November 27, 2023 • 56 mins
He was one of the most controversial contestants on DWTS at the time . . . trading in his swim trunks for dancing shoes on season 23 of the show.
12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte joins his former partner, Cheryl, to discuss their time on the hardwood floor, coming on the heels of his scandal at the Rio Olympics.
Ryan breaks down how he dealt with various emotions during that time, including handling depression, trying to find confidence again, and dealing with protesters who crashed his debut on live TV!
Plus, he opens up about how Michael Phelps helped bring him back from the brink.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Sex Lies and Spray Tands with me Cheryl
Burke and iHeartRadio podcast. Hey guys, welcome to Sex Lies
and Spray Tands. Let's just you know the drill, get
right into it. My next guest is someone who I
absolutely adore. Not only was our time to gather memorable
to say the least for multiple reasons which you're gonna
(00:21):
find out here soon. But to me, he defined the
saying don't judge a book by its cover. From the
moment we met, I felt the need to be his protector,
and that was solely because I felt like he trusted
me right away, not just as his dance coach, but
also as a friend, even though we barely knew each
other at the time. I'll never forget our conversations that
we had off camera in my car in the parking
(00:41):
lot of a random dance studio, most likely eating taco
bell where production would put us due to the overly
aggressive paparazzi following him and us at the time. In
my car, we'd have very vulnerable conversations, yet still, you know,
never crossed boundaries and always had the utmost respect for
one another. As my next guest, never shied away from
who he was, the fear and anxiety of whatever he
(01:03):
was going through at the time, in the rollercoaster ride
of events and pivotal moments in his life that has
definitely shaped who he is today. As a result, I
felt so much compassionate and empathy for what he was
going through and wanted to be there for him, knowing
that he may not have had a lot of people
in his life back then that he could actually lean on,
let alone trust. During Season twenty three of Dancing with
(01:24):
the Stars, there were multiple instances that happened where I
had to step in whether it would be like a
certain idea for the creative for a dance that the
executive producers wanted us to do, and me having to
actually put my foot down because of the controversy that
it would have caused, as if my next guest wasn't
already dealing with enough drama at that time. Though we
are the same age, I felt like an older sister
(01:46):
or even a dance mom to him at times. You
may know my next guest as a four time Olympian
competing in Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janio, and
a twelve time Olympic medalists, including six gold, three silver,
and three bronze medals. He has been named both American
and World Twimmer of the Year twice in his career,
and as a total of seventy medals in major international competitions,
(02:10):
including forty five first place finishes. Though my next guest
couldn't add mirror ball trophy to his impressive resume. Though
this sounds cliche, but the moment we met for the
first time, and yes, we met at a random house,
he was in his speedos and goggles swimming in a pool,
and then, per the direction of our Dancing with the
Stars producer, he just, you know, gracefully hopped out. I
(02:32):
shook his wet hand, and in shock, I gasped for
air because I hadn't realized how tall he was. I
just knew right away that my next guest was a
winner in my eyes, no matter where we placed that season.
Please welcome my friend, Ryan Lochte. Ryan, I miss your face.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I'm too Oh my god, what in the heck? How
are I can't? First of all, how long has it been.
It's been so long?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So long, like what three like seventy years? Yes, very long,
too long, too long, that's all we know. But what
is going on? How is life?
Speaker 1 (03:13):
I remember we were supposed to do a show together
just recently and that just didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Really bummed because when I saw the like the cast,
I was like, ryl burn.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What that would have been? Really scary?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Abo so much fun?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
How's life? You have so many kids running around everywhere
and you're still married to the same beautiful woman.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yes, we're just popping them out like skittles.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
But like, what is going on?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
So many things?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
It is probably this is probably the happiest I've ever
been in my entire life.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's so good to know.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Every day is just so much fun with these kids.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Like even though they're a little pests, sometimes they're just
oh my gosh, they just give you that smile, just like.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Mil I'm like, all right, guys, you can do whatever
you want. You're good.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Do you remember when you were in my car? You
know how we would have like like deep conversations in
my car. Do you remember this before rehearsals? And I
remember you telling me that you guys were pregnant.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Remember, yes, that was so long ago. Peez. Yeah, because
my son just turned six.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What yeah, that's so crazy. Time flies, but we'll get there. Okay,
So you're here because I have a podcast called Sex,
Lies and Spray TNDS. So when you hear those three
descriptive words, what do you think dancing with the stars?
No kidding, but yeah, this is about dancing with the stars.
And you know, look, obviously there was a lot of
(04:45):
memorable moments in our partnership, but even before that, I
want to talk more in depth about your life. And
because I think you know, I've been sober for five
and a half years. I am, I was married, now divorced.
You know, a lot of things have happened, obviously to
the both of us, and I don't know if I
was in the right headspace to ask you these questions.
So I'm actually very curious, you know, to know, like,
(05:09):
what was your life like, I guess growing up in
the lofty household when you were a kid.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
When I was a kid, I mean it was fun.
We were never in the house.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
We were because we lived on about one hundred and
fifty five acres of land. We lived on top of
a mountain upstate New York, and our next door neighbor
was a mile away, so we had these open fields
that overlooked the valley.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
It was so.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Beautiful, and my friends would come over and we'd just
be outside NonStop. We do like little kid things like shoot,
try to shoot each other with bow and arrows, like
all the good stuff. Sledding, Oh my gosh, I missed sledding,
sledding down like a mile foot slope. Oh my, yes,
I missed those days. My parents they loved me to death.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
They just showed up.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
We didn't have all the money in the world, but
what we did have was love and that went a
long way, and it kind of shaped me who I
am today. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I had two older sisters which beat the crap out
of me all the time, made me dress up like, uh,
just their little doll basically.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And then I had my We had our brother.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I had my younger brother, so I would be on him,
I'd bully him.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So, I mean, it was all love.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Are your kids bullying each other? Now?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
So my first board, my son, Hayden, when we when
we told him that he's gonna have a sister, he
immediately started crying. But as soon as like so they bicker,
those two bicker. My middle daughter, my daughter that we
(06:53):
just had she's about she's five months tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
He is so good to.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Her, like he beats on Live, which is she's four,
and but she gives it back to him like she's
the boss. She bosses me around, she bosses everybody around.
I was like, you are going to be the president
of the United States. Jeez, your bandit?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
And then uh yeah, So like Ca did, Kayden and Live.
They both love the new baby. They take care of her.
They pick her up, they hold her, they feed her
like it is just it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Melts my heart.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It's like when those times I'm like, man, let's have
another one, honey, and she's like.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Oh my god, poor Kayla.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And then when they like start acting up, they're like,
oh no, no, we take that back.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
We're not having another.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I think three is a perfect number.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah well yeah, yeah, I mean I could have more.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I mean, do you want another boy? Is that? Why?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
If she wants another one, I got you.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Oh my god. So clearly you haven't snipped snipped the
kohonnies yet you.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Oh no, I've been. I go back and forth. But yeah,
I'm just gonna wait.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Yeah, it was meant to be. It'll be. So when
you were a kid when you were like you were
obviously in extracurricular activities like my mother put me in
like ballet, horseback riding, baseball, freaking, soccer. Uh bad, I say, basketball, volleyball, basketball,
Like I did everything, but dance was like the only
thing I never complained about. How about you?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
I did yeah, pretty much everything, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball
when I was in Upstate, New York. And then I
swam too, obviously, but all those sports didn't have the
same effect.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That swimming did.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
There was something just about that water where like I
could be having the worst day of my life, and
as soon as I stepped foot in that water, everything
just disappears and I'm just like in my happy place.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I'm home.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, and swimming came so natural to me, and I
just loved it. I loved it so much. I love
the water. It calmed me down and I stuck with that.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
How was it having because like I could if my
mother was my dance coach. I love you, Mom, because
I know she listens to every episode. I just don't
know if it would be if you remember you remember
Sherry Burke exactly. I just don't know if we would
be as close as we are today. How was it
having your parents? Uh? Was it both your parents or
(09:30):
was it just your dad coaching?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Both my parents were swim coaches. And it was actually
a unique situation because I put so much. I can
out train anyone in this entire world in the pool, really,
in the pool, anyone, and I will go to the death.
But so I leave everything in the pool. And so
when practice is done, I don't want to talk about swimming.
(09:56):
I want to live my normal life because swimming is
so demanding and you're basically staring at a black line
on the bottom of the pool, going up and down,
up and down, up and down, like eighty million times. Yeah,
and when I'm on the pool deck, I can't say,
hey Mom, hey Dad. It was coach, coach, coach coach.
(10:17):
They never expected more out of me than everyone else.
They're like, if you're gonna do something, don't half ascid,
like you're gonna go all in, just give it a
chance and do it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
How did you guys separate the two though?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
We just I kind of basically demanded it me. Basically,
my dad was like my overall coach for all those years.
We had agreement that like as soon as we leave
the pool deck, we don't talk about swimming. Even if
I had the worst practice or the best practice, we don't.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Talk about it.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
We're done, Let's go get ice cream, let's go get pizza,
let's go have fun. But then when the when I
came to swim practice, it was business.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah, did they have like an ultimatum with you when yeah, no,
I hear you, Like I remember, my mom was like,
you know, dancing for you if you don't get like
a certain grade right like at school, and school wasn't
my I would say no more streets smart, the book smart,
but like I just knew, I just knew I had
to get like above average right in order. And then
(11:23):
there was a time too where my mom was like, look,
you know you're grounded, or like where I'm not paying
for your freaking plane ticket to England. So I danced
on the streets in San Francisco and I made two
thousand dollars. I'm not a freaking kiddick. I made two grand.
This was like in the nineties. Okay, it was me,
my guest partner and like somebody holding a boom box
(11:44):
in our Adida's rip aways, like you remember those things,
our Adidas rip aways and Capezio's dancing, our little asses off,
and we made some bank. Like I was like, mom,
I don't need you.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
That is awesome. I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Did your parents give you, guys, like an ultimatum or no?
Was it like the swimming first and then school?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
No? No, not at all, or just like if you're
going to do something, you go all in.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah totally, no, I hear you.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
And this is whatever decision you make, it's you. We're
not pushing you, but it's up to you. And if
you do it something, go all in and give it
a chance. And so they never pushed us. They never said,
well they're swim coaches, so like we're swim coaches, so
my kids have to be the best like they were.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Never like that. They just want there are parents.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, no, I hear you. And how is your mom?
Because I remember your mom supported us so much during dancing.
Did I ever meet your dad? Did your dad ever come.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
To a show?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:53):
No, no, my dad. No, my dad never went. Why
Oh so my parents they split up, they got a divorce. Yeah,
so my mom was always coming, no matter what she
was coming.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So oh I didn't want to have both them come
and bicker.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Oh right, okay, now I remember a little. Was it
just like a split up that happened just back then,
like at that time or was it old like they.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Do, so they split up back in twenty eleven. Oh yeah,
so it's been it's been a while.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, so it's not like your dad to support you.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
That's all I care about. Is everyone being happy.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
How is your mom doing?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
She's doing good, she is.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
That's another that's another subject. We don't really talk as much.
