DWTS Rehearsal + My First Night Out in LA

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hot Mess with Alix Earle

Episode: DWTS Rehearsal + My First Night Out in LA
Host: Alix Earle
Date: October 2, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, Alix Earle shares a behind-the-scenes look at her whirlwind experience rehearsing for "Dancing with the Stars" (DWTS) and recounts her first night out in Los Angeles. The episode swings between the pressures and antics of the ballroom, playful banter with her dance partner and friends, and the fun (and chaos) of attending an LA party after a stretch of staying "well behaved." Listeners get an authentic glimpse into Alix’s anxieties, joys, and the creative process that goes into preparing a performance for both the ballroom and her social followers.

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DWTS Rehearsal: Behind the Scenes

Tackling New Challenges

• Alix candidly expresses her nerves about the week’s dance, especially learning strict ballroom holds and precision technique.
• "I've never done these holds before. So that's where I'm finding it a little bit tricky to look, like, pretty and not look like there’s a stick on my ass...I always just look, like, stressed out and stiff." (Alix, 00:10)

Song & Choreo Choices

• The chosen song is a TikTok viral hit, thematic for "TikTok Week" on the show.
• Alix and her team emphasize the need for a routine that's "sharp, crisp, precise," compared to more relaxed dances:
  • "Now I really want to, like, just get my technique really, really good and technical...for getting our scores up. So that's what I'm trying to focus on for this dance." (Alix, 00:30)
• Even injuries become routine:
  • "I think I almost broke my knee yesterday. It's actually fine… There was a big bruise...I'm not complaining. I’m loving it. I'm having so much fun." (Alix & Carter, 01:50)

Rehearsal Banter & Technical Tips

• The rehearsal is punctuated by playful interactions among Alix, her partner Val, the dance coach, and friends:
  • On posture: "It’s just so hard to get my elbows up and then my shoulders down." (Alix, 02:32)
  • Val reassures: "But you just did. Put you here." (Val, 02:49)
• The collaborative process of choreography:
  • "Unfortunately, it's pretty collaborative…There are weeks where I feel confident to make things up on the spot with my celebrity partner…sometimes I have to adjust." (Val, 03:14)
• Tricks and creativity:
  • "There was one thing that we were very ambitious about…We're xna the trick. But maybe for another week." (Val & Alix, 03:46)
  • "I appreciate her unrealistic expectations…this is a perfect storm of disaster waiting to happen. Or we're going to kill it and break through." (Val, 04:09)

Social Media's Influence on DWTS

• The team debates TikTok's impact on ballroom:
  • "If you asked me maybe a couple of years ago, I would have been a hater about it. I think now I've been converted. I understand the value of TikTok community...it's only right that we pay it back." (Val, 06:00)
• Fan comments shape the creative process:
  • "[We] had a completely different beginning…a comment said we should do like a voiceover GRWM...and that's kind of what we ended up going with." (Alix, 06:54)

Laughter & Vulnerability in Rehearsal

• The group pokes fun at their quirks, cringe dance moves, and social media habits:
  • "My partner makes the cringiest tiktoks." (Alix, 10:07)
  • "I need way more sass. I definitely don’t have the sass...I licked my lips so many times." (Val, 10:12)
• Alix reflects on her roots:
  • "This is what I would do in my college dorm...I was always passionate about making commercials." (Alix, 11:05)
  • "You’ve been doing it for a long time." (Val, 11:19)

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Getting Ready & First LA Night Out

The Dilemma: Go Out or Stay In?

• Alix weighs the decision to party or rest:
  • "It's a Saturday night I feel like I should go out...But there is a birthday party...Should I stay in and rest? But I don't have dance until one tomorrow…I've been so good…I feel as though I should get myself a present. And that present is going out." (Alix, 11:47-12:33)

"Space"-Themed Party Chaos

• Alix struggles with interpreting the ambiguous "space" theme:
  • "When you say space themed to me, I think one of two things…I think, like, actual space…Should I just wear silver? And I don't have anything silver...Maybe these shorts seem spacey because they're, like, metallic…Would an astronaut wear these?" (Carter, 12:43-13:41)
• Solution: "I ended up ditching the space theme because I didn’t know what to wear. So I just put on this dress and I'm gonna go meet my friends out for drinks, and then we're gonna see where the night takes us." (Alex, 14:10)

