Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast

Episode 11: Season Finale Breakdown

Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Joey Graziadei

Episode Overview

The season finale episode of the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes breakdown of the Season 34 finale. Host Joey Graziadei catches up with all the finalists—Elaine & Alan, Dylan & Daniella, Jordan & Ezra, Alex & Val—and the newly crowned champions, Robert & Whitney, revealing their emotions, journeys, and reactions just moments after the curtain falls. Expect heartfelt reflections, backstage details, and deep dives into the creative process of the season’s most memorable performances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Overall Season Reflections & Voting Stats

• Joey reveals staggering voting participation, with double the votes from last season’s finale and over half a billion votes across the season.

  “We got more than double the amount of votes that we had last year's season finale, and there was more than half a billion votes across the entire season.” (00:50)

2. Elaine & Alan: Rediscovering Passion & Performing Through Adversity

Journey to the Finale

• Elaine details sleepless nights, a sense of spiraling, and finds renewed determination by finale week.

  “I had a few sleepless nights and then I was like. I felt like I was spiraling out of control. But I got a good night's rest now. I have a whole new lease on life and I'm just really determined to enjoy, like, these last moments.” —Elaine (02:01)

• Alan talks about wanting Elaine to feel the achievement:

  “I want this so bad for her. I want Elaine to feel the achievement, the glory, the…[she] put in so much work. She was persistent, you know, resilient through the injuries.” —Alan (02:31)

Elaine’s Injury & the Comeback

• Elaine retells the story of almost losing her dance career due to a car accident, and the emotional journey back.

  “I literally had to pivot when I was hit by a car… I never thought I would be here again. And now here I am. And I've never done ballroom, so it was like, let's really see what I can do.” —Elaine (04:11)

Future Plans

• Elaine intends to return to her theater roots, with ambitions for Broadway:

  “I got my eyes on Broadway, some stuff in the works there…there is nothing like that [audience] exchange.” —Elaine (05:28)

Freestyle Preparation

• Alan’s creative process: 12 versions of the freestyle song, with a narrative inspired by old Hollywood and their season-long tradition of inventing backstories.

  “We’re on V12 of the song, so 12 different versions of the song…but…this isn’t about me as much as it is about our partnership.”—Alan (07:10)

• Fun backstory detail: For the Disney-themed Quickstep, their invented plot involved Elaine studying aliens at “Galactic Community College Online of the Arts.” (08:18)

Post-Finale Reflections

• Both express pride and emphasize the friendships and sense of community forged:

  “I'm going to keep dancing, I'm going to keep performing. All of that will remain. So it's just…these very special, unique people who work on this show.” —Elaine (10:45)

Notable Quote

• “You’ll see me on tour.” —Alan, on keeping in touch after the show (10:41)

3. Dylan & Daniella: Growth from Zero Experience, Embracing Change

Entry & Experience

• Dylan admits he was initially on the fence, but Joey's encouragement swayed him:

  “I like, I was already leaning towards doing it at that point and you just sealed the deal. So it's been everything I thought and more.” —Dylan (11:51)

Intensity of the Competition

• The pair discuss the exhaustion and pressure of finale week—with six dances to prepare in as little as five days.

  “This has been the longest week of my life.” (12:19)

Teaching a Non-Dancer

• Daniella enjoyed starting from scratch:

  “He's always the last one to leave the studio…he's just so hard working. When a partner is like that, it's so much easier as an experience for me.” —Daniella (13:14)

Milestone Moments & Confidence

• Daniella sees Dylan’s confidence grow, especially when he performed with his sister:

  “That was the first time he was really shining is when he was in the studio with her, and he was so confident…” —Daniella (14:53)

Freestyle Approach

• Original plan was high-energy (“Step Up”-style), but chose a contemporary, emotional number reflecting Dylan’s growth.

  “He felt the best doing the contemporary and barefoot and free and not perfect and just going raw and just emotional. … this is more storytelling and just heartfelt, and I feel like that was our journey.” —Daniella (16:56)

Viral Move — The "Airwalk"

• The season's most shared moment, dubbed by fans:

  “Our fans called it the airwalk… and then I think that translated to stage because within the week we just got so much better at it. I got stronger…and then it turned out great.” —Dylan (19:00)

Post-Finale Reflections

• Daniella:

  “Maybe I always knew I had it in me, but Danny had to pull it out from deep within my toes.” —Dylan (21:28)

4. Jordan & Ezra: A Standout Partnership Built on Friendship & Family

Unexpected Chemistry

• Both initially unsure, but quickly matched energies, becoming close friends.

  “Walking through the door during our first Heart to Heart…I was like, you know what? This dude is like, he matches me…from our heart to heart to every single day, it was just a lot of fun and a lot of energy.” —Jordan (24:03)

Real Moments and Authenticity

• Both value the “real”—even the disagreements:

  “It wouldn't be authentic if you weren't [butting heads]…that's when you really start connecting with someone…” —Joey (26:03)

Memorable Dance

• Both agree their rumba was special, especially due to thematic restrictions and their inventive workaround:

  “We originally had [the unique handhold] at the end. And they asked us to take it out…they didn't say we can't put it anywhere else…so we put it in the middle.” —Danny (27:27)

Emotional Family Support

• Jordan highlights her parents’ support—her mother never missed a show:

  “My mom has never missed anything in my career…my dad during dedication night…Just to see the joy and pride…is what made me feel very proud to be his daughter.” —Jordan (28:41)

Freestyle as Full-Circle Storytelling

• The freestyle was about Jordan’s whole journey, designed for her to shine:

  “We’re throwing it back in this freestyle…that is not my strong suit at all. …I put something together that I knew Jordan was going to shine no matter what.” —Ezra (30:13)

