Molly Ringwald: Avoid Absorbing Too Much Pain

Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, The Kissing Booth 3) joins us to discuss the things she admires and regrets about starring in John Hughes’ movies. Mayim and Molly bond over their early roles on Facts of Life, coping with rejection at an early age, and Mayim opens up about why she has resonated with many of Molly’s roles. Molly reveals the reasons she left Hollywood to move to France in her early 20’s, and considers whether the responsibility of art is to change or reflect society. She discusses starting therapy as a teenager to treat depression and anxiety and her meditation processes, from body scans to gardening. Mayim considers the ways anxiety can be tied to the prevalence of technology in another installment of Ask Mayim Anything.
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Theme Song Written, Produced and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.
#MayimBialik​​​ #BialikBreakdown #MollyRingwald

[@b.l.6299]

I went to junior high with Molly and she was the real deal. She really loved & wore pink every day. 💕

[@Mina-vi5le]

She looks so good! Natural too. So good to witness someone aging gracefully.

[@rethablair6902]

I love Molly even nowadays😌

[@madamehogan8553]

I am an old woman, and a teacher. Please follow your instincts about not wanting your kids on screen time. They don't know how to not want that, but believe me, they WANT us to pull them away and do things with them in the "real" world. My students delight in the silly handmade games I bring in for them, where we have to interact with each other. They so so need this.

[@sl4983]

Aww that is beautiful, thank you

[@carolynnscoffield440]

Thankyou for your wise knowledgeable comments on this!

[@Crystal-ge9gh]

I truly believe this! Thank you for speaking out from your place of wisdom and experience!

[@firelily77]

You're so right ma'am.

[@kirstenfell3970]

Absolutely!! ♡

[@anthonybrooks9914]

Great episode. Mayim did the same thing that Molly did for her generation. Blossom was an example of many people that needed to see themselves represented.

[@zengrenouille]

The fact that her mom validated her is probably why she's one of the success stories. I'm glad her mom has enough empathy to admit that what her daughter went through was difficult. The world needs more parents like her.

[@deborahstelly9398]

Even at 42, single and never married, i still feel the pain of being picked last in my childhood. I have a wonderful life now. I'm so thankful your daughter is so strong to go against the grain on the soccer field!

[@emh8861]

It was embarrassing to be picked last . But I didn’t think it was painful. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@michaela080austin]

0

[@michaela080austin]

0 pop

[@vaskylark]

I was really tall so I'd get picked first for basketball and volleyball because I had a mean serve, but for everything else I was dead last along with another tall girl who was even skinnier than me who we traded off being last. It happened for several years and honestly I just ended up hating gym class and all the mean girls who overlooked me and every one of my friends. We all despised them. BTW I am only one year younger than Molly Ringwald, so I remember that time vividly and it was my fave movie (16 Candles first then Breakfast Club).

[@vaskylark]

@@RevGirl9 It was a popularity contest. I was also pretty good at sports, even ran track but we were picked last so many times I just stopped trying or caring.

[@AllisAllAboutminis]

Please please pkease get John Cusack on the breakdown!!! I think it would be amazing

[@pattithompson1278]

The breakfast club was amazing. Every character sounded like the voices in my head

[@debibelden906]

My favorite

[@aksez2u]

Personally, I don't think we should go back and criticize movies through a modern lens. Yes, they can be cringey and make us uncomfortable, but they are also capture that moment in time. What we felt was acceptable. Generational differences, I've heard it called, and I like that because it's not judgmental. Someday people will probably find things objectionable in the movies being made today because societal mores continue to change.

[@communityorganizer5645]

Love how Molly's daughter pick a winning team by picking first players who usually get picked last. It would have been great even if they lost but so cool that they won.

[@catherinesvbialosh7260]

When Molly told her daughters story it put me in tears…Molly and Mayim are two great souls and have put children on this earth with their amazing resilience, intelligence and beauty inside and out xox

[@Diostillrocks]

Molly's daughter sounds a lot like what Molly's character of Molly was in the Facts of Life.