LA Nightlife Antics

• The group heads out for an unpredictable night, full of playful conversations and bonding:
  • "We're gonna make LA film again." (Alex, 14:37)
  • "Jake, you look very handsome." / "You look really handsome." / "You're, like, lit up right now." (Alex, Jake, Friend 1, 14:40-15:00)
• Jokey rivalries and playful vlogging:
  • "We can't do that on the vlog." (Dance Coach, 15:18)
  • "Okay, bartender. You have a hot bartender." (Jake, 16:02)

"Tequila Moments" and Romantic Entanglements

• Scenes from the party include humor, new crushes, and classic party mayhem:
  • "Hey, what's up, you guys? I'm having a little bit of a tequila moment in my car right now. We're Saturdaying. Is that okay? God forbid I have fun." (Friend 3, 16:05)
  • "Carter upset. This might be my new boyfriend." (Friend 1, 16:18)
  • Confessions: "So the thing is, I'm in love with Tate’s security guard." (Friend 1, 16:43)

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The Aftermath: Reality Sets In

• After a wild night, Carter details the late-night adventure:
  • "Well, I went out until 5:00am…never ended up going to the birthday party that I thought I was going to. I have to be at dance in 40 minutes, so I'm gonna freshen up." (Carter, 16:57)
• Alix wraps with a classic "Hot Mess" moment:
  • "See you guys in a second. We made." (Alix, 17:11)

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Notable Quotes

• "I've never done these holds before…It's just so hard to get my elbows up and then my shoulders down." — Alix (00:10, 02:32)
• "I appreciate her unrealistic expectations, and so I try to meet them. And so this is a perfect storm of disaster waiting to happen. Or we're going to kill it and break through." — Val (04:09)
• "If you asked me maybe a couple of years ago, I would have been a hater about it. I think now I've been converted." — Val on TikTok/ballroom crossover (06:00)
• "This is what I would do in my college dorm and I thought it would get me out to the hyp house." — Alix (11:05)
• "I feel as though I should get myself a present. And that present is going out." — Alix (12:33)
• "Would an astronaut wear these little mini, mini shorts? Maybe if I was an astronaut, that’s what I would wear." — Carter (13:07)
• "Hey, what's up, you guys? I'm having a little bit of a tequila moment in my car right now. We're Saturdaying. Is that okay?" — Friend 3 (16:05)

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Key Takeaways

• Alix provides an entertaining and authentic peek into both the arduous and amusing parts of preparing for DWTS, highlighting the rigor, creativity, and vulnerability involved.
• The impact of TikTok and fan culture on professional TV dance is discussed openly, revealing a new era of audience-creativity interaction.
• The juxtaposition between intense work and offbeat LA nightlife offers listeners a full-circle "Hot Mess" experience, including party costume mishaps, friendship dynamics, and Saturday night chaos.
• The episode embodies Alix’s signature mix of humor, relatability, and chaotic charm.

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(End of Summary)

Transcript

[Alex]

I'm a little nervous about this week. It's just different. Like, I've never done these holds before. So that's where I'm finding it a little bit tricky to look, like, pretty and not look like there's a stick on my ass. I don't know how to look, like, relaxed ever. I always just look, like, stressed out and stiff.

[Interviewer]

What made you pick this song?

[Alex]

We picked this song because it's TikTok week and I wanted to do this. Is Al on the toilet? He'll go on the toilet and play Tiktoks. They blast in here. The other day he was playing one. It was like Al hates Alex or whatever and it played like 10 times. And I was in here and it was blasting. But we picked this song because I wanted to do a dance from TikTok and this was one that, like, went viral this summer. And I thought it was really fun and I thought this was, like a fun dance that was on TikTok. That was an actual, like, competitive dance rather than just like a TikTok dance. Although it did kind of turn into one. I think, like, now I'm questioning myself less on, like, if I'm going to remember the moves or if I'm going to, like, perform. And now I really want to, like, just get my technique really, really good and technical because sometimes it's not. And I feel like that will help us for getting our scores up. So that's what I'm trying to focus on for this dance because it is like a really, really clean, sharp, crisp, percent precise dance where, like, everything is supposed to be in unison. So I have to, like, be able to know what everything is doing as opposed to, like, if we're just kind of like moving and grooving and another dance, it's kind of like a little bit more free flowing. I feel like this is very, like, here at this angle and here at this angle, I'm up and down. So that's my challenge this week. I think I almost broke my knee yesterday. It's actually fine.

