From Disney Channel star to outspoken mental health advocate, Alyson Stoner has lived a life in the spotlight—and paid the price.

In this episode of The Burnouts, Alyson joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni to open up about the truth behind child stardom, the eating disorder that forced them to step away from Hollywood, and the box of documents that changed everything they thought they knew about their childhood.

They share what it was really like growing up famous, the toxic systems that exploit young talent, and the powerful tools they use today to protect their mental health. Plus: how they’re redefining success, finding purpose beyond fame, and why they named their memoir Semi Well-Adjusted.

📖 Alyson’s memoir Semi Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is out now.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Growing up on Disney Channel & Missy Elliott
02:15 – The moment Alyson stepped away from Hollywood
05:00 – The “toddler to train wreck” pipeline of child performers
06:45 – Losing childhood in the age of social media
08:00 – Playing firsts on camera without living them in real life
09:20 – How toxic Hollywood work environments really are
10:45 – Why “exposure” doesn’t pay the bills
12:00 – The hidden costs of going viral
13:40 – Tools Alyson uses to shake off stress
16:00 – Mind-body practices for anxiety & burnout
18:30 – Why different states of mind need different mindfulness tools
20:00 – Stillness vs. somatic tools for busy minds
22:00 – Reading their Camp Rock diary years later
24:00 – Why now was the time to write Semi Well-Adjusted
25:10 – The box of documents that changed their life story
27:00 – What “Semi Well-Adjusted” really means
28:15 – Choosing causes and building advocacy work
30:00 – Purpose as a constellation, not a North Star
32:00 – Advice for navigating anxiety and depression
34:45 – How to process rejection without losing yourself
37:00 – Focusing on what you can control

🔗 FOLLOW US
Phoebe Gates
Sophia Kianni
Alyson Stoner

🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn

💙 Support What We’re Building
Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a new fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app, try it out, and help us grow this community from the ground up

❤️‍🔥 Get a Free 90 Day Trial of Movement Genius:

1. Go to Movement Genius

2. Choose Monthly Membership

3. Use code THEBURNOUTS

🕯️✨ USE CODE "BURNOUTS15" FOR 15% OFF THE PHLUR X THE BURNOUTS CANDLE ✨🕯️

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Blackouts and Funiculars

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Advertisements and Sponsors

The AI-powered Podcast Player