Kicking It Real

Natalie is back on Kicking It Real, and this conversation is proof that you're allowed to walk away from the thing you built your whole identity around and come out the other side more yourself, not less.She spent multiple seasons dancing with the Radio City Rockettes, performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and at a Madison Square Garden halftime show, and this past season quietly juggled full Rockette rehearsals with her first year of an online graduate program, all while telling almost no one it would be her last season on the line.We get into what it actually felt like to keep her retirement a secret from her castmates and friends, why burnout ended up being the thing that opened the door to a completely different career, and the moment in a job interview that stopped her in her tracks: "how'd you go from being a Rockette to here?"We talk about the sunk cost fallacy, what it's like to trade being the most impressive person in the room for a total identity reset, and the exact reframe that made the pressure of becoming someone's therapist feel possible instead of terrifying.This one is for anyone quietly wondering if they're allowed to want something new after giving everything to the thing they thought was forever.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Natalie here 👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @nataliekbutt

Bella Bernath will tell you that talent gets you in the room, but knowing your worth is what actually keeps you working, and keeps you sane while you are doing it.She started dancing at four years old, was teaching by fourteen, and graduated high school early just to buy herself more time before her move to LA. Within a few years she booked a six year run touring the world as a dancer for Maluma, including his 11:11 World Tour, and somewhere in the middle of all that she landed a Vegas production that turned out to be run by an actual family with real mob ties.We get into what a real dance contract actually looks like, why she will not work a job that pays below Dancers Alliance rate, and the exact money habits that let her build a six month savings cushion before she ever moved to LA. We talk about negotiating retainer pay mid tour, the difference between wanting a job and needing one to survive, and why so many genuinely talented dancers still cannot shake the feeling that they are not doing enough.Bella also gets real about what touring actually looks like behind the highlight reel, the hurry up and wait days, the friendships that only exist inside a tour bubble, and the version of herself she had to build to stay steady through years of living out of a suitcase.This one is for anyone who has ever felt guilty asking to get paid what they are worth.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Bella here 👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @bellabhungary

Two years into taking his class, Mike Esperanza pulled Sam Assemany aside and told her to stop being so perfect, to mess it up a little. That is the fear underneath most desperation, the belief that if you are not flawless or constantly visible, someone is going to forget you exist, when usually the opposite is true.A Western Michigan University dance grad, Sam moved to New York in September of 2015 and took her first class with choreographer Mike Esperanza a month later, a class she still calls the most life changing hour she has ever spent in a studio. She has since become a member of BARE Dance Company, spent six years teaching at a studio on Long Island, and now works within NYCDA, one of the largest dance convention circuits in the industry.We get into the audition she didn't book two years into taking Mike's class, and why she walked away sad but not angry, not even a little.We talk about the desperation mindset dancers fall into, the fear of being forgotten if you are not constantly in someone's face, and the one uncomfortable conversation Sam finally had that changed that. We also get into what social media and convention camera culture are doing to young dancers' patience and their ability to just be bad at something in peace.If you have ever stayed too available out of fear that pulling back would mean being forgotten, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Sam here 👇🏼Instagram: @samassemany

Clara Eaton Ribeiro used to stand on the podium wondering why she was the only one of her friends walking away with silver instead of gold. That is the trap of chasing recognition, the belief that a medal color could actually tell you how much you were worth, when it never really could.Clara spent six years performing professionally on cruise ships, training as an aerialist and dancing inside a scuba certified aqua show alongside Olympic divers and Red Bull athletes before she ever sat on the other side of the table as a dance adjudicator and coach. She is also the founder of Vertex Vibe, a boutique dance convention she built on purpose to cap attendance around thirty dancers, a direct answer to the two hundred, sometimes six hundred person conventions she grew up competing at.We get into what changed for her the first time she sat on the other side of the judging table, deciding who wins and who does not.We talk about the studio etiquette moment she sees quietly follow dancers into the professional world, why she will always argue dance is an art before it is a sport, and the very real work of letting go of other people's opinions when you have built something with your whole heart.If you have ever needed someone else to hand you permission to feel proud of yourself, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Clara here 👇🏼Instagram: @claraeatonVertex Vibe: @vertexvibe

Antonio King spent a full month convinced one audition was going to define the rest of his career. That is the trap of wanting anything badly enough, the belief that a single yes or no from someone else could actually decide who you are, when it almost never does.A performer working professionally for over a decade, Antonio spent six years chasing his first national tour before landing Jersey Boys, then went on to play Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls at Phoenix Theatre, a performance he calls the proudest of his career despite a hamstring pull and sciatica that cost him two weeks of the run. He is also the voice behind a growing platform built out of what he used to call his shirtless sermons, unscripted Instagram stories that became a real resource for young performers navigating an industry built on comparison.We get into the eight callbacks and eleven sides that pushed him toward a show he ultimately did not book, and the moment two weeks later when he caught himself still spiraling and had to consciously choose to stop.We talk about the term he coined for that choice, dethroning it, and how he uses it to keep opportunities, likes, and other people's timelines from deciding his worth. We also get into his current prayer for freedom from comparison, offense, and distraction, and the small daily habits, gratitude first thing in the morning, skincare as self-care, a genuinely swift block button, that keep him rooted in his own voice.If you have ever put something so high on a pedestal that losing it felt like losing yourself, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Antonio here 👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @a.king_32