[Carter]

It is a big bruise.

[Alex]

But honestly, there was a big bruise over here last week. Week that started to just go away. I'm not complaining. I'm loving it. I'm having so much fun. I feel like this week I'm actually a little less sore. Like maybe I'm getting a little bit more stamina or maybe we're slowing down. Oh, the big is back.

[Dance Coach]

The big of these.

[Alex]

The wicked witch is back.

[Dance Coach]

Cool.

[Val]

One more time. Do you see how you think your elbows are it's not. And it's not at all.

[Alex]

It's just so hard to get my elbows up and then my shoulders down.

[Friend 1]

Just naturally.

[Alex]

They just look. They have big shoulders. And then. See, look. See that down.

[Val]

That's it.

[Dance Coach]

That's what I can see now.

[Friend 1]

You're doing our thing.

[Val]

But you just did put you here.

[Friend 2]

And you were like, what happened?

[Dance Coach]

Boom, boom.

[Val]

That's it.

[Dance Coach]

From here, stretch a little to that.

[Alex]

I swear, like, see how yours goes, like, down? Like, where can I go?

[Dance Coach]

I don't know.

[Val]

Did you do something with your shoulders?

[Interviewer]

How much of a collaborative effort is, like, actually the choreograph with your partner?

[Val]

Unfortunately, it's pretty collaborative, what the process is. I prep a routine, I bring it in. Obviously, some things are always open to be adjusted, so it's more like a framework. There are weeks where I feel confident to make things up on the spot with my celebrity partner. There are weeks when I don't feel confident and I want to come in with a few sections. Ready? I kind of wrap my head around some movement. Then I come in. We try. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Alex]

Sometimes I have to change it.

[Val]

I have to adjust. There was one thing that we were very ambitious about.

[Alex]

It was a trick.

[Val]

It was a trick.

[Alex]

I think we're xna the trick. But maybe for another week.

[Val]

For another week. Because that trick was going to result in points deducted. It's not allowed in this dance. So maybe that was kind of like a good thing.

[Alex]

That's the problem is Val was, like, bringing up different tricks and whatever, and I'm like, well, what if we just, like, took it to another level? And sometimes I feel like I have unrealistic expectations, but I do think we could do it.

[Val]

We have sort of done yes, we can. And I appreciate her unrealistic expectations, and so I try to meet them. And so this is a perfect storm of disaster waiting to happen. Or we're going to kill it and break through.

[Dance Coach]

Yeah.

[Alex]

It naturally moves a little, so that's okay.

[Dance Coach]

Feedback.

[Val]

Now stay.

[Alex]

A little still. Like, I'm not moving, like, up here, but you are. But it looks really good when you do it. It might just be a lack of skills on my end.

[Val]

No, I'll nice and soft in my legs and stretch.

[Alex]

That's it.

[Dance Coach]

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Come on.

[Val]

Five, six. Forget about that. That felt really good.

[Dance Coach]

Let's watch it.

[Friend 1]

By the way, shout out.

[Val]

Ladies, thank you for your comments. I'm big in the vlog space right now, girls. I see. Don't bring Your fans around me.

[Alex]

Don't leave me for him, please. Something went wrong with my feet here.

[Val]

1, 2, 3.

[Dance Coach]

1, 2, 3. Elbow.

[Interviewer]

With bringing TikTok into the ballroom space. How does that feel as a professional dancer?

[Val]

If you asked me maybe a couple of years ago, I would have been a hater about it. I think now I've been converted. I understand the value of TikTok community and, you know, everything that that platform and the people on that platform have given us on the show. It's only right that we pay it back, you know, and bring more TikTok culture onto network television.

[Alex]

Why are some people saying vows?

