Overview of Not Skinny But Not Fat — Episode with Jennie Garth
This episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat (host Amanda Hirsch) features actress Jennie Garth (best known as Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210). The conversation centers on Garth’s new memoir I Choose Me — Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention — and covers mental-health work, reinvention in midlife, life on and after 90210, friendships and grief (including Luke Perry and Shannen Doherty), parenting, fame’s downsides, and practical lessons she’s learned about self-forgiveness and priorities.
Key topics discussed
- Motivation for writing I Choose Me and why she recorded the audiobook herself
- Mental health: lifelong sensitivity, anxiety, agoraphobia, and healing work (journaling, therapy, meditation)
- Transition from child/pageant performer to actress — first jobs, training, and early mentors (Barbara Eden)
- The experience of starring on Beverly Hills, 90210: audition process, the show’s cultural impact, fame’s limitations
- On-set dynamics: competitive storylines, friend- and cast-relationships (Tori Spelling, Tiffani Thiessen, Shannen Doherty)
- Personal life: pregnancy during the show (hiding the bump, “Bob”), motherhood, and how family influenced choices
- Grief and boundary choices after cast losses (Luke Perry), and public backlash over social-media responses
- Reinvention after long-running success: what it feels like to step away, find purpose, and help others
- Host tangents: Amanda’s anecdote about peptides, health, and lifestyle — mostly framing the episode
Main takeaways
- Reinvention is deliberate: Garth wrote the book after reaching a point in her 50s where she wanted to share lessons she’d learned and teach what she wished she’d known earlier.
- Self-work matters: she credits introspection, therapy, journaling, and asking “What do I want next?” for helping her reshape priorities.
- Embrace emotional sensitivity rather than shut it down—Garth reframes being “sensitive” as being “emotionful” and sees that as a strength.
- Forgiveness and ownership: she recommends looking at your part in conflicts and “stop pointing the finger and start pulling the thumb” — take responsibility and forgive yourself.
- Fame ≠ fulfillment: despite global recognition from 90210, she struggled with loneliness, agoraphobia, and needing to redefine life after the show.
Notable moments & anecdotes
- Jennie narrated her own audiobook and described the consistent voice and preparation (warm-ups, tongue twisters).
- Origin story: she entered pageants to get a scholarship, was spotted by a manager/judge, took acting classes, sent VHS tapes, then moved to LA.
- First TV gig was on A Brand New Life with Barbara Eden, whose professionalism she credits for shaping her work ethic.
- Kelly Taylor legacy: Jennie is proud of Kelly and the show’s cultural reach but acknowledges the personal fallout of on-screen storylines creating real-life tensions.
- Pregnancy on set: she hid her pregnancy (referred to the bump as “Bob”) during later seasons of 90210; later had a baby and reprioritized life.
- Hospital anecdote: when Luke Perry suffered a stroke, Jennie describes being pulled to the hospital lobby and sitting there until she was told to go home — a poignant example of deep cast bonds.
- She kept Kelly’s cowboy boots from the show.
- Reboot reflections: She participated briefly in the CW continuation and has mixed feelings about reboots; suggests reunions are different now and complex, especially when cast members have passed.
Notable quotes
- “I wasn’t born with rainbows and unicorns flying out of my ass—I was kind of born a blue person.” (on being naturally sensitive)
- “What do I want next?” (as the central self-inquiry that guided her reinvention)
- “Stop pointing the finger and start pulling the thumb.” (on taking responsibility)
Who will get value from this episode
- Fans of Beverly Hills, 90210 who want behind-the-scenes context and emotional perspectives from Jennie Garth
- Readers/listeners interested in midlife reinvention, memoir, and mental-health journeys
- Creatives navigating identity after long-term success or public recognition
- Parents and people working through grief, public scrutiny, or relationship forgiveness
Action items / recommended follow-ups
- Read or listen to Jennie Garth’s memoir I Choose Me for the full narrative and deeper reflections.
- Try the episode’s core self-inquiry: journal on “What do I want next?” and list one practical next step.
- If struggling with anxiety or grief, consider therapy, journaling, or other guided self-work as Garth recommends.
- For 90210 fans: revisit the series or seek out Jennie’s audiobook for more personal nuance beyond tabloid coverage.
Episode details
- Host: Amanda Hirsch (Dear Media)
- Guest: Jennie Garth (actress; author of I Choose Me)
- Format: Interview with personal anecdotes and listener-facing discussion; includes sponsor reads
- Content notes: conversation includes discussions of grief, mental-health struggles, and on-set conflicts; contains paid advertisements
This summary captures the episode’s main themes and memorable stories so you can decide whether to listen to the full conversation or pick up Jennie Garth’s book.