By Order of the Faithfuls: The Bad Boy of the Ballroom w/ Maks Chmerkovskiy

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge

Episode: By Order of the Faithfuls: The Bad Boy of the Ballroom w/ Maks Chmerkovskiy
Date: November 14, 2025
Hosts: Wells Adams, Tamra Judge, Dolores
Guest: Maks Chmerkovskiy

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Episode Overview

This episode features special guest Maks Chmerkovskiy—world-renowned ballroom dancer, "Dancing with the Stars" champion, and recent contestant on "The Traitors." The conversation dives deep into Maks’s experience across reality competition formats, his thoughts on competition, ballroom culture, upcoming projects, and plenty of behind-the-scenes insights about both "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Traitors." The hosts and Maks swap stories, share opinions on reality TV strategy, and reflect on fan culture and life off-screen.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Life After BravoCon and Fan Interactions

• BravoCon gigs:

  • Tamra shares details about BravoCon logistics and pay, discussing how it’s more about the fans and additional endorsements (“activations”) than the base pay.

    "For me, I look at it as, you know, giving back to the fans and meeting them and doing all those things that make our shows so popular... we get activations. Like I'm doing one with Lexus. So there's more money to be made." —Tamra (04:25)

• Intensity of fan culture:

  • Tamra and Wells joke about the intense devotion of Bravo fans, mentioning high ticket prices and quirky convention experiences.

Maks Chmerkovskiy Joins: Family & Projects

• Life update:

  • Maks talks about sleep deprivation due to his kids, referencing a sick child and a hospital run:

    "We haven't slept in three days... Life is life-ing on full cylinders, but you have to embrace it. Otherwise, what are we doing, you know." —Maks (08:02)

• New projects:

  • Maks mentions several top-secret feature film projects, hinting at new technology in entertainment but holds back on details:

    "There's a twist to the latest project that's coming up that's extremely exciting... some technological moves that entertainment industry is making." —Maks (10:06)

Reality Competition: "Dancing with the Stars" vs. "The Traitors"

• Competitiveness Comparison:

  • Maks is firm that "Dancing with the Stars" is far more competitive than "The Traitors," explaining:

    "Dancing with the Stars. Zero questions... everything is so hard and so challenging and so competitive." —Maks (14:24)

  • He felt stifled as a "Faithful" on "The Traitors":

    "There's no strategy here. Strategy here is just hide and sort of don't get shot. And I hate that. I want to be up in front." —Maks (15:03)

  • He gives insight into production manipulating challenges for dialogue:

    "We were running... and they're like, hold on a second. The production was like, wait, you guys have to have more dialogue... At that point I was like, oh, okay, cool." —Maks (16:08)

• Casting Link:

  • The casting director Dina Cat connects both shows with a sharp eye for compelling personalities.

Predictions & Analysis: "Dancing with the Stars"

• Who will win?

  • Maks predicts Robert is the frontrunner, but winning depends on keeping up energy and popularity with the likely female-skewed voting audience.

    "I think this is Robert's season to lose... it's not gonna be the best dancer wins. I think it's gonna be the best dancer according to who the audience like the most." —Maks (17:30)

  • Mentions the roles of heart (Andy), skill (female celebrity), and showmanship in determining winner, not just technical ability.

• Other contestants:

  • Briefly mentions Dylan and Jordan Chiles as factors, warns of shocking eliminations.

Ballroom Culture & The Role of Pros

• Ballroom jobs and exclusivity:

  • Maks explains why he’s so protective of pro ballroom dance slots on the show, pushing back when someone is cast without traditional ballroom training.

    "If there are only five spots for a male ballroom dancer available... why not get a male ballroom dancer who is also fantastic in other stuff?" —Maks (24:09)

• Controversy over a new pro dancer:

  • Maks clarifies his previous critical opinions were about qualifications and not personal, citing the delicacy of public commentary in a world where "nowadays everybody has a podcast."

    "My criticism was not out of left field... I'm just a professional with an opinion." —Maks (22:01)

Reflections on "The Traitors" & What Maks Would Do Differently

• Would he return?

  • Now that he knows the format, Maks would love a second shot—and would want to play more strategically and socially.

    "If I were to come back and do it again, it would be now as someone who knows exactly what the show is, and exactly how to try and play it." —Maks (29:19)

• Lessons learned:

  • Maks regrets forming an immediate tight bond with Deontay, which inadvertently led to his elimination, and confesses to not being aggressive enough socially in groups.

