The Last Dance (Week 11)

Summary

Pod Meets World: "The Last Dance (Week 11)"

Podcast: Pod Meets World, iHeartPodcasts
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Danielle Fishel

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Episode Overview

In this emotionally charged solo episode, Danielle Fishel recaps the "Dancing with the Stars" Season 34 finale from the unique perspective of a contestant, returning performer, and fan. Listeners are taken behind the scenes for an intimate look at finale week—its meticulous preparation, the competitive spirit, the personal journeys, and the joy (and occasional tears) of reaching the end of the season. Danielle offers heartfelt commentary on her fellow contestants, reveals rehearsal secrets, and shares her own emotional growth through dance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Finale Week: Preparation & Reunion

[02:04–14:22]

• Finale Prep Starts Weeks in Advance:

  • Creative planning for the finale began even as early as the week Danielle was eliminated (week 8), with pros and celebrities already discussing their potential freestyle routines in case they made it to the end.
  • “For weeks, the couples have been talking about their plans and what they are going to do if they are fortunate enough to make it to the finale.” (Danielle, 03:35)

• Rehearsal Dynamics:

  • Danielle describes the joy of returning as a group for a fun, high-energy opening number, rehearsing with fellow contestants, and experiencing expert choreography (“you can tell when there’s somebody who’s really good at what they do, and everything just goes super seamlessly.”)
  • Only one real rehearsal day for the group number, followed by a two-hour “bumper” rehearsal for a mini segment with Whitney and Andy.

• Seeing Old Friends:

  • Danielle emphasizes the family-like atmosphere and excitement at reuniting with the season’s cast, highlighting her closeness with Baron and her admiration for Lauren Jauregui’s new song.
  • She humorously notes being the only eliminated contestant to attend every show after elimination, just out of love for the experience:
    • “My husband would like me to say that I am the only eliminated contestant to have been at every show, which makes me sound like the loser that I am. But that’s okay. I’m gonna accept that.” (Danielle, 10:12)

2. The Finale Night: Vibes, Dances, and Celebrations

[14:22–28:06]

• Atmosphere Backstage:

  • The finalists were focused and a bit stressed leading up to the big night, tasked with mastering six dances (including their freestyle and instant dance).
  • Yet, on the day itself, Danielle found “everyone was just having the best time. It just feels like a party.”
  • The anxiety of competition faded into excitement:
    • “All the work’s been done. There’s nothing else I can do… I can just go out there and have the time of my life.” (Danielle, 15:34)

• Finalists’ Judge-Selected Dances:
  Danielle recaps every standout routine:

  • Alex Earle & Val: Samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin”—colorful, festive, and technically impressive.
  • Robert Irwin & Whitney: Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet—fun and full of energy, “He’s so cut out for that.”
  • Dylan & Danny: Paso Doble to “Stampede”—emotional journey highlighted, noting Dylan’s remarkable transformation:
    • “To watch how far Dylan has come… is just, gosh, it’s such an incredible journey. So proud of him.” (Danielle, 17:05)
  • Elaine & Alan: Rumba to “Take My Breath Away”—beautiful and graceful.
  • Jordan & Ezra: Paso Doble to “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna—dynamic, risk-taking partnership with striking choreography.

• Celebrating Risk-Taking:

  • Danielle praises the bold choreography from Jordan & Ezra, calling them the “most exciting couple for me to watch because of those risks.” She commends their partnership for mutual trust and adaptation.

3. The “Instant Dance”: Unpredictable, Exciting, and Emotional

[28:06–48:26]

• How Instant Dance Works:

  • Contestants learned weeks before that there would be an “instant dance,” but they didn’t know when or what song—they had to be ready to adapt in real time.
  • Danielle admits skepticism but confesses she “was wrong,” calling it the most exciting part of the finale:
    • “It was even more exciting than the freestyles… because it is less produced and less perfect… you get to see your fave possibly make a mistake.” (Danielle, 29:43)

• Dylan’s Manifestation Story:

  • Danielle shares an emotional behind-the-scenes story about Dylan wishing for and manifesting a foxtrot for the instant dance—and then performing it beautifully, which moved Danielle to tears.
  • “Never in my 44 years of life thought I would be crying about a foxtrot.” (Danielle, 33:43)
  • She connects this moment to her philosophy as a director, urging young people to trust their instincts.

