April 16, 2025 • 44 mins
Julianne Hough opens up about her journey of reconnecting with the part of herself she once tried to leave behind—dance. From growing up in a large family to training abroad at a young age, Julianne shares how those early experiences shaped her both personally and professionally. She reflects on the pressures of the entertainment industry, the hidden narrative that being “just a dancer” isn’t enough, and how she’s learned to fully own her identity in a way that feels more powerful than ever. From “Dancing with the Stars” to founding Kinrgy, Julianne reveals the pivotal moments that helped her start embracing her true self. With reflections on comparison, rejection, and advice from icons like Dolly Parton, this episode is a masterclass in redefining success as a creative.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back to post friend High. Today is a very
exciting day because I am here with Julianne. Huh. Julianne
is an award winning dancer, singer, actress, entrepreneur, author from
Gracing Our Screens on Dancing with the Stars, starring in Footloose,
Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, and so many more things. Wow,
you have truly done it all and we are currently
(00:35):
sitting here in Julianne's Kinergy studio. How are you? How
is the run for you?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean it was great. I was with you, we
were talking.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
We were talking about our bob haircuts, so that's all
I care about.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
But we just thought Julian's bob haircut is literally perfect
right now. And I love You've rocked every hairstyle, but
I'm loving the short hair.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Thank you. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
You know what I always say that like hair is
like my outward expression of what I'm going and like
going through internally.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What are you going through internally right now?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Internally? Freedom?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
That's why it's as short as possible and sassy and
free like that is.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's definitely that's the era.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I love it too well.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Our run was a short burst today. We was we
ran approximately two la blocks, but it was just enough
to get our post frum high going. And then we
hit a few dance mooths, which was really fun.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yes, and I will tell you right now, I won't
be able to sit still while we're sitting here. I
will be in seven different positions by the time this podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
We're on a yoga map. So you do it ever.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Full downward dogget.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
No. I'm obsessed with Julian's energy. Like as soon as
she got here, she was like doing this salsa move.
It was amazing. It's like those guys that do jiu jitsu,
where everywhere you go they're just like made a conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Moving and yeah, that's me. I'm just fully just and
every conversation that it's perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Okay, talk to us about Kinergy. We're here in your studio.
What is Kinergy? When did you start it? And how
did this amazing studio come to be?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
So the first thing is, first, anywhere I have ever
gone for the last fifteen years or seventeen now that
I've been on Dancing with the Stars that long, the
number one question I get asked from anyone around the
world is when are they going to do dancing with
Stars for the regular people. And I'm like, well, first
of all, nobody is regular. Everybody is special and amazing,
But why do you want to do dancing with Stars?
(02:24):
I was like, is it because you want to do
apasitoblay or like They're like no, no, no, I just
I want to learn how to dance, like I used
to dance when I was a kid and I haven't since.
Or I feel like when I watch the celebrities, I
just feel confident again, and like I also want to
lose weight and get into that dancer body. So I
was like, how do I how do I transfer the
like ten weeks of transformation because it's a dance show,
(02:47):
but it's really a transformation show, And so I was like,
how do I take ten weeks and put it in
like a forty five minute class? And So through everything
that I've done in my life, it's all been through dance.
It's through the lens of dance, it's through the lens
of transformation. And I realized, like dance is also so healing,
and so I kind of just took everything that I
(03:08):
had gathered throughout my whole life dance, healing, transformation, and
all of a sudden, I just like was like ding.
This modality came to fruition and that's what k energy is.
So it's a forty five minute class that when you
first come in, you don't have to dance at all.
It's supposed to not be intimidating. It's our whole mantras.
It's not about perfection, it's about expression. So when you
(03:31):
come in, you know, people are a little like nervous
to start, and by the end, I mean they're laughing
and crying and hugging and connecting. And that's the experience
that you get on Dancing with the Stars. It becomes
a family. And I think that's the essence people feel
when they're watching the show is I get to transform
my body, I get to learn how to dance, I
feel confident, and I have this new family. That's why
(03:54):
Dancing with the Stars just lasts as long as it
has is because of that like key formula.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So that's what kinergy is.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
But for the average person who just wants to connect
to themselves, relate to people around them, and then just
experience the world.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I can definitely see that the fandom of Dancing with
the Stars runs so deep and I feel like I
have connected with Dancing with Stars with the Stars in
a whole new way literally through TikTok Oh my god,
and just seeing them post their lives, all the celebrities
and the pros that are partnered up together post their
lives and then really like a reality show almost Oh
(04:29):
you these social media platforms and it's wild.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, you should do Dancing with the Stars. M that
would be amazing.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
That would be a true transformation after what we just
witnessed on the running show. I love it. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Hey, but that's the whole point, right, Like even the
dancers that go on the show, or the celebrities that
go on the show that aren't necessarily the best quote
unquote best, it's about the energy and the commitment that
they put into it and the vulnerability that they share.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
That's what people fall in love with. That's who they
want to root for.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
It's amazing. I mean, you've been dancing your whole life,
Like to now have a studio class that resembles the
work that, of course you've been doing with Dancing with
the Stars for the past seventeen years, but also the
work that you've been doing your entire life training. It
is so amazing, and I'm sure as an athlete it's
cool to be able to express yourself and the workouts
that you love to do and now be able to
(05:18):
give them to a broader range of people.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That's the key, is like taking everything that I've learned
in my life and being able to share that. I
think I'm in that stage of my life now, which
is like I definitely tried a bunch of different things,
and it was about my own self expression, my own transformation.
But now it's about how can I pass this on
to other people and share the joys that it is
(05:44):
brought to my life as well as even just in
dance in general, like the next generation of dancers, you know,
Like that's that's the thing that I'm the most excited
about in this phase of life.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Now. What is your relationship to fitness?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Ah, that is a very good question.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I mean, it's so funny the word fitness feels it
feels like a thing.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
I think.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
For me, I'm just active. I think when I move
my body, I feel better. When I am dancing, I
feel better. When I work out, I feel better. But
it doesn't matter what it is. I'm going to go
snowboarding this weekend or go surfing. Like, just being connected
to my body is probably the greatest gift that I
(06:28):
think I learned at such an early age, and I
always think of it it's like out of your head
and into your body because we can get so focused
on like all the things that we have to do.
My whole mantra is like, get out of your head
and into your body, because your body, it actually is
your language, and if you allow your body to speak
for you, like it doesn't lie. I don't know if
(06:49):
you've ever felt this when you're like on the train
right in New York and you're like, I can feel
somebody looking at me, and you can feel it, you know,
like your body doesn't lie.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You feel things right.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And when I think a lot of the times when
you're not to your body, you're not sensing the world
around you. You can kind of be locked into your
head and trying to just like willpower things versus like
really feel it.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I completely relate to that with running too. I feel
like so much of movement for me, and what we
talk about a lot on this show is movement for
me really is all about the feel good nature of it.
And I agree, it's like I've been active since I
was so young that working out in fitness is more
about living just an active lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I think so too.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
I think one of the things that it's interesting I
was listening to one of my mentors talk and then
just like over the years, just like the research of
like the science and how it's connected, I geek out
on all of that. But like inflammation, so like, it
doesn't matter how hard you work out to like lose
the inflammation and stuff like that. If you're not emotionally
(07:51):
connected or feeling like you're releasing that energy or crying
or get you know, working on the other stuff, you're
gonna be inflamed.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Doesn't matter how hard you work out, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And that's and that's sort of like I think the
testament to what you were just saying, which is like
just being active for how it feels versus how it
looks is all the is totally what the kinergy philosophy is.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It's like, it's about how you feel.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
It's not about what you look like that's just the
result and the plus and the cherry on top.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
But it's all about the connection to feeling first.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I agree. Okay, let's back up a little bit, because
you said a little bit about how you've been active
your whole life. Tell us a little bit about your childhood.
You grew up in Utah. You're one of five, which
is wild. I mean, what is it like a growing
up in a household with five kids.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I was the observer. So you're the youngest too, right, Yeah,
I'm the baby of five. And actually my mom had
a miscarriage right before me, so I just learned this.
I was like the rainbow baby. So I was like, oh,
I feel so special.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Also, your mom has to be a saint raising five kids, right, I.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Mean, she's amazing. But yeah, I was just the observer.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Like I watched my three older sisters and then my
older other and I wanted to be just like them.
I wanted to be included in everything that they were doing.
And then I ended up moving out of my house
when I was like nine, lived with Russian family first,
and then at ten, my brother and I moved to
London and we were there, so it was kind of
(09:18):
an interesting thing. It was like I was really close
with my family and then there was almost like this
separation and even with my older sisters, like we kind
of separated for a little while, and now that I'm
an adult, I mean I've like reconnected with my sisters
in like such a fun way, whereas like my brother
and I have always been like this. But again, as
an adult, I like got to like reconnect with my sisters.