Oh really really, yeah, I'm really close with my dad
because he comes up and I'm close with him because
he is being a grandpa like and he's obsessed with it,
and he treats my family because my number one job,
(13:58):
no matter what who it is, I protect my family.
So if you're gonna butt heads with my kids or anything,
you're gonna butt heads with me, no matter who it is.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And my dad was just immediately.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
There and like giving them ice creams, like just being
the grandpa that I've always.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wished my kids.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Here. Yeah, did your mom meet how's your mom met
your kids at all? Or oh wow, okay, okay, how's
Kayla doing? I mean, it's been so long, like I
just okay. First of all, I remember you rehearsed. You
rehearsed your freaking engagement, your proposal during rehearsal. Do you
remember this?
Speaker 4 (14:40):
And you know what, I totally messed up the what
I got to say, I.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Totally messed it up. All that came out was like
love you can you marry me?
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You were literally sweating your ass off at rehearsal, and
you change. I'm pretty sure you changed at that rehearsal
in Sherman Oaks. Then you did any free did it
and you were so nervous, and I was like, just
go get it. Good luck.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
She is seriously my rock. She's the best thing that's
ever happened besides my kids. Like it's it's freaking amazing.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, and if anything, like I don't know if your mom,
if that has anything to do with it, but like
that should prove to her and anybody who ever questioned
your guys' relationship how solid you guys are, which is awesome.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah, I mean, like she's she's smart, pretty funny, well
funny sometimes.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I think I'm the funniest in the family, but.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
For sure, but yeah, I mean she doesn't she just
does it all and like her becomes me watching her
become a mom has been seriously just I'm in awe.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's awesome. I see how happy you are. Ryan, and
I do keep in touch with you, you know, obviously
I don't really scroll through social media as much because
of my mental health as a priority. But like, how so, okay,
so I met you? How how soon did I meet
you after Rio? After that incident happened in Rio wool Like.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Probably I want to say, like three weeks for a
month maybe because that happened in August, and we had
our first dance in like end of September or something.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, we met in August because we had to do
the training period. Remember we had like three weeks of
training and then our premiere.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Wasn't yes yes, So it was like right after Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Okay, so that makes sense as far as like the
craziness that was happening around you and surrounding you, and
then do you remember meeting me at that random house?
You came out of the pool and you were like
in your speedos and shit, and I was like.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh my gosh. I was like, what I'm doing here?
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Tell me how this all happened? Did Dina Katz or
did like who told you about you? Like ask asking
you to do the show? Like I'm sure they asked
you soon after that happened, right, Oh.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
No they So I signed the contract and everything before
the Olympics happened. My plan was already Yeah, my plan
was already doing Dancing with the Stars before the Olympics happened.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Wow, that's why when when Rio happened, like the whole thing,
I was like, I think I'm gonna cancel this. I'm
gonna pull out because like I was just like sol emotions,
like I was just I was rock bottom and I
didn't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yeah, are you happy to me? First of all, good
on dancing? Good on Dancing with the Stars. I mean
they must have been like, oh my gosh, Like I
thought for sure they had. I thought you were like
a last minute edition.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
No, no, no, I I so that's what people thought.
They like, oh, they like we had to turn this around.
But it wasn't a PR stunt or anything. I already
had this. I was like, you know what, I'm gonna
try this. I suck at dance. I can't really walk straight.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Let's do this.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
You could walk straight? Actually, you weren't that bad, Ryan,
I must say no, seriously, you weren't that bad because
of your work ethic Who convinced you to do it?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
My wife?
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Oh really wait did you know Kayla?
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Then?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Yeah, we started dating Da da da da da da
January twenty fifth of twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
For some reason, I thought you guys just met when
we met. Okay, got it, got it now, I get it. See,
my drinking I killed a few brain cells and.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Like we so, right after rio happened, we were back
home in the house and there's news reporters all over,
like in the front yard, and I was just crying,
being like, well this, I don't want to do this anymore.
I don't want to like I would just want to
go to an island and just escape from everyone. And
(18:53):
she was like she basically slapped me across my face
and said, Brian, this is not you.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You're a fighter. You're going to get up. You know
what happened, like this is the media taking over and
spinning everything like I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Don't let people in and I she yeah, she helped
me out though this dark hole I was in.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
And what did your reps think? Like you did you
had an agent obviously and all that. Right, you had
a whole team around you. Do they think that you
should have done Dancing with the Stars?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Oh? They left me. Everyone left me. Oh shit, I
had no one.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I had no one, I had no sponsorship, I had
no agent, I had nothing. Everyone left me because they're like, oh,
we don't want to associate with him. I was like,
but I'm telling you guys the damn truth, Like.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Wow, you really know who your friends are? Huh.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I don't have regrets of what happened on Like how
the media just went a r up with this because
it helped shape who I was who I am today
and I was It's help me. There's so many life
lessons that I got to learn from this. I mean,
I'm a better human being because of this.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Like you said, you're what five years or whatever, it's ober.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I'm sixty Wait sixty years, No.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Sixty days. I'm that old cod really got some break?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
No way, no way, you got some pepper. That's something pepper. Wait,
that's amazing, Ryan.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah, sixty days without drinking. So it's been.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Yeah, can you imagine can you imagine having what?
Speaker 4 (20:37):
It's actually badass? Because like I'm more clearer. I'm more happy,
even though when I drank, I was always happy. I'm
just like more on it, like focused. I'm not like
like a hangover.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Like oh right, first of all, let me just correct you.
You are not more happy when you were drinking. Do
you remember, Okay, if me and you had this conversation
back in Vegas, do you remember that? And we were
there because for my listeners, we were there shooting a
package to see oh at the Bellagio and remember it's
like a circus circle. Yeah, and we were there, and
(21:19):
then we also my friends just happened to be there
as well, and we went in. But like you also
already knew your dance. But like, do you remember when
we had to do camera blocking meaning like the camera
blocking means before the life show the day before and
you were you were still a little Oh yes, I
was so mad. I was like, right, yeah, you go, sorry,
(21:41):
I haven't slept. Oh oh my god, I was so
mad at you.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Oh yeah, good times, good times, yeah, good times.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
What made you want to stop drinking? And why did
you go to rehab or was it just like was
it just a decision to Quito, It's.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Just something that like I never really did it when
I was training.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, and I started noticing like the patterns, like it
was affecting my relationship with Kayla, like I would wake
up late, she would get all the kids ready. I
wasn't really helping as much like when I was like
the next day, I was just sleeping all the time
because I was so tired. So I mean, it was
(22:21):
it was it was that, Yeah, like I just had
to become a better person. So I'm not saying like
I'll never drink again. I'm just saying I'm trying to
do this being sober and just see where it takes me.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
And yeah, I went to rehab once.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Just it was like an outpatient. But it wasn't like
I had like a drinking problem.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It was it was just redoing my life like yeah, check,
like what is going on?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Yeah no, I'm sure. And honestly, I just retired from
dancing all this stars like last season, so I you know,
they always say, like especially for athletes, like once you
do that, you know. I look, people have warned me
like You're gonna hit this, you know, all time low
and look I am still grieving and it was it sad,
even though it was my decision. Absolutely, And is it
(23:19):
hard to do this podcast, watch the show and all
this stuff as I'm still grieving, Yes, but like also
there is an end, like nothing lasts forever, and so
I don't know how I guess, like, prior to Dancing
with the Stars, where that was it for you? Did
you ever think you were going to swim again? Or
were you not thinking that far?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I wasn't really thinking that far, just I knew.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
After Dancing with the Stars, I was like, I am
never gonna dance again.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I won't even dance my way. I can't do it.
I don't like it. Get me out of here.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
There hanging out with you, like hanging out with vanilla.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Eyes all that. But I was like, I will not
dance again.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Well, I mean, you looked great in those high waisted
pants and low v necks with glow in the dark
freaking makeup. You looked great.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Oh, because I follow you and I watched some of
the things that you post, I was like, I was horrible.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
No, you weren't. You were not.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Oh, you weren't a very part of myself. And I
was like, what the hell was that that is?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Do you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Do you think let's go back and so would you.
But did you think, going back to my that that question,
would you have ever did you ever think you were
going to swim again or did you feel like you
just didn't want to think about it because I remember
they were drug testing you. They were doing so much
crap during this time.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So I wasn't going to swim again. I was kind
of basically done.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And then when my son was born, I was like,
you know, like everything changed in my life. I was like,
there are second chances, and I'm gonna do this. So
I was like, I gotta do this. I gotta do
this for my family. I gotta do this for my son,
(25:15):
I gotta do this for my wife. I got to
do this for all my friend's family, for all those
people to be like, come on, you can do a
second chance.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
You got it. So I did it for everyone.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
And that's why I fell short of making the Olympic
team in twenty twenty one is because I was doing
it for I wouldn't say the wrong reasons.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I wasn't doing it for everyone.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Else and not myself, right right right.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
And when swimming.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Career, I was all me, like, let's do this. I
want to get a gold medal. I want to beat
Michael Phelps's ass, like I put this stuff, but this
time it was for everyone, and I came up short
because it was all for them, which you know what,
Everything happens for a reason, And it was God saying,
you know what, You're not making this team this.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You're going to move on.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Yeah, because you have a family, You're going to have more.
Do you remember when we got bombarded by these freaking
protesters that I actually just recently watched and it was
(26:23):
actually thought that they were armed. Will you explain? I mean, like,
even prior to this, did you know do you remember
when the executives.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I remember the like the security guy like freaking speared.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Someone shout out to Dave.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I was like, Cheryl, is this part of the damn show?
Because this is messed up?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Okay? But even prior to this, knowing what you had,
like prior to the premiere and during rehearsal, were you
really nervous more for the dance or were you nervous
more for like what people were going to think of
you heading into the premiere?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
Both on That's so much to the dance, It was
more being back in the scene, being back on TV
after like just all the hate messages I would get
and it just kind of ruined me, Like it hurt
my my mojo, Like I was very confident and now
(27:22):
I wasn't. And yeah, I'm still to be confident again.
I'm getting it back. And it's spent how long, like
fifty years?
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah, sixty. You know, it's so crazy that because when
you sign up to do Dancing with the Stars, you
don't sign up to necessarily unless you're a dancer, come
on the show and not feel maybe a little bit
like your soul has been taken away from you because
you have to be vulnerable, right like, in order to
succeed on this show. If there is no vulnerability and
(27:52):
it's covered up by ego or if you already are
a great dancer, you know that you're not going to
really do that well because it's about the journey. And
I think your story was in a way so beautiful
because people actually did rally behind you. For sure. Did
you feel safe with me as your coach? Had you
ever seen this show before? Did you even know who
(28:13):
maybe I was or did you have no idea?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Honestly, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I knew of the show, never watched it, and only time.
I was like, so, I don't even know who's my party.
They're like, oh, you got the best one, but watch out.
