Danielle with… Kym Johnson-Herjavec (Ballroom Breakdown DWTS 3501)

Pod Meets World

Danielle hosts a special Ballroom Breakdown episode of 'Pod Meets World' with two-time Mirrorball Champion Kym Johnson-Herjavec, diving into

Key takeaways

• Kym emphasizes constructive feedback over critique, drawing from her teaching philosophy to help dancers grow beyond individual routines.

Main topics

• Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere analysis
• Celebrity dancer comfort zones and performance quality

Notable quotes

"You know what you're talking about. Just tell them what you would tell them if you were in the dance studio." – Kym Johnson-Herjavec on judging advice from Len Goodman

Conclusion

The episode sets an enthusiastic tone for Season 35 with expert insight

Transcript preview

Speaker 5 (0:00) This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Hi, Speaker 6 (0:04) this is Kylie Brakeman. Angela Geratana. Jeremy Speaker 5 (0:07) Colhane. Patrick McDonald. And Speaker 6 (0:08) we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists podcast. The Speaker 5 (0:12) improvised character comedy podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And Speaker 4 (0:21) we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone. Speaker 6 (0:28) I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. Speaker 4 (0:31) You've never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Speaker 7 (0:36) Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday Speaker 3 (0:40) on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I survived nine months in captivity, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are The Survivor Files. Every week, I'm with survivors who lived through the unthinkable, abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. These are stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 5 (1:16) In February of 2024, celebrated illustrator and children's book author Petra Mathers and her husband Michael mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Speaker 8 (1:28) Dear honeys, this is goodbye. Speaker 5 (1:30) By Speaker 8 (1:30) the time you get this letter, both Speaker 5 (1:32) Petra and I will be dead. Next stop, Wonderland. Why did they do it? And what did it do to the people they left behind? Listen to Death of an Artist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 4 (1:47) Is there an epidemic against literature? More specifically, Black literature. I'm Jacquees Peace Thomas, and on this season of the Black Lit Podcast, we're outside asking why. They don't want a whole bunch of little Ella Bakers, Malcolm Xs, and Martin Luther Kings running around. And when you look at a lot of different cultures, they're like, we need to know where you came from. And considering this is Black Reading Month, the only real question is, what are you reading next? Listen to Black Lit from the Black Effect Podcast Network on our iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 5 (2:20) Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday on our podcast, Lots to Say, with me, Bobby Bones, and Matt Castle. You're in training camp, and the rookie quarterback has one good throwing session in front of the media. Suddenly, everybody online says he should start over you week one. How do you handle this? You Speaker 8 (2:39) just go Speaker 5 (2:39) back out to practice the next day and wait for him to mess up. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The World Cup is over, but if you caught the soccer bug and aren't sure what to do now, check out our podcast, Big Kick Energy. I'm Cameron Dicker, the kicker from the Los Angeles Chargers, and I'm here with Timmy Tillman, current LAFC star player. So, we know a little something about kicking balls. Each week, we'll tackle things like who's winning the Premier League this year? What do you think is harder, scoring a penalty kick or scoring a field goal? Join us each week for a quick chat with your soccer-loving bros about the best sport in the world, soccer. Just don't tell my coaches I said that. Listen to Big Kick Energy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Speaker 8 (3:26) Hey, this is Robert Speaker 5 (3:27) Lamb. And this is Joe McCormick, and we're the hosts of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. This week on the show, it's Star Trek. So we're going to be talking about the Borg all week long. Are you ready to get some probes put in your flesh? Speaker 8 (3:39) That's right. Tune in. Resistance is futile. We're going to talk science, the culture of the Borg, various interpretations, and we're going to talk about Star Trek First Contact on Weird House Cinema on Friday. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 2 (4:14) The time has come. The ballroom is open. Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars is here. So welcome to a brand new episode of Danielle With. I am your eighth place champion, a professional celebrity dancer by all accounts, now joined by a truly incredible professional dancer. and co-host ready to ride it out with me week after week new yorker after new yorker as far as i am aware i think this is the only place in the world where you can hear from a former dancing with the stars professional and a celebrity competitor together. Speaker 1 (4:55) She Speaker 2 (4:55) competed on the first three seasons of Australia's Dancing with the Stars, then joined the U.S. cast from 2006 to 2015 and 2017. She served as a judge on The Australian Show and is a two-time Mirrorball champ. I am genuinely honored to share the mic with and blindly lead into podcast hosting ballroom legend Kim Johnson Herjavec. Hi! Hello! What an intro! Wow! Well, listen, you deserve the intro of all