SOT: DWTS Con 2026 with Ezra Sosa

Summary

Pod Meets World – "SOT: DWTS Con 2026 with Ezra Sosa"

Date: August 1, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Special Guest: Ezra Sosa
Featured Hosts/Co-hosts/Guests: Val, Val's Friend

---

Episode Overview

In this vibrant episode of "Pod Meets World," the crew—joined by Dancing with the Stars pro Ezra Sosa—dives into a lively conversation spanning post-tour routines, family, international fame, supportive sibling relationships, the realities of DWTS, and behind-the-scenes Con anticipation. The tone is playful, familial, and occasionally heartfelt, as the group swaps stories about vacations, TikTok recognition, the unique pressures of dance fame, and the beauty of connecting with fans and fellow dancers.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Post-Tour Relaxation & Family Vacations

[05:00, 05:11] Ezra:

• Ezra shares how, with only 36 hours post-tour, he escaped to Greece with his mom, sister, and grandmother, cherishing family time after a busy season.
• Emphasizes gratitude for being able to give back:

  “My mom sacrificed so much for my family just to even let us go to dance every single day...So the fact that I was able to do that and spend that time with her and just see her light up...it melted my heart.” [05:59, Ezra]

[07:03] Val:

• Val reminisces about taking her grandfather to Malta with family post-high school:

  “Looking back, I am so grateful that I have those memories...my grandfather fought in the war there and got to go to the war museum and see pictures of him on the wall...” [07:13, Val]

• Themes of family sacrifice and preserving memory are central.

2. Fame Beyond 'Dancing with the Stars' and Social Media Impact

[08:52] Val:

• Discussion about international fame: Ezra is now recognized for his TikTok dances abroad, notably in Greece.

  “In Greece, it was people who just love my TikTok...that was really cool.” [08:58, Ezra]

[09:25, 09:40] Val's Friend:

• Admits new appreciation for TikTok’s reach:

  “When you forget there are people that follow you that have no interest in Dancing with the Stars, you start to look at that platform a little differently.” [09:25, Val's Friend]

3. Family Dynamics & Competitive Spirit

[10:41] Val's Friend:

• On marrying into a big American family:

  “I call it a blended family...now we've been married for seven years...the things they prioritize and the love language that they speak and fun games like that...I feel like I'm having the American experience, but it's the Johnsons.” [11:30, Val's Friend]

[11:36] Ezra, Val's Friend:

• Describes the wild competitiveness on family trips/games:

  “There’s just excellence in every single person...and so then the playing field becomes even when we go into these games.” [11:38, Val's Friend]
  “Those Johnsons are competitive af.” [12:07, Ezra]

4. Sibling Support and Self-Acceptance

[16:23–17:18] Ezra:

• Ezra beams about supporting his sister Stephanie on “Next Bro.” The family hosts weekly watch parties, with their mom’s “inner dance mom” emerging.
• The most moving moment:

  “...the first episode, she watched it and she looked at me and she goes, ‘I actually look really good.’ And it meant the world to me. I was just like, full body chills.” [17:17, Ezra]

[17:35] Val's Friend:

• Praises Stephanie’s openness and comfort on the show:

  “I'm most impressed with the way she's conducting herself and the grace with which she is taking on these challenges...she just feels comfortable in her skin enough to open...” [17:35, Val's Friend]

5. Strengths and Challenges in Dance Careers

[18:36–19:13] Ezra:

• Ezra contrasts his analytical approach to dance with his sister’s natural, warm star quality:

  “She has, like, the star quality...every single time anyone's around her, they make them feel warm and inviting...if she was a pro, I feel like she'd be a fabulous pro.” [19:03, Ezra]

• He admits she’s always been “that girl,” even as he often won competitions.

[20:03] Ezra:

• Highlights the challenges Stephanie faced on “Next Bro,” particularly being cut off from technology:

  “They don't have their phones...No, she did that completely on her own. So...I was actually worried the most about for her going into it was probably how she would mentally handle the situation.” [20:03–20:36, Ezra]

• Praises her resilience and self-reliance.

