331. DWTS Flashback: Val Chmerkovskiy on the Business of Dancing, Betting on Yourself & Making It to Dancing With the Stars

Description:With a new season of Dancing With the Stars just around the corner, we’re flashing back and revisiting one of our favorite conversations with DWTS legend Val Chmerkovskiy. Originally recorded in 2023, Val opens up about his unconventional path from competitive ballroom dancing to becoming one of the biggest names on television, including why he initially resisted joining Dancing With the Stars, what finally changed his mind, and how his career evolved once he made the leap. Val also gets candid about the business of being a professional dancer, the financial realities of competitive dance, negotiating his value, building multiple streams of income, and why he would sometimes choose equity in a business over getting paid upfront. Plus, he shares the mindset that helped him navigate difficult seasons, career setbacks and the uncertainty of being dealt a bad hand: “delusional optimism.” From building Dance With Me Studios to turning his DWTS platform into a larger business ecosystem, this is a conversation about knowing your value, betting on yourself, and turning a passion into a career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices