This is an IHeart podcast.

Oh, hello. I am Danielle Fischel, whose name is not only in the title of this show, but I'm also

a TV director, a podcaster, a mom of two, and now called Topanga by cool teen girls at my local

Menchies yogurt shop, thanks to Dancing with the Stars' popularity on TikTok. And God bless them for that. And maybe,

just maybe, they're following along with my journey thanks to this podcast, where I am chronicling my

entire process, learning things like the Argentine tango and what compression leggings are,

all in the hopes of holding a Len Goodman mirrorball

trophy above my head like a seasoned hockey player finally drinking champagne out of the Stanley Cup.

And along the way, I will be chatting with pros, former contestants, modern peers, and absolute

legends in hopes that the knowledge can get me even closer to that final

boss and unexpected victory. And this week, I say the word legend with extra emphasis.

She joined Dancing with the Stars in season two and participated on the show for a whopping 25

seasons, setting her as the professional with the most seasons to her name.

She has two mirror ball trophies to go along with that distinction, and worth noting, those victories were in her first and second seasons.

So learning curves be damned. And now she will be making a triumphant return to the

ballroom to be guest judge for the upcoming Halloween night, a yearly tradition that

constantly proves itself as one of the most entertaining and sometimes unpredictable of the year.

It would be impossible to mention Dancing with the Stars as a franchise without

mentioning my guest this week. I'm honored to be sitting with a pioneer of the competition,

Cheryl Burke. Hi. I was just going to, I was about to say, how impressed I am with you.

Oh my gosh. How impressed. I'm an Argentine tango snob.

Are you?

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