Extra Dirty with Hallie Batchelder

Episode: Kendall Vertes is Not So Little Anymore
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Hallie Batchelder
Guest: Kendall Vertes

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the real and raw experiences of growing up in the limelight through the lens of Kendall Vertes, a former Dance Moms star who's now coming into her own as an influencer and podcast host. With Hallie Batchelder's signature unfiltered, comedic tone, the two discuss childhood fame, college chaos, evolving relationships, influencer culture, and the anxiety of your early 20s. The episode is packed with candid storytelling, hot takes on dating and fashion, and relatable insights for anyone transitioning out of school into adult life—all with a girls' sleepover vibe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kendall Vertes’ Origin Story: From Dance Moms to Adulthood

• Growing Up On TV

  • Pittsburgh native: Kendall explains her path from a Pittsburgh dance studio to national TV.
  • Got discovered via recommendation and audition tapes, leading to seven years with Dance Moms (06:00).
  • Reality behind the scenes: Manipulated drama, pressure on child stars, and the impact of child labor law changes.
    • “The child labor laws actually saved our mental health and, like, physical health tremendously.” – Kendall (08:28)
  • Abby Lee’s On-Screen Persona:
    • “A lot of us say that they actually made her look really nice on TV compared to what actually went down.” – Kendall (09:46)

• Transition to ‘Normalcy’

  • Attempted a “normal” high school experience, but struggled to discern real friends from clout chasers (10:39).
  • Boy craziness after being surrounded only by dancers and producers:
    • “I was really crazy, like, boy crazy. Because I never was around boys. I was around dancers and I was around the producers who were all gay.” – Kendall (11:06)

2. College, Influencing, and Identity

• Choosing College (James Madison University):
  • Mom pushed her into higher education: “She was like, no, no, you’re gonna get a degree and then you can do whatever you want.” – Kendall (02:55)
  • Embarked on political science and pre-law; wanted to challenge herself outside of the obvious marketing path (03:15).
• Academic Struggles & Technology:
  • “I barely graduated…I found out about Chat [GPT] my sophomore year.” – Kendall (04:43)
  • Explores professors battling AI cheating; both find it wild and a little scary/progressive (05:03).
• College Social Life:
  • Details on joining the dance team as a “sorority substitute,” learning independence, and balancing budding influencer work with university demands (14:50, 15:56).
  • “My best friends went to Penn State…you go one person, you come back a completely different person.” – Kendall (14:57)
  • Struggled with traveling for influencing, but now that’s her main grind (18:46).

3. Finding Home and Adult Choices

• Living Situation & Future Moves:
  • “That’s literally as we speak what I’m figuring out.” (19:16)
  • Considering Boston, Arizona, Dallas, but not interested in the cliche LA, Miami, or New York influencer move (21:02).
    • “I hate Florida. Anything that involves Florida. I hate Florida.” – Kendall (21:04)
  • Need for space, car, and “touching grass”—not a city girl (21:36).

4. Life as an Influencer

• Parental Pride:
  • Her dad is extremely proud and supportive, especially now that she’s self-sufficient (22:06).
• Origin of Her Social Media Career:
  • “I started Instagram when I was like 10 during Dance Moms…then influencing and social media really started to take off.” (22:44)
• Influencer Comparison Culture:
  • Both reflect on the pressure of social media to look “glamorous” and the value of sharing vulnerability; Hallie notes she tries to show ups and downs for relatability (38:40).

5. Body Image, Procedures, and Self-Expression

• Honest conversation about cosmetic enhancements.
  • Hallie is open about her filler and breast augmentation experiences, “At one point in time, I really wanted to look like a yassified blow up doll.” – Hallie (25:20)
  • Kendall discussing lip filler migration, comfort with her choices, and normalization of cosmetic touch-ups among young women (25:41).
  • Lighthearted takes about surgery, anesthesia, and pain tolerance (26:17).

6. Dating, Relationships, and Situationships

• High School and College Relationships:
  • Stories of first heartbreak, long-distance shenanigans, and the awkwardness of fame-fueled DMs (12:04).
  • College boyfriend drama: trust issues, control, and the boundary between living your life and relationship expectations (36:19).
• Situationships & Attachment Styles:
  • “I love just like meeting new people, having a little fling for a little bit, and then, like, moving on. But I have really bad attachment issues.” – Kendall (28:53)
  • Both discuss the importance of not chasing men, learning to “attract, not chase” (29:19).
• The Athlete vs. Finance Guy Debate:
  • Preference for athletes, red flag awareness, and the logistics of dating in/out of the public eye (29:31, 30:56).
  • “I could never date a man that’s on TikTok.” – Kendall (31:44)