(09:40):
And they were quite a bit older than me too,
so I think now at our age, it's like it's
easier to connect now to.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, there's nothing better than this sibling dynamic. When did
you start dancing? And was it your siblings that were
your early role models for dance, because of course Derek
is also a dancer, but were your sister's dancers.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
So my oldest sister, Shari, she was she was a
ballet dancer and was like so serious about it, and
then we all just like went to her lessons because
my mom would drive the big red van that was
like known as big Red and we would, you know,
like have Wendy's in the backseat, and like I was
too young to take any of the classes, but I
(10:16):
was watching and so I knew every like lyric to
every song that they were singing. I knew every dance move,
and I was just again an observer and I would
just watch and so yeah, and then we would come
home and they'd practice and I'd be like, watch, I
can do it.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Too, so cute.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
And when did you first start start taking dance classes?
Like how was were you?
Speaker 3 (10:35):
I mean it was like the first the first class
was like I ever took was in my neighbor's basement
and like they had like a cute little ballet bar
with like all the little girls. I think it was
probably three and then I really started though, at like
six seven years old. And it's one of those studios
in Utah that's probably one of the most iconic studios.
It's called Center Stage, and it's where probably eighty percent
(10:58):
of the dancers that you see on Dancing with a
Stofe came from.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
I was gonna say so. I interviewed with a couple
people from Dancing with the Stars, Derek being one of them,
and then also Ezra, and I did not know that
so many of the pros and people on Dancing with
the Stars come from Utah. And I'm like, what is
in the water in Utah that's making all these incredible dancers.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It's literally there is something in the water. I don't know,
it's like the Mormon something. I don't know, but it's
kind of funny too. My grandparents were ballroom dancers. My
parents also met in college on the ballroom dance team,
and then obviously we danced. And in Utah, it's weird.
It's like ballroom dancing is like it's like the center
of the United States to go and learn. I think
(11:39):
BYU has a big program, but I always find it
so fascinating that it's like the culture of like the
Mormon culture, the LDS culture, and then like ballroom dancing
feels like so wide, but it's like for some reason,
it's like this big culture in Utah. So I remember
when I came back from London, I was fifteen, and like,
I would, you know, go back to this studio and
(12:00):
teach and train some of the younger couples. And that
was like Whitney and Lindsay and Jenna, and now they're
like these beautiful mothers like on the show and like
crushing life and it's just it's pretty cool to see,
like you sometimes forget the life that you've lived and
I think back sometimes I'm like wow, like I have
(12:21):
been doing this since I was like coming out of
the womb, you know, like this has been the through
line of my life.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
No, you've been doing it for so long, and I mean,
it's so wild to think too that at ten years
old you were moving to London to really pursue it
to another degree. And I'm curious, what is it about
London and the school that you went to that is
so good for dance.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So what's interesting is how I said, like Utah was
sort of the capital of the United States for dancing,
London is sort of the capital of the world for
ballroom dancing. We had dance coaches that used to come
to our studio in Utah and at the time, they
were like, why don't you come and train over here
for a few months and do the biggest competition in
the world, which is Blackpool.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
But in the center of it is this.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Like gold encrusted ballroom and it is just like the
weirdest place to like the seaside resort town with like
this beautiful ballroom, and like people from all over the
world come to it. And it was just such a
vivid memory for me. But we were supposed to stay
for three months. I ended up saying for five years.
(13:23):
My brother stayed for almost ten. And yeah, it's I
think maybe just because it's like centrally located, like all
the Europeans would come in and fly in, and that
competition was there. But it wasn't actually the school that
I went to for ballroom dancing. It was the coaches
that I lived with. And then of course we had
to go to school, so we went to a performing
arts school there too. That's where we were singing and
(13:45):
acting and doing all other styles of dance as well.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Did Derek go out before you?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
He went out for like three months before me. I was.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I was in Florida with a Russian family dancing. I
mean that's the part I didn't know about what's happening. Okay,
go from Utah, so Florida to London. Yeah, what is
your family thinking? During this time?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
They knew that there was a lot of talent there.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think that like when you also see other people,
like our coaches, being like, there's massive talent here. We
know how to nurture this and grow it. I think
they saw that as well as you know, they were
going through a divorce and I think, I mean, I've
been through a divorce and I know that when you're
in that state, like you can barely take care of yourself,
(14:27):
let alone all these kids. And I'm not saying that
was the case for them, but like there was an opportunity,
there was an opening where they could take care of
what they needed to while their kids were having this unbelievable,
once in a lifetime experience. And so so yeah, so,
but I know it was really challenging for them. I mean,
they missed us so much, but then they saw what
(14:47):
was happening and we wanted to stay.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And you got to have this incredible experience at such
a young age. And I feel like it's also your
parents were, like, you know what, they're really good at this.
So if London's the place, if Florida's the place, then
they have to go do their thing. And if you
had stayed in Utah, do you think you would have
had the career that you have had today.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
It's hard to say, because I feel like, you know,
everything is designed, like there's like the invisible thread, right,
Like everything's kind of like magically happening for you. Not
that I am like my life is predestined, but I
kind of feel that way a little bit, like I
know my energy and I know whatever I would have
done in my career I would have done it to
(15:28):
like the highest standard, because that's just innately who I am.
I also love like interior design, and you can tell
when you come to my house because I hold everything
that I do to a high standard of like being
fully expressed, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
And I think that you're a performer.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I am a performer.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I'm an artist.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I'm like, I just want to like, I love beautiful
things and creating beautiful experiences. And I actually remember I
did this like exercise where I had to write a
hundred things that me happy. It's harder than you think,
by the way, but you kind of say the same
things and then you clump them into groups and chunks
(16:07):
and stuff, and then you whittle it down. And then
by the time you whittle it down, you think, oh,
there's like a theme here, and it's creating beautiful experiences
for others is the thing that makes me the happiest.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
And that can be in any form.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
It can be a dinner party with people coming over,
or it could be teaching somebody to dance. It could
be having somebody here in energy, or it could be
you know, I don't know, doing a movie, and like
creating beautiful experiences for people, and I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
What I think is so cool about getting to know
you is you live maybe the busiest life out of
anybody that I've ever met. And I even said this
to before. I'm like, I've known you as a dancer
and an actress, but you also are an entrepreneur, You're
an author, You've got all these other business she's got
a wine company. We're not going to talk about it.
Like you do so much. And you're also so present
(17:09):
in your life, and I feel like you take so
much time to like self reflect and do activities like
that where you can kind of work on yourself and
get to know yourself. And I think that's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
That's thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
I appreciate you saying that because I think, at the
end of the day, like don't we all just want
to be seen?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
So thank you for seeing me. No. Absolutely, have you
always been like that, like when you were in your
early twenties, was it ever like, oh my god, I'm
doing so much.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
A couple of things I remember, like when I look
back my childhood, I remember being like twelve, and I
remember these like kids in my school would like come
up to me for like relationship advice, I'm like, I
don't know, but for some reason I was able to
like have a conversation with them and then they could
share that. I was always fascinated by human behavior and
(17:57):
psychology and like the why behind everything. So looking back
and like, oh, there were signals and signs.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
I think you're empathetic and you like connecting with people.
Do yeah, you.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Really do, and like putting yourself in somebody's shoes. Then
you know you're not projecting your own stuff onto them.
But anyway, in my twenties, I think it was really
interesting because I also look back at my twenties and
I'm like, wow, the stars were aligned. I don't take
that for granted. I worked really really hard as a
kid and sacrificed a lot. But from like eighteen, when
(18:32):
I moved out to LA with two thousand dollars, I
got a lucky break being on Dancing with the Stars,
and from that I won my first two seasons. I
released an album and had a number one album and
like got to do movies, and like, I don't take
for granted the momentum that was happening, Like it was
kind of just going.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I never felt busy.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I never felt like overworked because it was it was aligned,
you know, like I it was just it was energy
creating more energy. When I was twenty five, I kind
of went more into self reflection and I realized that
a lot of what I was doing was isolated and
proving myself. That was like underneath it. I didn't realize
(19:13):
that a lot of my dreams were being manifested through
being like watch me, you know. And then once I
kind of realized that, I kind of like started going inwards.
So like twenty five was when I started like my
inward journey, and then that was all cognitive like having
more awareness. And then probably around like twenty nine thirty
(19:34):
is when I really started like a deep healing. And
when that happened, it was like a whole unraveling of
my life. But what I ended up finding was that again,
everything that I've done that has led me here through
my career, whether it be dancing, singing, acting, entrepreneurship, whatever
it is, it's kind of planted seeds for me to
(19:57):
be like, wow, like I have so much experience. I
have life experience in all of these different industries and
how to connect and what people in every one of
these industries as well as like people who watch want
to feel and so now because I've kind of done
it for everyone else, I'm in this stage where I'm like,
(20:19):
what is it that I want to create? And I'm
realizing more and more it's less about me and it's
more about like, how can I share what I've learned
with others and amplify other.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
People's stories and.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Also use it like through the body, because I believe
so much in the body, like you do, you know,
like when you can feel the effects of what like
the body does, the freedom that you can feel, I mean,
I guess maybe that's the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I just want everybody to feel free. That's like my
mission in life.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Just I want to make you feel free and happy,
and however that is expressed, go for it. I think
the body is a huge way to like access it.
