Pod Meets World – "Pod Meets Twirl’d: DWTS 3408"

Episode Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Wilfred Lee (“Wil”), Ryder Strong
Episode Focus: Season 34, Episode 8 Recap of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) featuring Danielle’s DWTS journey, eliminations, standout dances, and the impact of the show’s popular vote system.

Overview

In this energetic and heartfelt episode of Pod Meets Twirl'd, Wil and Ryder recap the eighth week of “Dancing with the Stars” Season 34—focusing particularly on their friend and co-host Danielle Fishel’s elimination. They analyze the performances, discuss the quirks and challenges of the voting system, and reflect on Danielle’s time on DWTS. The tone swings from bittersweet farewells to playful banter, insider observations, and passionate debates about dancing, vulnerability, and what defines a "true" DWTS champion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shock of Danielle’s Elimination

[05:22–06:24, 49:53–51:20]

• The guys express shock and disappointment over Danielle’s exit, believing the popular vote would protect her despite rougher weeks with the judges.
• Wil: “I really didn’t expect this, to be honest… I was like, oh, well, the popular vote’s gonna keep Danielle in, even though the judges are being a little harsh on her.”
• Ryder: “I thought she was in trouble last night when you saw the dance… I thought her one chance was gonna be if Elaine went home.”

2. Popular Vote vs. Dance Ability

[07:04–08:55, 18:29–20:23, 53:42–54:37]

• The hosts debate how popularity keeps less technically skilled dancers like Andy in the competition.
• Ryder: “I get that he’s the people’s champion. I get that he’s kind of why the show was created… but obviously, they’re not judging him by dance.”
• Wil: “It all comes down to what type of show you want to watch, and that’s because, obviously, nobody is voting for Andy because of his dancing.”

3. Danielle’s Strengths & Struggles in Contemporary

[06:05–08:55, 33:27–34:29]

• Both highlight Danielle’s preference for structured dance forms, and her vulnerability facing contemporary, which demands less structure and more emotional expressiveness.
• Ryder: “She likes the structure… If you give Danielle a Lego set and instructions, she’s gonna build you the best Lego castle you’ve ever seen, right? If you give her a pile of Legos, she’s gonna look at you strange... She likes the structure of the dances.”
• Wil: “I was really proud of her… she was giving herself over to it in a way that she was not worried about what she looked like.”

4. The Gendered Expectations of Vulnerability

[32:46–33:27]

• Thoughtful discussion on the pressures for women to present as always capable, and whether this affected Danielle’s popular vote appeal.
• Ryder: “I think she embodies that where… she has to do everything perfectly and it’s to be like, hey, I’m struggling here… well, that’s what I think is almost like a failure for a woman nowadays. Whereas me, with my mental health stuff, it wasn’t until I reached out… my life changed for the better.”

5. Judges, Special Guest Judge Flava Flav, and Scoring Confusion

[11:03–12:47, 15:01–15:15]

• The addition of Flava Flav as a guest judge is met with humor and frustration due to his unorthodox scoring.
• Wil: “He was just like… ‘You know what I’m saying? You know what I’m saying?’ I’m like, no, that’s all you’re saying, dude. Like, say more… But he was effusive. He was positive. He was supportive, I guess that’s all we need.”

DWTS Week 8: Dance-by-Dance Commentaries

[10:23–43:49]

Dylan & Daniella – “I’m Still Standing” (Jive)

• Enthusiastic, but hosts feel he’s plateaued.
• Wil: “His kicks, especially in the beginning, were not high enough... his first, like, 30 seconds of kicks, I was like, what are you doing, man?”
• Scores: 8, 9, 10 (Flav), 9

Alex & Val – “Living on a Prayer” (Pasa Doble)

• Universally praised as dance of the night.
• Wil: “They were both incredible. The attitude, the song, the costumes, it all came together. Can’t… how is this not a 10?”
• Ryder: “This was dance of the night for me. The leather skirt flipping around—just perfect.”

