May 10, 2025 • 28 mins
Beloved actress from roles in "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "How I Met Your Mother," Alyson Hannigan joins Jennie for a special and important conversation ahead of Mother's Day!
Both women are remembered for their iconic high school roles, and now they're reflecting on being in their 50s and watching their daughters become independent young women. Alyson is telling us about Ask2BSure and why it's important for parents of teenagers to be informed about meningitis.
Plus, Alyson tells Jennie how she really feels about her teenagers watching her in "American Pie"!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Garland. Hi. Everyone,
welcome to I Choose Me. This podcast is all about
the choices we make and where they lead us. My
guest today is known for her roles in Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, American Pie, and of course How I Met
(00:24):
your Mother. Mother's Day is this week and as a mom,
the conversation we're about to have is an important one.
Please welcome Alison Hannigan to the podcast. Hello. Oh my gosh, Allison.
I'm so happy to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
This is thank you for talking to me.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I've been a fan, of course, and you and I
both played these well known high school characters.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And you in nice school.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
By the way, you filmed which one?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Buffy?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Buffy?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Which filmed it? Tolarrance?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Hi, Oh, that poor high school. They must have gotten
so sick of all us actors.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I loved it, you do. But I think we like
we would walk around and we'd be like Dylan, Dylan,
where are you? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Do you find that your fans are similar to mine
and they are often shocked that you're actually an adult
and you're in the fifty club now.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, they're pretty polite but uh, what I find
sort of disconcerting is the like when it's somebody that
I'm like, well, maybe we're the same age, and they're like,
I was a little kid and I watched you, I
grew up on you, And I'm like.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Oh, all right, yeah, yeah, have you gotten that, Oh
my mom loves you.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The other day I got my grandmother loves you, and
I'm like, okay, you can stop right there, thank you.
That's interesting. My grandmother grew up with you that I'm
going to walk away, Well, don't gonna happen soon.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I feel like you, yeah, will be forever frozen in
my mind as a teenager. And it's even it's weird
to me to say that because the same thing happens
to me, But I'm saying it to you because so true.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
It's so true. But I'm just so grateful to have
been part of like several things that people still remember.
You know, it's hard to believe, but it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I love it. Have you ever been like out and
about in the real world or even at home and
caught yourself on a rerun or maybe even like at
the doctor's office, that'd be even better.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, So you're just flipping the channels and I'm like, oh,
my goodness, flashback.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And then I'm like, do I even remember?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
This? So true? It's so true. I also think that
many of the fans themselves, well, they see themselves in
the characters that you've portrayed. Has there ever, I'm curious,
has there ever been a character or a role that
helped you you better understand yourself?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh, that's a good question. I mean I think I've
played characters that I would aspire to be more like.
I mean, who wouldn't want to be more like Willow?
You know? But she's way smarter than I am, And boy,
could I use her computer skills, especially nowadays, right? That
would have been great? But you know, I feel like
(03:26):
I put a piece of me into every character, and
then maybe a piece of the character comes into me too.
I'd like to hope the good parts. But yeah, it's
obviously it's that there's some of me in there, not
that good of an actress.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, like the lines blur, Yeah, I love I kind
of love that because that means you're playing a really
genuine portrayal of something, and like it it feels authentic
because you are like putting yourself in that characters shoes.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yes, yeah, yeah, definitely, especially with like emotional scenes, and yeah,
you know, I could always tell if if I would
resonate with something, because like if I didn't have to
sort of dive deep into emotional trauma to get the emotions,
then I knew that I was in the right space
of a character.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'm loving this chapter of my life, this next chapter,
I don't know, middle chapter. I don't know, what's your
favorite thing about being in your fifties because you're a
newly band club.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I know, I know, I really I love the like
just caring less about what everybody thinks. And you know,
my new motto is like what other people think of
me is none of my business. And you know, I
just it's like it's lovely if you you like me
and stuff, but if you don't, okay, I'm not gonna
(04:56):
hopefully it's not going to destroy me the way it
would have in my twin, you know, Like I just
so it's not like I mean, I'm still sensitive, but
I just I have my people that I love and
I care about, and like their opinions are the ones
that matter. My family and my friends. Like I'm good,
and I'm really happy and like you know, yes, they're things.
(05:20):
Sure I would have been done differently, but in a
way at least I learned from them and grow And
I just always want to grow and and just be
grateful for my journey.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
You have a very good perspective. That's perfect. You said
you were a little more affected by other people's opinions
in your twenties, and I know, having gone through that
phase being in this industry, seeing all the things that
we saw in our early years and hearing all the
things we heard, how did you get through it all?
Like I I don't know how I got through it all.
(05:57):
I'm just happy I did.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yes, well, I think for you, I mean you blew
like you guys were everything everywhere. I feel like for me,
it was always like this slow burn. I was like
the little engine that could. But it wasn't like Buffy
wasn't an immediate hit out of the out of the gate.
