Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Heidi D’Amelio: DWTS & Discovering the D’Amelios

Episode Date: November 3, 2022

Today’s guest has a lot in common with your host; she manifested her Dancing with the Stars dream and is partnered with the one and only Artem this season. Oh, but she also happens to be competing against her own daughter, Charli, and handling instant family fame. Heidi D’Amelio is on the mic today to share everything from the hardest part about dancing this season to how she keeps her mental health strong to raising two girls with confidence and poise. We’re taking it way back to 2019 when Charli skyrocketed on TikTok, followed shortly by her sister Dixie, and learning about how Heidi and Mark decided to get the whole fam involved… and very successfully we might add, to the point where the D’Amelios have their very own Hulu reality show. Heidi explains how she and Mark have decided to raise their girls, how the family navigates rumors and trolls, and how they decide what to share, from Dixie’s PMDD diagnosis to Charli’s reality living with acne. Plus, she’s giving a throwback Thursday confession involving her two girls!  Thank you to our sponsors! Check out these deals for the Vinos: PROGRESSIVE - Quote at Progressive.com to join the over 27 million drivers who trust Progressive. VIRGIN VOYAGES - Details at Virginvoyages.com or call your travel advisor. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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So put your feet up, pop a cork, and get ready for some grape therapy. Welcome to grape therapy. I'm your host, Caitlin Bristow, and I've got Heidi D'Amilio on the mic with me today. Now, if you don't know her, I feel like the saying is so old, but you may be living under a rock because she is the most badass mom of the two most viral TikTokers, Charlie and Dixie DeMilio. She is absolutely crushing it on this season of Dancing with the Stars, making history by competing against her daughter. We had so much to talk about as she also partners with Artem and manifested this opportunity, just like I did. We have so much in common.

We also get into how they've handled the instant fame and how they've continued to keep their family's relationship and mental health strong. I really enjoyed my conversation with Heidi. and you learn a lot more about the family. So enjoy this episode. Hi, how are you? Hi, I'm good. How are you? I'm so good. Thank you. I honestly, I look like I'm a 12-year-old skateboarder boy, but that's okay. No, you don't. Well, I feel like when I went to Vegas, I'm not, I'm not a big Vegas person and I went because my fiancee wanted to go for his birthday. And so it felt like we spent the weekend, just like going to bed at four every night, which is just not my style, because I'm actually a grandma at heart. So anyways, it's so nice to meet you. So nice to meet you, too.

Thank you for coming on. We have so much to talk about because, one, you're crushing it on Dancing with the Stars, but two, Artem was my partner. So I'm here for you. I want to know how you're doing, how you're holding up just as a human being. How are you feeling in this moment? Is your body hurting? Is your brain hurting? How are you? Definitely my brain is hurting the most, I would say. yeah um it's just i think going into it that was my biggest fear was being able to remember like i just feel like it's hard to remember things and as i've gotten older and um after week one i was like wow i remembered a whole dance it took me a lot to get there but every week like i'm remembering it more quickly and i'm like that's just goes to show you like if you don't use it you lose it

And so I'm, like, already anticipating when this is over, like, how do I keep my mind sharp? Like, I have to keep doing something. But maybe, maybe dancing. Listen, I'm open. At this point, I'm open to anything. I was going to say, I feel like the show has, like, it taught me so much about myself and, like, my resilience and things that I thought I could never do and I did them. And you just, like, prove yourself over and over each week, I feel like.

And it builds your confidence and it makes you want it that much more. but I read somewhere that you wanted to quit before you even started dancing with the stars. So now how are you feeling about that? Yeah, that was week one. In preparing for week one, I was like, I had a whole exit plan in my head. And I was like, I just don't think I can do this. I just, yeah, I was really struggling with getting the choreography. And it's not, that's just one piece of it. Now selling it and performing it is a whole other part. And I'm, and I'm, And I was just like, I don't know how people do this. I don't know how they go on and actually look great because everybody always looks great.

And I'm like, I'm just not. I don't think I could do this. And that was on a Wednesday. And if you remember, like how hard Wednesdays are. And then by Friday, I was like, wait, I think I can do this. So I didn't tell Artem until we were in the interviews like right after we performed. He was like, what? He was like, we're going to talk about this later.

He had no idea. But yeah, there was a lot of tears the first couple weeks, but I was like, now I'm like, what was I thinking? Like, never give up on yourself. But that's amazing because the tears for me just kept coming later and later. So if you started with the tears and now you're just getting more confident, that's incredible. I went the opposite way. I was like totally confident at the beginning. I'm like, yeah, I have a dance background.