[21:08] Ezra:

• Explains the show's limited tech access, ensuring authenticity in dance knowledge:

  “It was very imperative that the ballroom knowledge...came straight from the source.” [21:19, Ezra]

6. Honest Talk about the 'DWTS' Pro Experience

[21:27–22:19] Val & Ezra:

• Reveal that DWTS pros often rely on internet inspiration for choreography; Stephanie’s experience was “harder than we got.”
• The group salutes her for thriving with such constraints.

[22:22–23:07] Ezra:

• On hopes for Season 35:

  “I just think Val and I want to...want to be employed.” [22:35, Ezra]
  “...if I am picked up, I'm just excited to be paired with someone and get to tell their story through dance...” [22:41, Ezra]

[23:07–23:37] Val's Friend:

• Discusses how the show deepens a dancer’s relationship with storytelling and human connection.

---

7. DWTS Con Excitement & Fan Gratitude

[24:10–26:16] Ezra:

• Looking ahead to DWTS Con 2026:

  “First things first, I’m just excited to connect with the fans...But for Con, like, it’s going to be a more intimate setting...we get to actually, like, meet these people...” [24:16–24:46, Ezra]

• Gushes about spending a week with favorite colleagues and dance idols, likening the event to a reunion:

  “A big family reunion...you’re just spending times with celebrities from multiple seasons. So to see them interact, to see them have their conversations...that’s really cool to see.” [25:44, Ezra]

[26:01] Val & Ezra:

• Fangirling about meeting skating legend Christy Yamaguchi.

Memorable closing:

"Ezra, thank you so much for joining us for this. This was so fun. I adore you. Always have, always will." — Val [26:07]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My mom sacrificed so much...so the fact that I was able to...see her light up...it melted my heart.” – Ezra [05:59]
• “Looking back, I am so grateful that I have those memories...my grandfather fought in the war there...” – Val [07:13]
• “In Greece, it was people who just love my TikTok...that was really cool.” – Ezra [08:58]
• “Those Johnsons are competitive af.” – Ezra [12:07]
• “...the first episode, she watched it and she looked at me and she goes, ‘I actually look really good.’ And it meant the world to me.” – Ezra [17:17]
• “She has, like, the star quality that is super bubbly...I just love watching her dance.” – Ezra [19:03]
• “They don't have their phones...my biggest worry was how she would mentally handle the situation, because that's, like, really hard.” – Ezra [20:03]
• “It was very imperative that the ballroom knowledge...came straight from the source.” – Ezra [21:19]
• “A big family reunion, but, like, in tenfold, because now you’re...with celebrities from multiple seasons...” – Ezra [25:44]
• “I adore you. Always have, always will.” – Val [26:07]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:23 – Banter on post-tour dress and fashion
• 05:00–07:13 – Reflections on post-tour rest and family vacations
• 08:52–09:25 – International fame and TikTok reach
• 10:41–12:07 – Family vacation stories, competition, and in-law dynamics
• 16:21–17:17 – Discussing Ezra’s sister's TV experience and self-esteem
• 18:36–19:13 – Strengths and areas for growth in dance
• 20:03–21:19 – The realities/challenges of TV dance competitions (next pro segment)
• 22:22–23:37 – Looking ahead to another DWTS season and partnership hopes
• 24:10–26:16 – DWTS Con 2026 anticipation, fan gratitude, and reunion feels

---

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode is brimming with warmth, humor, and mutual admiration. Ezra and the hosts get candid about the pressures and joys of dance life, the importance of family and self-worth, the reality of being recognized across platforms and countries, and why genuine connection—whether with family, fans, or fellow dancers—is the real win. There's infectious excitement for the upcoming DWTS Con and deep pride for the next generation of dancers, especially Ezra's sister. Above all, viewers leave with a sense that, even in the spotlight, it's the personal moments, supportive relationships, and shared memories that matter most.

