The Squeeze - Jenna Johnson: Passion and Purpose
Episode Date: June 18, 2025In this week’s episode, the Lautners are joined by Dancing with the Stars’ reigning Mirrorball champion, Jenna Johnson! Jenna shares where her dance journey began, when she knew she wante...d to pursue it professionally, and how she keeps the passion alive even when dance is also her job. She opens up about working alongside her husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, on DWTS, how they create boundaries between work and home, and her experience winning the most recent season alongside Joey Graziadei — plus, what made him such a special partner. Jenna also gets candid about motherhood: how it’s shifted her priorities, the parts she didn’t expect, and how she’s learning to navigate “mom guilt.” She opens up about her miscarriage journey, the emotions that followed, when she realized she needed therapy, and the anxiety around trying to conceive again. Jenna also offers heartfelt advice for women facing miscarriage or infertility, then shares what’s next for her!Be sure to follow Jenna on https://instagram.com/jennajohnson/!To email us your questions or share your story, you can reach out to lautner.thesqueezepodcast@gmail.comBe sure to rate, review, and follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on all of our socials:The SqueezeInstagram: https://instagram.com/thesqueeze/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thesqueezepodcastTay LautnerInstagram: https://instagram.com/taylautner/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mrstaylautnerAmazon Storefront https://urlgeni.us/amazon/FDXj7 Taylor LautnerInstagram: https://instagram.com/taylorlautner/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@taylorlautnerTo learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow https://instagram.com/lemonsbytay/ and visit lemonsbytay.comEpisode Sponsors:Use the code “SQUEEZE” at Rhoback.com for 20% off your first order — now through the end of this week.Dogs deserve the best, and that means fresh, healthy food. Head to Ollie.com/squeeze, tell them all about your dog, and use code SQUEEZE to get 60% off your Welcome Kit when you subscribe today! Plus, they offer a Happiness Guarantee on the first box, so if you’re not completely satisfied, you’ll get your money back.Let your bed match the season with cool, relaxed bedding from Quince. Go to Quince.com/squeeze for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/SQUEEZE. Rules and restrictions may apply.Right now, Boulevard is offering new customers 10% off your first year subscription when you go to joinblvd.com/squeeze and book a demo.Produced by Dear MediaSee 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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The following podcast is a dear media production.
So we told Val that your car's
episode is whatever top performing episodes we have.
Really?
Yeah.
You've really elevated everything and you guys are killing it.
I'm just so proud.
I'm so happy for you.
But we did tell Val.
We need to see who's this gonna do better now.
Oh, snap.
Yeah, he wanted to take the credit.
So we were like, well, we're gonna have Jenna on.
And here we are.
Who the common denominator is.
No pressure.
Jeez, you guys.
How can I compete with that slicked back hair?
Little accent he has.
He's hot.
And he dipped me.
He's here.
What are we going to do?
We'll see.
We both are very opinionated.
We're both Aries, if that means anything to anybody.
We're fire and fire.
We both think we're right most of the time.
I'm manifesting.
Do I owe this to you?
Do I owe the mirrorball to you?
I'll just be it.
It's fine.
Julianne Huff.
Remember seeing her dance one time and I was just like, I think that's when she booked deal or no deal.
Was she a dealer no deal?
Yes.
I'm quite positive.
She was a suitcase girl.
I have to see if this deal or no deal thing is real.
I'm quite positive.
We need to text her.
I'm quite positive.
It was deal or no deal.
Very close.
I was not a dealer no deal girl, but I was.
Jenna, welcome back to the squeeze.
Thank you.
Back back.
We are so excited to have you back.
No, but we, so we told Val that obviously we're excited to have him back.
And your guys' episode is.
whatever top performing episodes we have.
Really?
In our top 10, yeah.
I loved that day.
That was so, like, I had just had my baby.
It was kind of like getting back into things.
And I just remember being so, like, warm and fuzzy here.
And now you've really elevated everything and you guys are killing it.
I'm just so proud.
I'm so happy for you.
Like, yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I actually watched the interview back this morning.
And it was, I feel like we had fun.
We were like giggly and chatting.
I don't really think we've like closed the loop on anything because we were like just
pinging ideas.
How long ago was it?
This was over two years ago.
Yeah.
Over two years.
Yeah.
We had our original set.
Yeah.
The black couches.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Everything.
Rome was I think four months.
Yeah.
That is nuts.
Now he's a freaking toddler.
Yeah.
The world.
But we did tell Val, we were like, it's one of our top performing
episodes. So we had him on. We were like, we need to see who's this going to do better now.
Oh, snap. Yeah. He wanted to take the credit. So we were like, well, we're going to have Jenna on.
And here we are. So we had Val. Now we have you. No pressure. And yeah, we're going to see who it was.
Okay. Who the common denominator is. Yeah. That our lemon drops really connected with.
No pressure. Yeah. I am actually curious to see what that is. Good luck. Jeez, you guys.
Please. How can I compete with that slicked back hair, little accent he has? I mean, he's hot.
Yeah. And he dipped me. And he dipped you.
Yeah. So what are we going to do?
We'll see. What am I going to do today? Dipper?
We'll do some lifts after. Yes. Okay. So we start each episode off with this jar. It's a game called citrus got real.
Okay. If you want to pull a little piece of paper out of there. So cute. And you can read it to us.
Did you cheat?
I may.
You just said yes.
You planted it.
I did.
You know what.
Okay.
It's a good one.
Don't worry.
Oh.
If you had to hop on a flight right now, all expenses paid.
Where would you travel to?
Oh, that is so good.
Isn't that good?
We go to the airport right now.
You can choose anywhere.
Oh my gosh.
Where are you going?
Okay.
I know I actually don't know the answer, but it was a good question.
You know where I'm going?
to go. Where? I'm going to go to Rome, Italy. And the reason why is because that place holds a very
significant moment in my life. It was the first place I'd ever been to in Europe. And Val took me there.
It was also the first place that we went to after we'd broken up and got back together.
And it's where we refil in love. I really feel like it just,
established our roots and our relationship in a new way. And our son is named from that beautiful
city. So I would love to take my family and go to Rome. It's just one of my favorite places
in the world. It's so beautiful. The food is just, I mean, good Italian food plus the art, the history,
the museums. It's just like spectacular. Val and I have this thing where we have a really hard time
going to beach
vacations.
Okay.
We get really anxious after like two days of doing nothing on the beach.
Yeah.
We're just like, what do we do with ourselves?
We just don't know how to like sit down and relax, which we're working on.
But we love walking.
We love travel.
We love running around the whole city, like being so exhausted, getting all of our steps in.
We love art.
He's like really got me on to museums and stuff.
And so, yeah, I just think it would be so fun.
And I haven't been back there since.
Oh, you haven't?
No, I went one time I would say this was eight years ago.