intros. I am so honored that you agreed to join me for Ballroom Breakdown. It is a dream come true, truly, to have you here as a co-host. So outside of being a massive fan of you as a dancer, last year when you guest judged, everyone, everyone was talking about... how amazing you were from the fans to the crew to the dancers to the celebs your insight was invaluable the way you delivered it was with grace and class and you you were just you truly you were a shining star you were a big bright spot in the season thank you it Speaker 1 (6:06) was actually really fun i mean since i've not been on the show i'm a fan of the show i watch it at home like everybody else But ballroom dancing, you know, is what I do. So when they asked me to guest judge, I was so excited. But obviously I know what it feels like for you guys on the other side. So I was really mindful of that and I wanted to give some tips that would help future dancers instead of just like focusing on, you know, that one specific dance. So I just thought I would just tell you what I would like to hear, you know. Speaker 2 (6:39) And that was so good because that is true that so much of the feedback you get, in the live show is about the dance you just did that you'll never do again. Right. And so you being able to give advice for things that will carry forward for other dances was massive. It was really Speaker 1 (6:56) fun. It was great. It's such a fun show and it's nice to still, you know, be a part of the family and be asked to come back and do little bits and pieces. You know, it's like, it really is a family, isn't it? So once you're in it, you're in it. I know. Speaker 2 (7:10) It really is that way. I was actually really, I was not able to go to the show last night and I really wanted to be there. I got home from my other work event that I was at and I watched all two hours of it with bated breath. I had a lot of FOMO that I wasn't there. Right. So as I mentioned also in your intro, in addition to last year's guest appearance on Dancing with the Stars, you were a judge in Australia. Yes. Do you approach the responsibility of giving that feedback and ultimately scores to celebrities who you know are working so far out of their comfort zone? Speaker 1 (7:46) Yeah, I started judging actually the show in Australia a long time ago. I think it was probably 2013 or something like that. I was going in between America and Australia doing both. Speaker 1 (8:03) Yeah, I mean, I took the responsibility, you know, very like seriously because I know exactly how much effort goes into it. But Len gave me great advice. I actually spoke to him before I went back to Australia to do it. And he said, you know what, you know what you're talking about. Just tell them what you would tell them if you were in the dance studio, which made complete sense to me because it's what I do when I'm, you know, teaching. a celebrity. So I, my approach when I'm teaching is always, you know, this was good, but let's do this. You know, I, I'm a little bit more positive. I mean, it does depend on who you have and how they respond. Uh, you have to, may have to change your teaching style a little bit, but I found that worked well for me. So, um, and I know they're standing there, they've just finished this dance. You don't want to just be like, you know. I mean, it can be great TV. I know on the English one there's one judge that's just so mean. And, you know, it's just like, oh, my gosh, like the things he says. Right. But. that's just not my style you know Speaker 2 (9:11) yeah i mean it is hard i can definitely say i know i felt it toward the end of last season when um you know you get into a groove of like really wanting to perfect the dance and so you're you're you know you're doing runs and you're just doing the dance over and over and over again and every time you watch it then you're looking to see the improvements and so if there isn't an immediate like hey great job you start to get to a point where you're like Did I do anything right? It's Speaker 1 (9:35) so true. I know. And then you're so defeated and then you've got to like put that behind you and get back to the next dance. And, yeah, I mean I loved being a judge on the Australian one. It was so fun. And it is kind of challenging though with scores because you do have like say Guillermo or. Speaker 1 (9:56) you know someone that may not be at the standard of you know someone else i don't know someone else so it does get tricky in that regard because the entertainment value say guillermo would bring is huge so it's like that's got to be some points you know what i mean that's got to count for something that's got to count for something so i'm all for entertainment value as well okay so i would probably mark that i probably would have marked him a little higher i don't know Speaker 2 (10:24) Oh, I can't wait to get into it for sure. And so for our dear listeners who have never danced on that ballroom floor, what makes premiere night so special? It Speaker 1 (10:35) really is. It's just the best feeling. Obviously, the nerves are super high for all of the celebrities because it's so new to them. For the dancers, we know the drill. You know what to expect. But it's still very exciting when it's the premiere of the show. But I think. For the celebrities, getting that first one done and over with, it just then, I don't know, it does something to you and you're like, right, I'm in this. And the nerves sort of disappear and you get that adrenaline rush of being on the ballroom floor. Speaker 2 (11:09) So Speaker 1 (11:09) I think once that music starts and you get the first one under your belt, it's like you're off to the races. Speaker 2 (11:16) Exactly. I know there's so much