Khori Petinaud will tell you she almost strangled her dream before she learned how to hold it, and that might be the real thesis of this conversation. Sometimes the difference between wanting something and losing yourself to the wanting is just learning how to hold on a little looser.With Broadway credits spanning Aladdin, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and Bob Fosse's Dancin' (plus a season as an NYC Rockette along the way), Khori is now originating a whole new chapter as one of the Fates in Broadway's Hadestown, a role she manifested and worked toward for seven years before it ever became hers.We get into what those seven years actually looked like, the early non-union hustle where she admits she was gripping the goal too tightly, and how that grip eventually had to loosen without her ever loving the work any less.We talk about the full Rockette season she danced on a torn hamstring without missing a single show, and why she flatly rejects the idea that balance is something achievable at all. And we get into the harder season right before Hadestown, when she felt like she was carrying more than she could bear, and what it took for the people around her to help hold her up.If you have ever loved something so much you were scared that loving it that hard would end up costing you the love itself, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Khori here👇🏼Instagram: @kmr8787Substack: Khori Michelle Petinaud

Paula Leggett Chase didn't grow up dreaming of Broadway, and that might be the real thesis of this conversation. Sometimes the skill that changes your whole life is the one you go looking for last, not the one you were handed as a kid. Paula was a voice major at Indiana University, a gymnast with no formal dance training, and didn't take a real ballet class until she moved to New York in her twenties, working her way through scholarship classes at Steps until the room finally saw what she could do. She went on to build a Broadway resume that spans A Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Damn Yankees, Kiss Me Kate, Curtains, and Tootsie, plus television work on 30 Rock and Younger. We get into what it actually felt like to be cast as a trained ballerina in A Chorus Line without the technique to back it up, and the imposter syndrome of faking her way through a role built on years of training she simply didn't have yet. We talk about motherhood inside a business with no guarantees and no family insurance, what it meant to have miscarriages in a dressing room and still show up for eight shows a week, and the advice she'd give her younger self about rejection that has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with fit. And we get into what happens when a woman who spent decades being seen suddenly finds herself invisible in a room full of twenty five year olds, and what she had to prove before that changed. If you have ever started something later than everyone around you and wondered if you already missed your window, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Paula here👇🏼Instagram: @paulaleggettTikTok: @antiqueshowgirlWebsite: paulaleggettchase.com

Lizz Picini is the kind of guest who makes you want to throw out every box anyone has ever tried to put you in. There is a moment in every performance career where wearing every hat you own stops being a flex and starts being the whole job, and what you do with that weight says everything about who you actually are. Lizz has spent hers as a performer, dance captain, swing, and coach, most recently making her Broadway debut in Elf while dance captaining the very show she was still learning in real time, a run that also earned her a LaDuca boot named in her honor. We get into the industry insights she rarely shares publicly, like what it actually felt like to stand up and lead a room full of Tony nominated castmates before she even had her own Broadway credit to her name, and how she learned to stop letting other people's opinions determine her worth, her income, and her health insurance. We talk about the entrepreneurship behind building her own coaching business out of skills she almost didn't think were sellable, the resilience it took to keep performing through a very real relationship with burnout, and the time management it takes to run client consultations and a Broadway show in the same day. But underneath all of it is the toll that wearing every single hat actually took on her, the part she does not usually say out loud. This one is for you if you have ever felt like you needed someone's permission to take up more than one lane at a time, even when it was quietly costing you something to hold them all.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Lizz here👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @lizzpicini

Today I sit down with Conor DeVoe. This conversation is a reminder that walking away from something does not always mean giving up on it, and that protecting yourself is not the same as quitting. He is a Coastal Carolina musical theater grad who built a career across regional theater and Disney Cruise Line, now on his seventh contract across four ships, puppeteering Olaf in Frozen and once covering thirty six different dance and acting tracks in a single production. Together we get into what it actually looks like when a performance career you love starts costing you your body and your sense of self, why he stayed as long as he did before leaving a theater contract seven months early, and how a pandemic hobby turned into a social media following that reminded him why he fell in love with acting and performing in the first place. We unpack boundaries, body image in an industry that rarely names it out loud, and real career advice for anyone building a life in dance or theater on their own terms. If you have ever stayed somewhere that was quietly breaking you because leaving felt like failure, this one is your sign to trust yourself instead.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Conor here👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @conordevoe

Ryan Hayes didn't take his first dance class until he was twenty years old, and this episode is proof that the timeline you think you're supposed to be on rarely has anything to do with the career you actually end up building. He went from a Spanish major who'd never set foot in a studio to earning a dance degree at Gonzaga, spending two years training at Steps Conservatory in New York, and landing a spot as a company member with Pilobolus, the modern dance company known for pushing performance into territory that barely looks like dance at all. We get into what it was like grinding through auditions for cruises, tours, and regional theater before finding the kind of room that finally felt like home, and how choosing to lean into his niche instead of chasing versatility became the thing that let him stop performing for the industry and start showing up with real authenticity. We talk about the mental health weight of comparison, the quiet timeline anxiety that convinces so many dancers they're already behind, and what it actually took for him to believe he belonged in that Pilobolus audition room the second time around. We also get into life on tour with a company of only six, the unspoken rules that keep that many people sane in close quarters for weeks at a stretch, and the moment he had to rebuild what success even meant once booking the job didn't magically fix the rest of his life. If you have ever felt like you started too late for the thing you actually wanted, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Find Ryan here👇🏼Instagram: @ryan_hayes39

Years before she ever thought she'd actually play her, Deanna Cudjoe performed Cassie's monologue in a college acting class and texted her old teacher the day she booked the real thing.Deanna is the middle of five kids born to Ghanaian immigrant parents, found ballet through a random beginner book she pulled out of her basement at ten years old, trained for eight years at Still Point Ballet, studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, toured Europe in West Side Story, and made her Broadway debut in Smash after booking it a full year before rehearsals even started. Now she's stepping into A Chorus Line as her first principal role.We get into the YouTube rabbit hole that basically taught her ballet before she ever set foot in a real studio, an old Anaheim Ballet channel and one Misty Copeland video she watched on repeat as a kid. We talk about what it actually felt like to sit on the Smash news for a year before it started, knowing her life was about to change and not being able to tell anyone yet. We talk about the exact moment she realized a Broadway credit and actually feeling fed by her work were two completely different things. And then we get into her faith, and how she stopped needing a role to tell her who she is.If you've ever built your whole identity around a title only to find out it was never actually the point, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Deanna here👇🏼Instagram: @deannacudjoe

This episode felt like getting a download from someone a few steps further down a road I'm just starting to walk myself. Andrew Norlen is a Boston Conservatory grad who wrote the book that gathered over two hundred Broadway letters during the shutdown, founded a nonprofit working to open the first wellness and community space for performers in Manhattan, and somehow does all of that while serving as associate director across Robert Hartwell's companies, the Broadway Collective and the Unstoppable. He has been chasing a Broadway debut for years, closed a non-union national tour of Kinky Boots, and got the offer for that show five minutes before places on a totally different contract he almost didn't take.We get into why rest still feels like something he has to earn instead of something he's allowed to just take. We talk about the years he spent making decisions based on what other people would think, and what it actually took to stop. We get into the audition he almost gave up on for good, right before it became the best one he'd ever done. And then we talk about the family change that forced him to ask, for maybe the first time, what he actually wants instead of what looks right on paper.If you are in a season of choosing yourself and still feel guilty about it, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Andrew here👇🏼Instagram: @anorlen @bravingthebusiness

This episode wrecked me a little, in the best way. I went into this conversation thinking I was catching up with someone whose childhood I half remember from Disney Channel, and I came out of it talking about identity, injury, and what it actually means to rebuild yourself twice.Jack Taylor played Dandruff Danny on Hannah Montana before most of us even knew what a career in entertainment could look like, and somehow that is the smallest part of his story. He trained at Debbie Allen Dance Academy, danced his way through a kinesiology degree, and eventually ended up dancing at the McKittrick Hotel, the building behind Sleep No More, performing in a late night immersive show most people have never even heard of. We have known each other for years and this still felt like meeting him for the first time.What we actually get into is harder than any of that. Jack has broken his body twice now, once years ago and once very recently, and both times it forced the same terrifying question. Who are you when the thing you built your whole identity around stops working. We talk about stripping his ego away from his art, what his kinesiology background taught him that his own injuries still humbled him on, and why musical theater is pulling him back in ways contemporary dance never did.If you have ever tied your worth to one title, one role, one version of yourself, and felt the floor disappear when it shifted, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Jack here👇🏼Instagram: @jackatacTikTok: @officialdandruffdanny

This episode felt less like recording a podcast and more like exactly what it is. Two WMU alums who haven't had a real sit-down in way too long, finally doing it on mic.If you haven't met Erzsi yet, she's the kind of person who stayed at her studio alone through her entire junior and senior year of high school when everyone else quit, paid off her student loans in months by taking a second job on the cruise ship, and somehow still shows up with more self-awareness than most people twice her age. She's danced everywhere from Royal Caribbean to Odyssey Dance Theater to Bridgerton, and she currently splits her time between Chicago and New York while running 13 convention weekends a year with West Coast Dance Explosion.We get into what the cruise ship world actually looks like from the inside, and why she thinks it might be one of the smartest financial moves a dancer can make right out of college. We talk about what it means to build a career that doesn't look like everyone else's, and why she stopped being ashamed of that. We talk about the all-or-nothing mentality that dance trains into you and how hard it is to shake. And then we get into the heavier stuff. Health challenges that have put her plans on hold in ways she didn't see coming, watching the Tonies recaps from her couch, and grieving the career you thought you'd have while still showing up for the one you do. Her reframe on that is one I haven't stopped thinking about.If you're a dancer trying to figure out what it looks like to keep going when the timeline you planned stopped working, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 🤍Instagram & TikTok: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyFind Erzsi here 🤍Instagram: @erzsi_bernath

In today's episode, my first ever repeat guest is back and honestly, it felt less like recording a podcast and more like exactly what it is.In today's episode, my first ever repeat guest is back and it felt less like recording a podcast and more like exactly what it is. Two best friends who used to train side by side in New York, sitting down and actually telling the truth.If you haven't met Alli yet, Episode 14 is waiting for you. But if you're already a fan, you know she's one of those people who just makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. Not in a toxic positivity way, but in a "we're taking it month by month" kind of way that actually sticks.We get into what it actually felt like to move to New York City with nothing guaranteed. The money stress, the comparison trap, the fear underneath the fear that had nothing to do with dance and everything to do with just wanting to be happy. We talk about the class culture in NYC and why taking less class might actually be the thing that made both of us better. We talk about body changes and strength training as a dancer, and why your goal being to feel good is always going to beat your goal being to look a certain way. And then we get into the audition room. Imposter syndrome, confidence, and the reframe that I haven't stopped thinking about since we stopped recording: confidence is a choice, not a feeling. You don't wait until you feel it. You decide.If you're chasing something right now and you're not sure if it's going to work out, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Alli here 👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @your_spoonful

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Chloe Roberts; dancer, choreographer, Steps on Broadway faculty, Cooper Union professor, and the only person I know who holds a PhD in the history of witchcraft AND just sold out an evening-length dance show in New York City. She grew up in Houston (yes, another Roberts from Texas), trained at North Harris Performing Arts Academy, and built a career that refuses to fit in one box... and she did it completely on purpose.We talk about what it was like growing up with a Broadway production stage manager dad and a dancer mom, watching Mickey Rooney in the wings as a little kid, and how she accidentally fell back in love with dance through a college club audition. We get into her dissertation "The Demonological Republic of Letters: Judges, Lawyers, and Demonologists in Early Modern Europe" and exactly how studying the judicial persecution of women in 16th century France is directly connected to the choreography she is making right now. We talk about her Fulbright year in France, her marriage falling apart while she was there alone, and why she ran to a ballet studio six days a week to survive it.Chloe opens up about the year she turned 30 and how dance was the only thing that held her together. She talks about her sold-out NYC premiere PEOPLE, how her PhD literally made her a better choreographer, why she will never ask a dancer to work for free, and what it feels like to be 34, at the peak of your career, and still auditioning for Broadway. If you are someone who has ever been told you are too much of one thing and not enough of another, or who has had to build something out of a year that tried to break you, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Chloe here 👇🏼Instagram: @chloerobertsdanceTikTok: @chloerobertsdanceWebsite: chloerobertsdance.com