4. Freestyles: Joy, Tears, and Showstoppers

[34:25–48:26]

• Danielle thoroughly recaps each freestyle and what made it special:
  • Alex & Val: “Man Eater” / “Sports Car” — A transformative performance full of confidence and artistry, with a special shoutout to Jenna for her vital behind-the-scenes support.
  • Robert & Whitney: “Black and Gold” / “The Nights” — Upbeat choreography that side-stepped the expected sentimentality to become a celebration of Robert’s own star power.
  • Dylan & Danny: “Something in the Heavens” — Deeply emotional, ending in water:
    • “Start crying again. Stop it, Danielle. Stop it right now. This was really, really, really beautiful.” (Danielle, 37:23)
    • Danielle marvels at the use of water and the emotional resonance of the contemporary routine.
  • Elaine & Alan: “I Hope I Get It” (A Chorus Line) — Playful, meta narrative with a fun quick-change and actorly charm.
  • Jordan & Ezra: “Motivation” — An all-time showstopper with Normani joining live and innovative choreography.
    • “This is going to go down in history as one of my favorite freestyles I’ve ever seen.” (Danielle, 46:14)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being the ever-present contestant:
  “My husband would like me to say that I am the only eliminated contestant to have been at every show, which makes me sound like the loser that I am. But that's okay. I'm gonna accept that.” (Danielle, 10:12)

• On the finale atmosphere:
  “It just feels like a party… all the work’s been done. There’s nothing else I can do… and I can just go out there and have the time of my life.” (Danielle, 15:34)

• On instant dance skepticism and surprise:
  “I was wrong…As a viewer, it was the most exciting part of the night. It was even more exciting than the freestyles.” (Danielle, 29:41)

• Crying over Dylan’s foxtrot:
  “Never in my 44 years of life thought I would be crying about a foxtrot. … I am just so, so, so proud of him.” (Danielle, 33:43)

• On Jordan & Ezra’s risk-taking:
  “If I had to pick riskiest partnership, riskiest choreography, most willing to take risks of this season, it would be Jordan and Ezra… It made it exciting to watch every single week.” (Danielle, 22:41)

• On Jordan & Ezra’s freestyle:
  “This is going to go down in history as one of my favorite freestyles I’ve ever seen. I thought it was incredible.” (Danielle, 46:14)

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[48:26–End] Winner Announced, Reflections & Looking Forward

• The winner:

  • After heartfelt build-up, Robert Irwin and Whitney are crowned champions. Danielle acknowledges the bittersweet position of being the runner-up:

    • “The hardest place to come in is second because they don’t even say your name…” (Danielle, 50:44)

  • She deeply praises Whitney’s sacrifices as a pro and mother, as well as Robert’s dynamic potential:

    • “He’s a star. He’s just a star. There’s no other way of saying it. He’s got it.” (Danielle, 36:29)
    • “Her sacrifices… culminate in having a mirror ball trophy above your head…” (Danielle, 51:40)

• Personal growth & gratitude:

  • Danielle reflects on what she learned about herself:

    • “I think one of the things that I learned about myself is just how much I love cheering for people who are working hard… There’s not a better feeling than supporting other people doing that.” (Danielle, 57:21)

  • She expresses joy and disbelief at being a professional dancer, now headed on the Dancing with the Stars live tour (Jan 22 – Feb 15), co-hosting with Emma Slater, with rotation from various contestants.

• Final call to fans:

  • Encourages listeners to stay tuned for interviews and a big announcement:
    • “We are not done yet… Please stay tuned to this feed because we have a big announcement coming soon. I don’t want you to miss it.” (Danielle, 55:05)

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Key Timestamps & Segments

• [02:04] -- Danielle returns from Dancing with the Stars finale; emotional reflections begin.
• [03:35] -- Finale prep behind the scenes; weekly creative meetings.
• [10:12] -- Only eliminated contestant present every week; love for the environment.
• [14:22] -- Finale day: celebratory mood, judge-selected finale dances.
• [22:41] -- Partnership praise, especially for Jordan & Ezra.
• [28:06] -- Instant dance segment explained, Danielle's change of heart.
• [33:43] -- Dylan’s “manifested foxtrot,” Danielle’s emotional reaction.
• [34:25] -- Freestyle dances, details and Danielle’s moving commentary.
• [46:14] -- Jordan & Ezra’s freestyle called “one of my favorite[s] ever.”
• [50:44] -- Winner (Robert Irwin & Whitney) announced; acknowledgment of the runner-up’s unique pain.
• [55:05] -- Looking ahead: tour announcement and future podcast plans.
• [57:21] -- Danielle’s personal reflections and gratitude for audience support.

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Takeaways

• This intimate solo episode gave listeners an exceptional behind-the-scenes look at what makes the Dancing with the Stars finale so meaningful—for contestants and fans alike.
• Danielle’s warmth, humor, and honesty (and occasional tears) make this a must-listen for dance show diehards and anyone moved by stories of personal growth and community.
• Listeners get a comprehensive recap of every standout dance, finale twist, and partnership journey—with special attention to the indefinable “magic” of the ballroom, the hard work of the pros, and the enduring support of the DWTS family.

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Recommended for:
Anyone who loves DWTS, appreciates heartfelt commentary, or just wants to relive the drama, joy, and backstage secrets of one of TV’s most enduring live competitions.