    "I would have been more vocal in groups... There were a few groups of people that I did not interact with." —Maks (31:20)

  • Admits he was naive, thinking he wouldn’t be targeted:

    "I was sure 100 percent nobody’s gonna point a finger at me." —Maks (32:12)

• Missed opportunities:

  • Tamra jokes that if Maks had played up his entertaining persona—dancing with his cane, befriending everyone—he might have lasted longer.

    "You should have been dancing with people." —Tamra (32:43)

  • Maks laments unscreened fun moments:

    "I've done a lot of that. They didn't show me any of that." —Maks (32:49)

• Return as Faithful or Traitor?

  • Maks is open to any role now that he understands the game:

    "At this point, I would come back as anything, you know, because now I know. Okay, I get it. I get it." —Maks (34:18)

Who Would Make a Good Traitor From DWTS?

• Speculation:
  • Maks thinks his brother Val would be a solid player due to his alliance-building and social skills.

    "I think Val would be a good player... His language skills are such that he can befriend you... For me, it takes a little longer because my actions—they're gonna show you later down the line that I am this, this, and that." —Maks (35:55)

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On the intensity of fan conventions:
  Tamra: “It's $1,500 a ticket for VIP—and it sells out in 60 seconds.” (05:21)

• On embracing life’s chaos:
  Maks: “Life is life-ing on full cylinders, but you have to embrace it. Otherwise, what are we doing, you know.” (08:02)

• On the difference between the shows:
  Wells: "What’s more competitive: Dancing with the Stars or The Traitors?"
  Maks: "Dancing with the Stars. Zero questions." (14:21)

• On reality-show strategy:
  Maks: “Strategy here is just hide and sort of don't get shot. And I hate that. I want to be up in front." (15:03)

• On casting pros:
  Maks: "If there are only five spots for a male ballroom dancer available... why not get a male ballroom dancer who is also fantastic in other stuff?" (24:09)

• On "The Traitors" gameplay regrets:
  Maks: “I would have been more vocal in groups... There were a few groups of people that I did not interact with." (31:20)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [03:32] - Hosts settle in, Tamra discusses BravoCon and fan engagement
• [06:45] - Maks joins, talk turns to family, new projects, and being present
• [14:01] - Competitive differences between DWTS and The Traitors
• [17:19] - Maks predicts DWTS winner, audience voting dynamics
• [21:03] - DWTS’s 20th anniversary, returning pros, show legacy
• [22:01] - Maks on controversy regarding new pro dancer casting
• [27:58] - Maks asked: Would he do The Traitors again? What would he do differently?
• [30:10] - Strategy regrets, being too socially neutral
• [34:30] - Faithful or Traitor? Returning with new strategy
• [35:32] - Who from DWTS would be good at The Traitors?

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Tone, Style & Atmosphere

The episode is candid, conversational, and full of playful ribbing. The hosts make Maks comfortable, coaxing honest admissions, inside stories, and a couple of confessions about being misunderstood publicly. There’s a mix of humor (jokes about murder-mystery cruises, dancing with canes), self-deprecation, reality TV meta-commentary, and reality-world camaraderie. Maks’s passion for dance and his protectiveness over ballroom’s place in pop culture shine through, balanced by the easy banter of the hosts.

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For New Listeners

This episode is valuable for:

• Fans of competitive reality shows—offering inside baseball beyond TV edits.
• DWTS and The Traitors super-fans—unique strategy and casting insight.
• Anyone curious about the culture/fan-favorite personalities behind hit reality franchises.

If you want to understand what really happens behind the scenes—and how the stars themselves think about playing the game, this is a must-listen episode!

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Transcript

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[Wells Adams]

Well, welcome into another episode of By Order of the Faithfuls. I'm Wells Adams. I'm alongside both Tamara and Dolores. I feel like it's been a while since we've all been in this.

[Tamara]

I know, right?

[Wells Adams]

Together.

[Tamara]

I know. Well, here we are. Last time we missed you. Oh, I missed it too. I've been so busy. But now my slow. My slow season's coming up. You know, after BravoCon, almost of all our episodes have aired, Bravo cons behind me. I get to relax. You need that. I get to relax for a little bit and just do my normal housewife stuff.