I can do this. I'm going to win. And then like week three, I was like in tears being like, I don't know how people do it. So you're headed in the right direction, but it really is, it is a lot. And I know how those Wednesdays feel. And I talk to Jesse James Decker on my podcast about it too, because she was like, Caitlin, I don't know if I can do it. Like I might call in sick. I don't know if I can. And I was like, no, everybody feels this way on a Wednesday. And then the weekend rolls around. You're like, okay, I think I got it. And then by Monday, you're like, oh, this is the best I've ever done it. And then you go the next day and you learn a whole new one. But that's really how, you know, it's nice for me to be able. to validate people's feelings with with that's how it is were you able to talk to other dancers like within the first week i know you don't have like a relationship with all these people you're just meeting them for the first time but i mean you have a daughter to talk to where you like are you struggling well so yeah obviously i have charlie in it with me and we really were nonstop like talking

about everything but she's picking up choreography like that and by thursday it's clean and i'm like We're not having the same experience. Yeah, her sharp little 18-year-old brain with the jazz background. I know. She's killing it. But she was great. And she was like, Mom, you're doing good. Like, this is a lot.

You're doing good. She was so great. And my biggest cheerleader. And so I didn't really get to meet other people until, like, the camera blocking and on the rehearsal day. So, and then I realized, like, we were all struggling. So I felt that. Not that I wanted everybody else to be struggling,

but I felt like I wasn't alone in that. And I was like, okay, I'm glad I. I just felt like everybody was getting it. And I wasn't. So that was scary. And then you were like, oh, wait, everybody's in the same boat. I had some people with dance background on my season two. No matter who you were on the dance floor,

everybody felt like they had the same insecurities and the same struggles and the same journey that they were on. And once you all talk about it, you're like, oh, okay. And then you kind of feel like you're in it together where it takes away a little bit of the competitive aspect because you all know what you're going through and you're all rooting for each other because you're like,

I know how hard you're working and they're like, and I know how hard you're working. And it becomes like this little family where you're all just rooting for each other. Yeah, and it has really become that. And it's so funny because as the weeks have gone on, Charlie is feeling it just as much as everyone. Like, just because she gets the choreography

and she's struggling in her own ways. So it's like she's a curse. Difficulty level is higher. So her stress level is higher. So it's like it all is the same. And it's super paired down at the rehearsal space. So we still don't get to see everybody very often. But this week we have a group dance.

So that's been super fun to be able to. What? I know. So there's five people on our team. And it was interesting to see because within our group number, we're paired off with our partner because we do. this piece in within that where we're with our partner not just as a big group and to see everybody working with their partner because you don't know how other people do or whatever and

it's hilarious like these are like high energy these are like not like art well you know artem he's like this like he's like a rock like even keel and i am more on that side too so it's like so i'm looking at everybody else i was like i think we're the perfect pairing because totally i don't know how i you know i guess you figure it out but i feel like it was like we're on that same you guys have the same energy yeah i would i think i was too much for him like i remember the first day he had to do his little interview after meeting me and he was like katelyn's personality is like as big as this room and i was like oopsies because i was just like came in hot and i was like screaming and i was definitely on a different energy level but i feel like

with partnerships like you two do i mean it's clear that you really do work with well together and you you are honestly an incredible do you have dance background so in high school 30 years ago i was on my high school dance team and i was in a dance studio and did competition dance but it ended there okay but so 30 years ago it's not like you're a trained ballroom dancer you are incredible you're really really good thank you it's yeah it's a blast as you know and i think too with art um like he's so true to the ballroom dances and yeah gimmicky or anything like that. And I love that. Like, I want to do it as it should be or try my best. So that's been really... That's why Len loves you guys. Len, I remember Artem telling me that because Len wasn't on my season.

He didn't, he wasn't a judge for that season. And Artem was always like, oh, I wish Len was here because he would have appreciated that dance. And he would have gave us a better score because it, he, he, Artem is very classic. Like, that's how I, like, in every, everything that he does, he's just a very classic, um, dancer, human being. But going back for a second, I know you said, like, Charlie, she's getting harder choreography now because, you know, her level is 10 out of 10. So I loved when I was reading this article about how she was able to give you the confidence and be like, mom, you're doing good and you're doing this. And it's all things that you were like, I told her that growing up. And now, you know, she's at an age where she can, you know, have that confidence and be able to give it back to you. Now that she's, you know, in this position, how are you handling that?