Transcript

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Excludes Massachusetts. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first, There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes. And just like that, season 34 of Dancing with the Stars has come to a close. The winner has been crowned, the freestyles have been performed, the confetti cannons have exploded. And I am Danielle Fishel, podcaster, TV director, mother of two and soon to be vagabond, traveling city to city in the dancing with the stars live tour. In the end, it seems I did indeed become a professional dancer. I am home now. I am just back from one of the year's biggest TV moments, the closure for one of the most memorable few months of my life. Tonight, I was lucky enough to perform one last time on the show. But the real news here is that Robert Irwin is our king of the ballroom. More on that in just a bit Because I continue to record this podcast, even through the final musical note, chronicling my own journey through the show, Learning dance from scratch and living to talk about it. And I continue to fulfill my professional duty. Pleased to report back as your eyes and ears from the season finale. So. Oh, my gosh, what a day. What a week. What a few months. Um, the finale has obviously been in full swing for at least the last week, but the prep starts for it weeks ago. You know, the pros are all. Anybody who's still in the competition is already having the conversations about finale week. As a matter of fact, the week I was eliminated, which was week eight, we had our first creative meeting about a finale about a freestyle. What are we going to do if we. If we, you know, get to the freestyle? So for weeks, the couples have been talking about their plans and what are they going to do if they are fortunate enough to make it to the finale. And the pros have been thinking about the choreography and the songs have been cleared and. And the ideas are happening. So it's been weeks in the making, but it has really been full swing, Obviously, since last week. I got to do two little performances on the show. I was a part of the opening number, which is the returning. Returning contestants number. Everyone who was a part of the season this year had a. Had a part in the opening number. Mine part was with, of course, Pasha and Jen and Jan. We started in the garage. It was kind of a. A cha cha salsa number, you know, like a little salsa bit, which was really fun. Our dresses were not exactly salsa style dresses. They were more, you know, traditional ballroom style dresses. But they wanted everybody in. They wanted us in purple and the dresses they had that were in purple were like that. But it was a beautiful dress. I loved mine. I love purple and I loved the opening number. I thought the opening opening number was really fun. It was great to be back in rehearsal with everybody. We only had one true rehearsal day. We all got together on Saturday, and Lauren wasn't able to be there and Scott wasn't able to be there, and Whitney and mark were not there either. Everybody, those People were all out of town. And so then we got to. Scott did not come into town until today. So today was the first day I got to see Scott and his husband Mark. Always so great to see them. I did not have enough time with them today. When I saw them, I said, one day is just not enough with you. But the rehearsal was really fun. We had a really wonderful choreographer for the opening number. He was spectacular to work with and so fun. And, you know, you can tell when there's somebody who's really good at what they do, and everything just goes those super seamlessly. So our rehearsal day for the opening number was only two hours, and nope, I take it back. It was four hours. I forgot our little bumper rehearsal that we had. The bumper is the bit that I got to do with Whitney and with Andy, where Andy ripped open his shirt and had a hairy chest. We had two hours for that one, and then we had four hours for the opening number. And of course, everybody works in their own individual groups with their pros. So we were put in our positions by the choreographer, and then our pros had been taught our choreography, and then the pros teach their celebs. And so we all kind of go off into our own little corner, learn the choreography, and then put it all together. And it was just a fun day. It's so. It was so good to see everybody again. It was great to see Corey again. Obviously, I haven't seen Corey since the very first two weeks. Was so good to see my boy Baron again. Baron and I have have been close since day one, so it was really great to see him. I didn't get to see Lauren on that day. She wasn't in town. So I got to see her yesterday for camera blocking. Or gosh, was it yesterday? May have been Sunday. We did camera blocking on Sunday. Is great to see her too. She looked spectacular. I don't know if you guys have heard her new song. By the way, Lauren Jauregi's new song. It's been out now for maybe a little over a month. I a fan. It's so good. You guys really need to go check it out. So check out Lauren Horeki's new song. It was just fun. It was just fun to be back with everybody and, you know, doing the bumper with Whitney and Andy was just also so fun, you know, like, what's not to have fun with this, with this cast? It's just everything. Everything you think it is, it is. It was just amazing. My husband would like me to say that I am the only eliminated contestant to have been at every show, which makes me sound like the loser that I am. But that's okay. I'm gonna. I'm gonna accept that. Yes, I. I went to every show. I got eliminated in week eight. Week nine was the 20th anniversary, and everybody was invited to the 20th anniversary. And I did not want to miss that celebration. And then week 10 was Prince Night, and I really, I wanted to be there, too. I didn't want to miss that. Tonight was the finale, and of course I got to dance in it. So there were two dances or two weeks that I technically shouldn't have been there, but I went anyway. And I honestly don't even feel that embarrassed about it because I just love it so much. I love the people, I love the environment. I love the music. I love watching the dances. It's just. It's the greatest place on earth. Sorry, Disneyland. You may be the happiest place on earth, but the Dancing with the stars ballroom is the the greatest place on earth. So.

