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Ashley Kineti
guys, it's Ashley Kineti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. My friend said this once and I have adopted it as my own. She goes, I'm not a crunchy mom, but I'm a crispy mom. And I'm like, that is me too. Like, of course we're going to have our junk food days, but primarily when we're eating inside the house. I am very particular about what I buy and make for my kids and because sometimes, you know, like, for example, they're going to eat chicken nuggets, right? They're going to eat macaroni and cheese. But I'm trying to find the best possible versions of those. And in order to do that, I use this really great app when I'm grocery shopping. It's called Wise Code and it's basically an ultra processed food detector. All you do is scan a product to instantly see if it's ultra processed and they go beyond the label. You're able to view nutrition quality and health quality. It makes grocery shopping easy. It helps you make more informed decisions for your family. It's available on the App Store. I love, love, love it. It is exactly what a crispy mom needs. You could download Wise Code the Ultra Processed Food Detector on the App Store today.
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Interviewer
Hi, Rylee.
Tony Ayo
Hi.
Interviewer
We are talking to you on the very special Dancing with the Stars con weekend.
Rylee
Yes. This is fun.
Interviewer
What has the experience been like for you so far?
Rylee
Honestly, it's been so great. My sister Lindsay is here and I wish so bad she would do the show with me because I think that would make my life a thousand times more fun. But it's just so nice to like have her around and to just have a sister. She brought her little new son, Hayes,
Interviewer
7 week old Haze and he's perfect. Isn't it crazy how. How quickly you forget how small they are when they're newborns?
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Oh, yeah, totally.
Interviewer
Like Rome now looks like a beast compared to this seven week old haze who has feet. I think his entire foot literally is like this big with his super long little.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
But he's chilling. He was like. I mean, she was dancing with him in her arms.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
I just don't want to get more graphic than that. But she was really motherly at that moment in time.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Him under his. Her shirt.
PetSmart Announcer
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Multitasking.
Interviewer
Multitasking. Listen, mom.
Rylee
Multitasking woman. She's super like I. Lindsay is what I aspire to be. She's the hardest working person I know. Honestly.
Interviewer
Crazy.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
She's so cool and shows up with great attitude.
Interviewer
I know.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Every time.
Rylee
She's amazing. I love her.
Interviewer
You guys have a number together called Sisters?
Rylee
Yes, we do.
Interviewer
So cute. It's one of my favorite numbers.
Rylee
Oh, thanks.
Interviewer
In the show.
Rylee
It's so fun.
Interviewer
Yeah. You had an opportunity to come out and join tour? Yes, for a little bit.
Rylee
Yeah. I came out for like four weeks.
Interviewer
Okay. And were they consecutive weeks?
Rylee
Yes.
Interviewer
Okay.
Rylee
Yeah. Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
She just had to do like four different tracks.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
For different people.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
It felt like a different show every week.
Rylee
No, literally. But it was kind of fun. It made it like, I don't know, just exciting. Because sometimes on tour you have the same dances for a consistent amount of time. But when I went, it was genuine. Like, I would get settled and then it would be like, switch, switch. But it was fun. Like, I actually liked it and it was nice because I was honestly really sad when I like decided to not do the full tour. And I was like, this is gonna be really hard. I'm gonna have major fomo. And then I finally like got the opportunity to come out for a little bit and I was really grateful and I learned really cool dances. The show was so good.
Interviewer
Yeah.
Rylee
And like the fans were so amazing. The audience and Just everything was so cool to be a part of.
Interviewer
It was very fun for me to do. So I did the first month I opened the show with all of it.
Rylee
Right. Yeah.
Interviewer
It was so fun for me to hear the, the audience react to you all coming out for that first time.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
The love these fans have for you pros, you can feel in every city and certainly, like, are some places louder than others. Sure. But one very consistent thing is that you guys are beloved the country and the world, and they do not shy. They are not shy to tell you. And it's so, like, it was so fun for me to be like, yes, that's the proper response, you know, because having been on the show last season, so much of it's about, you know, it's Dancing with the Stars and it's our experience and you guys are so good at constantly reminding us that you're here to tell our stories and it's us, us, us, us, us.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
And we are constantly going, but I don't know how you do any of this. And it's so amazing. So tour really feels like celebration and a love letter to you guys.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
More than the celebs and it's nice to see that.
Rylee
No, it's a good opportunity for us to like, feel the love and understand that and be able to accept it. Because I feel like in the season it's all either social media or in the audience. It's never really like fans that get to participate and be there in the live show. So to be able to go out and meet everybody and to feel that it's really, really.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Plus that's, I mean, a lot of, A lot of us started this for that reason. We, we like to perform for an audience and get that direct kind of response.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
And. And doing so on tour is, is again, is fulfilling. That bucket.
Interviewer
Yeah. Checking that box of like, oh, I got to do that now.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Totally, totally. And. And you're campaigning all like season, you're like, please vote, please, please vote. You know, and people are voting and, you know, now these are the people that are voting. You know, you get to kind of, I don't know, express your gratitude through, dance through your meet and greets. Just, just being there, I think is, Is really great.
Rylee
Yeah, for sure.
Interviewer
Are you still. You had a wonderful season. Last season with Scott ended too soon. Are you still in touch with Scott? Have you met his baby?
Rylee
I have not met his baby because I haven't had the opportunity to go to la, but I will as soon as I can. They sent me Pictures of her. She is so beautiful. I'm honestly just so happy for them.
Herobread Advertiser
Yeah.
Rylee
Their relationship and, like, being able to experience that, it's just so sweet and so tender. And I just know that baby's gonna have such a fun life. I know. It's just so exciting.
Interviewer
Could we talk about their birth announcements? These videos, this high production. I'm like, what did ABC produce this
Rylee
literally so on brand for them.
Interviewer
Real.
Rylee
Yeah. Unbelievable.
Interviewer
Mark and Scott, if you haven't seen it, go to their Instagram. Scott hoying their. Their name announcement, gender reveal, everything. When did they have time to do this?
Rylee
That is Scott in a nutshell. Like, that is Scott. And that's what I love about him. He's just like, I have an idea and I'm gonna execute it. And I'm like, I love that they
Interviewer
really do have such a sweet relationship. Mark was there when we first did GMA at the beginning of the season. Last season. Mark wasn't there the day of Good Morning America. And Scott, the way Scott and I became friends. Scott was like, kind of standing.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
And I could just tell that he seemed like a lost puppy. And I was like, hey, come sit with me. And he comes over and he sits down. He goes, thank you so much for asking me to sit down with you. I was just standing there so nervously. I said, is it hard that Mark's not here? And he goes, yes. We go everywhere together.
Rylee
Literally.
Interviewer
This is so weird. We weren't allowed to have. Have any sort of plus one at gma because it's a mad house on that day.
Rylee
Yeah. Anyway, no, he's his comfort person. Like, he sat through every single rehearsal all four hours. Just sat in the corner, took videos for us, like, would show us things if we needed it. Water immediately. Like, he is an absolute saint. I love him.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Was that. Was that good for you or was that. Did that put pressure on you? Were you comfortable?
Rylee
No, because Mark is not the type of person that would stress me out. And it's not like he's, like, asking for things or like, he's literally just there to chill and just be his support for Scott. And he never, like, interrupted or anything. And so that didn't stress me out. And it's also just like, I feel like it was. If it was someone else who wanted to, like, interfere, like, interject, I would
Co-Interviewer or Friend
have been like, because I welcome family. Because I'm just like, the more I. I want to witness to the process.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
So you could be held accountable beyond just me. You know, there's a third party here. Also bearing witness to the process.
Rylee
And I feel like it can make it more comfortable too.
Herobread Advertiser
It is.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
It is.
Rylee
Yeah. Like, way more comfortable to have somebody else they know in the room with them.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Totally.