She she is gonna whoop you. I was like, who
who is Cheryl Burke? I was right, all right, let's
bring it. But you actually did help me out a
lot because when we first met, like actually hung out,
(28:40):
you know where we had our practice.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
In, like, uh what Sherman Oaks.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Yes, you know across was that.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Like sushi sushi plays.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
We got like we had cocktails, like we were like,
all right, our first session is over here.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
We're gonna have cocktails that just talk. I'm like, dag,
all right. I like this girl. She's like she's make
me feel like my guard's.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Not up basically yeah, yeah, and I could beat myself again.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Yeah that's good. Remember when you met Leah at that
sushi place. Yes, Leah's still my best I like.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Wait, I was like, wait a minute, you're friends with her?
But yeah, that's freaking bad ass. That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
What's so funny is that I felt right away and
I have a guard up as well, you know, for
past trauma or whatever, but like it was, I felt
like the need to protect you. I felt like I was, yeah,
your protector, you know, and I really wanted to be
able to have you feel comfortable because if the thing
is is like as a dance coach, if you're not comfortable,
especially with cameras in your face, then we're not going
(29:41):
to get anything done, you know. So I hope you
did feel that because I did. You know, there was
moments where I did feel protective. Was when like, remember
when the executives wanted our creative to be of us
re enacting what happened in Rio for our first dance.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Oh yes, Oh my gosh. And then you were like, uh.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Hell no, can you imagine if that happened with the protesters,
Like we didn't even know that the protesters were going
to happen, but then like if we actually did that,
and then the oh my.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
God, it was yeah crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
What was going through your mind? When did when you
so you thought it was a part of the show,
this man coming onto the stage.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Oh yeah, I thought it was all part of the show.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And then like within thirty seconds, like I was like, wait,
this isn't part of the show.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I'm like what no, hell, I'm dead. It just ruined me.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
I'm like great, I was just on the track to
get back out there, getting out of this black hole
that I was.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
In, like skipped the interview. Yeah, and I was crying.
I was crying.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
I was crying.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I was like no, like I don't deserve this.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Like yeah, but did you hear the audience though, Ryan,
when as soon as that happened, they were hearing for you?
I think, like though nothing Derek. Derek came out, He's
like this is a positive show.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, he definitely got back real quick there, and like, yes,
it made me feel a little good that, like.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
The crowd was like Ryan, Ryan, but it still was
so much. It hurt me so bad.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Do you think that that affected Like what was the
last thought I guess in your head when you went
to sleep that night. Was it just a lot of
feelings of like shame and guilt.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Or I don't know if I went to sleep that night,
I don't think about it. Yeah, it was. It was
just basically looking myself in the mirror and like, I suck.
I'm knowing what was Kayla?
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Was Kayla there with you?
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah? She was just holding me. Yeah the whole night.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
That was so crazy. And then obviously was what did
that mess with your self esteem moving forward into the competition.
Like I remember then we had a quick step, oh
the Muppets, remember.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Everything. It seemed like everything was just an uphill battle.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Yeah yeah, But I honestly, to be honest, I couldn't
be Like I remember one of the dancers was like, right,
you just need to be yourself.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
You need to just let loose and be yourself.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
And I couldn't because I was so tormented and so
afraid of being me.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
So like I like I couldn't like release my life
unless if it was just me and you and the
like practicing. But it was just being you, I could
be me. But then when I get out there, I'm
just like, ah, guys, yeah, like I just I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
It's so crazy because I was just having a conversation
with somebody too. It's like with behind all the glitz
and glamour and the spray dance and all this stuf,
you are the real person in rehearsals and then like
even Leah goes, I wish I was dancing this show
when there was during the pandemic, when there was no audience,
because like your mind plays tricks on you, you know,
And like I started to feel this too very much.
(33:14):
So like towards the end of my drinking, you know,
my alcohol, like consuming a lot of alcohol, and that
was it was interesting because like it was my mind
was playing tricks on me, and I believed all of
my thoughts. Is that similar you think to what you
were going through?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Yeah? I mean, well not so much believe in it.
It was just it just put me down.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
Yeah. It made me lose confidence. It made me think
I was worthless. It made me think I was nothing.
When when I swam and I was so confident, I
would walk with a chip on my Shoulder'd be like, what's.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Up, guys? How you guys doing? Being me? And then
it just got shattered.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
I think it's a double whammy though, because, like I said, dancing,
you have to come on this show vulnerable, and you
were all already so vulnerable. Like in a way, do
you know, I don't know why my I don't know
Mickey Mouse is haunting me. I don't know why that happens. Okay, uh,
but like what do you think your experience you say
was so it wasn't the best experience. Was it because
of that? Or do you think it could have been better?
(34:15):
Like would you do the show again if they didn't
at all? Athletes season?
Speaker 5 (34:21):
No?
Speaker 1 (34:22):
What was it about Dancing with the Stars?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Why trained four years straight every day for swimming than
do six weeks hard.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Maybe maybe another dance partner you would have had more fun.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
No way, no way, you healthy. But it was it
was like swimmers are supposed to be shoulders over the
complete opposite of dancing.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Don't you miss me saying frame and barking at you
all every two seconds?
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Shoulders, shoulders.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I know I've been I've been stuck talking you right,
and I've been trying to like listen to like recent
interviews you've done, and you don't ever talk about Dancing
with the Stars. Is this the reason?
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Yes, it's so much the reason.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Okay, wait, you're gonna have to tell my listeners more though,
what like did you ever have fun or was it
just really a lot of work.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
It was a lot of work, But I had fun
when it was everything not dancing.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
When we would do like when we'd go out.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
I loved when it was like show night and we
were in the back room like seeing everyone like playing,
and then as soon as those lights said you're up,
I'm like.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Oh the little.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
That's the worst.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
I'm glad. I'm glad that I did it. Though it
was a good experience.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
What did you learn from that experience just on the
show and about yourself?
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Basically that I'm not a good dancer. I thought I could.
I was like, man, I'm an athlete, I can do this,
but no, can't.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
But basically the biggest lesson is you know, in life,
you're always.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Going to get knocked down no matter what.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
But it's how you get up and how you keep
moving forward that is going to shape you who you are.
And I think that's what I learned. Like I got
knocked down. I mean I was already knocked down. I
don't know how more I could have got knocked down,
but I did. But I got up, I faced my fears,
I challenged myself, and I kept moving forward. Yeah, and
(36:31):
I think in life you have to do you have
to keep moving forward. You can't do well on the
past in the past.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Yeah. I also heard you say in an interview that
you went through depression. Was this after Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
No, I went through I went through hard depression after
I didn't make the Olympic.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Team last time. Oh okay, say more.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Yeah, So I really went through depression because I've I
would always wake up I couldn't even go outside to
take my trash out to the end of the driveway
because I was just so depressed. I couldn't even get
out of bed. Me and my wife we're about to
get a divorce. Like she was like, who are you like?
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Who? I'm like, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
I would wake up every day look at myself in
the mirror and being like fucking pathetic.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Yeah, and I would cry all the time. I'd be
like I let everyone down. And I think that was
the biggest thing because I love everybody. I have a
good heart, Like I feel like everyone has a good heart.
So I would always be like I let everyone down,
like that guy from the stands he was like, hey
do it for the old guys.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
You got this, And I feel like I just let
everyone down and it really messed me up.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Yeah, how did you did you see a therapist or like,
how did you I guess when you're depressed, the signs
of that what we read the signs? How did you
note were you diagnosed with depression or.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
I wasn't.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
But it was all this because my wife was like
a long time ago, way back in the day, she
said she had depression, and she's like, she told me
about the signs. I've looked it up. I never saw
a therapist. I didn't want to because I was like,
you know what, I could do this myself. Obviously I
could not, and so like it was just all these
(38:28):
things that I started noticing, Like I was lazy, couldn't
get out of bed, I was grumpy.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
I was walking around like this. And the more I kept.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Putting my foot forward through the door, the more I
kept on getting myself up, kept on moving forward, chasing
that light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
I started becoming more me.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Yeah, And obviously the biggest thing that helped was my family.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Yeah. Would you say that the lesson learned there would
be the fact that you don't ever do anything for
anybody else, do it for yourself.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Or yes and no when like for that instance, for
like my swimming, I should have done it for me,
because if I wasn't in it for me, you're not
gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Like you can't put your whole heart in.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
So you have to be one hundred percent for you
or else, even if you're like ninety percent that ten
percent you're going to fall short. Yeah, so you have
to do the one hundred percent for yourself, but it
is a good motivation for your.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Family, like if you have something to go for.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
But I was infatuated by being a dad and a husband,
so like I put all my energy that direction instead
of swimming.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
How did you do both? Like do you believe? I
don't believe in balance, but do you I didn't obviously No, sure,
I don't think you could be an expert in something
and then also be a freaking you know, like focus
on your family. It's like it it just takes not
enough hours.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
It was the hardest thing. It was the hardest thing
to do, was.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
After beating my body up in swim practice for like
three hours, going home and being a dad yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Like and a husband.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Like it was just so hard when before I'd go home,
take a nap, get ready, get rested, and get ready
for the next practice. But I couldn't so like, but
I was having so much fun when I went home
that I.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Didn't give to shit if I was tired. I was
just loving life. And then like my energy just started
going towards my family, which.
Speaker 4 (40:47):
Of course I'm happy yeah, everything did.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
That's awesome. So have you made peace with the fact
that maybe it wasn't meant to be to go back
to the Olympics in twenty twenty one?
Speaker 4 (40:58):
Yeah, I mean, and that's why, Like so since then,
like I was in a rut, the depression and everything.
Once I started getting out of it, like I was like,
what's next for me?
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Like what am I doing with my life? And then like.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
We started going in this dreg we rebranded my entire
me basically got a new logo, emblem, a new website,
doing things outside of just me being a swimmer, because
I felt like I was so much more than just
an Olympic swimmer, Like swimming is just a sport that
(41:38):
I did and I was good at.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
That's a different lesson that is. I mean, I hear you, dude,
because like I went through that too. It's like my
identity is not dancing with the stars, and that was
a hard pill to swallow. And I am learning who
I am today. You know, I moved out of LA
I'll tell you after this when I moved to I
honestly like, I am learning to love myself or first
(42:03):
like myself right like and and I've been in therapy
my whole life. But like, really trying not to define
myself by the material world or by like my occupation
is so hard because that's what I did for my
whole life. Did you you feel the same, I mean,
obviously you went through that hump. Do you have any
advice for me?
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Keep moving forward? Keep walking, keep walking forward. You're going
to learn so many things, Like I'm still learning so
many things about myself and it is freaking awesome. Like
dancing was You're a badass at it, but it didn't
define who you were. And I saw who you really
(42:42):
were when we hung out outside of dancing, and you
have to you have to understand that, like everyone's occupation
or everyone's job or every was saying that really like
is them, It's not them. There's so much more as inside.
Like for me, I was like, I'm a swimmer, yes,
(43:03):
but that doesn't define who I am.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Who I really am.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
What I thought I would put on this earth for
was being a husband and a father, And I found
that out through my family and my kids.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
And I'm still moving forward. I'm still putting one foot forward.
Speaker 4 (43:18):
Left right, left, right, and all these new projects that
I have going on that I'm doing. I'm just like,
this is like crazy because I don't know what the
heck I'm doing. I'm surrounded myself with a good team
because all I did was swim up and down a pool.