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Liberty Mutual Commercial Voice (Doug)]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Danielle Fishel]

During the week, while we were practicing our opening number and then our our bumpers, we didn't really interact much or see the finalists they were at. They were rehearsing at our main Dancing with the Stars rehearsal space which is on high. They were rehearsing there and they sent the rest of us to a different rehearsal studio because there were so many of us. And so I didn't really get to see a lot of the finalists throughout the week. I did get to see them a little bit on camera blocking day and even then I really tried to give everybody their space because you could tell that everyone had been working really hard and everyone was a little stressed. They had to know six dances this week. They had to do their freestyle, they had to learn a new dance and then they had to have choreography for four instant dances. And because they didn't know the song, you know, they can have choreography planned but you know it's it changes when you know the song and when you haven't done it before. So anyway, they had to know six dances. They had to have six dances in their muscle memory and on their brain and I really just obviously lent my support and said hello and would give a hug, but also gave everybody their space to just be in the moment. The overall feeling today for the finale was really celebratory. Leading up to this week, there were moments where you could tell people were stressed, and there was a lot to think about. And then when the actual day arrived today, everyone I talked to, all the finalists, I said, how are you feeling? What's going through your head? Like, how are you feeling right now? And all of them said, I'm just having the best. The best time. It just feels like a party. And they said, all the work's been done. There's nothing else I can do. Like, even as far as the performances go, they knew they were going to get judged, but the judging wasn't then going to carry over into, like, is someone going home tonight? And you'd think, oh, well, no. No one's going home tonight. But even worse than that, one person's gonna win, and everyone else is gonna find their. Their place. But nobody was stressed about that part. Everyone was like, it's out of my hands. All the work of the season is behind me at this point, other than the dances I need to perform tonight, and I can just go out there and have the time of my life, and, like, whatever happens, happens. And so everyone I spoke to just said it felt like a really joyous celebration and like a party, it didn't have its normal. Maybe the anxiety that normally surrounds a live show night. For the finale, each couple was selected by a judge, and the judge then got to choose what dance they wanted to see from them. So I. I loved this. I thought this was really fun. I'm not sure how or why the judges necessarily picked the songs that they or the styles that they picked or if they even really did. Was it really. I mean, there's really only so many dances left that they haven't done. So I'm not really sure. I'm not really sure about this whole, like, you know, picking the songs. Like, there's really not that many left. But I still. I thought it was great. I. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the judges. I have a real soft spot in my heart for Bruno. I just think he's. I just think he's truly wonderful, and he makes me laugh. And I also think he gives very thoughtful critiques. And. Yeah, so I probably. If I. If I had my druthers, I probably would have ended up with Bruno the way my boy Dylan and my girl Danny did. So Alex, Earle and Val did a samba to hip hip chin chin. And boy, did I think that was stellar. I thought her samba was so good. I loved her colorful frilly pants and her just unbelievable six pack. What a. What a song. And then Derek picked a quick step for Robert and Whitney to do, and they did it to are you gonna be my girl by jet. And I thought that was so fun. I was. It's so great to see Robert do a quick step. His energy, his enthusiasm, his just. He's. He's so cut out for that. So that was a really good choice by Derek. And then Bruno picked Apaca doble to stampede by Alexander Jean featuring Lindsey Sterling for Dylan and Danny. Oh, man, that. That was something else. Something else. First of all, to watch how far Dylan has come over the season to see where he started week one, and then to see where he ended up tonight is just, gosh, it's such an incredible journey. So proud of him. So, so proud of him. And then also on like a shallow note, he is so unbelievably ripped. He's so ripped. I. I was like, where are you finding the time, sir, to work out like this? It probably has more to do with what he's eating than. Than the workouts, but my goodness, I felt like I could see tendons. Like I could see individual tendons inside his body. And for Elaine and Alan, Derek picked a Roomba to take my breath away by Jay Hall. Boy, I thought that was beautiful too. The performances tonight, as you would expect for a finale, were really wonderful. I didn't get to be in the skybox for Elaine's dance because shortly after her dance was something I had to do with one of my dances. So I had been pulled out. So I was watching it on the monitor off and on. But really just incredible. Beautiful, graceful, gorgeous. And then Carrie Annonaba picked Apasa doble to break in dishes by Rihanna for Jordan and Ezra. And first of all, is there a better song than breaking dishes? I love that song so much. It's such a vibe. I can't help but just dance and move every time I hear that song. And Ezra is so cute. He was telling me that during the week. He just kept serving face all through their pasa Doble and Jordan had to be like, sir, you are supposed to look intense. Stop. Stop giving looks. And oh, my God, I just, I loved it. I loved it so much. I thought it was unbelievable. Jordan, another one who her journey from where she started to seeing her tonight in the finale, just really, she just has grown so much and her confidence is through the roof now, as it should be. And to see the risks that they have taken through the season have been some of my favorites. I. I just think some of the decisions they have made, even if they didn't necessarily pay off the way they were hoping they would, like there ended up being, you know, whether or not everything landed perfectly, you can't, you're never going to do that if you're going to be willing to take risks. Part of that is that, that some of them aren't going to land perfectly every time. But when they do, when they do land, man, is it special. And I think if I had to pick riskiest partnership, riskiest choreography, most willing to take risks of this season, it would be Jordan and Ezra. And I will tell you, it made it thrilling. I love that about them. And it made it exciting to watch every single week. And you just couldn't help but root for them every single week just to see what they came up with next. It was definitely, they were definitely maybe the most exciting couple for me to watch because of those risks. So kudos to Ezra on his first ever finale. And wow. Wow. Pretty, pretty exciting. And congratulations to Jordan for just absolutely killing it and for both of them for holding each other down. You know, it really, it really felt like a partnership where even though Ezra was the pro, he recognized that performance wise, you're not going to get a partner that's more confident in front of people than a gold medalist. You know, like that Olympian mentality as he mentioned. And so he knew when it was time to like, I'm gonna let her hold me down and, and vice versa. She knew when to say, like, I need to lean into you and to trust you and to let you take, you take, let you take lead. And yeah, it's just a really, that was a beautiful partnership.