Rylee
I don't know.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Totally. I mean, again, just like what you said, it depends on the person. Mark is just literally an angel. Yeah.
Rylee
Disney princess is his description. Literally.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
So sweet. They're so ran into each other at the bowl for the Moana live action here. And I was with Rome and it was just me and him.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
And I'm comfortable with him, obviously, but we ran into each other and we sat next to each other and I had to go to the bathroom, but I couldn't leave my kid with like 100, you know, whatever. So I was like, yo, do you mind watching my kid? Anyway, so they watched him. He like moved over, sat next to.
Rylee
Oh, that's so cute. I love that.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
They're very, very kind.
Rylee
They're very good people.
Ashley Kineti
This is Ashley from the Ben and Ashley I Almost famous podcast. Ben. I've been reflecting a lot lately on how many big life moments our listeners have experienced with us.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Yeah, it's pretty wild.
Ashley Kineti
They've watched us go from dating shows to engagements, weddings, babies, buying homes. Every stage comes with new decisions.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
The milestones are the fun part, but the planning is where things get real.
Ashley Kineti
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Co-Interviewer or Friend
Since life moves so fast, the right tools can help you feel more confident. Download the Klarna app today or visit klarna.com to learn more.
Klarna/Bobcat Announcer
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Ashley Kineti
guys, it's Ashley Kineti from the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast. My friend said this once and I have adopted it as my own. She goes, I'm not a crunchy mom, but I'm a crispy mom. And I'm like, that is me too. Like, of course we're going to have our junk food days, but primarily when we're eating inside the house. I am very particular about what I buy and make for my kids because sometimes, you know, like, for example, they're going to eat chicken nuggets, right? They're going to eat macaroni and cheese. But I'm trying to find the best possible versions of those. And in order to do that, I use this really great app when I'm grocery shopping. It's called Wise Code and it's basically an ultra processed food detector. All you do is scan a product to instantly see if it's ultra processed. They go beyond the label. You're able to view nutrition quality and health quality. It makes grocery shopping easy. It helps you make more informed decisions for your family. It's available on the App Store. I love, love, love it. It is exactly what a crispy mom needs. You could download Wise Code the ultra processed food detector on the App Store today.
PetSmart Announcer
Petsmart makes online shopping easy right from your phone. But pets don't live on their phones. That's why we have a place to touch grass, sniff out new to get a fresh cut and celebrate their birthday. We call it store from URL to IRL. PetSmart does it all. Shop in store or online at petsmart.com petsmart anything for pets.
Interviewer
So we are about ready to have yet another, I'm sure fantastic season of Dancing with the Stars. I know nothing is guaranteed. We don't know who's coming back, all of that stuff. But what would you say if you could like manifest one thing for yourself, aside from, of course, being on the show next season? If you could manifest something for yourself that would be different this season than in previous seasons, what would you love to accomplish? What's on your bucket list for a next season as a Pro.
Rylee
I mean, honestly, I think I feel a lot more settled as a pro now. And I just would love to just, like, have fun, because I feel like last season specifically, I really like, I think comments and like, all of that social media world really harped on my mental health last year. And I feel like something I want to just let go is being able to just have fun and dance and remember why I love dance. I was so grateful that I got to go out on tour and to, like, be able to perform and, like, dance without judgment and just have a good time. And I think that's something I want to find and just to have fun, make sure my partner has fun. Because in the end, results are. I mean, if you're a competitive person, which we all are, it is fun to be like, I made it to the finale. That is so awesome. But again, you look back at those experiences and you look at, like, the fun you had with your partner, the things you got to do, the, like, camaraderie. And so I really hope that I can just have a good, fun time and just let go of all that extra stress that can come with it.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Did you feel extra pressure coming off of the Steven season? Is that why?
