Episode Details

From Disney Fame to Financial Ruin: Alyson Stoner's Story (Ep 308)

"Who guards the guardians of child stars?" This burning question emerges from our powerful conversation about former Disney star Alyson Stoner, who discovered her bank account completely emptied after nearly two decades in show business.

What happens when a child performer who's been frugal their entire career wakes up to find all their earnings—over a million dollars—vanished? For Alyson Stoner of "Camp Rock" fame, this devastating reality launched an investigation that revealed systematic exploitation by her business team and, most heartbreakingly, her own mother. As career bookkeeper, Stoner's mother had been quietly paying herself monthly salaries and thousands in one-off payments throughout her daughter's childhood career, all without transparency or discussion about budgeting.

The conversation dives deep into the darker aspects of child stardom—80-hour work weeks that disrupt normal development, casting rooms where children are coached to appear "provocative," and an industry designed to package young people as products with virtually no protections. Stoner recalls being a Midwestern child entering Hollywood without any guidance, unknowingly attending what was actually a "recruitment funnel" at age six, and having her name, image, and likeness legally owned by companies before she could understand the implications.

Despite these traumatic experiences, Stoner chose compassion over legal action against her mother. Today, at 32, she's channeled her experiences into advocacy work through Movement Genius, her mental health platform, and by speaking out to protect future generations of young performers. Her story raises critical questions about exploitation, parental responsibility, and an entertainment system that continues to profit from children without adequate safeguards.

When will we say enough is enough? How can we better protect young performers from exploitation—both by the industry and, sometimes, by their own families? Join us in this essential conversation about giving voice to vulnerable children in entertainment and beyond. Subscribe, share, and be part of creating the change needed to ensure no more childhoods are sacrificed for our entertainment.

Chapter Markers

0:00 Welcome to Voices for VoicesⓇ

4:19 Introducing Allison Stoner's Financial Shock

12:04 Mismanagement and Betrayal by Business Team

21:54 The Hidden Costs of Hollywood

34:45 Family Exploitation and Industry Realities

44:05 Advocating for the Next Generation

54:54 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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