And we certainly like we were on this strange network
(06:20):
where we were the only sort of critically acclaimed show
and like it, and you know when people just didn't understand,
like what do you mean Buffy the Vampire's Layer, It's
like no, it's much better than this, Like it sounds
it's really just check it out. Well, are you a
comedy or a drama? Like yeah, both. But I also
just think because it was before social media, like you
(06:41):
didn't know people were watching it. We filmed the entire
first season without it being aired, so it really was
a little bubble. And then and even with How I
Met Your Mother, it was similar because that, you know,
we we were always like on The Bubble Show for
like the first three seasons, like every year, we didn't
(07:02):
know if we were going to get picked up, and
there were much shinier shows that were getting all the attention.
And then we were just kind of like this slow build.
I think, you know, we got onto some airplanes, like
before you had all the choices on the airplane, and
we were on Netflix and that helped, and we just
kept slowly going and then like by the end of
the series, we're like, oh, people really watch us. I
(07:24):
remember we got picked up for like two seasons one year,
and we're like we've made it. We're not a bubble
show anymore. But so so with you though, you were
just like you guys were like on Rolling Stone and
stuff like that, like it was just massive out of
the gate, and I feel like we were under the radar,
so it might not have been as hard for me
(07:47):
it was maybe for you, But I'm projecting, but yeah,
I don't know. I just I feel like I also
grew up as sort of like a struggling kid actor,
so I knew how like fleeting everything was so so
that never left my perspective. So I was always grateful
to be working and and you worked hard, yes, yes,
(08:11):
And I was very lucky in the projects that I
got to work on too. So I don't know. I
feel like gratitude has always been my friend.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
I mean, it's the best thing to go back to
every time you're struggling. I feel like, yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Always tell my daughter's gratitude not attitude of hearing that.
I'm sure it'll sink it.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
You have teenage daughters.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I do. I have a sixteen year old and an
almost thirteen year old.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
What did they think? Have they seen one time at
band camp?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
No? And I hope they never do. But if they,
they better not tell me that they have. And I
don't think they will want to. So that is one
thing that you know, I love having open dialogue and
communication with them, but maybe not for that, just maybe
not that I've just told them don't ever watch it.
(09:05):
Oh my god, just trust me, you don't want to
see it.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
They will absolutely watch it. I'm just gonna prep you
for that.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I'm sure, But maybe not, Maybe I don't. They don't
actually want to watch my stuff because they saw their
dad in a video where he was flirting with He
was like seventeen. It was a George Harrison video and
he was like flirting with a girl, and they almost
before the video was done, they said, Okay, I don't
want to watch anything you've done. Mom. I don't want
(09:33):
to see you with somebody else, because they do. They
don't see alert with somebody and he was like seventeen,
he was a baby.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Every time they see me doing like a makeout scene
from that from that time, they're like, oh, they just
hate watching it.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, I mean they don't even like, like when my
husband and I are affectionate to each other, they're just like, oh,
can you imagine, like you know, seeing me with married
to someone else.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Oh my gosh. Yeah, this is Mother's Day Week. Do
you think that like your maybe your relationship with your
mom has changed your perspective now on how you treated her,
what she had to endure.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I mean, I was a great kid. Fifteen wasn't great,
but I was moody. But you know, I've learned so
much being a parent, and it's just they teach me
every day and it's so incredible. I was an only child,
and to have two daughters to watch siblings and that dynamic.
I'm like, I'm still grieving the loss of not having
(10:42):
a sibling because I desperately wanted that when I was
growing up. So it's nice to get to sort of
see it through them, even the hard parts. But I'm
learning so much as well.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
When you had your first daughter, where you're like, I
definitely want to have a sibling for her. Did you
plan that?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Oh yeah. I always was like, at least two, I
have to because.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
They have to have somebody.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah. I did not like being an only child, so
so for me, I was like, Nope, getting a sibling.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
That's good. I love the relationship that my daughters have
with one another. I don't love it all the time
because sometimes it gets a little crazy up in here,
all these girls and the hormones flowing. But I still
love that they have each other forever. Absolutely, I'm curious
(11:39):
about your campaign that you're a part of Asked to
be Sure. I want to know more about this.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yes, so asked to be Sure and asked to be
Sure dot com with the two and the bee the
letter B Yes, I partnered with GSK two to raise
awareness to ask to be Sure, which is a health
awareness campaign for me.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Ninja someone is also known as meningitis ningitis. What the
heck is that? And why do we have to be
worried about it?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Well, so, it's an uncommon but very serious illness that
can have just life altering consequences, even death, and sometimes
as fast as like within twenty four hours. So this
campaign really encourages parents, particularly with kids sixteen to twenty three,
because that's the most prevalent age group because of their
(12:31):
behaviors of like like some kids going off to college
and living in close quarters or sharing lip gloss or
drinks or kissing, you know, all of these behaviors that
are perfectly normal, but that is sort of the most
dangerous age range. So this encourages you to talk to
your doctors to make sure it hasn't slipped through the
(12:52):
cracks because some people are like because there's meningitis vaccines
for ab C W and Y often gets overlooked because
it's a separate vaccine. And so you really just were
encouraging people to go ask the questions to your kids doctors.
When I did, it was so informative and there was
(13:15):
so much I didn't know. Obviously I'm not a doctor,
but like she explained it in such a way. You know,
what's really worrisome about this is that the fact that
the first person that develops meningitis, it's it's the symptoms
are just every day, like, oh, you're just getting sick.