In today's episode, I sit down with Lariscy Navera, a classically trained performer and national touring artist currently on the road with Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Got the Moves, to talk about what the journey of a working professional dancer actually looks like. Lariscy opens up about being diagnosed with anorexia at 13 after a single comment from a dance teacher, and what it looked like to navigate disordered eating through her teens and early 20s while trying to build a career. She talks about leaving home at 17 to train with Orlando Ballet, burning out, buying a one-way ticket to New York City, and starting completely over in a new style with no voice training and zero musical theatre experience.We get into her Royal Caribbean days, what it actually takes to close a skill gap, how her height went from obstacle to her biggest asset, and the Sesame Street story, the park in New Zealand where she let herself cry about it, and the phone call months later that changed everything. We also talk about what a great audition season looks like even when you don't book anything, having goals outside of performing, and why your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's.If you're a dancer, a performer, or anyone who has ever had to fight for the thing they love most... this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Lariscy here 👇🏼Instagram: @lariscynaveraTikTok: @lariscynavera

Shanna Vanderwerker has one of the most full-circle careers in musical theater: swing in the Broadway company of Wicked, Dance Captain of the First National Tour for nearly five years, Jeff-nominated choreographer, and now a professor at Roosevelt University training the next generation.But the story behind those credits is anything but straight. In this episode, Shanna takes us through the rejections, the almost-quits, and the moments nobody sees on a resume, including being told she wasn't the right look for reasons that had nothing to do with her dancing, the year Wicked went completely silent, and how she rebuilt her entire career identity after leaving New York. We also get into what she teaches her students that she wishes someone had told her sooner, why diversity in theater still isn't where it claims to be, and the two rules she lives by that she'll leave with you at the end.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Shanna here 👇🏼Instagram: @shannavdanceshannavdance.com

This week I'm sitting down with Laura June Ness: Canadian dancer, aerialist, actress, and content creator who packed up her life and moved to London with no job lined up, no guarantee, and a whole lot of belief that it was possible. She's now in the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at London's Palace Theatre on the West End.We get into her full journey from competition dance at Canadian Dance Company to her BFA at Toronto Metropolitan University, to Norwegian Cruise Line right out of school, three years as a featured aerialist at Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line post-pandemic, and eventually the leap to London that changed everything. We talk about what it actually takes to move to another country with no job lined up, how the West End audition world works versus Broadway and why it's nearly impossible to get seen without an agency, body image culture in Japan and what it taught her about not absorbing other people's standards, and the 10% of her circle who didn't support the move and why those people aren't in her life anymore.We also get into burnout, scarcity mindset, why the performing industry trains dancers to be bad at business, and learning to advocate for yourself in the audition room. And she drops one of the best lines this podcast has ever heard: "I'm learning to let myself be the villain in someone else's story." If you've ever told yourself no before anyone else got the chance to... this one's for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Laura here 👇🏼Instagram & TikTok: @laura.june.nessYouTube: @laurajuneness

In today's episode, I sit down with Kathryn Morgan, former soloist at New York City Ballet, YouTube powerhouse, and CEO of Kathryn Morgan Inc., to talk about what it actually looks like when your body becomes the thing working against you in a career that is entirely dependent on it. Kathryn shares her journey from booking NYCB at 17 and being promoted to soloist at 21, to gaining 40 pounds while dancing 8–10 hours a day, being dismissed by nine doctors, and ultimately choosing to leave one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world to save her health.We also talk about starting her YouTube channel from a hospital chair during a four-hour blood test, building a platform that gave an entire generation of young dancers something they weren't getting anywhere else, and what her return to professional ballet at Miami City Ballet taught her about gratitude and perspective. Kathryn opens up about the body shaming culture still deeply embedded in ballet, why weight is always a byproduct and never the actual problem, and what directors need to stop doing immediately. If you're a dancer, a performer, or anyone who has ever had the thing you love most taken away from you, this one is going to hit.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyFind Kathryn here 👇🏼YouTube: Kathryn MorganIG: @kathryn_morganWebsite: kathrynmorganonline.com

This week I'm sitting down with Jason Pickett, dance educator, mentor, speaker, and the founder of No Starving Artists, to talk about the business side of dance that most people are too scared to touch.Jason breaks down why the "starving artist" identity is quietly keeping dancers broke, what private equity is actually doing to the competitive dance world, and why transparency and consistency are the two things that will outlast any viral moment. We also get into comparison culture, the parents piece nobody talks about, and why the bravest thing you can do as a dancer is just say what you actually think.If you've ever felt like being business-minded made you less of a "real" artist, this one's going to hit.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Jason here 👇🏼IG: @heyitspickettnsadance.com | heyitspickett.com

What if the thing holding you back isn't your technique, but something else entirely? This week I'm sitting down with Kirsten Kemp, high-performance mindset coach and founder of The Confident Dancer, to talk about the mental side of performance that almost no one in the dance world is actually teaching.Kirsten breaks down the difference between a high-standards environment and a toxic one, why "just be confident" is the most useless advice you can give a dancer, and what confidence actually means, because it's not what most of us think. We also get into why your mind has a reason for everything it does, and why the first step to changing it is curiosity, not criticism.If you've ever been told to work on your confidence and had absolutely no idea what to do with that, this one's for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Kirsten here 👇🏼IG: @kirsten_theconfidentdancertheconfidentdancer.com

