Surviving The Toxic Culture of Kids’ TV, with Mayim Bialik, Jenna von Oy & Christy Carlson Romano

EXCLUSIVE REACTIONS: Mayim, Jenna von Oy, and Christy Carlson Romano dive deep into the explosive QUIET ON SET documentary, from the heartbreaking abuse exposed by some of their peers, to their own firsthand accounts of the pressures they faced as child actors.

Mayim, Christy, and Jenna reflect on how the model for kids’ tv made child actors particularly vulnerable, the dangers of children working in the high pressure entertainment industry, the trauma-bonding nature watching the doc has had for their peer community, whether the system can truly be reformed, and ways to effectively pivot the conversation from sensationalistic gossip to promoting real change in the industry.

Christy reveals why she has currently chosen NOT to watch the documentary, breaks down her reservations about the exploitative nature of "trauma tourists," and explains more about the important advocacy work organizations like the Looking Ahead program (@alifeinthearts) are doing to connect child actors and their families with essential resources.

THEY ALSO DISCUSS: 
- The dangers of dangling fame in front of child actors
- The role parents have to play, even if a studio tries to remove them
- The importance of teaching children to use their voices
- The crucial need for female representation and trauma-informed care in the entertainment industry

This episode is a must-listen, from revealing the dark side of how the entertainment millions love was actually made, to the exploration of what we can all do to ensure the safety of children everywhere. 

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
4:13 - Mayim and Jonathan's documentary reaction
8:26 - Introducing Jenna von Oÿ and Christy Carlson Romano
21:48 - Christy's Reasons for Not Watching the Doc
24:30 - Child Actors: Expectations and Pressures
26:50 - Optimism for Industry Reform
30:30 - Strategies for Positive Change in Entertainment
33:30 - Discussing "Trauma Porn" in Media
46:14 - Effects of Secondary Trauma
48:50 - Child Actors Finding Their Voice
53:10 - Positive Aspects of Child Acting
56:40 - On-Set Discomfort
58:20 - Child Actors in Kissing Scenes
1:05:57 - Female Representation on Set
1:13:35 - Disney vs. Nickelodeon Experiences
1:21:50 - Social Media Impact
1:32:57 - Christy’s Advocacy Work with the Looking Ahead program
1:34:50 - Outro

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Learn more about the Looking Ahead program: http://give.actorsfund.org/site/Calen...

Learn more about the Coogan Law: https://www.sagaftra.org/membership-b...

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Find Jenna von Oy:
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Instagram:   / jennavonoy  

Find Christy Carlson Romano:
Twitter:   / christyromano  
Instagram:   / thechristycarlsonromano  

Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.

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