[@Kristinapedia]

Yeah, because us "losers" who were picked last were picked last because we were ugly or shy or didn't wear the "popular" clothes... AND WE WERE GOOD!

[@zefallafez]

People are picking people they're friends with or know best first and not necessarily the best. I was not picked last even though I was always a couple grades shorter than my actual grade level.

[@jennytaylor3203]

Joan Cusak was in 16 Candles, too. She was the student with the scoliosis brace.

[@Jeremiah13tears]

Gosh I love me some Joan Cusak. I love actresses with quirks her and Juliet Lewis were my thing. Lol 😆

[@jannaf1sher]

Molly was my muse in the ‘80s. This is my first podcast that I’ve seen with Mayim. Such a great interview. I’ll be back.

[@boops1192]

I’m a full-on adult, well over 25 (a couple times now lol). I’m listening to this while my brain plays out this adult fantasy where I’m in the same room with them as one of their friends just having a little Chitty-chat chat time. 🥰. You should join us for tea sometime 😂

[@whatheavensaid]

Molly and Mayim, you are such powerful and brilliant women! 💖🙏🏻💖 Molly, I've been a fan since The Breakfast Club. You are amazing in ALL of your work. "The Brat Pack" actors are so talented!!, even though the films are clearly sexist and racist. Each cast is magical. 💖💖💖

[@reneepolin6549]

I still love those John Hughes movies and I'm old

[@bryandraughn9830]

I described a panic attack to my therapist as "being totally convinced that reality is in the process of killing you....any second." I didn't know that a human being could feel that level of terror. Oh, and you can't breathe for some reason. Great interview! Both of you are so insightful!

[@indiareynolds2158]

"When you're pointing at someone else; remember, three fingers are pointing back at you." GOLDEN ADVICE! Thank you, MAYIM.

[@luckystr221]

The story Molly told about her daughter and being picked last is an example of how something bad can always have a good light to it and turn around. Had she not been picked last, she may not have gone early, which in turn gave her a positive experience. She was also able to choose her team based on experience and her empathy and that won them the game. There is nothing else like self validation.

[@jillfortune1790]

Also, she being heard by her mother. Allowed her to process and find a solution.

[@jessicaj6424]

Yelling and cussing at your kids that we are having family fun is the most relatable thing I've ever heard here LOL

[@dgemini2]

I'm so glad Molly pointed out the thing about men having expectations and pressure to look a certain way now. I was thinking the exact same thing. It's everywhere and applies to everyone now. Social media has made it so much worse.

[@EveningTV]

My ex husband was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder and he was like a bomb that went off in our lives. "Co-parenting" is a nightmare when the other parent lacks empathy, and all protective parental instincts. I used to envy single moms who were raising their kids on their own. From my vantage point, both of you come from enviable situations. Good for you and your kids!

[@Lovely17777]

How did he get diagnosed that is a miracle as those people do not think they have any problems!

[@kellywebb2246]

Sympathize. Our mother is a horrid narcissist. It's rough.

[@yvonne9484]

So happy Molly was strong enough to walk away from the Hollywood creep show!! I pray she gets the strength to write a book on the struggles and injustices she faced as a young female in Hollywood. Speaking out is so powerful! Showing other females they are not alone. If we stay silent the abuse will continue!

[@suzyparker8303]

Loved Molly's soccer team story. Wish I could have heard a bit more of Molly herself tbh.

[@DifficultyVR]

She looks so good!!! I remember seeing her in Breakfast club then Secret Life such a class act!! ❤️

[@mernaloy2269]

Charles M Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, was too shy and insecure to go to art school. So he submitted his work by mail. He said he feared criticism ans rejection. I, for one, was very comforted by that brave revelation. It's normal to avoid the pain of rejection. Sometimes you have to slip into life by the side door, wait in the back, behind the crowd, and then work up the courage to try.

[@christenafromnovascotia]

I love you Mayim but I am totally geeking out that you had Molly Ringwald on today. I was born in '76. Grew up watching her movies. I too, am a redhead who felt like the underdog...all the time. I still watch her movies today. I am so happy she's doing so well xoxo Take care

[@tracideee_teee4541]

Life gave me a gift of chatting with Molly back when she was in Raleigh for a show. Fantastic convo about neighborhoods in Paris and her daughter (now 18!!! holy wow) who was still a little kiddo. We had ZERO talk about show biz and I was floored by what a wonderful human she is! Mayim you’re a wonderful human too, and thank you for the time and passion you put into your show here!

[@NoteFromSELF]

*Mayim

[@OneLoveRSR]

Her honest interpretation of the problem areas in John Hughes' work was interesting. The understanding that his depiction of the world came from the small, privileged, monied suburban bubble in which he lived, yet it resonated with people outside of that world. The reason I think it resonated with people outside of his bubble was due to those people having been told that bubble was the dream. So, it resonated on an aspirational level rather than a relational level. As if to say, "in a perfect world, I'd be on the inside of the bubble as well, therefore none of those negatives would apply to me." While it doesn't excuse some of the problematic aspects of his work, it helps to explain why those aspects were overlooked -- at the time.

[@mirfir]

universal themes...

[@cali6950]

Spot on!

[@jenniferwellman5311]

Interesting, because I never looked at it that way until she brought it up, and she’s right, that was the kind of life that I was used to living in.

[@grimlock1211]

Wow. You're privileged enough to be offended rather than die of starvation or live in a war torn country with gangsters policing and fleecing the public. You're all so brave.

[@slimsonite2111]

Mayim, when you talk about Blossom, the theme song (and you dancing to it) gets stuck in my head! "In my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shine" 🎶💖

[@rturney6376]

I am of the Molly Ringwall generation. This interview gave me chills!!! Thank you 🙏 so much Molly!! You were the best actress on Facts of Life. It should have been your show!!!

[@NoteFromSELF]

*Ringwald

[@su-rv2uq]

I think Nancy McKeon was the best.

[@whatheavensaid]

Molly and Mayim, you are such powerful and brilliant women! 💖🙏🏻💖 Molly, I've been a fan since The Breakfast Club. You are amazing in ALL of your work. "The Brat Pack" actors are so talented!!, even though the films are clearly sexist and racist. Each cast is magical. 💖💖💖

[@elizabethschreiber55]

Screen time- we do not have phones when we eat. I am a single mother ( widow) of a 17 year old. We look each other in the face and have a conversation daily. She does not game. I think I am lucky in that sense. We have been through a lot of trauma together, so I think that adds to the need to talk to each other,

[@taras6578]

Molly Ringwald is one of my favourite actresses. She is fantastic and she’s very worldly

[@lordcron]

So, as I was born at the ass end of the 60's I was a child and preteen of the 1970's and, a Teenager of the 1980's! I LOVED MY CHILDHOOD AND TEEN YEARS! I grew up in Denver, Colorado. One of my high school classmates is Joy Ann Reid who currently has her own show on MSNBC "The Reidout" Mon-Fri. I first noticed Molly Ringwald on "The Facts of Life" where I developed a crush on Kim Fields (Whom I would later learn she and I share the same birthday and to this day I believe she's my soulmate I never met) I couldn't believe how they just all of a sudden got rid of all the girls on that show. I found it hard to watch after that. Pretty in Pink was by far my favorite Molly movie! It was great. I'm a huge Jon Cryer fan! He killed it in molly's friends record shop! LOL!

[@m_brokenleg]

Absorbing too much pain of others: the true condemn of the too sensitive/empathetic persons as me. It’s difficult to set boundaries when you’re aware & connected to others emotions/suffering in “detriment” of oneself. Thanks Jonathan for asking this. And thank you Mayim for the knowledge you gave us. And the tip here. I’m still trying and learning. Looking for “my basket”! May I ask you to do a full episode about how to cope with too much sensitivity in empathetic persons with some proffessional in the matter? It’s a true side effect of Mental Health issues? Or a trigger to Mental Helth issues itself instead? Great episode! As always! Thank you Mayim and Jonathan! 🙏🏼

[@robyngravesaltoom]

I was 41 and had seen several counselors and therapists over the years, always telling them how I felt since my childhood like other peoples emotions were “shooting out at me”- and that was the first time a counselor acknowledged that it was not something that everyone experienced and gave it a name. Empaths desperately need to be given the tools to manage this and set healthy boundaries. It’s refreshing to hear a brilliant woman explain how she copes with it!