Because you're like, I know what you're going through. for a mother-daughter you're making history and it's never been done before on the show so how are you to being there for each other now on your like stress levels? You know I think both Mark and I we're very much parents like they have friends

they don't need friends they need parents and guidance and structure that being said we're always like a soft place to land and they know that and they know they can come to us with anything but I think this is the first time where I almost feel like she's a colleague in a sort of way

as we do this together and I'm looking to her really for more answers than she's looking to me but she still comes in and you know her and Markle like they I say this all the time they seep entire room you like you can hear the door open and then all of a sudden they're around they're like hi want to watch our dance can we watch yours so yeah and and then they'll do it and she's like what do you think mom and I'm looking at her like you want my opinion like you have professionals in here like I'm just the mom you know but she I guess as a kid you always want your mom to be like oh you did great cutie you know that kind of thing so that's been fun and then when and then when we perform for them in in rehearsal there she's always like every week her face gets like

whoa you're really doing this so it's like oh I feel like the kid I'm like really am I doing it it's very cute such a special bond to see like I'm really close to my mom my mom was a professional dancer, ballerina growing up. She used to teach me dance when I was little. I love seeing your relationship with her because the way she does light up when she talks about you, that one dance where it was like she was saying she how much she looks up to you. I can't remember what dance it was. I don't know. But she spoke so eloquently about you and you could tell she just really does look up to you. And I always love seeing, you know, mother, daughter relationships like that because I feel like I have the same kind of thing. But it's just like my mom would have done.

died and gone to heaven if she could have done dancing with the stars with me. She was always like, they need to do a mom's version of this. I would crush it because she danced growing up. So now I'm like, now you guys are the example for us of my mom can keep dreaming. But yeah, I love seeing the special bond. I was thinking about it. I was like, what would happen if you two were in the final two? Obviously, I picture it like, have you seen mean girls where she like breaks off a little piece of the crown and like gives it to everybody? I like picture you two like splitting the mirror ball and half and being like, this one's for the family. Like, what would that look like if you two were in the final two?

Oh, okay. So that would be my, that's my goal. That is my goal. And I always, like, in our family, joke around, be like, it would be the best second place I could ever make. But I don't know. It'll be interesting if that does happen. Because I'm going to go back to when Charlie was, I think she was nine.

We had a chili cookoff in our family. So the four of us all made chili. She was nine. She was like, mom, I need you to take me to the store. get spice. I'm like, what spice? And she was like, it's just spice. So I take her, I let her do the whole thing. She made a chicken chili. We had judges that didn't know, like our neighbors all came over, didn't know who cooked one. And she won. And let me tell you, we have not heard the end of it. So that's nine-year-old Charlie. I don't know what she's going to do if she beats me for the

mirror. Oh, my God. That's really funny. I feel like she has like this humble confidence. about her like she seems she's 18 but like is she an old soul i don't know if i'm reading that wrong but is she yeah she's always been you talk to her and this has been i can remember she was like two and people talking to her and how old is she like you know i i love your shoes those are so nice i'm like who are you like strangers um yeah she speaks very well and she's very like thoughtful of what how she speaks to people and how she makes people feel and you know she's she's actually a really really good person and human both of my kids are they're just like really good humans well that's a testament to you as a parent you both as parents as well and i think that's what i always say about

parenting i think it's such a beautiful thing when people are like they don't need friends they need parents because it's so easy to like you know not want them to be mad at you or you know be their friend and be like the fun mom, which you still obviously are. But I think that's something that I always think about when I have when the time comes. I'm like, I want to be a parent, not a friend, and that's something I'm going to have to really remind myself because it does go like such a long way that when they are 18 and older and they look back, they have so much respect for you as a parent, you know, and you can tell that both of your kids really do. This week's grape therapy is brought to you by progressive insurance. And most of you listening right now are probably

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And I would hold this mirror ball, like, little mini one in my hands. like sleep with it during Dancing with the Star. So I'm a big manifester, but I heard you too manifested being on the show. Okay, so it was a year ago. We were at New York Fashion Week, and we had went to dinner after whatever, during the day, the show or whatever.

And when we were leaving, we were at the grill, and it has this big entryway in these stairs. So we come down the stairs, and it's this, I had this song, Fever was playing. And so she and I started, like, doing all this stuff and we're like, whatever. And being silly, first of all, she looked amazing. I looked like a knucklehead, but, um, and Kate was recording it.

And, and so we're like doing it. And I posted it with some pictures we'd take in. And I said, consider this my audition for Dancing with the Stars. Because I had kind of talked about it before. I'm like, that would be so cool, uh, to be on there. But like, I don't know. I would never, they would never ask me like, who am I? So one year later.

to the day I was on Good Morning America Charlie and I announcing that we're going to be on Dance with the Stars one year to the day and so for that entire year everybody I would meet

like just in this space whatever like you have any connection to Dancing with the Stars I really want to be on there and we had talked about how cool it would be if like there would be

two DeMilios on there whatever and I think someone I think Derek had said you know if either one of the Demilio girls would be on Dance With the Stars that would be so cool.

Dixie Charlie. Fast forward. We're filming our Hulu show at our house and all of a sudden, I don't know if it was Mark or someone that works for us was like, you guys need to get upstairs on this Zoom right now. And we're like, we're in the middle of an interview. What's happening for our show? And so as we're walking upstairs, I'm like, are we getting canceled? Like, what did we do?

