Pod Meets World: "Danielle Dances! (Week 7)"

Podcast: Pod Meets World
Host: Danielle Fishel
Date: October 29, 2025
Episode Focus: Danielle’s candid insights into her journey on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) Season 34, especially Halloween Week, with behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on the competition, and a heartfelt discussion about fandom, feedback, and personal growth.

Episode Overview

This week’s episode is a solo, direct-from-the-dressing-room update from Danielle Fishel. She takes listeners behind the sequined scenes of DWTS’s Halloween Night, recounting everything from grueling rehearsals and on-stage mishaps to the unique camaraderie of cast and crew. The episode invites fans into Danielle’s personal experiences as both a celebrity contestant and a lifelong “Boy Meets World” favorite, blending nostalgia, humor, and real talk about the highs and lows of competition reality TV.

Key Discussion Points

1. Life on Dancing with the Stars: The Halloween Week Experience

• Grueling Schedule & Wig Glue Woes

  • Danielle recounts her packed day, handling press events, a dance party, and a milkshake before recording the podcast at home.
  • She pulls back the curtain on DWTS hair and makeup, especially the Halloween “vengeful murdered bride” look, and the sticky challenge of washing faux blood out of her hair:

    "The blood is very sticky and very crunchy, and it is all over my hair. I actually am not sure how I'm going to get it out... One of the tricks they told me is you start with conditioner."
    (03:30)

• Backstage Close Calls & Dancing Mishaps

  • Danielle shares behind-the-scenes stories about dangerous moments in rehearsal, such as nearly being dropped by her partner Pasha, and an incident where a fellow contestant’s nose was broken on accident.
  • She underscores the family-like care in the cast:

    "When that kind of stuff happens, it's crazy how much you are just like, no, we're your family. We're your people. We're not going anywhere. Not leaving you alone.”
    (06:10)

2. The Halloween Dance: Concept, Execution, and Reflections

• Choreographing a “Ghost Bride” Story

  • Danielle and her team built a dark narrative for their Viennese waltz to “Die With a Smile.”

    “We wrote a story... about a ghost bride returning to visit her husband, and though it may look like a love story at first, it was anything but. Halfway through, you realize Pasha has blood on his hands… I’m there for revenge.”
    (12:40)

• Performance Goals & Judges’ Notes

  • Her primary focus this week: “breathe more and be more expressive” after feedback from viewers. She is taking judge critiques seriously but not letting them overwhelm her:

    "If I were to take all of the things I have to improve on and try to work on them every week, I would be very overwhelmed... My goal has been to just improve on a couple of little things.”
    (16:55)

• A Near-Perfect Night With One Slip

  • Danielle is honest about a minor mistake mid-performance and how that felt:

    “There’s one moment that bums me out that I missed the timing on… I messed that up. I hadn’t messed it up all week, but something always falls out.”
    (22:40)

3. Competition Dynamics & Cast Camaraderie

• Highlights From Other Contestants

  • Danielle praises standout performances from Robert, Andy, and Jen, and gives a shout-out to Cheryl Burke as guest judge:

    “Cheryl Burke knows her stuff… she was very honest, which I appreciate.”
    (25:40)

• Addressing Negativity and the Internet

  • She cautions against negative fandom and emphasizes kindness:

    “If you are a fan of anybody on this show, support your fave without putting down anyone else. We’re not doing it amongst ourselves and we don’t want to see it on the Internet.”
    (29:20)

• The Power of Positive Comments

  • Danielle shares a personal story about being moved to tears by seeing supportive comments online (even, surprisingly, on Reddit):

    "I welled up... I was reading Reddit and crying because you guys were so unbelievably kind and lovely."
    (31:50)

4. The Challenge of the Monster Thon & Looking Ahead

• Monster Thon Dance-Off: Mixed Feelings

  • Danielle describes the confusing logistics and physically exhausting nature of the group “marathon” dance, admitting it wasn’t her favorite part of the show:

    "I don't necessarily know that I love it. Like, I don't really know that I was like, well, that was super fun... I hope we don't necessarily have to do it again."
    (33:50)

• Elimination & Team Dance Excitement

  • She notes the elimination of Jen and Yan with sadness, emphasizing how each person’s departure shapes the cast atmosphere.
  • Danielle expresses excitement for the next team dance and for the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode.

5. Gratitude, Family, and The DWTS Journey

• Family and Support System

  • Danielle mentions her family and friends in the audience, appreciating her ability to share the DWTS experience with them.

• Parting Gratitude and Reflection

  • Heartfelt thanks to fans for their votes and support, underscoring how transformative the experience has been:

    "My life has truly been changed by this show... I just feel like a whole new love of dance and expression and storytelling and connection has been opened up inside of me, and I don't ever want it to stop."
    (41:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On facing her limits:

  “I had no idea how much I enjoyed being this physical. I just love it. I feel like if I could have shifted courses and not been an actor, I would have been an athlete of some kind for sure.”
  (20:05)

• On the show's dynamic:

  “All of our lives have been changed by being a part of this experience. The only real painful part is some of the, you know, really nasty stuff that's out there.”
  (29:50)

• On online community:

  “When you find kind and nice pockets on the Internet, it was really overwhelming.”
  (32:00)

Important Timestamps

• 05:00 — Rehearsal injuries & cast's close camaraderie
• 12:40 — Halloween dance storyline & choreography
• 16:55 — Danielle on incorporating judge and fan feedback
• 22:40 — Honest admittance of on-stage slip-up
• 25:40 — Cheryl Burke’s guest judge appearance and role
• 29:20 — On handling/rising above negativity on the internet
• 31:50 — The power of positive fan comments
• 33:50 — Monster Thon dance challenge explained
• 41:50 — Reflecting on the impact of DWTS & closing gratitude

Final Thoughts

This “Danielle Dances!” installment is an intimate, motivational, and sometimes funny ride through the unique world of DWTS as lived by Danielle Fishel. From the technical trials of performance to the emotional bonds among cast and the rollercoaster of public feedback, Danielle keeps it candid and gracious, reminding fans why they love her both on and off the dance floor.