Transcript

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[Ezra]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week, Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a

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[Ezra]

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[Ezra]

Yeah, she texts me. She goes, how are we dressing? I said, girl, girl, I'm in my sweats. I'm looking pretty chopped for this.

[Val]

Listen, Val's the only one who put himself together.

[Val's Friend]

First of all, I point out the matching denim.

[Val]

I know chemistry.

[Ezra]

Spending time on tour with him, I fear he's the only person who is always put together.

[Val]

Swaggy. All the time.

[Ezra]

All the time.

[Val]

Why are you like that?

[Val's Friend]

Have you seen my head?

[Ezra]

Like this is luscious and long and beautiful.

[Tony Ayo]

Val.

[Ezra]

Always good. And then it's the. Then you always wear your loafers, and then you found sneaker loafers to rehearse in this man is a genie.

[Val's Friend]

You know what I mean? It was like. It was my dream come true.

[Val]

I also. One of my favorite things was when we were doing photos, you know, before the live shows, and he was once wearing an aloe jacket. And everyone's like, I love this jacket. And he was like, thanks. It's a woman's jacket. I just liked it because it was cropped.

[Ezra]

And we won't forget the paso jacket. Were you there for the pasta jacket?

[Val]

I don't think I won.

[Val's Friend]

I'm in my crop top era.

[Val]

I love a crop. I know you said you've been cutting everything. What are we gonna do when this trend ends?

[Kyle McLaughlin]

I don't know.

[Val's Friend]

I was about to cut the shirt, but I'm.

[Ezra]

I'm disappointed. I thought you were gonna pull up

[Val]

with looks so great.

[Val's Friend]

I. Yeah, no, I don't know. I just. I have my phases.

[Val]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

Right now I'm in my long hair don't care phase.

[Val]

You still look great.

[Ezra]

I'm gonna get that tattoo.

[Val]

Clock it.

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[Val's Friend]

That's a Lil Wayne lyric, actually.

[Ezra]

For real?

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

We're gonna keep that off the podcast.

[Val]

Ezra, what have you done in the 36 hours since tour ended?

[Ezra]

36 hours.

[Val]

It's only been about 36 hours since tour ended.

[Ezra]

I feel like that's a raven moment. Like, what did I do? What did I do?

[Val]

You took a much needed vacation. Can we talk about your vacation?

[Ezra]

Yes. Okay. I went to Greece, and I definitely feel like this year is the busiest. I think we've. I mean, I've ever been. I. I don't know. I don't Know how? I don't know what your guys schedules look like, but I. I didn't have much time to spend with my family, and I definitely feel like that was just so important to me, especially going into, like, the craziness that we're about to get into.

[Val]

But, yeah, season starting again.

[Ezra]

Around the corner, girl, the clock is ticking. But just get. Getting to spend time with my mom and my sister and my grandma in Greece was just so special.

[Val]

The four of you went?

[Ezra]

Yeah, the four of us. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. And I just remember as a kid growing up, my mom just dreamed about just traveling the world and. And, like, whenever I think of going anywhere, going on vacation, I just think of taking her.

[Val]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

Because, you know, like, my mom sacrificed so much for my family just to even let us go to dance every single day. And, yeah, she kept. She kept the family going. So the fact that I was able to do that and spend that time with her and just see her light up, and, like, we were in Athens, and we're seeing all the history, and she loves history, and she knew everything. It just. It melted my heart seeing that. So it was a very special.

[Val's Friend]

I'm proud of you, bro. I mean, again, we have some track record of knowing each other for a while, but, like, you're doing it right, you know, to see your star ascend the way it has and for you to take the time to. To celebrate the right way, because you could have gone on a Binger and Ibiza, that's not far from it.

[Ezra]

But that was.

[Val's Friend]

Mykonos did that, too.

