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Behind the Curtain: The Extraordinary Life and Art of Toni Basil Featuring legendary Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Producer, Recording Artist, Historian, and “Hey Mickey” hitmaker Toni Basil in a rare, intimate conversation! We explore her remarkable career spanning decades in entertainment, from backstage memories as Vaudeville royalty to collaborating with icons like Elvis Presley, David Bowi...

Self-improvement is not about perfection, it’s about finding the right balance between pushing yourself and accepting yourself. When pursuing transformative change, there are two seemingly opposite approaches – “Grit” (hard work and critical coaching) and “Grace” (gentle and nurturing self-care). This episode is all about this “Personal Growth Paradox” and the tools and techniques for identifying...

Conversations on Creativity: Tony Testa’s Journey from Dancer to Creator Featuring my lifelong friend and visionary choreographer Tony Testa in his FIRST-EVER podcast interview! We dive deep into creative intuition, mentorship, and processing life’s challenges. This conversation reveals how following your instincts—even when they lead you away from what everyone else expects—can open doors to your...

The Art of Letting Go: Byron Tittle on Dance, Spontaneity & Finding Flow Mastering the “first time feeling” – how commercial dance taught Byron to embrace every performance as the final version The power of relaxation: discovering how letting go actually amplifies your technique & expands possibilities Beyond the tap shoes: hearing rhythm in everyday life & staying present in every mom...

Facts vs. Fiction – A Deep Dive into YOUR Thoughts on the Industry’s Changing Landscape Critical Thinking in Crisis: The danger of making career decisions based on rumors instead of facts, plus actionable strategies for navigating change Power of Perspective: Redefining what it means to be “working” in entertainment – from on-set gigs to personal growth & skill development Breaking Down the Nu...

Breaking Rules & Breaking Through – A Raw Conversation About Dance, Freedom & Finding Your Way with Marie Poppins: “Technique should facilitate freedom” – dive into why mastery doesn’t mean conformity From baggy clothes to bare skin: exploring how clothing choices impact movement & confidence The audition heard around the world – turning voguing into victory when classical dance was “r...

From friendly New Year reflections to game-changing networking strategies – we’re kicking off 2025 with warmth and wisdom: Should you be buying followers? We discuss it! Learn why generic “pick your brain” requests fail and what questions actually open doors Explore the rise of AI in creative fields, including its surprising impact on choreography and dance Get real about building genuine connecti...

Diving deep into the unfiltered stories of success and struggle in entertainment: Uncover the raw, behind-the-scenes realities of creative careers Learn how professional journeys are anything but linear Discover the power of resilience, advocacy, and honest self-reflection Understand why failures are just as important as successes Plus, we’re exploring the untold stories of every guest from 2024,...

Diving deep into the art of conflict resolution this holiday season: Learn game-changing insights from Dana Caspersen’s transformative book Discover why understanding beats winning in difficult conversations Master the gentle art of “untangling” conflicts like delicate knots Transform your approach to heated discussions with dance-inspired wisdom Plus, we’re exploring powerful metaphors, practical...

Stepping into the studio with power couple Harry Shum Jr. and Shelby Rabara:  How they both got started on Glee (and who was there first)  Bringing movement to life in their new children’s book ‘Martee Dares to Dance’ (available to order now!)  The secret language of dance that enhances their acting craft  How dance training can help you multitask Plus, we’re exploring impromptu dance demonstratio...

Unpacking Leslie Grace’s career from ‘In The Heights’ newbie to seasoned performer: That life-changing debut in ‘In The Heights’ (still her most beautiful experience to date!) The art of ‘letting in’ whatever’s knocking (and why Meryl Streep always answers) Navigating feedback as a pro  Plus, we’re dishing on the unexpected joys of rehearsal pants, why pockets are essential for storing memories, a...

The fullest couch I have ever had! From the convention ballroom, to boy band battles, to working with Beyoncé’s producer: our wildest episode yet! Join the Full Circle Boys as we spill ALL the tea on their journey from ‘convention kids with a dream’ to working with music industry legends: Studio sessions with Tricky Stewart (the genius behind Beyoncé, Rihanna, and more!) Their hilarious first show...