Like in fact, a friend of mine had like the
(13:39):
star quarterback on the high school football team, just athlete
of the year and all the things. He went home
with a headache and he died the next day. Because
I know, and it's just And I had this the
opportunity to meet with survivors and families that have been affected,
and it was so overwhelming and so emotional. I'm so
(14:02):
grateful that they're sharing their stories. As hard as I mean,
it burst into tears. How can you not, But it's
so wonderful that they're sharing their stories because it is
something I hadn't real I wasn't really aware of.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Right, because I kind of think like I did the
things I was supposed to do when they were little,
even if I wasn't even sure about it. But I
kind of just stood what the doctor told me. And
then you think when they're you know, you think you're
done with all of that and that there's no more
to do. Is there something when you do go to
the doctor and you talk about it and you ask
the questions, is this something that they can test your
(14:36):
child for before they get the vaccine?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Look, I'm not a doctor. Why I'm just saying, hey,
go please ask your doctor. But they will break it down,
you know, because because obviously you're hoping that the doctors
are going to tell you everything you ever need to know,
but like they they if you don't ask about certain things,
they might not bring it up. So that's why I
asked to be sure. Is in encouraging parents to empower
(15:02):
them to go and ask their doctors about you know,
are you okay all the things, all the doctory things. Yes,
I haven't even played a doctor.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I haven't either. I'm not sure I could do it
with all the words you.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Heard me try to say me Ninja cockle, right, you
take it practically? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Wait, okay, so I'm assuming that on the website asked
to be sure dot com. Yes, I am assuming that
there are lists of questions you should go into the
doctor with. Are things you could go in there and
ask about.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, yes, And we're just encouraging because the more knowledge
you have, the more you can make the right decision
for your families and just raise awareness of something that
you're like, wait, did I was? I am? I are?
We okay? Like you know, it's just it's always just
good to have other people helping you not miss anything
(15:59):
and super important you know, that could be you know,
life impacting.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I'm definitely going to check it out, and I hope
that all of our listeners do too, because it's really
really important, especially that age when they're just so excited
about starting their life. I have a daughter who is
chronically ill, and she's just a constant thing with her
throat and with her energy level, and we you know,
we've gotten so many tests mono and strip and all
(16:26):
the tests. I'm going to go in there and talk
about what other things I need to know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yes, absolutely, communication, especially with your doctor is the most
important thing.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, as a mom, do you believe that we need
to allow our girls to learn life's sometimes really hard lessons?
Are are you a little bit more like me? And
want to help them with every hardship they ever come upon.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Look, I definitely if I could take away any and
all of their pain, I would, But I also so
the hardest thing for me, I think when they were
little was the people people always encouraged us not to
react when they fell, and because then they look at
(17:14):
you and you're like and then they just burst into tears.
That was so hard for me because of course every
fiber of my being was like did they get hurt?
But like once I like like really practiced like just
and I didn't want to also like say you're okay,
Like I'm not going to tell you how like you
tell me are you hurt? And then we'll react after that.
(17:37):
But and when I saw that when I actually could
like did it in practice, and it was the right
thing to do because then she could like either get
back up and go on with whatever she was doing,
or she was hurt and she needed like Okay, now
it's the scrape booboo and we go fix you and like,
but it was it was her reaction rather than like
(17:59):
me overreacting, which I can definitely that was my instinct.
But so so I think in a sense there's always that, like,
you know.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
If somebody was mean, oh, do you need me to
call their parents? I still want to do that all
the time. Yeah, should I talk to them? I can
call that kid or maybe his dad or whatever. Like,
let me know.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
I do get very mama bear where I'm just like
in the parking lot, I'll see them walking, you mean
to my baby, just give them a side with my
sunglasses on. I'm a total jerk. But and by the way,
the kids are like so over it, and they're just
like and I'm like, but.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Have you had to handle like heartbreak yet and all
the feelings of young teenage girls.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Luckily no, My my older daughter has this lovely boyfriend.
They almost like at a year, which I'm like for
high school, like that's like impressive, so you know, and
obviously navigate through like oh, disappointments or whatever. But no,
(19:16):
they there hasn't been the the super heartbreak yet. Yeah,
I mean there's been like friendship dramas and stuff, and
that's been you know, it's so hard not to it's
also hard not to like go on and on and
on about it, like, you know, because I would talk
(19:37):
to the end of the world with them, like about
anything they wanted to talk to. So so I've got
to navigate like just saying enough but not making it feel.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Like it's like sure, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And they don't want to come to me because they're like,
I just don't have the time. I know.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
It's really there's so many like little balancing acts that
we have to do as moms. I think of teenagers,
I mean just kids in general. It's really hard. I
always say I would rather take care of my three
little girls and diapers and just like all of that
and what it takes to raise them as young women
(20:16):
and as they get older, like there's just it's like
an emotional warfare you have to.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Teach teach that roller coaster. I kept fifteen was rough
and that was my worst teenage year too as well.
