CHEERS! with Avery Woods

Episode: "Not So Little" | Guest: Kendall Vertes
Release Date: November 10, 2025
Podcast Host: Avery Woods

Episode Overview

In this engaging and candid episode, host Avery Woods sits down with Kendall Vertes, former Dance Moms star and recent college graduate, to discuss her new podcast, transitioning from child stardom to adulthood, navigating life after college, social media scrutiny, and redefining herself beyond her public persona. With warmth and humor, Avery and Kendall reflect on the realities of growing up on reality TV, building thick skin, finding community, and the exciting unknowns of post-grad life. The episode is a refreshing blend of heartfelt reminiscence, practical advice, and relatable anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kendall’s Transition: Dance Moms to Adulthood

• Joining Unwell and Starting Her Podcast
  Kendall expresses gratitude for joining the Unwell podcast network and the surreal feeling of launching her own show.
  "Since I just graduated college, I'm like living Hannah Montana. I was just in the farmlands of Virginia and now I'm in California, like, shooting my first episode for my podcast…” (01:59–02:19)

• Academic Path & Pushing Herself
  Studied political science and pre-law at JMU, despite initial interest in skipping college and moving to LA to pursue influencing full-time.
  “My mom honestly was the whole reason why I went to college…And I to this day am so happy she made me realize that because she's right. I met my best friends, I figured out a lot about myself.” (02:39–03:16)

• Dancing in College & Facing Prejudice
  Faced bias from a college dance coach due to her Dance Moms background, ultimately quitting dance senior year to prioritize a “normal” student experience.
  (04:11–04:51)

2. Growing Up in the Public Eye

• Origins in Dance & Dance Moms
  Danced since childhood, with two sisters in different activities. Joined Dance Moms at 8 after attending a breakfast with Abby Lee.
  “Literally came to my mom and I for—with a contract that said seven years…we signed our lives away for seven years straight.” (07:13–08:19)

• Reality of Reality TV Pay
  Exposes the myth of lucrative child reality TV, sharing that she and her mom earned as little as $500 per episode in the beginning.
  “I hate the stigma that people think reality TV pays…for us to not be going to school…to not be around my sisters or my dad…traveling every single weekend…” (08:56–09:22)

• Parental Protection & the Impact of Trauma
  Attributing her and her peers' resilience to their mothers’ constant presence on set, protecting them from worse outcomes.
  “The only reason we are the way we are today is because our parents were on set with us. They were protecting us 24/7 through and through.” (06:38-07:03)

3. Adjusting After Dance Moms and Social Media Scrutiny

• Social Adjustments & High School Return
  After Dance Moms, moved back to Pittsburgh to finish high school, learning again to make friends while navigating her local notoriety.
  “The last time I saw my friends, I was nine and now I'm 15…That was a really eye-opening stage of my life.” (28:21–29:35)

• Maturity and Coping with Criticism
  Early exposure to intense public scrutiny pushed Kendall to mature quickly. She’s now adept at handling criticism and taps into a deeper sense of self-worth.
  “I matured very early on…It gave me really thick skin. I can take criticism like there's no other.” (18:50–19:50)

• Toxicity of Modern Social Media
  Discussion on TikTok amplifying hate and misconceptions, especially regarding old childhood footage. Kendall stresses that viewers only saw a curated fraction of her life.
  “Whatever they saw on the show, that is like 30 to 40% of who I actually am as a person. And I was 8, I am now 22.” (20:38–21:11) Avery: “...watching a TV show back from, like, over a decade ago when you're a child is not accurate to judge your character off of.” (22:11)

4. Personal Growth, Boundaries & Mental Health

• Setting Social Media Boundaries
  Both discuss filtering comments, limiting exposure to negative feedback, and how setting boundaries is crucial for self-preservation.
  Avery: “I just have learned, like, the only thing I can do is protect my peace. And the only way I'm gonna be able to do that is by setting boundaries for myself.” (27:03–27:12)

• Newfound Relatability & Post-Grad Uncertainty
  Kendall is candid about post-grad uncertainty and wanting listeners to relate to her journey:
  “I want them to...relate to me as much as possible.” (09:59–10:39)

5. Behind the Scenes: Dance Moms & Friendship

• On-set Shenanigans & Sisterhood
  Recalling sleeping in hotel rooms, getting lice, splitting room service, and pranks—memories of childlike fun and bonding. “We had lice maybe two to three times...When you saw us in slickbacks, like, you could smell us from a mile away…” (15:53–16:27) “All the girls would go to one hotel room…order, like, the $90 steak and fries...when it was time to pay, none of us had cash…” (16:33–17:24)