[@mjtc866]

😮😅 😢ok😢😅kk😅😢😅ki😅😅😅

[@vickypage3161]

We raised our kids to be as different as they arre. I cannot understand parents saying how different life is for kids now. I am HAPPY they are living a more honest life.

[@SScott-nr9vl]

The problem I find with most people today that want to put the ideology and the woke movement and apply it to things that were made 30 and 40 years ago is the world was different. People weren't offended by everything, people weren't hypersensitive and candy asses. I watched sixteen candles last night which just brought me to this interview. The scene she's describing with the character of Jake Ryan bartering the girlfriend, not at one time did I think of that as rape. Not at one time did I think of that as sex trafficking. The movie is so light-hearted that I think you still have to keep perspective in this woke culture and understand that it was a different time. Molly Ringwald herself uses the word fag, She doesn't seem upset about that when she calls Andrew Michael Hall a homophobic slur? Ultimately you can't cancel people for what they did 30-40 years ago if society deemed it okay That's my feeling. I remember as a child my grandfather hating Asian people because he was in world war II. They attacked Pearl harbor, not many Americans liked Asian people. Is that okay no but at the time was it understandable and acceptable Yes. Too many people want to change the past because it doesn't conform to what they believe today or they want to just erase it but it's there to educate us and to remind us where we've been and where we need to be. I think inclusion is great I think progress is wonderful but Molly ringwald slamming sixteen candles as a way to save face seems very hypocritical and makes me like her less.

[@eaglelubricants]

Molly is an OG...OOOG She is amazing and to this day when I see a movie that she is in I make a point to watch it. She will always be an American ICON

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

It’s funny Molly felt so viscerally about the story Mayim told about having to dance during an audition, because it’s not like Molly couldn’t dance in her young acting career. Anyone who has seen The Breakfast Club knows Molly could dance.

[@josephgrover2460]

My favorite movie with Molly Ringwald is the breakfast club i didn't know she was going through all this anxiety while she was a teenager

[@Historian212]

Glorious episode. Wow. Highlights for me: the story about getting picked last for teams. As a kid, I had a then-unknown and -undetected let neurological difference which was finally diagnosed when I was about 60 y.o. An invisible one. Among other things, I was always picked last for teams. ALWAYS. Even after the girl who was visibly divergent. For years, week after week in gym class, if we were doing a team activity. I’m pretty shocked that this is still going on. The shame never leaves you. Thanks to Jonathan for that “Feeling is believing.” That’s so awesome.

[@su-rv2uq]

I remember in fifth grade or so, the girls were in the classroom and picking teams for a game. As people were called, they would get up from their desks and go to their team. Not only was I last, the only one still at my desk, the two teams FOUGHT over who would have to take me, and the teacher just stood there and allowed it. I am in my 60s and still remember what that felt like, and every time after that.

[@brigitteleafbarnes1441]

@@su-rv2uq Me too :(

[@ronronniemeyers]

@@su-rv2uq Oh wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you. I decided to try out for song leader in my little school in 9th grade. Song leaders were far from the popular cheerleaders so I thought I could make the team. They were going to have 12 girls so I thought I stood a really good chance of making the team. 13 girls tried out and 12 of them made the team and only one didn't. I can feel your pain but in the long run these are the things that give us character and shows us what we're made of, right?

[@2degucitas]

@@ronronniemeyers That's what we tell ourselves to cheer us up. It sucks. Period.

[@tyronejoihnson7046]

Molly looks FANTASTIC!

[@BedsitBob]

Redhead and freckles. Both attributes are fantastic. Together, they're out of this world.

[@fishface123ism]

Awwwwww, Molly looks so wonderful! So beautiful and I recognized her voice! Thank you Mayim for the "show"! And Mayim, you are such the coolest, most wonderful inspiration to women, especially young people. I love YOU!