anticipation. before the premiere because you you think about the fact that from the moment you decide you're doing the show you've signed your name on the dotted line it's a secret you are sworn to secrecy then there's all the hype leading up to the announcement then there's meeting your pro then there is the big announcement the good morning america announcement then you're in rehearsals and every single day so by the time premiere night rolls around you have been anticipating this moment for quite possibly months, five, six months for some people. So then getting there and having the ballroom suddenly feels electric and alive. There's an audience there. And for you guys as the pros, I can imagine, I remember them saying, like, it's nerve wracking because you don't know. Your celeb may be flawless. in the rehearsal ballroom. But when those cameras are going and it's live TV, you have no idea how they're going to react. And the only way of doing it is to throw them into it. Yeah. Speaker 1 (12:19) I danced with a football player once and he would really mark it in rehearsals, but he was still really cool. So I'm like, okay, that's fine if we just do that. I guess because he's a football player, he's used to live things, live football. He turned it to another gear completely. It shocked me when we were on the floor because he was just so incredible. Like he just lifted it so much more. It was Warren Sapp actually. Wow. I couldn't believe it. I was like, as we're dancing, I'm like, oh my God, what is going on? Like it was so funny, but he just really like. Came alive. came alive with that live audience and the energy of the room. So you just never know. And then that's with Jerry Springer. And like we danced one Paso Do play and he completely looked at me. I made a big mistake. I let him be alone. Speaker 2 (13:11) Yeah. Speaker 1 (13:11) Normally I would have him holding his hands the whole time and he just completely forgot what he was doing and started doing some, I don't know. Just started improv-ing. Improv-ing. I'm like, what is happening? Speaker 2 (13:24) So you just never know. You never know. It can go one of two ways. Yeah. Okay. Hopefully everybody turns it up a notch. Let's talk about this season 35 cast for a minute. Obviously, coming off of a red hot season, everyone had their eyes on Dina Katz to see how she would follow it up. I think she delivered in spades. But we've also seen... many a renaissance for this show. It's had its ups and downs and right now it is very up. Were you impressed with the cast announcements? Speaker 1 (13:58) Very impressed. I don't know how Dana does it. I said to her, somehow each season you just seem to do it again. And last season, your season, I thought was unbelievable. I loved the whole cast and you fell in love with everyone and Speaker 2 (14:14) everyone Speaker 1 (14:15) was so different and had their own thing. So you just think. how is she going to do it again? And I feel like she has. I mean, obviously it's the first episode. We're going to, you know, start to learn about them as it goes on. Speaker 2 (14:26) Yes. Speaker 1 (14:27) But I thought it was a great mix of personalities last night, of talent, dance styles. So I think she's definitely done it again. I mean, I know we only saw the men. The Speaker 2 (14:41) men, yeah. The male Speaker 1 (14:42) celebrities and we get to see the ladies. later so that'll be interesting yeah but i thought she did a great job i Speaker 2 (14:50) thought so too and i also think it's such an art form to know which pros to pair your celebs with and you know the celebs go in thinking maybe they've got ideas about who they want to be with or who they think they should have been with and then the minute rehearsals get underway and you see the partnerships develop you go yeah no she did she did it exactly the right way you know it just works doesn't it yeah yeah it's Speaker 1 (15:15) really great you Speaker 2 (15:16) know who Speaker 1 (15:16) i really loved this season is riley and connor i thought they were so great together i agree i feel like he's brought something else out in riley or something yes i thought they were Speaker 2 (15:27) adorable together as far as i thought so too and i'm really happy to see that because i getting to know riley a little bit yeah she is such a cute fun She is. Great personality. Yeah. And to see him be able to make her laugh and to just really enjoy herself. Yeah. Yeah. I'm excited to see this journey for both Speaker 1 (15:50) of them this season. But yeah, I mean, it's just incredible how Dina, she's always been like that. I mean, everyone she put me with worked. I think she definitely knew what she was doing when she put me with Robert. Obviously, your beautiful husband you met on the show. Speaker 1 (16:08) So cute. Yeah, she has a way with making it work. Speaker 2 (16:12) Yes, she does. There were also quite a few rumors swirling about you returning to the show this year. Really? Yes, you did announce your retirement from competition, correct? Yes, yes. Oh, for sure. I've hung up the dance shoes. I mean, Speaker 1 (16:29) I still love to dance and I'm still doing like little bits and pieces here and there. Speaker 1 (16:34) You know, I'll leave that to the young ones. These new pros are just incredible. I know. I mean, I'm such a fan of them all. I think they are so incredible. They can do it all. Yeah. And they've just stepped it up another level. So, yeah, my dance shoes are definitely. hung up. So, I mean, if there's Speaker 2 (16:57) a Speaker 1 (16:57) little guest judge spot, I'd love to do that. Exactly. That kind of thing. But yeah, as far as dancing. Being a pro. No, thanks. Yeah. I think I've had my time. Speaker 2 (17:07) And