6. Reframing Identity & Future Aspirations

• The “Not So Little” Podcast
  Title inspired by her childhood nickname, signaling her evolution into adulthood. Hopes to use podcasting to both share her own story and amplify diverse voices.
  “I am a golfer. I also studied political science and pre-law. Like, there's so many different avenues that I can take with this podcast.” (36:16–36:23) “I want...my guests...to be able to talk about, like, who they would want to be known for if they weren’t in the public eye.” (36:53–37:18)

• Excitement for Guest Conversations
  Eager to feature surprising and interesting guests, from family members and fellow Dance Moms alums to authors and athletes.
  “People that I don’t even know yet that I want to have on my podcast…just random but interesting people that I want to know.” (40:09–40:24)

7. Real Life, Relationships & Aspirations

• Daily Routines & Family Life
  Describes a typical day at home: coffee, walks, Goodwill trips, family time, and early nights.
  “I literally wake up, scroll, go get some coffee. Like, maybe go through my clothes, take them to Goodwill…” (33:07–33:21)

• Dating, Active Roster & the “WAG” Dream
  Openly discusses dating adventures, long-distance breakup, and her playful ambition to become a WAG (Wives and Girlfriends of athletes).
  “I just, like, I want to go to your game, and I want to make you dinner when you come home. And, like, I'll do your laundry. And, like, I just love that.” (54:58–55:07)

• Adventures & Social Life
  Shares stories of work trips to Miami and Vegas, navigating the “Unwell” influencer community, and enjoying low-key nights in with friends.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Post-Graduation Uncertainty:
  "I am sitting here like, am I doing the right thing? Like, should I be moving to a new city? Should I have gotten a corporate job? Should I have went to law school? Like, there's so many question marks in my life right now…" – Kendall Vertes (09:59–10:39)

• On Resilience and Maturity:
  "It also gave me really thick skin…Getting yelled at every day for eight years and your dance teacher telling you that you're ugly and washed up at the age of eight..." – Kendall (19:23–19:50)

• On Internet Hate:
  "You cannot please everybody. You aren't going to be everybody's cup of tea. And I just want to be myself and not cater towards, like, a certain crowd of people because that's when you start to lose yourself." – Kendall (21:16–21:39)

• On Filtering Social Media:
  “Yes, I filtered my comments. Like, hey, it's my page.” – Kendall (27:12–27:24)

• On Room Service Mayhem:
  “All of the girls would go to one hotel room…we would start knocking on the production crew's doors and asking for literal pennies. We're like, we just need 10 more dollars. Like, is there any way you could give us this money?” – Kendall (16:33–17:23)

• On Wanting to Be a WAG:
  "I want to be a WAG so badly. I just, like, I want to go to your game, and I want to make you dinner when you come home." – Kendall (54:50–55:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Kendall Joins Unwell & Podcast Launch: 01:53–02:24
• College Years & Choosing Education: 02:30–03:19
• Life on Dance Moms (Getting Cast, Contracts): 07:13–08:28
• Reality TV Compensation: 08:44–09:22
• Impact of Public Scrutiny & Social Media: 18:50–22:39
• Behind-the-Scenes Hotel Antics: 15:53–17:24
• Returning to High School & Community Reception: 28:21–30:29
• New Podcast “Not So Little” - Inspiration & Future: 35:36–37:18
• Dating & “WAG” Aspirations: 51:22–55:14
• Rapid-Fire Fun: 57:22–59:49

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Relatable & Unfiltered: Both Avery and Kendall keep the tone warm, candid, and often self-deprecating, increasing their relatability.
• Empowering & Uplifting: They discuss the importance of boundary-setting, owning your narrative, and making peace with an unconventional life path.
• Supportive Community: Frequent mutual admiration, encouragement for following one's own journey, and public affirmation of each other and other women.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers honest reflection on what it means to grow up under scrutiny and find your footing as a young adult. Kendall’s transparency about her insecurities, ambitions, and quirks is both refreshing and reassuring for listeners navigating their own post-grad or post-trauma journeys. Her and Avery’s banter about influencer events, dating, and “girl math” add lightness, while their insights into fame and boundaries provide genuine value.

Find Kendall Vertes:
Instagram: @kendallvertes
Podcast: “Not So Little” (new episodes every Thursday)