[Wells Adams]

Do you guys get paid a ton of money for BravoCon? I know that might be a touchy question, but I want to know.

[Tamara]

We get paid. I wouldn't say it's a ton of money.

[Wells Adams]

Yeah.

[Tamara]

For how many days were there and all we do.

[Wells Adams]

Can you say no, I don't want to do it?

[Tamara]

Yeah. Yeah, but you don't.

[Wells Adams]

Maybe you don't want to be on the TV show anymore. Did they?

[Tamara]

I know. I know that in the past people have complained and tried to negotiate and things like that, but I don't think it works. It's either everyone, I mean, everyone get paid the same or no, everyone. From what I know, yes, everyone gets paid the same. It is a big deal. Like, think about all the talent they have to fly in, they have to put in hotels. They pay. I mean, of course they make a ton of money too, but it's fun. I think it's. For me, I look at it as, you know, giving back to the fans and meeting them and doing all those things that make our shows so popular. So. But also we get activations. Like I'm doing one with Lexus. So there's More money to be made as well.

[Wells Adams]

That's cool.

[Tamara]

Yeah.

[Wells Adams]

It's gotta be a little scary, though, because I imagine if you're that big of a fan of the Bravo world and you're willing to go to Vegas for it, like, I feel like you could come across some. Just some weird peeps.

[Tamara]

Yep. Well, you said it, right. It's $1,500 a ticket for VIP.

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[Tamara]

And it sells out in 60 seconds. The whole show. Like 40,000 or something like that ticket.

[Wells Adams]

We're doing this bachelor cruise thing next.

[Tamara]

Year where I be careful with those cruises. I've been hearing a lot of things about that.

[Wells Adams]

Well, I know I saw Johnny Bananas. Thing was fake, right?

[Tamara]

His was big. I was on one. Got canceled. Dolores, you were on one that got cancelled. Like, I don't know. After I saw Johnny Bananas, I'm like, I'm not agreed to do that ever again.

[Wells Adams]

Yeah, well, I'm just like, who's gonna. You're gonna hang out with me on a boat for three days? Like, what's gonna happen? Like, this seems like the start of like a murder mystery to me, you know?

[Tamara]

Right.

[Wells Adams]

All right, well, I'm excited about today's episode. We're gonna have one of the stars of season two of the Traitors. We're gonna have Max Schmerkowski on the show, obviously. Very well known, internationally renowned ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and 17 time dancing with the Stars pro, who quickly became one of America' cast members on the hit series, the Ukrainian American dancer often referred to as the Bad Boy, the Ballroom won the show's coveted Mirror Ball trophy back in 2014. Max has also appeared in a number of hit television shows, including the one that we like to talk about, the Traitors. Max, welcome to the show, my man.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Hello, hello, hello.

[Tamara]

There he is, the bad boy of the ballroom.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Whatever that means.

[Tamara]

I don't know. What does it mean? I was gonna ask. Bad boy, the ballroom.

[Max Schmerkowski]

It's provocative. Tamara, you know me.

[Tamara]

I know. I know you.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Am I bad?

[Wells Adams]

I don't know.

[Tamara]

You're actually the kindest person.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Don't say that on record, please. You're gonna. You're gonna give my image away.

[Tamara]

And he's kind, he's sweet, he's. He's a father. And very intelligent.

[Max Schmerkowski]

There you go. There you go again with my secrets. Don't say that.

[Tamara]

I know. Oh, no. How are you?

[Max Schmerkowski]

I'm doing great. I'm doing great. We haven't slept in three days, but otherwise it's awesome.

[Tamara]

Why?

[Max Schmerkowski]

Kids, the middle one is not well. And he's the type that's, like, that's taken the most from me. The other two are mopeda and my kind. When I'm sick, I am the worst person to cater to. I'm annoying, you know, like typical men. So he's that one.

[Tamara]

So he takes after you?

[Max Schmerkowski]

Yeah, well, I mean, hopefully they all do, but. So, yeah, I'm with you guys. Do you think?

[Tamara]

Okay, any more kids coming soon? Every time I talk to you, you're another one's on the way.

