Kicking It Real

This week’s Monday Morning Motivation is inspired by Alysa Liu’s Olympic comeback and the conversation it sparked around burnout and mental health in athletes. Watching her step away from the sport at the height of her career and return on her own terms raises an important question: how much pressure are we putting on ourselves before we even realize it? In this episode, I talk about recognizing b...

In today's episode, I sit down with Brittany Paige Snyder, former Radio City Rockette turned entrepreneur, to talk about what really happens after your dream job ends. We dive into her journey from booking Rockettes at 27 and performing for 14 seasons to stepping away and building her own business from the ground up. Brittany shares how she created JoyStream, a mobile event experience built in...

If you’ve ever felt like your habits aren’t working fast enough, this episode is for you. In this week’s monday morning motivation, I’m talking about the habits I built long before I saw any results; from becoming a morning person (even though I’m not naturally one) to kicking five minutes a day in the dead of Chicago winter while teaching 5 a.m. classes. When I was trying to become a Rockette, I...

In this episode of Kicking It Real, I’m sitting down with my friend and fellow Rockette, Emily Tanner, for a conversation about rejection, resilience, and choosing the long game even when it feels uncomfortable. Emily shares her journey from high school drill team to fine arts training, navigating college programs that pushed her confidence, and learning how to separate feedback from self-worth. W...

Feeling like you didn’t get anything done, even after a full day of working? In this week’s monday morning motivation, I’m sharing the real reason that happens and the simple system that helped me stop feeling behind all the time. I open up about how my relationship with productivity was shaped by years of dance, performance, and always pushing my body and mind to the limit. When I stopped perform...

Let's catch up in this solo episode of Kicking It Real, I share what a real-life reset looks like, not just the “new year, new me” energy, but the deeper work of realigning your life with who you’re becoming. I open up about a major personal update and the decision to step away from a role that no longer aligned with my long-term goals, even though I still loved it. I talk honestly about how h...

Feeling like you’re working out but not actually getting better at dancing? In this week’s Monday morning motivation, I’m diving deeper into how to make your fitness classes actually support your dance goals. I share how shifting my mindset in barre, Pilates, and weight training helped me bridge gaps in my technique faster and more efficiently, especially when I was training for precision and perf...

In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Brutlag to dive into the real story behind UDA Nationals, elite college dance culture, and what it takes to keep going when you feel overlooked, doubted, or “not enough.” Alyssa shares her journey from being underestimated to choreographing and performing on one of the biggest stages in college dance, and how confidence, resilience, and mindset completely ch...

Feeling unsure if you’re doing “enough” for your dreams when you don’t live in the right place? This monday morning motivation is for the dancers who feel behind, stuck, or like they’re missing the secret formula. In this episode, I share why I created these short Monday chats and get into the most common question I get: what kind of training to do when you want to become a Rockette but don’t live...

Today on Kicking It Real, I sit down with Carla to talk honestly about what it looks like to build a sustainable career after dance without rushing, panicking, or forcing the next step too soon. We dive into the transition from performer to fitness educator, the pressure dancers feel to always have a plan, and why focusing on doing the job in front of you well can matter more than chasing the next...

In this episode, I sit down with professional dancer turned entrepreneur and personal brand coach, Riley Bradley, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life beyond just performing. From moving abroad to England, to navigating injuries, COVID curveballs, and career pivots, we get real about how dancers can redefine success and create stability in an industry that’s anything but predict...

In the first episode of 2026, we sit down for an honest conversation about navigating life after the Rockettes, shifting dancer identity, and what it really feels like to move into a new chapter when the path isn’t fully clear yet. We talk about slowing down after seasons of hustle, redefining what productivity and success look like, and learning how to trust change instead of fighting it. We refl...

In the final episode of 2025, I sit down with my husband, Garrett, for a very real, very unfiltered year-in-review conversation. From our first “real” Christmas together and learning how differently we approach the holidays, to reflecting on the end of my last Rockettes season and what it felt like to finally come home for good, we talk through the moments that shaped this past year more than we e...

This week, I’m sharing what life has really looked like lately — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It’s my first holiday season not performing with the Rockettes, and while that’s definitely part of the story, it’s only one layer of a much bigger season of change. I talk about navigating new routines, hosting family, quick trips to Mexico, skincare updates (hello spironolactone + che...

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Audrey to talk about her transition from the dance world into yoga, teaching, and wellness, and why yoga has become such an unexpected lifeline for dancers. We walk through what it felt like to step away from the identity of being a dancer, and how yoga helped her reconnect to her body in a way that wasn’t about performance, perfection, or being...

I’m joined by one of my longtime friends, Allison — a fellow dancer turned Pilates instructor and fitness educator. We talk about how our dance backgrounds shaped us, the chaos and confidence-building of college, and how finding the right community can change everything. Allison opens up about her move to Pittsburgh, the winding road toward grad school, and what it really looks like to pivot into...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Michaela — former collegiate dancer, seasoned NFL cheerleader for the Denver Broncos, and one of the most grounded, self-aware women I know. We dive into the very real journey behind her achievements: the quiet doubts, the long audition processes, and the moments she had to bet on herself even when things weren’t going “perfectly.” Michaela opens up...

In this episode, I’m talking about the moments in life that absolutely sucked in real time… and why I’m genuinely grateful for them now. From getting rejected by the University of Arizona and my college BFA program, to not getting cast, getting cut at Rockette auditions, COVID flipping my plans, almost opening a Pure Barre studio instead of moving to New York, and even being “homeless” in the city...

In this episode, I catch up with my friend Ryan to talk about his winding, very real journey through performing, teaching, and growing up. We get into everything from being adopted in Texas and raised in New Jersey, to studying theatre at Wagner, discovering Pure Barre (where we met, trained together, and eventually became lead teachers), and how those early New York years shaped our friendship. R...

Join me and Tara Charvat while we sit down to look back on where it all started — from our childhood studios and college dance memories to navigating the transitions that come with growing up in the dance world. We talk about the pressure of perfection, learning discipline at a young age, and how those lessons followed us long after the costumes and competitions ended. We also dive into how dance...

In this episode, I get real about what it’s actually like to start over — from moving across states to rebuilding routines and figuring out who you are in the in-between. I share the behind-the-scenes of every big move I’ve made — college, New York, and finally Texas — what each one taught me, the meltdowns along the way, and the unexpected magic that happens when you let yourself begin again. Thi...

It’s the first solo episode — just me, a mic, and a whole lot of thoughts about letting go of control (and leftover Halloween candy). I talk about learning to deal with the things that don’t go your way, finding balance between frustration and peace, and how to reset when your brain won’t stop spiraling. From Ratatouille costumes and overbuying candy to journaling, walks without headphones, and “i...

stay tuned for Wednesday <3 xox - Gab

We’re catching up from two very different worlds — Texas and New York — and talking about what it’s really like living far from family, finding new routines, and keeping friendships strong through long-distance life. Between media training day chaos, “Dance of the Frost Bunnies” flashbacks, and deep talks about homesickness, growth, and astrology (which obviously explains everything), this one’s e...

In this episode, we catch up after the first few days of Rockettes rehearsals and talk about what it’s really like getting back into season—mentally, physically, and emotionally. Natalie shares stories from the 100th-year kickoff, from bus formations to late night homework, while Gabby reflects on how it feels watching the season start from a new chapter in Texas. We also dive into our journeys to...