So yeah, so I think the self reflection has kind
of come from It's a journey. Like I don't know
if I was always like that, but I feel like
I'm right on time.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah you are. And it's so cool knowing too that
when in your late teens early twenties, when you were
doing all this amazing stuff winning the first two seasons
and Dancing with the Stars. Because I think the one
fascinating thing too that I saw is that when you
were first offered the role as a pro on Dancing
with the Stars, you turned it down. What was going
(21:34):
through your mind when you turned down Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I think because I had spent my whole you know,
childhood and teens competing in ballroom and Latin dancing. I
was a little burnt out because again it was like competitive,
and I think I lost a little bit of the
like reason I love to do it. And when I
moved to LA, I really wanted to act and sing
and I wanted to be taking seriously and give the
(21:57):
same amount of time and effort that I put into
my day dancing into working on my craft to being
an actor and a singer. And so I was like,
I don't want to be on a reality show because
I feel like there's a connotation to that that like,
I mean, it's so different now, but at the time,
I was like, oh, reality show. But it was a
competition show. So I was like, there is skill, there
is talent here. So I was like, you know what
(22:20):
I'm going to do. I'm going to sign this contract,
but I'm going to get out of my contract early.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That's how like headstrong I was.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
And I did, and I ended up doing the show
for two and a half years, which was five seasons,
and then I left and did music and films for
five years, and then I came back as a judge
for two and a half years, which was five seasons.
And then I left for five years and started companies
and got married and had like sort of different priorities.
And now I'm back as a host, and I hope
(22:51):
that I'm not here for two and a half years.
I hope I'm here for a lot longer, because again,
what I was saying before, it was like I was
trying so many different things, trying to figure out what
life was, and now I'm like this, this is the
greatest I don't even want to call it a job,
like this is the greatest opportunity to do what I
love again, amplify other dancers, share people's stories, and like
(23:15):
get to be part of this family that has literally
given me so much. I'm so grateful for the show.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
One of the amazing things too about Dancing with the Stars,
based on what you just said, is they've given you
the freedom since you were young, Yeah, to do things
that you've always wanted to do, like have these incredible
roles in movies like Footloose and starring in Burdlesque with
Christina Aguilera and share. It's so cool that they let
you kind of have those moments, and then they've always
(23:41):
been like when you're ready, come back.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Totally totally.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I feel so so grateful because that's not always the case.
And there's been other projects that I've done and things
that have been good experiences, but nothing like the family
that has been built and created over the last almost
twenty years being on this show.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
So it's it's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But again, it kind of goes back, and this is
kind of the narrative that I'd love to like share
about dance in general, is just that, you know, I
think as a young dancer, there's almost this hidden narrative
that dance being a dancer is not enough. It's almost
like it's the third tier supporting act and dance. So
(24:27):
I always felt like, oh, I needed to be an
actor to have the level of respect or the level
of like I've made it. Whereas now again, as I've
gone through all of this exploration dance is the most
beautiful thing and should absolutely be at the forefront and
have And I think a lot of dancers feel this
(24:48):
way because you know, it's so hard to earn a
living as a dancer, and then if you are a dancer,
there's a shelf life and you're usually supporting the artist.
But I think what Dancing with the Stars has done,
or my brother and I doing our tours, or we
started ovation, which is about helping like the next generation
of dancers grow into like a new pathway. But it's
(25:11):
like this is hopefully to show that dancers are artistic
athletes and deserve a seat at the table and you
can have a real career. And I want to hopefully
add more more opportunity, not me personally, but just amplify
dance in a way to add more opportunity for dancers
to be seen and to be at the forefront. And again,
(25:33):
I have to give so much credit to Dancing with
the Stars because they have been that platform for so
many people. And now TikTok is happening and people are dancing,
But like, what's the next thing that's going to allow
dance to really be at the forefront like all these
other beautiful sports and entertainment, and that's like my mission now.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Oh I love that. Do you think when you were
in London and you were attending a performing art school
and you were, you know, taking acting classes and singing classes,
do you think it was in that school that you
almost put dance in your mind as a third tier.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I don't know. I think I think it was culturally.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is a thing in me.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I think it's a thing in the industry.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
I think it was always sort of like that was
like sort of we're in support of we are we
are the background dancers, backing dancers, you know, like and
I remember like we changed the word from background dancer
to company dancer because it was and just the association,
just the language that was used was very much like
(26:33):
we're behind. And so I really try to be impeccable
with like my language as well to like continue to
elevate dance.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Because you've done so many things and were in so
many different hats within the industry, and you've done it really.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
To the top level.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Right, What when somebody would ask you, you know, what
do you do for a living? What would you say?
Would you say, I'm a dancer.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
I love that you're asking me this question, like I
need to know, because similarly, this was a whole psychological
break for me which I finally had this massive breakthrough.
It was like I would try to say, well, I
do this, and I do that, and I do this.
I think I even said it to you on the run.
I was like, yeah, I do this and I do that.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
What do I do?
Speaker 3 (27:14):
But owning the fact that I'm a dancer like that
was a big deal for me, and that that is enough.
Being a dancer is enough, and in fact, it's even
more than enough. In fact, dancing is healing, Dancing is medicine.
Dance gives joy to others. Dance is a universal language.
Dance connects people. Dance allows you to like celebrate life.
(27:39):
It allows you to express yourself. I mean, dances dances life.
I mean, it doesn't matter how well you do it.
It's not about right or wrong. Dance is just moving
your body and feeling free. And so, yeah, I'm a dancer.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
She is a dancer. Guys. No, it's amazing and it's
also so cool too, Like you've been to do so
many incredible acting roles where I feel like you've been
able to combine all the things that you love. What
was it like starring in burlesque? And what was it
like starring in footloose? Like was that a dream come
true for you? Because you're able to combine all of
these things?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, I think like again those like early films that
I did, And again that's why, like I had to
change my relationship with dance because dance gave me everything.
And I see other dancers today that are like, I'm
so much more look at what else I can do,
And I'm like, oh, man, if they only just like
owned being a dancer the way that I didn't just
(28:34):
fully grasp it when I was younger, Like, they could
actually do everything that they want to do. They can act, sing,
they can do all these things. But they're going to
own it and more opportunities going to come. And I
think that's the biggest thing that I've learned is I
tried so many things, but I always came back to dance.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
But I was resisting just owning it.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Building a personal brand is the hardest thing you can
possibly do. You don't want a pigeonhole your and you
don't want the world to be like, oh, this is
what you are when it's like, well, I can actually
do all of these other things as well, you know,
And it's cool knowing that you love interior design and
you love hosting dinner parties, and like, there's so many
more things that you love to do. But sometimes within
a career it's okay to just be niche and do
(29:18):
this thing that you love, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Oh No, I was having at this conversation with one
of my actor friends. He's him and his wife are
like my best friends, and he is a massive actor.
He is an incredible entrepreneur and he's been a producer
as well, and he was just like, I need to
get rid of my production company because I'm so busy.
(29:41):
But the feeling of that I need to be having
seventeen jobs is so real in life right now because
we're all like, we're all entrepreneurs and it's amazing and
we can create our own life and careers. But it's like,
if you only do one thing, why does that not
feel like it's enough? And it's like, I mean, I'm
(30:03):
preaching to the l No, I feel this all the time,
you know, But it's like and then it's the comparison thing, Oh, well,
this person's doing this and this and this and this,
but like, oh, just being a dancer or you know,
is enough.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
How do you deal with comparison and say, okay, like
I don't need to be looking at this right now.
I'm comfortable as I am.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I mean, first of all, I'm gonna botch this saying,
but comparison is the thief of joy, you know, And
I think that, like when I continue to remind myself
that easy phrase, then it reminds me that, like I
want joy in my life, I don't need to.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I've competed my whole life.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I mean that was literally my entire life was to
compete and to win, even in performing and being an artist,
Like you're still competing to get the job, to be
the actor that gets you know, chosen, or that's the
other thing, Like I want to be chosen. And I
kind of rephrase, I'm like, wait, wait, wait, I get
to choose. I get to choose, I get to choose
(31:04):
how I show up. I get to choose if I'm
comparing myself or not, or I get to choose what
I put my energy towards. And actually this person over
here that did beautiful work that actually inspired me versus
makes me fearful that I can't do it.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Was there ever a role and maybe you'd be comfortable
sharing what it is that you auditioned for that you
were like, I'm dead right for this role, and then
maybe you didn't get it, and what was your kind
of mindset around that? How do you deal with rejection?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
It was It was very heartbreaking because and it was
probably the first time I felt like true failure from
something that I didn't self sabotage, like I've trust me,
I've had a lot of failures, but but that was
on me because I pivoted, you know, this one. I
felt like I did everything that I could. I knew
(32:05):
I was right for this part. I had, you know,
even the creative team that were around this project really
believed in me and wanted this for me as well,
and the studio just they were like, we won't hire
her and so, and like everybody fought for me to
have this role, and I fought really hard. I worked
on it so hard with an acting coach, and I
(32:25):
knew I crushed it, and to not be chosen for
something that I knew it was.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
That was really devastating.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
But at the same time, I think failure is a
big part of And I don't mean to say this
in like the cliche thing like failure is good, but
I mean it like I had had so many wins
and and I had had so much like goodness that
it felt like a big blow that like I didn't
(32:56):
win this, Like it's like Glinda and Wicked.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
She's like, I didn't get my way. Something's really wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
By the way, you are so glod enough, like I
am so alpha Barrat now she is so glined.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I love it, but it was very that but it
was so important for me. It's so important to learn
how to fail and to still have like belief in
yourself and to not be not be a victim in
the moment and to like take it and be like,
you know what, I'm not going to take this personally.