Like, we just thought this is the end. And so we sit down and it was me and Mark and Charlie. on this Zoom and it was like our agents and like all kind of people on there and they they told us we they wanted us on and I I thought it was I thought it was a joke for me I was like of course they want Charlie that makes so much sense but wait really they want me too I was so excited I immediately went into like oh this is real this is happening and a little bit of panic after talking about it for a year I was like wow this is really how I was so excited You're like, wow, be careful what you put out into the universe because you're going to get it.

And for that year, I had been talking to my mom about it. And she would ask me all the time. She was like, did you hear anything? Did you hear anything? I'm like, no, nothing yet. I'm asking everybody if they know how to get on. Like, how could I? And I got to tell her like two days before she passed away that I got on.

And so she was like, I'm so happy that I got to do that and tell her she was so excited. So, yeah. That's really beautiful. I'm also very sorry for your loss. Oh, my gosh, I can't believe you got to tell her two days before. That is, you really, you did really manifest that. I know. I went hard on that. Yeah, well, that just goes to show. But it's just crazy how, you know, the power of TikTok and then building a brand and ending up on Dancing with the Stars. I mean, for my listeners who are not on TikTok, which I don't know if I'm pretty sure they all are. But can you kind of elaborate on TikTok? on how you and your family got to where you are today, like the starting point of this level of fame. So, okay, just to put this out there first. So Dixie grew up in musical theater, singing.

She was in a singing group, the whole thing. Charlie grew up a competition dancer. Mark's an entrepreneur. I was a stay-at-home mom. Doing a little bit of photography and just kind of small little entrepreneurial things on my own. And then, let's see, Charlie's freshman, going into her freshman year of high school,

well, even before that, her friends were posting on TikTok. And since she was a dancer, they would say, Charlie, learn this dance and teaches to us so we could do it on our TikTok. And she was like, okay. She didn't even have an account.

And then she was doing that on her friend's accounts. And then she was like, I guess I'll start an account. At the time, it was very, very cringy to be on TikTok. So she was like, I don't know. And then so she did it. And so I think that was like,

May or June and then July, her first video went viral. And she was like, what do I do now? And then just everyone after that went viral. She was just herself. She was just doing dance videos in her messy room, like not done up. It was so different than like an Instagram, very curated, beautiful photos or videos. So we're like, your room is a wreck. You know people can see that, right? Like, what do you doing not for any reason just as your mom also clean your room what are we doing let's tidy it up yeah moms moms are there to notice the messy room uh but mark and i were were in social media enough to know like wow this is this means something in today's world you know um and then so dixie being a senior is like this is embarrassing stop posting on ticot see everybody was on it watching

but nobody wanted to admit that they liked it or were posting. So now Dixie's little sister, her freshman sister, is posting and she's mortified. And she's just growing and growing. And then we were just all like, what is happening? So she said, all right, if you hit a million, I'll get on TikTok. And so from July, her first video went viral till like October 30th, she hit a million. And Dixie's like, oh, so they had planned this video together where they drive. that they looked exactly alike

and it was almost like a reveal and people were freaking out Dixie didn't even have her own name on her account it was like user whatever Charlie's like you gotta get this situated before we knew it Dixie had a million and then it got like there's like college kids

started like getting into it and watching and commenting and Mark and I were like people need to know they have parents like I don't know this app is wild And so we kind of got on there And then the boys ended up Like loving Mark

Like he was just on there to say Hey she has a dad who's involved So watch what you say about my daughters Kind of thing And they loved it And the and like the boys loved it And they're like oh my God Mark You're our favorite both blah

And then I got on And everything just like People were just really interested In our family And our dynamic And then We were at Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Week and, like, everywhere from December 2019 until quarantine,

so like March, April, whatever. And then we went into lockdown and had so much work because no, everything was shut down. No one was doing filming. And so the girls were so busy. Dixie started going in a studio recording music during quarantine because one of our managers who's in the music business had. a recording studio in his house.

And he lived five minutes from us. So she recorded her first song. It was wild. And then we moved to L.A. I feel like your family is just like destined for this kind of, you know, spotlight. So yeah, you move to L.A. People would tell us, like, way before any of this, like, you guys need a reality show. Like, they just found us interesting or funny and the girls are funny and Mark is hilarious. So I don't know.

I guess so. Here we are. So it was just like, L.A., here we come. This is show biz, baby, you just went. Moved to L.A. during quarantine, the girls were, like, pushing for it. They were doing PowerPoint presentations. Dixie found us a house to rent. We went, sight unseen.

