January 21, 2026 • 58 mins
We’re traveling back in time for a DWTS focused episode as Danielle preps for the first live show of the year.
This week’s guest won her first Mirrorball back in 2014 with current DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro, and now she’s our reigning champion with the Thunder from Down Under, Robert Irwin, but Danielle is ready find out what Witney Carson is all about!
Hear which season she wishes she could redo, and which she thought she had in the bag. We also learn about her dancing origin story and how her first trophy shaped an entire career path.
Plus…will Witney return next season?? We have her answer on this week’s return to Danielle With…
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Hello, and welcome to Danielle With a podcast that if
your hip to industry. LINGO recently flipped into my solo
interview series teen Beat. But since I Danielle Fischl, director, podcaster,
mom of two, and TV ready ballroom dancer, I am about
to go out on the road for the Dancing with
the Stars Live Tour. I figured that I'd not only
(00:37):
be updating you from all cities like Hershey, Pennsylvania and Banger, Maine,
I'd also prep a bit and return to talk to
some of my favorite pros and contestants from the show.
I'm hosting twenty eight live performances over three months, and
since this is a safe space, I will admit one thing.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I have no idea what to expect.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yet I am very excited to meet some of you
live and in person at these shows, and if worse
comes to worse, I will just use any free time
I have on the bus to force Jenna Johnson to
help me get abs. But today I wouldn't just return
to Danielle with for any meaningless reason. It would have
to be for a guest of the utmost importance, a
(01:22):
superstar even, And so for this week's special episode, I'm
joined by the owner of not only one, but two
mirror ball trophies, with her most recent victory capturing the
nation by storm and forever changing the culture of the
show moving forward. She first appeared on the ballroom floor
as a member of the troop in seasons sixteen and seventeen,
(01:44):
then the following year was promoted to big League competitor,
and it only took two cycles to score her way
into the winner's circle, partnered with Alfonso Ribero, who at
the time was just a lowly celebrity contestant, but with
her help not only transformed into one of the most
impressive winners in the show's history, he would later become
(02:05):
the face of the process. Then, over the next thirteen seasons,
she'd have eight top five finishes, including her turn with
Milo Mannheim, whose second place showing is often referred to
by dance experts as a total effing crime against rhythm.
But in twenty twenty five, things began to look up
(02:26):
or should I say down under, when she paired with
human Koala Bear Robert Erwin, and right out of the gate,
the pair stole America's hearts, gliding into the finals and
securing the len Goodman Trophy. It makes you wonder how
could she top it? What's next for this fellow mom
of two adorable boys who seems to capture dance magic
(02:48):
year after year. Well, i'll tell you what. She's sitting
with me to talk about her undeniable Hall of fame
career in the hollowed halls of Dancing with the Stars
and what I can expect on this tour. I'm wildly
nervous about it. So please welcome to Danielle with the
reigning champ, Miss Whitney Carson.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh my gosh, what an intro. Chills Like, Oh my god,
this is incredible. How do I put that Danielle in
you listen monologue for myself.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I will get it for you. We'll we'll snip it,
we'll send it in. It's actually a really a really
great intro for my one of my first questions, which
is I when we had Alfonso on the show, Yeah,
talk about getting chills. The way he spoke about you
and the love and the reverence and the respect he
has for you, and the way he knows you and
(03:43):
like really sees you was so special. And one of
the clips of him talking about you, what pretty viral.
What did you think when you first heard that.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Oh, my gosh, he is just such a gem of
a human. I mean, you know him, you've known him
for years, but he really is like an uncle a
brother to me. And he really helped me kind of
spread my wings in this Hollywood world. Because I'm from
American for Utah, a small town. I did not know
what I was getting myself into and at eighteen, like
(04:16):
you're still a kid, and so the fact that he
was my partner was such divine intervention for us, because
he really he actually really taught me so much and
kind of put me under his wing. And from then
on we've just had like this inseparable bond and something
that I can't really explain, but it's it's a bond
that's really traveled with us through adulthood and through my marriage.
(04:39):
And he's always been a mentor to me. But that
specific interview that he did with you, I he had
never told me those feelings or thoughts before, and so
I was hearing it for the first time on social
media and I immediately started crying because he's one of
those He's that type of person that just knows you
(04:59):
better than you know yourself and use that for me.
And so I was like, you know what, that is
so true and it just resonated so much with me,
and obviously it resonated with so many of you guys
and people watching, and it just kind of took off.
And I'm just so grateful that he's always been in
my corner and he's just been such a safe space
(05:21):
for me in a world that can be so stressful
and that you can kind of lose your way at times,
and it's such a crazy wild ride within this industry,
and especially with the show, how stressful and how physically
and mentally demanding it is for him to be there
in the studio and mentoring me and just honestly just
(05:41):
being there made it made me feel like I was
so safe. Yeah, And so that's what he is for me.
So that was really sweet to see that kind of
go viral and people just love that because our bond
is very special.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yes, well, that's very apparent.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I am speaking to you the day before you leave
for Australia with your family. We were just discussing before
we started recording about how stressful the idea of a
sixteen hour flight is with two small children, how excited
are you? And how excited are the kids for this trip?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
We are so extremely excited. We honestly weren't planning on
going to Australia this quickly, but it kind of just
fell into place, and the kids are We actually surprised
them on Christmas morning that we were going, and so
they were so excited. And my boys love animals and
(06:36):
they just can't stop talking about the koalas and they
love Robert. So the fact that we get to combine
all of those Robert and animals in the zoo, like,
we're just so so excited. So they this is actually
the first trip with jet out of the country so internationally,
so I think it's going to be the trip is
going to be crazy, but when we get there, it's
(06:58):
going to be it's going to be amazing. And I
have facetimed and texted over what we're going to do
and our plans. He's like, can I just go ahead
and plan everything for you guys? And I'm like please,
I'm like please, here take it. And so he's been
very kind and sweet enough to He's got a whole
plan for us. We're in Robert Irwin's hands.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
For oh Man two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
You're in very good, capable hands, so that's at least
a safe feeling.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yes for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
How once you touched down, how long are you there
before you return home?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So we're we fly to Sydney and then Brisbane and
then we're going to go I think the Zoo's like
an hour and a half away, and then we'll spend
a whole week at their lodge, which they've so graciously
hosted us for that. We're really excited about that though.
I heard the food's amazing and so we'll do that
for a week and then we'll be on the Sunshine
Coast for the second week. So we wanted a little
(07:48):
bit of zoo, a little bit of like the beach town.
So everything recommended by.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Robert so oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I will let you guys know because I know you
guys are going or trying.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Are we are? Yeah, we're going to book a trip.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I don't know exactly when, but uh, I think are
you guys going to be there through the Australian.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Open I think so yep? Oh man, oh, I'm like,
do I try and go?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You should? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, that would actually be incredible, But we actually we
decided not to bring any help. So I'm like, our
kids allowed? Kids allowed there?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I don't know they are. You're allowed it, You're yeah,
kids are allowed at ten. I mean it's going to
be you know if one of you will probably be
up and down and up and down trying to keep
you know, you don't want them like loud, But yes,
I think I think kids are allowed.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I mean you can't be in Australian during the Australian
Open and not try to go.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I know, okay, we'll try and go. I know Carson
will probably be all for it with the sports and
exactly Robert too. I'm like, I'm sure Robert will want
to go as well.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So yes, yes, you guys should think it'll be fun.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I can't imagine when you started a career in ballroom
dancing you thought it would lead to zoo trips with
the Irwin family and.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You never And that's what's so beautiful about this show though.
You get to meet so many different people and walks
of life that you just would never expect to become
friends with. I mean, if I never had this career,
I mean, I don't you know, I wouldn't know Robert
Irwin and He's like one of the most special people
in my life. So I'm very grateful to be on
(09:33):
a show that allows that to happen and to create
friendships and long lasting friendships forever. No, I never thought
in a million that one of my good friends would
be a zoo keeper from Australia. And it was so
funny during rehearsals too. I would get, you know, towards
the end and be like, Okay, come on, like you
know this, like you know the dance deep and he'd
(09:54):
be like, remember, Whitney, I am just a zoo keeper.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm like, right right, You're not as much as it
seems like it. You're not a fellow professional dancer, right this.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
You've known this for a few weeks.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, No, but he honestly, it's going to be hard
to have another partner compared to Robert. I mean, I know,
this is so amazing. I mean, you know how incredible
he is.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He's truly incredible.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
I tell everybody every chance I get, like, exactly what
he seems like is exactly what he is.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I know. Literally, it's so funny, and I forget that
he's twenty one because he acts like a forty year
old I know, and then sometimes you get little glimpses
and you're like, oh right, okay, you're all one yes exactly,
but he's yeah, no, he's amazing. So we're really excited
to see him look good.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I want to talk a little bit about young Whitney.
Kid Whitney, your mom was a travel agent and your
dad was in software developing. How did you gravitate toward dance?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Well, you know what, my mom, she actually grew up
very very poor. She could not afford dance, and she
really always wanted to be a dancer. And so I
think she knew when I was her first So I
think what she knew that she could tell that I
kind of liked to dance. She was immediately like okay,
Like she kind of lived a little bit vicariously through
(11:19):
me because she wanted to give me all the opportunities
that she didn't have. And so that's you know, I
started dance very young, and I loved it, loved it,
loved it. And then as I grew older, she actually
became she started a swimweark company, so she was an entrepreneur.
(11:40):
And of that get I remember her starting this business
in our basement and just hustling, and I think that's
where I get kind of my entrepreneur gene a little
bit that little fire in me to be an entrepreneur
because I saw her work so so hard for something
that she wanted so badly. So that was she was
amazing example to me of hard work and being a
(12:02):
mom and balancing it all. And it was really inspiring
for me as a kid and a teen to watch
her do that. And my dad, he was in software development,
so he was obviously the techie guy, but they did
trade a lot for my dance training because you know,
at times we couldn't afford it, and they wanted so
(12:24):
badly for me to go after my dreams. And so
I'm just so thankful that they were able to sacrifice
so much for me too. I mean, that's what you
do for your kids, and now having kids, and like
you would do anything for them to have their dreams
and to go after their dreams. And so my dad
did a little bit of the stage work, so he
would actually take down sets for us and travel with
(12:46):
us to competitions and set it up to trade for
a lot of my dance training. So he did that
as well as software development, and then once the Swimwork
company kind of took off, they kind of tag teamed
that together. So very very hard working parents came from so.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And creative to think like, okay, there's other ways of
you know, other than cold hard cash. There are other
things we can do. And so even just thinking of that,
like I can take down and put up sets and.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Yep, and they just they were just willing to do
that for me, and it was I'm just so thankful
for that and the example of hard work and perseverance
through everything. I truly believe if you work hard enough,
like you can do anything. And that's what you know.
I always tell my brothers and sisters who are adults
now and just you know, I'm kind of living proof
of that, like you can do anything that you set
(13:40):
your mind to. And yeah, they they We had an
amazing childhood and very grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Was the goal always to end up in Los Angeles,
Like when you start dancing and you know you're going
to pursue a dance career, is the goal, like let's
get to LA.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You know what. That Actually that wasn't really in my
sight because I feel like it was so scary for
me because you know, I've always been born and raised
in that small town, and I just loved dance. I
loved it so much that I didn't really have sights
on TV or film or that was really wasn't really
(14:17):
in my headspace. I actually had all of my classes
set up for college and I was on the dance team.
