan and Canadian, Maria Zlotorzynska proclaims her love for the TV show Degrassi and contrasts it with how high school is portrayed in American media. Meanwhile, in Sweet Val...
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Book 23 - Say Goodbye (w/ Adina Verson) from 2020-12-09T01:00
Kat and childhood (and adulthood) friend Adina Verson, reminisce about the six person club that they had in junior high and if it indeed had a purpose. Over in Sweet Valley, Jessica is distu...
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Book 22 - Too Much In Love (w/ Dana Maier) from 2020-11-25T01:00
This one is for all you sensitive artists out there! Kat and cartoonist Dana Maier speculate about DeeDee Gordon’s vague “design” class and empathize with her consuming fear of losing Bill. ...
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Book 21 - Runaway (w/ Kelly Keemer) from 2020-11-11T01:00
It’s the Jessica Wakefield appreciation episode!! Kat’s guest, blond haired, blue eyed, twin Kelly Keemer, makes the case for why she resonated with Jessica growing up. They also discuss Eli...
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Book 20 - Crash Landing (w/ Kat's Grandparents) from 2020-10-28T01:00
Guests Jack and Marilyn Thomas met when they were the same age as the SVH crew. Now, after 67 years of marriage, they join Kat (their granddaughter) to discuss the glamorous, yet sometimes cr...
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Book 19 - Showdown (w/ Kelsey Cox) from 2020-10-14T01:00
It’s a battle of the titans as Jessica and Lila fight over a construction worker with a mysterious backstory. Kat and, SVH fan, Kelsey Cox track their moves and wonder why these two are even...
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Book 18 - Head Over Heels (w/ Kate Boisseau) from 2020-09-30T01:00
Kat and her friend Kate Boisseau chat about Sweet Valley’s latest odd couple, Regina Morrow and Bruce Patman. Just how did these two get together in the first place?? They also break down tw...
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Book 17 - Love Letters (w/ Dorothy Mason) from 2020-09-16T01:00
Ever wonder what a current middle schooler would think of the world of Sweet Valley High? Kat’s guest, Dorothy Mason, keeps it real and reveals what she believes to be the true emotional age ...
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Book 16 - Rags To Riches (w/ CJ Thomas) from 2020-09-02T01:00
Tragedy strikes Sweet Valley again this week and Jessica swoops in to cause chaos (as per usual). Kat’s cousin, endodontist CJ Thomas, shares his cryptic theories on Jessica and Elizabeth’s sib...
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Book 15 - Promises (w/ Donna Wierzbicki) from 2020-08-19T01:00
We’ve got grieving and scheming in this week’s episode! Kat and SVH fan, Donna Wierzbicki, discuss Steven’s promise to Tricia and Jessica’s sociopathic lack of empathy. Also, the not so subli...
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Book 14 - Deceptions (w/ Mike Berg) from 2020-08-05T01:00
Elizabeth weaves a tangled web in this book! Kat and her guest, TV editor Mike Berg, discuss the many flavors of SVH deceptions and the absurdity that is Nicholas Morrow. Also, a wonderfully ...
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Book 13 - Kidnapped (w/ Ashley R. Smith) from 2020-07-22T01:00
Kat and horror scholar Ashley R. Smith delve into the first “thriller” of the series and discuss how kidnapper Carl stacks up against other infamous villains of our time. Plus, an unlikely clue...
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Book 12 - When Love Dies (w/ Emma Cozzi) from 2020-07-08T01:00
Kat and Sweet Valley superfan Emma Cozzi explore Steven Wakefield’s first main storyline, and per the book’s title, it’s a bit of a tragic one. They also get honest about some dodgy SVH themes ...
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Book 11 - Too Good To Be True - Part 2 (w/ Holly De Ruyter) from 2020-07-01T01:00
The Wakefield twin’s Spring Break takes a major dive in its second week. Kat and guest Holly De Ruyter are back to discuss the problematic events in the second half of this book where the East ...
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Book 11 - Too Good To Be True - Part 1 (w/ Holly De Ruyter) from 2020-06-24T01:00
It’s SPRING BREAK ya’ll!! Elizabeth and Jessica are separated for two whole weeks and shenanigans ensue. Kat and filmmaker Holly De Ruyter talk nostalgia, uncomfortable teenage seduction tacti...