Wow.
Yeah.
And I'd love to go back.
Aw.
And bring my little Roma.
Yeah.
So is that what you named him after?
Yes.
That trip.
Like you guys were falling in love?
Yeah.
That's for me what it represents.
For Val, he, Val came up with the name actually.
So, um.
He did take credit for that.
He, I'll give it to him.
I'll give it to that guy.
He did come up with it.
And I thought.
it was so beautiful.
But I think it has different meanings for both of us.
He really wanted like a romantic name for his son and everything.
And I just was like, this is perfect because it's, it's our love story.
And he was made with so much love.
Yeah.
Wow, that's great.
I didn't know that.
That's cool.
Rome.
That's really not going to, I have no clue how I'm getting.
Yeah, we're not going to top that one.
Think of anywhere close to it.
But I'm just curious, when you go on vacations, who are you guys more like activity
people, you're like, you got to keep the day busy.
You want to be scheduling this and that.
Like, we have to wake up and go to the gym and, like, keep a routine.
Yeah.
I can't just let myself go for a week, which working on.
Yeah.
But I just, I love to be like, ooh, I want to feel my best on vacation instead of like slump.
But yeah, we love, like, activities.
If we're just letting the hours go by, it's we're anxious.
Yeah.
I don't know if we can go on vacation together.
But maybe, like, people like you would help us.
Yeah, we love that.
We think, I feel like, I feel like we could in the sense of it would level out.
But also, we haven't been on a vacation like that before.
Like when we go, we've only been on like actual like trip vacation a couple.
Well, that's a lie when we went with our friends all.
We hopped around Europe and that we did stuff.
Yeah, like Coneyac was scheduled with activities.
Guys, we could go together and we could do every other day.
One day is chill.
One day is explore.
You know what I mean?
Mix it up.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I like it.
I like both.
Yeah.
I think we just haven't done a lot of, we want to go.
Like we really want to go to Tokyo.
Where's places in Europe, we really want to go.
But I think we're nervous to do it just us because I don't know how that will be like for Taylor with the traveling.
Like I think that's why we haven't done it.
That's why I haven't spearheaded the idea of like, I don't know, walking the streets of Rome.
How is that going to be for you?
I don't know.
There's only one way to find out.
Yeah, I guess we have to go now.
I've only, I've been to Rome twice, I think, on a press tour, but always for 24 hours.
For like work and in and out.
I haven't been able to explore it at all.
Maybe we'll have to put you in disguise, but there's nothing like walking around just in the city of love, really.
Yeah.
Just like cobblestone and everyone's like outside eating pastas and it's just music's playing in the distance.
Yeah.
There's a coliseum right there in the middle.
of the city. It's just...
What's the fountain's called?
I'm not even going to try to pronounce it. Put it out. It's fine.
The true.
Oh, she knows. She knows.
That, that, exactly. I did do the...
You threw the thing? Yeah.
Yes. And it was like...
The fountain of love.
Wait, what do you throw?
Like a penny or a coin.
Yeah.
Oh, that's in a, that's in a Disney movie.
Probably. Probably. Yeah. It's very famous.
Okay.
But it's always like flooded with tourists.
Yes. And like we were there on one of the Twilight.
press tours.
So we literally pulled up in like our van with security and everything.
Pulled up.
I jumped out.
There's literally hundreds and hundreds of people at the fountain.
I jumped out for five seconds.
Did the coin.
Made your love wish.
Yeah.
Very quickly and efficiently.
Do you wish for me?
Yes.
Probably.
It was there.
See you guys need to go to Rome together.
You wished for me before I was probably even 18.
2011.
Yeah.
Oh.
12.
No, I probably was so.
It's fine.
You were young too.
I'm excited to,
we didn't like dive into your dance origin and all of that stuff.
And Taylor,
I feel like learned a little bit from Val about the Utah dance world.
Yeah.
Fascinates.
And all of it.
The mecha.
I mean, yeah,
I guess I kind of want to know, like,
when did dance start for you?
I started when I was three.
Okay.
I have two older sisters.
and they were both dancers.
They are both dancers.
But they were going to this studio out in Utah.
It's called Center Stage Performing Arts Studios.
And so they were actively in dance,
in competitive dance.
And so I would kind of just get hauled along with the carpool.
And I was obsessed.
I would try to run into the dance classes.
And they start kids really young there.
So when I was three,
I got put into this, like, cute little combo class.
I just remember it sparked something.
Like, I don't know what it was,
but I just remember, like,
there was the first time I kind of fell in love,
if that's even a thing,
or, like, passion started for me.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I started at the studio.
And mind you, this studio is where Derek,
Julianne, myself, Lindsay, Whitney,
Ezra, Riley, Brandon.
We've all come from this same studio.
Jeez.
Where it all began for us.
And so I was surrounded by epic dancers.
And, you know, I think when you're growing up, you're like, oh, I'm going to try out soccer.
I'm going to try out this.
I'm going to try this.
I never wanted to try anything else because I was just so set on like, I loved dance.
And my mom never had to convince me to go to class or rehearsal.
So that's when it started for me.
And yeah, I just, I'm so glad that I also had two sisters to kind of follow in their footsteps.
They ended up transitioning one of my sisters, my oldest sister, she's 11 years older than I am.
So she became one of my first teachers as well.
Wow.
So she was one of my first company directors.
She really guided me and helps me become into the dancer that I am today.
And then I have a sister who's three and a half years older than me.
Once she graduated high school, she transitioned into being a teacher as well.
And she was my company director as well.
So I'm really lucky to have them.
They are my guides.
And even to this day, like when I'm choreographing for the show, if I'm stuck or I don't feel good about something when my routines, I'll send them in the video and I'll be like, advice, help, SOS.
What do I need to do?
What do I need to fix?
They're just so smart and they know my style.
So yeah, that's where it all kind of started for me.
That's so awesome.
I had no clue about that.
Yeah.
That's really a family thing.
It's so crazy to me.
there is this one place in America.
That in Val said it.
Like it's either the,
it's either the Chimeskies.
Yeah.
Or the Utah girlies.
Yeah.
It's like,
those are the best answers in the world.
Yeah. It's,
it's crazy.
Again,
there's a lot of discipline there.
What's the secret sauce?
How are they producing all these people,
including yourself?
In Utah,
you put,
you get your kids into something early.
Yeah.
Like,
you want to find their passion early.
And I kind of love that about it.
Everyone's involved in extracurricular activities.
Everyone's in sports or dance or gymnastics.
And you just like do it and you grow up with kids doing it.
So there's this great camaraderie.
There's this great like essence of team from a young age,
which I think is really special where you don't find that in a lot of different places.
But it's also competitive, which sometimes to a fall, I think we need to like have a healthy balance.
but it is very competitive.