[Max Schmerkowski]

No. Why would you wish that on us? Just crazy. Look, they're amazing. They're cute. They're. They're amazing. And, you know, and I'm. I'm living every day like, you know, be present all these funny, you know, things and phrases that we keep hearing the same, like, be present and all that stuff. And I'm trying to hone in on this and be like, look, this too shall pass, both the positive and the negative, right? And so this two shall pass applies to the negative. Well, then you got to hold on to the positive as well. And so I'm enjoying this, you know, being under, slept, and I'm exhausted. I'm still in the gym. I just want, you know, because I have a project, and Peter is on it. She has a. You know, she got in the middle of us not sleeping. She got an ear infection. So she was in the emergency room in the hospital the night before and all. And so it's like life is life thing on full cylinders, but you have to embrace it. Otherwise, what are we doing, you know.

[Tamara]

And what new projects? What new projects do you have going on? Can you share?

[Max Schmerkowski]

I mean, I'm filming a couple of things this year. I've already filmed a feature, and I'm flying out to do another one, and there's potentially another one coming up. So, like, quietly, I try to, you know, not wave around thoughts and wishes, but you know me by now. I try to, like, here's a brick of the foundation that I laid, and I want to show it to you, right? So when I'm ready, I think it'll be a surprising revelation that that's what I've been doing. This, too, is for the project. So I usually. I like it clean face, you know, these two little, little gray patches. That's my only thing. The rest, I like this.

[Tamara]

Eddie has that. He's got the two little gray, little.

[Max Schmerkowski]

I got the this since the last time you saw me. So.

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[Max Schmerkowski]

We got. We got.

[Tamara]

Are you doing like a western or something? Are you an Undercover, this.

[Wells Adams]

Scripted.

[Max Schmerkowski]

It's script. No, no, no, no. I'm, I'm fully scripted feature and there, you know, there's a, there's a twist to the latest project that's coming up that's extremely exciting as far as the new age way of producing feature films and where this is going and being, you know, I'm finally at the forefront of like some technological moves that entertainment industry is making. So I'm excited to be a part of this stuff again. I'm not trying to be super mysterious here. It's not my, it's not my thing to tell. So as soon as I'm ready to express it, I'm so excited to share all these things.

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[Wells Adams]

We want to talk to you about, you know, the, the connection between traders and with Dancing with the Stars. I mean it's, it's very well known and documented that being on Dancing the Stars is extremely competitive. But then also in traders it is as well. I'm wondering what your thoughts are of what show is more competitive.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Dancing with the Stars.

[Wells Adams]

Yeah. Not even a question.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Zero questions. And Timber knows. So we were in, you know my, this is my back to my season Emmy winning and fantastic show and incredible presentation of basically mafia. Right. But on, on some kind of crack if we talk about this, you know, traders and hosted and you know, filmed and it was all beautiful and gorgeous and all that. And one of the elements of the show that I was really intrigued about is the physicality. Right. So you know, in between all those discussions, those were also fun, right. Based on some things that happened in during the day we had some challenges and all that. Well my sort of, you know, abrupt and you can see it on my face and in my mood and in my, you know, when I kind of lost, not lost interest in the show but I lost interest in what I thought the show was. I felt like I would stand out in terms in physical challenges and I would bring, you know. So my strategy was okay, you are not the, you know, you're faithful. So there Isn't a chance to, you know, I already hated that position. Being a sitting duck, it doesn't play well with my personality at all. But at the same time, there's no strategy here. His strategy here is just hide and sort of don't get shot. Right? And I hate that. I hate that feeling. I want to be up in front. So I felt like, you know, that would be my chance to be that physical sort of person, you know, in those challenges. Right. And then I sucked and won and then anyway. But the one challenge that took it out of me, all that sort of like excitement about the show, is when we had a. We were running and it was three teams and we were running. We had to solve some riddles, open the box, keep running. And it was time for whichever team gets there first, he has more time to search for these things and scarecrows, whatever. We run up to the first challenge, we did the thing and we just kept running. And they're like, hold on a second. The production was like, wait, you guys have to have more dialogue done. This is no longer challenge. It's not time. It's not about who gets there first. And, and at that point I was like, oh, okay, cool. So if you're going back to the question about what's more competitive, there's no doubt about how Dancing with the Stars sucks you in and it doesn't let go. And everything is so hard and so challenging and so competitive. And then you get into like, you know, the weeks later, whoever's left standing, there's like, you know, everything that's happening. Right. The show is so hyper, hyper, hyper. Whereas I just don't feel that that's the same project with, with Traders. But when you ask the question, you know, I mean, the casting director alone I think is a huge connection between both shows. It's, you know, Ms. Dina Cat, she's doing a fantastic job casting award winning productions and, and I think she's the, she's the main, you know, through line between the two.