[Val]

Gals, am I even, like, allowed to have a fandom? I feel like, like you grow out of that.

[Alex]

No.

[Val]

You never get too old.

[Alex]

Can you be tumble?

[Val]

Yeah, I guess. Val Gallas has a nice ring too. There is a comment online that also flipped this creator, you know, so we talk about the influence that your fans have on this process. The baby freeze obviously was a shout out to you and your community, but even this week, we had a completely different beginning. And what inspired the change, literally Wednesday morning, was a comment that said we.

[Alex]

Should do like a. Like a voiceover. Get ready with me in the beginning. And then I was like, wait, we should have a vanity, like, in the beginning. But then I was like, a vanity doesn't really make sense in this dance. So I was like, we could have it, like, start out of vanity. Like I'm, you know, making a tick tock and that we're like forgetting that the dance is going on and Val comes and grabs me and that's kind of like what we ended up going with.

[Val]

Whoever that was. I don't remember what, but that was. You did that.

[Alex]

I still feel uncertain if we could run that last part a few more times. It's so good. That is my favorite part of the dance.

[Val]

Now we got a dance to do. That's a pretty cool move too. Could have easily done that in 18.

[Alex]

Yeah, that just kind of came out of me. Watch your elbow and mine. Like, should I just move mine a little more? Because I think it's help. I'm serious. Yours looks good.

[Carter]

Good.

[Val]

I'm saying it's just a good looking ass elbow. Like, I can't do anything about that. Yes.

[Dance Coach]

Move a little bit more.

[Alex]

The discos, I feel like we should be like, let me with a disco. Like, keep growing through them a little bit. This is like lemming with a disco, you know?

[Val]

Yes, yes, yes. A little more texture.

[Alex]

And on this, my arms are no Good. They need to be.

[Val]

Forget about the ramp.

[Dance Coach]

Do it one more time. I'll be back.

[Val]

Oh, that's the one. Yeah, that's the cringiest. That had to be the cringiest. Dice roll, the antlers, all of it. That's the one. Yo, let's go.

[Alex]

Let's do this.

[Val]

Oh God. Slide to the right. And on that thing.

[Alex]

My partner makes the cringiest tiktoks.

[Val]

I need way more sass. I definitely don't have the sass. Oh no, I can't. I can. This can never be posted, ever. I licked my lips so many times.

[Alex]

You licked your lips?

[Val]

I was just trying to be as cringe as possible.

[Alex]

Survival without the licking of the lip.

[Friend 2]

Big dreams, big move.

[Friend 3]

I was.

[Friend 2]

Long rose. Cold nights. I had to pray for that. Stay down. Came up. Never play.

[Alex]

Why does this make me like really happy? Getting emotional. This is what I would do in my college dorm and I thought it would get me out to the hyp house. Well, this was like me and Ashton when we were young. This is not a tik tok but I was very passionate always about making like commercials. So this was us making like a serial commercial. I guess I liked marketing.

[Carter]

I don't even think.

[Alex]

Let me just see if I can watch. I have blue hair, blue, blue nails and a fake Chanel mask on.

[Val]

You've been doing it for a long time.

[Dance Coach]

It's great.

[Val]

You should be so proud.

[Alex]

Ex quiet money.

[Val]

Ex quiet money hips X quiet money hips Kind of confusing.

[Carter]

Give a about what I can't waste.

[Friend 3]

My time with a that's not life now got to bust me down in.

[Alex]

Them Cuban keep me ice that's enough for today.

[Carter]

Goodbye. All right, we're back home now chilling on the couch with a girl having a little bit of a conflict cuz it's a Saturday night I feel like I should go out and I wouldn't just go out to go out. But there is a birthday party today tonight and I'm like, should I stay in and rest? But I don't have dance until one tomorrow and I really haven't been out at all since New York. I'm not sure who I've turned into. I haven't even had a drink, not even a cocktail, not even one. So I think if Zaza is down to come with me then I think I'll go just for a little. Right now it's 11pm but I feel like I could be ready in like 30 minutes and maybe get a little crazy. But anytime I go out with Za I end up getting like two too crazy. So that's probably not a good idea. But I'm like, I feel like I.