[@reneepolin6549]

Yes I grew up during the " Children should be seen and not heard Era " However when I was 18 I made the conscious decision that my past will not decide my future and you'd never see me on Oprah bitching about my parents . I took my emotional well being Into to my own hands and forgave my parents . Forgiveness is the most Liberating thing you can do

[@wendiconrad6128]

This is so good! We all deal with hard life issues growing up. It is so important to learn resilience and the only way I know to become resilient is to be in situations that require it.

[@astridx7485]

Mayim doing her thesis on OCD made my day, as someone that has it, it made me happy, just the fact people talk about it and bring light and studies on it makes me really glad people like you exists, thank you❤

[@shellyscholz1256]

For the record both of you ladies deserve nothing but the best.

[@lisahemmie2760]

The story of the auditions for commercials is still so relevant. Those audition directions are so awkward. Thank you for sharing.

[@Torsin2000]

Good episode. I'm 43 and my son started Kindergarten this year, he is on the spectrum and has an IEP. One of the central points for his IEP is delayed speech, he knows all these words/letters/numbers but he's just not vocal about it. It was surprising to me that each kid uses and gets sent home with a school iPad, with various activities and such on it. In addition he has a separate ipad for speech assistance, with words and such on it to help him communicate. So now he has two ipads from school, and the family ipad. Technology definitely is integrating more into society. It's definitely something we will be looking at moving forward as he gets older to more readily restrict electronic device usage at certain times. What I have noticed is that the devices are just another toy/piece of equipment to him; I mean he will be watching a video/playing a game on the ipad then stop and go play with blocks, or fan out cards from the periodic table of elements set or magnets of the solar system. The technology isn't the be all and end all of his time, it's just there. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@nelliecoyne1500]

I've been meditating while listening to Sanskrit rhythmic chanting for years. My favorite is Deva Premal and her partner Miten. Its very soothing. Search on KZbin for gayatri mantra around the world. She is chanting the gayatri mantra in locations all around the world. You can see she's in her own present and is not bothered by any commotion around her.

[@Cablecol]

Excellent interview!! Yes many children have been abused in Hollyweird but let's hope these two ladies had honest, loving parents who didn't sell out their daughters.💯

[@hollytibbetts2003]

Hi Mayim! After you mentioned Juliette Lewis and seeing her recent show yellow jackets where she’s fresh out of rehab- I planted seeds on her FB & insta to go on your show😜🤘🏼 (who knows if she’ll ever see it, but worth a shot) Would love to see you interview her!!

[@2degucitas]

Hope it takes root

[@sl4983]

Sixteen Candles was absolutely 80s classic, and hilarious!

[@gavinballin2323]

Omg! That having a child pick there team brought back a flood of memories. I was like the last 2 standing there and it felt so embarrassing

[@raemothership5905]

Yes! Gardening is a wonderful form of meditation.

[@micheledcunha7520]

Also I was so surprised about people going to parties at people's houses and trashing them. I had heard about people being teens and imitating trashing houses based on what they saw in Sixteen Candles.

[@ladysaffire4006]

Wow! Eye opening. Things do look different when you’re a parent and grandparent. But I loved those movies so much.

[@darrenmiller6927]

She seems so well adjusted! Love your show! Molly is a treasure, so glad she is doing so well. I was 20 when breakfast club came out so I remember her other movies and how big she was in the 80's.

[@lanny1076]

Wait! What!! Mayim has a freaking channel!!! Thank you!!!!

[@NoteFromSELF]

I did extra work on Townies. Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham were (wannabe) divas. Molly Ringwald was cool. The producers announced the show was cancelled. Lauren Graham said, "How am I going to make my BMW payment?" I had some good conversations with Conchata Ferrell on that show.

[@shewho333]

I got compared to Molly constantly when I was a teenager in the 80’s and 90’s. My mom had me in community theater from a very young age, and she only WISHED I was Molly or you. 🙃 I’m so glad we never moved to California, because I was so shy and got my feelings hurt so often. Now I’m tripping because I didn’t know Molly had three teenagers or twins. I have an older teen and 13yr old twins. That’s kinda Rad.

