Danielle Fishel’s Emotional Journey on Dancing With the Stars
Danielle Fishel recently revealed her deep personal struggles with her upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night performance on Dancing With the Stars. During an emotional episode of her “Danielle With the Stars” podcast, the 44-year-old actress opened up about performing to Aerosmith’s “Dream On” with partner Pasha Pashkov. The contemporary routine explores the impossible standards women face in society – being simultaneously too much and never enough. For Fishel, who has been in the public eye since age 10, this theme strikes painfully close to home. “I’ve been under a microscope, and my choices have been scrutinized,” she confessed. The preparation for this dance has triggered negative self-talk and past struggles with disordered eating, making her initially resistant to fully embracing the emotional performance.
Despite her challenges, Fishel found unexpected support from former DWTS pro Louis van Amstel, who joined her podcast as a guest. He provided perspective that resonated deeply with the Boy Meets World alum, reminding her that she has “nothing to lose” going into week 8 of the competition. “You can take the nerves and give up, or you take the nerves and switch on, use the adrenaline and say, ‘People at home, watch this,'” van Amstel encouraged. This conversation proved transformative, with Fishel realizing the emotional significance of her upcoming dance. Her current partner, Pasha Pashkov, showed support in the comments section of the podcast clip, noting that while the show isn’t easy, “when we get over the hump it is life changing!” Fishel’s husband, Jenson Karp, also expressed admiration for her courage, encouraging her to “leave it all on that floor.”
The actress’s vulnerability extended beyond her individual performance as she discussed her role as one of two captains for season 34’s first team dance competition. While she proudly assembled “Team Chicago” with a strategic approach that “paid off,” Fishel candidly admitted feeling like “by far, the weakest, at least female, link on the team.” Her team includes Whitney Leavitt, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, their professional partners, and cohost Alfonso Ribeiro, who will dance to Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4.” The opposing “Team Kool,” led by Andy Richter, will perform to “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang. This team dynamic added another layer to Fishel’s emotional journey, bringing up feelings of inadequacy despite her success in the competition.
Van Amstel offered valuable perspective, telling Fishel to “let it go” regarding her perception of being the weakest dancer. “The pressure is on them, not you,” he reassured her, noting that viewers recognize her tremendous growth since week one and appreciate her “likability factor” and ability to embody the character of each dance. He advised Fishel to focus only on what she can control—her movements, musical connection, and personal performance—rather than comparing herself to others. Additionally, van Amstel suggested she stay away from social media, warning that placing too much emphasis on public opinion would make anyone “go psycho,” a practical piece of advice for any contestant facing the pressures of a televised competition.
When asked for one piece of critical feedback, van Amstel encouraged Fishel to “rip off all the layers that are left” and reveal her true emotional self, which he felt had been somewhat restrained throughout the season. “You’re a kind person,” he observed, noting her positive relationship with Pasha, “But I would say, ‘F kind.’ Go for it.” This blunt yet insightful advice seemed to give Fishel permission to break through her final barriers and fully commit to the vulnerability required for her upcoming performance. The conversation highlighted how Dancing With the Stars often becomes much more than a competition, serving as a vehicle for personal transformation and emotional growth for its contestants.
Fishel and Pashkov received consistent scores of 8s for their Halloween jazz routine during the October 28 episode, securing their advancement to week 8 after Jen Affleck and partner Jan Ravinik were eliminated. Fishel remains in the competition alongside Andy Richter, Whitney Leavitt, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, Robert Irwin, Elaine Hendrix, and Alix Earle as they continue their journey on Dancing With the Stars, which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Disney+ and ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu. For Fishel, the competition has clearly become about much more than dancing—it’s become a profound opportunity for personal growth, emotional healing, and learning to embrace vulnerability in front of millions of viewers.