I had auditioned for the dance team in college, and
I was kind of going that route, like Okay, maybe
dance can just be a passion of mine and not
something that's really on TV or film. And then that
I remember so thinking you can dance. Came to Salt
(14:38):
Lake City and my mom the two nights before was like,
Mom's intuition is so good, but she was like, I
really just feel like you need to try. You need
to try an audition for this and just see what
happens and you don't. Don't get upset or you know, determined,
but just just go for it. And so two nights
before I grabbed my partner and we la last minute,
(15:00):
got a routine together, and I was just like, Okay,
let's go for it. And that just really skyrocketed my
career into TV and film and so you can dance,
and then dancing with the Stars found me on that show, okay,
and the kind of the rest is history from that,
But my mom's intuition, she knows.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
She knew for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
So that was around twenty twelve that you were on
So You Think you Can Dance. You finished in the
top six, and in that first season you were partnered
with Steven twitch Boss, a dancer that I as a fan,
admired very much from afar.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
What are your memories of working with him?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Oh, my gosh, that was one of the most influential
times in my career was with Steven. And he was
such a beautiful person, a beautiful dancer. Obviously, everyone who
watched him dance just felt an instant connection sol to soul.
It was kind of indescribable. And working with him, he
(15:59):
was so sweet. Because I was a ballroom dancer, so
I wasn't like completely comfortable with hip hop, and although
we cross trained a lot, I mean, this was hip
hop hip hop, so I was very much intimidated. But
he made it so fun, He made it so comfortable.
And who was our choreographer, Luthor lu choreographer, and they
(16:24):
had known each other for a while, so I just
remember coming into the studio and feeling like so welcomed
and we had we just had so much fun. And
that was one of the most memorable routines that I
ever did on the show. So again, I'm just I'm
so grateful that I was able to have the opportunity
with him. That was fun.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
That was very fun, so fun.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
You were there for two seasons and then in twenty
thirteen you made the jump over to Dancing with the
Stars as a member of the Troop.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
It was a little bit of a hot button issue
this season because some were critical of pros who don't
start in that like.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Quasi prentice position.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Do you think it should be mandatory to ease into
the competition by starting on troop?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I mean, you know what's hard is so they took
away the Troop for a while, and so I think
like that transition kind of changed the way the producers
thought about the Troop and getting promoted to being a professional.
I do think that it helps a lot because the
east of the show is something unlike anything. I mean,
(17:28):
you can't be prepared for a show like this, no
matter how much training in the studio that you do.
So being on the troop and it helps you see
kind of how it works, how the beast of the
show works, and how to teach, because you can be
the best dancer in the entire world, but if you
don't know how to teach, then you know that it
(17:49):
can become very hard for you, and you know, you
do have to be I think it's it's helpful if
you are a little bit cross trained, because now now
we're seeing you know, the freestyles, and we're seeing you know,
obviously there's jazz and contemporary styles that get judged, and
so it is really nice to have a little bit
of everything, and also just to get a little bit
(18:11):
more information and education under your belt before you get
promoted as a pro. And I did feel a little
bit bad for Yawn that he wasn't able. I mean,
he had never been involved in the show. I mean
it's nice when you can kind of see it firsthand
before you step into that role. Yeah, and so I
think it would just be helpful. I don't know if
(18:31):
it needs to be mandatory, but I think that it
would help.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
The pro Yeah, benefits the pros.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
It benefits the pros. Honestly, Like, if I had to choose,
I would say put me on troop first before I
get promoted to a pro. But yeah, I think it's
it was very helpful. And then obviously each season that
you do as a professional is still so much that
you learn. I mean, my first season to this season
is dramatically different. You know, each you learn more and
(18:59):
you get better at teaching, you get better at choreographing,
you get better about how you plan everything, and so
now like within the last even few years, I feel
like I've gotten a grip on that where I feel like,
you know, I've watched back some of the routines that
I did with Von Miller and I'm like, oh my gosh,
what was I thinking? You know, which I think everybody
does that at some point in their work, correct, But
(19:23):
you know it definitely each season teaches you and makes
you grow in ways that you didn't expect.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
And as we talked about, then in your second season,
you were paired with the incomparable Alphonso Ribero and you
take home the Mirror Ball Trophy with him. Did that
partnership feel special just right from the start?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I yes, And I remember actually our first meeting and
I knew exactly who he was. They used to just
surprise us and it got it got.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
When people, yeah, because sometimes people didn't know who.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
They were exactly, and you're like, nice to meet you.
I don't know anymore. But they surprised me on this
one because I think they knew I would know who
he was. I mean, I watched Fresh Prince all growing up,
like I wash, so of course I was instantly excited
when I met him, and then we started to get
into I remember it was just simple chochaw locks across
the floor and he got it like that, and I
(20:21):
was like, Okay, this is gonna be really good. And
I could just feel it. I could just feel how
different it was, and he was so good in the
fact that, like, okay, so it's my second season, right,
I'm still very much competitive, Like I'm still trying to
prove myself in a way, because you know, the first
(20:42):
season I was with Cody Simpson and I got we
got eliminated I think like the fourth or fifth week
fairly early. So I still had something to prove and
I was very competitive and very hard, very hard on him,
and he was just so patient and kind with me,
and he was exactly what I needed to be, like, Okay,
it's okay, it's about it's about making the celebrity better.
(21:06):
And I think all when once you get into a group,
you understand that, but at the beginning you're really focused
on you know, I've got to prove myself. I have
something to prove, and I want to win, and you're
very much competitive in that way. So so he was
really good to kind of like balance out the mental
part of everything and the emotional part of everything.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, that part would be hard because you know, the
celebrities on the show are not usually trying to leave
there with a new career as a professional dancer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Like that's that.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
You know, we go into it for different Everyone comes
into it for different reasons. But like best case scenario,
you're getting somebody there who just wants to learn and
wants to improve week after week and wants to have
fun doing it and wants to be out of their
comfort zone and wants to, you know, see how far
they can take this and is competing with themselves.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Week after week.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But for you guys, especially when this is what you've
trained for your whole lives, like this is your career,
this is your reputation, this is so it's hard to
separate between me Whitney Carson wanting to put on my
best performance and show people what I'm capable of, but also,
oh yeah, this it's called Dancing with the Stars, and
(22:20):
I need to make my star look good. And so yeah,
that would be really like, that's a that's a that's
a learning curve that you have to go through between
finding the balance of showcasing what you're capable of and
making your star shine.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
Yeah, and I think that it takes honestly years to
do that. I mean, I, like I said, I didn't
really quite figure that out fully until the last maybe
five years. And with some celebrities it's just so different.
Like I know, for me, some celebrities, I don't I
don't dance like my full ability, like I don't like
(22:55):
I'm able to. I almost dance like a notch down
just in case something happens and they fall off timing.
And so if they're off timing, I watch them and
I go off timing so it looks like they're on timing.
We find little tricks that kind of allow them to shine,
which in which in turn honestly makes makes you like
(23:18):
look better as well, because you know, it's it's a
win win when you when you do it that way
and you really think about their journey and their and
what makes them shine and finding those moments to really
make them stand out.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, what do you think made him such a perfect
contestant for the show.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
If you know Alfonso, he is good at everything and
that mentality it takes a certain personality, takes a certain
person whether it was it was something in their childhood
or their career or whatever they that made them that way.
But Alfonso is that like if he wants to golf,
he's the best at golf. If he is trying to
(23:58):
do tennis, he's the best at that. He will go, go,
go until he is he's mastered it. And so that's
how he came into the Dancing with the Stars. He
wasn't like, Okay, I'm here to have fun. Obviously, I'm
sure that's yeah, that comes with it, but he was like,
I'm going to give this everything in my like like
everything that I have. And I think that was the
(24:19):
same with Robert too. And you have those few personalities
where you're like, Okay, like this, I know, I know
he's going to do amazing because he's got he's got
what it takes to really go there and on a
show like this, you have to do that. You have
to put your whole soul and heart and everything into it.
And that's just his personality. And I think that he's
(24:40):
been in TV for very for so long, so he's
comfortable on camera and that really helped. He was very
mature in the way that he handled the producers in
the studio and with me, and very much like calm
and collected, and he was I think that he was
just such a just a special person for people to
(25:02):
watch too. They just connected to us so much because
we connected obviously, and people root for the connections and
the partnerships too. Yeah, we made We made the talk
shows quite a bit from our little banter, which was
really funny.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
That's so cute.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
People still tell me they're like, my favorite thing you
ever said to him was when you hit hit him
in the crotch and you said you need a snack.
It's like, that's a good line. I still do that
nowadays too. I'm like, I hit people like, you need
some food. Food get better. You have some chips, will
make it better, I promise. But yeah, I think just
(25:40):
his personality and his drive and the way that we connected.
I think what is what made us successful. And now
he's like such a big part of the show. He's
such a he's the heart of it, you know my opinion.
So I think that it all worked out for the best.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Absolutely, he's such an incredible host.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
I know everyone who's ever seen the show with him
knows that he is spectacular to watch and everybody talks
about Everybody just watches him, and then every now and
then someone will just look at each other and go, Wow,
that's he's good.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
He's really good.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
He's really good.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I love that he is so invested in each of
the celebrities too. Yeah, don't you feel like he gave
you like some good advice and he was very much
like just he wants everyone to genuinely do well. Yeah,
and he takes his job seriously. So it's like if
if he knows that you're struggling with something in the week,
he'll he'll maybe bring that up or he just really can.
(26:32):
He really puts everything he has into everything that he does.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
So he really does. He's everyone's safe space. I mean
really that he is. He gives everyone that feeling. If like,
as long as I'm here and I'm with him, I
know I'm in a safe place.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Yeah exactly. Oh I love that. How did you feel
like your last your last week, Like did you feel
like did you feel like you got out what you
wanted from this experience? Or like, well, how what was
your mental space coming into it? Like did you just
want to have fun or did you want to win?
(27:06):
Like what was your mentality?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I'm curious when I first started, before we even started,
once I knew I was doing the show, So like
sometime at the beginning of August, when I knew, Okay,
I'm doing the show, I was like.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I'm gonna win. I want to win.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
I'm very competitive, but I'm also like competitive and a realist.
And so once we actually started and I saw all
the other dancers, and you know, going into it, obviously
I was a fan of the show, so I knew
there was going to be a lot more involved in
winning than just dance ability. It's likability and personality and
(27:43):
who connects with the audience, and you don't know, like
those are all factors kind of completely out of your control.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
And I remember then, like on pretty.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Much the first week, being like, oh wow, this is
a stacked season on all of those fronts, like different,
different likabilities, different rivalries, different partnerships that people are going
to root for, lots of prior dance experience, and I,
similar to Robert, had no prior dance experience. Wow, so
(28:12):
you know, I'd never even taken a dance class.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
So it was like, my goodness, I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yeah I have, I've never I'd never danced, and so
then I kind of was like, Okay, well, maybe I'm
not gonna win, which is fine. Maybe there's a win
in a different way, and that is then I was like,
the win is competing with myself and getting better every
week and feeling like, you know, the language of dance
(28:40):
is both in my body and in my brain, and
I feel like I just understand it more and I
definitely feel like I got all of that out of it.
What I will say is that if I wasn't if
I didn't have small kids, I probably would have. And
I don't know if it really would have made that
(29:02):
much of a difference, because I don't look back on
my experience on the show and say I didn't work
hard enough, like.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
We brusted our butts.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But when I left the studio, I then did have
to come home and be a mom, and I had
to put my kids to bed, and I had to
you know, there were things I had to do that
I wanted to do in order to not feel like
I just a bit truly abandoned my family. There was
enough feeling like you do that anyway, And then it
(29:33):
meant like I had fifteen to twenty minutes at night
to review tape and right before I would fall asleep.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
And if I were younger and or did not.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Have children, there probably would have been more I would
have I would have been able to do than just that.