I was like, Ryan, go swim twenty laps, go as
(43:40):
fast as you can. Got it, Ryan, we need a
business idea for I was.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Like, wait, what who huh? Like this is saying.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
Such a new journey, This new chapter in my life
is freaking awesome. And that's what Like, that's what you
have to start taking, Like that's your old chapter. Hey,
you're writing a book. Your book is your whole entire life.
Dancing was a big chapter. Now that you're on to
the next chapter.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
I'm so proud of you, Ryan, I really am so
happy for you. A couple of fan questions and a
quick rapid fire before I let you go. Okay, yeah,
at Addie m West out of the whole cast, who
(44:30):
did you build the best relationship with Star Pro?
Speaker 2 (44:34):
I would probably say Vanilla's because I still talk to him. Really,
we still talk all the time.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Do you call him Vanilla? I's no, I just say hey,
how's he doing? He danced with Whitney Carson.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
Or Carson all over the place, and he wants me
to be on his like a building shows, like oh,
I'll build this house and you'll be like, we'll come
in and you'll be in there, pool swimming.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
He builds houses. Yes, I thought you was a sing Yeah,
I have a bit. I don't watch TV. Wait, he's
a he's a construction worker. Wow, I'm literally lost. I
am so lost. Oh my god, TV show.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
He has his own TV show.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Wow. Clearly, Okay, all right, I better catch up on
my freaking hot topics. Okay, what's harder? Swimming or dancing?
This is from Gemma Wretch. I can't say the name.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Jama, Well, you obviously know it is dancing.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Favorite dance style from the show or favorite dance? Oh
oh stop it.
Speaker 5 (45:49):
You hated the second. But look at those figure eight
hip That is more like hula hoop hips. It's all
in the Let me see the figure eight. Get up,
let me see your figure eight. Do you remember how
to do it?
Speaker 4 (46:02):
No?
Speaker 2 (46:02):
No, no, no, no, can't do it.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Come on, you just did, just try it. Make it
your questions.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Back to the questions, Back to the question. Okay, I
think my favorite was salsa.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Yes, the glow and the dark makeup really killed it.
That was when you were sureless okay at the James
Bennett do you last last fan question? Do you think
you would have gone further on dancing had the incident
with the protesters never happened?
Speaker 2 (46:25):
I think so?
Speaker 1 (46:26):
Really, I think so.
Speaker 4 (46:27):
Then I don't just because I was getting my confidence
back being on the shows, seeing hanging out with you,
hanging out with like all this, all the famous people,
and just being back there, I started getting my confidence slowly.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Back, and then that incident happened and just shot me down.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
I was like, so then I had my guard up
completely the whole entire show.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Right, So, okay, are you ready? Rapid fire means one
word answers and fire meaning like, let's freaking make it
fire and go fast. Are you ready? Who falls in
love first? The celebrity or the pro? You think? I know,
we never had that relationship, but I'm just like, in general,
you said the pro. You're the first guest that said pro.
(47:15):
I love it. Spiedos are dance belts, swim cap for
lots of gel in hair, spray, swim cat flippers or
cuban heels.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
Ryan, I don't even know what Cuban heeled is.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Latin heel that you used to wear.
Speaker 2 (47:34):
Oh, that's where impossible to walk in.
Speaker 1 (47:40):
Dance floors are pools, pools, grindstones are shirtless.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
Well right now, rhinestones.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
Spray tan or natural tan, all natural. Real worst thing
about the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
The worst thing about the Olympics losing.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
Describe Michael Phelps in one word. Are you guys friends again?
Speaker 2 (48:10):
Yeah? He so, he side.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
He's the one that actually kind of talked to me,
helped me out of my depression as well, because he
went through the same thing.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
How did you guys even start talking again?
Speaker 4 (48:23):
He just reached out to me, he said, I know
what you're going through. Like, hey, I just want to
say you're a beast of the water. I had the
best races of my life with you. And like he
just we talked like probably once or twice every other
like a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
That's so nice to hear, because I remember we wanted
to get him onto, like to say something in our package,
and it was like crickets. But I'm so happy that
he was, like he's there for you. That's awesome, dude,
that's so cool. Describe him in one word cool.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
I don't know. That's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Who was stricter? Your dad or me? Do you stop it? Rude?
Best thing about the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (49:07):
The best thing about the Olympics is going to a place,
especially in this world. Now, go to a place where
everyone has just one thing. It doesn't matter what color
you are, what language you speak, where you're from. Everyone's
going to coming together to do one thing.
Speaker 2 (49:25):
Compete, beat your ass.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
Yes, first thought about speedos?
Speaker 2 (49:33):
First thought about a speedos? Does my package look good? Right?
Speaker 1 (49:40):
I love you? What's something on your bucket list?
Speaker 2 (49:44):
Skydiving?
Speaker 1 (49:45):
Stop? That's so scary. How often do you shave your legs?
Or did you do? You still shave your legs? I
hope not.
Speaker 4 (49:52):
No, no, no, I don't shave my legs anymore. How
often did I do it? Once a year right before
a big championship meet?
Speaker 1 (50:00):
In your life, you would do over again?
Speaker 2 (50:04):
Nothing?
Speaker 1 (50:05):
Love it? Favorite reality show that you did? Obviously it's
not dancing?
Speaker 2 (50:08):
Go ahead, Oh that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Wait, how many reality shows have you done?
Speaker 2 (50:16):
I mean I had my own show once.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Oh my god with Kayla.
Speaker 4 (50:22):
No, this was like back when I was just just
a party boy.
Speaker 2 (50:27):
It was what would Ryan you do?
Speaker 1 (50:29):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (50:29):
Oh no, no, no, I'm.
Speaker 1 (50:32):
Gonna have to watch it. Watch Wait what did you do?
Speaker 2 (50:35):
Favorite one would probably be the Traders. Really he loved it.
Speaker 4 (50:42):
Like, even though I got killed early ish, I had
so much fun because I like I just I was
there just to hang out with everyone?
Speaker 1 (50:54):
Was Max on your season?
Speaker 2 (50:57):
No?
Speaker 1 (50:58):
No, okay, so you did it like a why I'll
go then? Right?
Speaker 2 (51:01):
Yeah. Second years ago.
Speaker 1 (51:04):
Someone asked Traders versus Dancing with the Stars, which one
would you choose? Obviously Traders? Guys, he's a trader. Okay,
were you I'm kidding? Were you scared when the scene
broke out after your premiere dance?
Speaker 2 (51:19):
Was I scared?
Speaker 1 (51:20):
Scared?
Speaker 2 (51:21):
Scared? Yeah? Scared? I was it like a turtle? I
crawled back in my show.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Yeah. If you had to choose between having to do
dancing or train at and compete in the Winter Olympics,
which would you choose? Oh, it's not that hard, of course. Okay,
kiss Mary Kill. You gotta choose one. This is the
last thing. Jimmy Fagan, Gunnar Bent, Michael Phelps, kiss Mary Kill.
I hope I'm saying your teammate's names wrong, right.
Speaker 2 (51:50):
Yeah, No, I'm not kissing any of them.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
Yeah, no, you'd kiss Michael, he's your buddy. No, but
you're not really doing this. We're not really killed, and
we're not really kissing, and we're not really mirroring you.
Sound like Leah Remnie. Just quickly go.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
All right?
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Uh kiss Mary kill kiss Mary kill killed Gunner kiss Vegan,
Mary Phelps.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
Love it, Carrianna now, but Julianne have Bruno Tonioli kiss
Mary kill. That's your judges, by the way, kiss you forgot.
Speaker 2 (52:24):
Kiss Julia.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
Mary the other carry Anne.
Speaker 2 (52:31):
Mary Anne, and then I had to have.
Speaker 1 (52:33):
To kill kid bye Bruno foxtrot Salsa, Viennese waltz kiss
Mary kill fox trot.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
What was the other one?
Speaker 1 (52:42):
Salsa glow in the dark, Oh Mary salsa? Obviously well,
Vinie's waltz is really good for you too.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
Kill waltz.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
And kiss and Mary Fox Trott or kiss Fox shot
okay cool? James, James Hinchcliffe, Calvin Johnson and Vanilla Ice
kiss Mary kill, Yeah, Mary.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
Vanilla Ice kiss Calvin kill.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
Hitchcliff, that's right, no kidding, I love you, James, Maxim Schmierkowski, Valschmerkowsky,
Derek Huff last two.
Speaker 2 (53:20):
Who were the first two names?
Speaker 1 (53:23):
I knew it Max? Remember Max?
Speaker 4 (53:26):
Max?
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Oh sorry I said their last name. That's why Max
danced with Amber Rose. I think, yes, yeah, Max is
little brother val Val Derek Derek who saved your life.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
Huff Mary Derek kiss.
Speaker 1 (53:48):
Max Rvell. You just two people.
Speaker 2 (53:50):
It's fine, and they kill Max.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
Oh perfect. Okay. For my listeners who want to be
able to follow you, what are you first up to
with all these new projects and we're can they find you?
Speaker 2 (54:02):
Yes? I am.
Speaker 4 (54:04):
I just came out with my new merchandise line.
Speaker 1 (54:09):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Doing that created a legendary academy, which is a swim
clinic all around the world. But it's not your normal
swim clinic where we're gonna have slushies. We're gonna have
like the whole nine.
Speaker 2 (54:23):
Yards, just going around the world helping kids.
Speaker 4 (54:28):
So I have that coming out with a new sunscreen
called block T.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (54:36):
Yeah, it's already out. So all this stuff you can get,
you can order the legendary thing. You can get your
block D and my merchandise all I'm loifever dot com.
Speaker 1 (54:50):
We'll put it in the show notes. But also, wait,
are you teaching kids how to swim like personally. Yeah,
that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (54:59):
I I'm doing that teaching kids how to swim personally.
But Mike Swim Clinics are not just for swimmers. They're
for everyone, anyone in this entire world that wants to
swim or learn and get motivated because we do motivational stuff.
We talk about nutrition everything. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (55:19):
To the legendary Academy with Rob.
Speaker 1 (55:21):
Yeah that's awesome. You just taught Jennifer Hudson how to swim,
and I, you know, I'm a segment host on her show.
We just missed each other because I'm there like eight times. Yeah,
so I saw that. That was so cool.
Speaker 2 (55:32):
She was phenomenal. Yeah. I was so proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (55:36):
I was like, yeah, did she really not know how
to swim or was she kidding?
Speaker 4 (55:40):
No, No, she had no idea how to swim, And
within like an hour, so I got her swimming over
like one hundred yards.
Speaker 1 (55:48):
Whoa dude, that's awesome. See, you're a great coach. I'm
so happy for you. Please send my love to everybody,
and I can't. I hope to meet your kids one day.
Speaker 2 (55:57):
Yes, yes, we're gonna have to take a trip wherever.
Speaker 1 (56:00):
You are yes. Okay, well I'll tell you soon anyway.
Thank you, Ryan, it was so good to see you
and hear from you. Thanks for doing it.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Don't be hey, don't be a stranger.