[Pandora Jewelry Announcer]

You guys. The holidays are coming and I am personally so excited to start making the cookies. It's one of my favorite parts. Every year you get to make them and then you get to eat them and maybe you give them away also. And before you know it, Black Friday is here and Pandora Jewelry is offering up to 40% off store wide and site wide. Now through December 2nd, explore jewelry designed to last beyond the season. From classic charms to modern rings, bracelets, earrings, and more. Whether you're holiday shopping or treating yourself, now's the perfect time to find something Special. [e-mail] and your local Pandora store exclusive supply.

[Liberty Mutual Commercial Voice (Doug)]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Liberty Mutual Commercial Voice (Doug)]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Commercial Voice (Doug)]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates excludes.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Flu season is here and our pharmacies have you covered with a free flu shot with most insurance plans. Plus it's cough and cold season and now through December 2nd. Stock up on all the season's essentials and get ready for relief with discounts on items like Mucinex Cold and Flu, Kickstart, Mucinex, Fast Max Products, vicks Daquil and Nyquil combo pack Alka Seltzer plus also airborne and Afrin offers end December 2nd. Restrictions apply and offers may vary by location. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Danielle Fishel]

Another amazing thing about this finale was the instant dance and I gotta tell you, behind the scenes the instant dance. So they started talking to us about the instant dance weeks ago. They wouldn't tell us when the instant dance was going to happen. And they. But they did tell us there's going to be something called an instant dance. Here's how it's going to work. And you don't know exactly when it's coming up, but if I were you guys, I would start prepping those things now. And they said, it can be any one of your first four dances and you're not gonna know the song. And I remember being like, I'm sorry, what we have to do what? And I then was out of the competition. And I was even thinking, like, as far as watching the show, I was like, this feels very stressful and, like, it doesn't really seem fair. And I thought also it's. How good could they possibly be when they are only hearing their song? And I mean, I guess what I'm trying to say is, in my mind, I was mentally poo pooing. I was poo pooing the instant dance. I was like, we don't need this. We don't need this. Maybe if it were only two to choose from or something, like, maybe that would make it better. I was wrong. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I was wrong. As a viewer, as someone sitting up in the skybox watching it, not having to be one of the pros, not having to be one of the celebs, it was the most exciting part of the night. It was even more exciting than the freestyles because we knew, like, none of us had seen them. None of us had seen them during rehearsal. None of us had seen us during camera blocking because there wasn't anything to camera block. There wasn't anything to see. So it had this buzz and this feeling of anything can happen. And the fact that it is less produced and less perfect and you get to see your celeb, your fave, possibly make a mistake where there's not a whole lot of mistakes going on at this stage of the game. And you got to just see them a little out of their element, a little thrown off and a little less polished. It was wonderful to watch. So I'd just like to say not that many people know that I was poo pooing the instant dance, but I'm here to tell you, I was and I was wrong. I thought it was actually really exciting. So I don't know if they plan on doing it every year, but it was. As a viewer, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And you Know, they didn't. They didn't. Nobody scored so drastically different than anyone else that it made it like, oh, gosh, it's really. Could end up hurting somebody. It's not like they gave fours for the instant dance and somebody else got tens. It was like, you know, nines and tens. And I thought it was. I thought it was really great. I do want to share a little story about my boy Dylan, and I'm probably going to start crying telling it. I'm going to try to keep it together. So the day that we all had to pick our. Our paddles up and pick the instant dance, Dylan and I, I also had to do it. I'm telling you, this, this. The prep for these things goes way back. And so Dylan and I were talking on the day that we had to pick our paddles, and I said, what are you. What are you hoping to get? And he said, oh, man, I just really want to get a foxtrot. I really. I just want a foxtrot. I feel like I loved it. I loved that dance. And he's like. So I just, really just started trying to manifest it. Like, I just started thinking, like, think foxtrot, think foxtrot. Think foxtrot. And he's like, you know the table they have in front of you, like, the way the panel, the paddles are. He's like, I really started thinking, like, where. If I were a producer, where would I have put foxtrot? Like, I told them I wanted foxtrot. And so they're. He's like, I'm at them and I'm thinking, like, they probably think I'm going for a paddle that's right in front of me. So I'm not going to pick one of those. I'm going to pick one of these. And he's