But there's a lot of eye rolling and a lot
of where's that person that I used to know? But
I just kept reminding myself. I even told her at
one point, I was like, these are the years you
(20:40):
were going to apologize for later, And you know what,
she already did. She wrote the most beautiful email parents
could ever read, because she went away and she sort
of saw somebody else exhibiting that typical teenage angsty behavior
and how it kind of was a nuisance for everyone
(21:04):
around them, And she wrote this lovely email of like,
I'm sorry for every eye roll, and I really that's amazing. Yeah,
so you're back. Really was a profound experience for her.
So I felt like, you know, this came like decades
before I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Right, Yeah, I feel like that is the best feeling
when you see that they have that emotional intelligence and
they're able to like acknowledge their mistakes. Sometimes they learn
so much more because they've worked through it themselves and
they yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
They And I do think kids in general nowadays have
that way more than than I certainly had when I
was their age.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Yeah, it's just it's it's more in the ether.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
But it's yeah, it's just really hard not to hurt
for your kids when something bad happens to them.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I know. But like even for like when they were young,
it was you know, like I said to my daughters,
I'm like, you know, the sad days make the happier
days happier, like the happy days happier because you know,
you can't, like you can't grow a rose without fertilizer.
(22:16):
So it's just you can't have a life with It's
like if you were always happy, you would never know
you're happy.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That's true. Yeah, I'm all. I'm a feelings person. I
have talked about it before. I've been told I'm too
emotional by certain people in my past or like dramatic
or emotional, and I was like, yeah, i am dramatic
because that's what I do for a living. But I'm
not too emotional. I'm actually emotion full and.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I'm proud of it. Oh I like that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yet, don't let anyone tell you're too emotional.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Just don't accept that anybody's sensitive. Oh I got that
all the time. And you know what, it's also what
makes me, you know, be able to feel as much
as I do and and and give as much as
I give, and so it's it's an asset.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
How are you celebrating Mother's Day this year?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Well, I'm going to go home because I'm in New
York right now, so I'll go tomorrow and then just
be with my babies. And I don't know what they
have planned, but but it'll just be great.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I love it that they are at an age now
where they start to think, oh, it's Mother's Day, what
are we going to do? And they start to plan
it together.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
My younger daughter was like, Mom, will you do you
have a flat iron? Will you just send me ones
you would like? I mean, you know, just But pretty
soon I was like.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Hey, you're getting a flat iron for Mother's Day.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Well then she was like, I think it's better if
you just buy it. I'm like, oh no, because we
both borrow my sixteen year old's flat iron.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Oh yeah, well I had one until she took it. Yeah,
and then.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
One exactly exactly, and she's got beautiful curly I'm like,
stop straightening it. I paid money to get that girl.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
I sat in a makeup chair for hours getting those.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I guess. Do you think either of them wants to
be a little actress?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
My younger one does and I and it's it's we
are like constantly talking her out of it or trying
to look if she really wanted to do it, I would,
of course. I'll support whatever they want to do. But
the thing is when we question her on why she
wants it. She does not give the right answers.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
What's her answer?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
She wants to be she loves going to a red carpet,
and she wants to be famous, can meet other famous people.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I'm like, oh, yeah, well you can do it that way.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Now, I guess you could. I guess you could. But
but I'm.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Curious though, like, why would you not want her to
become an actress.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
I just don't want it now. I want her to
just have the childhood. I feel like, I, you know,
she's she's got so much going for her, and she's
you know, she is good at most everything that she tries,
which is a good and bad thing. But I just
(25:16):
feel like I just want her to be well rounded.
And then if she decides later on that that is
a passion of hers, like for the right reason, then great,
I am all for it, and I will support you.
And we've got your room ready for you when when
you're on like your one hundredth audition and haven't booked anything,
(25:38):
or you know, or maybe it'll be better. But I
just feel like she's she's a kid, and she should
be a kid, and she doesn't need to like go
into the room and like be told she's like too
tall or not tall enough for this or that or not,
like you know, all the things. And maybe they don't
do that anymore, Like they don't just tell you all
(25:59):
these horrible things about.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You wait until you leave the room.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, like maybe the agents know not to tell you
as a child anymore. But that was not my experience.
So and and she's just she's a great kid, and
I just don't want her to ruin her.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
We know too much. Yeah, as moms who have done it.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, and we're like, hey, yeah, go be in that
acting at school, go be in the school play and
do all this. And she's not doing that. So it's
not her passion.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, like she's too afraid.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Yeah she Well, it just she's got so many things
she wants to do, so let's focus the volleyball and
basketball and all the other things.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Like, well you can all the things I didn't get
to do, right, Oh my gosh. Okay, Well, I've loved
having you here. But before I let you go, Alison Hangan,
what was your last I choose me moment?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Oh? I think it was coming to New York two
days early. Not just I got to see some friends,
do some shopping, I did shop for my daughter's birthday,
so technically, but but it was very like indulgent of me,
like all right, honey, my I'll see you, and and
we're like getting work done in the house, like they're painting.