Speaker 1 (56:09):
Thank you so much. Make sure you guys follow us
at sex Lies and spray tands on our Instagram handle
and make sure your comment. Let me know who you
want me to interview. What do you all think? Let
me know
This is Sex Lies and Spray Tands with me Cheryl
Burke and iHeartRadio podcast. Hey guys, welcome to Sex Lies
and Spray Tands. Let's just you know the drill, get
right into it. My next guest is someone who I
absolutely adore. Not only was our time to gather memorable
to say the least for multiple reasons which you're gonna
(00:21):
find out here soon. But to me, he defined the
saying don't judge a book by its cover. From the
moment we met, I felt the need to be his protector,
and that was solely because I felt like he trusted
me right away, not just as his dance coach, but
also as a friend, even though we barely knew each
other at the time. I'll never forget our conversations that
we had off camera in my car in the parking
(00:41):
lot of a random dance studio, most likely eating taco
bell where production would put us due to the overly
aggressive paparazzi following him and us at the time. In
my car, we'd have very vulnerable conversations, yet still, you know,
never crossed boundaries and always had the utmost respect for
one another. As my next guest, never shied away from
who he was, the fear and anxiety of whatever he
(01:03):
was going through at the time, in the rollercoaster ride
of events and pivotal moments in his life that has
definitely shaped who he is today. As a result, I
felt so much compassionate and empathy for what he was
going through and wanted to be there for him, knowing
that he may not have had a lot of people
in his life back then that he could actually lean on,
let alone trust. During Season twenty three of Dancing with
(01:24):
the Stars, there were multiple instances that happened where I
had to step in whether it would be like a
certain idea for the creative for a dance that the
executive producers wanted us to do, and me having to
actually put my foot down because of the controversy that
it would have caused, as if my next guest wasn't
already dealing with enough drama at that time. Though we
are the same age, I felt like an older sister
(01:46):
or even a dance mom to him at times. You
may know my next guest as a four time Olympian
competing in Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janio, and
a twelve time Olympic medalists, including six gold, three silver,
and three bronze medals. He has been named both American
and World Twimmer of the Year twice in his career,
and as a total of seventy medals in major international competitions,
(02:10):
including forty five first place finishes. Though my next guest
couldn't add mirror ball trophy to his impressive resume. Though
this sounds cliche, but the moment we met for the
first time, and yes, we met at a random house,
he was in his speedos and goggles swimming in a pool,
and then, per the direction of our Dancing with the
Stars producer, he just, you know, gracefully hopped out. I
(02:32):
shook his wet hand, and in shock, I gasped for
air because I hadn't realized how tall he was. I
just knew right away that my next guest was a
winner in my eyes, no matter where we placed that season.
Please welcome my friend, Ryan Lochte. Ryan, I miss your face.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I'm too Oh my god, what in the heck? How
are I can't? First of all, how long has it been.
It's been so long?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So long, like what three like seventy years? Yes, very long,
too long, too long, that's all we know. But what
is going on? How is life?
Speaker 1 (03:13):
I remember we were supposed to do a show together
just recently and that just didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Really bummed because when I saw the like the cast,
I was like, ryl burn.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
What that would have been? Really scary?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Abo so much fun?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
How's life? You have so many kids running around everywhere
and you're still married to the same beautiful woman.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yes, we're just popping them out like skittles.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
But like, what is going on?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
So many things?
Speaker 4 (03:43):
It is probably this is probably the happiest I've ever
been in my entire life.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's so good to know.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Every day is just so much fun with these kids.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Like even though they're a little pests, sometimes they're just
oh my gosh, they just give you that smile, just like.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Mil I'm like, all right, guys, you can do whatever
you want. You're good.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Do you remember when you were in my car? You
know how we would have like like deep conversations in
my car. Do you remember this before rehearsals? And I
remember you telling me that you guys were pregnant.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Remember, yes, that was so long ago. Peez. Yeah, because
my son just turned six.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
What yeah, that's so crazy. Time flies, but we'll get there. Okay,
So you're here because I have a podcast called Sex,
Lies and Spray TNDS. So when you hear those three
descriptive words, what do you think dancing with the stars?
No kidding, but yeah, this is about dancing with the stars.
And you know, look, obviously there was a lot of
(04:45):
memorable moments in our partnership, but even before that, I
want to talk more in depth about your life. And
because I think you know, I've been sober for five
and a half years. I am, I was married, now divorced.
You know, a lot of things have happened, obviously to
the both of us, and I don't know if I
was in the right headspace to ask you these questions.
So I'm actually very curious, you know, to know, like,
(05:09):
what was your life like, I guess growing up in
the lofty household when you were a kid.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
When I was a kid, I mean it was fun.
We were never in the house.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
We were because we lived on about one hundred and
fifty five acres of land. We lived on top of
a mountain upstate New York, and our next door neighbor
was a mile away, so we had these open fields
that overlooked the valley.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
It was so.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Beautiful, and my friends would come over and we'd just
be outside NonStop. We do like little kid things like shoot,
try to shoot each other with bow and arrows, like
all the good stuff. Sledding, Oh my gosh, I missed sledding,
sledding down like a mile foot slope. Oh my, yes,
I missed those days. My parents they loved me to death.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
They just showed up.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
We didn't have all the money in the world, but
what we did have was love and that went a
long way, and it kind of shaped me who I
am today. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I had two older sisters which beat the crap out
of me all the time, made me dress up like, uh,
just their little doll basically.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
And then I had my We had our brother.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I had my younger brother, so I would be on him,
I'd bully him.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So, I mean, it was all love.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Are your kids bullying each other? Now?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
So my first board, my son, Hayden, when we when
we told him that he's gonna have a sister, he
immediately started crying. But as soon as like so they bicker,
those two bicker. My middle daughter, my daughter that we
(06:53):
just had she's about she's five months tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
He is so good to.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Her, like he beats on Live, which is she's four,
and but she gives it back to him like she's
the boss. She bosses me around, she bosses everybody around.
I was like, you are going to be the president
of the United States. Jeez, your bandit?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
And then uh yeah, So like Ca did, Kayden and Live.
They both love the new baby. They take care of her.
They pick her up, they hold her, they feed her
like it is just it.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Melts my heart.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
It's like when those times I'm like, man, let's have
another one, honey, and she's like.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Oh my god, poor Kayla.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And then when they like start acting up, they're like,
oh no, no, we take that back.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
We're not having another.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I think three is a perfect number.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah well yeah, yeah, I mean I could have more.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I mean, do you want another boy? Is that? Why?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
If she wants another one, I got you.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Oh my god. So clearly you haven't snipped snipped the
kohonnies yet you.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Oh no, I've been. I go back and forth. But yeah,
I'm just gonna wait.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Yeah, it was meant to be. It'll be. So when
you were a kid when you were like you were
obviously in extracurricular activities like my mother put me in
like ballet, horseback riding, baseball, freaking, soccer. Uh bad, I say, basketball, volleyball, basketball,
Like I did everything, but dance was like the only
thing I never complained about. How about you?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
I did yeah, pretty much everything, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball
when I was in Upstate, New York. And then I
swam too, obviously, but all those sports didn't have the
same effect.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That swimming did.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
There was something just about that water where like I
could be having the worst day of my life, and
as soon as I stepped foot in that water, everything
just disappears and I'm just like in my happy place.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I'm home.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, and swimming came so natural to me, and I
just loved it. I loved it so much. I love
the water. It calmed me down and I stuck with that.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
How was it having because like I could if my
mother was my dance coach. I love you, Mom, because
I know she listens to every episode. I just don't
know if it would be if you remember you remember
Sherry Burke exactly. I just don't know if we would
be as close as we are today. How was it
having your parents? Uh? Was it both your parents or
(09:30):
was it just your dad coaching?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Both my parents were swim coaches. And it was actually
a unique situation because I put so much. I can
out train anyone in this entire world in the pool, really,
in the pool, anyone, and I will go to the death.
But so I leave everything in the pool. And so
when practice is done, I don't want to talk about swimming.
(09:56):
I want to live my normal life because swimming is
so demanding and you're basically staring at a black line
on the bottom of the pool, going up and down,
up and down, up and down, like eighty million times. Yeah,
and when I'm on the pool deck, I can't say,
hey Mom, hey Dad. It was coach, coach, coach coach.
(10:17):
They never expected more out of me than everyone else.
They're like, if you're gonna do something, don't half ascid,
like you're gonna go all in, just give it a
chance and do it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
How did you guys separate the two though?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
We just I kind of basically demanded it me. Basically,
my dad was like my overall coach for all those years.
We had agreement that like as soon as we leave
the pool deck, we don't talk about swimming. Even if
I had the worst practice or the best practice, we don't.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Talk about it.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
We're done, Let's go get ice cream, let's go get pizza,
let's go have fun. But then when the when I
came to swim practice, it was business.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah, did they have like an ultimatum with you when yeah, no,
I hear you, Like I remember, my mom was like,
you know, dancing for you if you don't get like
a certain grade right like at school, and school wasn't
my I would say no more streets smart, the book smart,
but like I just knew, I just knew I had
to get like above average right in order. And then
(11:23):
there was a time too where my mom was like, look,
you know you're grounded, or like where I'm not paying
for your freaking plane ticket to England. So I danced
on the streets in San Francisco and I made two
thousand dollars. I'm not a freaking kiddick. I made two grand.
This was like in the nineties. Okay, it was me,
my guest partner and like somebody holding a boom box
(11:44):
in our Adida's rip aways, like you remember those things,
our Adidas rip aways and Capezio's dancing, our little asses off,
and we made some bank. Like I was like, mom,
I don't need you.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
That is awesome. I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Did your parents give you, guys, like an ultimatum or no?
Was it like the swimming first and then school?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
No? No, not at all, or just like if you're
going to do something, you go all in.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah totally, no, I hear you.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
And this is whatever decision you make, it's you. We're
not pushing you, but it's up to you. And if
you do it something, go all in and give it
a chance. And so they never pushed us. They never said,
well they're swim coaches, so like we're swim coaches, so
my kids have to be the best like they were.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Never like that. They just want there are parents.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, no, I hear you. And how is your mom?
Because I remember your mom supported us so much during dancing.
Did I ever meet your dad? Did your dad ever come.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
To a show?
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:53):
No, no, my dad. No, my dad never went. Why
Oh so my parents they split up, they got a divorce. Yeah,
so my mom was always coming, no matter what she
was coming.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So oh I didn't want to have both them come
and bicker.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Oh right, okay, now I remember a little. Was it
just like a split up that happened just back then,
like at that time or was it old like they.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Do, so they split up back in twenty eleven. Oh yeah,
so it's been it's been a while.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, so it's not like your dad to support you.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
That's all I care about. Is everyone being happy.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
How is your mom doing?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
She's doing good, she is.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
That's another that's another subject. We don't really talk as much.
Oh really really, yeah, I'm really close with my dad
because he comes up and I'm close with him because
he is being a grandpa like and he's obsessed with it,
and he treats my family because my number one job,
(13:58):
no matter what who it is, I protect my family.
So if you're gonna butt heads with my kids or anything,
you're gonna butt heads with me, no matter who it is.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And my dad was just immediately.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
There and like giving them ice creams, like just being
the grandpa that I've always.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wished my kids.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Here. Yeah, did your mom meet how's your mom met
your kids at all? Or oh wow, okay, okay, how's
Kayla doing? I mean, it's been so long, like I
just okay. First of all, I remember you rehearsed. You
rehearsed your freaking engagement, your proposal during rehearsal. Do you
remember this?