[@BlueCrow7]

Gardening is absolutely meditation. I'm all over that. :)

[@jsetennis]

I'm not a parent but I loved listening to this podcast, I can only imagine how challenging it is to be a parent.

[@ashleyperez1414]

Molly is the best! I never had a female or male role model. So listening to Molly and remembering what of an amazing actor she is really encourages never to give up on acting. Thank you Molly for demonstrating everything it makes a huge difference. Keep being you. Don't change anything! You're amazing!

[@marty88ish]

Molly Ringwald was everything to me in the 80’s. As a young red headed gay boy I saw her as beautiful, strong, charismatic and simply amazing. She made being a redhead something special. Her feeling of otherness was something I could relate to. Thank you Molly, you did more for a variety of people than you’ll ever know.

[@funkymunky]

Molly is a young redheaded gay boy?!

[@marty88ish]

@@funkymunky -Not sure if you’d understand this but gay men/boys have a tendency to idolize talented, beautiful or/and strong women…hence Britney, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, the list goes on and on. I obviously wasn’t saying she is a gay man with those particular characteristics, just that I looked up to and admired her for having those characteristics as well as sharing the attribute of having red hair like me. Trust me, having been a redhead it was rarely considered cool, especially as a kid in the 80’s. The fact that I have to explain in such detail what should be obvious about my statement is dumbfounding. Are you really that vapid? Or just naive?

[@funkymunky]

@@marty88ish Chill. Your sentence was grammatically incorrect.

[@marty88ish]

@@funkymunky Geez grammar police….hopefully it reads a bit better now? Let me know if you catch more spelling, punctuation or grammatical mistakes (I’m sure there are plenty). Sorry about the bitchy undertones in my previous text…even with grammatical issues I assumed you understood what I meant.

[@funkymunky]

@@marty88ish You misassume that I don’t, making an ass out of u and me.

[@betsybabf748]

True...people die. I never imagined being a single mom then my husband died, leaving me with 7 children (our 5 birth kids and 2 foster children). Grieving while raising grieving children, all grieving different ways is a hell one can't imagine.

[@ronronniemeyers]

I am sorry you lost your husband. My husband passed away recently and it is difficult but our kids are grown. I can't imagine how much harder it would be to have to be upbeat when your heart doesn't want to. I'm sure holidays were a weird mixture of happy and sad. The only saving grace was probably you were just to busy to break down. During my divorce from my 1st husband, I would schedule 15 minutes after my son went to sleep to pour a glass of wine and have a mini breakdown and pity party for myself. It had to be over in 15 minutes because that's all the time I had and I only had one child, you would have been lucky to get 3 minutes to yourself. I hope you are moving in a forward direction and the kids are all doing well.

[@megortiz7343]

Also widow mom now they are 22 and 27 n they grew up with just me since 2012 a time when a boy needs a dad especially . They lost their dad in 6th and 10th grade and he was in mexico with parents at the time n we never have had closure cuz couldnt get passports or money to get there and he was buried there...still so sad need closure but no money to get there. I have horendous dreams nightly of him n it is so draining

[@2degucitas]

How are you doing?

[@megortiz7343]

@@2degucitashanging in there ty

[@3DJapan]

I had panic attacks when I was in college. Once I was riding the train home and freaked out so much I had to get off the train in a weird part of town and wait there for the next one to come.

[@bristar007]

This is a great podcast. I was an aspiring, or hopeful, professional child. Being in French Canada, there wasn't too much I could do to foster this. Listening to Mayim and Molly makes me grateful that my parents shut it down. I teach Theater now at a big university, and I guess the little bits of work I did when younger balances life out :) Thanks for great insights!

[@kirstena4001]

so excited for this! Molly Ringwald is such an interesting person.

[@boops1192]

Growing up in the 80s, I had a boyfriend who had bulimia. I was medically anorexic, but did not have anorexia nervosa. I just have very thin parents. He thought we were the same (as did I). I thought he was naturally that way because he was a swimmer, diver, water polo player. I didn’t realize he was hiding an eating disorder. The teen years are the biggest neurological challenge we will ever face. Puberty is when serious disorders first start. Neuro-normative adults don’t know how to deal with it without training. We (Americans especially) have unrealistic expectations of and for teenagers.