Yeah, it'll push you to be the best.
But, you know, it's so interesting.
I'm, man, life is so crazy.
But I remember, because Julianne Huff,
she moved to London for a while.
She was, she's from Utah, but she moved to London.
She did a lot of her ballroom training out there.
She danced with Mark Ballas.
And I think for her senior year of high school,
she came back to Utah.
She like kind of stopped and was coming back to Utah.
And I remember she started.
she started doing private lessons. And I remember seeing her dance one time and I was just like
dumbfounded at how a specimen could be so stunning and like sexy and sensual but elevated. And so I was like
begged my mom, please, can I take a private lesson from her? Like please, please, please, please, please.
So she was like, okay. So I took this Latin and I just kind of gotten introduced to ballroom at this point.
Because I started with like a jazz, ballet, tap, you know, all the core stuff.
And I wanted to take ballroom.
And so she, we started doing private lessons after school on like Fridays.
And one of our private lessons, she came in.
She was wearing these like little jeans shorts.
She was the hottest thing I'd ever seen.
And I was just like, oh, gee, I get to learn cha cha-chalocks from Julianne Huff.
And then one day she called my mom and she was like, hey, I'm so sorry.
I booked this gig in L.A.
And I don't think I'll be able to do a private lesson with Jenna this week.
I think that's when she booked deal or no deal.
And then she literally never came back to Utah.
She just like, bye.
She like,
Was she a dealer no deal girl?
Yes.
She,
I'm quite positive.
She was a suitcase girl because we watched her.
And I was like,
that's my Georgia teacher.
But then she like literally never came back to Utah.
And then she just became Julianne Huff.
But I remember, like,
that was the first time I had.
idolize somebody being like, OMG.
Like there's something special about her that.
That I really want that.
So, yeah, I'm so grateful that I got like a little piece of Julianne's training before she took off and became freaking superstar.
That's such a good story.
Yeah.
I mean, what was the, she started in a movie.
She did footloose.
Footloose.
Yes.
But that was after dancing with the stars.
And then she did her basic career.
Then she did footloose.
and then burlesque, like.
I have to see if this deal or no deal thing is real because this will blow.
This will blow my mind.
We need to text her.
I'm pretty sure that's like one of her first gigs was a deal or no deal.
There's a good chance she was one of my first crushes if she was a deal or no deal girl because that like the age I was at.
Yeah.
Some of my first crushes were dealer no deal girls.
Yeah, when they like open the briefcase and they're like, how much money are we getting?
Yeah, I can see that.
Wow.
I like number 12.
Dang, she only had five bucks in there, like, and then they have to leave for the rest of the episode.
I can't wait for us to call her.
You are so funny.
I know, I'm very, I'm very curious about this.
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Wait, okay.
I remembered my question from way back when.
What, what, did you say what age you started ballroom?
I started ballroom around.
eight to 10. Okay. Is that normal, like at center stage, does everyone do all normal styles and ballroom?
Yes. Okay. And that's what makes this specific studio so unique. Okay. Is because you cross train. Instead of picking one, like being a convention kid and just doing these couple of styles, we always did both. And that was something that just made us stand out always at competitions. But we had partnering, which a lot of
young kids don't get.
And so we already knew how to like interact with a guy, do lifts, do these different things.
So yeah, I was like 8 to 10 starting ballroom.
It's so cool.
Dancing with a boy for the first time.
It's so, it's funny you say that though because I grew up dancing.
I obviously had no ballroom anything, no male partner experience.
And then I went to college for dance for a little bit before nursing.
But that was the first time I'd ever partnered with a guy.
And it was a little odd to me at first.
because I was like how like I'm just going to trust someone I mean I was always the one that was like lifted in
things but it wasn't like I'm not like trusting this one human to lift me and like actually dancing with
someone it is different I always tell people especially dancers wanting to come out here and be an
industry dancer commercial dancer the ones that always get hired are the ones that have experience
and partnering it's just how it is and it's so unique to me or so interesting to me that some of the
industry dancers, like, they're just smashing it. And as soon as you put them in a partner
scenario, they stress ball change and, like, cannot do a step and, like, panic. It's so mind-blowing
to me. So I'm so grateful that, like, at a young age, I was thrown into these scenarios where
my teammate was a guy. Yeah. And we had to figure it out and make it work. And I love it.
Yeah. Were you always, like, I'm doing dance forever? Or did it get to a point where you got older and
you were like, okay, do I want to actually like pursue this professionally or what was that for you?
Yeah, I always, I remember at 16, I tried to convince my parents to let me graduate early and move to
LA and try to get started working and dancing. And they were already stressed that I wasn't a normal
child, like having normal experiences because I would do half days at school and then go straight
to the studio and train for hours on end. And that was my life and I loved it. I was the one. I was the
that was asking for that.
So they really wanted to maintain these childhood experiences, like going to a prom or this
where I was like, I'm not going to need this in the future.
This isn't going to help my dance career.
And they were like, no, you need this to be a human, a human being.
And I'm really now looking back, I'm grateful that I had that because I wasn't, I was not
a social kid.
I just was always so driven and motivated.
But now looking back, like,
when I'm looking at my child now, I want him to have those experiences.
Yeah.
He needs to be a kid because I think the reason why they forced me to have a normal upbringing
is what made me not lose my passion for dance.
I didn't burn out, you know?
Yeah.
But yeah, I always knew that I wanted to make it a career.
And at that time, like, so you think you can dance and dancing with the stars were exploding.
Yeah.
So I saw a path of maybe I can do this and maybe I can pursue it and it will become a thing.
Yeah.
Didn't know how or what the tools were to get me there, but I was just like, this is, this is what I want to do.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You said something that I was going to ask about.
So jumping forward a little bit, now, unless you want to stay there for a second.
Now that dance, like, is your job.
Yeah.
Is it hard to keep that passion or how do you, like, do those lines get blurred?
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Yes and no.
And I had to figure that out, I think, the hard way.
Especially with Dancing with the Stars, it's so incredible, but it can become pretty monotonous in the rhythm of things, right?
You meet a celebrity, you have this journey, you get eliminated, you win, you go on tour.
And I was getting into a rhythm that wasn't making me inspired, but because I wasn't re-induced.
inventing myself as a choreographer, as a dancing.
I was just kind of going through the motions.
And so it wasn't until I really, I was pregnant.
Well, actually, no.
I really wanted to be pregnant.
And I was having a hard time getting pregnant.
And I'd had a miscarriage.
And I was just like, my world was crumbling.
I was so lost, so confused.
and I was asked to dance with a girl that coming season.
And in my mind, I had wanted to take a break from the show because I wanted to be pregnant.
So I was already kind of like one foot in, one foot out.
And I was just like, I don't know if I can handle this.
Anyway, I said yes.
And I ended up dancing with Jojo Siwa.