[Tamara]

Now you speaking of Dance with the Stars, it's airing right now. Do you have a prediction of who you think is going to win? Do I not you do I know you do. Who is it?

[Max Schmerkowski]

No, I mean, I, I look, it depends on. Yes, here's my prediction. I think, I think this is Robert's season to lose. And I'm saying it that from a standpoint of like looking at. This is also our 20th birthday anniversary, you know, so then some stars been around for two decades. You're talking about 34 seasons. So many winners, so many plots, so many stories. I'm sure there's someone out there who's collecting all that data, inserting into some kind of AI engine that gives you the predictability factor, right? I'm not the guy, but I've hear you go, if somebody of your listeners is the guy, it's very easy. But in my opinion, that data goes by like it's. If it's a male and a female celebrities who are high level dancers that the, you know, is going to go to a male. I think if it's a male and a female celebrity, scroll left standing and you know, and the male celebrity has the heart, but a female celebrity has the skill. I think it's gonna go to a male, you know, I mean, like it's not gonna be, it's not gonna be the best dancer wins. I think it's gonna be the best dancer according to who the audience like the most.

[Wells Adams]

And you think that is because a lot of the audience is female and they are, you know, kind of smitten with. With Robert.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Why not? You know, and then they were smitten with Dylan. And so Dylan was that heartthrob for all those women. They're like, oh my God, he took his shirt off. And then, and then Robert took his shirt off and he completely, you know, and not with the abs or with the shirt. Who are again, you have same abs. I got the same abs. Abs and abs and abs. Now abs are canceled out. Right. So if you don't have the abs, Dylan, you have to stand up to the level of showmanship and energy that Robert and it's not even the same. So we can talk about Robert as like the favorite amongst men outside of Andy, who is your is your feels and soul and heart doesn't dance. You know, I've also again been privy to partnerships where my celebrity was not a dancer, but we had that we were the heart. Right. So we went all the way. Whereas a lot of amazing dancers got eliminated. So I think, you know, this season, unlike any other season, everybody can dance. Everybody who's left can dance except Andy. But Andy is the heart and soul. And I think that Alex and Val are poised to win by coming up in the finish line and just being the strongest into the end. Robert has to maintain his thing right now for the next three weeks on 110%. If he slips to 109%, we're going to see it and it's going to look like he's losing steam. So that's a Little bit of a negative. Dylan has no chance unless he stands up and does something crazy. And then again, don't forget there's also Jordan Childs who has incredible amount of followers who no one really talks about as a front runner, but she is the Olympic gymnast that we've seen have incredible amount of success. I would say this and the last thing I'll say starting to what is it tomorrow? Right. Tomorrow show the elimination is going to be shocking. And then it's going to be shocking, shocking again because there's no one left who you're not going to be shocked about.

[Tamara]

Yeah. When I went to go watch Phaedra who was on Traders with, with, with me and Max and you were there. Do you go often to watch?

[Max Schmerkowski]

We tried in the beginning of the season and then again life got in the way and you know, we've missed couple of shows because we weren't in town. We're definitely coming tomorrow because it's our 20th anniversary. They're bringing I think something like 400 of us. Got an email about coming back one episode. So it'll be a room full of, you know, past Dancing with the Stars.

[Tamara]

Are you gonna dance?

[Max Schmerkowski]

No, this. They have a, they have a dance by the. All the pros who were the first. Who are on the first season, that first inaugural six, six episode pilot season. I was not a part of that. I started season two. But those guys are coming back, I.

[Tamara]

Heard to the grapevine. You really like the new pro dancer?

[Max Schmerkowski]

Yeah, I'm a huge fan.

[Tamara]

Are you?

[Max Schmerkowski]

It's taken completely out of context.