(27:19):
And they were perfect tile. The day I left, they
started like jackhammering tile. It was awful apparently, and we
have puppies and they couldn't go out, and it was
so I left just you.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Did, maybe you extend your trip just a little.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, they weren't Mother's Day.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Well, thank you for bringing this information to all us.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Thank you for sharing that. You be sure to be
number B letter sure dot com.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And everybody can use our show notes to find how
to access that. But thank you so much for spending
time on.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Us today as you and happy Mother's Day you two,
you all right and you have a great king.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Hey bye h
You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Garland. Hi. Everyone,
welcome to I Choose Me. This podcast is all about
the choices we make and where they lead us. My
guest today is known for her roles in Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, American Pie, and of course How I Met
(00:24):
your Mother. Mother's Day is this week and as a mom,
the conversation we're about to have is an important one.
Please welcome Alison Hannigan to the podcast. Hello. Oh my gosh, Allison.
I'm so happy to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
This is thank you for talking to me.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I've been a fan, of course, and you and I
both played these well known high school characters.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And you in nice school.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
By the way, you filmed which one?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Buffy?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Buffy?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Which filmed it? Tolarrance?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Hi, Oh, that poor high school. They must have gotten
so sick of all us actors.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I loved it, you do. But I think we like
we would walk around and we'd be like Dylan, Dylan,
where are you? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Do you find that your fans are similar to mine
and they are often shocked that you're actually an adult
and you're in the fifty club now.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, they're pretty polite but uh, what I find
sort of disconcerting is the like when it's somebody that
I'm like, well, maybe we're the same age, and they're like,
I was a little kid and I watched you, I
grew up on you, And I'm like.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Oh, all right, yeah, yeah, have you gotten that, Oh
my mom loves you.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
The other day I got my grandmother loves you, and
I'm like, okay, you can stop right there, thank you.
That's interesting. My grandmother grew up with you that I'm
going to walk away, Well, don't gonna happen soon.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I feel like you, yeah, will be forever frozen in
my mind as a teenager. And it's even it's weird
to me to say that because the same thing happens
to me, But I'm saying it to you because so true.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
It's so true. But I'm just so grateful to have
been part of like several things that people still remember.
You know, it's hard to believe, but it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
I love it. Have you ever been like out and
about in the real world or even at home and
caught yourself on a rerun or maybe even like at
the doctor's office, that'd be even better.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, So you're just flipping the channels and I'm like, oh,
my goodness, flashback.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And then I'm like, do I even remember?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
This? So true? It's so true. I also think that
many of the fans themselves, well, they see themselves in
the characters that you've portrayed. Has there ever, I'm curious,
has there ever been a character or a role that
helped you you better understand yourself?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh, that's a good question. I mean I think I've
played characters that I would aspire to be more like.
I mean, who wouldn't want to be more like Willow?
You know? But she's way smarter than I am, And boy,
could I use her computer skills, especially nowadays, right? That
would have been great? But you know, I feel like
(03:26):
I put a piece of me into every character, and
then maybe a piece of the character comes into me too.
I'd like to hope the good parts. But yeah, it's
obviously it's that there's some of me in there, not
that good of an actress.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, like the lines blur, Yeah, I love I kind
of love that because that means you're playing a really
genuine portrayal of something, and like it it feels authentic
because you are like putting yourself in that characters shoes.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yes, yeah, yeah, definitely, especially with like emotional scenes, and yeah,
you know, I could always tell if if I would
resonate with something, because like if I didn't have to
sort of dive deep into emotional trauma to get the emotions,
then I knew that I was in the right space
of a character.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'm loving this chapter of my life, this next chapter,
I don't know, middle chapter. I don't know, what's your
favorite thing about being in your fifties because you're a
newly band club.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I know, I know, I really I love the like
just caring less about what everybody thinks. And you know,
my new motto is like what other people think of
me is none of my business. And you know, I
just it's like it's lovely if you you like me
and stuff, but if you don't, okay, I'm not gonna
(04:56):
hopefully it's not going to destroy me the way it
would have in my twin, you know, Like I just
so it's not like I mean, I'm still sensitive, but
I just I have my people that I love and
I care about, and like their opinions are the ones
that matter. My family and my friends. Like I'm good,
and I'm really happy and like you know, yes, they're things.
(05:20):
Sure I would have been done differently, but in a
way at least I learned from them and grow And
I just always want to grow and and just be
grateful for my journey.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
You have a very good perspective. That's perfect. You said
you were a little more affected by other people's opinions
in your twenties, and I know, having gone through that
phase being in this industry, seeing all the things that
we saw in our early years and hearing all the
things we heard, how did you get through it all?
Like I I don't know how I got through it all.
(05:57):
I'm just happy I did.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yes, well, I think for you, I mean you blew
like you guys were everything everywhere. I feel like for me,
it was always like this slow burn. I was like
the little engine that could. But it wasn't like Buffy
wasn't an immediate hit out of the out of the gate.
And we certainly like we were on this strange network
(06:20):
where we were the only sort of critically acclaimed show
and like it, and you know when people just didn't understand,
like what do you mean Buffy the Vampire's Layer, It's
like no, it's much better than this, Like it sounds
it's really just check it out. Well, are you a
comedy or a drama? Like yeah, both. But I also
just think because it was before social media, like you
(06:41):
didn't know people were watching it. We filmed the entire
first season without it being aired, so it really was
a little bubble. And then and even with How I
Met Your Mother, it was similar because that, you know,
we we were always like on The Bubble Show for
like the first three seasons, like every year, we didn't
(07:02):
know if we were going to get picked up, and
there were much shinier shows that were getting all the attention.