[@anneross1021]

I was a child musician starting piano at 4. Alot of this resonated with my experience of being on the stage in the spotlight. I am still trying to process alot of my experiences ...thank you for your breakdown.

[@angelatakano6072]

Incredible to know that a smart beautiful and successful woman like MB felt not confident or insecure or different when younger. Something young girls have to listen to and learn from your example: that regardless how insecure you feel, you can be so successful as you are

[@loveanimals6981]

Interesting and unexpected that Bialik mentioned her experience acting on The Facts of Life. But Ringwald saying, "you dodged that bullitt," in reference to the proposed spinoff of it with Whelchel, Bialik, et al. not materializing, was such sour grapes, in my opinion. Obviously, 40 years later, she's still bitter about having been fired after that first season. And this, despite the fact that she moved on to movie stardom and becoming much bigger than she would have been, if she'd remained on the show. She wasn't the only cast member who was fired after that first season. And in my opinion, the ones that were chosen to continue with the show, was the smart choice; They were the best of the lot (and the addition of Nancy McKeon was brilliant too, of course), since they were interested in paring down the original cast. By the way, the two episodes that Bialik was in, were the best and most interesting ones that that show had seen in YEARS, in my opinion. That spinoff would have been the best thing to have happened to that show in a long time (though by that time, I guess it had run its course after nine years, unfortunately).

[@truckingwithtobee]

She looks amazing for 54 years old!

[@HappinessinYourLife]

This was such a great interview! I was born in 1974 and 16 Candles was also my favorite movie in 8th grade. I did see the article and thought about what messages my 12 year old self received via the movie, especially the Caroline story.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Thanks for having molly on I loved her in the breakfast club and in pretty in pink 🤗😃💝

[@robyngravesaltoom]

First time of caught your podcast and you spoke directly to my soul! It is wonderful to hear how a fellow empath manages the constant barrage of emotions from everyone around you. I’ve had a vast respect for you for many years - now, beautiful Mayim, you’re a hero to me. Truly a rare and shining example of a talented actress who didn’t let Hollywood destroy the beauty within you!

[@rachelgrig9985]

Yes! I just got on the bus for a 1.5 hour drive and will listen to this. Yeeessss

[@kaiatribe]

When I was 16, back in the 80's, I did some hair modelling. The stylist that I was working for asked me if I could come into the salon on the Sunday, when it was closed, to do some practice work. I arrive at the salon and I notice that he's acting a little odd... and then he asks me to go around to the color area of the salon and get myself a seat. I walk around the corner and Molly Ringwald is sitting there getting her hair coloured !!!!! Let me just say that I was a HUGE fan of Molly. Like, big time. I LOVED her movies. I could recite the Breakfast Club by heart. And did. And she's sitting right there! The stylist I was modelling for KNEW I was a big fan and he wanted to surprise me. He certainly did! She was in town filming a movie and needed to match a hairpiece that she wore in the film. At one point, she asked me if I had any makeup with me as she came there without any on and needed a little bit... I handed her what little I had with me... thinking.. holy hell, Molly freaking Ringwald is using my makeup??! LOL! It was so surreal for me. She was so sweet and normal and there was zero pretence, no ego. It was such an awesome surprise that I will never forget. :)

[@Bailey2006a]

This episode is so good and really spoke to the issue and mystery of resilience. Having it, building it and how vital it is in determining the course of your life . The increase in suicide, particularly in young people , is the tragic example of what happens when you don’t have it. Great interview, Mayim …

[@MsRotorwings]

I think Jonathan is correct, Molly talked about absorbing her daughter’s pain.

[@erictaylor5462]

27:00 Growing up as an amputee, I was always the slowest runner in my class, and I was not very athletic. The only time I wasn't picked last was when there was a super obese kid with asthma in the class. I felt bad for those kids. To be picked *AFTER* the "cripple" had to hurt.