So who knows though if it would have made a difference,
I wouldn't change anything about my experience.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
That's so I'm so glad. I just was curious about that.
I feel the exact same way because I have two
little ones as well. But I think that's what makes
us have such a unique perspective when we do get
get out on stage, when we do dance, and when
we do emote like like, I feel like I connected
to you so much because you are a mom, and
(30:16):
like your heart and your passion and your like the
way that you emoted on stage like made that so personal,
like so cool, So I feel like it was all
it was all meant to be. I mean, is your
balance like we balance so much as a mom, Like
I know, it was crazy like towards the end, like Carson,
(30:37):
my husband was like, just go for it. He's like,
I got the kids, so they didn't have a mom
honestly for probably the last like four weeks of competence,
Like I left before they got up, and then I
came home when they after they went to bed, like
they did not have a mom. I was like, so sorry,
I will see you in four weeks.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
And there there was no other way around it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Had I made it, had I made it that far,
that would have been the exact same situation for me.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Too, exactly. And it's just it's just so hard when
you are balancing so many different things.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Yes, and you feel so guilty too because you're like,
they don't understand, they have no idea. And my son,
my son did have a meltdown. I told you about
my oldest son's meltdown. He was like, I hate this job.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
I did not hear that.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Oh my god, yeah, he said to me. He was like,
I hate this job. Why did you even take this job?
You don't have time for me? And Keaton anymore. All
you do is dance, dance, dance.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Oh my gosh, shattered, shattered, literally kill me. I'd be like, okay,
I'm quitting. I know.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I was like, it's not gonna last forever.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
It's nice weear, but if I make it to the finals,
We've only got four more weeks, Adler, and he was
like he was very upset.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Oh my gosh, Oh that's far. The mom guilt is
so real.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Yes, it really is.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Once you win your first Mirror Ball trophy, does the
pressure lesson or do you have like a taste for
blood now and you just want to keep winning another one?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Oh goodness. I got to think back to when I
first won. I feel like you can kind of take
a deep breath a little bit. You can kind of
be like, Okay, I feel like I've proven myself a
little bit, I can win, and now it's just kind
of I think it was interesting what you said take
the wins in different ways, like, and I think that
that is the mentality you have to have because not
(32:44):
everyone can win, and it's not really about the pros
winning anyway, So it's not really about us winning our wins.
Like I feel like with Danny last season, not Daniella,
but with my danny E Minola, it was more about
like you know, the viral stuff like on social media,
(33:04):
and like that was like our in our own way,
like our win, you know, like for us, like that's
what we were trying to really push because we knew
like there were some crazy good dancers, so like we are,
we're not gonna win, so let's let's do our thing.
Let's try and win in different ways. And I think
that's how you have to think on this show. But
(33:26):
after I won the first time, I feel like that
was kind of the mentality. So each somebody after that
was like, well, how can I make him look good?
And how can I make us go as far as
we can? And I think at the beginning you can
kind of tell if you have a winner or not,
like kind of you can tell. You can be like
maybe not a winner, but you can tell if you're
(33:46):
gonna make it to the finals. And then there's obviously
that dark horse where people don't really know. But I
think every season I have a pretty good intuition. So
I mean with Milo, I thought, really we had it. Yeah,
that was the only one where my intuition was not right.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Did you were you just as shocked by that finale
as everyone else.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yes, yeah, but at the same time, looking back, looking
back at the time now, but looking back, you know,
Milo was so young and we did not have TikTok,
so we did not have that that younger viewership that
we have now. And I do believe if we had
that younger viewership, we probably would have won. But because
Bobby was so popular with that demographic. But that, I mean,
(34:34):
it makes sense looking back.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Now, why that right, Yeah, you're right, that younger demographic.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
You don't think about that that like, before the age
of social media and really getting to get this younger
generation hooked on the show. That that wasn't his youth,
which would be such an asset now, was actually a
detriment back then, right.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Like if I think if I you know, if he
did the show right now, I think hands down he
would he would win. He would take it. And it's
just the timing of it all. But honestly, we talk
about it all the time, Milo and I it actually
did us good, didn't win because now it's so talked about,
which you know, we'll take it, we'll take it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, it really is finding wins in other
ways that like that really was the win, you know,
the win was in that situation that everyone for years
since has been like talk about a robbery.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Talk about exactly. Yes, And I remember the first who
was it that? Do you remember Chelsea High Tower? Yes,
for the first pros. I remember her telling me celebrate
in the small successes. So like every if they point
their toe on a certain count, that celebrate, celebrate that, right,
(35:51):
So like I kind of had that mentality throughout the
years of just like celebrating those moments.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Yes, well that it's a perfect transition into our buddy
Robert Irwin. I remember after Week one, a dance that
I think goes down in the show's Hall of fame
for Week ones. I saw you at rehearsal and I
told you, guys, how thought how much I just how
magical I thought it was, And you mentioned how hard
it was going to be to continue that trajectory. Were
(36:21):
you nervous coming off a dance that Derek said might
be the best Week one performance ever?
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Yes, I was very nervous. I mean I think we
were the thing about that Week one and I think
about the thing about Robert Irwin coming in after Bendy.
Bendy was so beloved and she obviously won, and now
her brother coming in and the Irwin family is just.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
A trus Yes, yes, yes they are. There are royal family.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
They are They're not even American, but there are somehow
there are a royal family, yep.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
And they deserve all of it. But it was a
lot of pressure for us because that first week, so
we were like, my mentality was like, just do the
absolute best that you can do, Like I'm not holding
anything back. I'm just gonna push, push, push, And you know,
normally I feel like I would maybe hold some things
back week one, maybe I wouldn't, you know, go as
(37:19):
strong as I did. But because we had this pressure
my mentality and we had so much time that it
kind of just that's kind of just what it was.
So we just we pulled out all the stops on
that week one, and I think Derek saying that it
was the best he's ever seen was great, but it
(37:40):
also hindered us just a little bit because after that,
people had an expectation every single week, So of course
we had that pressure, and but I think that's what
makes the show so beautiful and our journey so beautiful.
Is it kind of did this? Yeah, people love to
root for that. People will love to root for you
(38:02):
when you do go down, and they need, you know,
a hero story, they need an arc. So like if
we stayed there the whole time, I don't know if
the you know, our journey would be the same and
the same outcome, you know. So I think that it
all played out to how it was supposed to do.
But lots of pressure, definitely, But I love what Robert
(38:22):
always says is pressure is a privilege. So that's our mentality.
We were like, this is a privilege to match that,
try and match that. And obviously each I mean, you know,
because you've done it, Each style is different. You have
weaknesses and strengths within each style, and Robert's strength was jive,
like he is the jive King. So anything after that
(38:43):
was a big challenge. And what you what everyone saw
on the live show was hours and hours and hours
of of you know, training, And I really realized that
after we did the team dance. Did you were at
the team dance, right? You did your other team? But
I realized that really it was very apparent when we
(39:06):
did the team dance because I was watching Alex Earl
and Robert side by side learn the same things. Yeah,
and her hit the position immediately, and with Robert it
took a long time to get there. And I think
that's the difference when you have dance experience versus when
you don't and you don't so it, I mean it.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Took and I was wit next to Whitney.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Levitt exactly exact so you got it.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
So I was like, oh, oh, okay, yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
You have to you have to work that much harder,
in which I wish people would have seen in the
packages a little bit more grind like. It's a grind
like if you don't know how to put your hip
to the left and put your arms straight like immediately,
like it takes some time.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
It takes some time, and you look like a baby
deer just you're like.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
And so the fact that where you start.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
On day one and some time even in the middle
of day two, compared to like, oh my gosh, only
a week later, here we are with what we put
out in front.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Of millions of people.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Live you don't if you're only there a small period
of time or you're not really committing, it's not.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
Going to look great. But it but with the hours
and hours and hours and hours in the grind, I.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
Know, then yeah, then that's what people see. And and
that's the other thing too. With the week one, we
had three weeks to prepare versus five. Yep, that was
also I mean, if we had three weeks for every dance,
like we.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Got it like unbelievable, exactly. I know, And I remember
those first three weeks because I know there were a
lot of people that had already then learned their second
week during those three weeks, and we talked about what
we were going to do. We did like a little
bit of it, but I think, you know, Pasha didn't
know me well enough at that point, and I think
he was worried that if we'd learned too much of
(40:56):
that second week things for this first week, we're going
to fall out. And also like you don't really know
what your celebrity is gonna be like at that first
live show until you have your first live show.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
You can do run throughs and you can do show
and tells.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
But like the night of that live show is a
you can't prepare for it, No, you can't.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
And I think the pros are just as nervous as
the celebrities on that one because, like you said, the
like what do you crack under pressure? Do you live
under pressure? Like we don't know. Are you gonna forget
everything that we can hit the last three weeks? Yeah,
So it was very telling when Robert came alive, like
he comes alive like with when the cameras are on,
(41:39):
and so that for me, I was like, Okay, I
can take a deep breath now, like he's he's good
with pressure, which you don't get that a lot.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
Yeah. Yeah, what was your connection to him?
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Like right from the beginning, so many people felt like
they saw you guys as like a big sister little
brother relationship.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Did it feel like that at day one?
Speaker 3 (41:59):
It honestly did like it honestly really did. He. I
met him when he was eleven, when Bindy did the show,
So it felt very much like someone that I already knew.
And obviously I didn't have a chance to really get
to know him when he was there with Bindy, just
because you know, we were all in our own worlds.
(42:20):
But when he showed up and he walked in, he
was just so excited and I could tell he was
really nervous. Yeah, I mean he Robert doesn't really get nervous,
but the energy, I just felt like a little bit
more nervous energy. And I felt instantly like I wanted
to like shield him and like him. And I think
because because I am a mom now and like him
(42:41):
being so young, and you know, I have two boys,
and I immediately wanted to just protect him and be
like it's fine, you're good, I've got you. We got this,
like we're so and it was just the energy was
so infectious and it was it just felt really warm,
and it felt really really good. And then I started
doing a few like kicks and flicks with him because
(43:03):
I knew our first dance with Jives. I was like, Okay,
we're going to test this out a little bit. And
I was like, what have you been doing for three months?
Because you got announced? Yeah, now are you taking dance?
Were you taking dance lessons this whole time? And he
had done none of it? I'm like, why wouldn't you
do something?
Speaker 4 (43:19):
Hello?
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Anyway, So we were starting from ground zero, but he
learned so quickly that I was like, Okay, that's a
really good sign that his agility was really good. He
was very athletic and he was able to learn quickly,
which is exactly what I was looking for. So I'm like,
even if you don't have dance experience, if you can
learn pretty quickly and keep it retained, yep, that's going
(43:44):
to be really important. So that's what I was kind
of looking for with that one. But immediate connection, immediate
like protectiveness.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
At one point, you jokingly wanted to play matchmaker for Robert,
the planet's most eligible bachelor, and then your inbox was.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Attacked with dms.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Can you give me a little bit of the vibe
of maybe some of the messages you were receiving?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
Oh my gosh, what started out as like a really
big joke, it started becoming very real for every girl
in America and Australia. So somehow my email was getting
leaked and I was getting emails of applications, I was
getting DMS, I was getting text messages. People really did
(44:28):
their detective work with my email.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
Oh but some of them were really sweet and like amazing,
Like some of these girls really just want to meet Robert,
and like I don't blame them, I don't blame them
at all for shooting their shot.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
Yeah, but a lot of them were just a full
explanation that they love animals and they're really good. I mean,
they're great girls, but it just became so overwhelming for
me that I was like, Guys, I can't focus on
I'm trying to win a competition, like I can't Matchmaker
right now, Robert, you're on your own. And Bendy was like, yeah,
(45:04):
thank goodness, I have someone to help me with this, because.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
I'm sure that happens to her too.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
Yes, So we've kind of split the load there, but
I'm like, Robert, you're on your own now. I'm gonna
let you handle that well.