(33:29):
I am going to just say whatever was in the
cards was not for me. And and in fact, the
person that did get it I am a huge fan
of and like she crushed it and deserved to have
that role. And it was interesting because they found her
after I had auditioned, so it wasn't like we were
even competing. But I'm a huge fan of her. And
(33:52):
what happened from it and I heard this like I
don't know where I heard it from, but like if
you believe in God or universe, whatever you believe in,
but like rejection as God's protection. So it's like I
would listen to that also and be like, you know what,
who knows what would have happened if that were on
the case, And I will never know, but I have
(34:13):
faith that it was putting me in the right position.
I have faith that maybe even feeling that rejection and
feeling that failure was what I needed in order to
show my resilience, to show that I am capable of failing.
But let me fail fast and get back on track.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Was there another opportunity that kind of came up in
synergy that you then got and you were like, Oh,
this is what I was supposed to be doing or
was it a growth period for you?
Speaker 2 (34:39):
I don't know. I'm not sure exactly.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
I mean, I don't have one of those like cool
stories that's like I was about to quit the industry
and then you know, I got the cause.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
I got situations where like I'm supposed to do an
interview and then like you know, something falls through and
then it's like, oh, I'm so upset, Like I was
so excited, but then an hour later, something else.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Pops up totally and and you know what, maybe at
the time I was so far in it that I
couldn't really see what that thing was. But I will
say that after that, I ended up doing a project
with Dolly Parton, and as I'm sitting here thinking about that,
I'm like, you know, I am such a relationship person
(35:20):
and to have had that experience connecting with an icon
and a legend that has not only created incredible art,
but her just who she is as a human being.
And I got to spend time with her and she
got to give me beautiful advice that I'll never forget.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Wait, what advice did Dolly Parton give you? I need
to know. I'm obsessed with her. And what was the
project you guys worked on? Yeah, we can just everybody
of her is like laughing.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
But but you know what, maybe that's what it was,
and like and I will I will hold on to
that experience with Dolly Parton forever. And I'm a relationship person,
So maybe that was the reason. But I remember telling
her all of the things that I love to do,
and I was like, I want to do this, and
I want to do that and all these different things,
and she goes, you know, Julian, you sound a lot
(36:07):
like me, and I see a lot of similarities. And
she goes, just remember to stay the artist, and she goes,
I wanted a theme park. Do you think I knew
how to build a theme park? No, but I hired
people who did and they were smarter than me. But
in turn, I'm smarter than them because I hired them.
And so what I took from that was I didn't
(36:31):
have to do everything. If I'm an artist, Let me
be an artist. I'm not trying to do operations in
this and marketing and like it's so overwhelming. Like, let
me do the thing that I am gifted at and
hire the people that are gifted at their job and
as they become you know, your team and your family,
like you're creating magic together and anything is possible when
(36:55):
you're trying to do it all by yourself. I mean,
that just is suffering right there. And yet like she is,
she has been able to stay Dolly part in the
Dreamer and look at everything that she's done and like
and her heart and her light and all of that,
like she she knows what she will and will not compromise,
(37:15):
and what she will and won't tolerate, and yet she
is who she is. And so I just remember thinking
that because I felt very much like, ah, I'm doing
all these things and I'm just like grinding.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
She's like, stay the artist. You are an artist.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
No, It's so true, And oh my gosh, getting like
work ethic advice from somebody like Dolly Parton is so iconic.
And yeah, it is so important to make sure, especially
when you're building a team and building your business and
your empire and you know you're trying to be a
leader and do all these things, like you have to
bring team members in because it is way too much,
especially when you're doing.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
So hard, boring and isolating to do it by yourself.
Like there are so many talented, beautiful people that I
want to create and collaborate with, and like there's I mean,
I'm a true believer were in Like collaboration is key
and like you get the most magic out of that.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
I mean, like my ideas are not the best ideas.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
On the topic of collaboration. When you're a pro on
Dancing with the Stars, you are collaborating with a celebrity.
Who is a celebrity that has surprised you the most
that's been on the show. Maybe that was your partner
or as you were hosting or judging you witnessed.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
I mean, I'm just maybe just because it's so fresh
in my mind, but I was really excited about Joey.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
I was about to make you do a three to
two to one and say at the same time, honestly
three Joey truly.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
I mean, what I loved so much about him is
that he is a normal guy who like yet like
you can try anything and is good at kind of anything.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
I'm guys, I'm not like this was okay? Were you
in context here? Really quickly, when we were filming the
running interview, Jeremy, my fiance, was we were doing the
dance part and he was like, hat is like good
at at anything except not dance? And I'm like, Okay.
The reason he was saying this is because and golfers
are going to love this right now. I was telling
Julianne before we started filming, I don't want to sidetrack you.
(39:11):
I was playing with one of the really the best
golfers in the world. Crazy to say, John raw the
other day. It was my first time ever holding a
golf club. I called it a golf poll when I
grabbed it, and he was like, it's a club and anyways,
then he was like this is going to be a disaster.
And then he was like, I'm really not a good teacher.
It's just it's all about the interview. I'll fake it.
(39:31):
We don't really have to play. I hit every single ball,
which if you know golf, it's actually really hard to
hit the ball. And it was every it was like,
we're going to make the funniest cut out of it
because I did so well. I made it in in
seven hits, whatever that means, and he made it in
five and every single shot. He was like what is
(39:52):
going on?
Speaker 2 (39:53):
He's like, you're just joking with me this whole time.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
Yeah, you're pro. We had so many people watching us.
I was sweating so much on Oh anyways, but and
then I got to the second hole and it was
such beginner's luck because then I started indenting the course.
I don't know if I'll put that into the video.
I kind of want to make myself look like a
rock star because why not. But anyways, I'm not good
at everything. Okay, I love it.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
Yeah, well I relate a little bit because like it's
so funny. My brother too, like he'll try anything.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I at everything.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
He's pretty good at everything except for surfing, and I
love that. And I and I'm good at surfing and snowboarding,
and he's like he's like he's great at wake surfing,
like wake surfing, but like in the natural elements.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
He's like, huh.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
We also call him Grandpa Huff because he's scared of everything.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
And so that.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Is so bad asking you that you're a good surfer
and snowboarder.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
I love those again. Body yeah, and like anything I
can do with my body I'm good at. And why company,
Well that's true. So so snow League. I actually they
did like a whole new snow league or it's a
brand new league that he created. And I was like,
you know what, I should do a series kind of
(41:08):
like what you just did with the golfer. But I
was like I was talking to some people on the
chairlift and it was like I get deep very fast,
clearly hello everyone, and.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
My god, not the chairlift.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And I was like, oh my god, chairlift therapy, like
we need to have like like is the Top Show,
dancing with the Show on the chairlift, like it was amazing,
so anyway, but I was like, but it's great because
you're in your body, you're doing something athletic. You're putting
yourself in a position to fail, but you try it anyway.
And I think when people are in vulnerable moments, you
(41:42):
get out of your head into your body, like so
much as possible.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
It's like five minute countdown, how much Caul Julian get
out of this person on me on the anyways?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Okay, I gotta like I was gonna like change position.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
We have talked about so much. So much is going
on right now we are in this room. Okay, as
we wrapped it up, knowing what you know, now, what
would you say to your younger self?
Speaker 3 (42:10):
Oh, first of all, I would just I'd grabber and
I just like make her hug me.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Forceful parent. Okay, we're just kidding. No, I would.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I would grab her and I would just like hold
her and just say.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
See, I know Radcliffe will not be your boyfriend, but
maybe someday.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Exactly how did you know that? That was in my mind?
Speaker 1 (42:35):
That was exactly what.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I was gonna say.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
Sorry, continue, but I did see him recently while he
was on Broadway, and he knew the story because.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
I've told it a hundred times. He's like, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I never got the Beanie baby sidebars.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
So you guys don't know what we're talking about, just
like look it up, just google it.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
Okay, Younger, I'd hugger and I would just say that
obviously you are enough. Being a dancer is enough, but
also you're going to create so much in your life.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Enjoy the ride.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yeah, all right, well, Julianne, thank you so much for
being on the show with us today.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Final shout outs. What do you have coming up? What's
next for you? And what should we be on the
lookout for.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
I don't know, just follow along, I mean all on
the social media and all that, you know, but obviously
coming back to Dancing with the Stars and hosting this
next season, but lots lots of things that kind of
to wrap up what we've been talking about, which is
like owning more of like being a dancer, and you know,
just anything kind of through the lens of dance. Just
(43:47):
look out anything dance related. I'll be sneaking up and
popping up everywhere.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
If you want to have a potential bump in with Julia. Yeah,
kind of.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
Come to Kindred to k Energy, come take a class.