Wow. And there was a very, very skeleton crew of photo shoots. They had campaigns that they needed to shoot and that had been signed before quarantine. And, like, we have a deadline. And so, anyway, it was wild. I mean, how did you know how to, to like monetize social media and you know sign these contracts and get the right people behind you because it all I feel like it happens so fast so how did you know how to monetize and get the right

team behind you to trust them and like make this something so the girls had started uh well all of us we would come with them coming to L.A and they had this group of I call them kids some of them were a little bit like 1920 the you know charlie was 15 16 dixie was 18 19 at the time and um so they had been in social media a little bit longer talking to them you know we always made it very very real that we're in this to protect them and we don't know you and we're gonna ask a million questions and and so you know people start coming out of the wood woodwork i want to manage them i you know this and that and we just we we just mark is a brand guy So there were things that their friends were getting and the girls wanted to do.

And he was just like, you know, what if you do this and it messes things up down the road? Let's just go very slow. So we said no to a lot early on just because just because it was all so new. And one of the first things we got was an entertainment lawyer. And just were very careful and cautious and slow moving because things were moving fast. then I think that's a good way to get into a bad situation if you're moving too fast. Oh, yeah. So we did that.

We had managers and then we met with a couple different agencies. And when we met with UTA, we knew it was right and felt they saw more than just Charlie or Charlie and Dixie. They saw something for the family because for us, we wanted to make sure that Charlie didn't feel like everything was dependent on her. And so by doing things as a family, I mean, it wasn't like Mark and I were like, oh, we want be in the spotlight, but we want to protect our kids. So if there's something that we sign on for as a family and Charlie isn't into it or doesn't feel like filming that day or whatever,

or Dixie, then you don't have to. We got you. And that's kind of was like the point behind, like, really UTA seeing us as a family. They even saw like the opportunity with the dogs and that's amazing. I can just only imagine how many opportunities. just fly your way. So to be able to like know this, we got to think about the long game, the longevity of our family and even mental health-wise

to say no to things because it's so hard because you're like, well, we could just like be billionaires now with all these opportunities, but like let's actually put our family first and make the right choices and say no to things that don't align with us.

I feel like you've done a good job. I think what people didn't understand, which was part of the reason we wanted to do our Hulu show is they thought they're exploiting their kids and this and that, Mark still has his company. Like, he's all, he's, we're like, Mark is the breadwinner of the family. Like, we don't need Charlie to pay our bills. Like, and that has always been the case. And there was just so much of like people thinking they knew are

how we do things or whatever. And then that's why we wanted to do a show is like to show that, no, it's not like that. And, and, and we're still learning. And, you know, there's, there's, kids so they get an opportunity and they get super excited and then down the road they're like wait this is a lot more and i thought and i don't want to do it today it's just like i'm not having a good day or a good week and like navigating that and how do we you know how do we rein them in and the exciting moments to protect them you know three months down the road when it's time to do all the stuff so i mean that's a big it's a big responsibility to be a parent but to be a parent to that like that kind of attention and that kind of responsibility

that comes with the following, it's so hard to navigate. I was going to ask you how you help them navigate such public adult decisions as kids. Like, for me personally, when I was 18, I wasn't an old soul. I was like a degenerate making terrible decisions and like if cameras or things were following me, I would have gotten myself in a lot of trouble. So I feel like, you know, you obviously are doing such great jobs as parents, but how do you help them navigate. I know Dixie had come out with the PMDD. I suffer from that so badly, by the way, that spoke to me. And I really loved that she used her platform for that. How do you

decide, like, you know, we're going to make this decision as a family. We're going to share this or no, let's keep this private and like all these decisions that are really big, especially for young kids. I mean, both of the girls have this very sort of just innate feeling of what they want to put out there and why. And sometimes it's just very, you know, I remember Charlie took a picture. She was having really bad acne and took a picture and posted it on Instagram because she's like, this is my face. Like I felt cute and whatever. And it became national news about how does it feel to put that out there? And she's like, this is my face. Like, I don't know. I thought I looked cute. And it became like she's the poster girl for like talking about acne and you know yeah which that's those times where

I'm like well you are helping people like I know it doesn't feel like that you felt cute and you're like this acne isn't going anywhere so I'm just I want to post then I felt cute so I'm going to post it that's why when you said it made national news I was like that's amazing because in my head I was going my gosh she probably helped so many so many people and and it was crazy even adults they were like I don't post because I'm embarrassed, but I'm like, you just showed me that why not, you know? And so those are the times that I have to remind them, like, I know you didn't mean for it to be a big thing. And she wasn't feeling good. So the fact that she posted because she actually felt cute regardless of her skin, she was like, everybody took it for something that it wasn't.

I was like, but just think about that. Like, that was something so simple for you and how millions of people are responding to you and just are so feeling like you move something and other people to be like, you know what? I do like the way I look and I don't care about my acne

and I'm post about it anyway. And so those are the moments that get a little tricky because she's like, press was making her feel worse about it. Like she was like, oh, how do you feel about posting that? Like, oh my gosh, you're so brave when you're like, this is just my face. Yeah.

