Pod Meets World: "Sharna Burgess Meets Twirl'd"

Podcast: Pod Meets World (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Air Date: November 6, 2025
Guests: Sharna Burgess (professional dancer and judge)
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L., Ryder Strong

Episode Overview

In this special episode, the "Pod Meets World" team steps into the world of "Dancing with the Stars" with accomplished pro dancer and judge Sharna Burgess. With Danielle recently eliminated from DWTS Season 34, the hosts—longtime Boy Meets World castmates—explore everything they've learned (and haven't learned) about ballroom dancing. The conversation delves into the realities of DWTS: its evolution, judging controversies, and what it’s truly like to be a pro dancer. Sharna offers behind-the-scenes insight from her tenure as both a pro and current judge, making this episode rich for fans of dance and reality TV.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dancing with the Stars: The Fan Perspective

[03:19]–[04:45]

• Wilfred and Ryder admit they were "total newbies" to DWTS until Danielle joined the show.
• Both express sadness over Danielle's elimination, noting the emotional investment in watching a friend compete.
• They joke about confusion over show mechanics:
  • Ryder: "I'm still waiting. When do they hand out the roses?"
  • Sharna: "Yeah. Wrong ABC show." [05:39]

Understanding the Judging: Subjectivity & Challenges

[05:47]–[08:13]

• Ryder criticizes the arbitrariness of DWTS scoring.
  • "The judging seems to be completely and totally arbitrary… if you get an eight now, it’s like you might as well have gotten a zero." [05:47]
• Sharna, drawing from her experience as both a DWTS and Australian judge, explains:
  • Judging is highly subjective; judges "miss stuff" due to the sheer number of things to watch at once [06:07].
  • "As a judge…you have to pull yourself back sometimes and go: okay, I love the story, but I can’t give Andy a 10." [08:02]
• On human nature and bias, she notes:
  • "It’s not that you get biased, but you start to get to know people... it’s a lot harder to be so objective." [07:03]

Evolution of the Show & Its Rules

[19:23]–[23:22]

• The panel and Sharna discuss how DWTS—and ballroom dance generally—has changed over two decades.
  • "Everything has absolutely evolved… If you watch Dancing with the Stars 20 years ago, you were seeing straight up ballroom dancing. We did not have jazz. We did not have contemporary… Now we’ve added Argentine tango, Lindy hop, jazz, contemporary..." [19:23]
• Former judge Len Goodman’s influence is discussed:
  • “[Len] was really the traditionalist, who was really the stickler for the rules, we’ve sort of lost the rules a little bit, too.” [20:52]
• Both judges and pros now have to navigate "blurry" standards, leading to inconsistencies in enforcing tradition (breaking hold, etc.).
  • "What are our new sets of rules?... Or throw them all out the window, say no rules and just go for how much you love it." [27:25]

Life as a Pro: Creativity and Sacrifice

[15:36]–[18:08]

• Pro dancers must often set their own ego aside, shifting strategies to play entirely to their partner’s strengths.
  • "It is the most selfless job because it has to be about the person that’s in front of you." [16:32]
• Sharna shares how different partners require different coaching styles—football players need drill-sergeant energy, actors need more empathy.

Casting and Pairings: Luck of the Draw

[37:05]–[40:06]

• Pros don’t get a say in partner assignments—casting is kept secret until the last moment.
  • "No one gets a list. Right. You don’t get to see. We’re all checking the media releases and seeing what’s been leaked just the same as anyone else." [37:05]
• Sometimes, sensitivity is required (e.g., for partners like Andy Dick).
• On meeting Nick Carter: "… I fangirled. I’ve never fangirled. I was like, are you my partner? Like, I couldn’t even get my words out." [37:36]

The Realities of Competing—and Winning—with an Underdog

[41:13]–[43:32]

• Sharna didn’t expect to win with Bobby Bones—"I had no freestyle prepared. I had no songs. I had no idea what I was gonna do." [42:28]
• Winning with a non-dancer ruffled feathers: "It was shocking. We… never, ever had a clue. And it was really the first time where someone like that won… it really ruffled a lot of feathers, too. But the truth is, it’s what the show is about." [42:32]
• On her pride: "…I created some amazing work with Bobby for what he was capable of and super proud of it. But certainly there’s nothing quite like when you have someone that can really do some stuff and you get to look back at that work and be like, wow." [43:23]