Speaker 1 (45:18):
Another big discussion this past season involved the online discourse.
A lot of very passionate fandoms were participating, and social
media played a much bigger role on the show than
it ever has before. The word toxic was thrown around
quite a lot. Did it affect you and Robert at all?
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Not really. I feel like Robert and I are very
much in the same person as far as like comments
online and feeding into the negativity. We're just not by nature,
we're not negative people, and so we don't like that
energy at all. So anything negative it kind of bounced
(45:59):
right off of us, and we kind of focused on
what we were doing. I mean, we're all human, and
obviously sometimes I would read it and it would hurt
my feelings a little bit, but I wouldn't let it
affect me. If anything, my personality being a dancer and
getting critiqued so much, that's that was my whole life.
It was getting critiqued. It was fixed, fix your head,
(46:23):
fix your fix, fix fix fixed. So for me, critiques,
constructive criticism I love and I actually take that and
it motivates me. If it's just nasty and mean, I
don't really care. I don't really care. It kind of
bounces right off of me. But I know a lot
of people. I mean, I feel like Robert and I
(46:44):
were lucky enough to not get as much as some
of the other couples did. Like I felt like Whitney
and my thought a lot, and that would be very
very hard to deal with if I was getting that
every single day. And she is a tough she's a
tough woman, Like that's that's very very hard to do
when you're getting you know, such negative, hateful comments every
(47:05):
single day. And I think people need to realize that
we're all human, we're all trying to do, you know,
the best that we can. So I do feel bad
for some of the couples that really got it, yeah, badly,
But I didn't. We definitely didn't feed into it, and
we would definitely if there was anything negative, we would
just swipe, or we would just not read it or
(47:25):
you know, kind of protect our peace, I think, because
it's it's mentally challenging already enough as it is.
Speaker 1 (47:31):
You know, yes, absolutely, I feel very much the same way.
I'm also just not a negative person, and so if
there is some of it out there, I really try
to just go, oh.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
Okay, did you feel did you feel like you got
any at all?
Speaker 2 (47:48):
No? Not nothing. Nothing.
Speaker 1 (47:50):
That was just straight up nasty people being you know,
people saying whether or not they thought I could dance
or critical or whatever. Sure, but like people just being
nasty to me. No, I really was spared. And and
like you said, some people were not spared.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That, and and that would be that would be very hard.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
But very hard.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Looking back on your partners, Milo excluded, is there someone
that sticks out as a competitor who deserved a longer run?
Speaker 3 (48:20):
Kind of thing? Packed all my partners I've had, so
many deserved a longer run. I'm trying to think. I
feel like all of the partners that I feel like
had potential all made it to the finale. Okay, I
(48:42):
do feel like with von Miller, I feel like those
that's one season that I kind of looked back at
and wish I would have tried a lot harder. And
not that I didn't and not that I didn't put
my best effort forward. I just wish I would have
had him in the last few years to really give it.
(49:04):
You know, I know a lot more, I'm a lot
more experienced, and I feel like I could really because
he was so strong and so athletic. I do feel
like I could give it a better a better season
if I had him in the last few years, for sure.
So that's kind of one season that I go, I
regret a.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
Little bit, right, You wish you knew then what you know.
Speaker 3 (49:27):
Now exactly, And that's that's hard, right, Like everyone kind
of does that. But I think that's one specific because
he just had come from the Super Bowl, he was
MVP Super Bowl champ and there were a lot of
expectations on us and I really I had just gotten married,
so I feel like I was very much in this
marriage bubble and you know it's hard, it's hard to
(49:49):
balance all of that, but I really feel like I
wish I would have given it a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (49:55):
I totally get that you are a mom of two,
as we've mentioned, and you look absolutely incredible. I think
a lot of listeners, including myself, want your tips and tricks.
So let's talk about Finesse. Tell me about it. Tell
me about your app. Why did you create it?
Speaker 2 (50:11):
I want to know everything.
Speaker 3 (50:13):
Oh, you're so sweet, Thank you. It's actually been a
passion project of mine for many years. As like I
grew up, I really realized that like a lot of
dancers don't have the accessibility of really good mentors and trainers,
and people either can't afford it, or they don't have
teachers close by, or they don't have studios close by.
(50:35):
And so this was kind of a project for us
that can be accessible and affordable to anyone that wants
to learn ballroom dance and wants to learn from me
specifically and have and learn choreography that I do on
the show. And also we have some workouts on there
as well, so if you're looking to dance and get
some cardio and move your body, there's workouts in there,
(50:57):
and then if you're wanting to learn just the basics
and choreography, there's also a lot of options on there
as well. So it really started as like a passion
project that really anybody can access. And it's been really
well received and we're so so excited about it, and
it's been really fun. It's been really fun to kind
(51:17):
of give back to a dance community that's given me
so much and and I you know, I'm so grateful
for my childhood and having great mentors, so I just
really wanted to make sure that everybody had that accessibility.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
I love that. I'm gonna I'm going to join, by
the way, Yes you need to, It's so yes, I will.
All right, let's get to the chase. After something like
season thirty four basically winning the show's super Bowl, do
you plan on returning to the show and defending the title?
Speaker 3 (51:47):
It's oh my goodness, he's hitting.
Speaker 2 (51:50):
Me with the hard, hard hitting questions.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
I know everyone's uh, not everyone, but you know, people
are asking me, They're like, please don't retire, and I'm like,
it's it's a hard it's a hard decision, right because
it's a show that I love very much and it's
been so much part of me and I've mentioned that
so many times, and it's had kind of a resurgence,
and it's beautiful that people are giving dancers a platform
(52:17):
and us this opportunity to share what we love so much.
TBD to be.
Speaker 1 (52:25):
DEBD, I mean, how could you top Robert. That's the
hardest parts.
Speaker 3 (52:30):
That's the hardest part. That's the hardest part. But like
you said, it's it's not every season about winning the
Mirror Ball, right, Like, it's not. That's not necessarily what
it's about. You can find your own experience and your
own growth and your own successes without winning the Mirror Ball.
So and you know, I don't I don't expect to
win again. But actually, Dina just text me the other
(52:53):
day She's like, you're not pregnant, right, And I'm like, oh, gonness.
So we're kind of we're kind of tossing it up
because you know, my youngest is too and we want
more children, and you know, unfortunately it's kind of the
timing of it all, so it's like, do we have
a baby? Ye, go back to the show. So we're
kind of okay. I mean that so TBD. TBD, honestly,
(53:16):
my honest, honest response to that.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
Okay, I appreciate the honesty. I am about to embark
on a wild adventure. I'm doing the Dancing with the
Stars Live tour. You have participated in the past, and
(53:40):
you'll be coming for some special dates with Robert on
this live tour as well.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
What should I expect?
Speaker 3 (53:48):
What?
Speaker 1 (53:49):
The fact that we have to do our own hair
and makeup is traumatizing me.
Speaker 3 (53:54):
It's actually it's actually great because you have you get
to explore some amazing in the country, and you know
what we don't get to do on camera or on
the show is to really meet the fans who have
voted for week after week after week. And that's the
best part. That's the best part of meeting the fans
and being able to give them something that you know
(54:18):
that they want and that they love, and that is
performing and spreading joy and like you know, then they're
so excited and it's just it's an amazing full circle
moment where you're like, Okay, this is why I do
what I do. You know, I really feel the love
and the energy in each theater, and I love that
they do theaters now because it used to the arenas
(54:38):
and it was just it wasn't intimate. So this book
very intimate. And you have you ever done live performances
like on Broadway or anything, or.
Speaker 1 (54:47):
Never have done Broadway, but for we've done a podcast
live tour.
Speaker 3 (54:50):
And you know, Okay, so you know how that feels.
And I think you're gonna you're gonna be way more
laxed because no one's judging you. They well, they love
you for you and for what you can offer, and
that's that's amazing to them. So they're they're gonna be
so excited. It's gonna be chill. I mean, nobody's be
(55:11):
judging you. Honestly, you could go out just like that,
like I would just do natural makeup and just have
my hair like this and do the costumes and okay, fun,
it's so fun. You're gonna don't stress about it. Honestly,
it's it's it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Okay, I'm really looking forward to it. How do you
pack to be gone for so long?
Speaker 3 (55:31):
Like?
Speaker 1 (55:31):
Do you just bring warm sweatsuits? I'm gone through the winter.
I'm doing all the January February dates.
Speaker 3 (55:37):
Okay, are you gonna be on the East coast then yes?
Or yes? Yeah? I mean, I would just plan on
loungey where plant like a few things that you can
explore the city, because it's really fun to go do
that and do kind of the touristy things in the
city and then you perform and then you go to
bed and you hang out with everyone and it's it's
(55:58):
really so how many dates are you doing?
Speaker 2 (56:00):
I'm doing twenty eight shows?
Speaker 3 (56:02):
Oh my gosh, so exciting. Yeah. No, I would just
pack light because hugging lugging that suitcase in and out
of the bus and into the venue. Make sure you
have like a little carry on so you have like
your makeup, your toilet stuff, and your shower stuff, so
that you can just take that little carry on into
the venue. Great, I mean, so just like do that
(56:24):
so you don't have to get your whole big suitcase out. Okay,
just a little carry on and then just have fun.
I'm I'm jealous you're doing that many dates, like I
would love to do that. How are your boys staying home?
Speaker 1 (56:37):
They're staying home, but my husband is going to bring
them out for about a week, So I'm going to
be gone for two weeks. Then they're going to come
out and join me for a week. Then when they
go home, I'll only have one week left.
Speaker 3 (56:46):
Perfect. See that's perfect. Yeah, my kids are coming. We're
doing an RV, so we're renting an RV. It's so great,
and they're just doing city to city with me because
I yeah, and like we've done the whole bus thing
before where I actually had my contract the last time
I did tour that Carson had a bunk. Great, actually
(57:06):
had his own bunk with me, and so that was
really fun. But you'll have a blast, You'll you'll have
so much fun.
Speaker 1 (57:13):
I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to have
to pick one of your and Robert states I want
to come and watch when you guys are there, so.
Speaker 3 (57:19):
Me too, I think I swear we do la but.
Speaker 2 (57:23):
Yeah, you do.
Speaker 1 (57:24):
You're you're more of the local ones I think. Also,
are you Vegas too?
Speaker 3 (57:27):
Vegas too?
Speaker 2 (57:28):
Okay? And will you be at the Irwin Gala on
September on May third? Yes, me too, I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (57:34):
Okay, good Bank reunion, Yes, Okay, great, I'm really looking
forward to it. Whitney, thank you so much for spending
your time with me. Have the best time in Australia.
I'm going to want all the details. I'm going to
make sure you have my phone number so we can text.
But when you get back, I want to know everything
about it. I want to hear all the details. I
want to see family pictures. I adore you and just
(57:57):
loved my time with you this past season and think
thank you so much for spreading your light and sharing
it with all of us here today.
Speaker 3 (58:03):
You are the best. Thank you for having me. Love you,
Love you ma.
Speaker 4 (58:07):
Bye, okay bye.