[Ezra]

We definitely checked all those boxes.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Okay.

[Val's Friend]

But, yeah, no, we spoke earlier about family and just, like, what success looks like, and being a provider for the people you love is definitely a part of that.

[Ezra]

Yeah. When.

[Val]

So growing up, my family is. Well, not even just growing up, just in general. My family is from Malta. My mom's side of the family is. My mom's 100% Maltese.

[Ezra]

Wow.

[Val]

And my grandfather used to talk all the time. He played the lotto. And his goal was he was gonna win the lottery and take us all to Malta and.

[Ezra]

Cause he's.

[Val]

You know, he was one of 12 kids. Most of his siblings still lived there. And so when I graduated high school and I was on Boy Meets World, my graduation present to myself was to take my grandfather and my family to Malta. And at the time, you know, we were there for two to three weeks, and at the time, like, I had a boyfriend back home, and I missed him so much. And, you know, I was like, there was a part of me that was like, okay, this was really fun, but I can't wait to get home. Looking back, I am so grateful that I have those memories and that I was able to go around Malta and see, you know, my grandfather fought in the war there and got to go to the war museum and see pictures of him on the wall in the war museum and see, see the churches there and the history and the architecture and the. Just the Mediterranean, just unbelievable. So, like Val said, it's. You're doing it right? And you're doing it. You know, you're starting so young. The fact that you are sharing the wealth with your family, you're just so important to me. It really is.

[Ezra]

Did you vacay?

[Val's Friend]

Did I?

[Ezra]

Do you have your Euros?

[Val's Friend]

Well, I didn't want to interject when you were like, I don't know about your schedules, but I've been really busy. I'm like, well, we have kids. I didn't want to do that.

[Ezra]

Oh, wait, you know what? Now that take back my statement, like, tenfold. No, I keep forgetting that. I keep, keep forgetting that.

[Val]

We're just so young and cool.

[Ezra]

Yeah, no, you are. Like, you really are.

[Val's Friend]

But, yeah, no, but we're perpetually busy.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

But.

[Val's Friend]

But, yeah, I mean, again, I'm part of this ecosystem at the moment still. And, and the, the. The popularity of the show is just on a different level.

[Tony Ayo]

So.

[Herobread Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val]

Did you, did you get recognized in Greece? Do you notice now? Do you notice, like, worldwide fame?

[Ezra]

It's weird. Like, I did get recognized. Obviously not in this. Like, we're in the States. But it was. It's interesting because in the States, it's like Dancing with the Stars, but in, in Greece, it was people who just love my TikTok. And so that was like, really cool. Like, oh, I love your videos. Like, oh, you're that dancer guy. Like, I see you on Tick Tock. I'm like, that's super cool to experience. And yeah, like, pop off Grease, let's go.

[Val]

I love that.

[Val's Friend]

Yeah, I should be doing more videos on Tik Tok. Probably thought you yourself. No, no, not me. I'm saying you. Because again, when you forget that there are people that follow you that have no interest in Dancing with the Stars, you start to look at that platform a little differently.

[Ezra]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

Like, maybe I should do more than

[Val]

just, you know, dance all the time

[Val's Friend]

or, or not dance at all. I don't even dance, I might say. I just do the craziest off the rails, like, dances, like the most inappropriate music I could Find I. I make sure I do that trend.

[Val]

Can we talk about the. Just recently took a trip to Montana with Jenna's family.

[Val's Friend]

Yes, we.

[Ezra]

Was Hailey there?

[Val's Friend]

Haley was there.

[Ezra]

Haley was there.

[Val]

They did. Did you see Jenna's video about. They did the drink challenge. What were your thoughts on the drink challenge? I was dying to know. Like, Val, of course, that's your family that you've married into. So were you like, what? This family is crazy.

