Pod Meets World (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Dancing with…Mandy Moore
Air Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Mandy Moore (Emmy-winning choreographer: "Dancing With the Stars," "So You Think You Can Dance," "La La Land," Taylor Swift Eras Tour)
Episode Overview
In this lively and insightful episode, Danielle Fishel sits down with world-renowned choreographer Mandy Moore for a dynamic conversation about the art and industry of dance—especially through the lens of "Dancing With the Stars." Danielle, now a contestant on the show's 34th season, taps into Mandy’s decades of expertise, discussing everything from the craft of choreography and the culture of the show to preparing for live television and the value of vulnerability for performers. The conversation is full of behind-the-scenes stories, practical advice, and contagious enthusiasm for dance and creativity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Mandy Moore’s Journey to Choreography
- Starting Out (05:19–11:21)
- Mandy grew up in Colorado, beginning dance at a small local studio which later moved to Utah and became a hub for DWTS professionals.
- She arrived in L.A. at 18 with little industry knowledge:
"I drove out in my Wrangler with a dollar in my pocket. Yeah, I’m gonna make it." (09:05, Mandy) - Her big break came working as an assistant to Carrie Ann Inaba—who transitioned from dancer to reality TV judge and took Mandy along for the ride through connections on shows like “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”
- “If I hadn’t have been with her, I wouldn’t be in the rooms. Unbelievable.” (10:53, Mandy)
- Passion for Choreography Over Performing (12:40–14:14)
- Mandy realized she was more fulfilled by teaching, creating, and directing than performing on camera.
- “I genuinely love choreography more than being in front of the camera. I was always paying more attention to what the crew was doing!” (12:40, Mandy)
The Culture of "Dancing With the Stars"
- Collaboration with Pros (04:59–06:28)
- Mandy describes the mutual trust and creative freedom between choreographers and pro dancers, underscoring a family-like bond.
- “I just became this conductor of movement for them…I’m just here to make you look great.” (06:02 & 06:28, Mandy)
- Respect for Dancers (14:14–16:13)
- Discussion on how dancers are often treated like replaceable commodities in the industry—but not on DWTS.
- “Man, these people are putting out their physicality and their bodies for us…but the least we can do is like, respect them and make sure that they're good.” (14:14, Mandy)
- Danielle agrees: “On Dancing with the Stars, at least in my experience, everybody is treated very well.” (14:46, Danielle)
Attributes of a Good Student/Performer
- Vulnerability (16:28–17:36)
- Mandy stresses vulnerability as critical for learning and growing in dance.
- “It is vulnerable to be an open enough vessel to accept information about something that you most likely are not good at.” (16:54, Mandy)
- Danielle shares her reliance on pro Pasha for trust, illustrating the importance of letting go of perfectionism.
- “I started just saying trust the Pasha. Not the process—the Pasha.” (17:37, Danielle)
- Head and Heart Balance (19:09–20:52)
- Effective students balance intellectual understanding with expressive openness.
- “It starts with head…and then you get all a hot mess again. And then before you know it, it’s like those little interactions get smaller and smaller, and you move from both your head and your heart.” (19:09, Mandy)
Dance as Performance & Competition
- Judging and Scoring (24:13–27:39)
- Danielle and Mandy debate the challenges of scoring, audience perceptions, and how competitive DWTS currently feels.
- Mandy notes, “You just never know from year to year, season to season, like who’s gonna pop, who's gonna actually, like, in the 11th hour, do something amazing...” (24:29, Mandy)
- Danielle sympathizes with judges: “Anytime someone gives criticism—even if it’s earned—it’s being said to somebody's fave, and they get booed.” (26:15, Danielle)
- Celebrity Dance Experience: Does It Matter? (31:01–32:58)
- Mandy believes prior dance experience is only marginally advantageous, explaining fundamental differences in ballroom/Latin technique and audience appreciation of growth.
- “Honestly, it's almost harder for people that have pre-existing ideas about what dance is…The show can be for anyone.” (31:10 & 31:37, Mandy)
- Evolving Traditions & Breaking Frame (33:07–35:51)
- Discussion of tradition vs. innovation—like adding viral/TikTok moments or breaking strict dance “frames”.