Speaker 4 (14:40):
And you know what, I totally messed up the what
I got to say, I.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Totally messed it up. All that came out was like
love you can you marry me?
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You were literally sweating your ass off at rehearsal, and
you change. I'm pretty sure you changed at that rehearsal
in Sherman Oaks. Then you did any free did it
and you were so nervous, and I was like, just
go get it. Good luck.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
She is seriously my rock. She's the best thing that's
ever happened besides my kids. Like it's it's freaking amazing.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, and if anything, like I don't know if your mom,
if that has anything to do with it, but like
that should prove to her and anybody who ever questioned
your guys' relationship how solid you guys are, which is awesome.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah, I mean, like she's she's smart, pretty funny, well
funny sometimes.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I think I'm the funniest in the family, but.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
For sure, but yeah, I mean she doesn't she just
does it all and like her becomes me watching her
become a mom has been seriously just I'm in awe.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's awesome. I see how happy you are. Ryan, and
I do keep in touch with you, you know, obviously
I don't really scroll through social media as much because
of my mental health as a priority. But like, how so, okay,
so I met you? How how soon did I meet
you after Rio? After that incident happened in Rio wool Like.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Probably I want to say, like three weeks for a
month maybe because that happened in August, and we had
our first dance in like end of September or something.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, we met in August because we had to do
the training period. Remember we had like three weeks of
training and then our premiere.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Wasn't yes yes, So it was like right after Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Okay, so that makes sense as far as like the
craziness that was happening around you and surrounding you, and
then do you remember meeting me at that random house?
You came out of the pool and you were like
in your speedos and shit, and I was like.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh my gosh. I was like, what I'm doing here?
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Tell me how this all happened? Did Dina Katz or
did like who told you about you? Like ask asking
you to do the show? Like I'm sure they asked
you soon after that happened, right, Oh.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
No they So I signed the contract and everything before
the Olympics happened. My plan was already Yeah, my plan
was already doing Dancing with the Stars before the Olympics happened.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Wow, that's why when when Rio happened, like the whole thing,
I was like, I think I'm gonna cancel this. I'm
gonna pull out because like I was just like sol emotions,
like I was just I was rock bottom and I
didn't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yeah, are you happy to me? First of all, good
on dancing? Good on Dancing with the Stars. I mean
they must have been like, oh my gosh, Like I
thought for sure they had. I thought you were like
a last minute edition.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
No, no, no, I I so that's what people thought.
They like, oh, they like we had to turn this around.
But it wasn't a PR stunt or anything. I already
had this. I was like, you know what, I'm gonna
try this. I suck at dance. I can't really walk straight.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Let's do this.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
You could walk straight? Actually, you weren't that bad, Ryan,
I must say no, seriously, you weren't that bad because
of your work ethic Who convinced you to do it?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
My wife?
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Oh really wait did you know Kayla?
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Then?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Yeah, we started dating Da da da da da da
January twenty fifth of twenty sixteen.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
For some reason, I thought you guys just met when
we met. Okay, got it, got it now, I get it. See,
my drinking I killed a few brain cells and.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Like we so, right after rio happened, we were back
home in the house and there's news reporters all over,
like in the front yard, and I was just crying,
being like, well this, I don't want to do this anymore.
I don't want to like I would just want to
go to an island and just escape from everyone. And
(18:53):
she was like she basically slapped me across my face
and said, Brian, this is not you.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You're a fighter. You're going to get up. You know
what happened, like this is the media taking over and
spinning everything like I know who you are.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Don't let people in and I she yeah, she helped
me out though this dark hole I was in.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
And what did your reps think? Like you did you
had an agent obviously and all that. Right, you had
a whole team around you. Do they think that you
should have done Dancing with the Stars?
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Oh? They left me. Everyone left me. Oh shit, I
had no one.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I had no one, I had no sponsorship, I had
no agent, I had nothing. Everyone left me because they're like, oh,
we don't want to associate with him. I was like,
but I'm telling you guys the damn truth, Like.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Wow, you really know who your friends are? Huh.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I don't have regrets of what happened on Like how
the media just went a r up with this because
it helped shape who I was who I am today
and I was It's help me. There's so many life
lessons that I got to learn from this. I mean,
I'm a better human being because of this.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Like you said, you're what five years or whatever, it's ober.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I'm sixty Wait sixty years, No.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Sixty days. I'm that old cod really got some break?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
No way, no way, you got some pepper. That's something pepper. Wait,
that's amazing, Ryan.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah, sixty days without drinking. So it's been.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Yeah, can you imagine can you imagine having what?
Speaker 4 (20:37):
It's actually badass? Because like I'm more clearer. I'm more happy,
even though when I drank, I was always happy. I'm
just like more on it, like focused. I'm not like
like a hangover.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Like oh right, first of all, let me just correct you.
You are not more happy when you were drinking. Do
you remember, Okay, if me and you had this conversation
back in Vegas, do you remember that? And we were
there because for my listeners, we were there shooting a
package to see oh at the Bellagio and remember it's
like a circus circle. Yeah, and we were there, and
(21:19):
then we also my friends just happened to be there
as well, and we went in. But like you also
already knew your dance. But like, do you remember when
we had to do camera blocking meaning like the camera
blocking means before the life show the day before and
you were you were still a little Oh yes, I
was so mad. I was like, right, yeah, you go, sorry,
(21:41):
I haven't slept. Oh oh my god, I was so
mad at you.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Oh yeah, good times, good times, yeah, good times.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
What made you want to stop drinking? And why did
you go to rehab or was it just like was
it just a decision to Quito, It's.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Just something that like I never really did it when
I was training.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Yeah, and I started noticing like the patterns, like it
was affecting my relationship with Kayla, like I would wake
up late, she would get all the kids ready. I
wasn't really helping as much like when I was like
the next day, I was just sleeping all the time
because I was so tired. So I mean, it was
(22:21):
it was it was that, Yeah, like I just had
to become a better person. So I'm not saying like
I'll never drink again. I'm just saying I'm trying to
do this being sober and just see where it takes me.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
And yeah, I went to rehab once.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Just it was like an outpatient. But it wasn't like
I had like a drinking problem.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It was it was just redoing my life like yeah, check,
like what is going on?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Yeah no, I'm sure. And honestly, I just retired from
dancing all this stars like last season, so I you know,
they always say, like especially for athletes, like once you
do that, you know. I look, people have warned me
like You're gonna hit this, you know, all time low
and look I am still grieving and it was it sad,
even though it was my decision. Absolutely, And is it
(23:19):
hard to do this podcast, watch the show and all
this stuff as I'm still grieving, Yes, but like also
there is an end, like nothing lasts forever, and so
I don't know how I guess, like, prior to Dancing
with the Stars, where that was it for you? Did
you ever think you were going to swim again? Or
were you not thinking that far?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I wasn't really thinking that far, just I knew.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
After Dancing with the Stars, I was like, I am
never gonna dance again.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I won't even dance my way. I can't do it.
I don't like it. Get me out of here.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
There hanging out with you, like hanging out with vanilla.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Eyes all that. But I was like, I will not
dance again.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Well, I mean, you looked great in those high waisted
pants and low v necks with glow in the dark
freaking makeup. You looked great.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Oh, because I follow you and I watched some of
the things that you post, I was like, I was horrible.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
No, you weren't. You were not.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Oh, you weren't a very part of myself. And I
was like, what the hell was that that is?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Do you.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Do you think let's go back and so would you.
But did you think, going back to my that that question,
would you have ever did you ever think you were
going to swim again or did you feel like you
just didn't want to think about it because I remember
they were drug testing you. They were doing so much
crap during this time.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So I wasn't going to swim again. I was kind
of basically done.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And then when my son was born, I was like,
you know, like everything changed in my life. I was like,
there are second chances, and I'm gonna do this. So
I was like, I gotta do this. I gotta do
this for my family. I gotta do this for my son,
(25:15):
I gotta do this for my wife. I got to
do this for all my friend's family, for all those
people to be like, come on, you can do a
second chance.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
You got it. So I did it for everyone.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
And that's why I fell short of making the Olympic
team in twenty twenty one is because I was doing
it for I wouldn't say the wrong reasons.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I wasn't doing it for everyone.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Else and not myself, right right right.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
And when swimming.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
Career, I was all me, like, let's do this. I
want to get a gold medal. I want to beat
Michael Phelps's ass, like I put this stuff, but this
time it was for everyone, and I came up short
because it was all for them, which you know what,
Everything happens for a reason, And it was God saying,
you know what, You're not making this team this.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You're going to move on.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Yeah, because you have a family, You're going to have more.
Do you remember when we got bombarded by these freaking
protesters that I actually just recently watched and it was
(26:23):
actually thought that they were armed. Will you explain? I mean, like,
even prior to this, did you know do you remember
when the executives.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I remember the like the security guy like freaking speared.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Someone shout out to Dave.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I was like, Cheryl, is this part of the damn show?
Because this is messed up?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Okay? But even prior to this, knowing what you had,
like prior to the premiere and during rehearsal, were you
really nervous more for the dance or were you nervous
more for like what people were going to think of
you heading into the premiere?
Speaker 4 (26:58):
Both on That's so much to the dance, It was
more being back in the scene, being back on TV
after like just all the hate messages I would get
and it just kind of ruined me, Like it hurt
my my mojo, Like I was very confident and now
(27:22):
I wasn't. And yeah, I'm still to be confident again.
I'm getting it back. And it's spent how long, like
fifty years?
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Yeah, sixty. You know, it's so crazy that because when
you sign up to do Dancing with the Stars, you
don't sign up to necessarily unless you're a dancer, come
on the show and not feel maybe a little bit
like your soul has been taken away from you because
you have to be vulnerable, right like, in order to
succeed on this show. If there is no vulnerability and
(27:52):
it's covered up by ego or if you already are
a great dancer, you know that you're not going to
really do that well because it's about the journey. And
I think your story was in a way so beautiful
because people actually did rally behind you. For sure. Did
you feel safe with me as your coach? Had you
ever seen this show before? Did you even know who
(28:13):
maybe I was or did you have no idea?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Honestly, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I knew of the show, never watched it, and only time.
I was like, so, I don't even know who's my party.
They're like, oh, you got the best one, but watch out.
She she is gonna whoop you. I was like, who
who is Cheryl Burke? I was right, all right, let's
bring it. But you actually did help me out a
lot because when we first met, like actually hung out,
(28:40):
you know where we had our practice.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
In, like, uh what Sherman Oaks.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Yes, you know across was that.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Like sushi sushi plays.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
We got like we had cocktails, like we were like,
all right, our first session is over here.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
We're gonna have cocktails that just talk. I'm like, dag,
all right. I like this girl. She's like she's make
me feel like my guard's.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Not up basically yeah, yeah, and I could beat myself again.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Yeah that's good. Remember when you met Leah at that
sushi place. Yes, Leah's still my best I like.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Wait, I was like, wait a minute, you're friends with her?