like. And I just started, like, sending energy of like, foxtrot, foxtrot, foxtrot. And he's like. And I don't know. Like, I just. Gosh, I. I hope I picked foxtrot. And I was like, you did. You picked. Picked Foxtrot? Of course, I don't know. No one knows. We were fully blindfolded. They had one of the lawyers from the show had to be in the room with us to make sure no one could cheat. Like, they were taking this serious. And so I don't know. But I'm just, you know, is my friend and he wants foxtrot. And so I'm going to tell him, yeah, you did that. You got foxtrot. I know it. We're manifesting that for you, you got foxtrot. So I, you know, see him a couple days later, maybe at this point, it's a couple weeks later, and somehow instant dances come up again. And I go, well, you know, you know, you manifested foxtrot for yourself. And he goes, oh, I told Danny that I really wanted foxtrot. And, and. And Danny said that she didn't think foxtrot would have been the best for us. So now I'm really worried about it, because what if I did pick foxtrot? And then it's not. And it's not good. Like, what if it's not the right one? And so then he kind of got in his head and he convinced himself that he didn't want foxtrot. And then when he pulled the paddle and he saw that he got foxtrot tonight, he was bummed. His first feeling was that he was bummed, and he was worried that it wasn't going to be. That he wasn't going to be as prepared for it as he would have been had it been something else. And then just to watch him go out there and absolutely just put on the performance of a lifetime with that foxtrot, it was so beautiful. And when, you know, you talk about the journey of dancing with the stars and all the different types of journeys, you can have Dylan's journey of. Of coming in there exactly like he said to Julianne tonight, coming in there and thinking, I'm not good at this. I'm gonna have to put on kind of a shtick. I'm gonna have to put something on. I'm gonna have to be a comedian. I'm gonna have to go for production value. I'm gonna have to go for comedy because, quote, unquote, I can't dance. I'm not good at this. And then to see him just 10 weeks later get thrown into a situation like an instant dance, and to truly be able to dance from his heart and to do it so beautifully. I spend a lot of my time as a director encouraging young people and actors to trust their instincts, to believe in themselves, and that when their guts tell them something and they. They feel something, to follow it and to. To always stay in touch with what your instincts are telling you. And to see that moment tonight for Dylan where I got to pull him aside and say, your instincts, your instincts were exactly right. You manifested that for yourself. You wanted a foxtrot, you picked a foxtrot, and then you came out there and you killed it. I Never, in my 44 years of life Thought I would be crying about a foxtrot. I'm just gonna say that I'm so. It's what. What is happening to me, but I am just so, so, so proud of him, and I thought it was truly beautiful. So I wanted to. I got permission to share that story because really, that's. That. That's what started my crying tonight, was his. His instant dance. And then. And then after all the instant dances were over, then we got into the freestyles, and, you know, of course, I had to sob through Dylan's freestyle as well. So I want to go into the freestyles. Alex and Val performed a freestyle to Man Eater by Nelly Furtado and Sports car by Tate McCrae. Again, just. These freestyles were spectacular. Val and Alex, I've said it before on the show, and I stand by it, that Alex's transformation on this show might just be my favorite. I think it's so obvious to anybody who watches the show that we have seen her blossom in front of our eyes. If you go back to week one and you watch the packages and you watch her interviews and her otf, you don't see the same woman that you see in the finale. This woman that was in the finale, this woman that did this freestyle, has a quiet confidence about her, a real, just ownership of who she is. And some of that anxiety or nervousness or insecurity that you see at the beginning of the season has thankfully just really faded away. And if it's still there, it's so. It's so deep down that it's not coming through anymore. And what you're seeing is this bright, brilliant, beautiful performer. And her partnership with Val is really special. I know. I know Val pushes her, and he's a wonderful choreographer. He's a wonderful partner. And I also know how much they both benefited from Jenna. Jenna is. I mean, she is an asset beyond assets. She is spectacular. And the fact that they were able to lean on her, I know Val absolutely relied on her for just helping him, keeping him grounded, helping him with choreography. And Alex felt really safe being able to go to her and being like, can you do this move for me so I can see what it looks like when you do it? Can, you know, can you help me make this look great? And she's the perfect person to do that. So watching this performance tonight really felt great, and I was thrilled for them. Robert and Whitney did a freestyle to Black and Gold by Sam Sbarro and the Knights by Avicii. I thought this was so smart. I loved that their freestyle Started off very jazz, but still upbeat and really fun, A little sexy. And then it made this transition where the song changed and the lyrics were, you know, involving a dad and a message