Hot Mess with Alix Earle
Episode: “2025 Year in Review”
Released: December 18, 2025
Host: Alix Earle
Episode Overview
In this special “Year in Review” episode, Alix Earle takes listeners through her most memorable and transformative moments of 2025, reflecting on her personal growth, career milestones, and viral vlogs. Using a mix of reaction to unseen vlog footage and candid storytelling, Alix brings fans behind the scenes — from the chaos of Miami Music Week to her emotional journey on Dancing With the Stars, struggles with acne, wild Coachella weekends, and life-changing career decisions. The episode is filled with vulnerability, humor, and excitement for the year ahead, with Alix teasing big plans and changes coming in 2026.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Watching the Year Unfold: “React with Me” Vlog Moments
- Alix surprises herself by watching a compilation of the year’s vlog highlights (01:31), immediately launching into reactions about each chaotic, funny, or significant event she documented.
- Notable quote:
"I don't actually know what moments are in this, so I'm gonna watch it right now with you guys and react." — Alix, 01:31
2. Manifesting Destinies: Birth Chart Revelations & Dancing With the Stars
- Birth chart reading prediction:
- A recurring guest (her birth chart reader) predicted in early 2025 that travel and becoming “an expert at something” would shape the late summer (02:11).
- Dancing with the Stars:
- Alix secretly knew she was joining the cast but couldn’t announce it yet.
- Notable quote:
“She was like, in August, September, you're going to become a pro at something...which was me, like, focusing on dancing...I knew I was doing Dancing with the Stars, but I just couldn’t say it out loud. But I was like, there’s no way she said that. That is crazy.” — Alix, 02:11
3. Viral Vlogger Mayhem: Miami Music Week Chaos
- Wild nights & misplaced camera:
- The episode reminisces on nights out, FOMO, and a lost camera incident during Miami Music Week (03:00-04:00).
- Alix shares the panic of losing her vlog camera after a night out, retracing her steps with club security in search of lost footage.
- Notable quote:
“I only uploaded, like, the one day of footage. And then I went out until, like, six in the morning and lost my camera. And it’s me and all my friends, and, like, other people have jobs they're clocking into. So I'm like, I just don’t want this out there.” — Alix, 03:39
4. Vulnerability Goes Viral: Acne Struggles & Self-Image
- Posting the hard moments:
- Alix discusses the anxiety of showing her bare skin online and the emotional toll of dealing with acne (05:00-07:00).
- She almost didn’t post the vlog where she breaks down about her skin, but later found it cathartic — receiving support from fans.
- Notable quote:
“I was crying about my skin and I was going out in New York for the weekend and not wearing makeup and I just felt so insecure...That was a moment where I felt I didn’t want to post it in the vlog ‘cause I was crying on my bathroom floor. But it actually felt so good to post that because I think so many of you guys related to this.” — Alix, 06:20
5. Vlogging Evolution: Blending Podcast and Reality Show Vibes
- Professional pivot:
- Alix reflects on her decision to incorporate more video and reality-based content into her podcast, moving beyond just audio storytelling (07:30-08:30).
- She expresses gratitude for her community’s support and says the shift makes her more excited about her work.
- Notable quote:
"Everyone was like well hey, that's a vlog or that's like a reality show, like this isn't a podcast. And I was like, well this is what I really want to do ... and I've been loving it so much." — Alix, 08:10
6. Friend Group Escapades: Coachella, Montauk, Jersey, Mallorca
- Coachella highlights:
- Iconic “queen of the castle” antics, altercations in the crowd, spontaneous decisions to leave and reenter the festival (09:00–11:00).
- Trip nightmares and blunders:
- Getting lost in Mallorca with her driver (12:10), sheep “guarding” the rental house, messy summer bucket lists, and family banter about messy rooms.
- Recurring themes: adventure, chaos, humor, and the realities (good and bad) behind glamorous social media moments.
7. Dancing With the Stars: New Skills, ‘Awkward’ Beginnings & Deep Friendship
- First encounters and chemistry:
- Meeting Val, her pro partner, for the first time on set (14:13) and feeling pressured to act natural on camera.