And that really like reignited my love for dance.
And it was a challenge, the choreography, how to be different.
from what I had ever done before.
And the way I approached things,
like it wasn't,
I couldn't rely on things I had just done so easily in the past.
And that,
I think,
was such a turning point for me where I realized,
like,
it's on me to keep this passion alive.
Reignite the flame.
Yeah.
Like,
I've got to approach things differently.
I can't just take each season
and do the same motions because,
yeah,
then I'm going to get really burnt out
and I'm not going to love it.
And so I think that was a really big moment.
for me and then I ended up getting pregnant right after that season and taking a season off and getting
to watch the show from the sidelines and being the audience also then made me miss being on the dance
floor and I had to have those conversations of like why do I love dance why am I missing it you know and so I think
timing was so so perfect for me in that year a year and a half of like having to confront where I was at with my
joy in my career and I wasn't happy or I was I just felt stuck I wasn't going anywhere
and then missing it and then re-falling in love with it and and then I was so excited to come
back after I had had my son I was just energized and I was like okay I'm never going to take this
for granted again and then just so many beautiful things in dance happened after that like
we were nominated for an Emmy and then I ended up winning this past season with Joey. So I think
I needed that dull moment to be like, why do I love this? Don't take this for granted. It can be
taken away from you so, so fast. And then I just really put put the pressure on me to like,
this is up to you then. Keep the fire alive. Yeah. I have, sorry, I have one more.
This question is going to require you to brag about yourself. So, but is there, okay,
So this last season, the one that you won with Joey, is the first season I've ever watched.
What?
And I'm hooked now.
I get it now.
I've been trying to get him to watch it for so long.
I've seen episodes.
I've seen random episodes.
But this was the one where I watched the whole season.
Yeah.
Great one to start with.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Great one to start with.
From what I've gathered.
Okay.
You are like the choreographer.
guru. Like you're like known for that famously. What how do you how do you how do you how do you become that?
Like where does the choreographer in you come from? That is such a great question because I don't know.
I don't know what the answer is for everybody but I'll tell you how it happened for me because again
we're we were trained to be dancers exquisite dancers right but choreography isn't something that's like
Here's how you orchestrate a great dance or come up with formations.
But I luckily had amazing mentors that inspired me to want to be a choreographer.
One specific, well, a couple, my sisters.
Both of them are really great choreographers as well.
They're just smart when it comes to like spacing, transitions, how to come up with a routine from beginning to end.
That makes sense.
And, you know, it's exciting.
Then I started working with a choreographer named Mandy Moore at a very young age.
I think she started coming to our studio when I was around eight.
And so I've just watched her choreograph for so many years.
And I was so lucky to work with her on So You Think You Can Dance.
And then when I joined Dancing with the Stars, she was like the head choreographer doing all of the opening numbers at the time.
And she did that for a couple of years.
And she would ask me to come in early and help a sister or to kind of prep some moves before
everybody else came in.
Oh, wow.
And so I really felt like I got a first hand, here is how you choreograph a brilliant routine.
Because she is, in my opinion, the best of the best.
She's like a legend, right?
Yes.
For those of you that don't know who Mandy Moore is, she did La La Land.
She choreographed all the dance scenes for a silver lining's
playbook with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
She's just...
Did she do Taylor's tour?
She did the ERAs tour.
She did.
She choreographed the Eres tour.
She's done almost all of the Dancing with the Stars tours.
She's just so smart.
And I think our brains are similar and she approaches it very like visually where...
And this is how I do it now, where I have to have a notebook.
And every time I get a new routine or a new song, I have to listen to it over and over again.
I write out all of the eights.
I write out specific lyrics that like make me feel a certain type of way, whether it says like
heart or embrace or whatever it is that I'm, I know that I want to pinpoint in the choreography
and like make a moment.
She's all about moments.
And for me, that's what makes dance so relatable and special is if you can make somebody
feel an emotion or feeling or a sensation.
And so I just really love.
learned everything I know from her.
I'm so, so grateful for her and everything she's done.
And yeah, she's just the absolute best.
And I feel like Val and I learned a lot from her together.
And she always had us prep with her together.
And that's what really also formed our relationship when it comes to choreography as well.
We just figured out what worked for us and how to come up with her scenes together.
So, yeah, that's kind of how it happened.
for me. But for me, I guess
I just love visuals. I love emotion.
I always want people to feel
something when they watch my routines.
So that's kind of how I approach it
as a choreographer. But there is no
rule book. Like,
here's how to do it.
Just kind of like do it.
It's so good. It's so true. How are you
and Val together when you're choreographing
things? Like, how do you
because I guess, because we work together
in the sense of obviously we're doing this.
But yeah. Like,
there's not like a like you can be like I think we should go left he's like no we should
definitely go to like how do yeah it's interesting settle a disagreement because with us I feel like it's a lot
easier he's like no we should actually start a social clip like this I'm like okay great let's do that
but like you can actually have like two yeah I guess I guess no for sure I guess to like relate it
it was if you would be doing like his acting scene and he was like I think you should cry on this
part and you're like I really don't think I should cry it's not the right emotion yeah that's kind of
how it is for us when we're creating.
We both are very opinionated.
Oh my gosh, opinionated.
We're both Aries, if that means anything to anybody.
So we're fire and fire.
And we both think we're right most of the time,
which is really fun.
But no, I think there's also no rulebook on how to work with your spouse or create with
your spouse.
I think both of us are very passionate and have an intimate relationship with dance.
And so we have to respect that first and foremost, like coming into a space together.
But he always pushes me and challenges me in the studio that I need that.
And I always feel like some of my best work comes from his opinion or his challenge or his push.
And so I really love creating with him.
also too when it comes to like emotion and things getting to dance then our own movement is so special
it's just like I don't know how to it's just euphoric really it's just doing something with the person
that you love that you love most it's just magic um but getting to create a piece like the
lend goodman tribute that we were asked to choreograph two seasons ago they want an Emmy that one
that was very stressful because we understood the pressure, first of all, and the sentiment.
How do you pay tribute to someone's legacy in three minutes with dance moves?
But dance is so special in that sense that it can create the most glorious emotions through movement.
And I think when there's a general or a co-heaval.
cohesive intention behind the movement, that's when magic happens. And that was what happened in the
ballroom. So yes, we did a great piece. We choreographed good movement. But I think everybody's showing up
having a similar intention and emotion is what really made that piece come to life. So it was so beautiful.
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Should we talk about Joey?
Joseph.
Absolutely.
We just had him and Kelsey over the other night, finally.
We've had them on the podcast separately, but we've been trying to plan a double date
with them for literally ever, and we like found one Monday that everyone was in town.
We were like, come over, have dinner.
We did it.
We did.
We did do it.
What was your experience dancing with Joey?
Terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
What a nightmare.