Speaker 3 (43:58):
Also, DM me if you want to dance ants, let's
like do some collaborations because I love collaborations.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
So yeah, all right, thanks.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
Well that's a rap and you're the best. Thank you
so much, Chank you
Welcome back to post friend High. Today is a very
exciting day because I am here with Julianne. Huh. Julianne
is an award winning dancer, singer, actress, entrepreneur, author from
Gracing Our Screens on Dancing with the Stars, starring in Footloose,
Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, and so many more things. Wow,
you have truly done it all and we are currently
(00:35):
sitting here in Julianne's Kinergy studio. How are you? How
is the run for you?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean it was great. I was with you, we
were talking.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
We were talking about our bob haircuts, so that's all
I care about.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
But we just thought Julian's bob haircut is literally perfect
right now. And I love You've rocked every hairstyle, but
I'm loving the short hair.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Thank you. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
You know what I always say that like hair is
like my outward expression of what I'm going and like
going through internally.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What are you going through internally right now?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Internally? Freedom?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
That's why it's as short as possible and sassy and
free like that is.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's definitely that's the era.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I love it too well.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Our run was a short burst today. We was we
ran approximately two la blocks, but it was just enough
to get our post frum high going. And then we
hit a few dance mooths, which was really fun.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yes, and I will tell you right now, I won't
be able to sit still while we're sitting here. I
will be in seven different positions by the time this podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
We're on a yoga map. So you do it ever.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Full downward dogget.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
No. I'm obsessed with Julian's energy. Like as soon as
she got here, she was like doing this salsa move.
It was amazing. It's like those guys that do jiu jitsu,
where everywhere you go they're just like made a conversation.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Moving and yeah, that's me. I'm just fully just and
every conversation that it's perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Okay, talk to us about Kinergy. We're here in your studio.
What is Kinergy? When did you start it? And how
did this amazing studio come to be?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
So the first thing is, first, anywhere I have ever
gone for the last fifteen years or seventeen now that
I've been on Dancing with the Stars that long, the
number one question I get asked from anyone around the
world is when are they going to do dancing with
Stars for the regular people. And I'm like, well, first
of all, nobody is regular. Everybody is special and amazing,
But why do you want to do dancing with Stars?
(02:24):
I was like, is it because you want to do
apasitoblay or like They're like no, no, no, I just
I want to learn how to dance, like I used
to dance when I was a kid and I haven't since.
Or I feel like when I watch the celebrities, I
just feel confident again, and like I also want to
lose weight and get into that dancer body. So I
was like, how do I how do I transfer the
like ten weeks of transformation because it's a dance show,
(02:47):
but it's really a transformation show, And so I was like,
how do I take ten weeks and put it in
like a forty five minute class? And So through everything
that I've done in my life, it's all been through dance.
It's through the lens of dance, it's through the lens
of transformation. And I realized, like dance is also so healing,
and so I kind of just took everything that I
(03:08):
had gathered throughout my whole life dance, healing, transformation, and
all of a sudden, I just like was like ding.
This modality came to fruition and that's what k energy is.
So it's a forty five minute class that when you
first come in, you don't have to dance at all.
It's supposed to not be intimidating. It's our whole mantras.
It's not about perfection, it's about expression. So when you
(03:31):
come in, you know, people are a little like nervous
to start, and by the end, I mean they're laughing
and crying and hugging and connecting. And that's the experience
that you get on Dancing with the Stars. It becomes
a family. And I think that's the essence people feel
when they're watching the show is I get to transform
my body, I get to learn how to dance, I
feel confident, and I have this new family. That's why
(03:54):
Dancing with the Stars just lasts as long as it
has is because of that like key formula.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So that's what kinergy is.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
But for the average person who just wants to connect
to themselves, relate to people around them, and then just
experience the world.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I can definitely see that the fandom of Dancing with
the Stars runs so deep and I feel like I
have connected with Dancing with Stars with the Stars in
a whole new way literally through TikTok Oh my god,
and just seeing them post their lives, all the celebrities
and the pros that are partnered up together post their
lives and then really like a reality show almost Oh
(04:29):
you these social media platforms and it's wild.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, you should do Dancing with the Stars. M that
would be amazing.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
That would be a true transformation after what we just
witnessed on the running show. I love it. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Hey, but that's the whole point, right, Like even the
dancers that go on the show, or the celebrities that
go on the show that aren't necessarily the best quote
unquote best, it's about the energy and the commitment that
they put into it and the vulnerability that they share.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
That's what people fall in love with. That's who they
want to root for.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
It's amazing. I mean, you've been dancing your whole life,
Like to now have a studio class that resembles the
work that, of course you've been doing with Dancing with
the Stars for the past seventeen years, but also the
work that you've been doing your entire life training. It
is so amazing, and I'm sure as an athlete it's
cool to be able to express yourself and the workouts
that you love to do and now be able to
(05:18):
give them to a broader range of people.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That's the key, is like taking everything that I've learned
in my life and being able to share that. I
think I'm in that stage of my life now, which
is like I definitely tried a bunch of different things,
and it was about my own self expression, my own transformation.
But now it's about how can I pass this on
to other people and share the joys that it is
(05:44):
brought to my life as well as even just in
dance in general, like the next generation of dancers, you know,
Like that's that's the thing that I'm the most excited
about in this phase of life.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Now. What is your relationship to fitness?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Ah, that is a very good question.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I mean, it's so funny the word fitness feels it
feels like a thing.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
I think.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
For me, I'm just active. I think when I move
my body, I feel better. When I am dancing, I
feel better. When I work out, I feel better. But
it doesn't matter what it is. I'm going to go
snowboarding this weekend or go surfing. Like, just being connected
to my body is probably the greatest gift that I
(06:28):
think I learned at such an early age, and I
always think of it it's like out of your head
and into your body because we can get so focused
on like all the things that we have to do.
My whole mantra is like, get out of your head
and into your body, because your body, it actually is
your language, and if you allow your body to speak
for you, like it doesn't lie. I don't know if
(06:49):
you've ever felt this when you're like on the train
right in New York and you're like, I can feel
somebody looking at me, and you can feel it, you know,
like your body doesn't lie.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You feel things right.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And when I think a lot of the times when
you're not to your body, you're not sensing the world
around you. You can kind of be locked into your
head and trying to just like willpower things versus like
really feel it.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I completely relate to that with running too. I feel
like so much of movement for me, and what we
talk about a lot on this show is movement for
me really is all about the feel good nature of it.
And I agree, it's like I've been active since I
was so young that working out in fitness is more
about living just an active lifestyle.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
I think so too.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
I think one of the things that it's interesting I
was listening to one of my mentors talk and then
just like over the years, just like the research of
like the science and how it's connected, I geek out
on all of that. But like inflammation, so like, it
doesn't matter how hard you work out to like lose
the inflammation and stuff like that. If you're not emotionally
(07:51):
connected or feeling like you're releasing that energy or crying
or get you know, working on the other stuff, you're
gonna be inflamed.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Doesn't matter how hard you work out, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And that's and that's sort of like I think the
testament to what you were just saying, which is like
just being active for how it feels versus how it
looks is all the is totally what the kinergy philosophy is.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It's like, it's about how you feel.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
It's not about what you look like that's just the
result and the plus and the cherry on top.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
But it's all about the connection to feeling first.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I agree. Okay, let's back up a little bit, because
you said a little bit about how you've been active
your whole life. Tell us a little bit about your childhood.
You grew up in Utah. You're one of five, which
is wild. I mean, what is it like a growing
up in a household with five kids.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
I was the observer. So you're the youngest too, right, Yeah,
I'm the baby of five. And actually my mom had
a miscarriage right before me, so I just learned this.
I was like the rainbow baby. So I was like, oh,
I feel so special.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Also, your mom has to be a saint raising five kids, right, I.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Mean, she's amazing. But yeah, I was just the observer.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Like I watched my three older sisters and then my
older other and I wanted to be just like them.
I wanted to be included in everything that they were doing.
And then I ended up moving out of my house
when I was like nine, lived with Russian family first,
and then at ten, my brother and I moved to
London and we were there, so it was kind of
(09:18):
an interesting thing. It was like I was really close
with my family and then there was almost like this
separation and even with my older sisters, like we kind
of separated for a little while, and now that I'm
an adult, I mean I've like reconnected with my sisters
in like such a fun way, whereas like my brother
and I have always been like this. But again, as
an adult, I like got to like reconnect with my sisters.
(09:40):
And they were quite a bit older than me too,
so I think now at our age, it's like it's
easier to connect now to.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, there's nothing better than this sibling dynamic. When did
you start dancing? And was it your siblings that were
your early role models for dance, because of course Derek
is also a dancer, but were your sister's dancers.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
So my oldest sister, Shari, she was she was a
ballet dancer and was like so serious about it, and
then we all just like went to her lessons because
my mom would drive the big red van that was
like known as big Red and we would, you know,
like have Wendy's in the backseat, and like I was
too young to take any of the classes, but I
(10:16):
was watching and so I knew every like lyric to
every song that they were singing. I knew every dance move,
and I was just again an observer and I would
just watch and so yeah, and then we would come
home and they'd practice and I'd be like, watch, I
can do it.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Too, so cute.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
And when did you first start start taking dance classes?