[Val's Friend]

Well, first of all, I think it's. It's amazing you asked me about Haley and Haley again is now becoming this like TikTok star and she's still the cousin, you know, or the niece, you know, and so. So the daughter, the. The granddaughter. And so when we go to these family vacations, first of all, it's such a big family.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

That, you know, your importance gets lost in the, in the relationships, the familial relationships. So no, my. I love. You know, I call it a blended family because again, I married a. I'm from. From New York and an immigrant from New York marrying this all American family from California and Utah. So I just. Again, now we've been married for seven years and they've now welcomed me and I have now become, you know, one of the biggest champions of her family and her community. And so I just love, you know, the things they prioritize and the love language that they speak and fun games like that and crazy activities. Like this is the most quintessential. You know, I feel like I'm having

[Ezra]

the American experience, but it's the Johnsons. So how serious did they take it?

[Val's Friend]

Oh, they're super competitive.

[Ezra]

Oh, yeah.

[Val's Friend]

By the way, there's just excellence in every single person, whether they pursue dance or, you know, the finance world, whatever it is. Doctors, they're all really excellent and they're all really competitive. And so then the playing field becomes even when we go into these games. And that's crazy. I mean, they were very respectful, well put together people.

[Val]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

Until these games start, profanity is just on the tip of their tongue. All of a sudden I'm. I'm the one that's.

[Ezra]

No, those Johnsons are competitive af. That's what I love about them.

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[Val's Friend]

Well, we've been watching your sister on Next Bro.

[Ezra]

I've also been watching.

[Val's Friend]

Yeah, I've seen your.

[Ezra]

Your video. It's been. It's cool to. To support my sister through that. And we have, like, our little watch parties every week, and my mom will fly down and, like, we'll all just, like, sit together, and then I'll see, like, my mom's inner dance mom come out. Like, I don't see that side of her because I'm the one who's usually on TV or performing, but.

[Val]

Right.

[Ezra]

It's Stephanie. And so it's been really cool just to see her get her moment, get her flowers, get her recognition. But also I feel like the thing that means the most to me as her brother, knowing. Knowing her story, knowing everything that she went through is her actually loving what she sees.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

In herself. And I feel like girls nowadays just have a hard time just accepting their beauty and their authenticity and just seeing my sister, like, the first episode, she watched it and she looked at me and she goes, I actually look really good.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Oh, nice.

[Ezra]

And it meant the world to me. I was just like, full body chills. I was just so proud of her. And I know just like girls, like, they can be so hard on themselves. And I think that means the most to me, just seeing that kind of acceptance that she just has to herself and the way that she perceives herself, it's really special.

[Val's Friend]

I think she's. I'm most impressed with the way she's conducting herself and the grace with which she is taking on these challenges. And I think, you know, there's quite a bit of luck in this business as well, especially on our show. The challenges, the music, the partners. Yeah, I just.

[Tony Ayo]

I'm.

[Val's Friend]

I know Stephanie, so I'm just proud of how I. I don't even call it maturity. Like, she just feels comfortable in her skin enough to open to. I mean, the, like. I don't want to say cry, but. But, like, those. Those. The sincere openness with which she's navigating that so hard, especially for her. I'm sure she has such huge expectations for herself.

[Val]

And, like, if Stephanie were to become a pro tomorrow, what would you say are her strengths? Like, what does she walk into the ballroom as a new Dancing with the Stars pro? What does she walk in going? I've got this part.

[Ezra]

So I definitely feel like between my sister and I, I'm the. I'm, like, the person who's, like, thinking of everything.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Okay.

[Ezra]

I'm very analytical. I'm very, like, with choreography and very strategic. I'm. I'm that kind of person with her. She's very natural. She has, like, a natural aura to her. She also has, like, the star quality that is super bubbly. And, like, every single time anyone's around her, they make them feel warm and inviting. And I feel like if she was a pro, I feel like she'd be a fabulous pro.

[Val]

Oh, yeah.

[Ezra]

But if she was a pro, I definitely feel like she'd have those qualities, too. And I feel like she'd be able just to bring their partner out of their shell just from her being herself.

