Pod Meets World – “Dancing with…Maksim Chmerkovskiy”

Original Air Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Episode Overview

In this special crossover episode branded “Danielle with the Stars,” Boy Meets World’s Danielle Fishel interviews the legendary Dancing with the Stars professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The conversation weaves through Maks’ journey as an immigrant and TV star, his candid thoughts on the realities of DWTS, the high-pressure nature of celebrity competitions, and practical, unfiltered wisdom for first-timers like Danielle herself currently on season 34. The episode also offers both nostalgia for ‘90s TV fans and dance competition insights for both newbies and veterans.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

Maksim’s Immigrant Experience & Early TV

• Maks arrived in the U.S. in 1994 at age 14 – his cultural foundations were set outside America, leading to a unique way of relating to TV, including Boy Meets World.

  • “My foundation was set in late mid, late 90s...so that's Family Matters. That's Batman on channel 11 back then. That's you guys. That's all this, you know, I can name couple of shows that are fundamental for me.” (05:43)
  • He didn’t grow up with American cartoons, but he still felt the “vibes” of shows, especially noticing Danielle as a teen crush:
    “I saw this hot chick when I was a teenager. Who. Is that you?” (06:11)
    (Danielle laughs: “Just wanted to make sure we clarify that.”)

• Maks asserts he was never a perfect fit for the public TV “mold.”

  • “I'm just not the person you want to, I guess, hire if you just want him to be very quiet and say exactly what you suppose, you know, I mean, like, that sort of mold is not my thing.” (06:28)

Inside Maks’ Dancing with the Stars Mindset

• Maks dispels myths about the pro’s job on DWTS: His initial understanding was that a pro gives the celebrity the best shot at winning—only later did he learn it’s about giving them the best experience.

  • “I was told my. Your job is to give celebrity the best chance at winning Dancing with the Stars. Okay, great. Right?...That's not the job. Are you crazy? ...The job is to give the celebrity the best time on Dancing with [the] Stars. Not the best chance at winning.” (08:00–08:21)

• Pros work with huge variables, from personalities and backgrounds to dance levels.

  • “If I get given, you know, X and she has no chance...now I'm just pulling that dead body across.” (08:52–08:59)
  • Danielle jokes: “Very similar to my leg right now, you know, pulling this dead body behind me. I really can relate.” (09:00)

The 34th Season: Dance Level & Casting

• This season is notably strong, with few weak links—everyone can “dance or put on a show.”

  • “I have to admit. Yeah. It's a. Everybody can dance.” (12:47)
  • “I feel like everyone who on the board was a maybe turned out to be they can dance.” (13:31)
  • Maks singles out Allen's partner Elaine Hendrick as a surprise reveal: “She whipped it out and was like, holy. Wow, that was amazing.” (15:25)

• Physical Toll & Self-Care: Danielle details her hip pain, the repetitive strain, and asks for self-care advice. Maks and Danielle trade injuries and advice about training load, emphasizing the importance of physical prep and recovery.

  • Danielle: “We were able to do full runs with this dance for four hours for probably eight days in a row of just, like, 32 hours straight of high kicking and lunging.” (16:45)
  • Maks: “You're gonna have a lot of repetition, which is the right thing. You need to be clean.” (17:07)

Maks’ Strategy for Winning DWTS

• It’s not a pure dance competition; success demands strategy, politics, and a holistic focus:

  • “Absolutely.” (When asked, “Is there a strategy to winning DWTS?”)
    Danielle: “What's the strategy?” Maks: “Politics.” (28:21–28:23)
  • “A lot of people get lost in the source of this being a TV show...it's what you say. It's how you say it. It's the interview, babe...This is just the tip of the iceberg—the show, the dance itself.” (30:44–31:33)
  • “The biggest key...it's not about how you start, it's how you finish. And this isn't a race. It's a marathon. And so if you show small incremental growth every week, you're gonna actually trigger this emotional, you know, emotional recognition from people watching.” (32:12–32:18)

• The Celebrity/Pro dynamic matters:

  • Pasha (Danielle’s partner) is praised for letting the celebrity be the star:
    “He let you shine. That's very important...you want to be seen in the best possible light and way. And so I think that he'll provide that perfectly.” (29:47–29:58)
  • “Pasha said to me that his entire job is to be the frame and that I am supposed to be the picture, Right?” – Danielle (30:02)

Self-Care and Wellness for Dancing

• Maks’ essential self-care regimen:

  • Prioritizing cold plunges over icing for recovery:
    “But cold plunge. 100. One of the best things that, that I can heavily recommend...” (35:08–35:17)
  • Thermal compression pants (NormaTec), elevation, and supplements for muscular recovery.
    “Compression pants... I would do it before bed...with legs elevated...run that and it'll renew.” (36:32–36:51)

• Nutrition, supplementation, and bone broths as further recommendations:

  • “Supplements, like, you can't not eat. You cannot eat, but you have to supplement. You have to keep your energy level up.” (36:00–36:20)
  • Endorses local CBD creams, broth, and “brothy things” for recovery.
  • “CBD cream. Okay, great. I've been using that on this like as pain relief.” (56:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On teaching and growth (Maks):
  • “I'm just not the type that's...excuse me, I need to walk around the block a little bit. I'll be like, I'm leaving. You can go walk around. I'm not coming back.” (26:17)
  • “It’s not about this one thing. And so, yeah, I'm a big part of, but I'm a big part of bigger thing...So this is not a max show by any means.” (09:24–09:59)
• On the show’s recent resurgence (Maks):
  • “The biggest platform in social media history...TikTok...was founded on short form dance videos.” (11:57)
• On “Best first dance ever” claim:
  • Maks is indignant when Derek Hough declares Robert Irwin’s first dance the best ever:
    “Come on. Derek Hough with the best first dance ever...at least not with us in the room. At least let us leave.” (40:56–41:16)
• On fairness and dance experience:
  • “We have to have dance be represented by high level professional performances every show. Because if you don't have that and everybody sucks...people will tune out.” (46:14–46:53)
  • Danielle: “The show is not called teaching people how to dance. It's not called that.” (47:04)
• Advice to Danielle:
  • “Just dance, man...you got a good one to teach you.” (34:49)
  • “Put an effort...this for you is a dance experience. So you just got to prioritize, you know what it is.” (34:19–34:31)

“Tetiakappa” Vodka and Life Beyond Dancing

• Maks’ new business venture:
  • Shares the story of launching Kappa Vodka, a clean, small batch spirit designed and produced in Napa Valley:
    “I'm the only spirit in distribution that has a Made in Napa label on earth. And I'm very proud of that.” (53:44)
  • Hosts Kappa Nights event at the Mulholland, Calabasas—an evening of dance, food, and (of course) vodka.
    “There will be dancing and there will be, you know, you dancing and there will be shots and there will be caviar and there will be hors d' oeuvres and four course sit down meal and it's going to be great...” (55:13–55:27)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [05:01–07:06] Maks on growing up as an immigrant & relating to 1990s American TV
• [08:00–09:07] The real job of a pro dancer on DWTS: “give the best time, not the best chance at winning”
• [12:40–15:37] The unusually high dance level among the new DWTS cast
• [17:34–18:24] Danielle’s physical challenges and embracing the struggle
• [28:21–32:30] Actual strategy for winning DWTS: “Politics,” progress, and the importance of interviews
• [35:04–37:23] Maks’ detailed self-care advice: cold plunges, supplements, compression
• [46:14–47:29] Fairness and the role of prior dance experience in the competition
• [53:44–55:27] Maks discusses Kappa Vodka and his event, combining dance and spirits

Episode Takeaways

• Dancing with the Stars is about much more than dance: The true job of the professional is to give the celebrity a transformative experience, both on and off the dance floor.
• Winning involves politics, persona, and authentic progress—not just steps.
• Self-care is critical: Recovery, nutrition, and smart training are as important as the choreo.
• Maks remains as candid and direct as ever, giving both Danielle and listeners hard-won wisdom with some signature humor and a dash of humility.

For New Listeners/Fans

Whether you’re tuning in for Boy Meets World nostalgia or looking for behind-the-scenes DWTS guidance, this episode delivers honesty, camaraderie, and bite-size advice from two pop-culture icons who know showbiz is never just about what you do on stage.