Speaker 1 (58:11):
Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel.
Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge
of production Danielle Romo, producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbosch.
Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at
Danielle with Stars and vote for me
Hello, and welcome to Danielle With a podcast that if
your hip to industry. LINGO recently flipped into my solo
interview series teen Beat. But since I Danielle Fischl, director, podcaster,
mom of two, and TV ready ballroom dancer, I am about
to go out on the road for the Dancing with
the Stars Live Tour. I figured that I'd not only
(00:37):
be updating you from all cities like Hershey, Pennsylvania and Banger, Maine,
I'd also prep a bit and return to talk to
some of my favorite pros and contestants from the show.
I'm hosting twenty eight live performances over three months, and
since this is a safe space, I will admit one thing.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I have no idea what to expect.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yet I am very excited to meet some of you
live and in person at these shows, and if worse
comes to worse, I will just use any free time
I have on the bus to force Jenna Johnson to
help me get abs. But today I wouldn't just return
to Danielle with for any meaningless reason. It would have
to be for a guest of the utmost importance, a
(01:22):
superstar even, And so for this week's special episode, I'm
joined by the owner of not only one, but two
mirror ball trophies, with her most recent victory capturing the
nation by storm and forever changing the culture of the
show moving forward. She first appeared on the ballroom floor
as a member of the troop in seasons sixteen and seventeen,
(01:44):
then the following year was promoted to big League competitor,
and it only took two cycles to score her way
into the winner's circle, partnered with Alfonso Ribero, who at
the time was just a lowly celebrity contestant, but with
her help not only transformed into one of the most
impressive winners in the show's history, he would later become
(02:05):
the face of the process. Then, over the next thirteen seasons,
she'd have eight top five finishes, including her turn with
Milo Mannheim, whose second place showing is often referred to
by dance experts as a total effing crime against rhythm.
But in twenty twenty five, things began to look up
(02:26):
or should I say down under, when she paired with
human Koala Bear Robert Erwin, and right out of the gate,
the pair stole America's hearts, gliding into the finals and
securing the len Goodman Trophy. It makes you wonder how
could she top it? What's next for this fellow mom
of two adorable boys who seems to capture dance magic
(02:48):
year after year. Well, i'll tell you what. She's sitting
with me to talk about her undeniable Hall of fame
career in the hollowed halls of Dancing with the Stars
and what I can expect on this tour. I'm wildly
nervous about it. So please welcome to Danielle with the
reigning champ, Miss Whitney Carson.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh my gosh, what an intro. Chills Like, Oh my god,
this is incredible. How do I put that Danielle in
you listen monologue for myself.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I will get it for you. We'll we'll snip it,
we'll send it in. It's actually a really a really
great intro for my one of my first questions, which
is I when we had Alfonso on the show, Yeah,
talk about getting chills. The way he spoke about you
and the love and the reverence and the respect he
has for you, and the way he knows you and
(03:43):
like really sees you was so special. And one of
the clips of him talking about you, what pretty viral.
What did you think when you first heard that.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Oh, my gosh, he is just such a gem of
a human. I mean, you know him, you've known him
for years, but he really is like an uncle a
brother to me. And he really helped me kind of
spread my wings in this Hollywood world. Because I'm from
American for Utah, a small town. I did not know
what I was getting myself into and at eighteen, like
(04:16):
you're still a kid, and so the fact that he
was my partner was such divine intervention for us, because
he really he actually really taught me so much and
kind of put me under his wing. And from then
on we've just had like this inseparable bond and something
that I can't really explain, but it's it's a bond
that's really traveled with us through adulthood and through my marriage.
(04:39):
And he's always been a mentor to me. But that
specific interview that he did with you, I he had
never told me those feelings or thoughts before, and so
I was hearing it for the first time on social
media and I immediately started crying because he's one of
those He's that type of person that just knows you
(04:59):
better than you know yourself and use that for me.
And so I was like, you know what, that is
so true and it just resonated so much with me,
and obviously it resonated with so many of you guys
and people watching, and it just kind of took off.
And I'm just so grateful that he's always been in
my corner and he's just been such a safe space
(05:21):
for me in a world that can be so stressful
and that you can kind of lose your way at times,
and it's such a crazy wild ride within this industry,
and especially with the show, how stressful and how physically
and mentally demanding it is for him to be there
in the studio and mentoring me and just honestly just
(05:41):
being there made it made me feel like I was
so safe. Yeah, And so that's what he is for me.
So that was really sweet to see that kind of
go viral and people just love that because our bond
is very special.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yes, well, that's very apparent.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I am speaking to you the day before you leave
for Australia with your family. We were just discussing before
we started recording about how stressful the idea of a
sixteen hour flight is with two small children, how excited
are you? And how excited are the kids for this trip?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
We are so extremely excited. We honestly weren't planning on
going to Australia this quickly, but it kind of just
fell into place, and the kids are We actually surprised
them on Christmas morning that we were going, and so
they were so excited. And my boys love animals and
(06:36):
they just can't stop talking about the koalas and they
love Robert. So the fact that we get to combine
all of those Robert and animals in the zoo, like,
we're just so so excited. So they this is actually
the first trip with jet out of the country so internationally,
so I think it's going to be the trip is
going to be crazy, but when we get there, it's
(06:58):
going to be it's going to be amazing. And I
have facetimed and texted over what we're going to do
and our plans. He's like, can I just go ahead
and plan everything for you guys? And I'm like please,
I'm like please, here take it. And so he's been
very kind and sweet enough to He's got a whole
plan for us. We're in Robert Irwin's hands.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
For oh Man two weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
You're in very good, capable hands, so that's at least
a safe feeling.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yes for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
How once you touched down, how long are you there
before you return home?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So we're we fly to Sydney and then Brisbane and
then we're going to go I think the Zoo's like
an hour and a half away, and then we'll spend
a whole week at their lodge, which they've so graciously
hosted us for that. We're really excited about that though.
I heard the food's amazing and so we'll do that
for a week and then we'll be on the Sunshine
Coast for the second week. So we wanted a little
(07:48):
bit of zoo, a little bit of like the beach town.
So everything recommended by.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Robert so oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I will let you guys know because I know you
guys are going or trying.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Are we are? Yeah, we're going to book a trip.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I don't know exactly when, but uh, I think are
you guys going to be there through the Australian.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Open I think so yep? Oh man, oh, I'm like,
do I try and go?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
You should? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, that would actually be incredible, But we actually we
decided not to bring any help. So I'm like, our
kids allowed? Kids allowed there?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I don't know they are. You're allowed it, You're yeah,
kids are allowed at ten. I mean it's going to
be you know if one of you will probably be
up and down and up and down trying to keep
you know, you don't want them like loud, But yes,
I think I think kids are allowed.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
I mean you can't be in Australian during the Australian
Open and not try to go.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I know, okay, we'll try and go. I know Carson
will probably be all for it with the sports and
exactly Robert too. I'm like, I'm sure Robert will want
to go as well.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So yes, yes, you guys should think it'll be fun.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I can't imagine when you started a career in ballroom
dancing you thought it would lead to zoo trips with
the Irwin family and.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You never And that's what's so beautiful about this show though.
You get to meet so many different people and walks
of life that you just would never expect to become
friends with. I mean, if I never had this career,
I mean, I don't you know, I wouldn't know Robert
Irwin and He's like one of the most special people
in my life. So I'm very grateful to be on
(09:33):
a show that allows that to happen and to create
friendships and long lasting friendships forever. No, I never thought
in a million that one of my good friends would
be a zoo keeper from Australia. And it was so
funny during rehearsals too. I would get, you know, towards
the end and be like, Okay, come on, like you
know this, like you know the dance deep and he'd
(09:54):
be like, remember, Whitney, I am just a zoo keeper.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm like, right right, You're not as much as it
seems like it. You're not a fellow professional dancer, right this.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
You've known this for a few weeks.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, No, but he honestly, it's going to be hard
to have another partner compared to Robert. I mean, I know,
this is so amazing. I mean, you know how incredible
he is.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He's truly incredible.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
I tell everybody every chance I get, like, exactly what
he seems like is exactly what he is.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I know. Literally, it's so funny, and I forget that
he's twenty one because he acts like a forty year
old I know, and then sometimes you get little glimpses
and you're like, oh right, okay, you're all one yes exactly,
but he's yeah, no, he's amazing. So we're really excited
to see him look good.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I want to talk a little bit about young Whitney.
Kid Whitney, your mom was a travel agent and your
dad was in software developing. How did you gravitate toward dance?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Well, you know what, my mom, she actually grew up
very very poor. She could not afford dance, and she
really always wanted to be a dancer. And so I
think she knew when I was her first So I
think what she knew that she could tell that I
kind of liked to dance. She was immediately like okay,
Like she kind of lived a little bit vicariously through
(11:19):
me because she wanted to give me all the opportunities
that she didn't have. And so that's you know, I
started dance very young, and I loved it, loved it,
loved it. And then as I grew older, she actually
became she started a swimweark company, so she was an entrepreneur.
(11:40):
And of that get I remember her starting this business
in our basement and just hustling, and I think that's
where I get kind of my entrepreneur gene a little
bit that little fire in me to be an entrepreneur
because I saw her work so so hard for something
that she wanted so badly. So that was she was
amazing example to me of hard work and being a
(12:02):
mom and balancing it all. And it was really inspiring
for me as a kid and a teen to watch
her do that. And my dad, he was in software development,
so he was obviously the techie guy, but they did
trade a lot for my dance training because you know,
at times we couldn't afford it, and they wanted so
(12:24):
badly for me to go after my dreams. And so
I'm just so thankful that they were able to sacrifice
so much for me too. I mean, that's what you
do for your kids, and now having kids, and like
you would do anything for them to have their dreams
and to go after their dreams. And so my dad
did a little bit of the stage work, so he
would actually take down sets for us and travel with
(12:46):
us to competitions and set it up to trade for
a lot of my dance training. So he did that
as well as software development, and then once the Swimwork
company kind of took off, they kind of tag teamed
that together. So very very hard working parents came from so.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And creative to think like, okay, there's other ways of
you know, other than cold hard cash. There are other
things we can do. And so even just thinking of that,
like I can take down and put up sets and.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Yep, and they just they were just willing to do
that for me, and it was I'm just so thankful
for that and the example of hard work and perseverance
through everything. I truly believe if you work hard enough,
like you can do anything. And that's what you know.
I always tell my brothers and sisters who are adults
now and just you know, I'm kind of living proof
of that, like you can do anything that you set
(13:40):
your mind to. And yeah, they they We had an
amazing childhood and very grateful for that.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Was the goal always to end up in Los Angeles,
Like when you start dancing and you know you're going
to pursue a dance career, is the goal, like let's
get to LA.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
You know what. That Actually that wasn't really in my
sight because I feel like it was so scary for
me because you know, I've always been born and raised
in that small town, and I just loved dance. I
loved it so much that I didn't really have sights
on TV or film or that was really wasn't really
(14:17):
in my headspace. I actually had all of my classes
set up for college and I was on the dance team.
