Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson
Episode: Extra! Extra! With Derek Hough — October 13, 2025
Guest: Derek Hough
Episode Overview
In this lively and heartfelt episode of Sibling Revelry, Oliver Hudson (with some appearances by Kate Hudson) sits down for a candid, free-flowing conversation with the renowned dancer, TV host, and judge Derek Hough. Together, they explore Derek’s family and sibling dynamics (especially his bond with sister Julianne), his transition to fatherhood, the harrowing health challenges faced by his wife, and how these experiences have shaped his perspective.
Derek also dives into his evolving career — from Dancing With The Stars and performing on stage, to becoming a judge and the fresh challenge of hosting Extra! The discussion is a mix of vulnerability, philosophy, and plenty of laughs about the realities of art, masculinity, and dance as a life practice.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Ever-Evolving Sibling Bond
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Working with Siblings on TV
- Derek and his sister Julianne Hough both work on Dancing With The Stars, but surprisingly, their jobs keep them apart:
“We actually— we, like, never see each other, actually. We literally see each other on set for, like, what you see on TV.”
— Derek Hough, [05:34] - Their limited interaction on set has preserved their relationship, despite both being highly involved in the same show.
- Derek and his sister Julianne Hough both work on Dancing With The Stars, but surprisingly, their jobs keep them apart:
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Growing Up Surrounded by Sisters
- Derek describes being the only boy among four sisters and how it shaped him:
“I realized that I definitely lived in my— I actually lived more in my feminine energy, if you will, which I think served me really well… But as I got older, I was like, oh, interesting…”
— Derek Hough, [27:03] - He humorously struggles with “guy talk,” having always been more at ease with women.
- Derek describes being the only boy among four sisters and how it shaped him:
Fatherhood, Worry, and Trauma
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First-Time Father at Forty
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Derek opens up about his excitement and nerves as he and wife Hayley expect their first child:
“Number one, man. This is number one. It’s crazy. I know. I can’t believe it. Forty years old, and I’m crazy starting.”
— Derek Hough, [06:31] -
He acknowledges his newfound tendency to worry, especially after his wife’s medical ordeal.
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The Impact of Trauma — Hayley’s Brain Emergency
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Derek recounts with vulnerability the night his wife suffered a massive brain bleed while they were performing on stage:
“We were on stage in front of 4,000 people … she didn’t come out… Meanwhile, she’s literally dying on the side of the stage.”
— [10:45] -
The episode captures the terror, the medical decisions in the moment, and the improbable recovery Hayley made—ending with Derek’s deep gratitude:
“Her getting up to go to the bathroom was, like, the best day of my life… there’s all these amazing, like, triumphs that you experience in the simplest of things.”
— [12:19] -
Derek and Hayley have even made a documentary of the experience, recently submitted to Sundance:
“We actually filmed a documentary about this… We just actually submitted it to Sundance like three days ago.”
— [16:22] -
He reflects on how this trauma has changed his emotional pattern:
“I worry, and I never really considered myself like that. But after Hayley had her, you know, her brain surgery, I think it just amplified everything…”
— [08:00]
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Artistry, Masculinity, and Dance
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Finding and Balancing Masculine/Feminine Energy
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Being raised by women lent Derek a deep familiarity with ‘feminine energy’—helpful in artistry, but he’s also learned to seek grounding balance in more traditionally masculine pursuits:
“It’s not like binary … but … to do things that just felt more grounded, I suppose, because I can get really, like, you know, up here in this creative space constantly…”
— [28:59] -
Nature, especially the mountains of Utah, provides that grounding:
“I love the outdoors… That’s the thing that really keeps me still.”
— [29:33]
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The Transformational Power of Dance
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Derek is passionate about the broader life value of dance for kids and teens:
“It’s never, ever, ever, ever wasted, because the discipline, the awareness — all these things that you learn, you will take with you for the rest of your life, no matter what.”
— [32:51] -
Both discuss the strictness and discipline of dance teachers, with Oliver expressing appreciation for the tough love:
“It’s the only place now where, like, that discipline — you can be stern… I love how strict these teachers are.”