Oh man, Joseph.
He is just one of the best people I've ever met, truly.
I did not watch his season of The Bachelor at all.
And he knows this.
But I had kind of like stopped watching it.
But my sister is a very avid Bachelor fan.
And so when she found out that he was going to be on,
she was like, Jenna, dead.
You have to have to have.
of Joey and I was like, really?
Seems kind of boring.
Like, you know, because he wasn't ever like controversial
from what I had heard.
There was no crazy headlines ever.
Which, boring.
Because he's the best.
Anyway, so I was like, yeah.
Anyway, we met.
And immediately, I just felt like we'd known each other
our whole lives.
He is very scarcely like a doppelganger
to one of my brothers.
And so maybe that's what connected us so quickly.
But he, like my brother plays tennis, has played it through college.
One of the most genuine, generous people I've ever met,
understanding, emotionally intelligent.
Yeah.
And that was Joey.
He was just like, yeah, he's just great.
And was down.
So down.
He's just a guy's guy, like just down.
Yeah.
Doesn't have an ego.
Yeah.
cares, but isn't, wasn't ever, never, ever took anything I said to him personally. And I wasn't always the
easiest to deal with. Um, I had my days for sure. But he just wanted to do well and wanted to get better and
wanted to experience all the dancing with the stars had to offer. So whether that was where a wig for
hair metal night that looked so crazy or to rip open a shirt for the fourth time because I was like,
give the people what they want.
He was just down.
And I think that's why people loved him so much.
Like that's what the show's about.
If you think about it, we're just dancing around in rhinestones, like acting like fools
kind of.
But if you embrace it and start to love dance as much as he did, people feel that.
Yeah.
I feel like you could really feel the he wanted it for you just as much as you wanted it for
him.
I feel like even like a couple weeks in that was very apparent.
that it was like you both were wanted it for yourselves but also equally as much for the other
just to kind of like give you a tidbit of joey when we won that moment was such a blur and i just remember
screaming the whole like screaming looking at him jumping up and down just being like joey and alfonso
came over to him and was like joey what does this moment feel like for you he took the mic and the first
thing he said was, I just wanted this for Jenna more than anything, and I'm so happy she had her
moment. Like, that's the type of person he is. Yeah. He's just, yeah, going to be in my life forever.
I'm so happy we got to experience that chapter together. I know that you don't come across those
partners or relationships very often. So I will hold that near and dear to my heart forever. He was
just like one in a billion. That's so sweet.
Why was he so good?
Like, it doesn't make...
It doesn't make sense.
Like, week two, we were going, why is he good?
He's not a dance.
He's never...
He took, like, a...
Mombo class in college one time.
And he was like, I rarely showed up.
But the reason why he's so good is he knows music.
Okay.
He can, like, he has natural rhythm.
Yeah.
Which, for a white guy is really hard.
And to, like, naturally be able to...
Rope.
I've seen you move.
He just needs a little tequila then he's fine.
Great.
We could take a shot every show.
You know what I mean?
You could take one.
I would watch, cheer you on, and we could go do the jive.
No, but yeah, Joey, Joey's just so great.
I remember after, I think it was, I think it was week four I went to a taping.
Oh, yes, I saw you.
Also, that was one of the sweetest moments I came home and told Taylor about.
Like, this, like, while the show was going on, like, you are all in your own world, obviously.
You're doing this live show.
Yeah.
And after, like, I was, you know, halfway up in the audience.
And you and Val saw me, you guys, like, waved and you both ran over and gave me a hug.
And I came home, I was like, that was one of the sweetest things.
Like, this is, like, your guys' time.
You're, like, you're in your lane.
You're in your zone.
You're putting on this show after.
you're probably exhausted, like you're ready to go home, you've been there since 8 a.m.
And the fact that you both, like, one saw me, acknowledged me and, like, came up and we're just
chatting with me. It's like, I just thought it was really sweet. And I was like, you guys didn't,
like, you're in the middle of doing your thing. You did not need to say hi. I think it's so comforting.
And it's so comforting to see familiar faces in the audience in those stressful environments.
Because our families don't come as often. You know, his parents will have a hard
If they ever watch the show in person, they, like, can't handle stress.
My family travels when they can, but every week, it's like strangers.
So when there are those spaces that feel like home, it's, it means a lot.
It's grounding.
So, of course, I was so happy to see you.
That made me.
I was at the-
Take a deep breath.
Yeah.
I was at the finale, too.
And that was so fun, like, getting to, like, see that all firsthand happened was just, like,
so exciting.
And nuts.
I wanted it so badly for you guys.
because I knew how badly you wanted it, but also just the love and respect and commitment you guys had to doing it for each other was truly just the best.
You told me that after whatever week it was, four, you told me that you told Jenna that you guys could win.
I was like, why is Joey so good?
And you're like, I have no clue.
And I was like, I think you could win.
And you're like, I know, I think so.
And I got home and my friend was like, did you just jinx it for her?
I was like, no, I'm manifesting.
You did.
You did.
You did.
You do I owe this to you?
Thank you. Do I owe this to you? Do I owe the mirrorball to you? I'll just be it. It's fine. Wow. No, thank you. I saw it early on that we might have a chance, but you just never know. And there was so many good contenders. Alona, Chandler, Stephen. Like, there were so many, Danny, there was so many good personalities. So I just was like, whatever it is, I'll be happy because I just had such a fulfilling season with Joey. But to be able to take it home was really the cherry on top. How do you, how do you, like, what's the mentality?
going into next season now. Are you just like, you're fine with whatever? Do you like want it again?
I'm so competitive. I'm so grateful. And I'm going to stay in that moment of being like,
I just had a once in a lifetime opportunity last season with someone so special. I'm not going to forget
about that. So I don't want to be too greedy. But I'd still love to have an impact this, you know,
this upcoming season. That's always the goal. So whether it's a different approach, whether it's really
focusing on choreography and having more moments in that regard. Like, I'm excited. I love,
it's like the beginning of a new school year, honestly. You're just like, who what's going to happen?
I'm so excited. I need them to just bring back two years. Oh, two seasons a year. Why not?
It would be so fun. Oops, my chances of getting on. Hey, oh. Do you have any more dance questions?
No, no, I asked my dance questions. You got them all over. Are you sure?
That's funny.
Okay.
Let's talk about motherhood.
Ah, yes.
Let's do it.
Okay, so we said last time when you were here.
Almost four months.
Four months old.
And now by the time this comes out, he'll be almost two and a half.
Literally.
Almost, yeah.
Wow.
Time flies.
How has parenting changed for you over these past couple years?