7. Hot Takes & Fashion Trends Segment

[43:41] Hallie and Kendall do rapid-fire reactions:

• Ballet flats: both agree, not for them due to foot size or aesthetic.
• Clean girl aesthetic: fun to “give” it on socials but not always real life (44:14).
• Headphone accessory trend: “Pick me,” unless practical (44:41).
• 2016 King Kylie makeup: “King Kylie, like, really was a transformative year for me.” – Kendall (45:35)
• Micro bags: Why pay for a bag that fits nothing? (46:14)
• Jorts: Divided—Kendall can’t pull them off with dancer legs, Hallie approves if edgy (46:36).
• Jean brands: Both recommend investing in premium denim like Agolde, Citizens of Humanity (48:19).

8. Modern Dating Norms & Etiquette

• Dating apps: Hallie and Kendall both laugh at being rejected from Raya despite influencer status (54:18).
• Girls proposing: “If my best girlfriends from college started, like, getting down on one knee…I’d be like, babe, get up.” – Hallie (55:24)
• Voice notes: Hot.
• Ex-girlfriend friendships: Borderline inappropriate.
• Men on Snapchat: “After the age of 26, 27, you need to literally delete the app.” – Kendall (56:00)
• Sharing locations: Yes, for safety.
• Pre-date stalking: Both admit to deep dives, Zillow-ing houses, checking tagged posts, and analyzing recent follows (57:02).
• First dates: Both admit preference for casual hangouts over official dates (57:44).

9. Self-Acceptance and Career Flexibility

• Hallie and Kendall agree not everyone uses their degree directly and that it’s okay to change course (41:00).
  • “You can have a degree in political science and pre law and literally go work for a marketing agency.” – Hallie (41:13)
  • “You just have to tell yourself, like, everything is gonna work out. You're 22. Stop comparing yourself. It’s gonna be okay.” – Kendall (41:31)

10. Kendall’s New Podcast

• Title: Not So Little
• Focuses on life post-college, no-niche 20s struggles, relationships, friendships, and adulting (37:32).
• “It’s more of a vlog style podcast. So every episode I’m either traveling somewhere or I’m at home figuring out life and living with your parents.” (38:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A lot of us say that they actually made her [Abby Lee] look really nice on tv compared to what actually went down.” – Kendall (09:46)
• “I barely graduated. I found out about ChatGPT my sophomore year.” – Kendall (04:43)
• “I love an athlete because…unfortunately, I’ve never met a good finance guy.” – Kendall (29:31)
• “But toxic and toxic, like, sometimes they cancel out, you know, like a positive and a negative. But a negative and a negative sometimes can make a positive.” – Kendall (29:52)
• “King Kylie, like, really was a transformative year for me.” – Kendall (45:35)
• “You just have to tell yourself, like, everything is gonna work out. You’re 22. Stop comparing yourself. It’s gonna be okay.” – Kendall (41:31)
• “We don’t chase, we attract.” – Hallie (29:19)
• “At one point in time, I really wanted to look like a yassified blow up doll." – Hallie (25:20)
• “I just want to be that person that you can come to for comfort if you’re going through it in your 20s. I’m right there with you.” – Kendall (42:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dance Moms Journey & Child Stardom: 02:27–10:39
• College Choices, ChatGPT & Adulting: 03:04–05:34
• First Heartbreak Tales: 11:54–13:42
• Influencing Origin Stories & Body Image: 22:44–26:17
• Fashion/Hot Takes Segment: 43:41–47:17
• Modern Dating & Social Media: 53:36–57:41
• Podcast Launch & 20s Advice: 37:32–41:39

Tone & Style

• Candid, irreverent, vulnerable: No topics are off-limits—from fake followers to fake boobs.
• Relatable: Both Hallie and Kendall repeatedly emphasize that nobody has it figured out in their early 20s, and social media is mostly a highlight reel.
• Sleepover energy: The conversation flows with rapid, funny exchanges and true “tell it like it is” moments.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode gives a behind-the-scenes, honest take on growing up on reality TV, dealing with young adulthood, and navigating the pressures of social media and relationships. Hallie and Kendall’s friendship chemistry shines through as they dish out advice, share embarrassing stories, and reassure everyone that it’s normal to be a little lost post-college.

Definitely worth a listen if you want:

• The dirt on Dance Moms and influencer reality
• Funny, self-deprecating dating stories and rapid-fire hot takes
• A comforting dose of “it’s okay not to have it all figured out”
• Candid chat about beauty standards, cosmetic procedures, and self-acceptance

Best enjoyed with a martini—just like you’re at the pregame with the girls.