Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast

Episode 7: Halloween Night Breakdown

Release Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Joey Graziadei

Overview

This special Halloween Night episode takes listeners behind the scenes of Dancing with the Stars’ spookiest show of the season. Host Joey Graziadei guides us through dramatic moments in the ballroom, including a harrowing injury, the intensity of the dance marathon, and the elimination of contestants Jen and Jan. The episode features exclusive interviews with pro dancer Alan Burson (discussing partner Elaine’s injury and recovery), Olympic rugby player/Season 33 finalist Ilona Mar, head makeup and hair artists Zena Green and Kimmy Messina, and finally, a heartfelt conversation with newly eliminated Jen and Jan. Listeners get deep dives into the creative process, emotional journeys, and the community spirit of the show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elaine’s Injury and Recovery (00:58–08:37)

Guest: Alan Burson (Pro dancer, partner to Elaine)

• Injury Details and Immediate Response:

  • Elaine suffered an excruciating rib injury during rehearsal. The whole production team sprang into action to support her.
    • “She was just saying, I can’t breathe... She was in excruciating pain.” – Alan (02:52)
    • The show’s director, Phil (a former nurse), and stage manager Roger provided immediate help and comfort.
  • Joey notes the emotional atmosphere: “Everyone was silent in the room, just waiting and kind of praying...” (04:39)

• Aftermath and Recovery:

  • Diagnosis: Bad muscle sprain between the ribs, making it hard to breathe.
  • Elaine is cleared to dance next week but will rest; everyone is grateful it wasn't season-ending.
    • “She just wants to continue. She’s having the time of her life.” – Alan (05:05)
  • The incident showcases the team’s readiness and camaraderie in crisis.

• Performance Drive & Partnership:

  • Elaine is commended for her relentless commitment and resilience.
  • Alan reflects emotionally: “She’s changing my life for sure. And seeing her inspire so many people is just... I feel so lucky to be partnered with her.” (07:10)

2. Life After the Ballroom & Season Reflections (08:49–23:49)

Guest: Ilona Mar (Olympic medalist, Season 33 finalist)

• Returning to the Ballroom:

  • Ilona shares mixed feelings: nostalgia mixed with renewed stress and the realization she’s “no longer the big dog.”
    • “We’re washed, love. Let’s just say what it is.” – Joey (10:02)

• Using Her Platform:

  • Ilona discusses championing women athletes, body confidence, and being a visible role model.
    • “I wanted to show... I can go on the floor and do a Vinnie's Wall so that more people can do that. Because... I stopped dancing because I didn’t feel like my body type was made for it. And I saw you dance, and I was like, I’m the one that got you back into dance.” – Ilona (10:30)

• Social Media Strategy:

  • She leveraged social media for exposure and sponsorship, often collaborating with her dance partner Alan on TikToks.
    • “Alan was honestly on it more than I was... Always telling, we need to make TikToks.” (12:21)

• Show and Tells & Team Dances:

  • Ilona and Joey discuss the value of informal “show and tells,” giving celebrities a chance to practice before a small audience.
  • Team dances were a highlight for Ilona: “Team Goofs for life... I love team dance so far. Everyone asks me what my favorite dances are... I had the most fun with the team dance.” (14:54)

• Signature Lifts and Competition Memories:

  • Ilona’s famed lift of Jenna (in heels, no less) is recounted:
    • “Everyone thinks it’s so cool, but... I do it in my sport all the time...” (17:02)

• Reflections on Judging, Growth, and Favorites:

  • Ilona recalls her improvement arc and her favorite semifinal routines, highlighting how choreographer Alan tailored performances to each partner’s strengths.
  • She also gives praise to standout couples from the current season: Alex & Val, Whitney & Mark, Robert Irwin, and Jordan Charles for their authenticity and showmanship.
    • “Jordan’s unreal... She’s had the climb.” (20:31)

• Top Contender Predictions:

  • Ilona roots for Robert Irwin to win and adds Whitney & Mark, Jordan, Alex, or Dylan as possible finalists. (22:01)
    • “I want Jordan, but I... need the fans to see because she is competing with, like, Alex Earl as well. So campaigning starts now. Vote for Jordan.” (22:21)

3. Behind the Costumes: Makeup & Hair Magic (25:13–39:02)

Guests: Zena Green (Head of Makeup), Kimmy Messina (Head of Hair)

• Evolution of Show Aesthetics:

  • Early seasons featured heavy makeup, extreme lashes, and tight, ballroom-insular hairstyles.
  • Now, looks are red carpet-ready, with softer touches and fashion-forward hair.
    • “It was heavy makeup, three pairs of lashes, tons of glitter…” – Zena (26:36)
    • “Now... more edgy and that type of thing. More red carpet, more on trend fashion...” – Kimmy (27:38)

• Show Day Logistics:

  • Days start early; getting a celeb ready is an all-day, iterative process interrupted by rehearsals, dress runs, and last-minute tweaks.
    • “It’s really like an all day process where we’re constantly, like, building, maintaining.” – Zena (29:31)
  • Safety is paramount—hair and makeup must be functional for dance as well as visually impactful.
    • Kimmy recalls creating malleable hair horns for Ariana for safety reasons. (29:48)

• Vibe in the Hair & Makeup Trailers:

  • Aim to create a comfortable, homey environment for stars:
    • “Angela Moss makes banana bread, people chill, there’s music, chai tea, a whole ambiance...” – Zena (31:48)

• Quick Changes and Live Challenges:

  • Halloween and Disney nights bring wild quick-change challenges—multiple artists work on a single celeb for transformations in under 80 minutes.
    • “It was hectic. Insane... you feel the pressure. But it always, like, comes together somehow.” – Kimmy (33:39)
  • Tonight’s highlight: Scrambling to clean “head-to-toe blood” off Robert Irwin between routines.
    • “Getting him cleaned up out of that in a timely manner... we were all just like—what was it, eight of us?” – Kimmy (34:26)
    • “It was crazy back there.” – Jen (35:12)

• Favorite Creations:

  • Alex’s hair (Maleficent look) and Dylan’s (extensions for a romance-novel vibe).
  • Some pros are always adventurous (Alan), others more reserved (Whitney was “traumatized” by a “Hellraiser” bald cap). (37:11)

4. Farewell to Jen & Jan: Gratitude and Reflection (39:57–51:04)

Guests: Jen (contestant) & Jan (pro dancer)

• Gratitude for the Journey:

  • Jen expresses pride in dancing postpartum and inspiring other moms.
    • “My whole purpose... was to not only... dance on the big stage... but to also inspire other moms...” (40:37)
  • Grateful to finish strong, especially ending with a Taylor Swift number and her kids watching.

• The Partnership:

  • Jan praises Jen’s energy, hard work and how she brought him into the world of social media and TikTok.
    • “She always brought energy... She somehow bring me to this dark side of TikTok.” (42:14)
  • The journey was full of learning, emotion, and support.
    • “No matter what... even tonight... we had a vision... musicality... Look how good you are... You were great.” – Jan (44:07)

• Navigating Social Media and Pressure:

  • Jan shares the struggle of negative online criticism, choosing to step back for his own mental health:
    • “You just made something and they’re happy that they got what, 200,000 and, like, views... But we are real people here and they don’t know how they are hurting us.” (47:33)

• Behind the Scenes Struggle:

  • Jen wishes more of her backstage challenges were shown: balancing the show, new motherhood, and work.
    • “Everyone just saw... the bubbly version of Jen... but there were also a lot of moments where I was really, really struggling.” (48:40)

• Heartfelt Farewell:

  • Jen and Jan affirm their bond and how much their partnership meant.
    • “Whether you do another season or not, I truly believe this was like, meant to be.” – Jen (50:03)
    • “You’re the best.” – Jan (50:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Elaine’s injury:
  “She just wants to continue. She’s having the time of her life.”
  – Alan Burson (05:05)

• On the pressure and camaraderie of live TV:
  “Everyone was silent in the room, just waiting and kind of praying...”
  – Joey (04:39)

• On body positivity and dancing:
  “I wanted to show... I can go on the floor and do a Vinnie's Wall so that more people can do that.”
  – Ilona Mar (10:30)

• On team dances:
  “First off, I was the captain of that team. Why was I? Because I had the lowest scores. That’s rude, but I will take it.”
  – Ilona Mar (14:54)

• On the evolution of the show's look:
  “It was heavy makeup, three pairs of lashes, tons of glitter...”
  – Zena Green (26:36)

• On social media negativity:
  “We are real people here and they don’t know how they are hurting us.”
  – Jan (47:33)

• On Jen's purpose and gratitude:
  “The fact that I was able to start this journey eight weeks postpartum... that’s a win to me.”
  – Jen (41:16)

• On partnerships:
  “Whether you do another season or not, like, I. I truly believe this was like, meant to be.”
  – Jen to Jan (50:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Elaine’s Injury & Update: 00:58–08:37
• Ilona Mar on Returning & Social Media: 08:49–23:49
• Hair & Makeup Deep Dive (Zena Green & Kimmy Messina): 25:13–39:02
• Jen & Jan Farewell Interview: 39:57–51:04

Tone & Language

As always, the tone is supportive, playful, and candid—mixing behind-the-scenes reality TV hustle with heartfelt emotion and humorous camaraderie. The guests and host share admiration, honesty, and mutual respect. There’s a natural flow from light banter to genuinely moving moments, accessible and engaging for newcomers and die-hard fans alike.

Summary Takeaways

Halloween Night on Dancing with the Stars was a blend of high-stakes live TV drama, backstage hustle, artistic achievement, and the personal journeys of contestants and crew. The episode delved into Elaine’s dramatic injury and comeback, Ilona Mar’s reflections on body image and team camaraderie, the unsung artistry of the hair and makeup team, and Jen & Jan’s touching farewell — all culminating in a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the communal spirit that drives the show forward.