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Pod Meets World

Tiffany Meets World

12 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What was Tiffany's journey to pop stardom in the '80s?

0.031 - 49.1 Unknown

This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. So you know how some of the breakups that you've had in your life are difficult? Some are easier. I've never had any breakups. That's right. Ryder's been with Alex for his entire life. No, but like some people just don't want to let you go. No matter what you do, they just don't. I've had that recently. What? Yes.

0

49.44 - 79.88 Unknown

Where no matter how hard I try to leave, Terminix just doesn't want to let me go. I started dating Orkin. We're in a very healthy relationship. But Terminix is just. Every day. No. Calls and texts starting at 8 a.m. Actual physical people calling. No, they're not like robocalls? It's Terminix. I think we can work this out. Do you? Like, I know. You answer? No, I just, there'll be voicemails.

0

80.02 - 85.126 Unknown

Like, look, you can tell they've been drinking. They've been up all night crying. It's sad.

0

Chapter 2: How did Tiffany's cover of 'I Think We're Alone Now' change her career?

85.467 - 86.788 Danielle Fishel

Why did you break up with them?

0

86.988 - 98.403 Unknown

Because they were expensive and they weren't really doing much. And the Orkin guy, really cute. It just, it was new. It was exciting. And healthier. It seems like it was healthier. It seems like you made the right decision.

0

98.443 - 115.206 Unknown

They were listening to me, Danielle, is what it was, as opposed to just, oh, we've been with, you know, you're with somebody for three, four years and they start to kind of like, well, I didn't need to get all the cobwebs or all the spiders. And it's like, oh, you're phoning in our relationship right now. So it's not about termites. I don't even know what Terminix is.

0

115.287 - 122.237 Unknown

Terminix is just kind of a Terminix Orkin that's pest control. Exactly. And you pay them on a regular basis? Yeah, it's a monthly service.

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122.357 - 125.001 Danielle Fishel

They come to my house twice a month.

125.021 - 125.922 Unknown

Terminix or Orkin?

127.364 - 127.804 Danielle Fishel

Western.

128.445 - 148.04 Unknown

Oh, my God. You're with a third person. Okay. Interesting. So I'm in a relationship now with Orkin, but Terminix this morning, 8 a.m. Hey, it's Terminix. Just thinking about you, just wondering what you're up to, and I'm good without you, but if you did ever want to come back, I'm sure we could work something out. It's unbelievable. I've never had a breakup like this in my life.

148.2 - 149.562 Unknown

They won't let me go. Yeah.

Chapter 3: What was the significance of mall tours in Tiffany's rise to fame?

150.063 - 153.467 Danielle Fishel

Well, I mean, I get it. You're hard to leave, Will.

0

153.948 - 158.034 Unknown

I understand it, too, but sometimes you've got to let go for the organ man.

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158.775 - 166.347 Danielle Fishel

I did recently get an email from an ex that I have not spoken to in... 13 years.

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167.412 - 171.912 Unknown

Wait, a real one, not a pass control guy. Did you know that they had your email?

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171.933 - 180.686 Danielle Fishel

Yes, I knew that they had my email. But like 13, we've not said one word to each other for 13 years.

180.746 - 182.009 Unknown

Was it a good reach out?

182.73 - 184.032 Danielle Fishel

He was asking for money.

184.773 - 198.357 Unknown

Oh, God. No. Yeah. Oh, that sucks. No, that's so sad. I thought you were going to say it was like, you know, hey, I've been thinking about you. Or I did this to you back in the day and I wanted to apologize or something.

198.377 - 200.02 Danielle Fishel

It's a GoFundMe. Mm-hmm.

Chapter 4: How did Tiffany manage the pressures of fame as a young artist?

225.548 - 228.791 Tiffany

Oh, my God.

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228.811 - 231.714 Unknown

That's tough. So, yes, please, Terminix, I've moved on.

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231.734 - 233.215 Danielle Fishel

Check out Western. Check out Western.

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233.255 - 237.499 Unknown

I might have to check out Western because I have a rat problem right now in the pool controls.

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238 - 238.32 Danielle Fishel

Oh, no.

238.42 - 241.703 Unknown

So they have to, before I get a new heater, they have to go in and get the rat.

241.723 - 247.488 Danielle Fishel

I think Western is actually part of their logo. Part of their logo is a rat.

247.929 - 248.649 Unknown

In a pool heater?

248.79 - 249.17 Danielle Fishel

Western.

Chapter 5: What challenges did Tiffany face while recording her debut album?

311.94 - 332.674 Danielle Fishel

Sipping an Orange Julius, playing in the arcade, or just standing by a payphone waiting for the boy or girl you like to walk by. And as a result, instead of trying to pull prepubescent fans into clubs or concert halls, record labels brought the artists directly to them, to the mall, for what they would creatively call a mall tour.

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333.329 - 340.821 Danielle Fishel

These public appearances guaranteed built-in foot traffic and an audience already primed to discover, shop, and spend.