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Book 10 1/2 - Epilogue - The Last Three Pages from 2020-06-17T01:00
Kat and Dave actually ended up a little confused about the final roster of the Sweet Valley High Cheering Squad. They dissect the last three pages of book 10, “Wrong Kind of Girl,” in this uned...
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Book 10 - Wrong Kind Of Girl (w/ Dave Walsh) from 2020-06-10T01:00
Kat and her good friend, Dave Walsh, discuss the romanticization of the high school cheerleading world and its extraordinary lure on Annie Whitman. Plus, how it really is GAME OVER when Jessica...
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Book 9 - Racing Hearts (w/ Joanna Veth) from 2020-05-27T01:00
Former high school runners Kat and guest Joanna Veth are big fans of Roger Barrett. Not only is he the most talented miler OF ALL TIME, but he also brings some welcome character depth to SVH. P...
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Book 8 - Heart Breaker (w/ Amanda Moss) from 2020-05-13T01:00
There is no shortage of surfing puns in this week’s episode. Kat and her horticulturist friend, Amanda Moss, discuss the waves of tears, jealousy and heartbreak. Plus, a high school production o...
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Book 7 1/2 - Supplement - Jessica's Favorite Number from 2020-05-06T01:00
It’s an SVH mystery! Kat has noticed a certain number popping up all over these early books. She explains her theory in this mini bonus episode.
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We would love to hear your fee...
Book 7 - Dear Sister (w/ Andrew Johnson) from 2020-04-29T01:00
Kat’s guest, fifth grade teacher and brother in law, Andrew Johnson, is bewildered by the clueless adults in Sweet Valley. They also discuss deceptive summaries, Elizabeth’s medical diagnosis, a...
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Book 6 1/2 - Supplement - The Sweet Valley High Board Game from 2020-04-22T01:00
In this BONUS episode, Kat and her parents, Celia and Steve Thomas, play the Sweet Valley High Board Game and determine what lessons they can learn from it. However, there is some speculation t...
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Book 6 - Dangerous Love (w/ Celia McCormick) from 2020-04-15T01:00
Two risk averse cousins talk motorcycles! Dr. Celia McCormick joins Kat as they discuss Elizabeth’s jealousy, soap operas, and what’s up with that Dairi Burger remodel?
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To learn ...
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Book 5 - All Night Long (w/ Mandy Siu) from 2020-04-01T01:00
Kat and her foodie friend, Mandy Siu, talk about the lack of diversity in Sweet Valley (unless you count those who wear glasses), and the benefits of having a sister who can cover for you when y...
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Book 4 - Power Play (w/ Toby Francis-Bruce) from 2020-03-18T01:00
A little Aussie flavor comes to Sweet Valley! Kat is joined by her former coworker, Toby Francis-Bruce, who discusses Jessica’s role as an antagonist and a certain overused punctuation mark.
Book 3 - Playing With Fire (w/ Michelle Grover) from 2020-03-04T01:00
Kat and her Iowa State University dorm neighbor, Michelle Grover, discuss the irrational crushes of Jessica and the rest of the SVH crew. Plus, they discover halfway through the podcast that the...
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Book 2 - Secrets (w/ Marie Johnson) from 2020-02-19T04:00
Kat and her sister, Marie Johnson, discuss the conniving ways of Jessica and how they were never that mean to each other growing up. Also, what "sliding into your DMs" means in the SV...
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Book 1 - Double Love (w/ Erin Brown) from 2020-02-19T03:00
Kat is joined by Erin Brown, her friend since the age of two and another former Sweet Valley High series enthusiast. They introduce all of SVH's major players and the idyllic California to...
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Book 0 - Introducing Lessons From Sweet Valley from 2020-02-07T08:00
Welcome to Sweet Valley, California and the lives of twins, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. 181 Sweet Valley High books were published between the years of 1983 and 2003 and this podcast is go...
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Book 0 - Introducing Lessons From Sweet Valley from 2020-02-07T08:00
Welcome to Sweet Valley, California and the lives of twins, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. 181 Sweet Valley High books were published between the years of 1983 and 2003 and this podcast is go...
Listen