And then we were just kind of like this slow build.
I think, you know, we got onto some airplanes, like
before you had all the choices on the airplane, and
we were on Netflix and that helped, and we just
kept slowly going and then like by the end of
the series, we're like, oh, people really watch us. I
(07:24):
remember we got picked up for like two seasons one year,
and we're like we've made it. We're not a bubble
show anymore. But so so with you though, you were
just like you guys were like on Rolling Stone and
stuff like that, like it was just massive out of
the gate, and I feel like we were under the radar,
so it might not have been as hard for me
(07:47):
it was maybe for you, But I'm projecting, but yeah,
I don't know. I just I feel like I also
grew up as sort of like a struggling kid actor,
so I knew how like fleeting everything was so so
that never left my perspective. So I was always grateful
to be working and and you worked hard, yes, yes,
(08:11):
And I was very lucky in the projects that I
got to work on too. So I don't know. I
feel like gratitude has always been my friend.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
I mean, it's the best thing to go back to
every time you're struggling. I feel like, yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Always tell my daughter's gratitude not attitude of hearing that.
I'm sure it'll sink it.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
You have teenage daughters.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I do. I have a sixteen year old and an
almost thirteen year old.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
What did they think? Have they seen one time at
band camp?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
No? And I hope they never do. But if they,
they better not tell me that they have. And I
don't think they will want to. So that is one
thing that you know, I love having open dialogue and
communication with them, but maybe not for that, just maybe
not that I've just told them don't ever watch it.
(09:05):
Oh my god, just trust me, you don't want to
see it.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
They will absolutely watch it. I'm just gonna prep you
for that.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I'm sure, But maybe not, Maybe I don't. They don't
actually want to watch my stuff because they saw their
dad in a video where he was flirting with He
was like seventeen. It was a George Harrison video and
he was like flirting with a girl, and they almost
before the video was done, they said, Okay, I don't
want to watch anything you've done. Mom. I don't want
(09:33):
to see you with somebody else, because they do. They
don't see alert with somebody and he was like seventeen,
he was a baby.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Every time they see me doing like a makeout scene
from that from that time, they're like, oh, they just
hate watching it.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, I mean they don't even like, like when my
husband and I are affectionate to each other, they're just like, oh,
can you imagine, like you know, seeing me with married
to someone else.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Oh my gosh. Yeah, this is Mother's Day Week. Do
you think that like your maybe your relationship with your
mom has changed your perspective now on how you treated her,
what she had to endure.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I mean, I was a great kid. Fifteen wasn't great,
but I was moody. But you know, I've learned so
much being a parent, and it's just they teach me
every day and it's so incredible. I was an only child,
and to have two daughters to watch siblings and that dynamic.
I'm like, I'm still grieving the loss of not having
(10:42):
a sibling because I desperately wanted that when I was
growing up. So it's nice to get to sort of
see it through them, even the hard parts. But I'm
learning so much as well.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
When you had your first daughter, where you're like, I
definitely want to have a sibling for her. Did you
plan that?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Oh yeah. I always was like, at least two, I
have to because.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
They have to have somebody.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah. I did not like being an only child, so
so for me, I was like, Nope, getting a sibling.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
That's good. I love the relationship that my daughters have
with one another. I don't love it all the time
because sometimes it gets a little crazy up in here,
all these girls and the hormones flowing. But I still
love that they have each other forever. Absolutely, I'm curious
(11:39):
about your campaign that you're a part of Asked to
be Sure. I want to know more about this.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Yes, so asked to be Sure and asked to be
Sure dot com with the two and the bee the
letter B Yes, I partnered with GSK two to raise
awareness to ask to be Sure, which is a health
awareness campaign for me.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Ninja someone is also known as meningitis ningitis. What the
heck is that? And why do we have to be
worried about it?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Well, so, it's an uncommon but very serious illness that
can have just life altering consequences, even death, and sometimes
as fast as like within twenty four hours. So this
campaign really encourages parents, particularly with kids sixteen to twenty three,
because that's the most prevalent age group because of their
(12:31):
behaviors of like like some kids going off to college
and living in close quarters or sharing lip gloss or
drinks or kissing, you know, all of these behaviors that
are perfectly normal, but that is sort of the most
dangerous age range. So this encourages you to talk to
your doctors to make sure it hasn't slipped through the
(12:52):
cracks because some people are like because there's meningitis vaccines
for ab C W and Y often gets overlooked because
it's a separate vaccine. And so you really just were
encouraging people to go ask the questions to your kids doctors.
When I did, it was so informative and there was
(13:15):
so much I didn't know. Obviously I'm not a doctor,
but like she explained it in such a way. You know,
what's really worrisome about this is that the fact that
the first person that develops meningitis, it's it's the symptoms
are just every day, like, oh, you're just getting sick.