Like how was were you?
Speaker 3 (10:35):
I mean it was like the first the first class
was like I ever took was in my neighbor's basement
and like they had like a cute little ballet bar
with like all the little girls. I think it was
probably three and then I really started though, at like
six seven years old. And it's one of those studios
in Utah that's probably one of the most iconic studios.
It's called Center Stage, and it's where probably eighty percent
(10:58):
of the dancers that you see on Dancing with a
Stofe came from.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
I was gonna say so. I interviewed with a couple
people from Dancing with the Stars, Derek being one of them,
and then also Ezra, and I did not know that
so many of the pros and people on Dancing with
the Stars come from Utah. And I'm like, what is
in the water in Utah that's making all these incredible dancers.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
It's literally there is something in the water. I don't know,
it's like the Mormon something. I don't know, but it's
kind of funny too. My grandparents were ballroom dancers. My
parents also met in college on the ballroom dance team,
and then obviously we danced. And in Utah, it's weird.
It's like ballroom dancing is like it's like the center
of the United States to go and learn. I think
(11:39):
BYU has a big program, but I always find it
so fascinating that it's like the culture of like the
Mormon culture, the LDS culture, and then like ballroom dancing
feels like so wide, but it's like for some reason,
it's like this big culture in Utah. So I remember
when I came back from London, I was fifteen, and like,
I would, you know, go back to this studio and
(12:00):
teach and train some of the younger couples. And that
was like Whitney and Lindsay and Jenna, and now they're
like these beautiful mothers like on the show and like
crushing life and it's just it's pretty cool to see,
like you sometimes forget the life that you've lived and
I think back sometimes I'm like wow, like I have
(12:21):
been doing this since I was like coming out of
the womb, you know, like this has been the through
line of my life.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
No, you've been doing it for so long, and I mean,
it's so wild to think too that at ten years
old you were moving to London to really pursue it
to another degree. And I'm curious, what is it about
London and the school that you went to that is
so good for dance.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So what's interesting is how I said, like Utah was
sort of the capital of the United States for dancing,
London is sort of the capital of the world for
ballroom dancing. We had dance coaches that used to come
to our studio in Utah and at the time, they
were like, why don't you come and train over here
for a few months and do the biggest competition in
the world, which is Blackpool.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
But in the center of it is this.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Like gold encrusted ballroom and it is just like the
weirdest place to like the seaside resort town with like
this beautiful ballroom, and like people from all over the
world come to it. And it was just such a
vivid memory for me. But we were supposed to stay
for three months. I ended up saying for five years.
(13:23):
My brother stayed for almost ten. And yeah, it's I
think maybe just because it's like centrally located, like all
the Europeans would come in and fly in, and that
competition was there. But it wasn't actually the school that
I went to for ballroom dancing. It was the coaches
that I lived with. And then of course we had
to go to school, so we went to a performing
arts school there too. That's where we were singing and
(13:45):
acting and doing all other styles of dance as well.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Did Derek go out before you?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
He went out for like three months before me. I was.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I was in Florida with a Russian family dancing. I
mean that's the part I didn't know about what's happening. Okay,
go from Utah, so Florida to London. Yeah, what is
your family thinking? During this time?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
They knew that there was a lot of talent there.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think that like when you also see other people,
like our coaches, being like, there's massive talent here. We
know how to nurture this and grow it. I think
they saw that as well as you know, they were
going through a divorce and I think, I mean, I've
been through a divorce and I know that when you're
in that state, like you can barely take care of yourself,
(14:27):
let alone all these kids. And I'm not saying that
was the case for them, but like there was an opportunity,
there was an opening where they could take care of
what they needed to while their kids were having this unbelievable,
once in a lifetime experience. And so so yeah, so,
but I know it was really challenging for them. I mean,
they missed us so much, but then they saw what
(14:47):
was happening and we wanted to stay.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And you got to have this incredible experience at such
a young age. And I feel like it's also your
parents were, like, you know what, they're really good at this.
So if London's the place, if Florida's the place, then
they have to go do their thing. And if you
had stayed in Utah, do you think you would have
had the career that you have had today.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
It's hard to say, because I feel like, you know,
everything is designed, like there's like the invisible thread, right,
Like everything's kind of like magically happening for you. Not
that I am like my life is predestined, but I
kind of feel that way a little bit, like I
know my energy and I know whatever I would have
done in my career I would have done it to
(15:28):
like the highest standard, because that's just innately who I am.
I also love like interior design, and you can tell
when you come to my house because I hold everything
that I do to a high standard of like being
fully expressed, you know.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
And I think that you're a performer.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I am a performer.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I'm an artist.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
I'm like, I just want to like, I love beautiful
things and creating beautiful experiences. And I actually remember I
did this like exercise where I had to write a
hundred things that me happy. It's harder than you think,
by the way, but you kind of say the same
things and then you clump them into groups and chunks
(16:07):
and stuff, and then you whittle it down. And then
by the time you whittle it down, you think, oh,
there's like a theme here, and it's creating beautiful experiences
for others is the thing that makes me the happiest.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
And that can be in any form.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
It can be a dinner party with people coming over,
or it could be teaching somebody to dance. It could
be having somebody here in energy, or it could be
you know, I don't know, doing a movie, and like
creating beautiful experiences for people, and I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
What I think is so cool about getting to know
you is you live maybe the busiest life out of
anybody that I've ever met. And I even said this
to before. I'm like, I've known you as a dancer
and an actress, but you also are an entrepreneur, You're
an author, You've got all these other business she's got
a wine company. We're not going to talk about it.
Like you do so much. And you're also so present
(17:09):
in your life, and I feel like you take so
much time to like self reflect and do activities like
that where you can kind of work on yourself and
get to know yourself. And I think that's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
That's thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
I appreciate you saying that because I think, at the
end of the day, like don't we all just want
to be seen?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
So thank you for seeing me. No. Absolutely, have you
always been like that, like when you were in your
early twenties, was it ever like, oh my god, I'm
doing so much.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
A couple of things I remember, like when I look
back my childhood, I remember being like twelve, and I
remember these like kids in my school would like come
up to me for like relationship advice, I'm like, I
don't know, but for some reason I was able to
like have a conversation with them and then they could
share that. I was always fascinated by human behavior and
(17:57):
psychology and like the why behind everything. So looking back
and like, oh, there were signals and signs.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
I think you're empathetic and you like connecting with people.
Do yeah, you.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Really do, and like putting yourself in somebody's shoes. Then
you know you're not projecting your own stuff onto them.
But anyway, in my twenties, I think it was really
interesting because I also look back at my twenties and
I'm like, wow, the stars were aligned. I don't take
that for granted. I worked really really hard as a
kid and sacrificed a lot. But from like eighteen, when
(18:32):
I moved out to LA with two thousand dollars, I
got a lucky break being on Dancing with the Stars,
and from that I won my first two seasons. I
released an album and had a number one album and
like got to do movies, and like, I don't take
for granted the momentum that was happening, Like it was
kind of just going.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I never felt busy.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I never felt like overworked because it was it was aligned,
you know, like I it was just it was energy
creating more energy. When I was twenty five, I kind
of went more into self reflection and I realized that
a lot of what I was doing was isolated and
proving myself. That was like underneath it. I didn't realize
(19:13):
that a lot of my dreams were being manifested through
being like watch me, you know. And then once I
kind of realized that, I kind of like started going inwards.
So like twenty five was when I started like my
inward journey, and then that was all cognitive like having
more awareness. And then probably around like twenty nine thirty
(19:34):
is when I really started like a deep healing. And
when that happened, it was like a whole unraveling of
my life. But what I ended up finding was that again,
everything that I've done that has led me here through
my career, whether it be dancing, singing, acting, entrepreneurship, whatever
it is, it's kind of planted seeds for me to
(19:57):
be like, wow, like I have so much experience. I
have life experience in all of these different industries and
how to connect and what people in every one of
these industries as well as like people who watch want
to feel and so now because I've kind of done
it for everyone else, I'm in this stage where I'm like,
(20:19):
what is it that I want to create? And I'm
realizing more and more it's less about me and it's
more about like, how can I share what I've learned
with others and amplify other.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
People's stories and.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Also use it like through the body, because I believe
so much in the body, like you do, you know,
like when you can feel the effects of what like
the body does, the freedom that you can feel, I mean,
I guess maybe that's the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I just want everybody to feel free. That's like my
mission in life.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Just I want to make you feel free and happy,
and however that is expressed, go for it. I think
the body is a huge way to like access it.