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341.382 - 362.676 Danielle Fishel

Since the pre-internet music business depended solely on local buzz and radio play, these new marketing activations in the form of performances, autograph signings, and live radio broadcasts broke artists regionally in hopes it would spread like syphilis throughout the greater United States. despite the fact that it originated near a neighborhood contempo casuals.

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363.637 - 385.223 Danielle Fishel

And our guest this week didn't just benefit from the mall tour craze. She practically invented it. Her 1987 cover of Tommy James and the Shondells, I Think We're Alone Now, rocketed her from the food court to number one on the Billboard charts, where she also became the youngest female artist to ever claim the top spot with a debut album.

0

385.203 - 394.926 Danielle Fishel

And later that year, she'd start performing in much bigger venues, now with a young upstart boy band at the time, a little group called The New Kids on the Block.

395.21 - 420.543 Danielle Fishel

And just last month, almost 40 years later, like all great things from the 80s, she came roaring back thanks to Stranger Things, which featured I Think We're Alone Now in their fifth season, suddenly sending her into international streaming charts. So this week on Pod Meets World, we are definitely not alone. Welcome to the show, 80s pop icon, Tiffany. Hello.

422.185 - 422.245 Unknown

Hi.

422.806 - 423.928 Danielle Fishel

Hi, guys. How are you?

424.329 - 425.45 Tiffany

Good. How are you?

Chapter 6: How did Tiffany's style reflect the fashion trends of the '80s?

458.539 - 466.188 Ryder Strong

And I was a big fan. And Debbie Gibson. Are you kidding? I think maybe Deb came later. I don't remember Deb. Okay.

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466.208 - 471.175 Unknown

500 episodes of pre-show chatter and this is the first time we're hearing about this?

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471.395 - 499.098 Ryder Strong

What? Are you kidding me? I don't remember Deb, to be honest with you. Okay, but do you remember Janet? Janet Jackson? Yeah, and she did not sing. Oh, I don't know. I remember Vince Vaughn. And I remember Lance, of course. And I remember boycotting... the plan originally, cause we were like eating downtown and they were like, we're going to go to this club and do karaoke.

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499.118 - 520.347 Ryder Strong

And I was like, Oh, I probably won't go. Cause I don't really do karaoke. It's just really not my thing. And a couple of cocktails later. And then I was like, okay, you know, and I came over there and I remember just going, Oh, Oh my God, I know this song. Oh my God, I know this song. They were like, okay, world. And we had the microphone and I was singing and having a good old time.

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520.368 - 527.277 Ryder Strong

So I remember the evening, but I became a little karaoke Mike Hogg that night. I was so embarrassed. So funny.

Chapter 7: What impact did Tiffany's music have internationally, especially in Asia?

527.537 - 544.78 Ryder Strong

That's a great story. I went from not doing karaoke to, I know every song. I will do it all. We were, and I just like, and I remember we had a great time. It was the first time I met Vince Vaughn. And of course, Lance and I have been buddies for a while. So it was great to like, Hang out. I don't remember Deb being there.

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544.88 - 558.461 Danielle Fishel

And I do remember, yeah, Janet, actually. Yeah, Janet was there. And it is true that I didn't remember if Debbie was there. That was the thing. I was like, am I adding in Debbie? Actually, Deb came to dinner and said hello. But didn't go.

0

558.842 - 559.943 Ryder Strong

I don't think she went.

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560.063 - 577.109 Unknown

Yeah. Wow. Ryder, do you remember that time we went bowling with the cast of Friends and Tom Cruise? Oh, yeah. Yeah, that was awesome. We just never mentioned it. No, we never brought that up. It was just so totally cool. Remember, Tom was doing that thing. Yeah, well, Tom showed you how to bowl. Like, you became a better bowler, of course. How is the Tom cake?

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577.169 - 579.313 Ryder Strong

How is the Tom cake you get every year, you know?

Chapter 8: What advice would Tiffany give to her younger self about navigating the music industry?

579.373 - 593.476 Ryder Strong

I've been asking karaoke since my little night out, though. Again, because I was like, no, I don't really karaoke. And then I just remember being a total, like, everybody going... Oh my God, are we going to get a chance? That's so funny.

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593.776 - 609.808 Danielle Fishel

You know every song and you want to sing it to us. If it helps, if it makes you feel any better about the night, I didn't remember you being a mic hog. So, you know, it's not like anybody walked away from it going, gosh, that Tiffany sure is a mic hog. I did, yeah.

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609.828 - 613.936 Ryder Strong

We all sang together. I did have buddies. I did wrangle in other people.

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614.176 - 619.545 Danielle Fishel

We did. I think we did group songs. I think I did a duet. I don't think I did like a solo performance.

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619.566 - 621.829 Ryder Strong

I think we're alone now. I remember that.

622.811 - 623.052 Danielle Fishel

Yes.

624.033 - 626.297 Ryder Strong

Yes. And we did the dance the whole nine yards.

626.317 - 628.982 Unknown

It's ironic that you did I Think You're Alone Now together.

632.033 - 638.229 Will Friedle

It's a requirement of mine nowadays. I don't want to be alone. I'm like, why am I alone?

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