from a dad. And I thought, oh, is it going to become very sentimental and slow and emotional? Are we going to get more tears? I had no idea. And then it was still just upbeat and amazing. And when I saw it for the first time during camera blocking, I thought that was the right choice. That was the right choice. You know, Robert is such a dynamic performer and a dynamic individual, and he. He could do anything he wanted. He could go be a movie star. He could go perform on Broadway. He could. If he could sing, he could probably be a pop star. Like he is. He's a star. He is a. He's just a star. There's no other way of saying it. He's got it. And he could do anything he wants in the entertainment industry and. And it would be good, and people would go and see it. And with that said, his family legacy is no longer needs to be his legacy. He can now really pave the way for what Robert Irwin is going. The kind of legacy that Robert Irwin is going to leave and the trail he's going to blaze. And so I was happy that tonight's freestyle felt inspired and fun and youthful and didn't actually make the turn into anything that felt like it was leaning too heavily into someone else's legacy. I just want to see him shine for who he is because he's. He's got it. He's got it. And then Dylan and Danny did a freestyle to Something in the Heavens by Lewis Capaldi. Oh, I love this song. Start crying again. Stop it, Danielle. Stop it right now. This was really, really, really beautiful. Oh, gosh. It was a contemporary. I thought it was so well done to see Dylan, with his height and his manliness perform this really touching, just beautiful, soft, emotional, contemporary was amazing. The choreography was so good. Where it ended in the water. Oh, my God. Also, I don't know what happened in the moment, but where Dylan kind of has to. Where Dylan, like, had to chuck Danny, and thank goodness Pasha was the one catching her. I don't know what happened, but after the dance, while we were all up in the skybox, Dylan was like, sorry, Danny, I really had to chuck you. And Danny was like, you really did. You, like, fully threw me. And she was like, thank God it was Pasha who was catching me. So I don't know what happened that made her need to be thrown so much, But I thought that Was a really. I thought that was an interesting moment. I loved the. I loved the lifts in it. Seeing Dylan do his handstand, I thought was great, but nothing's going to top finishing in that water. I thought the water. I always think water is cool in a freestyle. I think anytime I've seen Water Incorporated, I'm like, oh, my God. Gosh, that just adds such a cool element. And I thought the way they used it was. I had never seen it before. It doesn't mean it's never been done. I don't know. But I had never seen it before. It felt very unique. It felt very special. And I just. I thought it was amazing. Couldn't. Couldn't love it anymore. Absolutely sobbed my way through it. Watched it from the staircase so that nothing could block my way because they had these balloons. I'm sure you guys saw up in the skybox, they had these balloons. And then, like, anywhere I was standing, the balloons were basically blocking my view. I'm like, guys, I am not very tall unless I have the exact spot in the middle where there are no balloons. I was, like, trying peeking up over balloons, so I went down the stairs. I watched halfway down the staircase because I didn't want anything blocking my view. And then Elaine and Alan did a freestyle, too. I hope I get it. From A chorus line by district 7 78. I thought this was the cutest. Like, it was like a. It was a mini movie. I thought it was so cute. I love that they incorporated her, you know, actor performance. Everything about it was great. Using Andy as the director in the middle of it was so fun. Her quick change of having that beautiful dress on underneath her other beautiful dress, I thought that was really fun. I thought seeing her act and perform as this actress, hoping to get a role, all of it just felt so fun. And she's so graceful and so beautiful and so fun to watch. I was. I was really proud of them through this whole experience. And I was really proud of Alan's choreography and the whole thing he put together. And I told him that. I said that was really fun. It was really fun. It felt. It felt like the most whole production. It just. It had everything. It had colors and rolling sets and people coming in and out and, you know, I don't know, I just. I loved it. I thought it was so well done, and I was really, really proud of them. And then Jordan and Ezra did a freestyle to Motivation by Normani featuring Normani in the freestyle. This is going to go down in history as one of my favorite freestyles I've ever seen. I thought it was incredible. I loved every single second of it. I loved her grill. I loved her. I love Jordan's outfit. I loved the steel, the, the fence that they brought in. I loved the reveal of Normani. I loved the two of them doing a no handed cartwheel, whatever those beautiful things are called. I thought that was unbelievable. I thought the hip hop ness of it all was just amazing. I can't say enough wonderful things about it. I, I think it's, it's easily one of the best freestyles I've ever seen. Just absolutely blew me away. And I was, you know, I keep saying I'm proud, I'm proud of everybody, like a, like a team mom, but boy, I really am. I'm just so proud of them. I. And it was, it was amazing.

