Alyson Stoner: What Happens When You Grow Up in the Spotlight?| How To Be Patient (Ep 29)

This episode might feel like a gut punch, in the most important way. Margaret and I sat down with Alyson Stoner to talk about what it means to be raised in the spotlight, what happens when systems prioritize performance over people, and how we reckon with that legacy in healthcare. There’s a vulnerability here that caught me off guard and I think that’s the point. If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath the polished performances we all grew up watching, this one’s for you.


Takeaways:
The Performance Trap: We unpack how young performers are trained to suppress needs for the sake of applause—and what that does long term.

Behind the Curtain: Alyson shares a raw, unfiltered look at what fame masked, and what it demanded.

Trauma in the Body: We explore how unresolved pain shows up in physical health—and how the body never really forgets.

Reclaiming Identity: From child star to advocate, Alyson walks us through the messy, powerful work of redefinition.

What Healing Can Look Like: It's not about fixing—it’s about reconnecting. And sometimes the most honest therapy isn’t clinical at all.

Want more Alyson Stoner:
IG: @alysonstoner
TikTok: @alysonstoner
YouTube: @TheRealAlysonStoner

Citations:
Orenstein GA, Lewis L. Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. [Updated 2022 Nov 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...
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Produced by Dr Glaucomflecken & Human Content
Get in Touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠howtobepatientpod.com⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

00:00 The Reality of Child Stardom
00:43 Introducing Alyson Stoner
02:26 The Journey of Writing a Memoir
04:16 Challenges of Child Stardom and Mental Health
46:31 Rediscovering Normalcy After Hollywood
48:03 The Narcissism of Child Performers
51:06 Struggles with Fame and Integrity
56:38 The Mental Health Industrial Complex