While the show is on hold, you can check out all past 200+ episodes with all of the support and advice you expect from Dr. Chelsea. https://passionfordancepodcast.com If you have any questions or thoughts to share, you can always email Dr. Chelsea at [email protected] or send a message on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti
234: Feeling STUCK as a Coach and Navigating Career Transitions
22.01.2026 | 13 Min.
In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea delves into career transitions… when do you know it's time for something new? She breaks down five key strategies to help navigate these pivotal decisions, including understanding emotional barriers, finding clarity through action, reframing fears, seeking support, and focusing on controllable factors. Dr. Chelsea also shares her personal journey through a career identity crisis. This episode offers actionable advice and personal experiences to support anyone in the dance industry facing a similar crossroads.
Episode Breakdown: 00:42 Understanding the Feeling of Being Stuck 01:14 Career Decision Making Strategies 02:25 Emotional Barriers and Self-Reflection 04:25 Taking Action for Clarity 06:18 Reframing Your Fears 08:25 Seeking Support and Mentorship 09:39 External Factors and Controlling the Controllables 11:26 Dr. Chelsea's Personal Career Transition
233. Nourishing Dance: Conversations on Food, Body Image, and Wellness with Monika Saigal
18.12.2025 | 42 Min.
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea interviews Monika Seigel, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN a registered dietician, nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist with a background in professional ballet. Monika discusses her holistic approach to nutrition for dancers, emphasizing the importance of a healthy relationship with food and body image. The conversation covers important topics like the impact of social media misinformation, the signs of disordered eating, and the role of educators and parents in fostering a supportive environment. Monika also shares insights from her new book 'Nourishing Dance,' a resource aimed at improving dancer health and wellbeing.
Get Monika's Book: https://www.nourishingdance.com
Learn more about Monika's workshops: https://msnutrition.com/
Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/233
Episode Breakdown: 00:08 Meet Monika Seigel 00:31 The Role of Nutrition in a Dancer's Life 04:02 Healthy Eating and Relationship with Food 07:25 Challenges and Misinformation in Nutrition 13:55 Guidance for Teachers and Parents 20:48 Understanding Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating 22:15 Common Triggers and Influences 24:31 Early Signs and Intervention 26:21 Behavioral and Physical Indicators 28:57 Supporting a Friend or Peer 30:01 Creating a Supportive Dance Environment 35:07 Positive Changes and Future Goals 38:46 Resources and Final Thoughts
232. A More Positive Convention Experience: Perfectionism, Confidence & Body Image with Ashley Mowrey
11.12.2025 | 38 Min.
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea speaks with Ashley Mowrey, a mindset coach, former dance teacher, and part of the Embody Dance Conference team. They discuss the mental and emotional challenges dancers face, such as perfectionism, body image issues, and performance anxiety. Ashley shares her journey from being a competitive dancer to becoming a mindset coach, and how her experiences fuel her passion for helping dancers thrive. She explains the unique approaches of the Embody Dance Conference, emphasizing mental health and whole-person training. Listeners will learn about practical strategies to improve self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion in dance.
Connect with Ashley Mowrey: https://www.ashleymowrey.com/
Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/232
Episode Breakdown: 00:22 Meet Ashley Mowrey: Mindset Coach and Dance Advocate 00:56 Diving into Perfectionism and Mental Health in Dance 02:20 Ashley Mowrey's Dance Journey and Mental Health Struggles 06:07 Addressing Perfectionism and Negative Self-Talk 12:06 Building Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation 18:57 Supporting Younger Dancers and Body Image Issues 21:38 Embody Dance Conference: A New Approach to Conventions 36:16 Final Thoughts and Life Lessons from Dance 37:22 Conclusion and Contact Information
231. Ballet's Harsh Beauty and the Life Lessons we Learn, with Emily Sayre Smith
04.12.2025 | 37 Min.
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews former professional dancer and author Emily Sayre Smith. They delve into Emily's memoir 'Smart Ass Memoir of a Mouthy Girl,' discussing how ballet's lessons of resilience and perseverance profoundly shaped Emily's life. The conversation covers tough themes like overcoming addiction and personal hardships, as well as the transformative power of dance. Emily and Dr. Chelsea reflect on the complexities of ballet culture, the importance of speaking up, and the evolution of ballet's demands and expectations. Emily's journey illustrates how the challenges in ballet prepare dancers to handle life's adversities and underscores the need for the dance industry to continue to evolve.
Get Emily's Book - Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl
Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/231
Episode Breakdown:
00:20 Interview with Emily Sayer Smith: Ballet's Life Lessons
00:59 Emily's Personal Journey: Addiction and Resilience
You train extensively as a dancer, but what about mental training? Have you ever trained your mental skills like confidence, focus, or resilience? When you tune in to Passion for Dance, that mental training is precisely what you get. You can learn from a sport psychology expert who understands the dance industry and can teach you how to elevate your performance and truly thrive on and off stage.
Welcome to Passion for Dance, where your host, Dr. Chelsea, will bring the science of sport psychology into the dance studio. Each week, you will learn actionable strategies and new mindsets to build happier, more successful dancers.
Dance teaches us to push through the pain to reach our goals, and we are used to criticism, tears, bleeding toes, and sore muscles. But now, psychological research has taught us more about mental health and resilience than ever before, and it's time to change our industry for the better. Being a dancer teaches us critical life skills, but that doesn't mean we have to suffer before we can build ourselves back up. Dance can teach us self-discipline, teamwork, confidence, grit, and resilience without destroying our self-esteem.
The path to personal growth is full of joy, self-discovery, and challenging roadblocks, but we don't have to figure it out alone. This podcast is for all of us to connect, learn, and share our passion for dance with the world.
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