Kicking It Real

48. stop being so perfect: breaking the desperation mindset & learning to trust yourself as a freelance dancer with Sam Assemany

Two years into taking his class, Mike Esperanza pulled Sam Assemany aside and told her to stop being so perfect, to mess it up a little. That is the fear underneath most

47. redefining what winning actually means as a dance adjudicator after years of chasing titles and national crowns with Clara Eaton Ribeiro

Clara Eaton Ribeiro used to stand on the podium wondering why she was the only one of her friends walking away with silver instead of gold. That is the trap of chasing re

46. dethroning the industry: finding your authentic voice & defining success with Antonio King

Antonio King spent a full month convinced one audition was going to define the rest of his career. That is the trap of wanting anything badly enough, the belief that a si

45. manifesting her dream Broadway role without losing her love for the art & work with Khori Petinaud

Khori Petinaud will tell you she almost strangled her dream before she learned how to hold it, and that might be the real thesis of this conversation. Sometimes the diffe

44. 40 years on Broadway and TV since starting dance at 20 & what it taught her about motherhood and resilience with Paula Leggett Chase

Paula Leggett Chase didn't grow up dreaming of Broadway, and that might be the real thesis of this conversation. Sometimes the skill that changes your whole life is the o

43. how wearing all the hats led to dance captaining her own Broadway debut, her own LaDuca boot & the toll it all took with Lizz Picini

Lizz Picini is the kind of guest who makes you want to throw out every box anyone has ever tried to put you in. There is a moment in every performance career where wearin

42. Disney cruise ships, Wicked obsession, and setting boundaries as a performer with Conor DeVoe

Today I sit down with Conor DeVoe. This conversation is a reminder that walking away from something does not always mean giving up on it, and that protecting yourself is

41. Pilobolus life, letting go of ego and redefining what success means with Ryan Hayes

Ryan Hayes didn't take his first dance class until he was twenty years old, and this episode is proof that the timeline you think you're supposed to be on rarely has anyt

40. pivoting from ballet to Broadway and what faith has to do with it with Deanna Cudjoe

Years before she ever thought she'd actually play her, Deanna Cudjoe performed Cassie's monologue in a college acting class and texted her old teacher the day she booked

39. stepping back from broadway auditions, redefining identity, and building a nonprofit with Andrew Norlen

This episode felt like getting a download from someone a few steps further down a road I'm just starting to walk myself. Andrew Norlen is a Boston Conservatory grad who

38. from Dandruff Danny on Hannah Montana to dancing at the McKittrick Hotel with Jack Taylor

This episode wrecked me a little, in the best way. I went into this conversation thinking I was catching up with someone whose childhood I half remember from Disney Chann

37. early career moves, dance companies & being a part time New Yorker: how to make a dance career work without burning out with Erzsi Bernath

This episode felt less like recording a podcast and more like exactly what it is. Two WMU alums who haven't had a real sit-down in way too long, finally doing it on mic.

36. Rockettes, confidence & why not me: round 02 with Alli Bollinger

In today's episode, my first ever repeat guest is back and honestly, it felt less like recording a podcast and more like exactly what it is.In today's episode, my first e

35. the dancer who got a PhD instead of staying in one box with Dr. Chloe Roberts

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Chloe Roberts; dancer, choreographer, Steps on Broadway faculty, Cooper Union professor, and the only person I know who holds a Ph

34. the reality of auditioning, ED recovery & life on a National Tour with Lariscy Navera

In today's episode, I sit down with Lariscy Navera, a classically trained performer and national touring artist currently on the road with Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Got

33. broadway, Wicked, and learning to do it scared with Shanna Vanderwerker

Shanna Vanderwerker has one of the most full-circle careers in musical theater: swing in the Broadway company of Wicked, Dance Captain of the First National Tour for near

32. from Canadian competition dance to Harry Potter in London's West End with Laura June Ness

This week I'm sitting down with Laura June Ness: Canadian dancer, aerialist, actress, and content creator who packed up her life and moved to London with no job lined up,

31. you're a human being, not a human dancing with Kathryn Morgan

In today's episode, I sit down with Kathryn Morgan, former soloist at New York City Ballet, YouTube powerhouse, and CEO of Kathryn Morgan Inc., to talk about what it actu

30. stop being a starving artist with Jason Pickett

This week I'm sitting down with Jason Pickett, dance educator, mentor, speaker, and the founder of No Starving Artists, to talk about the business side of dance that most

29. your mind isn't broken, it's protecting you with Kirsten Kemp

What if the thing holding you back isn't your technique, but something else entirely? This week I'm sitting down with Kirsten Kemp, high-performance mindset coach and fou