[Val]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

And she's also just, like. I don't know. She's just a star. Like, I just love watching her dance. Growing up, she was the star of the family. Even though I'd still kick her ass every single. At every single competition, I'd still beat her. But she was the one that would, like, get every audition because everyone just, like, loved the way she looked and, like, the way she, like, flipped her hair. Like, she was always that girl.

[Val]

What would you say are her areas for opportunity, like opportunities for growth? What would you see her. You would love to see her improve on Excel in focus on as being. You know, we all look at ourselves and are able to say, this is an area where I need to work harder.

[Ezra]

No, I mean, Val's perfect. He's got three mirror balls over here.

[Val's Friend]

You guys said it.

[Ezra]

You can't touch perfection.

[Val]

You're not saying.

[Val's Friend]

It's repeating.

[Ezra]

Oh, my God.

[Val]

We started off this interview giving him his flowers about being all put together, and now look where he's ending it.

[Val's Friend]

Throwing him back.

[Ezra]

And you've gotten too big. You guys, I fear. But also, I also will say, like, going into the next pro, I also had my worries and fears, and, you guys, I don't feel like it's been talked about enough. They don't have their phones. They don't have communication to the outside world.

[Val]

I didn't even know that.

[Ezra]

So I feel like a lot of people would probably expect, as her brother, to be on the phone with her every single day. No, she did that completely on her own. So going into it, the things that I was actually worried the most about for her going into it was probably how she would mentally handle the situation, because that's, like, really hard.

[Val]

Yes.

[Ezra]

But that's the thing that she overcame.

[Herobread Advertiser]

Wow.

[Ezra]

So that's what I'm really most proud of her because, like, I was really nervous that she was going to be there. She wouldn't know how to handle herself. She wasn't going to have her phone, which I feel like a lot of people really rely to have their phone.

[Herobread Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

Communication with other people in the outside world just to, like, feel confident in their own skin. But she had to find it within herself, and that's what she did on the show.

[Val's Friend]

Did they have access to any, like, tech or Internet at all?

[Ezra]

I believe they were given. And don't quote me on that. I believe they had a phone that was able to take pictures.

[Val]

Okay.

[Ezra]

And, like, ha. Like, search the Internet. But then it was restrictive of what they could search because it would. It was very imperative that the ballroom knowledge that came out of their bodies wasn't through.

[Herobread Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

Anything from the Internet? It came straight from the. Straight from the source.

[Val's Friend]

Yeah, I was gonna say that. That's. That's very tough.

[Val]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

I mean, I don't think it's a challenge.

[Val]

I don't think it's spilling too much tea to say that on Dancing with the Stars, a lot, if not all of the pros at some week or another, while you guys are choreographing the. The coming upcoming week, sometimes you guys are choreographing group numbers.

[Val's Friend]

Yeah.

[Val]

When needed, you will go to outside help for.

[Ezra]

Or even, like, let's say you're doing a contemporary routine. I'm just gonna look up some contemporary dances. Just to get inspiration.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

Exactly.

[Ezra]

Like, just to get lighting opening. Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

Like, just some simple ideas again from that or to even just have another I, I, another to look at it.

[Tony Ayo]

Yeah.

[Val]

So to not have access to that at all and to have to do it alone. That's a really great answer. To continue to, like, for her to focus on that confidence. She did it in the hardest circumstances.

[Ezra]

Harder than we.

[Val's Friend]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

Than we got.

[Val's Friend]

Totally.

[Val]

Wow.

[Ezra]

Proud of her.

[Val]

Can anything you want to tell us that you're looking forward to with the upcoming season? What are you manifesting for yourself in this season? 35.

[Ezra]

I mean, I feel like none of us are confirmed, so.

[Val]

Okay. All right.

[Ezra]

We just gotta wait.

[Val]

You're just hoping to be on the show?

[Ezra]

I just think Val and I want to. Want to be employed.