But yeah, that's freaking bad ass. That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
What's so funny is that I felt right away and
I have a guard up as well, you know, for
past trauma or whatever, but like it was, I felt
like the need to protect you. I felt like I was, yeah,
your protector, you know, and I really wanted to be
able to have you feel comfortable because if the thing
is is like as a dance coach, if you're not comfortable,
especially with cameras in your face, then we're not going
(29:41):
to get anything done, you know. So I hope you
did feel that because I did. You know, there was
moments where I did feel protective. Was when like, remember
when the executives wanted our creative to be of us
re enacting what happened in Rio for our first dance.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Oh yes, Oh my gosh. And then you were like, uh.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Hell no, can you imagine if that happened with the protesters,
Like we didn't even know that the protesters were going
to happen, but then like if we actually did that,
and then the oh my.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
God, it was yeah crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
What was going through your mind? When did when you
so you thought it was a part of the show,
this man coming onto the stage.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Oh yeah, I thought it was all part of the show.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And then like within thirty seconds, like I was like, wait,
this isn't part of the show.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I'm like what no, hell, I'm dead. It just ruined me.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
I'm like great, I was just on the track to
get back out there, getting out of this black hole
that I was.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
In, like skipped the interview. Yeah, and I was crying.
I was crying.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
I was crying.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I was like no, like I don't deserve this.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Like yeah, but did you hear the audience though, Ryan,
when as soon as that happened, they were hearing for you?
I think, like though nothing Derek. Derek came out, He's
like this is a positive show.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, he definitely got back real quick there, and like, yes,
it made me feel a little good that, like.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
The crowd was like Ryan, Ryan, but it still was
so much. It hurt me so bad.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Do you think that that affected Like what was the
last thought I guess in your head when you went
to sleep that night. Was it just a lot of
feelings of like shame and guilt.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Or I don't know if I went to sleep that night,
I don't think about it. Yeah, it was. It was
just basically looking myself in the mirror and like, I suck.
I'm knowing what was Kayla?
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Was Kayla there with you?
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah? She was just holding me. Yeah the whole night.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
That was so crazy. And then obviously was what did
that mess with your self esteem moving forward into the competition.
Like I remember then we had a quick step, oh
the Muppets, remember.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Everything. It seemed like everything was just an uphill battle.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Yeah yeah, But I honestly, to be honest, I couldn't
be Like I remember one of the dancers was like, right,
you just need to be yourself.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
You need to just let loose and be yourself.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
And I couldn't because I was so tormented and so
afraid of being me.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
So like I like I couldn't like release my life
unless if it was just me and you and the
like practicing. But it was just being you, I could
be me. But then when I get out there, I'm
just like, ah, guys, yeah, like I just I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
It's so crazy because I was just having a conversation
with somebody too. It's like with behind all the glitz
and glamour and the spray dance and all this stuf,
you are the real person in rehearsals and then like
even Leah goes, I wish I was dancing this show
when there was during the pandemic, when there was no audience,
because like your mind plays tricks on you, you know,
And like I started to feel this too very much.
(33:14):
So like towards the end of my drinking, you know,
my alcohol, like consuming a lot of alcohol, and that
was it was interesting because like it was my mind
was playing tricks on me, and I believed all of
my thoughts. Is that similar you think to what you
were going through?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Yeah? I mean, well not so much believe in it.
It was just it just put me down.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
Yeah. It made me lose confidence. It made me think
I was worthless. It made me think I was nothing.
When when I swam and I was so confident, I
would walk with a chip on my Shoulder'd be like, what's.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Up, guys? How you guys doing? Being me? And then
it just got shattered.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
I think it's a double whammy though, because, like I said, dancing,
you have to come on this show vulnerable, and you
were all already so vulnerable. Like in a way, do
you know, I don't know why my I don't know
Mickey Mouse is haunting me. I don't know why that happens. Okay, uh,
but like what do you think your experience you say
was so it wasn't the best experience. Was it because
of that? Or do you think it could have been better?
(34:15):
Like would you do the show again if they didn't
at all? Athletes season?
Speaker 5 (34:21):
No?
Speaker 1 (34:22):
What was it about Dancing with the Stars?
Speaker 4 (34:24):
Why trained four years straight every day for swimming than
do six weeks hard.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Maybe maybe another dance partner you would have had more fun.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
No way, no way, you healthy. But it was it
was like swimmers are supposed to be shoulders over the
complete opposite of dancing.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Don't you miss me saying frame and barking at you
all every two seconds?
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Shoulders, shoulders.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I know I've been I've been stuck talking you right,
and I've been trying to like listen to like recent
interviews you've done, and you don't ever talk about Dancing
with the Stars. Is this the reason?
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Yes, it's so much the reason.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Okay, wait, you're gonna have to tell my listeners more though,
what like did you ever have fun or was it
just really a lot of work.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
It was a lot of work, But I had fun
when it was everything not dancing.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
When we would do like when we'd go out.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
I loved when it was like show night and we
were in the back room like seeing everyone like playing,
and then as soon as those lights said you're up,
I'm like.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Oh the little.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
That's the worst.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
I'm glad. I'm glad that I did it. Though it
was a good experience.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
What did you learn from that experience just on the
show and about yourself?
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Basically that I'm not a good dancer. I thought I could.
I was like, man, I'm an athlete, I can do this,
but no, can't.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
But basically the biggest lesson is you know, in life,
you're always.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Going to get knocked down no matter what.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
But it's how you get up and how you keep
moving forward that is going to shape you who you are.
And I think that's what I learned. Like I got
knocked down. I mean I was already knocked down. I
don't know how more I could have got knocked down,
but I did. But I got up, I faced my fears,
I challenged myself, and I kept moving forward. Yeah, and
(36:31):
I think in life you have to do you have
to keep moving forward. You can't do well on the
past in the past.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Yeah. I also heard you say in an interview that
you went through depression. Was this after Dancing with the Stars.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
No, I went through I went through hard depression after
I didn't make the Olympic.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Team last time. Oh okay, say more.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Yeah, So I really went through depression because I've I
would always wake up I couldn't even go outside to
take my trash out to the end of the driveway
because I was just so depressed. I couldn't even get
out of bed. Me and my wife we're about to
get a divorce. Like she was like, who are you like?
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Who? I'm like, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
I would wake up every day look at myself in
the mirror and being like fucking pathetic.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Yeah, and I would cry all the time. I'd be
like I let everyone down. And I think that was
the biggest thing because I love everybody. I have a
good heart, Like I feel like everyone has a good heart.
So I would always be like I let everyone down,
like that guy from the stands he was like, hey
do it for the old guys.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
You got this, And I feel like I just let
everyone down and it really messed me up.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Yeah, how did you did you see a therapist or like,
how did you I guess when you're depressed, the signs
of that what we read the signs? How did you
note were you diagnosed with depression or.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
I wasn't.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
But it was all this because my wife was like
a long time ago, way back in the day, she
said she had depression, and she's like, she told me
about the signs. I've looked it up. I never saw
a therapist. I didn't want to because I was like,
you know what, I could do this myself. Obviously I
could not, and so like it was just all these
(38:28):
things that I started noticing, Like I was lazy, couldn't
get out of bed, I was grumpy.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
I was walking around like this. And the more I kept.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
Putting my foot forward through the door, the more I
kept on getting myself up, kept on moving forward, chasing
that light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
I started becoming more me.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Yeah, And obviously the biggest thing that helped was my family.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Yeah. Would you say that the lesson learned there would
be the fact that you don't ever do anything for
anybody else, do it for yourself.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Or yes and no when like for that instance, for
like my swimming, I should have done it for me,
because if I wasn't in it for me, you're not
gonna do it.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Like you can't put your whole heart in.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
So you have to be one hundred percent for you
or else, even if you're like ninety percent that ten
percent you're going to fall short. Yeah, so you have
to do the one hundred percent for yourself, but it
is a good motivation for your.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Family, like if you have something to go for.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
But I was infatuated by being a dad and a husband,
so like I put all my energy that direction instead
of swimming.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
How did you do both? Like do you believe? I
don't believe in balance, but do you I didn't obviously No, sure,
I don't think you could be an expert in something
and then also be a freaking you know, like focus
on your family. It's like it it just takes not
enough hours.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
It was the hardest thing. It was the hardest thing
to do, was.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
After beating my body up in swim practice for like
three hours, going home and being a dad yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
Like and a husband.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Like it was just so hard when before I'd go home,
take a nap, get ready, get rested, and get ready
for the next practice. But I couldn't so like, but
I was having so much fun when I went home
that I.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Didn't give to shit if I was tired. I was
just loving life. And then like my energy just started
going towards my family, which.
Speaker 4 (40:47):
Of course I'm happy yeah, everything did.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
That's awesome. So have you made peace with the fact
that maybe it wasn't meant to be to go back
to the Olympics in twenty twenty one?
Speaker 4 (40:58):
Yeah, I mean, and that's why, Like so since then,
like I was in a rut, the depression and everything.
Once I started getting out of it, like I was like,
what's next for me?
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Like what am I doing with my life? And then like.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
We started going in this dreg we rebranded my entire
me basically got a new logo, emblem, a new website,
doing things outside of just me being a swimmer, because
I felt like I was so much more than just
an Olympic swimmer, Like swimming is just a sport that
(41:38):
I did and I was good at.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
That's a different lesson that is. I mean, I hear you, dude,
because like I went through that too. It's like my
identity is not dancing with the stars, and that was
a hard pill to swallow. And I am learning who
I am today. You know, I moved out of LA
I'll tell you after this when I moved to I
honestly like, I am learning to love myself or first
(42:03):
like myself right like and and I've been in therapy
my whole life. But like, really trying not to define
myself by the material world or by like my occupation
is so hard because that's what I did for my
whole life. Did you you feel the same, I mean,
obviously you went through that hump. Do you have any
advice for me?
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Keep moving forward? Keep walking, keep walking forward. You're going
to learn so many things, Like I'm still learning so
many things about myself and it is freaking awesome. Like
dancing was You're a badass at it, but it didn't
define who you were. And I saw who you really
(42:42):
were when we hung out outside of dancing, and you
have to you have to understand that, like everyone's occupation
or everyone's job or every was saying that really like
is them, It's not them. There's so much more as inside.
Like for me, I was like, I'm a swimmer, yes,
(43:03):
but that doesn't define who I am.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Who I really am.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
What I thought I would put on this earth for
was being a husband and a father, And I found
that out through my family and my kids.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
And I'm still moving forward. I'm still putting one foot forward.
Speaker 4 (43:18):
Left right, left, right, and all these new projects that
I have going on that I'm doing. I'm just like,
this is like crazy because I don't know what the
heck I'm doing. I'm surrounded myself with a good team
because all I did was swim up and down a pool.
I was like, Ryan, go swim twenty laps, go as
(43:40):
fast as you can. Got it, Ryan, we need a
business idea for I was.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Like, wait, what who huh? Like this is saying.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
Such a new journey, This new chapter in my life
is freaking awesome. And that's what Like, that's what you
have to start taking, Like that's your old chapter. Hey,
you're writing a book. Your book is your whole entire life.
