Podcast Summary: CHEERS! with Avery Woods

Episode: rewriting my story | Nia Sioux
Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Avery Woods
Guest: Nia Sioux

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and illuminating episode, Avery Woods sits down with Nia Sioux, former Dance Moms star, college graduate, and the author of Bottom of the Pyramid. Together, they journey through Nia's years on reality television, her experiences as a young Black girl in the spotlight, the pressures and joys of childhood fame, and her path to healing and self-empowerment. The conversation celebrates resilience, the power of storytelling, family support, and the importance of rewriting one's narrative—culminating in a discussion about Nia’s book and her vision for inspiring others.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nia's Early Experiences & Identity on Dance Moms

• Singular Experience as a Black Dancer:
  • Nia was often the only Black girl on the show until season seven (03:00–03:07).
  • She discusses the challenges of being both highly visible and isolated—constantly aware of others’ expectations and stereotypes.
• Self-Description and Values:
  • Sees herself as an "old soul" who always knew who she was, despite adversity.
  • Quote (Nia):

    "Even when I got knocked down, I still always had a confidence about me. And I'm also someone who's not afraid to speak up or, like, fight for what's right..." (03:38)

• Motherly Support:
  • Nia credits her mother, Dr. Holly, with grounding her and ensuring she used her voice carefully, especially given how Black girls and women are perceived in white-dominated spaces (06:05–07:35).

2. Inside Realities of Dance Moms—What Viewers Didn’t See

• Unexpected Stardom:
  • The show was supposed to be a six-week documentary, not a multi-year reality phenomenon (07:45–08:12).
  • Nia was just nine when cast, with little sense of what lay ahead.
• Producer Manipulation & Editing:
  • The reality of "reality TV"—drama, editing, and the shaping of narratives (11:10–12:31).
  • Abby (the dance coach) was, according to Nia, "made likable for TV," with some of her harsher conduct and racially charged comments edited out (12:45–14:15).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "They definitely had to edit some of her stuff out a lot of the times... There were a lot of things that happened to me on the show as well that were edited out." (12:50)

3. The Impact of Fame and Scrutiny on Childhood Development

• Dealing with Toxicity & Public Commentary:
  • Addressing criticism of her mother: People sometimes blame her mom for keeping her in a toxic environment, but Nia stresses the complexity—contracts, finances, her own passion, and the limited power of participants (15:02–17:32).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "That comment always upsets me... My mom is a great mom. I would never classify her as a bad mom or even really, like, putting me in that toxic environment. Because that wasn’t her fault." (15:02)

• Body Image, Puberty, and Public Judgment:
  • Discusses the impact of being scrutinized for her appearance at such a formative age, both on- and off-camera, leading to body dysmorphia and battles with self-image (26:56–30:55).
  • Support from her mother and family was vital.
  • Quote (Nia):

    "I probably had some body dysmorphia growing up, always feeling like I was the biggest one there...but because [my mom]...telling me, ‘Nia, you’re gorgeous’...that was super helpful." (26:56–27:31)

4. Finding Healing and Joy After the Show

• Dancing for Joy Again:
  • Nia danced for fun at UCLA, rediscovering her love for it without the pressure (31:19–34:34).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "It took a lot of pressure off of dance as well, and I learned to just really fall in love with it again." (34:34)

• College and Literary Ambition:
  • Nia attended UCLA, majoring in American Literature and Culture—a foundation for writing her memoir (31:52–32:15).
  • Writing Her Story:
    • Initially wanted to write right after Dance Moms, but waited to gain perspective. She sought to tell her story without bitterness or comparison, emphasizing healing (18:09–20:40).
    • Quote (Nia):

      "I'm not trying to win the oppression Olympics...Everyone’s stories matter, you know, everyone’s experience matters just like mine." (19:09)

5. Friendships, Boundaries, and Reunions

• Cast Relationships Now:
  • Still friends with many, but chose not to attend the show's reunion—preferring to protect her peace and tell her story on her own terms (41:01–43:46).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "I'm not ashamed of where I came from, where I got my star. I'm not ashamed of Dance Moms either...Because now I’m ready to talk about it." (43:48–44:37)

6. Truths About Reality TV Compensation

• No Rerun Residuals:
  • Contrary to popular belief, Dance Moms cast do not get residuals from repeats or streaming (47:11–48:12).
  • Nia worked through college to fund her own education, one of her proudest achievements (48:24).

7. Moving Forwards—Using Her Platform

• Empowerment and Advocacy:
  • Nia has leveraged her following for meaningful work, including with the Biden-Harris administration and producing, acting, and directing her own projects (55:09–58:47).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "Using my platform for good...being able to give back...has been really fulfilling for me. I’ve learned so much." (56:13)

• Success, Self-Definition, and Advice to Others:
  • Nia hopes her memoir helps others see they can overcome adversity and succeed on their terms, not by others’ definitions (61:38–63:59).
  • Quote (Nia):

    "You are the only one who truly gets to define success for yourself. So if you feel like what you’re doing is impactful, true to yourself, making you a better human, then that's success." (63:59–64:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Her Mom's Strength:

  "Let's blame the people that actually, like, made the environment toxic." (15:33)

• On Dance Moms Editing:

  "I always say that they made [Abby] likable for tv...her teaching style is very different [off camera]." (12:45)

• On Watching Herself as a Child:

  "Watching...I got teary eyed. I see what people are talking about now. Because in the moment, there's a lot of emotions... I'm even, like, rooting for myself." (35:10–37:08)

• On Platform Beyond Reality TV:

  "That would probably be working with the Biden Harris administration...I would have never thought that I would be able to. To do something like that." (55:39–56:13)

• On Her Motive for Writing:

  "I'm not here to protect people...I'm not here to erase my story." (20:18)

• Her Wish for Readers:

  "I wanted to make sure that people knew that no matter what they go through, that they will be okay...There’s always going to be Abbies in the world...at the end of the day, you have to remember to keep going and...to know your worth." (61:38–63:59)

• Hugging Her Inner Child:

  "I would give her a big hug, first of all. But then I would also just tell her, like, everything is gonna be okay." (64:31–64:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Dance Moms & Being the Only Black Girl (02:44–03:07)
• Parental Support and Standing Up for Herself (06:05–07:35)
• The Reality of TV Production & Abby Lee Miller (12:45–14:15)
• Struggles with Body Image & Public Scrutiny (26:56–30:55)
• Healing Through College & Rediscovering Dance (31:19–34:34)
• Why Write a Memoir Now? (18:09–20:40)
• Friendships and The Dance Moms Reunion (41:01–44:37)
• Financial Realities of Child Stardom (47:11–48:12)
• Major Post-Show Projects & Advocacy (55:09–58:47)
• Defining Success for Herself & Advice to Others (61:38–64:28)
• Rapid Fire Q&A (65:52–68:16)

Tone & Language Notes

Avery and Nia maintain a warm, empathetic, and open tone throughout. The conversation is both candid and affirming, blending vulnerability with optimism—embodying the spirit of healing, self-acceptance, and empowerment.

Final Takeaways

• Nia’s story is one of persistence in the face of adversity, racial isolation, public scrutiny, and distorted narratives.
• Her book, Bottom of the Pyramid, offers a uniquely honest and thoughtful account of growing up in the spotlight—and serves as a beacon for anyone wrestling with how to tell their own story.
• Above all, Nia’s message is one of hope, resilience, and knowing your own worth: "Everything is gonna be okay." (64:47)

Where to Find Nia and Her Book:

• Follow Nia Sioux (@Iassoo) on all platforms.
• Bottom of the Pyramid is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and bookstores everywhere.