Oh my gosh. Yeah. So, but the people who it resonated with and that's what matters. to them. And so sometimes it's very innocent. And Dixie with the PMDD, I mean, that whole situation, you know, she's been struggling for years and not knowing. And the second she got diagnosed, she was like, she and I were both like, imagine the women that have no idea and go through their whole lives. She thought she was going crazy. And so, and so she was like, I didn't, I never want to like, hey, you need a, you need to use your platform for that. I never want to do that.

They're smart girls and they know what's the right thing. And she just was like, I got to talk about this. So I'm sure there's more to come and it's all still very new and she's still navigating it and trying to get things like a little more in line. But yeah, so wild. I'm 37 and I'm still navigating that. I just found out that's what I had like two years ago. And I've told people this before. I'm pretty sure I have ruined relationships from it. I have, like, not shown up for work things because of it. Like, I always thought there was just something. And I was like, I never know when it's going to hit.

And then once I start figuring out my schedule, I was like, oh, my gosh, it's clockwork. It's going to hit it this time. This is what it is. It doesn't make it any easier. But at least knowing what it is does help and knowing that you're not alone again. When I heard her speak on that, I was like, oh, my gosh, thank you. Because, I mean, I can reach a certain amount of people and she can reach even more people. and the amount of people that I even had responding to me being like, I am looking into this.

This is so what I, and then once they Google all of the side effects and everything and symptoms, you're like, oh my gosh. And then you're able to, you know, talk to a hormone specialist or talk to a doctor or do things that work for your body that's going to help you in that time and just knowing and scheduling even like my assistant knows my whole period schedule, just like, you know, my workload either let's ease up on it or let's, you know, really go to town on that. It makes a huge difference. Hey, Friday Night Lights fans. It's not only football Friday Night Lights and Beyond is an episode-by-episode discussion of the hit TV series Friday Night Lights. Hosted by Yours Truly Scott Porter

who played Jason Street on the show and my two wonderful co-hosts. Me, Zach Guilford, aka Matt Sarison. And me, May Whitman, aka someone who wasn't on the show but really, really loves it a lot. We will also bring on some special guests answer your questions and tell you about what's going on in our lives today.

It's not only football, Friday Night Lights and Beyond, coming soon, wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. You can tell that your family does know right from wrong. I mean, there's, again, people will always make mistakes, and you can't be perfect. but I feel like I think of myself at 18 again and then I look at your daughters and I'm like they do really have good heads on their shoulders and do like I love that they speak up on important things. I love that they're going after their dreams and you're showing who is amazing and obviously it's so nice for you guys to be able to share what your family dynamic is because so many people do assume so to be able to have that creative control and put out there what you want to put out there and be like this is who we are is probably has that just like has it been a blessing to your family or has I'm sure it comes with a lot of hardships too. Yeah, I mean, we're, we're very happy with how everything was put out there. And we're all for executive producers. So we do have a say in it. Having that feels really good because you feel like, okay, like we want what is actual to be put out there. Obviously, you can't film and

put out 24-7, but, you know, and things have to make sense. And it is TV. So, but, you know, we just want people to see the stuff they don't see in 15 second videos and just like I don't know like I think I think the girls are really good at just being themselves and they've said this before like some people get famous off of almost like a character of themselves and then you have to maintain that and they're like I couldn't imagine like the stress of that you know it's much easier to just be and and people that's how people know them and so I remember somebody talking about getting glam for our show like oh do you need time to get glam for your show i'm like oh yeah no we don't get glam for our show i love that and well i do love it until i go back and watch the episodes and i'm like

because most of the time like i go to the gym and then i go and then like quick shower and get dressed and then i'm like yeah i probably should have washed my hair like it's so gross sometimes i'm like struggling But I love that. I'm like, I can't imagine sitting in glam for two hours just to like be ourselves. It doesn't make sense. Well, and I think that's part of it is your family and everyone, because everybody shows up so authentically and raw and real and talks about honest things, like it adds up for to see you be just real relatable people on TV as well. You're just being who you are, which again, long term is just going to like they said, being somebody else is so exhausting. and there are so many people out there that do gain fame from that.

I think that's why people, so many people end up following people from The Bachelor world because there are just people that kind of like had, you know, regular jobs and overnight this success from television and they just seem like relatable people. So I think that's always fun for people to follow and obviously has worked out well for all of you guys. But people are so entitled, obviously, to your personal information and having to navigate all that would be really hard. But what is the most absurd thing you've ever heard about?

your family. That wasn't true. Ooh. Oh, my gosh. So many. I bet. Well, there was a time where the internet was telling Dixie that she was a lesbian, which is fine, but she wasn't and is it? And she was like,

it was so much, so much. This is a couple years ago, like, early on. And she was like, mom, I don't know. Am I? I was like, I don't know. Are you? She was like, no, I don't. I like boys. And I was like, okay. It was that much. It got in her own head.