[Alex]

Deserve a little treat.

[Carter]

I've been so good. I've been so well behaved. Feel as though I should get myself a present. And that present is going out. Okay.

[Alex]

Don't mind what's going on on the floor.

[Carter]

But the party is space themed. Now, when you say space themed to me, I think one of two things. I think one, club, space, Miami. I'm like, okay, a rave. Or I think, like, actual space. And like, when I. There's a planned theme, like, go above and beyond. And I'm like, oh, so space buns and glitter. And I just know that that's not going to be the vibe. But it's hard. Like, there was no mood board or anything. And I can never tell with people in la.

[Alex]

I'm like, is this, like, we're going.

[Carter]

All out type of theme or should I just wear silver? And I don't have anything silver. So, like, I was thinking maybe these shorts seem spacey because they're, like, metallic. I don't know, would an astronaut wear these little mini, mini shorts? Maybe if I was an astronaut, that's what I would wear. I just did my makeup. But before I go into the deep, dark adventure of trying to pick an outfit, I'm gonna make a drink. Because that'll definitely help me be a little bit more decisive. Cause I don't know what I'm wearing. Haven't had a drink in a minute.

[Alex]

Let's crack open some morgues.

[Carter]

Oh, perfect. Look what's right at the top. A mango.

[Alex]

That's what I want.

[Carter]

Let's go back into the closet. Asia. I don't know what to wear. Maybe I should wear Asia's cone. Maybe I should wear your cone for the space theme? Yes. Maybe that would make me look like.

[Alex]

What are those things called?

[Carter]

A ufo. Okay. I ended up ditching the space theme because I didn't know what to wear. So I just put on this dress and I'm gonna go meet my friends out for drinks, and then we're gonna see where the night takes us.

[Jake]

Guess who's back.

[Friend 1]

Hello.

[Alex]

I think we're gonna make LA film again.

[Jake]

That's my vibe.

[Friend 1]

Jake, you look very handsome.

[Jake]

You look really handsome.

[Friend 1]

You do?

[Interviewer]

Serious?

[Friend 1]

Yes. Like, more handsome than you saw me in New York. More handsome. Do you think so, too?

[Alex]

Yes, handsome.

[Jake]

Glowing and handsome. You're, like, lit up right now. You don't get it in the gimbal. You're Glowing.

[Friend 1]

Okay. I feel a little handsome.

[Friend 2]

You are.

[Friend 1]

I feel a little handsome.

[Jake]

Not doing handsome tonight.

[Friend 1]

We're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hey, vlog. I don't think we're in the right place. Shut the up, Mother. No, we can't do that.

[Dance Coach]

We can't do that on the vlog.

[Friend 1]

What do you mean you can't do that? I'm doing it. I'm gonna. That could go on the vlog. That cannot go on the vlog. Hey, let us in. Let us in. Oh, hey, mother.

[Carter]

Hey.

[Friend 1]

Okay, they let me in. Carter, you have to go on mute. They let me in. They let me in. I love us.

[Friend 3]

Guys.

[Friend 1]

We got this. I go, I go, I go, I go all night long.

[Jake]

Okay, bartender. You have a hot bartender.

[Friend 3]

Hey, what's up, you guys? I'm having a little bit of a tequila moment in my car right now. We're Saturdaying. Is that okay? Like, we're fucking Saturday. I'm pouring a shot. God forbid I have fun.

[Friend 1]

Carter upset. This might be my new boyfriend.

[Friend 3]

Dive in, mama.

[Carter]

Wow, look at this. This is so pretty.

[Alex]

La, la la.

[Friend 1]

Not la la. So the thing is, I'm in love with Tate's security guard.

[Val]

Security.

[Friend 1]

What the is up?

[Carter]

I think we should take a tequila shot and dance.

[Alex]

Good morning.

[Carter]

Well, I went out until 5:00am we went to, like, two different house parties. And we first started off at this, like, one place. I never ended up going to the birthday party that I thought I was going to. I have to be a dance in 40 minutes, so I'm gonna freshen up and just.

[Alex]

See you guys in a second.

[Carter]

Okay.

[Alex]

We made.