The Recap

Karen Grassle is the beloved actress who played Ma on Little House on the Prairie and author of a new candid memoir, Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House’s Ma. In this candid memoir, Grassle reveals her journey to succeed as an actress even as she struggles to overcome depression, combat her own dependence on alcohol, and find true love. With humor and hard-won wisdom, Grassle takes readers on an inspiring journey through the political turmoil on ’60s campuses, on to studies with some of the most celebrated artists at the famed London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and ultimately behind the curtains of Broadway stages and storied Hollywood sets.

In this episode, Jennifer and Karen discuss their battles with addiction and recovery, their lives as mothers and actresses in Hollywood, and other obstacles placed in front of women in the arts. Karen talks about the financial struggles of the early days in acting and standing up for herself and others looking to receive the equality deserved as an actress on a top-rated show. She also opens up about her personal struggle with alcoholism, getting sober, and her journey to motherhood through independent adoption. Finally, Karen talks about her project bringing awareness and advocacy to domestic violence through her platform and a movie-of-the-week, Battered.

Episode Highlights

00:24 – Jennifer welcomes listeners back to the show after a long hiatus and talks a little about how the pandemic has affected her life

02:57 – Jennifer welcomes guest Karen Grassle, the actress who played Ma on Little House on the Prairie and the author of the candid memoir Bright Lights, Prairie Dust to the show.

04:34 – Early days and financial struggles of a working actress and taking jobs that were not ideal to get both the money and experience needed to push forward

07:10 – Getting the call for Little House right before scrapping the acting career to become a psychology student

09:23 – The disparity between male and female actors in Hollywood and Karen’s fight to be paid fairly for her work

11:23 – Consequences for fighting for equal pay

15:08 – Karen talks about her addiction, her familial history with the disease, and pent-up feelings of depression and anger

17:22 – Reaching out for help with alcoholism and getting sober

20:02 – Karen’s response to an interviewer asking her about women in the workplace vs. their role in the home and as mothers

21:48 – Karen’s journey to motherhood

23:55 – Pursuing independent adoption

26:27 – Balancing Karen’s career and motherhood

28:30 – Creating a movie of the week looking at domestic violence, Battered, and bringing awareness and change to this situation, which was not understood at the time

31:16 – Effects of the pandemic on people in domestic violence situation and those battling addiction

32:28 – Where to find Bright Lights, Prairie Dust and why Karen wrote the memoir

36:30 – Deciding to bet on herself

39:38 – Where you can find Jennifer

What Karen Said:

“I told them the truth, and if they don’t want me, then that’s not the right job for me. And that was such an insight.”

“I had some people tell me that during the pandemic, they went back to [Little House on the Prairie] because it comforted them in times of such uncertainty.”

“My advisors told me to take this offer, and I was like, ‘That is not the right offer.’ And if I am going to do this job, then I am going to be paid what is appropriate. And I was severely punished for that.”

“When I was growing up, my mom didn’t believe in us expressing anger, so over the years, like in my 20s in therapy, I began to understand that I was angry. But when I got drunk, I would get angry, and strike out at somebody, but then it would tamp down again.”

“There’s never been a better time than now to be a woman. We have so many choices today. And still with all the appliances we have to make life easier, no matter what a woman chooses, if she has the need and desire to be a mother and to work, it can be a strain. Especially in this country where childcare can be hard to find or afford.” [Taken from interview during the run of Little House on the Prairie]

“There’ve been times in my life when there were more therapists for the family than there were members.”