Like in fact, a friend of mine had like the
(13:39):
star quarterback on the high school football team, just athlete
of the year and all the things. He went home
with a headache and he died the next day. Because
I know, and it's just And I had this the
opportunity to meet with survivors and families that have been affected,
and it was so overwhelming and so emotional. I'm so
(14:02):
grateful that they're sharing their stories. As hard as I mean,
it burst into tears. How can you not, But it's
so wonderful that they're sharing their stories because it is
something I hadn't real I wasn't really aware of.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Right, because I kind of think like I did the
things I was supposed to do when they were little,
even if I wasn't even sure about it. But I
kind of just stood what the doctor told me. And
then you think when they're you know, you think you're
done with all of that and that there's no more
to do. Is there something when you do go to
the doctor and you talk about it and you ask
the questions, is this something that they can test your
(14:36):
child for before they get the vaccine?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Look, I'm not a doctor. Why I'm just saying, hey,
go please ask your doctor. But they will break it down,
you know, because because obviously you're hoping that the doctors
are going to tell you everything you ever need to know,
but like they they if you don't ask about certain things,
they might not bring it up. So that's why I
asked to be sure. Is in encouraging parents to empower
(15:02):
them to go and ask their doctors about you know,
are you okay all the things, all the doctory things. Yes,
I haven't even played a doctor.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I haven't either. I'm not sure I could do it
with all the words you.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Heard me try to say me Ninja cockle, right, you
take it practically? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Wait, okay, so I'm assuming that on the website asked
to be sure dot com. Yes, I am assuming that
there are lists of questions you should go into the
doctor with. Are things you could go in there and
ask about.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yes, yes, And we're just encouraging because the more knowledge
you have, the more you can make the right decision
for your families and just raise awareness of something that
you're like, wait, did I was? I am? I are?
We okay? Like you know, it's just it's always just
good to have other people helping you not miss anything
(15:59):
and super important you know, that could be you know,
life impacting.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I'm definitely going to check it out, and I hope
that all of our listeners do too, because it's really
really important, especially that age when they're just so excited
about starting their life. I have a daughter who is
chronically ill, and she's just a constant thing with her
throat and with her energy level, and we you know,
we've gotten so many tests mono and strip and all
(16:26):
the tests. I'm going to go in there and talk
about what other things I need to know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yes, absolutely, communication, especially with your doctor is the most
important thing.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, as a mom, do you believe that we need
to allow our girls to learn life's sometimes really hard lessons?
Are are you a little bit more like me? And
want to help them with every hardship they ever come upon.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Look, I definitely if I could take away any and
all of their pain, I would, But I also so
the hardest thing for me, I think when they were
little was the people people always encouraged us not to
react when they fell, and because then they look at
(17:14):
you and you're like and then they just burst into tears.
That was so hard for me because of course every
fiber of my being was like did they get hurt?
But like once I like like really practiced like just
and I didn't want to also like say you're okay,
Like I'm not going to tell you how like you
tell me are you hurt? And then we'll react after that.
(17:37):
But and when I saw that when I actually could
like did it in practice, and it was the right
thing to do because then she could like either get
back up and go on with whatever she was doing,
or she was hurt and she needed like Okay, now
it's the scrape booboo and we go fix you and like,
but it was it was her reaction rather than like
(17:59):
me overreacting, which I can definitely that was my instinct.
But so so I think in a sense there's always that, like,
you know.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
If somebody was mean, oh, do you need me to
call their parents? I still want to do that all
the time. Yeah, should I talk to them? I can
call that kid or maybe his dad or whatever. Like,
let me know.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
I do get very mama bear where I'm just like
in the parking lot, I'll see them walking, you mean
to my baby, just give them a side with my
sunglasses on. I'm a total jerk. But and by the way,
the kids are like so over it, and they're just
like and I'm like, but.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Have you had to handle like heartbreak yet and all
the feelings of young teenage girls.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Luckily no, My my older daughter has this lovely boyfriend.
They almost like at a year, which I'm like for
high school, like that's like impressive, so you know, and
obviously navigate through like oh, disappointments or whatever. But no,
(19:16):
they there hasn't been the the super heartbreak yet. Yeah,
I mean there's been like friendship dramas and stuff, and
that's been you know, it's so hard not to it's
also hard not to like go on and on and
on about it, like, you know, because I would talk
(19:37):
to the end of the world with them, like about
anything they wanted to talk to. So so I've got
to navigate like just saying enough but not making it feel.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Like it's like sure, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And they don't want to come to me because they're like,
I just don't have the time. I know.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
It's really there's so many like little balancing acts that
we have to do as moms. I think of teenagers,
I mean just kids in general. It's really hard. I
always say I would rather take care of my three
little girls and diapers and just like all of that
and what it takes to raise them as young women
(20:16):
and as they get older, like there's just it's like
an emotional warfare you have to.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Teach teach that roller coaster. I kept fifteen was rough
and that was my worst teenage year too as well.
But there's a lot of eye rolling and a lot
of where's that person that I used to know? But
I just kept reminding myself. I even told her at
one point, I was like, these are the years you
(20:40):
were going to apologize for later, And you know what,
she already did. She wrote the most beautiful email parents
could ever read, because she went away and she sort
of saw somebody else exhibiting that typical teenage angsty behavior
and how it kind of was a nuisance for everyone
(21:04):
around them, And she wrote this lovely email of like,
I'm sorry for every eye roll, and I really that's amazing. Yeah,
so you're back. Really was a profound experience for her.
