Podcast Summary: Hot Mess with Alix Earle

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

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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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