Well, I think in the beginning you're kind of just like in survival mode of like, what is our
new routine. We're now parents. Are we equipped to do this? And you're kind of just like day by day
taking it. And now he's this little man with a personality and a voice and an opinion. And it's so
fun. He is just the yummiest little squish. He's so cute. Thank you. Is this a good age? This is great.
stage. Here's the thing. People say like terrible twos, which I understand because he does have his
moments for sure. But I've been reading these things about their emotions are starting to really tap in
right now. And they don't know these big feelings that they're feeling. So if he's having an outburst or
something, I shouldn't think of it in a negative regard of like I'm doing something wrong, but he's trying to
figure out how to navigate through these strong emotions. So I'm trying to convince myself of that,
these strong emotions that are happening.
But it is such a fun age.
Like the new words or phrases that he's putting together,
he just,
I don't know where he started school.
So I feel like he's been learning a lot of new things from school.
But he just started saying,
um,
and I don't know why this word takes me out.
But when this little man human is looking at me and I say,
Rome,
you want to go ride your bike?
Yeah, mom.
Yeah.
Like, did you just think about that?
Like, and also where did you learn um?
Yeah.
Who said that to you?
Oh my gosh.
He's just so sweet.
Oh my gosh.
So fun.
And they have energy.
They keep you on your toes.
He's constantly making us laugh.
What does he have from both of you personality-wise?
When I tell you, it's as if someone just like smashed me in Val.
Really?
Yes.
Because there are so many attributes that I'm like, oh, that is Val.
His personality.
part of his personality.
Like he's got this scowl, like this face.
He's very, he's a little timid at first of people, which that's vowel to a T.
Yeah.
Because if you don't know him, you're like, oh, Val is very reserved.
He's a little intimidating.
And then you get to know him and he's just like this goofy guy that wants to do comedy,
you know, stand up.
That's kind of wrong.
Like, he's very thoughtful, very methodical and just like how his.
approaches to people or new experiences.
But then he is funny.
He is just goofy.
I think he has a lot of my mannerisms when it comes to like our facial expressions.
He has my very big eyes.
And so he's really expressive.
He loves music and singing.
And I will not say that I am a singer at all.
I will not claim that.
But something that was really important in my upbringing, my mom sang to us
constantly, just always singing,
lullabies, nursery rhymes, whatever it was.
We were always singing.
And so I, since Rome came home from the hospital,
we sing like songs every night together.
And then Val started doing it.
It's so funny because the difference in our songs.
I'm singing like twinkle, twinkle little star and I love you,
you love me from Barney.
Val's over here singing New York State of Mind to my two-year-old.
Stop.
And guess what?
He knows almost all of the lyrics to New York State of Mind.
No.
But he's got an incredible voice and he loves music.
So it's just, it's so fun to see like their interest.
But man, he just makes life so much better.
That's awesome.
I'm curious what's been the biggest thing that you've learned or something that's been a lot more meaningful or surprising to you?
Hmm.
I think a common denominator in my life.
is this need for control.
I am such a control freak.
And I think motherhood or parenthood in general,
you have to let go a lot.
You've got to just go with the flow,
give into certain situations.
And I think that that's actually been one of the best things for me,
something that therapy could never really trigger my pinpoint
on how to let go fully.
motherhood has just been that where my house is going to probably be a disaster one day and that's okay
or we're going to go on a flight with my two-year-old and he's not going to behave perfectly and that is okay
or I'm not going to have my full to do list done by the end of the day that's freaking okay
like life goes on as long as everyone is healthy and happy and smiling
Yeah.
Like life is so beautiful.
Yeah.
And I think also just I care less about what people think.
Yeah.
Because I have so much more purpose where before kids, you know, people's comments about me or what I did or my life or how I looked, this, that.
They would, they would affect me to a point, to a certain extent.
And now I'm just like, unless you're my son or my husband, I really don't.
care about your opinion to a degree because like this is all that matters to me. Yeah. I'm not going
to obsess over this. I don't have time first of all. Yeah. Second of all, I just, I want to be in my bubble.
Yeah. And I and if people's opinions or or hate or whatever is going to burst that, I don't need it.
I don't have time for it. So I think those have been some really powerful things that have like saved me in a
sense from motherhood, which I was not expecting. Yeah. That's awesome. That's really cool.
How obviously you work in the sense of you're a boss mom and you are getting your work done.
You're doing dancing with the stars touring, doing all of the stuff.
I'm curious how if you struggle at all with mom guilt because I think moms put a lot of pressure on themselves.
Yeah.
And a lot of women feel like they either have to sacrifice their career or give something up in order.
to be a mom.
Yeah.
Curious how you've dealt with that.
I definitely have felt mom guilt for sure.
Last season was the first time I had made it all the way to the end of the show,
to the finale, and been an active mom.
And I was having to leave my son hours on end.
And I was also exhausted.
And so that was interesting trying to figure it out.
And I knew that there was an end goal, you know.
And so I think that also motivated me in a sense to like do it for him and show him why mommy has been away for so long.
And I think showing him what passion is and never losing that has been important for me.
But also just barely, my most recent mom guilt has been going on the Dancing with the Stars tour.
And this past tour, they weren't able to accommodate our whole family.
family. And we didn't really get into it or announce why we weren't going together. But, you know,
there was an opportunity for myself and Joey to go right after we had won. And I debated on whether
to go because I was going to have to leave Rome and my husband for quite a while. And Val was just
so not adamant, but he was very supportive and saying, like, you should do this. Yeah. When else
are you going to have this moment, right?
And so he really helped push me into like going on the tour.
While I was away, I was getting all of these DMs and comments because I would share
Rome at home and us FaceTiming before bedtime or what he was doing while I was away.
People were like, wow, I could never leave my child for that long.
Like you should be at home with your son, all of this.
You know, just like crazy comments, which to each their own.
But so that did make me feel guilty, I guess.
But in the grand scheme of things,
I know that I will look back on that time
and be so grateful that I did it for myself
in a selfish way,
which I think you have to have moments of selfishness
in motherhood to not lose yourself fully,
which is really, really hard to do.
But, you know, Rome got to come out
and visit me on tour and he got to see me perform.
And he got to be backstage
and he got to like sit in the audience
during meeting great.
Like these are moments that I know that we'll look back on as a family and be like,
how special was that time, you know?
But also,
I'm grateful that I have quite a few moms on the show as well that are navigating it.
So getting to confide in someone like a Daniela or a Pita or Whitney who are going through
those same struggles,
I think it's really awesome to have that circle to be able to trust and like vent to.
Yeah.
Wow.
I didn't even think about that aspect.
of there is other moms on the show.
Yeah.
That's something that they're completely also navigating.
Yeah.
And it's a first for a lot of us.
So to be able to do it together and to kind of lean on each other,
I'm so grateful for it.
Like, Danielle had her daughter on the road.
And I felt like I got to be mommy to her
in certain moments, you know,
and get my little like toddler fix.
Yeah.
Which was so special.
