This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

Welcome to Danielle Witt, a podcast slowly transforming like a young caterpillar looking to fly.

I am Danielle Fischel, a TV director, a podcaster, a mom of two, a former ballroom dancer,

and the new owner of the Teen Beat Trademark, an element of my new podcast debuting in January right here on this

feed. But first, before we fully flip the switch, I'm still on the prowl, interviewing some of my

favorite personalities from the Dancing with the Stars universe, hoping to get a closer look at the

phenomenon that was season 34. I am just weeks away from joining the show's

live tour where I will travel city to city for about 30 days, hosting and dancing all over the

country and once in Canada, acting like some sort of fox-trotting circus carney. Sure, I'm a little nervous, but at least I'll be crammed in a small bus with some of my

absolute favorite people and living off just protein shakes, peanut butter, and rice cakes.

But in the meanwhile, I'm continuing to talk to past contestants and professionals

from the 20-year history of the show,

and today I am sitting down with one of the best and most outspoken legacy superstars,

who may not have been in the ballroom every week this year, but I was just as glued to her

social media as I was the three judges' scores. After growing up

winning numerous dance championships and completing a run on Broadway, she joined Troop in

season 12 and then was upgraded to pro a year later. And it didn't take long for her presence to be

felt. She won the coveted mirror ball in just her second season, alongside former football

player Donald Driver, and became one of the most popular dancers on the show, later paired with

fan favorites like James Maslow, Nick Lechay, and Tommy Chong. And her mirror ball got a friend

in season 22, when she finished first again, this time with model Nile DeMarco.

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