And so. People are, like you said, you're like, if you are, whatever. And it's sadly, probably all based on certain stereotypes. You know what I mean? Like, people want to jump to conclusions. And then once you have that many eyes, I can't even imagine. Even the highest rated season of The Bachelor and the Bachelorette don't get as many views as their TikToks. And like, it's just, it's wild to have that amount of voices and that.

that can just come in and to the point where you're like you're saying like you start to question yourself because you're like if hundreds of millions of people are saying that's about me and are they seeing something that I don't even see like I can't imagine how how do you as a family deal with the bullies and the online trolls or the people who do say things about you that aren't true when it's that much noise because I go in and out of phases probably based on my period of when I'm like I can laugh at trolls I can think it's so funny and I only have well not only but like I have two million followers where I'm like it's a lot I cannot imagine that level um yeah it's so funny you said that depends on your period because dixie's the only one of the four of us that really

it could go either way she either thinks it's hilarious or she's devastated by the comment so um and i'm sure it has to do with her cycle but um the rest of us i've gotten really good i don't even look every once in a while look and i'll respond like and they're like oh my god i love you i didn't mean that like, of course. Okay. Sometimes I just can't help myself, but very rare, like once every six months. I don't know. I think the fact that all four of us are in this, you know, if it were just one, obviously they would be a part of our family and we would support them and all that. But unless you're in it and you get those hate comments and you have to like process that. And from the beginning where it took over our life and it was so devastating. And now it's like such a minor part. Like, I don't even

like I look at the positive stuff, I comment, I engage, and then I move on. Like, it's not even on the radar, really. I mean, unless it's like something major. Like we don't, like, we want to be aware enough. Like, do we, yeah, we got called out for something. We need to address that and like make it right or whatever. Right. But not like doing a deep dive on like a ton of hate comments. So, but it was hard early on. It was hard. It was hard to, you know, we were defending our kids and going back and forth and you just can't. And we had heard it takes like a good five years to get over that. So we're a few years in and I think we're doing pretty good. I think like what you said is you're all in this together. I think that is such a helpful thing because a lot of times with my family, like I'm so close

with my whole family, but they will never understand like certain being affected by comments or certain things that you go through or having to say yes or no to certain things. And, you know, I feel like you can't really explain it. And that's why a lot of people in the Bachelor franchise or a lot of people in Dancing with the Stars, you bond so quickly because you're in something together that nobody else can really understand. So the fact that your blood, family, and, like, in it together,

it's probably really comforting and helpful to know that you're all in it together. That's amazing. I have to ask, before I get into my last thing, how is your dynamic with Artem as a partner? Because they don't show a lot on TV, but, like, him and I had so many tough times, so many highs, so many low.

what is your dynamic with him well first of all i just want to say we recently found out that like charlie and mark her partner they order food they're eating we're like you guys eat during rehearsal like literally walk in the door snack he's like your shoes aren't on i'm like i just got here like let me sit down and then it's like shoes on work the entire time and then we leave like we don't do anything it's like nonstop because i need that time like i think charlie like doesn't need as much time as i need so they have the luxury of actually eating um yeah like i eat before i go and i eat when i leave but it's it's um you know i respect him so much as a coach and you know like really pay attention to everything and he's just great like he's very

patient because i do like i've gotten better like now he'll like if there's a part that's not working he'll like will work through it together whereas before he wouldn't have done that like he would have been like pre done that and like let me just give it to her and now he's having I think a little bit more confidence in me like let's change this up and or I'm I'm getting to the point where we're doing something and I'm like I don't know if this is really going to mess up your overall vision but I'm not going to get this like I think we have to move on and he was like I was going to say I was going to ask you so that comfort level is just starting to happen in the last couple weeks, which is nice.

And it makes me feel good because I feel like I've grown to a point where he can do that. Or like change something last minute. Like early on, like, oh my God, no changes. It'll send me over. I can't. But now we're changing things like up to the morning of or the day before. So I'm like, okay, that's a good thing. Oh, wow.

It's very business. We're in there. We work. And, you know, well, it is very cute because he'll, Nicole, send him pictures of the baby. of the baby he's too and he just melts for the tail i'll hear him like because he'll go to put the music on so we can rehearse or whatever and i hear this oh i was like let me see and it's like videos or pictures of the baby so cute so cute they're her whole family's adorable so it's just a lot of a lot of work and then sometimes i'm like can i have a bathroom break like i just

he's like okay and then he's like i but never with his words like sometimes i I'll say, sometimes I'll say, stop yelling at me. He's like, I didn't even open my mouth. I'm like, your face is yelling at me. Because I can see it's like that he does this with his beard. Yeah. And I'm like, stop yelling at me. Yeah, I totally know.

