Ashley Spencer

Some exciting news on this hallowed anniversary week... DISNEY HIGH is getting a paperback edition! Coming January 26, 2027! If you’re currently swept up in all things Hannah Montana, Disney Channel Mount Rushmore, Hilary Duff renaissance, etc. and are unfamiliar with my work, dare I say you’re in for a treat: I wrote a book all about Disney Channel in the 2000s that explores the ins and outs of every major franchise — investigating contracts and business secrets, uncovering behind-the-scenes tensions and triumphs and looking at exactly what made that era so special to so many. I interviewed 150+ people who were involved in front of and behind the camera at Disney — from the actors and showrunners to Hannah Montana’s wigmaker and the High School Musical prop master who bedazzled Sharpay’s phone. I even sat down with two (former) presidents of Disney Channel and said I want to make history. And that’s what we did. It’s called DISNEY HIGH: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire, and it’s out right now in hardcover, ebook and audiobook (narrated by Lizzie McGuire’s Lalaine)! Link in my bio to get your copy! Paperback pre-order link coming soon!

There’s something bittersweet about lifting the curtain and seeing what’s behind the magic. When I used to be part of the Disney family, I remember the theme park guides would ask something along the lines of, “Do you want to keep the magic?” when offering us a shortcut through the parks. It was a way to move faster, but once you saw behind the scenes, things were never quite the same. Narrating Disney High felt a little like that—pulling back the curtain on the bright lights of our childhoods, revealing both the joy and the challenges. This isn’t my story—it’s a shared one. Stories of young people who grew up in the spotlight before and after the internet and social media fully took over, when the pressures and scrutiny were different but still intense. I’m simply lending my voice to the experiences we all went through. To all the fans, I want you to know how much I care about the magic of your childhoods. I would never want to take away from something that meant so much to you. Ashley’s book was already written, with or without me, and I hoped that by being a voice for it, it might bring something different to the story—something meaningful that reflects the full picture of what life was like behind the scenes. It’s a story with heart and complexity, and I’m proud to have been a part of bringing it to life, alongside the incredible stories of others who lived it, too. Special thank you to @amspen for kickstarting my narrating résumé and trusting me with this narrative. Get your copy or let me read to you. Her book comes out tomorrow 📖🎧9/24/24.

Well, this was a very cool "pinch me" moment to wake up to today. Link in stories to read my @nytimes interview with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, and see more stunning photos by @selashiloni .

Had a gilded coffee date with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan to talk about the second season of “Beef” for the @nytimes . Swipe for a few excerpts and gift link in stories for the full interview. Visuals by @selashiloni 🥩

Let’s go back, back to the beginning. I sat down for a lengthy conversation with @kristincavallari , @stephencolletti and @laurenconrad for the @latimes , reflecting on their teen drama and what it was like being on reality TV in the 2000s. Twenty years after “Laguna Beach” ended, the former MTV stars and the rest of the season 1 cast are back for a reunion special (out tomorrow). “We didn’t want it to be this dramatic, ‘Housewives’-type reunion,” Cavallari said. “We wanted to do it for the nostalgia.” Swipe for a few excerpts from our chat, and link in stories for the full Q&A. 📷: @jason_armond

For the @nytimes , I profiled Frankie Muniz, a fellow millennial who I felt like I grew up with but, of course, only actually knew from “Malcolm in the Middle,” “My Dog Skip,” “Big Fat Liar,” “Agent Cody Banks” and Got Milk? ads in Teen People. We spent several hours at the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A., wandering around looking at cars and chatting about his past as a child star and present as a dad and NASCAR driver, and why he reprised his most famous role in a new “Malcolm” revival. I also spoke with @bryancranston , @jane.f.kaczmarek , his racing partner @josh_reaume and more. Swipe for a few excerpts and gift link in stories and bio for the full article. Fun visuals by @selashiloni !

Drives, hikes, and sights with the best of the best 🌲Sequoia and King’s Canyon -> Yosemite -> South Lake Tahoe -> Mammoth -> L.A.

Loved this fun day chatting with some of the 2,000 hopefuls at an opening casting call for the “Baywatch” reboot series, part of a @nytimes piece with photographer extraordinaire @strange.victory ⛱️🌊

Got coffee in the Valley with @sarahshahi for the @nytimes and chatted all things “Paradise,” “Sex/Life” and her therapeutic tendencies. Extra insights from @sterlingkbrown . Swipe for a little preview and link to the full article in stories. 📷: @magdawosinskastudio

Going to get a little bit sappy on main… today, I have two stories in print in the Sunday edition of The New York Times. I didn’t have a prestigious diploma, awards or industry connections when I moved to New York (technically, New Jersey) from Florida to start my career in the early 2010s. Back then, those things often REALLY mattered. I cut my teeth in teen entertainment magazines and tabloids with great editors who took a chance on me, then moved to Australia and worked in digital news. I made the leap to freelance while living on the other side of the world by saying, “If I can land one story in The New York Times, then I’ll quit my job because I’ll know I can hack it.” Today’s stories are my 47th and 48th NYT bylines. I’ve worked really hard and I’m really proud of the writer and reporter I’ve become. Also, very grateful to the editors along the way (at NYT and elsewhere) who've said yes to my pitches and continue to see potential. All of this to say: There is no one way to get somewhere and the road is often winding. Keep going.

I profiled Samara Weaving for the @nytimes ! Additional commentary from @sarahmgellar , Margot Robbie and more. Swipe for a few excerpts and link in stories/bio to read the full feature. 📷: @kobewagstaff

Last June, for the @nytimes , I flew to British Columbia to see what life is really like in Virgin River. You can read my dispatch from two days on the very scenic Vancouver-area sets of the comforting hit series — and my breakdown of why it’s become Netflix’s longest running live-action drama in English (beating The Crown, Orange Is the New Black, Grace and Frankie and everything else) — now! Ft. interviews with @alexandrabreck @martinhendersonofficial @tim_matheson_official @colinlawrence97 @patrickseansmith and more. Amazing photographs by @alanapaterson . Swipe for excerpts (+ a few OK phone photos from me) and link to the full piece in bio🌲🌿