This week, I am joined by Goldie Walberg, a former professional ballet dancer with BalletMet and Kansas City Ballet who is now a teacher, content creator, and the founder of the Lazy Ballerina Club, a platform redefining what it means to be a dancer beyond the stage. We talk about the reality of pursuing a professional ballet career, from the outside expectations to what it actually feels like inside a company. Goldie opens up about audition culture, comparison, and the pressure to constantly prove yourself while still trying to maintain a sense of identity outside of dance.We also dive into what happens when your passion becomes your identity, and how disorienting it can feel to step away from something you have spent your entire life working toward. Goldie shares the moment she chose to leave her contract, the unexpected timing of COVID, and how that pause gave her the space to question what she truly wanted next. Through building the Lazy Ballerina Club, she took something she was once criticized for and turned it into a message that resonates with dancers everywhere. You are a human being first and a dancer second. We talk about therapy, people-pleasing, the unspoken dynamics inside dance companies, and the freedom that comes from choosing yourself.This conversation is for anyone navigating a transition, questioning their identity, or realizing that success might look different than they once imagined.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Goldie here 👇🏼IG: @lazyballerinaclubTikTok: @lazyballerina

What does it actually take to build a career in this industry, the parts that never make it onto a resume? In today's episode, I sit down with Benji Rivera, Broadway performer and NYC-based photographer, to talk about what it actually takes. Benji is an original cast member of Moulin Rouge!, a show that won 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and he's on the Grammy-winning cast recording. He's also danced on Saturday Night Live, Netflix, and Fox. He introduced himself to me on his questionnaire as simply "dancer and photographer."We get into his journey from a small town in Iowa to Broadway, including going in for the same show nine times, getting cut, and booking it three months later when he'd already moved on. Benji opens up about the mindset shift that changed everything for him, learning to stop chasing what he wasn't and leaning into exactly what he is, and the voice teacher who finally said what he needed to hear.We also talk about burnout, what the pandemic cracked open about identity, and what happens when the job disappears and you have to ask who you are without it. Plus how building a photography business on the side gave him something performing never could. If you're a dancer, performer, or anyone chasing something that keeps saying no: this one is for you. And with Moulin Rouge! closing on Broadway on July 26th, 2026, this conversation hits different.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Benji here 👇🏼IG: @benji_rivPhotography: @benjaminriveraphotography

In today's episode, I’m sitting down with Kelsey Lewinski, a former professional dancer turned Pilates studio owner, teacher, and choreographer. We talk about her journey from growing up in dance to performing professionally, and ultimately making the decision to step away from performing to pursue something that felt more aligned.This conversation dives into identity, burnout, and what it looks like to redefine success on your own terms. Kelsey shares the realities of the dance industry, the transition out of it, and how her experience as a dancer shaped the way she built her business. We also talk about longevity in movement, the difference between performing and teaching, and why being a dancer doesn’t end when you stop performing.If you’ve ever felt unsure about your next step or questioned a path you once wanted so badly, this episode is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Kelsey here👇🏼IG: @kelssleww & @studio_kore

This week’s episode is for the dancer preparing for a high-pressure audition, especially if you are heading into the Radio City Rockettes audition and feeling like everything is on the line. I share the four things I would focus on in the week leading up to a big audition, based on my experience auditioning for and becoming a Rockette.I talk about why this is not the time to push harder, but instead to maintain what you have already built, how to choose classes that build confidence rather than break it down, and why your energy walking into the room matters just as much as your technique. I also walk you through how to visualize the audition day so you are mentally prepared for every moment, and how leading with gratitude can completely shift your experience.If you are feeling the pressure, the nerves, or the weight of “what if,” this episode is here to ground you, refocus you, and remind you that you are more ready than you think.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Gena Brady; a fellow WMU alum, freelance dancer, and aerialist who has truly built a career on her own terms. From dancing in Chicago to performing on cruise ships and now navigating freelance work, Gena shares what it actually looks like to create a sustainable life in dance without following just one path.We talk about the transition out of college, the reality of cruise ship contracts (including what no one tells you), and how staying open to opportunities can completely change the direction of your career. Gena also shares how she found aerial, built a freelance network, and what it really takes to maintain consistency when you’re your own boss. This conversation gets into the business side of being a dancer too; advocating for yourself, understanding your worth, navigating contracts, and how to actually get booked. If you’ve ever felt like there’s only one “right” way to make it in dance, this episode will challenge that and open your perspective to what’s possible.If you’re an aspiring professional dancer, navigating auditions, or figuring out your next step... this episode will give you both the mindset and the practical insight to move forward with more clarity.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Gena here👇🏼IG/TT: @genabrady

This episode was inspired by one of my most talked-about posts, and probably one of my most controversial takes as a dancer. I’m diving deeper into what I actually mean when I say “put your eggs in one basket,” because it’s not about limiting yourself… it’s about being intentional. There’s a difference between being versatile and being unclear, and I think a lot of dancers get stuck right in the middle of that.I talk through how to train with a clear end goal in mind, how to make smarter decisions with your time and energy, and why trying to be good at everything might actually be what’s holding you back. This is for the dancer who feels pulled in a million directions and is ready to finally lock in, get focused, and move with purpose toward the career they actually want.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode of Kicking It Real, I’m sitting down with performer, choreographer, and educator Morgan DiFonzo. Morgan has performed in productions like Frozen, The Music Man, and Matilda, and now works as a freelance performer while also teaching and choreographing in Chicago.We start by going all the way back to Morgan’s training and what it was like growing up in a very ballet-focused studio environment. We talk about the discipline ballet gives dancers, but also the darker side of that culture including comparison, body image struggles, and the pressure many dancers feel to fit a certain mold. Morgan shares the moment she decided she was done “living in the shadow” in class and how that mindset shift changed the way she approached dance. We also talk about navigating the industry as adults; from building a reputation in the dance and musical theatre world to learning how to advocate for yourself professionally while still maintaining relationships.This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and a really important reminder that talent doesn’t come in just one shape or size.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Morgan here👇🏼IG: @morgandifonzo