you were spectacular Speaker 1 (17:09) in Speaker 2 (17:09) that time. Speaker 1 (17:10) Oh, Speaker 2 (17:10) so sweet. Speaker 3 (17:16) When I was 14 years old, I was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. I survived, and I've spent my life exploring how other people survive what should have destroyed them. I'm Elizabeth Smart, and these are The Survivor Files. I just remember this low, taunting voice next to my ear saying, shut up, don't say anything. Every week, I'm with survivors who live through the unthinkable. I knew if he woke up, without a doubt, he was going to hurt me. I started feeling that there was someone at the end of my bed, and I just started screaming. They are abducted, stalked, controlled, and nearly silenced. But these aren't stories about what's taken from them. They're stories about what it takes to make it out alive. Listen to The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If Speaker 6 (18:16) your bookshelf and your For You page are equally important to your personality, welcome home. This is Prose Society, the weekly podcast that's part book club, part group chat for thought daughters, pop culture obsessives, and anyone who thinks Pride and Prejudice and Love Island deserve the same level of discourse. I'm Eli Rallo, and every week we're connecting the dots between books, the internet, and the conversations everyone can't stop having. I'm going to have to look up this story. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. From bestselling authors and your favorite book talk creators to the latest pop culture moments, nothing is off the table. It's like if you can hide some real messages inside compelling characters, then that is a Trojan horse. Whether you're looking for literary deep dives, smart pop culture conversations, or a community of readers who love to think a little too much, you're in the right place. Listen to Pro Society on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you between the pages. Hi, this is Kylie Brakeman, Angela Geritana, Speaker 5 (19:19) Jeremy Colhane, Patrick McDonald, and Speaker 6 (19:20) we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists podcast, the Speaker 5 (19:24) improvised character comedy podcast, where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of wellness influencers. What I try to do is faux journal. I don't know. Have you guys heard of faux journaling? Yeah, it's reading. It's called reading. So you're so we don't like to use that word anymore. OK, a panel of New Yorker cartoonists. Have you guys done Terry Gross' Peloton class yet? No! Speaker 2 (19:48) I've been dying to. Speaker 5 (19:50) I'm so sorry. I'm seeing a reading of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Audra McDonald at the Wonderland Bookstore on 14th. Speaker 7 (19:58) That's crazy. I went to the Wonderland Bookstore yesterday and I heard Nora Jones do a reading of Zero Dark Thirty. No way. Speaker 6 (20:04) of the last bookstore though kim cattrall is reading the guitar tabs of yesterday a Speaker 5 (20:11) panel of eurovision participants and Speaker 4 (20:13) we do a little halloween sometimes does the pope dress up he he winks on halloween it's right up next to the microphone you Speaker 6 (20:20) can i hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other you Speaker 4 (20:24) never seen italy so quiet as when the pope gets up to wink on halloween Speaker 6 (20:29) Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Speaker 5 (20:36) World Cup is over, but if you caught the soccer bug and aren't sure what to do now, check out our podcast, Big Kick Energy. I'm Cameron Dicker, the kicker from the Los Angeles Chargers, most accurate kicker in NFL history, but I was raised on the soccer pitches of Shanghai. And I'm here with Timmy Tillman, LAFC star, grew up in the academies of Germany, and now under the bright lights of Major League Soccer. So. We know a little something about kicking balls. Maybe you're new to the game or you're ready to take your passion to the next level. Each week we'll tackle things like who's winning the Premier League this year. Playing like a number 10. Do you know what that means? Then we go over to France. Ligue 1. Ligue 1. Ligue 1. Oh, damn. He knows more. He's better than me. What do you think is harder? Scoring a penalty kick or scoring a field goal? He's in the NFL and I'm like, just a big facker. I do enough. That's crazy. Join us each week for a quick chat with your soccer-loving bros about the best sport in the world. Soccer. Just don't tell my coaches I said that. Listen to Big Kick Energy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey Speaker 7 (21:36) there, everybody. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here from the Amy and TJ Podcast. We are your one-stop shop for the biggest news-making headlines of the day every day. Speaker 8 (21:46) And it starts with our morning run. Yes, go for a run with us. Maybe you can take us along when you're on your actual run outside. Or if you don't feel like going out, still, you get what we're saying. It's our morning run. It's our daily news rundown of the top stories that will get you going before you even finish that first cup of coffee. Speaker 7 (22:04) Whether it's the latest information on the latest outbreak affecting your family's health, updates on the Nancy Guthrie investigation, or the killer mom trial out of Massachusetts, we've got you covered. Speaker 8 (22:15) Yeah, there's a lot of news happening these days, and some of it's breaking. We are on top of it every single day. There's a bunch of true crime going on out there as well, and so much of it dominating on social media. We have our eye on it all. Listen Speaker 7 (22:27) to the