I had auditioned for the dance team in college, and
I was kind of going that route, like Okay, maybe
dance can just be a passion of mine and not
something that's really on TV or film. And then that
I remember so thinking you can dance. Came to Salt
(14:38):
Lake City and my mom the two nights before was like,
Mom's intuition is so good, but she was like, I
really just feel like you need to try. You need
to try an audition for this and just see what
happens and you don't. Don't get upset or you know, determined,
but just just go for it. And so two nights
before I grabbed my partner and we la last minute,
(15:00):
got a routine together, and I was just like, Okay,
let's go for it. And that just really skyrocketed my
career into TV and film and so you can dance,
and then dancing with the Stars found me on that show, okay,
and the kind of the rest is history from that,
But my mom's intuition, she knows.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
She knew for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
So that was around twenty twelve that you were on
So You Think you Can Dance. You finished in the
top six, and in that first season you were partnered
with Steven twitch Boss, a dancer that I as a fan,
admired very much from afar.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
What are your memories of working with him?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Oh, my gosh, that was one of the most influential
times in my career was with Steven. And he was
such a beautiful person, a beautiful dancer. Obviously, everyone who
watched him dance just felt an instant connection sol to soul.
It was kind of indescribable. And working with him, he
(15:59):
was so sweet. Because I was a ballroom dancer, so
I wasn't like completely comfortable with hip hop, and although
we cross trained a lot, I mean, this was hip
hop hip hop, so I was very much intimidated. But
he made it so fun, He made it so comfortable.
And who was our choreographer, Luthor lu choreographer, and they
(16:24):
had known each other for a while, so I just
remember coming into the studio and feeling like so welcomed
and we had we just had so much fun. And
that was one of the most memorable routines that I
ever did on the show. So again, I'm just I'm
so grateful that I was able to have the opportunity
with him. That was fun.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
That was very fun, so fun.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
You were there for two seasons and then in twenty
thirteen you made the jump over to Dancing with the
Stars as a member of the Troop.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
It was a little bit of a hot button issue
this season because some were critical of pros who don't
start in that like.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Quasi prentice position.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Do you think it should be mandatory to ease into
the competition by starting on troop?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
I mean, you know what's hard is so they took
away the Troop for a while, and so I think
like that transition kind of changed the way the producers
thought about the Troop and getting promoted to being a professional.
I do think that it helps a lot because the
east of the show is something unlike anything. I mean,
(17:28):
you can't be prepared for a show like this, no
matter how much training in the studio that you do.
So being on the troop and it helps you see
kind of how it works, how the beast of the
show works, and how to teach, because you can be
the best dancer in the entire world, but if you
don't know how to teach, then you know that it
(17:49):
can become very hard for you, and you know, you
do have to be I think it's it's helpful if
you are a little bit cross trained, because now now
we're seeing you know, the freestyles, and we're seeing you know,
obviously there's jazz and contemporary styles that get judged, and
so it is really nice to have a little bit
of everything, and also just to get a little bit
(18:11):
more information and education under your belt before you get
promoted as a pro. And I did feel a little
bit bad for Yawn that he wasn't able. I mean,
he had never been involved in the show. I mean
it's nice when you can kind of see it firsthand
before you step into that role. Yeah, and so I
think it would just be helpful. I don't know if
(18:31):
it needs to be mandatory, but I think that it
would help.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
The pro Yeah, benefits the pros.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
It benefits the pros. Honestly, Like, if I had to choose,
I would say put me on troop first before I
get promoted to a pro. But yeah, I think it's
it was very helpful. And then obviously each season that
you do as a professional is still so much that
you learn. I mean, my first season to this season
is dramatically different. You know, each you learn more and
(18:59):
you get better at teaching, you get better at choreographing,
you get better about how you plan everything, and so
now like within the last even few years, I feel
like I've gotten a grip on that where I feel like,
you know, I've watched back some of the routines that
I did with Von Miller and I'm like, oh my gosh,
what was I thinking? You know, which I think everybody
does that at some point in their work, correct, But
(19:23):
you know it definitely each season teaches you and makes
you grow in ways that you didn't expect.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
And as we talked about, then in your second season,
you were paired with the incomparable Alphonso Ribero and you
take home the Mirror Ball Trophy with him. Did that
partnership feel special just right from the start?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I yes, And I remember actually our first meeting and
I knew exactly who he was. They used to just
surprise us and it got it got.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
When people, yeah, because sometimes people didn't know who.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
They were exactly, and you're like, nice to meet you.
I don't know anymore. But they surprised me on this
one because I think they knew I would know who
he was. I mean, I watched Fresh Prince all growing up,
like I wash, so of course I was instantly excited
when I met him, and then we started to get
into I remember it was just simple chochaw locks across
the floor and he got it like that, and I
(20:21):
was like, Okay, this is gonna be really good. And
I could just feel it. I could just feel how
different it was, and he was so good in the
fact that, like, okay, so it's my second season, right,
I'm still very much competitive, Like I'm still trying to
prove myself in a way, because you know, the first
(20:42):
season I was with Cody Simpson and I got we
got eliminated I think like the fourth or fifth week
fairly early. So I still had something to prove and
I was very competitive and very hard, very hard on him,
and he was just so patient and kind with me,
and he was exactly what I needed to be, like, Okay,
it's okay, it's about it's about making the celebrity better.
(21:06):
And I think all when once you get into a group,
you understand that, but at the beginning you're really focused
on you know, I've got to prove myself. I have
something to prove, and I want to win, and you're
very much competitive in that way. So so he was
really good to kind of like balance out the mental
part of everything and the emotional part of everything.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, that part would be hard because you know, the
celebrities on the show are not usually trying to leave
there with a new career as a professional dancer.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Like that's that.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
You know, we go into it for different Everyone comes
into it for different reasons. But like best case scenario,
you're getting somebody there who just wants to learn and
wants to improve week after week and wants to have
fun doing it and wants to be out of their
comfort zone and wants to, you know, see how far
they can take this and is competing with themselves.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Week after week.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
But for you guys, especially when this is what you've
trained for your whole lives, like this is your career,
this is your reputation, this is so it's hard to
separate between me Whitney Carson wanting to put on my
best performance and show people what I'm capable of, but also,
oh yeah, this it's called Dancing with the Stars, and
(22:20):
I need to make my star look good. And so yeah,
that would be really like, that's a that's a that's
a learning curve that you have to go through between
finding the balance of showcasing what you're capable of and
making your star shine.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
Yeah, and I think that it takes honestly years to
do that. I mean, I, like I said, I didn't
really quite figure that out fully until the last maybe
five years. And with some celebrities it's just so different.
Like I know, for me, some celebrities, I don't I
don't dance like my full ability, like I don't like
(22:55):
I'm able to. I almost dance like a notch down
just in case something happens and they fall off timing.
And so if they're off timing, I watch them and
I go off timing so it looks like they're on timing.
We find little tricks that kind of allow them to shine,
which in which in turn honestly makes makes you like
(23:18):
look better as well, because you know, it's it's a
win win when you when you do it that way
and you really think about their journey and their and
what makes them shine and finding those moments to really
make them stand out.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Yeah, what do you think made him such a perfect
contestant for the show.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
If you know Alfonso, he is good at everything and
that mentality it takes a certain personality, takes a certain
person whether it was it was something in their childhood
or their career or whatever they that made them that way.
But Alfonso is that like if he wants to golf,
he's the best at golf. If he is trying to
(23:58):
do tennis, he's the best at that. He will go, go,
go until he is he's mastered it. And so that's
how he came into the Dancing with the Stars. He
wasn't like, Okay, I'm here to have fun. Obviously, I'm
sure that's yeah, that comes with it, but he was like,
I'm going to give this everything in my like like
everything that I have. And I think that was the
(24:19):
same with Robert too. And you have those few personalities
where you're like, Okay, like this, I know, I know
he's going to do amazing because he's got he's got
what it takes to really go there and on a
show like this, you have to do that. You have
to put your whole soul and heart and everything into it.
And that's just his personality. And I think that he's
(24:40):
been in TV for very for so long, so he's
comfortable on camera and that really helped. He was very
mature in the way that he handled the producers in
the studio and with me, and very much like calm
and collected, and he was I think that he was
just such a just a special person for people to
(25:02):
watch too. They just connected to us so much because
we connected obviously, and people root for the connections and
the partnerships too. Yeah, we made We made the talk
shows quite a bit from our little banter, which was
really funny.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
That's so cute.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
People still tell me they're like, my favorite thing you
ever said to him was when you hit hit him
in the crotch and you said you need a snack.
It's like, that's a good line. I still do that
nowadays too. I'm like, I hit people like, you need
some food. Food get better. You have some chips, will
make it better, I promise. But yeah, I think just
(25:40):
his personality and his drive and the way that we connected.
I think what is what made us successful. And now
he's like such a big part of the show. He's
such a he's the heart of it, you know my opinion.
So I think that it all worked out for the best.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Absolutely, he's such an incredible host.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
I know everyone who's ever seen the show with him
knows that he is spectacular to watch and everybody talks
about Everybody just watches him, and then every now and
then someone will just look at each other and go, Wow,
that's he's good.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
He's really good.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
He's really good.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I love that he is so invested in each of
the celebrities too. Yeah, don't you feel like he gave
you like some good advice and he was very much
like just he wants everyone to genuinely do well. Yeah,
and he takes his job seriously. So it's like if
if he knows that you're struggling with something in the week,
he'll he'll maybe bring that up or he just really can.
(26:32):
He really puts everything he has into everything that he does.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
So he really does. He's everyone's safe space. I mean
really that he is. He gives everyone that feeling. If like,
as long as I'm here and I'm with him, I
know I'm in a safe place.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Yeah exactly. Oh I love that. How did you feel
like your last your last week, Like did you feel
like did you feel like you got out what you
wanted from this experience? Or like, well, how what was
your mental space coming into it? Like did you just
want to have fun or did you want to win?
(27:06):
Like what was your mentality?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I'm curious when I first started, before we even started,
once I knew I was doing the show, So like
sometime at the beginning of August, when I knew, Okay,
I'm doing the show, I was like.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
I'm gonna win. I want to win.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
I'm very competitive, but I'm also like competitive and a realist.
And so once we actually started and I saw all
the other dancers, and you know, going into it, obviously
I was a fan of the show, so I knew
there was going to be a lot more involved in
winning than just dance ability. It's likability and personality and
(27:43):
who connects with the audience, and you don't know, like
those are all factors kind of completely out of your control.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
And I remember then, like on pretty.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Much the first week, being like, oh wow, this is
a stacked season on all of those fronts, like different,
different likabilities, different rivalries, different partnerships that people are going
to root for, lots of prior dance experience, and I,
similar to Robert, had no prior dance experience. Wow, so
(28:12):
you know, I'd never even taken a dance class.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
So it was like, my goodness, I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yeah I have, I've never I'd never danced, and so
then I kind of was like, Okay, well, maybe I'm
not gonna win, which is fine. Maybe there's a win
in a different way, and that is then I was like,
the win is competing with myself and getting better every
week and feeling like, you know, the language of dance
(28:40):
is both in my body and in my brain, and
I feel like I just understand it more and I
definitely feel like I got all of that out of it.
What I will say is that if I wasn't if
I didn't have small kids, I probably would have. And
I don't know if it really would have made that
(29:02):
much of a difference, because I don't look back on
my experience on the show and say I didn't work
hard enough, like.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
We brusted our butts.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But when I left the studio, I then did have
to come home and be a mom, and I had
to put my kids to bed, and I had to
you know, there were things I had to do that
I wanted to do in order to not feel like
I just a bit truly abandoned my family. There was
enough feeling like you do that anyway, And then it
(29:33):
meant like I had fifteen to twenty minutes at night
to review tape and right before I would fall asleep.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
And if I were younger and or did not.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Have children, there probably would have been more I would
have I would have been able to do than just that.
So who knows though if it would have made a difference,
I wouldn't change anything about my experience.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
That's so I'm so glad. I just was curious about that.