[Tamara]

That's what I was wondering when I.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Figured the context here is very simple, not taken out of context. Let me rephrase that. I speak with a lot of thoughts in my head, you know, and, and, and, and, and I also speak to a room and in a room and with the people and all that. I'm not speaking to general public but if I have to say to general public, it's, it's, it has nothing to do with the person, you know, with my commentary had nothing to do with the person. Hence the apology afterwards. Because you know what? Yes. In it. There isn't anything to change. Right. So my criticism was not out of left field. It was just unexpected because the exp. Because I'm not an analyst on the, on ESPN talking about basketball players. You know what I'm saying that that's my job. Somebody pays me to do that. No, I'm just a professional with an opinion. And nowadays everybody has a podcast and so I think that there's got to be a disclaimer. Hey, I'm about to say some stuff and here's a disclaimer, right. And I didn't do that. And therefore it kind of landed off well.

[Tamara]

Wasn't your opinion more like he wasn't trained in ballroom?

[Max Schmerkowski]

Yeah, but my opinion was about the fact that you have a job. And again, I don't want to get in trouble here. Here's a disclaimer that the conversation and the opinion had nothing to do with the person. And yeah, it's probably a little bit of knock on our casting director friend, but it's not really also her call personally by herself. But the point is you have a job that over the last 20 years has been the best, most exclusive job for ballroom dancer, you know, period. I mean from the money standpoint to exposure obviously to opportunities after in life, so on and so forth. Dancing with the stars for us, the like us people that wouldn't have had this interaction had it not been for that project. I, you would never know me. There would be a very little chance that we would meet because my ballroom industry was nothing to do with mainstream. It was very, you know, it's like curling. We don't know anybody curling until Olympics come. Right. You would never hear of us. And so I protect that so hard because a lot of kids over the last 20 years had stayed with some ballroom had continued in that, in the, in those footsteps with these thoughts and with these sort of like goals in mind. And so I'm just like, I'm the guy that just. If there are only five spots for a male ballroom dancer available on in this country, why not get a male ballroom dancer who is also fantastic in other stuff?

[Tamara]

Yeah.

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[Tamara]

Now, after saying what you said about traders not being very competitive, would you ever go back?

[Max Schmerkowski]

Traders?

[Tamara]

Yeah.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Oh man. I mean honestly, I think. I think I would have loved the redo. I'm also again, like a lot of life, I have to admit I wasn't so in it. Like I know Mark. For example, Mark Ballas, he did the Next season. I haven't seen him on it. I don't know, you know, his outcome, but we spoke about some of this. Not he didn't reveal anything to me, but I saw a person who knew the show, watched the show previously, knew every nuance about it. He and BC loved watching it as a project. And then he got. He saw me and he's like, oh, my God. And then he gets a call and he's like, dream come true, right? I never seen Traders until I was on it.

[Tamara]

Right.

[Max Schmerkowski]

You know, I was on the. In Napa putting on my show. We just had a baby. Did a lot of life happen. And you remember I was trying to make phone calls when it was not allowed.

[Tamara]

Not allowed.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Just had a baby. I'm like, you gotta call the wife. I'm not. Might not have a wife when I come back. So, you know, it was all that. So I wasn't that guy. I wanna. If I were to come back and do it again, it would be now as someone who knows exactly what the show is, you know, and exactly how.

[Tamara]

To try and play it, I feel the same way. Now, Dolores and Wells were both on season three, which we're recapping right now. Dolores won.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Oh, congratulations. Yeah, you should do it again because you missed half of it. Not.

[Tamara]

I know, because I was sick.

[Max Schmerkowski]

You were so sick. We missed you. We thought you would, you know, I don't even know how you continued, but going.

[Tamara]

I know it was really difficult, but going back, you, you know, experience what we experienced a little that we did. And Wells, because Wells got cooked off pretty early too. Going back, you'd know so much more. You know what I mean? Like, you would be more confident in what you're doing.

[Wells Adams]

Yeah. This is what I wanted to ask you because I think that, you know, hindsight's 20 20. Looking back on the season, what would you have done differently to have gotten yourself further along in the game or. Or would you not have changed anything?

[Max Schmerkowski]

My strategy? Well, I would definitely stay away from Deontay. We. We became best friends immediately. The reason why I left is because he lost his mind and I was the only person in front of his face. And he's like, you know what? I don't know what to say. I have nothing. I didn't prepare. But that guy, I was like, wait, what?