[@sherrytyrner8641]

The end of this installment provided me with an unanticipated Lightbulb Moment! Johnathan and Mayim's answer to the question from Robin P. described something I've been experiencing and only now do I understand what's been happening for me - feeling overwhelmed by another person's energy as Too Much which upsets me so that I want to disengage. Seriously, I just thought the other person was too loud and annoying (even though I love them). Now I might be able to mitigate the issue by visualizing The Bowl or something bigger like A Moat, a holding space in between! I'll need to give this method a try, because...if I can get it to work, WOW that would help So Much!

[@song8777]

Felt like I was hanging out with these 2 women from my past, the good times. Loved it!🌼💚 I understand the empath thing. I have to stop sms ask myself if it's something I need to do, want to do, the other wants me to do, or something I shouldn't be doing, to figure out why I am about to do it or if I need to back off from it. 🙂

[@whipchick90]

I graduated HS in 1983, and really enjoyed her movies! Especially Breakfast Club! We could all relate! ♥️

[@honorsilverthorne7227]

Me too 😁

[@meld2584]

Mollly Ringwald was in some of the BEST films of All Time in the eighties!! Don’t look phony with those glasses, just remember I can see through You!! Lol Best films EVER though!! And let’s Rock that Ring, Babe :)

[@catapillargirl2021]

I love Molly Ringwald so much! Learned a lot from this. Thank you!

[@janmc7037]

I was sooo looking forward to this - I loved Molly’s work in the movies and have followed her comments on the problematic issues around them. But, much as I love Mayim, she needs to learn how to stop talking about herself and how to ask open questions. I was interested in what Molly would have to say and we got so little time with her. If I got a pound for every time Mayim said ‘you know’ or ‘like’ I’d be a happy bunny after this episode. And the volume of adverts in this podcast was OTT. I know they’re needed to fund the work, but there has to be a balance. It felt like, because this was a higher profile guest, they added a few extra ads in 🤷🏻‍♀️ So, I’m out. Not going to be a regular listener. I might drop in now and again, but I’ve got other podcasts to listen to that actually do what it says on the tin.

[@calisongbird]

I agree with everything you said. But I noticed a lot of “you knows” in Molly’s speaking as well.

[@Stretesky]

Love your show and interviews, Mayim! Thank you. ☺️

[@nataliesirota2611]

Thanks so much to Molly and Mayim for sharing! Thanks also for all of the great TV & movies you've given us. Also, thanks for making "different" feel real and even cool! Inspiring!

[@annerodich8248]

Love the parenting experience by Molly Ringwold, it can be taught and u did it. U felt ur daughters pain but didn’t enable her bad feelings of poor me, good for u!

[@kayedwards8464]

I like the example Jonathan gave of the bowl between two people. I’ve found myself overwhelmed by others’ hurts and sadness.

[@RashaunMichelle]

Mayim Bialik you are so awesome. Thank you for creating the Breakdown.

[@annawhite9463]

Wow. Unexpected source for great parenting advice but so appreciated. Thanks to you both for a great discussion.

[@Angie83]

Good for her sending her and family some love from the southwest.

[@papondahoops]

Yay! What a fantastic surprise to see Molly Ringwald! Great episode.

[@bvddan]

I found this conversation fascinating. The discussion surrounding therapy really resonated with me as I too had a therapist that I connected with and can hear some of the things that I learned 30 years ago still impact me today. I admire and look up to both you and Molly (even though I am a few years older than Molly and ten older than you). Her movies are timeless and yes, I even found Blossom entertaining when I was able to watch it.

[@gypsyjezebel1651]

I love Molly Ringwald. So nice to see and hear from her.

[@DentalLaine]

This Molly Episode was SO impressive to me. I found THIS one hit all my favorite characteristics you possess. Love genuine talk!

[@vanity68]

Thank you Molly for all you did. You’re amazing. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@vpenzol]

Love Molly! So proud of your success in growing up, being grounded and so real. Love you even more after this interview! 🥰

[@pearljamin]

May very well be my favorite episode 💚 Thank you for sharing, and thank you for helping me feel less alien on this crazy planet