In this raw, layered episode of Forever Wild, Meagan and Nora take us back to 1986—peak Valley Girl era—where their family finds a brief glimpse of stability in the San Fernando Valley… before it all unravels again. From a rundown house near the Sherman Oaks Galleria to a sudden move to Connecticut just days before Christmas, the sisters recount a whirlwind time marked by missed opportunities, unexpected generosity, and unsettling encounters.

We hear about the “extra” kids who lived with them, how their mother became the subject of a Ben Stein newspaper profile—and what happened when he took a disturbing interest in one of the sisters. It’s a story of instability and survival, told with humor, honesty, and a fierce sense of reflection.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of child exploitation and inappropriate behavior by an adult.

• 00:01 – Intro and stabby moods
• 04:30 – Life in the San Fernando Valley
• 12:00 – The college dream that slipped away
• 20:45 – “Throwaway children” and Ben Stein’s glowing article
• 29:10 – The poolside photo shoot
• 36:00 – Connecticut and the Christmas from hell
• 47:00 – College envy and the reality check
• 55:00 – Ben Stein calls again—with a disturbing request
• 01:04:00 – The Spy Magazine mention and the truth behind the creep
• 01:08:00 – Wrapping up: privilege, predators, and the path ahead

• [Ben Stein's 1986 article “The Valley’s Keeper of Disposable Children”]

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