Rylee
Yeah, I think so. Like, I really had such a big season with Steven. I was like. And my last dance, I feel like, was big for me. And so I was like, how do I, like, keep growing and keep going up after this? And then I feel like just social media was so involved, I think the most it has ever been. And so I just, like, I found myself just looking at everything, looking at every comment, and I was just like, what am I doing? But it's just something you get sucked into. And so I want to just let that go and just enjoy because that's all that matters. And that's what I'm going to take away from the experience of every season.
Herobread Advertiser
So totally.
Interviewer
It can be so hard to, like, create boundaries around reading comments.
Rylee
Yes, well, absolutely.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Yeah.
Klarna/Bobcat Announcer
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
It's so hard because you're integrating.
Rylee
You want to hear about yourself.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Well, it's not even hearing about yourself. You're trying to connect with the fans. I mean, we're here, we're doing con. We're like, you wanna connect thoughtfully to the people you're asking for votes from, but not always is that healthy. And again, it's like, I'm not begging for votes. I'm just sharing my joy and my process. And if you like it, please, if you choose not to, cool.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
You know, and I think finding that Healthy balance of listening to feedback. Obviously that's important.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Staying connected with your fans because I think you do a great job with that throughout, you know, on social media, I think is one of the things that you're so successful with is. Is having that rapport with your fans. But yeah, I mean that I, I can't necessarily offer that much advice because this is a new territory that you're navigating in. I navigate in as well now.
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
But I think, again, I just couldn't imagine being 19 or 20 going through that process. So, I mean, it takes a lot of maturity and self awareness to. Yeah, I mean, I, I just. My discipline is to keep it to like one, two, three scrolls. That's it. Literally, you know, you don't want to go all the way down.
Interviewer
You don't want to have to see. See hidden comments, you know.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
But sometimes you do.
Klarna/Bobcat Announcer
Yeah.
Rylee
Sometimes you're like, wait, though, that's. That seems interesting. Yeah, it's.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
No, he just said effing love you. No, no, I'm live. Yeah, get that in unhide.
Rylee
Okay, that's a good one.
Interviewer
Okay, we'll cover that one.
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
I love it when I have a muted account and then I look at it and I'm like, that one's nice. I'll unmute.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Yeah, you're off probation.
Interviewer
You're off probation real quick.
Rylee
Oh, that's funny.
Interviewer
Something you have been very vocal about that I think is so wonderful is you have talked a lot about how hard it can be to manage your blood sugar.
Rylee
Oh, yes.
Interviewer
While being this active and having that kind of a schedule.
Rylee
Yes.
Interviewer
It was one of the reasons actually, you decided not to do tour this year. Right?
Rylee
Yeah. And I'm honestly, like, it was a very hard decision for me to make, but I'm so glad I did because my health has gotten so much better and I've been able to just like work, work on myself and making sure that I knew how to do that because I also was diagnosed when I was 15. So it's like, it takes a long time to be able to understand how to manage your type 1 diabetes. Like, it's very, very tricky. And so even when I first joined the show, I'm like three years into my diagnosis, but it doesn't feel like I've had it for a long time. And I know what I'm doing. And so it just gave me an opportunity to work on myself. I was able to get this like, new pump device that has been able to manage my diabetes. I'm like sleeping at night. And it's just this whole thing that I'm so grateful for, and I can't wait to go into next season, hopefully, and to have that, like, that part of my life is, like, getting better and more strong, and so it is really exciting. And I'm glad I took time for myself to do that because I absolutely needed it.
Interviewer
Did you talk at all last season about when you. Because you also have a nut allergy?
Rylee
Yeah.
Interviewer
Did we talk about the fact that you ate something that had nuts in it?
Rylee
I never really talked about it, but
Interviewer
can we talk about that?
Rylee
Yes, absolutely.
Interviewer
There was, like, an amp. There was an absolute chaos.
Herobread Advertiser
Really?
Rylee
Yeah.
Co-Interviewer or Friend
Was it at the studio or at cba?
Rylee
So they had, like, yogurt land at, like, the show day, and they had, like, the chocolate strawberries, and I was, like, yummy. Like, just chocolate strawberries. I ate it, and I was like, my mouth feels really tingly, and that's, like, usually the first sign. And I'm, like, very allergic.