[Knix Commercial Announcer]

And.

[Danielle Fishel]

Kudos to Normani from for coming out there supporting your friend and just slaying it. I was just. What a night. What a night. I, I can't say enough. Incredible thing. There was a part of me tonight, of course, that was so, so excited and honored and thrilled to be back in the ballroom dancing. And on the other hand, I wanted to just sit there and watch this incredible show and cheer on my friends. And I did get to watch. I got to watch it from the skybox and I had a front row seat. And I'll never forget it. It was a night I will never forget. And then it was time to find out who was gonna win this whole thing. And I remember I was like squatting down and I had my phone out and I was recording video and I thought, I can't believe it's really happening. I can't believe it's really happening right now. For months we've been talking about Dancing with the Stars and like, that's it. Here it is. The moment is now. We're gonna find out who wins. And then they, you know, went down the line. Coming in fifth, Elaine and Alan. Coming in fourth, Dylan and Danny. Coming in third, Jordan and Ezra. And then they went to a commercial break. And during that commercial break, everybody just, they moved. All of us, all of the former. I was gonna say former celebs. All of. Sure, whatever. Former celebs. Former contestants. We had to move to the other side because there were the big confetti cannons that were about ready to go off and they didn't want our ears right next to it. They moved us to the other side and everybody just gathered around and we knew at this point it was either going to be Alex and Val or it was going to be Robert and Whitney. And I don't think anyone is surprised that that's the final two. It really felt right up until the last second that, you know, this could be anyone's. I had a feeling it was going to be Robert. I've had a feeling it was going to be Robert since, you know, day one. I mean, it's hard to argue with the star making quality that is Robert Irwin and the fact that he is not only such an amazing person, but is also an amazing performer. You know, icing on the cake at this point. But so spoiler alert, it's Robert Irwin is the winner. And I would like to say that when I interviewed Jenna on this here podcast, she said that the hardest place to come in is second because they don't even say your name, you know, when you're in fifth. They said Elaine and Allen's name, they said Dylan and Danny's names, they said Jordan and Ezra's names. And then they just announced the winner and, you know, confetti cannons go off and everyone cheers and everyone celebrates. And it must have been really hard. I just would like to think for a minute it must have been really hard to be Alex there. And I know she wanted to win this very badly, and it was a spectacular season for her. I feel like I use that word a lot, but I don't know that there's many other words to describe this season of Dancing with the Stars, but congratulations to Robert and Whitney. You know, I don't think Robert would mind me saying this, but especially to Whitney. You know, Whitney is a mom. She's. She moved her children out here for the season. Her husband, they. They're staying in a house nearby. And this show requires a lot of you, especially as a pro, where you are choreographing and you're listening to music and you're kind of working around the clock and you're in these long rehearsals and you've got interviews and all that stuff. It's like this show requires a massive sacrifice to be a part of. Don't get me wrong, it's worth it. But everyone has to sacrifice. And I know Whitney, Whitney felt it. You know, Whitney felt the sacrifices. We all did. And just to have it culminate in having a mirror ball trophy above your head, sitting on the shoulders of your fellow pros and being congratulated by everyone. I hope that tonight and every night moving forward, she feels and that Robert feels like it was all worth it. And I know even for everyone else who didn't win. It was worth. Was worth, was worth every rib injury. It was worth every hamstring tear. It was worth every stressful moment. It was worth all the lack of sleep. The show is very, very special and those of us who have had the good fortune of being a part of it know what it's like. And I can't wait to watch it again next year. I can't believe it's over. So thank you all for letting me bring you on this journey. We are not done yet. We are just not done yet. We are going to continue to interview some of the folks from Dancing with the Stars and soon. Please stay tuned to this feed because we have a big announcement coming soon. I don't want you to miss it. And in the meantime, next year, I'll see you on tour. I can't believe it. I'm so excited. I told you guys I wanted to be a professional dancer and guess what? I am now a professional dancer. I'm going on tour. I'm gonna open the Dancing with the Stars tour. I am going to be a co host with Emma Slater. I'm opening the tour on January 22nd in Akron, Ohio. And I am concluding including my first run on February 15th at Radio City Music Hall. So I will be going from the 22nd to the 15th, 22nd of January to February 15th, and then I've got a couple of days in April and May, eventually do a few more in April and maybe May as well. But for right now, that's where I'm gonna be. And then Andy is taking over for me in the middle of February and then Elaine is popping in. So those are your three co hosts, always with Emma Slater. And then there are going to be other people joining us. Jordan's going to join for a while. Dylan is going to join for a while. Alex is coming for a bit, Robert is coming for a bit and Whitney is coming with Robert. So just it'll be an unbelievable tour if you haven't already get your tickets. We can't wait to see you out there. It's gonna be so much fun. So, yeah, that's it. I have really enjoyed doing this and like I said, it's not quite over yet. I have a few more interviews, a few more things I'm excited to bring you. So stay tuned for more Danielle with and stay tuned for some big announcements coming up soon. Thanks for letting me cry. Thank you for all of your support. Thank you for allowing me to go on this journey where I learned so much about myself. I think one of the things that I learned about myself is just how much I love cheering for people who are working hard. I just cheering people on who are really doing something vulnerable and really giving it their all. There's not a better feeling than supporting than supporting other people doing that. So thank you for doing that with me and see you all next time. Bye. Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel Executive producers Jensen Carpenter and Amy Sugarman Executive in charge of Production Danielle Romo Producer, editor and Engineer Tara Sudbaksh Theme song by Justin Siegel. Follow us on Instagram at daniellewithstars and vote for me. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first. There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.

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[Danielle Fishel]

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[Danielle Fishel]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com savings very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates excludes Massachusetts. Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Flu season is here, and our pharmacies have you covered with a free flu shot with most insurance plans. Plus, it's cough and cold season and now through December 2nd. Stock up on all the season's essentials and get ready for relief with discounts on items like Mucinex Cold and Flu Kickstart, Mucinex, Fast Max Products, vicks Dayquil and Nyquil combo pack, Alka Seltzer plus also airborne and Afrin offers end December 2nd. Restrictions apply and offers may vary by location. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.