So I felt like, you know, this came like decades
before I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Right, Yeah, I feel like that is the best feeling
when you see that they have that emotional intelligence and
they're able to like acknowledge their mistakes. Sometimes they learn
so much more because they've worked through it themselves and
they yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
They And I do think kids in general nowadays have
that way more than than I certainly had when I
was their age.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Yeah, it's just it's it's more in the ether.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
But it's yeah, it's just really hard not to hurt
for your kids when something bad happens to them.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I know. But like even for like when they were young,
it was you know, like I said to my daughters,
I'm like, you know, the sad days make the happier
days happier, like the happy days happier because you know,
you can't, like you can't grow a rose without fertilizer.
(22:16):
So it's just you can't have a life with It's
like if you were always happy, you would never know
you're happy.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
That's true. Yeah, I'm all. I'm a feelings person. I
have talked about it before. I've been told I'm too
emotional by certain people in my past or like dramatic
or emotional, and I was like, yeah, i am dramatic
because that's what I do for a living. But I'm
not too emotional. I'm actually emotion full and.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I'm proud of it. Oh I like that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yet, don't let anyone tell you're too emotional.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Just don't accept that anybody's sensitive. Oh I got that
all the time. And you know what, it's also what
makes me, you know, be able to feel as much
as I do and and and give as much as
I give, and so it's it's an asset.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
How are you celebrating Mother's Day this year?
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Well, I'm going to go home because I'm in New
York right now, so I'll go tomorrow and then just
be with my babies. And I don't know what they
have planned, but but it'll just be great.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I love it that they are at an age now
where they start to think, oh, it's Mother's Day, what
are we going to do? And they start to plan
it together.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
My younger daughter was like, Mom, will you do you
have a flat iron? Will you just send me ones
you would like? I mean, you know, just But pretty
soon I was like.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Hey, you're getting a flat iron for Mother's Day.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Well then she was like, I think it's better if
you just buy it. I'm like, oh no, because we
both borrow my sixteen year old's flat iron.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Oh yeah, well I had one until she took it. Yeah,
and then.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
One exactly exactly, and she's got beautiful curly I'm like,
stop straightening it. I paid money to get that girl.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
I sat in a makeup chair for hours getting those.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I guess. Do you think either of them wants to
be a little actress?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
My younger one does and I and it's it's we
are like constantly talking her out of it or trying
to look if she really wanted to do it, I would,
of course. I'll support whatever they want to do. But
the thing is when we question her on why she
wants it. She does not give the right answers.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
What's her answer?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
She wants to be she loves going to a red carpet,
and she wants to be famous, can meet other famous people.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I'm like, oh, yeah, well you can do it that way.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Now, I guess you could. I guess you could. But
but I'm.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Curious though, like, why would you not want her to
become an actress.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
I just don't want it now. I want her to
just have the childhood. I feel like, I, you know,
she's she's got so much going for her, and she's
you know, she is good at most everything that she tries,
which is a good and bad thing. But I just
(25:16):
feel like I just want her to be well rounded.
And then if she decides later on that that is
a passion of hers, like for the right reason, then great,
I am all for it, and I will support you.
And we've got your room ready for you when when
you're on like your one hundredth audition and haven't booked anything,
(25:38):
or you know, or maybe it'll be better. But I
just feel like she's she's a kid, and she should
be a kid, and she doesn't need to like go
into the room and like be told she's like too
tall or not tall enough for this or that or not,
like you know, all the things. And maybe they don't
do that anymore, Like they don't just tell you all
(25:59):
these horrible things about.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You wait until you leave the room.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, like maybe the agents know not to tell you
as a child anymore. But that was not my experience.
So and and she's just she's a great kid, and
I just don't want her to ruin her.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
We know too much. Yeah, as moms who have done it.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, and we're like, hey, yeah, go be in that
acting at school, go be in the school play and
do all this. And she's not doing that. So it's
not her passion.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Yeah, like she's too afraid.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Yeah she Well, it just she's got so many things
she wants to do, so let's focus the volleyball and
basketball and all the other things.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Like, well you can all the things I didn't get
to do, right, Oh my gosh. Okay, Well, I've loved
having you here. But before I let you go, Alison Hangan,
what was your last I choose me moment?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Oh? I think it was coming to New York two
days early. Not just I got to see some friends,
do some shopping, I did shop for my daughter's birthday,
so technically, but but it was very like indulgent of me,
like all right, honey, my I'll see you, and and
we're like getting work done in the house, like they're painting.
(27:19):
And they were perfect tile. The day I left, they
started like jackhammering tile. It was awful apparently, and we
have puppies and they couldn't go out, and it was
so I left just you.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Did, maybe you extend your trip just a little.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, they weren't Mother's Day.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Well, thank you for bringing this information to all us.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Thank you for sharing that. You be sure to be
number B letter sure dot com.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And everybody can use our show notes to find how
to access that. But thank you so much for spending
time on.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Us today as you and happy Mother's Day you two,
you all right and you have a great king.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Hey bye h
Host
Jennie Garth
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