I feel the exact same way because I have two
little ones as well. But I think that's what makes
us have such a unique perspective when we do get
get out on stage, when we do dance, and when
we do emote like like, I feel like I connected
to you so much because you are a mom, and
(30:16):
like your heart and your passion and your like the
way that you emoted on stage like made that so personal,
like so cool, So I feel like it was all
it was all meant to be. I mean, is your
balance like we balance so much as a mom, Like
I know, it was crazy like towards the end, like Carson,
(30:37):
my husband was like, just go for it. He's like,
I got the kids, so they didn't have a mom
honestly for probably the last like four weeks of competence,
Like I left before they got up, and then I
came home when they after they went to bed, like
they did not have a mom. I was like, so sorry,
I will see you in four weeks.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
And there there was no other way around it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Had I made it, had I made it that far,
that would have been the exact same situation for me.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Too, exactly. And it's just it's just so hard when
you are balancing so many different things.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Yes, and you feel so guilty too because you're like,
they don't understand, they have no idea. And my son,
my son did have a meltdown. I told you about
my oldest son's meltdown. He was like, I hate this job.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
I did not hear that.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Oh my god, yeah, he said to me. He was like,
I hate this job. Why did you even take this job?
You don't have time for me? And Keaton anymore. All
you do is dance, dance, dance.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Oh my gosh, shattered, shattered, literally kill me. I'd be like, okay,
I'm quitting. I know.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I was like, it's not gonna last forever.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
It's nice weear, but if I make it to the finals,
We've only got four more weeks, Adler, and he was
like he was very upset.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Oh my gosh, Oh that's far. The mom guilt is
so real.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Yes, it really is.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Once you win your first Mirror Ball trophy, does the
pressure lesson or do you have like a taste for
blood now and you just want to keep winning another one?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Oh goodness. I got to think back to when I
first won. I feel like you can kind of take
a deep breath a little bit. You can kind of
be like, Okay, I feel like I've proven myself a
little bit, I can win, and now it's just kind
of I think it was interesting what you said take
the wins in different ways, like, and I think that
that is the mentality you have to have because not
(32:44):
everyone can win, and it's not really about the pros
winning anyway, So it's not really about us winning our wins.
Like I feel like with Danny last season, not Daniella,
but with my danny E Minola, it was more about
like you know, the viral stuff like on social media,
(33:04):
and like that was like our in our own way,
like our win, you know, like for us, like that's
what we were trying to really push because we knew
like there were some crazy good dancers, so like we are,
we're not gonna win, so let's let's do our thing.
Let's try and win in different ways. And I think
that's how you have to think on this show. But
(33:26):
after I won the first time, I feel like that
was kind of the mentality. So each somebody after that
was like, well, how can I make him look good?
And how can I make us go as far as
we can? And I think at the beginning you can
kind of tell if you have a winner or not,
like kind of you can tell. You can be like
maybe not a winner, but you can tell if you're
(33:46):
gonna make it to the finals. And then there's obviously
that dark horse where people don't really know. But I
think every season I have a pretty good intuition. So
I mean with Milo, I thought, really we had it. Yeah,
that was the only one where my intuition was not right.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Did you were you just as shocked by that finale
as everyone else.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yes, yeah, but at the same time, looking back, looking
back at the time now, but looking back, you know,
Milo was so young and we did not have TikTok,
so we did not have that that younger viewership that
we have now. And I do believe if we had
that younger viewership, we probably would have won. But because
Bobby was so popular with that demographic. But that, I mean,
(34:34):
it makes sense looking back.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Now, why that right, Yeah, you're right, that younger demographic.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
You don't think about that that like, before the age
of social media and really getting to get this younger
generation hooked on the show. That that wasn't his youth,
which would be such an asset now, was actually a
detriment back then, right.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Like if I think if I you know, if he
did the show right now, I think hands down he
would he would win. He would take it. And it's
just the timing of it all. But honestly, we talk
about it all the time, Milo and I it actually
did us good, didn't win because now it's so talked about,
which you know, we'll take it, we'll take it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, it really is finding wins in other
ways that like that really was the win, you know,
the win was in that situation that everyone for years
since has been like talk about a robbery.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Talk about exactly. Yes, And I remember the first who
was it that? Do you remember Chelsea High Tower? Yes,
for the first pros. I remember her telling me celebrate
in the small successes. So like every if they point
their toe on a certain count, that celebrate, celebrate that, right,
(35:51):
So like I kind of had that mentality throughout the
years of just like celebrating those moments.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Yes, well that it's a perfect transition into our buddy
Robert Irwin. I remember after Week one, a dance that
I think goes down in the show's Hall of fame
for Week ones. I saw you at rehearsal and I
told you, guys, how thought how much I just how
magical I thought it was, And you mentioned how hard
it was going to be to continue that trajectory. Were
(36:21):
you nervous coming off a dance that Derek said might
be the best Week one performance ever?
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Yes, I was very nervous. I mean I think we
were the thing about that Week one and I think
about the thing about Robert Irwin coming in after Bendy.
Bendy was so beloved and she obviously won, and now
her brother coming in and the Irwin family is just.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
A trus Yes, yes, yes they are. There are royal family.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
They are They're not even American, but there are somehow
there are a royal family, yep.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
And they deserve all of it. But it was a
lot of pressure for us because that first week, so
we were like, my mentality was like, just do the
absolute best that you can do, Like I'm not holding
anything back. I'm just gonna push, push, push, And you know,
normally I feel like I would maybe hold some things
back week one, maybe I wouldn't, you know, go as
(37:19):
strong as I did. But because we had this pressure
my mentality and we had so much time that it
kind of just that's kind of just what it was.
So we just we pulled out all the stops on
that week one, and I think Derek saying that it
was the best he's ever seen was great, but it
(37:40):
also hindered us just a little bit because after that,
people had an expectation every single week, So of course
we had that pressure, and but I think that's what
makes the show so beautiful and our journey so beautiful.
Is it kind of did this? Yeah, people love to
root for that. People will love to root for you
(38:02):
when you do go down, and they need, you know,
a hero story, they need an arc. So like if
we stayed there the whole time, I don't know if
the you know, our journey would be the same and
the same outcome, you know. So I think that it
all played out to how it was supposed to do.
But lots of pressure, definitely, But I love what Robert
(38:22):
always says is pressure is a privilege. So that's our mentality.
We were like, this is a privilege to match that,
try and match that. And obviously each I mean, you know,
because you've done it, Each style is different. You have
weaknesses and strengths within each style, and Robert's strength was jive,
like he is the jive King. So anything after that
(38:43):
was a big challenge. And what you what everyone saw
on the live show was hours and hours and hours
of of you know, training, And I really realized that
after we did the team dance. Did you were at
the team dance, right? You did your other team? But
I realized that really it was very apparent when we
(39:06):
did the team dance because I was watching Alex Earl
and Robert side by side learn the same things. Yeah,
and her hit the position immediately, and with Robert it
took a long time to get there. And I think
that's the difference when you have dance experience versus when
you don't and you don't so it, I mean it.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Took and I was wit next to Whitney.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Levitt exactly exact so you got it.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
So I was like, oh, oh, okay, yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
You have to you have to work that much harder,
in which I wish people would have seen in the
packages a little bit more grind like. It's a grind
like if you don't know how to put your hip
to the left and put your arms straight like immediately,
like it takes some time.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
It takes some time, and you look like a baby
deer just you're like.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
And so the fact that where you start.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
On day one and some time even in the middle
of day two, compared to like, oh my gosh, only
a week later, here we are with what we put
out in front.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
Of millions of people.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Live you don't if you're only there a small period
of time or you're not really committing, it's not.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
Going to look great. But it but with the hours
and hours and hours and hours in the grind, I.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
Know, then yeah, then that's what people see. And and
that's the other thing too. With the week one, we
had three weeks to prepare versus five. Yep, that was
also I mean, if we had three weeks for every dance,
like we.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Got it like unbelievable, exactly. I know, And I remember
those first three weeks because I know there were a
lot of people that had already then learned their second
week during those three weeks, and we talked about what
we were going to do. We did like a little
bit of it, but I think, you know, Pasha didn't
know me well enough at that point, and I think
he was worried that if we'd learned too much of
(40:56):
that second week things for this first week, we're going
to fall out. And also like you don't really know
what your celebrity is gonna be like at that first
live show until you have your first live show.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
You can do run throughs and you can do show
and tells.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
But like the night of that live show is a
you can't prepare for it, No, you can't.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
And I think the pros are just as nervous as
the celebrities on that one because, like you said, the
like what do you crack under pressure? Do you live
under pressure? Like we don't know. Are you gonna forget
everything that we can hit the last three weeks? Yeah,
So it was very telling when Robert came alive, like
he comes alive like with when the cameras are on,
(41:39):
and so that for me, I was like, Okay, I
can take a deep breath now, like he's he's good
with pressure, which you don't get that a lot.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
Yeah. Yeah, what was your connection to him?
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Like right from the beginning, so many people felt like
they saw you guys as like a big sister little
brother relationship.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Did it feel like that at day one?
Speaker 3 (41:59):
It honestly did like it honestly really did. He. I
met him when he was eleven, when Bindy did the show,
So it felt very much like someone that I already knew.
And obviously I didn't have a chance to really get
to know him when he was there with Bindy, just
because you know, we were all in our own worlds.
(42:20):
But when he showed up and he walked in, he
was just so excited and I could tell he was
really nervous. Yeah, I mean he Robert doesn't really get nervous,
but the energy, I just felt like a little bit
more nervous energy. And I felt instantly like I wanted
to like shield him and like him. And I think
because because I am a mom now and like him
(42:41):
being so young, and you know, I have two boys,
and I immediately wanted to just protect him and be
like it's fine, you're good, I've got you. We got this,
like we're so and it was just the energy was
so infectious and it was it just felt really warm,
and it felt really really good. And then I started
doing a few like kicks and flicks with him because
(43:03):
I knew our first dance with Jives. I was like, Okay,
we're going to test this out a little bit. And
I was like, what have you been doing for three months?
Because you got announced? Yeah, now are you taking dance?
Were you taking dance lessons this whole time? And he
had done none of it? I'm like, why wouldn't you
do something?
Speaker 4 (43:19):
Hello?
Speaker 3 (43:20):
Anyway, So we were starting from ground zero, but he
learned so quickly that I was like, Okay, that's a
really good sign that his agility was really good. He
was very athletic and he was able to learn quickly,
which is exactly what I was looking for. So I'm like,
even if you don't have dance experience, if you can
learn pretty quickly and keep it retained, yep, that's going
(43:44):
to be really important. So that's what I was kind
of looking for with that one. But immediate connection, immediate
like protectiveness.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
At one point, you jokingly wanted to play matchmaker for Robert,
the planet's most eligible bachelor, and then your inbox was.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Attacked with dms.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Can you give me a little bit of the vibe
of maybe some of the messages you were receiving?
Speaker 3 (44:07):
Oh my gosh, what started out as like a really
big joke, it started becoming very real for every girl
in America and Australia. So somehow my email was getting
leaked and I was getting emails of applications, I was
getting DMS, I was getting text messages. People really did
(44:28):
their detective work with my email.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
Oh but some of them were really sweet and like amazing,
Like some of these girls really just want to meet Robert,
and like I don't blame them, I don't blame them
at all for shooting their shot.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
Yeah, but a lot of them were just a full
explanation that they love animals and they're really good. I mean,
they're great girls, but it just became so overwhelming for
me that I was like, Guys, I can't focus on
I'm trying to win a competition, like I can't Matchmaker
right now, Robert, you're on your own. And Bendy was like, yeah,
(45:04):
thank goodness, I have someone to help me with this, because.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
I'm sure that happens to her too.