Reaction to High Praise

• Carrie Ann’s standing ovation:

  “Kerrianne said that that was the best freestyle she's seen in 20 seasons. What does that mean to you?” —Joey (31:10)
  “It means everything…it means the world.” —Jordan (31:15)

Instant Tango: Last-Minute Ad-Lib

• Improvised during their instant tango and still received perfect scores:

  “I looked at her, I said, improvise…And we delivered. Perfect score.” —Ezra (32:10)

5. Alex & Val: Transformation, Vulnerability, and a Pop Star Moment

Personal Growth

• Alex reflects on the life-changing impact and newfound confidence:

  “It’s been like one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life…helped me grow…it’s given me a confidence that…proving to myself, proving to others that, like, I can work hard at something and succeed at it.” —Alex (32:40)

Coaching Style—Building Trust

• Val discusses pacing his intensity and pushing Alex only as the trust grew:

  “I’m better at getting to know each other, earning my voice, earning my demand. …I was able to pace it better this season and not completely kill her spirit before she’s gained momentum.” —Val (34:23)

Comfort and Vulnerability

• Alex had to learn not to take Val’s intensity personally:

  “He’s, like, yelling at me for the dance, and then…you just have to get in that mindset…he’s frustrated about these steps, not me as a person.” —Alex (36:22)

Raw Emotional Moments

• Alex describes crying in her car and being comforted by production—a process that led to honest vulnerability on TV:

  “It was a beautiful thing because…I think it shows the other side of this, which is the…hard work and determination…and it’s frustrating at times…” —Alex (37:48)

Freestyle Inspiration

• Val wanted to give Alex a true “pop star moment,” echoing the season’s start, but with real confidence.

  “We opened the show with a really pop star moment that she…wasn’t ready for internally…now I think she’s ready…” —Val (38:43)

Parting Words

• Val’s gratitude:

  “You don’t always have moments like that. Freestyle…I only can do that with you…so that, to me, is the win. That, to me, is a personal trophy.” —Val (41:55)

6. Robert & Whitney: Champions’ Perspective—Joy, Authenticity, and Leaving it All on the Floor

Season-long Energy and Joy

• Robert’s infectious enthusiasm was apparent to all, including Whitney, who doubted anyone could be so nice at first:

  “When I first met him, I was like, no one can be this nice…as the days have gone by, it just. It is just who he is…authentically Robert just excited about life, about everything. It's so infectious.” —Whitney (49:33)

The Viral Jive

• Their very first dance, the jive, went viral and set the tone for the season:

  “That jive, I think, will always be probably the most special dance for me.” —Robert (46:27)

Dedication Dance and Grieving Through Dance

• The dance dedicated to Robert’s mother was a profound, vulnerable experience.

  “[The dedication dance]…was a real story of grief and loss that we didn’t want to shy away from, but we wanted to look at that story through the lens of here’s the person who lifted me out of that.” —Robert (51:47)

• Whitney felt responsible for crafting a dance that would help others as well as tell Robert’s story.

  “I think there was a lot of responsibility in making sure that I tell Robert's story, but also that we created something that would be helpful for others so that they could find their own strength and that they could connect to…" —Whitney (52:48)

Gratitude Upon Winning

• Robert’s final words as champion:

  “Just incredibly grateful…that I got to have this journey with such an amazing group of people that gave it everything…” —Robert (54:42)

• Whitney reciprocates:

  “I honestly can’t think of anyone more deserving than Robert and the Irwin family. Like they are just so pure and kind and this season has been so special to me…I’ll remember it forever.” —Whitney (55:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|-------| | 02:31 | Alan | “I want this so bad for her. I want Elaine to feel the achievement, the glory...” | | 10:41 | Alan | “You’ll see me on tour.” | | 19:00 | Dylan/Daniella| “Our fans called it the airwalk, but where did that come from?” | | 30:51 | Ezra | “I put something together that I knew Jordan was going to shine no matter what.” | | 41:55 | Val | “…you don’t always have moments like that. Freestyle. I only can do that with you…that, to me, is a personal trophy.” | | 46:27 | Robert | “That jive, I think, will always be probably the most special dance for me.” | | 49:33 | Whitney | “I was like, no one can be this nice…as the days have gone by, it just. It is just who he is…” | | 51:47 | Robert | “[Dedication dance]…was a real story of grief and loss…but we wanted to look at that story through the lens of here’s the person who lifted me out of that.” | | 54:42 | Robert | “Just incredibly grateful and so grateful…that I got to have this journey with such an amazing group of people that gave it everything.” |

Key Timestamps by Segment

• Elaine & Alan: Rediscovering Dance (01:55–11:16, 44:30–47:20)
• Dylan & Daniella: Zero Experience to Finalist (11:51–21:40)
• Jordan & Ezra: Friendship & Family in Dance (23:25–32:14)
• Alex & Val: Transformation (32:14–42:47)
• Robert & Whitney: Winning & Legacy (44:11–55:24)

Tone & Style

The episode is emotional and celebratory, balancing humor and honesty. Joey’s relaxed, friendly interviewing style helps the finalists open up about struggles, growth, and what made Season 34 special. The episode is rich in personal anecdotes, gratitude, and creative process, ideal for both longtime fans and newcomers.

For Listeners: Why This Finale Was Unforgettable

This episode captures the magic, vulnerability, and triumph of Dancing with the Stars. The finalists reflect deeply on their personal growth, the challenges of the show, and the irreplaceable bonds formed on and off the dance floor. The moments of raw honesty and mutual admiration—punctuated by viral dance moves, creative storytelling, and heartfelt gratitude—make for an inspiring sendoff to an extraordinary season.