- Initial awkwardness — they didn't hug, prompting rumors about their relationship.
- Sarcasm and banter misunderstood by the public as dislike.
- Notable quote:
“We were like the only ones that didn't hug. And I think everyone thought we hated each other in the beginning. Because I think both of our natural banter was just to be, like, I don't know, sarcastic...But then we became friends...” — Alix, 14:25
- Toughest and most meaningful dances:
- “Purple Rain” waltz: unplanned emotional impact; high praise from the judges.
- “Man Eater” and foxtrot with feathered dress were favorites.
- Memorable judge comment:
“Carrie Anne was like, this dance is going to go down in Dancing with the Stars history. And then I started crying and so that was a really, really special one.” — Alix, 16:40
- Personal transformation:
- Pride in reaching second place, learning to perform, and embracing the experience wholeheartedly.
8. Looking Ahead: 2026 Teasers & Aspirations
- Personal growth:
- Alix hints at a “massive turn” in her life—what excites her, who she wants to be, and new daily passions.
- Career: Company launch
- Teases the launch of a new company/brand with actual offices in LA—plans to bring fans along for the ride with more behind-the-scenes content (19:50).
- Notable quote:
"I'm gonna be starting a company this next year so there's gonna be a lot more behind the scenes ... that's been a part of my life that I've been hiding for the past two years. So I'm excited that it's finally gonna come to the forefront and I can share it with everyone." — Alix, 20:34
- Closing words:
- Manifesting advice, encouragement for listeners to set goals for the new year.
- Final sentiment:
“Love you guys. What a great year. And the best is yet to come. I truly believe so.” — Alix, 21:23
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On missing camera panic:
“I went back to the club the next morning. Was walking around with the store security, like, looking through trash bins, lost and found, everything. So, yeah, that happened. And that was a little panic.” (04:10)
- On sharing vulnerability:
“Anyone who struggles with acne, you can relate to that. Like I just didn’t want to leave the house...But I actually felt very good after posting that and just seeing your guys responses to that.” (07:04)
- On public misconceptions:
“We were like the only ones that didn't hug. And I think everyone thought we hated each other in the beginning...” (14:25)
- On Dancing With the Stars:
“That was so fun. ... Purple Rain. ... we went out there and it was just so emotional for some reason and everyone in the audience had their lights up.” (16:35)
- On the future:
“I think this year is going to look way different...I'm gonna be starting a company this next year...So wink, wink, little surprise for this year. So excited. Love you guys.” (20:34)
Noteworthy Timestamps
- 01:31 — Alix introduces Year in Review vlog reactions.
- 02:11 — Birth chart reading predicts Dancing With the Stars arc.
- 03:39-04:10 — Miami Music Week camera fiasco.
- 06:20-07:04 — Raw discussion of acne struggles and sharing online.
- 08:10 — Vlog vs. podcast format shift.
- 12:10 — Mallorca travel scare.
- 14:13-14:25 — Meeting Val and “awkward” initial dynamic.
- 16:40 — “Purple Rain” dance and emotional judge comments.
- 19:50 — Hints at new company and bringing business BTS to the podcast.
- 21:23 — Inspiring, energetic sign-off for 2026.
Tone and Style
Alix blends candid humor, vulnerability, and energy throughout, often poking fun at herself and her friends, while being open about her insecurities, growth, and ambitions. The episode is equal parts relatable and aspirational, a chronicle of “hot mess” moments with an undercurrent of optimism for what’s to come.
Summary
Alix Earle’s “2025 Year in Review” is a whirlwind tour through her life’s biggest wins and messiest mishaps. Whether she’s panicking over a lost camera, breaking down over acne, awkwardly meeting her dance partner, or manifesting new career dreams, her honesty and charisma shine. The episode’s vlogs-with-commentary format offers rare insight into the real stories behind viral moments. With big announcements of a company coming and more chaos ahead, Alix promises even more transparency and adventure for “Hot Mess” listeners in 2026.