Join host Dana Wilson as she interviews viral sensation Smac McCreanor on the Words That Move Me Podcast. With 2.8 million TikTok followers, 70+ commercials, and an exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria, Smac discusses: Creating work you love by focusing on your strengths Behind-the-scenes of her popular series: #hydraulicpressgirl, #Ikea, and #emoji The importance of creating content for yo...

Taylor is a retired backup dancer turned director and screenwriter. In this episode, we cover everything from sharing the screen/stage with Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, JLo, etc. etc., to crushing the festival circuit with his first short film “ILY, BYE”. It hasn’t always been glitter and glory for Taylor. We dig into struggling with drugs, alcohol, and overeating, finding self-worth se...

Dana Wilson hosts Phillip Chbeeb on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Phillip is a globally recognized and co-decorated choreographer (2 times Emmy nominated, along with his partner, Mackenzie Chbeeb) and he is still finding themself! The question of “who is Phillip Chbeeb” follows us as we discuss self-confidence, the economics of dance/choreography, membership structures, Paula Abdul, an...

Dana Wilson hosts Jillian Meyers on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Jillian’s work has touched the biggest stages and screens on earth; she has given rhythm to the beating hearts of dancers everywhere. Today, we answer the question: what’s even better than being impressive? We also unpack 20 years of friendship, techniques for teaching and training, the keys to being “successful”, and th...

Today we’re talking about getting out of your head… And if you even should! How do you know if you are “too” in your head? How do you get out? Why aren’t we talking about this more?! Getting caught in thought spirals that lead to unwanted feelings is normal… And also optional. If you want tools to become more present, empowered, and embodied, this one’s for you! Show Notes: For more DANA For coach...

Dana Wilson hosts Nina Flagg on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week, and if you are interested in elevating your dance IQ, this episode is for you! Nina brings decades of experience and study to one jam-packed episode. She shines her light on hip-hop culture, engaging with higher education, and the legends that shaped her life and work (including Toni Basil, Bette Midler, Debbie Allen, Rennie...

This week on the Words That Move Me Podcast, Dana Wilson answers all your questions! Get tips on how to ask for help, the three dance moves that define Dana’s career, learn about her choreographic process, and what’s going through her head while she performs! Have more questions? DM us for the next episode on IG! Watch this full episode on YouTube. Show Notes: Watch The Less I Know the Better by T...

There are friends, and then there are chosen family members. This week, Dana Wilson hosts her dear friend for life and fellow Seaweed Sister, Meg Lawson! Meg tells the story of the YouTube video that became her ticket to Madonna’s inner circle, and what she has learned on the job since then. We also talk about discovering/expanding your creative taste, AND  the best socks on the market! This episo...

Dana Wilson hosts Dominique Kelley on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Dom joins us to talk about his new moniker “Broadway Choreographer” for @thegreatgatsby . One thing I love about Broadway is how choreographers are credited and celebrated. On award season not everyone is recognized though…   In this interview Dominique talks about his viral dance #newmoney and the affirmation he got f...

Caroline M. Diamond co-hosts with Dana Wilson and guest Riley Higgins on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Caroline and Riley recently joined Dana in her Skeleton Crew for Paula Abdul’s new tour! What IS a skeleton crew? Why is it essential? How can skeleton crew prep be challenging? What do skeleton crew dancers/choreographers do, and how do you get good at it?… We unpack all of it, and w...

Dana Wilson dives into #careertalk with Rhapsody James  this week on Words That Move Me Podcast! Rhap is back to talk about how she managed her mind around insecurities and mental/ physical challenges while shooting the famous pool scene of In The Heights Movie in 2018. What happens when you want to #bethebestyou on set, but the choreography puts that out of reach? This episode is all about the un...

I want you to have a strong sense of #SelfDirection when it feels like the project is going down in flames. So, this episode is all about the skills you need to create a “YES” in a creative process that is full of the word “NO’.  As a byproduct this episode is also about conflict resolution, refining your creative process, and successful thinking in your life at large. Watch this episode on YouTub...

Dana Wilson hosts Haley Fitzgerald on the Words That Move Me Podcast this week! Funny person, fabulous dancer, and self-declared “proud influencer”, Haley talks all about being an associate choreographer for Mean Girls the movie musical, how she deals with perfectionism, her most embarrassing moments on set and so much more.. Listen in to learn and laugh… a lot.  This episode is available on YouTu...