Audition season can bring up a lot of pressure, anxiety, and overthinking... but what if the key to standing out actually has less to do with what you do in the room and more to do with the energy you bring into it? In this Monday Morning Motivation episode, I’m sharing a mindset shift that completely changed the way I approached auditions, especially the year I booked Rockettes. We talk about the difference between confidence and desperation, why preparation builds trust with yourself, and how the idea of “attract, don’t chase” can apply to auditions, dance, and honestly life in general. If you’re heading into audition season or working toward a big goal, this episode is about learning to trust the work you’ve already put in, showing up knowing the value you bring, and remembering that confidence often comes from the reps you’ve done long before you walk into the room.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Winkler, currently on the First National Tour of & Juliet as a swing and the tour’s social media captain, to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in the performing arts.From growing up in a small town in Texas to navigating the competitive audition scene in New York City, Ryan shares what resilience actually looks like. We talk about being waitlisted for her dream college program, handling rejection in open calls with hundreds of dancers, tracking auditions like data instead of emotion, and why perfectionism will not survive a swing track on a Broadway tour. We also dive into recovering from a labrum tear, booking a Broadway national tour while coming off an injury, managing five tracks at once, and the mental discipline required to stay grounded in a high-pressure environment. Beyond performing, Ryan opens up about building parallel skills in marketing, time blocking her life on tour, and dismantling the starving artist narrative by creating financial autonomy as a dancer.If you’re auditioning, questioning your path, recovering from an injury, or trying to figure out how to make a real living in this industry without losing yourself; this episode is for you. This is the honest conversation about Broadway tour life, swing mentality, rejection, identity, and building a career that lasts.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Ryan here👇🏼IG/TT: @ryanbwinklerryanwinkler.netTo see her perform visit: https://andjulietbroadway.com/tickets/#north-american-tour

Have you ever ended the day feeling like you got nothing done… even though you technically did a lot? In this Monday Morning Motivation episode, I’m talking about something I’ve had to really learn over the past few years: how to redefine productivity. Coming from the dance world, I was so used to feeling physically exhausted at the end of the day that if I didn’t feel that same level of depletion, I assumed I hadn’t done enough. And that mindset followed me into entrepreneurship and creating my own schedule.So today I’m sharing a few of the little resets I use when I feel myself slipping into that spiral of doom scrolling, overwhelm, or the feeling that I’m “not doing enough.” These aren’t complicated productivity systems, they’re small mindset shifts and habits that help me get back on track. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like you didn’t accomplish enough, this episode is a reminder that your best looks different every day, and sometimes the most productive thing you can do is give yourself a little grace.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode of Kicking It Real, I sit down with Broadway performer and former Hamilton Dance Captain, Tyler McKenzie. Tyler has spent over eight years inside the Hamilton universe, from original company member to Universal Swing to Dance Captain, and shares what it actually takes to sustain a career at that level.We talk about starting “late” in dance, building triple threat skills intentionally, and why being marketable isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things consistently. Tyler opens up about leadership, learning how to read a room, and what it means to be stronger than the show you’re in. This conversation also goes beyond the stage. We get into financial literacy for performers, navigating company closures, seasonal depression, identity outside of a contract, and building a career that supports your life... not the other way around. If you’ve ever wondered how someone lasts nearly a decade in one of Broadway’s most demanding shows, this episode is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Tyler here👇🏼IG: @tylrmckenzietylermckenzie.net

In this Monday Morning Motivation, I’m breaking down what embodiment actually means and how it helped me manifest becoming a Rockette — without it being overly “woo woo.” If you want a dream job, a dance contract, a new level of confidence, or a completely different life than the one you’re currently living, you cannot keep operating as the version of you who doesn’t have it yet.If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure how to level up into the next version of yourself, this episode will give you tangible ways to start embodying her now.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

Come hang with us as I sit down with my college roommate and best friend Grace to talk about what it was really like building a dance career in New York City. We dive into moving to NYC fresh out of college with no savings, working multiple jobs to survive, navigating the contemporary dance world, and what it actually takes to make it in a small, interconnected industry. Grace shares how traveling to teach choreography shaped her career, why technique and artistry still matter more than tricks, and what she wishes she had known before moving to the city.We also get into the more personal side... how our love stories unexpectedly intertwined, what it was like living together during some of our biggest life transitions, and how relationships, roommates, and real-life responsibilities shape you just as much as dance does. If you are a dancer thinking about moving to New York, balancing multiple jobs, or trying to figure out your next step in the industry, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Grace here👇🏼IG: @graciehilarde

This week’s Monday Morning Motivation is inspired by Alysa Liu’s Olympic comeback and the conversation it sparked around burnout and mental health in athletes. Watching her step away from the sport at the height of her career and return on her own terms raises an important question: how much pressure are we putting on ourselves before we even realize it?In this episode, I talk about recognizing burnout before it turns into a full crash, the difference between discipline and depletion, and why finding your identity outside of your craft is essential. If you’re a dancer, athlete, or high achiever navigating big goals, this is your reminder that stepping back doesn’t mean falling behind, it might be the very thing that moves you forward.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In today's episode, I sit down with Brittany Paige Snyder, former Radio City Rockette turned entrepreneur, to talk about what really happens after your dream job ends. We dive into her journey from booking Rockettes at 27 and performing for 14 seasons to stepping away and building her own business from the ground up. Brittany shares how she created JoyStream, a mobile event experience built inside a custom-designed Airstream, and what it actually looked like to learn new skills, pick up power tools, and trust herself in a completely different season of life.We also talk about identity shifts after performing, perfectionism, hustle culture, and the pressure to “stay in your lane” just because you’re good at something. Brittany opens up about navigating the transition from being known as a Rockette to redefining herself on her own terms, and why being capable of more than one version of yourself is a gift.If you’re a dancer, performer, creative, or entrepreneur in the middle of a pivot, this conversation is a reminder that your next chapter doesn’t erase your past, it builds on it.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Brittany here👇🏼IG: @joystreammobileTT: @joystreammobile @brittanybps