[Tamara]

And he was so convincing.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Yeah, he felt like. He felt like. Because there was such a, you know, friendly connection, you know, and we had moments off camera that I'm not going to talk about, but I stand up right in front of him. And I feel like right after that, we went to the round table, and he was in. In sort of distress and didn't really know how to end it. And if you remember, Tamara, he was already kind of halfway out. He's like, I don't want. I don't want to be here.

[Tamara]

Yeah.

[Max Schmerkowski]

And then it went straight into it, and I was the only person in his face, like, hey, bro, you're good. We're fine. Chilling, like, come down, whatever, you know. I wish I wasn't now, because if I wasn't, he would nobody to pick on.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Tamara]

But ultimately, I think he left right after you.

[Wells Adams]

Right.

[Tamara]

Like, the next.

[Wells Adams]

Because.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Because he realized. I think he came to his senses and was like, wait, that was so stupid. And also, this sounded ridiculous. Like, I. You asked me, well, what I would have done different. I would have. I would have. I would have been more vocal in groups. There were few groups of people that I did not interact with. There were. You know, so I didn't have. I didn't have any. Any kind of, like, I was trying to sort of play the field in. In a. In the wrong way. I was trying to be unattached. Like, everybody knows that I'm kind of part of everybody. Right. And so you have. Faithful. You have. You know, you have the traders. The traders. Right. And so everybody would kind of, like, feel good about Max. And I felt like that was my. You know, I didn't get to do it. But also, I wasn't. I was sure 100. Nobody's gonna point a finger at me.

[Tamara]

You were quiet in the very beginning. You were pretty quiet into yourself.

[Wells Adams]

There was a lot of scenes, and this might have been blown out of proportion or edited in a way that wasn't real. But there's a lot of times when you, like, walk into a room and then be like, I don't want to.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Talk to you guys, because I'm walking into some chaotic, you know, kitchen discussion. I'm like, I. I'm out. I don't want to be a part of this. I, like.

[Tamara]

He's all. No drama, no trauma.

[Max Schmerkowski]

No, I found. I found the cane. I found the cane. I was walking around the cows like, I'm in the castle. I got a cane. I'm in a suit. I'm chilling. You know what I'm saying?

[Tamara]

Oh, he was dancing with his cane. You should have done more of that. You know how Phaedras.

[Max Schmerkowski]

I've done a lot of that. They didn't show me any of that.

[Tamara]

I know. They didn't show any of it. But Phaedra's whole approach was just being the sweet Southern belle and praying on people. You should have been dancing with people. And I don't know.

[Max Schmerkowski]

That's it. That's. I would have. I would have. I would have been a little more that. Yeah, I felt like I had a good strategy. I. Like I said, there was a. I think that my elimination or it was deontay led, and it was just a hiccup. It's like it's a glitch in the matrix. This wasn't meant to be. It. Because it wasn't legitimate discussion either. Not legitimate, but you know what I'm saying? Like, it was. It came out of left field. Nobody was. And once he pointed me and one more person did, now I became the majority and. Well said. You know, Dolores, you know that by now, right? When in. Especially in the beginning of the season when the tables, like, there's no yet. Kind of like, we don't really know each other that much. We don't know who's lying, who's not. I was already homies with Phaedra and Tamra and a couple other people, so they weren't the ones to kind of like point at me and keep it more. I think Tamara did, but by. By the time it came to camera, I was just. I was a majority.

[Tamara]

You're a majority named.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Right, so. Because once it's him and it's her.

[Tamara]

But he was so convincing in his speech. I've never seen anybody on Traders, and.

[Max Schmerkowski]

He didn't say anything like this. He just spoke about me. Did you notice that?

[Tamara]

I know, it was really bizarre now that you mentioned that. Yeah, yeah. So you would come back as a.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Trader, you're like, okay, as a trader.

[Tamara]

As a trader.

[Max Schmerkowski]

I. I think at this. But like, yes, beginning in the beginning, when I. When I got out, I was like, damn it. Really wanted to be a trader. At this point, I would come back as anything, you know, because now I know. Okay, I get it. I get it.

[IBM AI Advertiser]

Damn it.

[Max Schmerkowski]

There's a. There's a way through. And. And I get it. But even if I watched the show religiously, I wouldn't have known.

[Tamara]

No, you don't know until you go there. I think you guys can all agree on that. And there was only one season before us, so it was really kind of new and going in, like, I thought I had it figured out. I did not have any of it figured out.

