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 hard it can be to close a chapter when something is comfortable, and why fully closing doors is sometimes necessary for new ones to open.
We also get practical. I break down exactly how I reset when I feel unmotivated or off track - from journaling and vision-setting to building systems that actually support your goals. I walk through my personal method for breaking big dreams into realistic steps, for one of my current new goals and a hypothetical dance goal example you might have, creating habits that move the needle, and setting “controllable goals” so you can stay consistent even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or unsure of your next move, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan... you just need to start betting on yourself again.

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]

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 performance. Instead of just “getting a workout in,” I learned how to bring musicality, alignment, and intention into every class I took.

This episode is all about being more intentional, using the workouts you’re already doing to train smarter, not just harder. Different seasons require different strategies. And if you’re in a season of chasing big dance goals, I hope this gives you a few tools to move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]

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 changed the trajectory of her career.

We talk about the pressure of competing at the UDA level, navigating comparison and social media in the dance world, and how to stay grounded when your worth feels tied to results. Alyssa also opens up about finding her voice as a choreographer, building trust in herself, and learning to take up space in rooms she once felt she had to shrink in.
This episode is for dancers, athletes, and creatives who are chasing big dreams, questioning their path, and learning that sometimes the underdog story is the one that makes you unstoppable.

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]

Find Alyssa here👇🏼
IG:@alyssabrutlag
alyssabrutlag.com

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 in New York City. I talk about graduating early from college, moving back home, teaching fitness and dance, and slowly building a plan without a clear timeline, just a deep belief in the dream. From ballet and tap to hip hop, contemporary, strength training, barre, and even practicing alone in empty studios, I break down how I built a personal “toolkit” based on my strengths, weaknesses, and the kind of dancer I wanted to become.

We also talk about:

- Why assessing your weaknesses is a form of self-trust, not self-judgment

- How practicing alone (even when it “kind of sucks”) builds discipline and confidence

- Why five minutes of consistency can matter more than perfect routines

- How strength training, barre, and cross-training changed my dancing

- And how honoring small commitments to yourself builds momentum

This episode is a reminder that there is no single right path, only the one that keeps you moving forward. If you’re a dancer chasing a big dream from a small place, this one is for you.

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabbyTikTok: @potentiallygabbyEpisode requests: [email protected]

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 title. Carla shares her experience working in fitness, consulting, and instructor training, and what she’s learned about long-term growth, money, and trusting the process.
We also talk about what dancers should actually look for when stepping into fitness, why you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on certifications right away, and how teaching, performance skills, and confidence translate far beyond the stage. This episode is for dancers (and anyone in transition) who feel stuck between what they love and what comes next and maybe even need permission to slow down, do the work, and trust that it will lead somewhere meaningful.
Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]
Find Carla here👇🏼
IG: IG @carlamaeoconnor
carlamaeoconnor.com

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 predictable.

We dive into personal branding for performers - why it matters now more than ever, how social media has changed the audition room, and how building a brand isn’t about becoming an influencer, but about how you show up, how people remember you, and the opportunities that follow. Riley shares how she transitioned from full-time dancing into entrepreneurship, what she’s learned about niching down, and how dancers can start monetizing their skills without losing their love for performing.

We also talk honestly about confidence, fear of being seen online, perfectionism in dancers, and how learning to detach from expectations can completely shift your career - onstage and off. If you’ve ever wondered what life could look like after (or alongside) dance, this episode is for you!

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby

Episode requests: [email protected]
Find Riley here👇🏼
IG: @rileybradley @just.b.media
TT: @riley.bradley

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 reflect on moving cities, building community as adults, and the emotional transition that comes with stepping away from something that once defined you as a dancer. From manifesting big dreams and preparing mentally for auditions to releasing pressure and embracing uncertainty, this conversation explores what it means to evolve without losing yourself.
We also get into confidence, energy, and why grounding yourself matters more than proving anything to anyone else. Whether you’re navigating life after performing, questioning your dancer identity, or standing in the middle of a big move or transition, this episode feels like a reminder that growth doesn’t always look like forward motion — sometimes it looks like pausing and trusting what’s unfolding.
Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]
Find Alli here👇🏼
IG + TT: @your_spoonful

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 expected.
We get into big-picture mindset shifts (including Garrett’s obsession with thinking bigger and why “10x” goals actually simplify life), the behind-the-scenes reality of long-distance seasons, couch-surfing, living out of suitcases, and figuring out what home really means when routines keep changing.
We also share the full story of getting Frankie; the excitement, the chaos, the sleep deprivation, the puppy blues, and why February felt especially heavy for me emotionally. From navigating early marriage, learning how to handle conflict as a team, and realizing it’s not “me vs. you” but “us vs. the issue,” this episode is equal parts reflective, funny, and honest.
Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]

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 + chemical peels), winter cozy rhythms, and the weird-but-freeing feeling of creating my own schedule. I also open up about the emotional waves that come with stepping away from something familiar, the pressure of answering “what are you doing now?”, and how being present through gratitude and muting-for-mental-health have grounded me through it all.

If you’re in a chapter that feels slower, different, or not neatly labeled, I think you’ll really feel seen in this one. It’s about change, identity, growing pains, joy, and learning to appreciate the unexpected parts of your season no matter what it looks like.

Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍

Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby

TikTok: @potentiallygabby

Episode requests: [email protected]

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 watched.
We dive into the physical and mental benefits yoga offers dancers: injury prevention, strength without strain, breathwork, grounding, and finally learning how to move for yourself instead of for someone else. She shares the mindset shifts that helped her release perfectionism, the surprises of becoming a yoga instructor, and why slowing down is often the hardest, but most transformative part.
Whether you’re a dancer, a former dancer, or someone craving a healthier relationship with movement, this episode explains why yoga is one of the best cross-training and self-care tools out there. It’s an honest conversation about identity, healing, confidence, and giving yourself permission to evolve.
Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍
Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby
TikTok: @potentiallygabby
Episode requests: [email protected]
Find Audrey here👇🏼
IG/TT: @@audreyrosecoloredglasses