If you’ve ever felt like your habits aren’t working fast enough, this episode is for you.In this week’s monday morning motivation, I’m talking about the habits I built long before I saw any results; from becoming a morning person (even though I’m not naturally one) to kicking five minutes a day in the dead of Chicago winter while teaching 5 a.m. classes.When I was trying to become a Rockette, I couldn’t see the progress. There was no guarantee the reps would pay off. No proof the habits were compounding. And that’s the hardest part - the invisible season where you show up without evidence.We talk about:- Why habits feel hardest before they feel rewarding- What “compounding” actually looks like in real life- Why you might not notice your own growth- How to remove friction when starting a new habitAnd why even if the dream doesn’t happen exactly how you imagined, the discipline still changes you. If it feels hard right now, that doesn’t mean it isn’t working.Stay consistent. Remove friction. Trust the long game. Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode of Kicking It Real, I’m sitting down with my friend and fellow Rockette, Emily Tanner, for a conversation about rejection, resilience, and choosing the long game even when it feels uncomfortable. Emily shares her journey from high school drill team to fine arts training, navigating college programs that pushed her confidence, and learning how to separate feedback from self-worth. We talk honestly about what it’s like to be labeled “average,” how comparison can distort reality, and why some of the most painful rejections can actually be redirections toward something bigger.We also dive into:> Why not making the team can change the entire trajectory of your life> The pressure cooker of college dance programs and learning to survive them mentally> How to stay grounded when external validation is constantly shifting> What it really takes to pursue a career in dance beyond the rhinestones> Trusting your instincts when your path doesn’t look like everyone else’sThis episode is for dancers, performers, creatives or anyone who’s ever wondered if a “no” was actually protecting them from the wrong yes.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Emily here👇🏼IG:@empowerjazzprojectwww.empowerjazzproject.com

Feeling like you didn’t get anything done, even after a full day of working? In this week’s monday morning motivation, I’m sharing the real reason that happens and the simple system that helped me stop feeling behind all the time. I open up about how my relationship with productivity was shaped by years of dance, performance, and always pushing my body and mind to the limit. When I stopped performing full-time and started building my own projects, I realized how much I was relying on exhaustion to feel “accomplished” and how unsustainable that mindset really was. I also share how to free up mental space, reduce overwhelm, and finally start closing all those open loops in your head. The goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to create a system that works for your real life. If you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or frustrated with how you’re using your time, this episode will give you a few simple ways to start moving forward with more clarity, less stress, and a lot more intention.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

Let's catch up in this solo episode of Kicking It Real, I share what a real-life reset looks like, not just the “new year, new me” energy, but the deeper work of realigning your life with who you’re becoming. I open up about a major personal update and the decision to step away from a role that no longer aligned with my long-term goals, even though I still loved it. I talk honestly about how hard it can be to close a chapter when something is comfortable, and why fully closing doors is sometimes necessary for new ones to open. We also get practical. I break down exactly how I reset when I feel unmotivated or off track - from journaling and vision-setting to building systems that actually support your goals. I walk through my personal method for breaking big dreams into realistic steps, for one of my current new goals and a hypothetical dance goal example you might have, creating habits that move the needle, and setting “controllable goals” so you can stay consistent even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed. If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or unsure of your next move, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan... you just need to start betting on yourself again.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

Feeling like you’re working out but not actually getting better at dancing? In this week’s Monday morning motivation, I’m diving deeper into how to make your fitness classes actually support your dance goals.I share how shifting my mindset in barre, Pilates, and weight training helped me bridge gaps in my technique faster and more efficiently, especially when I was training for precision and performance. Instead of just “getting a workout in,” I learned how to bring musicality, alignment, and intention into every class I took.This episode is all about being more intentional, using the workouts you’re already doing to train smarter, not just harder. Different seasons require different strategies. And if you’re in a season of chasing big dance goals, I hope this gives you a few tools to move forward with more clarity and confidence.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Brutlag to dive into the real story behind UDA Nationals, elite college dance culture, and what it takes to keep going when you feel overlooked, doubted, or “not enough.” Alyssa shares her journey from being underestimated to choreographing and performing on one of the biggest stages in college dance, and how confidence, resilience, and mindset completely changed the trajectory of her career.We talk about the pressure of competing at the UDA level, navigating comparison and social media in the dance world, and how to stay grounded when your worth feels tied to results. Alyssa also opens up about finding her voice as a choreographer, building trust in herself, and learning to take up space in rooms she once felt she had to shrink in. This episode is for dancers, athletes, and creatives who are chasing big dreams, questioning their path, and learning that sometimes the underdog story is the one that makes you unstoppable.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Alyssa here👇🏼IG:@alyssabrutlagalyssabrutlag.com