So yeah, so I think the self reflection has kind
of come from It's a journey. Like I don't know
if I was always like that, but I feel like
I'm right on time.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah you are. And it's so cool knowing too that
when in your late teens early twenties, when you were
doing all this amazing stuff winning the first two seasons
and Dancing with the Stars. Because I think the one
fascinating thing too that I saw is that when you
were first offered the role as a pro on Dancing
with the Stars, you turned it down. What was going
(21:34):
through your mind when you turned down Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I think because I had spent my whole you know,
childhood and teens competing in ballroom and Latin dancing. I
was a little burnt out because again it was like competitive,
and I think I lost a little bit of the
like reason I love to do it. And when I
moved to LA, I really wanted to act and sing
and I wanted to be taking seriously and give the
(21:57):
same amount of time and effort that I put into
my day dancing into working on my craft to being
an actor and a singer. And so I was like,
I don't want to be on a reality show because
I feel like there's a connotation to that that like,
I mean, it's so different now, but at the time,
I was like, oh, reality show. But it was a
competition show. So I was like, there is skill, there
is talent here. So I was like, you know what
(22:20):
I'm going to do. I'm going to sign this contract,
but I'm going to get out of my contract early.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That's how like headstrong I was.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
And I did, and I ended up doing the show
for two and a half years, which was five seasons,
and then I left and did music and films for
five years, and then I came back as a judge
for two and a half years, which was five seasons.
And then I left for five years and started companies
and got married and had like sort of different priorities.
And now I'm back as a host, and I hope
(22:51):
that I'm not here for two and a half years.
I hope I'm here for a lot longer, because again,
what I was saying before, it was like I was
trying so many different things, trying to figure out what
life was, and now I'm like this, this is the
greatest I don't even want to call it a job,
like this is the greatest opportunity to do what I
love again, amplify other dancers, share people's stories, and like
(23:15):
get to be part of this family that has literally
given me so much. I'm so grateful for the show.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
One of the amazing things too about Dancing with the Stars,
based on what you just said, is they've given you
the freedom since you were young, Yeah, to do things
that you've always wanted to do, like have these incredible
roles in movies like Footloose and starring in Burdlesque with
Christina Aguilera and share. It's so cool that they let
you kind of have those moments, and then they've always
(23:41):
been like when you're ready, come back.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Totally totally.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I feel so so grateful because that's not always the case.
And there's been other projects that I've done and things
that have been good experiences, but nothing like the family
that has been built and created over the last almost
twenty years being on this show.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
So it's it's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But again, it kind of goes back, and this is
kind of the narrative that I'd love to like share
about dance in general, is just that, you know, I
think as a young dancer, there's almost this hidden narrative
that dance being a dancer is not enough. It's almost
like it's the third tier supporting act and dance. So
(24:27):
I always felt like, oh, I needed to be an
actor to have the level of respect or the level
of like I've made it. Whereas now again, as I've
gone through all of this exploration dance is the most
beautiful thing and should absolutely be at the forefront and
have And I think a lot of dancers feel this
(24:48):
way because you know, it's so hard to earn a
living as a dancer, and then if you are a dancer,
there's a shelf life and you're usually supporting the artist.
But I think what Dancing with the Stars has done,
or my brother and I doing our tours, or we
started ovation, which is about helping like the next generation
of dancers grow into like a new pathway. But it's
(25:11):
like this is hopefully to show that dancers are artistic
athletes and deserve a seat at the table and you
can have a real career. And I want to hopefully
add more more opportunity, not me personally, but just amplify
dance in a way to add more opportunity for dancers
to be seen and to be at the forefront. And again,
(25:33):
I have to give so much credit to Dancing with
the Stars because they have been that platform for so
many people. And now TikTok is happening and people are dancing,
But like, what's the next thing that's going to allow
dance to really be at the forefront like all these
other beautiful sports and entertainment, and that's like my mission now.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Oh I love that. Do you think when you were
in London and you were attending a performing art school
and you were, you know, taking acting classes and singing classes,
do you think it was in that school that you
almost put dance in your mind as a third tier.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I don't know. I think I think it was culturally.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is a thing in me.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I think it's a thing in the industry.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
I think it was always sort of like that was
like sort of we're in support of we are we
are the background dancers, backing dancers, you know, like and
I remember like we changed the word from background dancer
to company dancer because it was and just the association,
just the language that was used was very much like
(26:33):
we're behind. And so I really try to be impeccable
with like my language as well to like continue to
elevate dance.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Because you've done so many things and were in so
many different hats within the industry, and you've done it really.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
To the top level.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Right, What when somebody would ask you, you know, what
do you do for a living? What would you say?
Would you say, I'm a dancer.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
I love that you're asking me this question, like I
need to know, because similarly, this was a whole psychological
break for me which I finally had this massive breakthrough.
It was like I would try to say, well, I
do this, and I do that, and I do this.
I think I even said it to you on the run.
I was like, yeah, I do this and I do that.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
What do I do?
Speaker 3 (27:14):
But owning the fact that I'm a dancer like that
was a big deal for me, and that that is enough.
Being a dancer is enough, and in fact, it's even
more than enough. In fact, dancing is healing, Dancing is medicine.
Dance gives joy to others. Dance is a universal language.
Dance connects people. Dance allows you to like celebrate life.
(27:39):
It allows you to express yourself. I mean, dances dances life.
I mean, it doesn't matter how well you do it.
It's not about right or wrong. Dance is just moving
your body and feeling free. And so, yeah, I'm a dancer.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
She is a dancer. Guys. No, it's amazing and it's
also so cool too, Like you've been to do so
many incredible acting roles where I feel like you've been
able to combine all the things that you love. What
was it like starring in burlesque? And what was it
like starring in footloose? Like was that a dream come
true for you? Because you're able to combine all of
these things?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, I think like again those like early films that
I did, And again that's why, like I had to
change my relationship with dance because dance gave me everything.
And I see other dancers today that are like, I'm
so much more look at what else I can do,
And I'm like, oh, man, if they only just like
owned being a dancer the way that I didn't just
(28:34):
fully grasp it when I was younger, Like, they could
actually do everything that they want to do. They can act, sing,
they can do all these things. But they're going to
own it and more opportunities going to come. And I
think that's the biggest thing that I've learned is I
tried so many things, but I always came back to dance.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
But I was resisting just owning it.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Building a personal brand is the hardest thing you can
possibly do. You don't want a pigeonhole your and you
don't want the world to be like, oh, this is
what you are when it's like, well, I can actually
do all of these other things as well, you know,
And it's cool knowing that you love interior design and
you love hosting dinner parties, and like, there's so many
more things that you love to do. But sometimes within
a career it's okay to just be niche and do
(29:18):
this thing that you love, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Oh No, I was having at this conversation with one
of my actor friends. He's him and his wife are
like my best friends, and he is a massive actor.
He is an incredible entrepreneur and he's been a producer
as well, and he was just like, I need to
get rid of my production company because I'm so busy.
(29:41):
But the feeling of that I need to be having
seventeen jobs is so real in life right now because
we're all like, we're all entrepreneurs and it's amazing and
we can create our own life and careers. But it's like,
if you only do one thing, why does that not
feel like it's enough? And it's like, I mean, I'm
(30:03):
preaching to the l No, I feel this all the time,
you know, But it's like and then it's the comparison thing, Oh, well,
this person's doing this and this and this and this,
but like, oh, just being a dancer or you know,
is enough.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
How do you deal with comparison and say, okay, like
I don't need to be looking at this right now.
I'm comfortable as I am.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I mean, first of all, I'm gonna botch this saying,
but comparison is the thief of joy, you know, And
I think that, like when I continue to remind myself
that easy phrase, then it reminds me that, like I
want joy in my life, I don't need to.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
I've competed my whole life.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
I mean that was literally my entire life was to
compete and to win, even in performing and being an artist,
Like you're still competing to get the job, to be
the actor that gets you know, chosen, or that's the
other thing, Like I want to be chosen. And I
kind of rephrase, I'm like, wait, wait, wait, I get
to choose. I get to choose, I get to choose
(31:04):
how I show up. I get to choose if I'm
comparing myself or not, or I get to choose what
I put my energy towards. And actually this person over
here that did beautiful work that actually inspired me versus
makes me fearful that I can't do it.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Was there ever a role and maybe you'd be comfortable
sharing what it is that you auditioned for that you
were like, I'm dead right for this role, and then
maybe you didn't get it, and what was your kind
of mindset around that? How do you deal with rejection?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
It was It was very heartbreaking because and it was
probably the first time I felt like true failure from
something that I didn't self sabotage, like I've trust me,
I've had a lot of failures, but but that was
on me because I pivoted, you know, this one. I
felt like I did everything that I could. I knew
(32:05):
I was right for this part. I had, you know,
even the creative team that were around this project really
believed in me and wanted this for me as well,
and the studio just they were like, we won't hire
her and so, and like everybody fought for me to
have this role, and I fought really hard. I worked
on it so hard with an acting coach, and I
(32:25):
knew I crushed it, and to not be chosen for
something that I knew it was.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
That was really devastating.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
But at the same time, I think failure is a
big part of And I don't mean to say this
in like the cliche thing like failure is good, but
I mean it like I had had so many wins
and and I had had so much like goodness that
it felt like a big blow that like I didn't
(32:56):
win this, Like it's like Glinda and Wicked.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
She's like, I didn't get my way. Something's really wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
By the way, you are so glod enough, like I
am so alpha Barrat now she is so glined.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I love it, but it was very that but it
was so important for me. It's so important to learn
how to fail and to still have like belief in
yourself and to not be not be a victim in
the moment and to like take it and be like,
you know what, I'm not going to take this personally.