So yeah, it's really interesting.
Her and Rome are close.
They're a couple months apart.
Oh my gosh.
I think five months apart, Nikita and Rome.
Yeah.
She's the cute.
When the two of them are together, like.
A love story?
Yeah, truly.
An arranged marriage for sure, low key, but.
Yeah. There's videos of this.
Oh.
Of them together?
Pictures and videos.
I'll need to see those.
You need to just follow everyone because there's so many cute kid videos.
Like I was telling him about Lindsay posting, like Sage stepping on her little, like, stars and squares.
I see the Sage videos.
Yes.
She's one of a kind.
Sage needs her own show, honestly.
It's like, her personality is crazy.
Yeah.
She's coming from.
for all of our jobs and I'm here for it.
And like, take it.
Yeah.
Come on, sweetie.
She is really cute.
She probably does need her own show.
Yeah.
Let's have to talk to Lindsay about it.
Yeah.
Okay.
So last time you were here, you touched a little bit on going to therapy after your miscarriage.
Yeah.
We didn't dive too much into that time.
I'd love to kind of hear about that time for you.
And what made you take the step into actually going to therapy?
Hmm.
If you're comfortable.
Yeah, for sure.
No, I'm a big therapy advocate.
But I think at that time, I just felt so lost, so dark, rock bottom.
I didn't know who I was, what my purpose was, what my worth was.
I was mourning this thing that I wanted more than anything, which was pregnancy and this baby.
And, you know, Val and I had a lot of deep conversations.
And I think he could sense that I was a shell of myself.
And he was one of the ones that really encouraged me to like,
maybe you need to see somebody or talk with somebody because there were just certain
things that he couldn't relate to.
And I'm sure he was hearing the same story over and over that I was crying about
or venting about.
And I think there's certain conversations.
that you need to have with your spouse,
but I think there's also certain conversations
that somebody else needs to
to navigate, help navigate for you
without this emotional, biased opinion.
So he was like, you know,
if you feel comfortable,
I think this is something that you should do.
And we actually both started to go to therapy at that time.
I felt like also our relationship was,
was just not where it needed to be as well.
And it was because I was just,
I wasn't my, I wasn't me.
I wasn't Jenna.
So I started to go to therapy then
And that really, really helped me
The first I remember, I was so embarrassed
Because my first appointment
I don't even know if I spoke
I just mostly sobbed the whole time
But I kind of needed that
You know and she was so understanding
And just like there for me
But I just remember being like, oh my gosh, I'm one of those
Like I just sobbed in her chair
the whole time.
I mean, the fact that you felt comfortable enough though.
I think I was at, I was just there.
I was at that point where I just needed to.
And I couldn't believe how much better I felt after just like having a safe space.
Yeah.
And then we really started to work on things and to talk about where this was coming from,
you know, really dive in, childhood things that had been brought into my adult life,
this pressure, this need to control.
there was so many things I learned.
I went in trying to not fix a situation,
but kind of help mourn this miscarriage.
But I ended up learning so much more in that process.
And I just love therapy.
Everybody needs to do it, I think.
If you're up for it, you need to be open.
But it just really saved me in that time.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
We both are big therapy.
Was this the first therapy?
Did you get lucky on the first time?
Yeah.
With the therapist?
Yeah.
Wow.
Okay.
This was, yeah.
Sometimes it takes full.
And it's interesting because she, I was with her.
While after I had experienced my miscarriage, we had stopped trying to get pregnant.
And I was still with her when I actually found out I was pregnant with Rome.
And I remember I had to cancel an appointment because I was so sick.
and I had found out that day that I was pregnant.
And so I was like, I have to actually cancel.
I'm so sorry.
I'm pregnant.
Like, I think I'm pregnant.
And she was very happy with me or for me.
But yeah, it was interesting because I think that's also when I was confronted about certain things about my body that I was not expecting to come forth in these therapy sessions.
So it was just so helpful for me to really like confront so many things that I was dealing with, but pushing aside or suppressing.
But through that like miscarriage experience, I learned and gained so much.
Wow.
How do you, this might be a personal question.
Totally fine to cut it out.
But I'm curious how now having struggled with fertility, is it scary for you wanting to try again?
Like how do you approach that?
Because I'm sure there's pressure, but also like such a fear behind it.
A lot of people have been asking us recently, you know, like baby number two or you guys, you know, when's the next baby going to come?
And it's something that I've had to voice to vowel is it's terrifying for me to want to jump into that again.
Because I remember the first time being so desperate for this baby.
and it really put me in such a bad place.
Again, not that that's how it's going to go again,
but I think even tapping into that past
just scares me so bad.
So I think that's kind of made me want to take my time
and not rush into anything
or just take a different approach,
which I think we will when we're ready to start trying
for baby number two.
But it's been something that I did not expect
was that like trauma of peeing on ovulation sticks, tracking my periods, peeing on
thousands of pregnancy tests, and them all being negative.
Like that is a time in my life that really wrecked me.
So it is, it is scary.
But then again, like I just on a flu got pregnant with Rome and that was such a beautiful
experience.
We weren't trying.
So again, I don't know how it's going to go this next time.
but it does really, really scare me.
Yeah.
I feel like when that time does come,
I feel like you'll be well equipped because of everything,
all the work that you've put in.
Yes.
And I feel like you'll be able to handle things,
however they go for you.
Yeah.
It seems like you'll be in a really good headspace
because you've put the work in.
I agree.
And thank you for that.
But I think, yeah,
I think I need to just have the mindset of like,
everybody has their own journey and their own path to this. And what I take back, what happened to me all those years ago, no, because it's where it got me to where I am today. So I know that even in those low points in our life, there's always, there's always a better outcome. There's always a journey that you learn something from. So I just got to take it, take it how it is and go with the flow and whatever's meant to happen will happen. But it has, I thought I would be like, let's bang them out back to back to back.
But it's been so interesting for me to be like, oh, this does scare me.
I'm not sure I want to do that again.
Yeah.
I'm curious what advice you have for women that are struggling with infertility.
Something that really got me through was watching other people's videos.
I know that's so weird to say, but these YouTube videos of these vulnerable, beautiful
women that were strong enough to open up about their experiences,
really got me through.
I remember like in the middle of the night
watching these videos
about their trying to conceive journey.
They were the ones that gave me hope.
And every time they got a positive pregnancy test,
I remember like crying during some of them
because I was so invested in their journey
and I was so happy for them.
And so I think if you can find a community
that you feel safe enough to be open with
or to even secretly watch videos
or keep,
keep tabs on what they're doing.
Like that's what gave me help.
Yeah.
And to not stop trying or to like lose faith in this whole journey.
So I'm so grateful to this.
They call it the TTC trying to conceive community that puts themselves out there for people.
I really, really looked to them.