Dancing was a big chapter. Now that you're on to
the next chapter.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
I'm so proud of you, Ryan, I really am so
happy for you. A couple of fan questions and a
quick rapid fire before I let you go. Okay, yeah,
at Addie m West out of the whole cast, who
(44:30):
did you build the best relationship with Star Pro?
Speaker 2 (44:34):
I would probably say Vanilla's because I still talk to him. Really,
we still talk all the time.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Do you call him Vanilla? I's no, I just say hey,
how's he doing? He danced with Whitney Carson.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
Or Carson all over the place, and he wants me
to be on his like a building shows, like oh,
I'll build this house and you'll be like, we'll come
in and you'll be in there, pool swimming.
Speaker 1 (45:02):
He builds houses. Yes, I thought you was a sing Yeah,
I have a bit. I don't watch TV. Wait, he's
a he's a construction worker. Wow, I'm literally lost. I
am so lost. Oh my god, TV show.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
He has his own TV show.
Speaker 1 (45:24):
Wow. Clearly, Okay, all right, I better catch up on
my freaking hot topics. Okay, what's harder? Swimming or dancing?
This is from Gemma Wretch. I can't say the name.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
Jama, Well, you obviously know it is dancing.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Favorite dance style from the show or favorite dance? Oh
oh stop it.
Speaker 5 (45:49):
You hated the second. But look at those figure eight
hip That is more like hula hoop hips. It's all
in the Let me see the figure eight. Get up,
let me see your figure eight. Do you remember how
to do it?
Speaker 4 (46:02):
No?
Speaker 2 (46:02):
No, no, no, no, can't do it.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Come on, you just did, just try it. Make it
your questions.
Speaker 2 (46:06):
Back to the questions, Back to the question. Okay, I
think my favorite was salsa.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Yes, the glow and the dark makeup really killed it.
That was when you were sureless okay at the James
Bennett do you last last fan question? Do you think
you would have gone further on dancing had the incident
with the protesters never happened?
Speaker 2 (46:25):
I think so?
Speaker 1 (46:26):
Really, I think so.
Speaker 4 (46:27):
Then I don't just because I was getting my confidence
back being on the shows, seeing hanging out with you,
hanging out with like all this, all the famous people,
and just being back there, I started getting my confidence slowly.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Back, and then that incident happened and just shot me down.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
I was like, so then I had my guard up
completely the whole entire show.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Right, So, okay, are you ready? Rapid fire means one
word answers and fire meaning like, let's freaking make it
fire and go fast. Are you ready? Who falls in
love first? The celebrity or the pro? You think? I know,
we never had that relationship, but I'm just like, in general,
you said the pro. You're the first guest that said pro.
(47:15):
I love it. Spiedos are dance belts, swim cap for
lots of gel in hair, spray, swim cat flippers or
cuban heels.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
Ryan, I don't even know what Cuban heeled is.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Latin heel that you used to wear.
Speaker 2 (47:34):
Oh, that's where impossible to walk in.
Speaker 1 (47:40):
Dance floors are pools, pools, grindstones are shirtless.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
Well right now, rhinestones.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
Spray tan or natural tan, all natural. Real worst thing
about the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
The worst thing about the Olympics losing.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
Describe Michael Phelps in one word. Are you guys friends again?
Speaker 2 (48:10):
Yeah? He so, he side.
Speaker 4 (48:13):
He's the one that actually kind of talked to me,
helped me out of my depression as well, because he
went through the same thing.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
How did you guys even start talking again?
Speaker 4 (48:23):
He just reached out to me, he said, I know
what you're going through. Like, hey, I just want to
say you're a beast of the water. I had the
best races of my life with you. And like he
just we talked like probably once or twice every other
like a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
That's so nice to hear, because I remember we wanted
to get him onto, like to say something in our package,
and it was like crickets. But I'm so happy that
he was, like he's there for you. That's awesome, dude,
that's so cool. Describe him in one word cool.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
I don't know. That's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Who was stricter? Your dad or me? Do you stop it? Rude?
Best thing about the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (49:07):
The best thing about the Olympics is going to a place,
especially in this world. Now, go to a place where
everyone has just one thing. It doesn't matter what color
you are, what language you speak, where you're from. Everyone's
going to coming together to do one thing.
Speaker 2 (49:25):
Compete, beat your ass.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
Yes, first thought about speedos?
Speaker 2 (49:33):
First thought about a speedos? Does my package look good? Right?
Speaker 1 (49:40):
I love you? What's something on your bucket list?
Speaker 2 (49:44):
Skydiving?
Speaker 1 (49:45):
Stop? That's so scary. How often do you shave your legs?
Or did you do? You still shave your legs? I
hope not.
Speaker 4 (49:52):
No, no, no, I don't shave my legs anymore. How
often did I do it? Once a year right before
a big championship meet?
Speaker 1 (50:00):
In your life, you would do over again?
Speaker 2 (50:04):
Nothing?
Speaker 1 (50:05):
Love it? Favorite reality show that you did? Obviously it's
not dancing?
Speaker 2 (50:08):
Go ahead, Oh that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Wait, how many reality shows have you done?
Speaker 2 (50:16):
I mean I had my own show once.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Oh my god with Kayla.
Speaker 4 (50:22):
No, this was like back when I was just just
a party boy.
Speaker 2 (50:27):
It was what would Ryan you do?
Speaker 1 (50:29):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (50:29):
Oh no, no, no, I'm.
Speaker 1 (50:32):
Gonna have to watch it. Watch Wait what did you do?
Speaker 2 (50:35):
Favorite one would probably be the Traders. Really he loved it.
Speaker 4 (50:42):
Like, even though I got killed early ish, I had
so much fun because I like I just I was
there just to hang out with everyone?
Speaker 1 (50:54):
Was Max on your season?
Speaker 2 (50:57):
No?
Speaker 1 (50:58):
No, okay, so you did it like a why I'll
go then? Right?
Speaker 2 (51:01):
Yeah. Second years ago.
Speaker 1 (51:04):
Someone asked Traders versus Dancing with the Stars, which one
would you choose? Obviously Traders? Guys, he's a trader. Okay,
were you I'm kidding? Were you scared when the scene
broke out after your premiere dance?
Speaker 2 (51:19):
Was I scared?
Speaker 1 (51:20):
Scared?
Speaker 2 (51:21):
Scared? Yeah? Scared? I was it like a turtle? I
crawled back in my show.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Yeah. If you had to choose between having to do
dancing or train at and compete in the Winter Olympics,
which would you choose? Oh, it's not that hard, of course. Okay,
kiss Mary Kill. You gotta choose one. This is the
last thing. Jimmy Fagan, Gunnar Bent, Michael Phelps, kiss Mary Kill.
I hope I'm saying your teammate's names wrong, right.
Speaker 2 (51:50):
Yeah, No, I'm not kissing any of them.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
Yeah, no, you'd kiss Michael, he's your buddy. No, but
you're not really doing this. We're not really killed, and
we're not really kissing, and we're not really mirroring you.
Sound like Leah Remnie. Just quickly go.
Speaker 2 (52:06):
All right?
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Uh kiss Mary kill kiss Mary kill killed Gunner kiss Vegan,
Mary Phelps.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
Love it, Carrianna now, but Julianne have Bruno Tonioli kiss
Mary kill. That's your judges, by the way, kiss you forgot.
Speaker 2 (52:24):
Kiss Julia.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
Mary the other carry Anne.
Speaker 2 (52:31):
Mary Anne, and then I had to have.
Speaker 1 (52:33):
To kill kid bye Bruno foxtrot Salsa, Viennese waltz kiss
Mary kill fox trot.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
What was the other one?
Speaker 1 (52:42):
Salsa glow in the dark, Oh Mary salsa? Obviously well,
Vinie's waltz is really good for you too.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
Kill waltz.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
And kiss and Mary Fox Trott or kiss Fox shot
okay cool? James, James Hinchcliffe, Calvin Johnson and Vanilla Ice
kiss Mary kill, Yeah, Mary.
Speaker 2 (53:05):
Vanilla Ice kiss Calvin kill.
Speaker 1 (53:12):
Hitchcliff, that's right, no kidding, I love you, James, Maxim Schmierkowski, Valschmerkowsky,
Derek Huff last two.
Speaker 2 (53:20):
Who were the first two names?
Speaker 1 (53:23):
I knew it Max? Remember Max?
Speaker 4 (53:26):
Max?
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Oh sorry I said their last name. That's why Max
danced with Amber Rose. I think, yes, yeah, Max is
little brother val Val Derek Derek who saved your life.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
Huff Mary Derek kiss.
Speaker 1 (53:48):
Max Rvell. You just two people.
Speaker 2 (53:50):
It's fine, and they kill Max.
Speaker 1 (53:53):
Oh perfect. Okay. For my listeners who want to be
able to follow you, what are you first up to
with all these new projects and we're can they find you?
Speaker 2 (54:02):
Yes? I am.
Speaker 4 (54:04):
I just came out with my new merchandise line.
Speaker 1 (54:09):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (54:10):
Doing that created a legendary academy, which is a swim
clinic all around the world. But it's not your normal
swim clinic where we're gonna have slushies. We're gonna have
like the whole nine.
Speaker 2 (54:23):
Yards, just going around the world helping kids.
Speaker 4 (54:28):
So I have that coming out with a new sunscreen
called block T.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (54:36):
Yeah, it's already out. So all this stuff you can get,
you can order the legendary thing. You can get your
block D and my merchandise all I'm loifever dot com.
Speaker 1 (54:50):
We'll put it in the show notes. But also, wait,
are you teaching kids how to swim like personally. Yeah,
that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (54:59):
I I'm doing that teaching kids how to swim personally.
But Mike Swim Clinics are not just for swimmers. They're
for everyone, anyone in this entire world that wants to
swim or learn and get motivated because we do motivational stuff.
We talk about nutrition everything. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (55:19):
To the legendary Academy with Rob.
Speaker 1 (55:21):
Yeah that's awesome. You just taught Jennifer Hudson how to swim,
and I, you know, I'm a segment host on her show.
We just missed each other because I'm there like eight times. Yeah,
so I saw that. That was so cool.
Speaker 2 (55:32):
She was phenomenal. Yeah. I was so proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (55:36):
I was like, yeah, did she really not know how
to swim or was she kidding?
Speaker 4 (55:40):
No, No, she had no idea how to swim, And
within like an hour, so I got her swimming over
like one hundred yards.
Speaker 1 (55:48):
Whoa dude, that's awesome. See, you're a great coach. I'm
so happy for you. Please send my love to everybody,
and I can't. I hope to meet your kids one day.
Speaker 2 (55:57):
Yes, yes, we're gonna have to take a trip wherever.
Speaker 1 (56:00):
You are yes. Okay, well I'll tell you soon anyway.
Thank you, Ryan, it was so good to see you
and hear from you. Thanks for doing it.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Don't be hey, don't be a stranger.
Speaker 1 (56:09):
Thank you so much. Make sure you guys follow us
at sex Lies and spray tands on our Instagram handle
and make sure your comment. Let me know who you
want me to interview. What do you all think? Let
me know
Host
Cheryl Burke
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