Speaker 3 (45:10):
Yes, So we've kind of split the load there, but
I'm like, Robert, you're on your own now. I'm gonna
let you handle that well.
Speaker 1 (45:18):
Another big discussion this past season involved the online discourse.
A lot of very passionate fandoms were participating, and social
media played a much bigger role on the show than
it ever has before. The word toxic was thrown around
quite a lot. Did it affect you and Robert at all?
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Not really. I feel like Robert and I are very
much in the same person as far as like comments
online and feeding into the negativity. We're just not by nature,
we're not negative people, and so we don't like that
energy at all. So anything negative it kind of bounced
(45:59):
right off of us, and we kind of focused on
what we were doing. I mean, we're all human, and
obviously sometimes I would read it and it would hurt
my feelings a little bit, but I wouldn't let it
affect me. If anything, my personality being a dancer and
getting critiqued so much, that's that was my whole life.
It was getting critiqued. It was fixed, fix your head,
(46:23):
fix your fix, fix fix fixed. So for me, critiques,
constructive criticism I love and I actually take that and
it motivates me. If it's just nasty and mean, I
don't really care. I don't really care. It kind of
bounces right off of me. But I know a lot
of people. I mean, I feel like Robert and I
(46:44):
were lucky enough to not get as much as some
of the other couples did. Like I felt like Whitney
and my thought a lot, and that would be very
very hard to deal with if I was getting that
every single day. And she is a tough she's a
tough woman, Like that's that's very very hard to do
when you're getting you know, such negative, hateful comments every
(47:05):
single day. And I think people need to realize that
we're all human, we're all trying to do, you know,
the best that we can. So I do feel bad
for some of the couples that really got it, yeah, badly,
But I didn't. We definitely didn't feed into it, and
we would definitely if there was anything negative, we would
just swipe, or we would just not read it or
(47:25):
you know, kind of protect our peace, I think, because
it's it's mentally challenging already enough as it is.
Speaker 1 (47:31):
You know, yes, absolutely, I feel very much the same way.
I'm also just not a negative person, and so if
there is some of it out there, I really try
to just go, oh.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
Okay, did you feel did you feel like you got
any at all?
Speaker 2 (47:48):
No? Not nothing. Nothing.
Speaker 1 (47:50):
That was just straight up nasty people being you know,
people saying whether or not they thought I could dance
or critical or whatever. Sure, but like people just being
nasty to me. No, I really was spared. And and
like you said, some people were not spared.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That, and and that would be that would be very hard.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
But very hard.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Looking back on your partners, Milo excluded, is there someone
that sticks out as a competitor who deserved a longer run?
Speaker 3 (48:20):
Kind of thing? Packed all my partners I've had, so
many deserved a longer run. I'm trying to think. I
feel like all of the partners that I feel like
had potential all made it to the finale. Okay, I
(48:42):
do feel like with von Miller, I feel like those
that's one season that I kind of looked back at
and wish I would have tried a lot harder. And
not that I didn't and not that I didn't put
my best effort forward. I just wish I would have
had him in the last few years to really give it.
(49:04):
You know, I know a lot more, I'm a lot
more experienced, and I feel like I could really because
he was so strong and so athletic. I do feel
like I could give it a better a better season
if I had him in the last few years, for sure.
So that's kind of one season that I go, I
regret a.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
Little bit, right, You wish you knew then what you know.
Speaker 3 (49:27):
Now exactly, And that's that's hard, right, Like everyone kind
of does that. But I think that's one specific because
he just had come from the Super Bowl, he was
MVP Super Bowl champ and there were a lot of
expectations on us and I really I had just gotten married,
so I feel like I was very much in this
marriage bubble and you know it's hard, it's hard to
(49:49):
balance all of that, but I really feel like I
wish I would have given it a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (49:55):
I totally get that you are a mom of two,
as we've mentioned, and you look absolutely incredible. I think
a lot of listeners, including myself, want your tips and tricks.
So let's talk about Finesse. Tell me about it. Tell
me about your app. Why did you create it?
Speaker 2 (50:11):
I want to know everything.
Speaker 3 (50:13):
Oh, you're so sweet, Thank you. It's actually been a
passion project of mine for many years. As like I
grew up, I really realized that like a lot of
dancers don't have the accessibility of really good mentors and trainers,
and people either can't afford it, or they don't have
teachers close by, or they don't have studios close by.
(50:35):
And so this was kind of a project for us
that can be accessible and affordable to anyone that wants
to learn ballroom dance and wants to learn from me
specifically and have and learn choreography that I do on
the show. And also we have some workouts on there
as well, so if you're looking to dance and get
some cardio and move your body, there's workouts in there,
(50:57):
and then if you're wanting to learn just the basics
and choreography, there's also a lot of options on there
as well. So it really started as like a passion
project that really anybody can access. And it's been really
well received and we're so so excited about it, and
it's been really fun. It's been really fun to kind
(51:17):
of give back to a dance community that's given me
so much and and I you know, I'm so grateful
for my childhood and having great mentors, so I just
really wanted to make sure that everybody had that accessibility.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
I love that. I'm gonna I'm going to join, by
the way, Yes you need to, It's so yes, I will.
All right, let's get to the chase. After something like
season thirty four basically winning the show's super Bowl, do
you plan on returning to the show and defending the title?
Speaker 3 (51:47):
It's oh my goodness, he's hitting.
Speaker 2 (51:50):
Me with the hard, hard hitting questions.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
I know everyone's uh, not everyone, but you know, people
are asking me, They're like, please don't retire, and I'm like,
it's it's a hard it's a hard decision, right because
it's a show that I love very much and it's
been so much part of me and I've mentioned that
so many times, and it's had kind of a resurgence,
and it's beautiful that people are giving dancers a platform
(52:17):
and us this opportunity to share what we love so much.
TBD to be.
Speaker 1 (52:25):
DEBD, I mean, how could you top Robert. That's the
hardest parts.
Speaker 3 (52:30):
That's the hardest part. That's the hardest part. But like
you said, it's it's not every season about winning the
Mirror Ball, right, Like, it's not. That's not necessarily what
it's about. You can find your own experience and your
own growth and your own successes without winning the Mirror Ball.
So and you know, I don't I don't expect to
win again. But actually, Dina just text me the other
(52:53):
day She's like, you're not pregnant, right, And I'm like, oh, gonness.
So we're kind of we're kind of tossing it up
because you know, my youngest is too and we want
more children, and you know, unfortunately it's kind of the
timing of it all, so it's like, do we have
a baby? Ye, go back to the show. So we're
kind of okay. I mean that so TBD. TBD, honestly,
(53:16):
my honest, honest response to that.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
Okay, I appreciate the honesty. I am about to embark
on a wild adventure. I'm doing the Dancing with the
Stars Live tour. You have participated in the past, and
(53:40):
you'll be coming for some special dates with Robert on
this live tour as well.
Speaker 2 (53:46):
What should I expect?
Speaker 3 (53:48):
What?
Speaker 1 (53:49):
The fact that we have to do our own hair
and makeup is traumatizing me.
Speaker 3 (53:54):
It's actually it's actually great because you have you get
to explore some amazing in the country, and you know
what we don't get to do on camera or on
the show is to really meet the fans who have
voted for week after week after week. And that's the
best part. That's the best part of meeting the fans
and being able to give them something that you know
(54:18):
that they want and that they love, and that is
performing and spreading joy and like you know, then they're
so excited and it's just it's an amazing full circle
moment where you're like, Okay, this is why I do
what I do. You know, I really feel the love
and the energy in each theater, and I love that
they do theaters now because it used to the arenas
(54:38):
and it was just it wasn't intimate. So this book
very intimate. And you have you ever done live performances
like on Broadway or anything, or.
Speaker 1 (54:47):
Never have done Broadway, but for we've done a podcast
live tour.
Speaker 3 (54:50):
And you know, Okay, so you know how that feels.
And I think you're gonna you're gonna be way more
laxed because no one's judging you. They well, they love
you for you and for what you can offer, and
that's that's amazing to them. So they're they're gonna be
so excited. It's gonna be chill. I mean, nobody's be
(55:11):
judging you. Honestly, you could go out just like that,
like I would just do natural makeup and just have
my hair like this and do the costumes and okay, fun,
it's so fun. You're gonna don't stress about it. Honestly,
it's it's it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Okay, I'm really looking forward to it. How do you
pack to be gone for so long?
Speaker 3 (55:31):
Like?
Speaker 1 (55:31):
Do you just bring warm sweatsuits? I'm gone through the winter.
I'm doing all the January February dates.
Speaker 3 (55:37):
Okay, are you gonna be on the East coast then yes?
Or yes? Yeah? I mean, I would just plan on
loungey where plant like a few things that you can
explore the city, because it's really fun to go do
that and do kind of the touristy things in the
city and then you perform and then you go to
bed and you hang out with everyone and it's it's
(55:58):
really so how many dates are you doing?
Speaker 2 (56:00):
I'm doing twenty eight shows?
Speaker 3 (56:02):
Oh my gosh, so exciting. Yeah. No, I would just
pack light because hugging lugging that suitcase in and out
of the bus and into the venue. Make sure you
have like a little carry on so you have like
your makeup, your toilet stuff, and your shower stuff, so
that you can just take that little carry on into
the venue. Great, I mean, so just like do that
(56:24):
so you don't have to get your whole big suitcase out. Okay,
just a little carry on and then just have fun.
I'm I'm jealous you're doing that many dates, like I
would love to do that. How are your boys staying home?
Speaker 1 (56:37):
They're staying home, but my husband is going to bring
them out for about a week, So I'm going to
be gone for two weeks. Then they're going to come
out and join me for a week. Then when they
go home, I'll only have one week left.
Speaker 3 (56:46):
Perfect. See that's perfect. Yeah, my kids are coming. We're
doing an RV, so we're renting an RV. It's so great,
and they're just doing city to city with me because
I yeah, and like we've done the whole bus thing
before where I actually had my contract the last time
I did tour that Carson had a bunk. Great, actually
(57:06):
had his own bunk with me, and so that was
really fun. But you'll have a blast, You'll you'll have
so much fun.
Speaker 1 (57:13):
I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to have
to pick one of your and Robert states I want
to come and watch when you guys are there, so.
Speaker 3 (57:19):
Me too, I think I swear we do la but.
Speaker 2 (57:23):
Yeah, you do.
Speaker 1 (57:24):
You're you're more of the local ones I think. Also,
are you Vegas too?
Speaker 3 (57:27):
Vegas too?
Speaker 2 (57:28):
Okay? And will you be at the Irwin Gala on
September on May third? Yes, me too, I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (57:34):
Okay, good Bank reunion, Yes, Okay, great, I'm really looking
forward to it. Whitney, thank you so much for spending
your time with me. Have the best time in Australia.
I'm going to want all the details. I'm going to
make sure you have my phone number so we can text.
But when you get back, I want to know everything
about it. I want to hear all the details. I
want to see family pictures. I adore you and just
(57:57):
loved my time with you this past season and think
thank you so much for spreading your light and sharing
it with all of us here today.
Speaker 3 (58:03):
You are the best. Thank you for having me. Love you,
Love you ma.
Speaker 4 (58:07):
Bye, okay bye.
Speaker 1 (58:11):
Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fischel.
Executive producers Jensen Carp and Amy Sugarman, Executive in charge
of production Danielle Romo, producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbosch.
Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at
Danielle with Stars and vote for me
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