(33:29):
I am going to just say whatever was in the
cards was not for me. And and in fact, the
person that did get it I am a huge fan
of and like she crushed it and deserved to have
that role. And it was interesting because they found her
after I had auditioned, so it wasn't like we were
even competing. But I'm a huge fan of her. And
(33:52):
what happened from it and I heard this like I
don't know where I heard it from, but like if
you believe in God or universe, whatever you believe in,
but like rejection as God's protection. So it's like I
would listen to that also and be like, you know what,
who knows what would have happened if that were on
the case, And I will never know, but I have
(34:13):
faith that it was putting me in the right position.
I have faith that maybe even feeling that rejection and
feeling that failure was what I needed in order to
show my resilience, to show that I am capable of failing.
But let me fail fast and get back on track.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Was there another opportunity that kind of came up in
synergy that you then got and you were like, Oh,
this is what I was supposed to be doing or
was it a growth period for you?
Speaker 2 (34:39):
I don't know. I'm not sure exactly.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
I mean, I don't have one of those like cool
stories that's like I was about to quit the industry
and then you know, I got the cause.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
I got situations where like I'm supposed to do an
interview and then like you know, something falls through and
then it's like, oh, I'm so upset, Like I was
so excited, but then an hour later, something else.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Pops up totally and and you know what, maybe at
the time I was so far in it that I
couldn't really see what that thing was. But I will
say that after that, I ended up doing a project
with Dolly Parton, and as I'm sitting here thinking about that,
I'm like, you know, I am such a relationship person
(35:20):
and to have had that experience connecting with an icon
and a legend that has not only created incredible art,
but her just who she is as a human being.
And I got to spend time with her and she
got to give me beautiful advice that I'll never forget.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Wait, what advice did Dolly Parton give you? I need
to know. I'm obsessed with her. And what was the
project you guys worked on? Yeah, we can just everybody
of her is like laughing.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
But but you know what, maybe that's what it was,
and like and I will I will hold on to
that experience with Dolly Parton forever. And I'm a relationship person,
So maybe that was the reason. But I remember telling
her all of the things that I love to do,
and I was like, I want to do this, and
I want to do that and all these different things,
and she goes, you know, Julian, you sound a lot
(36:07):
like me, and I see a lot of similarities. And
she goes, just remember to stay the artist, and she goes,
I wanted a theme park. Do you think I knew
how to build a theme park? No, but I hired
people who did and they were smarter than me. But
in turn, I'm smarter than them because I hired them.
And so what I took from that was I didn't
(36:31):
have to do everything. If I'm an artist, Let me
be an artist. I'm not trying to do operations in
this and marketing and like it's so overwhelming. Like, let
me do the thing that I am gifted at and
hire the people that are gifted at their job and
as they become you know, your team and your family,
like you're creating magic together and anything is possible when
(36:55):
you're trying to do it all by yourself. I mean,
that just is suffering right there. And yet like she is,
she has been able to stay Dolly part in the
Dreamer and look at everything that she's done and like
and her heart and her light and all of that,
like she she knows what she will and will not compromise,
(37:15):
and what she will and won't tolerate, and yet she
is who she is. And so I just remember thinking
that because I felt very much like, ah, I'm doing
all these things and I'm just like grinding.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
She's like, stay the artist. You are an artist.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
No, It's so true, And oh my gosh, getting like
work ethic advice from somebody like Dolly Parton is so iconic.
And yeah, it is so important to make sure, especially
when you're building a team and building your business and
your empire and you know you're trying to be a
leader and do all these things, like you have to
bring team members in because it is way too much,
especially when you're doing.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
So hard, boring and isolating to do it by yourself.
Like there are so many talented, beautiful people that I
want to create and collaborate with, and like there's I mean,
I'm a true believer were in Like collaboration is key
and like you get the most magic out of that.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
I mean, like my ideas are not the best ideas.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
On the topic of collaboration. When you're a pro on
Dancing with the Stars, you are collaborating with a celebrity.
Who is a celebrity that has surprised you the most
that's been on the show. Maybe that was your partner
or as you were hosting or judging you witnessed.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
I mean, I'm just maybe just because it's so fresh
in my mind, but I was really excited about Joey.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
I was about to make you do a three to
two to one and say at the same time, honestly
three Joey truly.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
I mean, what I loved so much about him is
that he is a normal guy who like yet like
you can try anything and is good at kind of anything.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
I'm guys, I'm not like this was okay? Were you
in context here? Really quickly, when we were filming the
running interview, Jeremy, my fiance, was we were doing the
dance part and he was like, hat is like good
at at anything except not dance? And I'm like, Okay.
The reason he was saying this is because and golfers
are going to love this right now. I was telling
Julianne before we started filming, I don't want to sidetrack you.
(39:11):
I was playing with one of the really the best
golfers in the world. Crazy to say, John raw the
other day. It was my first time ever holding a
golf club. I called it a golf poll when I
grabbed it, and he was like, it's a club and anyways,
then he was like this is going to be a disaster.
And then he was like, I'm really not a good teacher.
It's just it's all about the interview. I'll fake it.
(39:31):
We don't really have to play. I hit every single ball,
which if you know golf, it's actually really hard to
hit the ball. And it was every it was like,
we're going to make the funniest cut out of it
because I did so well. I made it in in
seven hits, whatever that means, and he made it in
five and every single shot. He was like what is
(39:52):
going on?
Speaker 2 (39:53):
He's like, you're just joking with me this whole time.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
Yeah, you're pro. We had so many people watching us.
I was sweating so much on Oh anyways, but and
then I got to the second hole and it was
such beginner's luck because then I started indenting the course.
I don't know if I'll put that into the video.
I kind of want to make myself look like a
rock star because why not. But anyways, I'm not good
at everything. Okay, I love it.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
Yeah, well I relate a little bit because like it's
so funny. My brother too, like he'll try anything.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I at everything.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
He's pretty good at everything except for surfing, and I
love that. And I and I'm good at surfing and snowboarding,
and he's like he's like he's great at wake surfing,
like wake surfing, but like in the natural elements.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
He's like, huh.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
We also call him Grandpa Huff because he's scared of everything.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
And so that.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Is so bad asking you that you're a good surfer
and snowboarder.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
I love those again. Body yeah, and like anything I
can do with my body I'm good at. And why company,
Well that's true. So so snow League. I actually they
did like a whole new snow league or it's a
brand new league that he created. And I was like,
you know what, I should do a series kind of
(41:08):
like what you just did with the golfer. But I
was like I was talking to some people on the
chairlift and it was like I get deep very fast,
clearly hello everyone, and.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
My god, not the chairlift.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
And I was like, oh my god, chairlift therapy, like
we need to have like like is the Top Show,
dancing with the Show on the chairlift, like it was amazing,
so anyway, but I was like, but it's great because
you're in your body, you're doing something athletic. You're putting
yourself in a position to fail, but you try it anyway.
And I think when people are in vulnerable moments, you
(41:42):
get out of your head into your body, like so
much as possible.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
It's like five minute countdown, how much Caul Julian get
out of this person on me on the anyways?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Okay, I gotta like I was gonna like change position.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
We have talked about so much. So much is going
on right now we are in this room. Okay, as
we wrapped it up, knowing what you know, now, what
would you say to your younger self?
Speaker 3 (42:10):
Oh, first of all, I would just I'd grabber and
I just like make her hug me.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Forceful parent. Okay, we're just kidding. No, I would.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I would grab her and I would just like hold
her and just say.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
See, I know Radcliffe will not be your boyfriend, but
maybe someday.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Exactly how did you know that? That was in my mind?
Speaker 1 (42:35):
That was exactly what.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I was gonna say.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
Sorry, continue, but I did see him recently while he
was on Broadway, and he knew the story because.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
I've told it a hundred times. He's like, I'm so sorry.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I never got the Beanie baby sidebars.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
So you guys don't know what we're talking about, just
like look it up, just google it.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
Okay, Younger, I'd hugger and I would just say that
obviously you are enough. Being a dancer is enough, but
also you're going to create so much in your life.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Enjoy the ride.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yeah, all right, well, Julianne, thank you so much for
being on the show with us today.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Final shout outs. What do you have coming up? What's
next for you? And what should we be on the
lookout for.
Speaker 3 (43:24):
I don't know, just follow along, I mean all on
the social media and all that, you know, but obviously
coming back to Dancing with the Stars and hosting this
next season, but lots lots of things that kind of
to wrap up what we've been talking about, which is
like owning more of like being a dancer, and you know,
just anything kind of through the lens of dance. Just
(43:47):
look out anything dance related. I'll be sneaking up and
popping up everywhere.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
If you want to have a potential bump in with Julia. Yeah,
kind of.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
Come to Kindred to k Energy, come take a class.
Speaker 3 (43:58):
Also, DM me if you want to dance ants, let's
like do some collaborations because I love collaborations.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
So yeah, all right, thanks.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
Well that's a rap and you're the best. Thank you
so much, Chank you
Host
Kate Mackz
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