And even during my miscarriage, there was another beautiful community that I was not expecting who had shared their stories.
And that's, I feel like what helped me really heal.
in those moments.
Yeah.
There's,
we talk about like,
like,
I feel like we mainly focus
on the negatives
of social media
because there are.
Yeah.
But in instances like this,
there could be such a healing
community,
just life-giving space.
So true.
I think I've really,
yes,
I so agree with you.
I've tried to,
now I look at my social media
more of a journal.
Because I see the value
in being,
vulnerable and open. Obviously, people can come in real hot with some negativity, but I just know
that those accounts that I get to look to and be like, wow, I'm so grateful they shared that
tidbit because I feel seen, I feel heard. That's exactly how I feel. And they're strangers.
They don't know me. You know, I just really was so impacted by that. And so I've tried to have
that same approach when it comes to my own social media, be like a journal and be open because you
never know what somebody is going through.
And there have been many times where beautiful moms have reached out to me and been like,
thank you for sharing this.
Like I went through something similar, all of this.
So yeah.
And anyone that's going through infertility, miscarriage, like don't give up.
Don't give up.
Do what you need to do for you.
But it's going to happen one way or another.
Maybe not on your timeline, but just do not give up.
Don't lose that hope.
Your baby is waiting for you.
And when they come to you, it's going to fulfill every need that you ever dreamed of.
I got me.
I know.
So sweet.
Like, suck of my tears back up.
What's next for you?
What a transition.
I can't probably have thought that really.
Well, no, when I was watching back our interview with the both of you, it was really
at a time where we were very new.
to this whole infertility miscarriage thing, nothing personally, but friends.
I remember you had said friends.
Yeah, we had friends that were told they would never naturally get pregnant, tried for years,
did multiple rounds of IVF, finally got pregnant, and then randomly on a fluke got
naturally pregnant eight months after that baby was born.
And we've had people close to us, have miscarriage.
Since then, struggle with infertility.
I think we told you guys, we had two people at our wedding that had just
found out they were pregnant and both of them miscarried.
So it was like really eye-opening.
It was an eye-opening time for us because I feel like it's talked about more, but how common
miscarriages are and how common infertility is.
Yeah.
And since then, it's been cool.
It was cool to watch that back to hear like how shocked we were that one and four women
like have a miscarriage.
And then in the last two years, we've seen it.
Yeah.
With all of our friends.
Yeah.
So many people in our life.
But it's been cool to see the evolution of even how we're talking about it just from two years ago to now.
So I'm really thankful for you guys coming on and sharing that because it was a cool moment for us to like sit down and talk with a couple about it.
And, you know, obviously we'll start trying at some point here.
And I feel like we've been able to learn a lot from people like you and Val about it and like how, you know, there's a lot.
It's likely that's going to happen.
Like something like that is going to happen.
Yeah.
God willing not, but hearing those stories, it helps prepare you in a sense.
It is very crazy how common it is.
And I think the biggest thing that I've learned through all of this and all of the research and is there's really nothing wrong with you.
Yeah.
Or nothing that you do to create this instance for yourself.
And I think that was something that I struggled with.
I was so resentful of my body.
I felt like it had failed me,
just like my tool that had been my best friend
for my career and my biggest passion.
I was so angry at it
because I also miscarried while I was dancing
or that's what kind of, that's when I felt it's starting.
And so I think just knowing that like your body
is going to figure it out
and it's also going to protect you
because the egg that I had wasn't healthy.
So my body was protecting me because whether it would have survived and died or, you know,
it was, it knows your body knows best.
So there's nothing that you can do, you did, or anybody that has this experience that, like,
could prevent it.
I think just also having that in the back of your head.
And also, during all of this, my brother actually, my brother and my sister-in-law,
we were pregnant at the same time when I was pregnant with Rome.
And they were a couple weeks ahead of us.
And she had a healthy pregnancy, her whole nine months.
Everything was great.
She went in to have the baby and she ended up having a stillbirth.
And that, I just remember being like, what is this word stillborn?
Stillborn?
I'd heard about it in passing.
but to experience it with our family.
And then since then, the amount of people that I know that have had a stillborn or stillbirth,
it's insane.
And again, there's just like some things that you cannot do or cannot avoid.
And so I think just being so grateful and present in the moments that you are pregnant or
you do have your baby because life just happens.
And it's unfair sometimes.
But these are our own little.
trials that we have to go through. So yeah, it's crazy what the body can do, does, and then how
precious life is. Really, really, truly. It's such an amazing outlook. But genuinely, what is next?
What are you? Do you have anything fun coming up? What are you excited about? Obviously, we're excited
for Dancing with the Stars when that comes. Yes. Dancing with the Stars was picked up for season 34,
so that's so exciting. Again, we'd never know if we're actually on the season.
in. We always cross our fingers, hope that we are.
I got a good feeling about you.
I sure hope so. I would love that.
But also, I think I'm really excited these next couple of years.
I really want to push myself to be outside of my comfort zone.
I love thriving and like comfort Jenna.
And I think my husband, as crazy and spontaneous as he is,
he just inspires me every day.
I mentioned to you that he's been like trying the stand-up comedy.
And I just couldn't fathom anybody wanting to try that in their adulthood just like
because they were excited to do that and put themselves in scary situations.
But he's really inspired me to want to do those things that I've always wanted to do.
And I think something that has always been on a bucket list for me,
but I've kind of just like pushed it off for when I'm done dancing, when I'm done dancing.
But I really want to do Broadway.
I'd love to do more live theater, like a Chicago, Roxy Hart.
Like, you know, I just, I want to audition.
I want to, like, put in the work.
I want to prepare myself for a time when I can do that, you know?
So whether that's near future or not, I just, I want to start putting in the work to do that.
I really would love to do that.
I can definitely see that.
Thanks.
Yeah, I think you would be so freaking good.
I love dancing for TV, for live TV.
I love choreographing for it, but there is no feeling like dancing for a live audience.
That's why I love doing the tour.
It's just like that intimate experience you're having with an audience member and their initial response to something you do.
Like, you can't get that with the TV screen, you know.
So it's just something I'm really passionate about.
So we'll see.
We'll see where that leads.
I'm going to manage.
We're going to manifest it.
We're going to manifest it.
I feel like we're manifesting it right here.
Yeah.
Right here right now.
Would you ever consider being a dealer no deal girl?
Listen.
I got to warn you, my husband may have a crush on you.
Never say never.
Never say never.
I know some really amazing people that have been deal or no deal girls.
So.
It's so good.
I wouldn't put it past me.
Nope.
Noted.
I'll give you all the drama.
when I open the briefcase.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Well, thanks for coming and chatting.
Yes.
I can't wait to see how your episode does against vowels.
Oh, come on, you guys.
Like, subscribe, do all the things.
Watch it five times.
It's so good.
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