Feeling unsure if you’re doing “enough” for your dreams when you don’t live in the right place? This monday morning motivation is for the dancers who feel behind, stuck, or like they’re missing the secret formula.In this episode, I share why I created these short Monday chats and get into the most common question I get: what kind of training to do when you want to become a Rockette but don’t live in New York City. I talk about graduating early from college, moving back home, teaching fitness and dance, and slowly building a plan without a clear timeline, just a deep belief in the dream. From ballet and tap to hip hop, contemporary, strength training, barre, and even practicing alone in empty studios, I break down how I built a personal “toolkit” based on my strengths, weaknesses, and the kind of dancer I wanted to become.We also talk about:- Why assessing your weaknesses is a form of self-trust, not self-judgment- How practicing alone (even when it “kind of sucks”) builds discipline and confidence- Why five minutes of consistency can matter more than perfect routines- How strength training, barre, and cross-training changed my dancing- And how honoring small commitments to yourself builds momentumThis episode is a reminder that there is no single right path, only the one that keeps you moving forward. If you’re a dancer chasing a big dream from a small place, this one is for you.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

Today on Kicking It Real, I sit down with Carla to talk honestly about what it looks like to build a sustainable career after dance without rushing, panicking, or forcing the next step too soon. We dive into the transition from performer to fitness educator, the pressure dancers feel to always have a plan, and why focusing on doing the job in front of you well can matter more than chasing the next title. Carla shares her experience working in fitness, consulting, and instructor training, and what she’s learned about long-term growth, money, and trusting the process.We also talk about what dancers should actually look for when stepping into fitness, why you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on certifications right away, and how teaching, performance skills, and confidence translate far beyond the stage. This episode is for dancers (and anyone in transition) who feel stuck between what they love and what comes next and maybe even need permission to slow down, do the work, and trust that it will lead somewhere meaningful.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Carla here👇🏼IG: IG @carlamaeoconnorcarlamaeoconnor.com

In this episode, I sit down with professional dancer turned entrepreneur and personal brand coach, Riley Bradley, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life beyond just performing. From moving abroad to England, to navigating injuries, COVID curveballs, and career pivots, we get real about how dancers can redefine success and create stability in an industry that’s anything but predictable.We dive into personal branding for performers - why it matters now more than ever, how social media has changed the audition room, and how building a brand isn’t about becoming an influencer, but about how you show up, how people remember you, and the opportunities that follow. Riley shares how she transitioned from full-time dancing into entrepreneurship, what she’s learned about niching down, and how dancers can start monetizing their skills without losing their love for performing. We also talk honestly about confidence, fear of being seen online, perfectionism in dancers, and how learning to detach from expectations can completely shift your career - onstage and off. If you’ve ever wondered what life could look like after (or alongside) dance, this episode is for you!Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Riley here👇🏼IG: @rileybradley @just.b.mediaTT: @riley.bradley

In the first episode of 2026, we sit down for an honest conversation about navigating life after the Rockettes, shifting dancer identity, and what it really feels like to move into a new chapter when the path isn’t fully clear yet. We talk about slowing down after seasons of hustle, redefining what productivity and success look like, and learning how to trust change instead of fighting it.We reflect on moving cities, building community as adults, and the emotional transition that comes with stepping away from something that once defined you as a dancer. From manifesting big dreams and preparing mentally for auditions to releasing pressure and embracing uncertainty, this conversation explores what it means to evolve without losing yourself.We also get into confidence, energy, and why grounding yourself matters more than proving anything to anyone else. Whether you’re navigating life after performing, questioning your dancer identity, or standing in the middle of a big move or transition, this episode feels like a reminder that growth doesn’t always look like forward motion — sometimes it looks like pausing and trusting what’s unfolding.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Alli here👇🏼IG + TT: @your_spoonful

In the final episode of 2025, I sit down with my husband, Garrett, for a very real, very unfiltered year-in-review conversation. From our first “real” Christmas together and learning how differently we approach the holidays, to reflecting on the end of my last Rockettes season and what it felt like to finally come home for good, we talk through the moments that shaped this past year more than we expected.We get into big-picture mindset shifts (including Garrett’s obsession with thinking bigger and why “10x” goals actually simplify life), the behind-the-scenes reality of long-distance seasons, couch-surfing, living out of suitcases, and figuring out what home really means when routines keep changing.We also share the full story of getting Frankie; the excitement, the chaos, the sleep deprivation, the puppy blues, and why February felt especially heavy for me emotionally. From navigating early marriage, learning how to handle conflict as a team, and realizing it’s not “me vs. you” but “us vs. the issue,” this episode is equal parts reflective, funny, and honest.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

This week, I’m sharing what life has really looked like lately — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It’s my first holiday season not performing with the Rockettes, and while that’s definitely part of the story, it’s only one layer of a much bigger season of change.I talk about navigating new routines, hosting family, quick trips to Mexico, skincare updates (hello spironolactone + chemical peels), winter cozy rhythms, and the weird-but-freeing feeling of creating my own schedule. I also open up about the emotional waves that come with stepping away from something familiar, the pressure of answering “what are you doing now?”, and how being present through gratitude and muting-for-mental-health have grounded me through it all.If you’re in a chapter that feels slower, different, or not neatly labeled, I think you’ll really feel seen in this one. It’s about change, identity, growing pains, joy, and learning to appreciate the unexpected parts of your season no matter what it looks like.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Audrey to talk about her transition from the dance world into yoga, teaching, and wellness, and why yoga has become such an unexpected lifeline for dancers. We walk through what it felt like to step away from the identity of being a dancer, and how yoga helped her reconnect to her body in a way that wasn’t about performance, perfection, or being watched.We dive into the physical and mental benefits yoga offers dancers: injury prevention, strength without strain, breathwork, grounding, and finally learning how to move for yourself instead of for someone else. She shares the mindset shifts that helped her release perfectionism, the surprises of becoming a yoga instructor, and why slowing down is often the hardest, but most transformative part.Whether you’re a dancer, a former dancer, or someone craving a healthier relationship with movement, this episode explains why yoga is one of the best cross-training and self-care tools out there. It’s an honest conversation about identity, healing, confidence, and giving yourself permission to evolve.Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected] Audrey here👇🏼IG/TT: @@audreyrosecoloredglasses