Interviewer
It's like, EpiPen allergic.
Rylee
Yes, like, EpiPen allergic. So I went back to the place. I was like, is there hazelnut in your chocolate? And they were like, yeah. I was like, oh, gosh.
Bank of America Announcer
Oh, gosh.
Herobread Advertiser
Oh, no.
Rylee
And I didn't have my EpiPen with me, which not smart for doing that. I need to have my EpiPen all the time. But then I had my mom's friend get my EpiPen, but luckily, like, my respiratory was fine. Like, it never got to that point because I only had, like, one bite, and I knew immediately. And so I just, like, ate tons of Benadryl. I was so tired. I had to do, like, the TikTok live that night, and I was literally like, what am I even saying? I'm so tired. But it was fine. It was funny, though. That's, like, my worst nightmare is, like, having an allergic reaction on, like, an important day. Like, that would kill me. And it did.
Interviewer
It nearly did.
Herobread Advertiser
Yeah.
Interviewer
Literally, nearly did.
Rylee
Yeah, it nearly did.
Interviewer
Well, thank you for sharing that story with us, because I didn't even really get to talk. I knew when it happened, I was like, what just happened?
Rylee
Yeah. All of a sudden, there's, like, an EMT in my trailer, and I'm like, guys, it's okay. I'll be okay.
Interviewer
Just give me more Benadryl.
Rylee
More Benadryl.
Ashley Kineti
It's okay.
Interviewer
Well, Riley, thank you so much for coming and talking with us.
Rylee
Of course.
Interviewer
I can't. I'm so excited that we get to do this con weekend together, and I can't wait to. Fingers crossed. See you next season on Dancing with the Stars.
PetSmart Announcer
Hopefully.
Rylee
I'm excited. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Foreign.
Tony Ayo
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Co-Interviewer or Friend
How is this $47? All right, we're gonna need a plan here.
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Klarna/Bobcat Announcer
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Co-Interviewer or Friend
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They set standards, broke records, empowered people to build bigger and higher, to dig deeper, to make the impossible possible. Possible. We've all been there with doubters telling us what we can't do. Who cares what they think? We don't need their permission or forgiveness. We just get things done. So go ahead and doubt me. Judge me, challenge me. But when the time comes. Watch me. Bobcat. 250 years ago, America made a promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1903, Harley Davidson has been living it out on the open road at the next exit ramp with old friends, new ones, and the next generation of riders. Because the best part of any promise is keeping it. Harley Davidson motorcycles ride.
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Date: August 2, 2026
Guest: Rylee Arnold
Theme: Behind the scenes and personal stories from Dancing With the Stars, focusing on Rylee Arnold’s experiences as a professional dancer, her family, fan interactions, and managing her health as a performer.
This episode explores Rylee Arnold’s journey as a professional on Dancing With the Stars, delving into her experiences at the 2026 DWTS Con, the impact of family support, memorable tour moments, relationships with fans, and the challenges of balancing her demanding career with personal health concerns like Type 1 diabetes and food allergies. The interview is heartfelt and candid, offering listeners an authentic look at both the rewards and challenges of the dancing world.
[03:05-04:25]
[04:25-05:24]
[05:24-07:36]
[07:36-10:42]
[15:16–17:36]
[19:35–22:41]
The conversation is warm, supportive, and open—balancing fun moments, like recounting backstage chaos and on-tour antics, with deeper, vulnerable revelations about health and mental wellbeing. The camaraderie and admiration among the guests shine through, making the episode both entertaining and heartfelt.
This episode is an engaging deep-dive into the life of a young dance professional. Rylee Arnold shares both the glitz and grit of her DWTS journey—the highlights of performing and fan love, the comfort and inspiration from family and partners, and the private challenges of health and stardom. Honest, relatable, and insightful, this episode is a must-listen for DWTS fans and anyone interested in the reality behind the stage lights.