Pod Meets World – "It’s Danielle with the Stars!"
iHeartPodcasts | Released: September 3, 2025
Episode Overview
In this special episode, Danielle Fishel (forever Topanga from Boy Meets World) reveals her participation as a celebrity contestant on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. She offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look into her decision to join the show, the cast reveal, early rehearsal experiences, and the blend of excitement and anxiety as she embarks on this new chapter. Danielle shares touching personal insights, anecdotes about secrecy, support from her family and friends, and previews her journey for fans new and old—while promising ongoing updates, interviews, and plenty of humor throughout the competition season.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Big Reveal: Dancing with the Stars Season 34
- Danielle opens with excitement, announcing her role as a contestant, and the personal significance of this moment.
- Quote: “There is absolutely no turning back now. The news is out. I'm Danielle Fishel, and I'm going to be on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars.” (00:19)
- She reflects on being asked previously but always declining due to professional or personal reasons—including recovering from cancer last year.
- Quote: “This year, after having cancer last year, after deciding, you know what, I really just want to say yes to more things. I want to have more fun. I want to take more risks.” (02:55)
2. Fear, Determination, and Personality
- Danielle admits she has "no dance experience. None" and details her nervousness and perfectionist mindset.
- Quote: “I have no other dance training. I think that that would have been very helpful to have going into a show called Dancing with the Stars. So, yeah, I'm very nervous.” (04:43)
- She’s determined to enjoy the process, but her natural drive pushes her to go all in.
- “As much as I want this experience to be fun... I’m also here to win it all. All if I can.” (06:17)
3. Keeping the Secret and Family Support
- Danielle kept her participation secret from her kids until right before the announcement, out of concern for playground spoilers.
- “You tell them something is a secret... and then the next day they go on the playground and they're like, guess what? My mom's doing Dancing with the Stars. So I couldn't take that risk.” (07:38)
- Her husband has been supportive, managing home logistics so she can commit fully.
4. The Cast and First Meetings
- She introduces this season’s celebrity cast, highlighting a mix of influencers, actors, athletes, and musicians, and shares humorous anecdotes about their initial undercover meetings to dodge paparazzi.
- Quote: “I showed up every day in a different character mask... The first day I wore a Hulk mask... They posted online, ‘Who is this person in a Frankenstein mask?’ Guess what? That was me in a Hulk mask.” (11:13)
- Cast includes: Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Dylan Efron, Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Alex Earle, Robert Irwin, Corey Feldman, Hilaria Baldwin, Lauren (Fifth Harmony), Scott (Pentatonix), Elaine Hendricks, Andy Richter.
5. Professional Partners and Behind-the-Scenes Pairings
- Celebrities can request partners, but producers use their own methods for matchmaking. Danielle is paired with Pasha Pashkov.
- “He’s a perfectionist, and I am a perfectionist. So I think that makes us a really good team because we still have a lot of fun but we want it to be as close to perfect as possible.” (18:01)
- She describes an “alliance goal” with Pasha, his wife Dani (also a pro, partnered with Dylan Efron), stating she dreams the four of them make the finals together.
- Quote: “My goal, my dream on day one is that Dylan and Danny and Pasha and I are in the finals together.” (47:05)
6. Juggling Schedules: Pod Meets World and Beyond
- Danielle had to tell her co-hosts, Will Friedle and Rider Strong, early for scheduling, resulting in surprise and support.
- “They were both very surprised. Rider especially... Will I think knew that it was something that I would do eventually and that it was just a matter of when the time was right.” (22:03)
- She assures listeners the regular podcast will continue with some adjustments.
7. Rehearsal Intensity and Vulnerability
- Rehearsals are limited to four hours/day, six days a week (initially), but the routine is tough, physically and logistically.
- “My body is so sore. I know that a massage sounds like a pampering experience, but I have had to get multiple very deep tissue, incredibly painful one hour massages just to work out some of the kinks in my neck and my back.” (28:18)
- Danielle comments on the vulnerability of being back in front of the camera, referencing her most recent performance role 11 years ago in Girl Meets World.
8. Kickoff Party & DWTS Community Atmosphere
- She details the welcoming atmosphere at the Dancing with the Stars rooftop kickoff party, meeting fellow contestants, pros, and judges.
- Praise for the pros and their beauty, energy, and skill is effusive and genuine.
- Memorable moment with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy:
- Quote: “He said, ‘Is it inappropriate for me to tell you how much I love you?’ And I said, ‘No. That is so sweet... I will take it.’” (37:24)
- She describes forming fast bonds with other contestants, especially Elaine Hendricks and their paired partners.
9. Personal Growth: Embracing Imperfection
- Danielle shares hopes that the journey helps her heal lifelong perfectionism and allow herself grace through the challenge.
- “I am in this process trying to heal a part of me that has spent my entire life chasing perfection, being very hard on myself... enjoy the process, but know that you’re not going to be perfect.” (48:06)
- She highlights her intention to enjoy every moment and be present—despite already dreading the experience ending.
10. Engagement, Voting, and the Road Ahead
- Danielle encourages fans to follow her journey on social media and vote for her and Pasha, plus allies Dylan and Dani.
- Teases interviews and her next episode featuring Pasha.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “This year just felt right for so many different reasons.” (05:03)
- “My dream is that I have a permanent shelf in my house that a mirror ball trophy lives on, that has its own little light.” (07:02)
- “Scott from Pentatonix was like, ‘Hi, Daniel.’ I was like, hello, this isn’t exactly how I wanted to meet you... And you know what he said? ‘This is better. It’s way more memorable this way.’ And he’s not wrong.” (13:39)
- “I’m not a dancer. I’m not graceful. I’m not long. I’m not elegant. I’m, you know, five foot one, and I have a very short neck, and I don’t have a whole lot of ballroom elegance, but I’m going to do my best.” (52:19)
- “Please make sure you watch live, text your votes for me and Pasha and also Dylan and Dani—make my dream for the finals come true.” (56:13)
Episode Timestamps: Important Segments
- 00:16 – Danielle’s announcement and personal intro
- 02:55 – Why she finally said yes to DWTS (after cancer, new outlook)
- 04:43 – Confessing her lack of dance experience
- 07:38 – Keeping the news secret from her children
- 11:13 – Undercover cast meetings in masks (the Hulk mask story)
- 13:39 – Meeting Scott from Pentatonix memorably
- 18:01 – On chemistry and pairing with Pasha
- 22:03 – Telling Will and Rider / impact on Pod Meets World
- 28:18 – Intensity and soreness of rehearsals
- 37:24 – Val Chmerkovskiy’s compliment at kickoff party
- 47:05 – Dreaming of a finals alliance with Dylan, Dani, and Pasha
- 48:06 – Struggling with perfectionism and self-compassion
- 52:19 – Physical realities and determination
- 56:13 – Call to fans: watch, vote, follow the journey
Final Thoughts & What’s Next
Danielle’s candid, funny, and heartfelt storytelling lays the groundwork for a unique insider’s chronicle of her beginner’s journey as a Dancing with the Stars contestant. She promises a mix of emotional honesty, behind-the-scenes details, and a willingness to be vulnerable and joyful—and to involve her community of fans at every step.
Next Episode: Interview with Pasha Pashkov
Follow Danielle’s journey on Instagram: @daniellewithstars
Premiere: DWTS Season 34 debuts September 16 at 5pm/8pm ET on ABC & Disney.
Vote for Danielle & Pasha!
Summary prepared for listeners who want a thorough, engaging guide to this podcast episode’s highlights and heart.