The Female Pro Perspective & Coaching Challenges

[45:41]–[48:53]

• Female pros have the harder job, according to Sharna, because ballroom is designed to highlight the woman, so they must work extra hard to make their celeb partners shine—even as choreography defaults to "dancing around him."
  • "The females… we have more complicated footwork, but it’s designed to show us off…as the female pro, you have to work really hard for people to not say, 'Oh, she was dancing around him,' when sometimes that is just—just naturally what the choreography is." [47:03]

This Season in Context: Social Media & Fan Influence

[53:43]–[59:12]

• This season is unusually "stacked" with strong dancers, but personalities like Andy ("the people’s champion") are what keep the show’s heart.
  • "Those votes are now split. But there is that core chunk of people that love Dancing with the Stars for the experience and the person that is the underdog… and they’re all voting for Andy." [54:26]
• Social media plays a much larger, sometimes toxic, role now: "…it is vicious out there and unnecessarily so."
  • "I do believe they have someone that is on set to always be there for them… a counselor, I don’t know what we call that person, but it is… resources there for people to reach out to." [57:10]
• Audience reaction has shifted: boos now feel more personal than playful, with both in-studio and online criticism affecting judges and pros. [59:13]

Rapid-Fire Q&A Highlights

[56:22]–[61:49]

• Who has the biggest ego? "All of us. All of us." [56:32]
• Does social media affect the judging? It impacts everyone, especially in recent years. [57:10]
• Which spins differently in Australia? "Absolutely. Yes." (all spins go the other direction) [59:53]
• Who's the frontrunner? "My money right now? If I was a betting woman, would be on Robert [Irwin]." [60:04]
• On Australia's reaction: The show doesn't air there, but Aussies follow via VPNs and YouTube, and Robert's run is big news at home. [61:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the selflessness of being a pro:
  • Sharna: "It is the most selfless job because it has to be about the person that’s in front of you." [16:32]
• On the evolution of the show:
  • Sharna: "Everything has absolutely evolved… If you watch Dancing with the Stars 20 years ago, you were seeing straight up ballroom dancing." [19:23]
• On DWTS’s magic:
  • Sharna: "...this Dancing with the Stars concept is magical in itself. And I don’t think they’ve ever recreated it in any other reality TV platform. Maybe singing. But you’re taking... people can actually sing. But this is everyday people. Ok, they’re celebrities, but they’re not dancers." [15:23]
• On social media’s impact:
  • Sharna: "It is vicious out there and unnecessarily so... I do believe they have someone on set to always be there for them... some aid... whether that is a counselor..." [57:10]
• On winning with an underdog:
  • Sharna: "We did what the show is about. So... As much pride as I have in the Nick Carter season... I created some amazing work with Bobby for what he was capable of and super proud of it." [43:32]
• On the current season's structure:
  • Sharna: "I was really sad it’s gone so fast... but we’ve got three weeks and a stacked cast and it’s going to go very fast." [56:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dancing with the Stars Newbie Confessions – [03:19]
• Inside the Judging Process – [05:47]
• Evolution of Dances and Rules – [19:23]
• Making It as a Pro: Coaching, Choreography, & Storytelling – [15:36], [16:32], [43:32]
• Partner Assignments & Casting Secrets – [37:05]
• Winning With an Underdog – [41:13]
• Challenges of Coaching as a Female Pro – [47:03]
• Social Media Impact & Mental Health – [57:10]
• Rapid Fire Q&A (Biggest Ego, Social Media, Australia facts, Winner predictions) – [56:22]-[61:49]
• Season Reflections/Predictions – [60:04]

Episode Takeaways

• Behind-the-scenes Realness: Sharna’s candid insights illuminate the tension between traditional dance rules and the entertainment-driven evolution of DWTS, as well as the very real psychological pressures on both celebrities and pros.
• Strategy and Adaptation: The process is far more about coaching, adapting, and understanding than just choreography, especially as the show and its casting get more diverse.
• The Power and Pitfalls of Popularity: Both the panel and guest reflect on how audience voting, social media, and personality often determine finalists more than strict dance technique.
• Room for Growth: Even those inside the show—including Sharna!—agree that clearer rules and communication, especially from judges, could improve the fairness and clarity of the competition.

For both longtime fans and new viewers, this episode offers honest, relatable, and enthusiastic conversation about what makes "Dancing with the Stars" tick—and what might make it even better.