Very patient. And it's, it's nice. Like it's become, you know, I'm happy that I feel, I don't want to speak for him. But I do feel like he's at a point where he's starting to be able to see like, all right, I know I can push her through this or no, we got to move on from this and like switch it up. I think that's the beautiful part of those relationships because you start off as two strangers and then you really start to understand each other's like almost like love languages and but in a, you know, in a very business professional way. And like you really grow together and understand each other better, which makes your dance. It comes through

in the dancing somehow because there's more trust, there's more communication. There's more like chemistry. They always said chemistry and I, people always take that in the wrong way, but I mean that in like a dancing way. And you see that in the two of you. But yeah, Artem is so business. So like, you come in, you work and you leave. And that's what it is. But I have to say, he would never TikTok with me. And so I'm seeing you guys do all this big TikToks. And I'm like, what the heck? He would never do TikToks with me. Also, he's really good. And I always, I always laugh because his big thing is like, we'll do. Okay. So this is the one we're going to do. Like I come in with like, well, we always do transition ones on like show day. But any of them, I come in with them already. I'm like,

okay, pick which one of the transitions you want on your page and I'll do one on my page. So his thing is, he's always like, let's walk on. Like, he likes to walk into frame and I'm like, what is this? Like, why does this appeal to you? This is so funny. And so now it's like the thing. Like, I got to, we got to walk on. I'm like, okay.

But he's really good at it. Like, he knows how to work the camera and do all the things. So that's been really fun. And I don't know. He doesn't like to take time to do the social stuff. And I'm always like, we need to do social. When you do socials, well, we had to learn four dances in one week. So that week, I don't think we did any BTS.

But people were saying, they're like, we're missing, like, seeing what's happening. So we've been trying to do it more this week. But yeah, he's like, once in a while he's like looking at, you know, or counting eights or whatever. And I'm just like, hey, so we're at rehearsal. And he's like, and then he'll get into it. Like, he's so good. Like, he can turn it on like that. He is good.

I just have to like do it. Yes. Yeah, you just got to force him to do it. And last but not least, I wanted to get a confession from you because I always do this with my guests. So I know you're prepared for one if you want to tell me. I don't think this is the most embarrassing thing ever, but in the moment I was mortified is we went to get our car in valet and the kids were with us and Mark had the kids. I had the kids.

He was paying the valet. I get in and I'm putting kids in car seats and I'm like this car is disgusting. Like what happened? Like I don't remember it's looking like this and they're going in and I get in the front seat. And I'm like, what happened in here? And I realized we were in the wrong car. No way. And so Mark's just like watching the whole thing go down as I look over.

I'm like, right there watching me I was watching you get it mortified I'm like get my kids they're like listening to you'd be like this car is disgusting mortified so now when I get the car at valet I'm like looking at the license plate well I mean isn't that valet's fault not yours

I don't know well they it's just like they were right next to each other and I jumped in the wrong one but they had car seats that's crazy like they had car seats like what I well that must have been a while ago then if they were in car seats. Yeah, this, mom brain is a real thing.

All of my best friends have kids and babies and my sister has, and mom brain is a real thing. It's very real. I'm impressed that you can remember the choreography. You're killing it on the dance floor. I think it's been really fun to watch because I think people are like, well, Charlie's got the dance background and then seeing you just like keep up with her has been like so incredible. I love watching you in Artem. And thank you so much for being on the podcast today.

And thank your daughters for being open and using their friends. voices and being themselves because I think that's the number one important thing for kids to look up to is no matter what these girls are doing as long as they're being true to themselves, it's so inspiring. So good job, mom, too. Thank you. I just want to say two things. One thing is that we pull up y'all videos all the time because he'll be like, oh, there's this move. And it was the end where he like slid me across the floor and he showed me one of yours. I don't know if it was a Pasadoblo and the finish. I was like, I was channeling you so hard. And the other thing I wanted to do was show you. We're having a boozy workday today. They're already open. So we're going to have some. Oh, my gosh. Wait, that makes me so happy. Yes. So we just moved into office a few months ago. And it is such good energy. And so now this is going to be here in our office. And we're going to have to get lots more because this is a lot of people that are working here. I will send you all the wine for your boozy work days. And thank you.

again, so much for just being lovely and coming on the show. And I know people are just going to love hearing from you. Oh, thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. I'm Caitlin Bristow. Your session is now, Andy. Thanks for joining us for this week's grape therapy. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast platform. And tune in Thursday for your next session. Halloween with Pluto TV's 31 nights of horror. All month long, Pluto TV is bringing you the best Halloween movies, shows, and more. Watch classic horror movies like The Grudge or the Blair Witch Project or scream along with your favorite stars like Ryan Reynolds in life. Pluto TV has hundreds of channels with thousands more movies and TV shows. The best part, it's so free, it's chilling.

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