[Val]

You want to be on the show.

[Val's Friend]

I'm pretty sure why you think I'm doing this as I'm hedging my.

[Ezra]

Well, I think I'm gonna need to start one next year, too, at this rate. I think what I'm looking forward to, like, if I am picked up, I'm just excited to be paired with someone and get to tell their story through dance. I definitely feel like I was able to do that with Jordan, and that's something that I really just fell in love with through the process and just getting to spend, like, three months with someone. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that. Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

I mean, I don't want to hijack it, but. But that's kind of like, you know, you. You get a different relationship with dance through the show and. And going into your third season now, you. You catch the bug and you actually reevaluate that relationship, and you're like, wow, I have this. This vehicle to connect to someone else and to, you know, explore their story and. And broadcast it and hopefully a creative way. So, yeah, I mean, that's. That's a great way to go into a season. Hopefully you have somebody whose story you're going to be excited to tell.

[Ezra]

I mean, regardless who it is. I think that's kind of the. The fun and excitement of, like, who their partner is, because obviously we don't know who that is until we walk in that door. And even when it was Anna Delvey, my first partner.

[Val]

Right.

[Ezra]

I feel like on paper, that's someone that you shouldn't be excited about, but I was so excited to just get to know her, get in the studio. Obviously, it turned out the way that it did, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I think that's the beauty of being a pro on Dancing with the Stars. You don't know who you're going to get, but once you get with them, that's when your job actually starts.

[Val]

We're talking on Con Weekend. What are you most excited about for Con?

[Ezra]

I. I feel like what I'm most excited about for Con and I. There's two things I'm very excited about. First things first, I'm just excited to connect with the fans. Yeah, it's safe to say that we have a very devoted fan base, and they. They pull. They pulled up. Especially, like, we got a witness on tour. The amount of applause that we. We saw, the. The different types of people that would go to these shows, I think that's what's really special for us to see, too. But for Connor, like, it's. It's going to be a more intimate setting, and I, you know, we get to do our meet and greets, we get to take a picture, say hi. But this is like, we got to actually, like, meet these people, get to know these people, and I'm really excited about that. But I think one of the things I'm also really excited about is just being. It's like a clash of some of my favorite people and, like, rehearsals, like, you know, rehearsals can be tough, but we're all just, like, laughing and having a good. I'm there with, like, Haley, Jojo, Sochi, like, all these people. Riley, that I just love.

[Val]

Danielle.

[Val's Friend]

Danielle.

[Ezra]

Oh, my God. No, but the way we were rehearsing today and you were walking down that conga line and you were working it, but then you look to the left and then there's, like, there's Johnny and, like, he's doing his contemporary dance, and it slays, like, it's. There's. It's a special moment in, like, the Dancing with the Stars verse where it's like, I personally have, like. I personally have, like, favorite dances, favorite numbers, favorite contestants from the show that now I get to, like, actually spend time with. So this is. This has been a very, like, interesting week, to say the least.

[Val's Friend]

Family vacation.

[Tony Ayo]

Yeah.

[Ezra]

Yeah.

[Val's Friend]

Family reunion.

[Ezra]

Yeah, a big family reunion, but, like, in tenfold, because now you're. Now you're just spending times with celebrities from multiple seasons. So to see them interact, to see them have their conversations about, oh, my gosh, like, how is your experience on the show? Like, that's really cool to see.

[Val]

I got to meet Christy Yamaguchi.

[Ezra]

Yamaguchi.

[Val]

Oh, my.

[Ezra]

She's on her. Glitter. Glitter.

[Val's Friend]

Yes.

[Ezra]

Team Pasta. Double. Yes.

[Val]

So fun. Well, Ezra, thank you so much for joining us for this. This was so fun. I adore you. Always have, always will. And we'll catch you next time.

[Ezra]

Love you guys. I'm going to take a nap. Good idea.

[Coldwater Creek Advertiser]

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[Ezra]

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