— Robbie/Oliver Hudson, [33:25]
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The Joy and Challenge of Performance and Creation
- On performing:
“When I’m actually dancing, performing … I truly feel like the most—sounds cheesy—like connected. I feel connected to myself… The music syncs up and your body syncs up together…”
— [37:34] - On the creative struggle:
“The creation process can be torture… There’s this expectation—like, you know, you’ve won four Emmys and people are looking at you… those fears start to creep in and I start to get a little bit in my head about things…”
— [38:40]
- On performing:
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Dance Chemistry & Relationships on DWTS
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The duo joke about the perceived intimacy between dancers — and how, to professionals, it’s just movement:
“From the outside looking in, when you watch me dancing, it feels really intimate … but for us as dancers, it’s really not … We’re, like, focused on the mechanics.”
— [40:19] -
Yet the environment still fosters real connections, especially among celeb contestants:
“When you have these sort of celebrities … moving their body with someone as they’ve never moved it before, there’s something that is intoxicating about that. There’s no doubt.”
— Robbie/Oliver Hudson, [41:50]
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New Career Challenges: Judging & Hosting
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Becoming a Judge on Dancing With The Stars
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Derek tries to be supportive but real:
“I try to be encouraging… and also give some practical notes that they can actually work on the next week. That’s what I’d want to hear… But being a judge is not a popular position… You can’t win, dude.”
— [50:07] -
On pressure from producers:
“I’ve had some producers say, like, hey, can you, like, you know, get in there a little bit more? And I’m like… I’m gonna be me. Because if I try to be something I’m not, people are gonna smell it in a million, a hundred, and it’s just gonna look… tacky, honestly.”
— [51:37]
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Taking on Extra! and the Art of Hosting
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Derek describes being nervous but excited about his new hosting gig:
“Three weeks in. It’s crazy, because when they first came to me about it, I was like… I don’t see myself doing that… But I’m also just a fan… I love it.”
— [52:29] -
The learning curve of interviewing Hollywood’s biggest stars:
“My first week was, like, Margot Robbie, The Rock, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon. I was like…guys, my first week freakin’ A!”
— [53:45] -
On learning to voice-over:
“I’m in there… they’re like, a little more energy… Coming up! And I was like, are you sure? I sound like a Muppet or something.”
— [54:34] “I’m literally feel like Ron Burgundy…”
— [55:28] -
He appreciates how his background makes guests more comfortable, paving the way for real conversations.
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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Trauma & Recovery
“I was talking about a friend of mine that passed away, how fragile and precious life is … meanwhile, she’s literally dying on the side of the stage.”
— Derek Hough, [11:10] -
On Moving Past Fear
“Where your focus goes, your energy flows … you have to, like, trust me.”
— Hayley (as relayed by Derek Hough), [18:26] -
On Dance Discipline
“If hair’s out of place, they get mad at you … there’s a discipline there … it’s, like, get your shit together.”
— Robbie/Oliver Hudson, [33:38] -
On Fatherhood Paranoia
“I have 20, 25 nieces and nephews … I am, like, covering corners.”
— Derek Hough, [09:13] -
On Sibling Energy
“We kind of give each other, like, little, you know … riz each other a little bit…”
— Derek Hough, [06:05]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Sibling Dynamic & Work on DWTS – [05:15-07:13]
- Fatherhood & Anticipated Fears – [07:13-09:59]
- Hayley’s Health Crisis & Recovery – [10:32-19:05]
- Childhood, Sibling Order, and Masculinity/Femininity – [25:44-29:14]
- Moving to London for Dance, Parental Sacrifice – [29:57-32:15]
- Importance of Dance Discipline for Kids – [32:51-35:31]
- What Dance Feels Like – [37:21-39:49]
- Chemistry on DWTS – [39:49-43:38]
- Judging Style and Challenges – [50:05-51:58]
- New Hosting Gig on Extra! – [52:29-58:26]
Tone & Atmosphere
Light-hearted yet deeply honest, the episode is classic Sibling Revelry: plenty of teasing, raw confession, and relatable family and career anecdotes. Derek’s openness about worry, trauma, and joy offers inspiration, while Oliver’s wit and personal fatherhood/dance stories keep things playful.
For Listeners
This episode is a treat for fans curious about the realities behind the glitzy world of dancing, the complexity of sibling and married life, and how trauma can fundamentally shift your perspective. Derek’s journey from performer to parent and host is full of both hard-earned wisdom and genuine humor.
Ended [59:34].