Andy & Emma

• The show's “people’s champion,” but not a technical dancer.
• Wil: “His big move is literally… taking his arm up and bringing it down... just kind of your acting beat.”
• Scores: 7, 7, 9 (Flav), 7

Whitney & Mark – Pasa Doble

• Solid performance; not as strong as Alex & Val.
• Ryder: “This dance showcased why every night should be one… same dance from everybody. I loved being able to compare this to the other dance.”

Danielle & Pasha – Contemporary (Farewell performance)

• Danielle shows more personal vulnerability in her package.
• Wil: “She’s always like… I got this… it would have been nice for her to be a little more vulnerable.”
• Ryder: (after judges' apology): “She is short. It’s OK. She’s short.”
• Scores: 9, 8, 9, 8

Elaine & Alan – Viennese Waltz

• Technically good, but the hosts felt it was repetitive.
• Ryder: “All of Elaine’s dances look the same, and it’s like, how does… And everyone’s like, this was amazing. Wait a second…”
• Scores: 9, 9, 10 (Flav), 9

Jordan & Ezra – “Tina Turner” (Acrobatics)

• Big energy, fun gymnastic lifts.
• Ryder: (on her post-dance comment) “‘She’s back, y’all, and better than ever. Like, I’m Tina Turner now, and I’m better than Tina who’s dead.’”
• Scores: 10, 9, 10, 9

Robert & Whitney – Pasa Doble

• Continues to impress as favorite to win.
• Ryder: “You love this guy.”
• Scores: 9, 9, 10, 10

Group Dances (“Team Chicago” vs “Team Cool”)

• The group dynamic fostered camaraderie; Danielle shone as a leader/collaborator.
• Wil: “I would much rather watch a show about a group of dancers…than about individual competition.”

Elimination Results & Farewells

[49:53–52:20]

• Danielle’s exit deeply impacts the hosts.
• Wil: “I texted Danielle. Didn’t hear back for a couple hours. I knew she was busy …her phone just must have been blowing up for, like, of course, six hours of just non stop.”
• Ryder: “It just sucked. I feel like we were on this journey with her… to see it end, it’s like, ugh.”
• Wil (in Bruno accent): “Daniel, you were fantastic. It was… perfection. Your little body, you brought it, you brought the little body out into the show. And we love you, darling. But yes, it was not good enough…”

Looking Forward: Predictions & Hopes

[52:23–56:08]

• Robert seen as top contender; Dylan, Jordan as “underdogs.”
• Wil: “At this point, I feel like [Robert’s] the perfect combination of excellent dancer and personal journey.”
• Ryder: Predicts the order of eliminations: “Elaine, then Whitney, then Jordan, then Dylan.”
• Both: See Andy making the final three due to his swelling popularity.

Notable Quotes & Moments – With Timestamps

• [05:24] Ryder: “Sad, sad situation. It is. Yeah. It sucks.”
• [06:05] Wil: “She actually likes the structure… I really thought the popular vote was going to keep her in, man.”
• [08:05] Ryder: “If you give Danielle a Lego set and instructions, she’s gonna build you the best Lego castle you’ve ever seen… If you give her a pile of Legos, she’s gonna look at you strange…”
• [16:22] Ryder: “This was dance of the night for me.”
• [32:46] Ryder: “I think she embodies that where… she has to do everything perfectly… as a man, it’s maybe a little bit easier to do that than for a woman. I don’t know.”
• [35:26] Wil: “Carrie apologized. I know. Which I didn’t know she needed to… It felt a little performative...”
• [51:56] Wil (Bruno impression): “Daniel, you were fantastic… But yes, it was not good enough. Not good enough. We’ll see you next time...”

Final Thoughts

The episode blends personal anecdotes, serious dance critiques, and honest emotions over Danielle’s departure. It offers a nuanced behind-the-scenes lens into both the joy and politics of DWTS, exploring how vulnerability, popularity, and judge dynamics all intersect on a show that’s as much about story as it is about skill.

Best for listeners who:

• Are invested in DWTS and/or Danielle Fishel’s journey
• Appreciate witty, candid commentary from cast members turned superfans
• Value conversations about vulnerability, pop culture fair play, and friendship