- “If you don’t respect tradition but allow it to evolve, it will die a death.” (33:33, Mandy)
- Mandy supports some rule-bending when it’s not disrespectful: “Sometimes in life you should break a rule.” (35:51, Mandy)
Advice & Coaching for Danielle
- Going Bolder (36:10–40:06)
- Mandy tells Danielle to take bigger, bolder performance risks as the competition heats up.
- “Starting in week three and four, you have to make bigger choices—in your performance, in your character.” (36:29, Mandy)
- She cautions against subtlety: “Don’t you dare be subtle on the ballroom floor.” (37:39, Danielle, echoing Mandy)
- “The camera really takes away a good 20 to 30 percent of what you’re doing…It looks like you’re not even trying.” (39:04, Mandy)
Success on "Dancing With the Stars"
- What Makes a Mirror Ball Winner? (40:04–41:47)
- Mandy points to authenticity and letting the audience see the journey—failures and successes—as the most important commonality among winners.
- “They allow the audience to see them fail…They are in the moment completely.” (40:24, Mandy)
- Iconic Dance Moments (42:11–44:44)
- Mandy highlights the ambitious one-take drone opener at Griffith Observatory as a favorite choreographic feat and the emotional live TV tribute to Len Goodman as encapsulating the spirit of the show.
- “Everybody came together to make the very best moments…It was lit right. It was shot right. It was one of those things." (59:11, Mandy)
Life on the DWTS Tour
- Behind the Tour (55:28–58:10)
- Mandy has been lead director of the tour for several years, aiming to design routines and shows that let the pros shine and feature touring contestants.
- “We are bringing this television show that they know and love right to their back door. And it's also an amazing moment for these pros to dance their face off.” (55:35, Mandy)
- Danielle gushes over pros’ adaptability and resilience: “The real stars of this show are these pros. They are incredible.” (56:20, Danielle)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On starting out in L.A.:
"I drove out in my Wrangler with a dollar in my pocket. Yeah, I’m gonna make it."
—Mandy Moore, 09:05 -
On succeeding as a dancer:
"It is vulnerable to be an open enough vessel to accept information about something you most likely are not good at."
—Mandy Moore, 16:54 -
On authenticity and the audience:
"If you're very manicured and very produced in your own way of presenting yourself, the audience somehow senses it."
—Mandy Moore, 41:24 -
On bold choices:
"Go big or go home. Get in there."
—Mandy Moore, 37:20 -
On what’s special about DWTS:
"It’s a machine, and it’s a well-oiled machine, and it’s somehow not cold... How are you a machine that is also a jacuzzi?"
—Danielle Fishel, 59:53 -
Advice for Danielle’s dancing:
"Continue to push yourself to go bigger and bolder. Be more bold. Because now you're going into week three and week four...you have to make bigger choices—in your performance, more vulnerability, more emotion, more character."
—Mandy Moore, 36:10–36:32 -
On the show’s community:
"These are my cats. They're like my squad, you know? So to get to make with them is so fun."
—Mandy Moore, 57:59 -
On respecting tradition while innovating:
"If you don’t respect tradition but allow it to evolve, it will die a death."
—Mandy Moore, 33:33
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [05:19] Mandy’s career beginnings and relationship with Carrie Ann Inaba
- [12:40] Discovering her love for teaching and choreography
- [14:14] Dancer treatment and production culture on DWTS
- [16:28] Vulnerability and qualities of a good student
- [24:13] This season’s competitiveness and the challenge of scoring
- [31:01] Dance experience and show fairness discussion
- [33:07] Breaking frame, tradition vs. viral moments
- [36:10] Mandy’s advice: go bigger and be bolder starting week 3
- [40:04] Qualities of Mirror Ball champions
- [42:11] Favorite choreographed moments
- [55:28] DWTS tour experiences and letting the pros shine
- [58:10] The emotional essence of the show
Conclusion
This episode offers an engaging and enlightening deep-dive into the world of live dance performance, reality TV, and creative collaboration. Mandy Moore’s candor, warmth, and wisdom shine through, offering listeners both the starry magic and the real-deal hard work that go into "Dancing with the Stars." Danielle’s rookie contestant perspective and thoughtful questions create a dynamic, relatable conversation that both dance fans and general listeners can enjoy.