[Max Schmerkowski]

No. Yeah, but, but, but. But Phaedra did, and she did a. What A fantastic work. That was amazing. How the Lord Dolores looks like. Like that. Like, she probably had that type of experience, like, coming in all cute and smiley and quiet and don't say a lot and then bam.

[Tamara]

No, Max, I'm just a fan. I've never been so quiet in my life, so it's okay.

[Wells Adams]

Hey, Max, we want to be respectful of your time and also off the side of the shoulder of the road right now. Last question. Of all the professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars, who do you think would be the best trader and who would be really good at. At playing the game? Traders.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Well, again, I don't know what Mark did on the show. Again, I think that's Dolores season. Right. Was Mark Ballas with you?

[Tamara]

No.

[Max Schmerkowski]

No. I don't know.

[Tamara]

Again, he must be coming up on the new one that comes out in January. Yeah.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Yeah. So I don't know. I think he might have done well. I don't know. But again, I think.

[Wells Adams]

What about your wife or your brother?

[Max Schmerkowski]

I think Val be a. I think Val would be a good player. He did. He did a show get out right after I did Traders, and it wasn't. It wasn't similar in. In nature. You have to make, you know, alliances and then be physical. But I think he would have been good at. At making alliances, you know, more so than me. Right? I'm a little more. You. You know, take what you get. But also, like, if you. If you don't get it, it's because I did it on purpose. I didn't show it to you. Val is a little more, you know, his language skills are such that he can befriend you, you know, through this. Right. For me, it takes a little longer because my actions, they're gonna show you later down the line that I am this, this, and that. With Val, you can immediately sort of, you know, take him a certain way because of the. The way he speaks. He'll be great if he wants to be. That's what I'm saying. I think he'll be. He'll be great in the show, though.

[Wells Adams]

Well, we appreciate you pulling over and talking to us for a little bit, Max. Everything going forward. I'm. Please come back on when you can announce all the projects that you're doing.

[Tamara]

Congratulations on all that.

[Max Schmerkowski]

I would love to. Thank you so much.

[Tamara]

Bye. It was nice seeing you. Okay, well, get some sleep. Bye.

[Max Schmerkowski]

Thanks. Bye.

[Tamara]

Bye.

[Wells Adams]

Well, the bad boy of Dancing with the Stars.

[Tamara]

He's so nice. He is so nice. Oh, my God. I knew he was nice. He's another one like me that gets misunderstood, you know, because he speaks his mind and he says how he feels and you know, you know, Dolores Jersey people, they could take it, but a lot of people can't.

[Wells Adams]

Well, I do think it'd be fun to see his brother or his sister in law on the show because.

[Tamara]

Or his wife.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Wells Adams]

Or is why. Exactly.

[Tamara]

Yeah.

[Wells Adams]

Every. All of them, they all have to go. And some are traitors and some are faithful.

[Tamara]

So he was saying he threw out a name. It must be somebody from Dancing with the Stars. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know who that guy is, but. So he must be on the upcoming season. Super excited about that. So we're just getting you guys all revved up so we can recap. I think it's a good season. So we, we got to get through your guys's season three pretty quickly. Before you know it, it's going to be January.

[Wells Adams]

Yeah, we got to rush through season three.

[Tamara]

The fact that the two of us were on it, it. We could speak quickly on it because we lived it and we could give you some inside stuff like you did for us.

[Wells Adams]

Speaking of. Yeah, we need to catch everyone up on season three before we get into season four and it starts airing on January 8th. Just stick with us, listen to the next podcast and we will get into episode one and two of season three, which means we will be talking about me being banished in just two episodes. Thank you guys so much for listening to By Order of the Faithfuls. Follow us on social media like and subscribe. Tell your friends if they are traitors or faithful fans and we'll see you all again very very soon.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by public investing brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures looking for a fantasy that will keep you up all night? From Blood and Ash isn't just a story, it's the beginning of the an obsession from Blood and Ash launches you into a world where forbidden desire collides with deadly secrets and every choice could ignite a war. Expect heart pounding romance, fierce battles, and a heroine who refuses to be caged. If you crave danger, passion and twists you'll never see coming, start the journey today. Grab from Blood and Ash. Available in print, ebook and audiobook and enter a series you'll never want to leave.

[Tamara]

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[Max Schmerkowski]

I'm Ed Helms.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

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[Max Schmerkowski]

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