Dance Dad With John Corella

EP 22: Dance The Vote with the Mayor of West Hollywood, John Erickson

“In a world that tries to beat you down, if you don’t have hope, you don’t have anything and that’s why we fight so hard for the stuff that we love,” says John Erickson mayor of West Hollywood, California, who joins today’s episode of Dance Dad with John Corella to discuss politics, social justice, and what it’s like to be at the helm of one of the biggest and most popular gay cities in the world. Mayor Erickson talks to host John Corella about his early exposure to activism in small-town Wisconsin thanks to his grandmother and best friend Gladys, his message for the LGBTQ youth, and how he keeps fighting the good fight for change. 
 
As it goes, being mayor is a bit of a balancing act. He makes strides to support small businesses as well as workers’ entitlement to a living wage; to make the streets safe and clean for cars, pedestrians and cyclists alike. He and host John Corella talk about building a loving and supporting community of influence around oneself and how we can have uncomfortable political conversations while maintaining our boundaries. 
 
Mayor Erickson will reveal how we can break through people’s resistance to change, how people can get involved and register to vote, and the Hillary Clinton quote he sports as a tattoo. 
 
Quotes
“That is how I view the world, in that sometimes it feels like the world is on your shoulders trying to stop you from fighting, but it is always worth it in the end. We have to remember that.” (4:53 | Mayor John Erickson)
“Sometimes, off-camera, I get a little unhopeful. It’s easy to get scared. But when you’re a leader in the community and you’re a leader in the work that we do, you have to make sure you put on the face that people actually need to see, and that is one of hope these days, and that is one of fighting for our community.” (7:45 | Mayor John Erickson)
“I always say find the people you want to change the world with and never let them go. That’s kind of what I look at when I look at my community and my friends, and that’s what I would have probably told my younger self because that’s ultimately how I got to where I am to be in this role, and it’s just the greatest privilege.” (11:29 | Mayor John Erickson)
“I believe in community safety and public safety and supporting law enforcement, I believe in supporting our businesses and our workers. I want to make our streets safer for both pedestrians, bikers and cars. I don’t want cars on our streets because they pollute and they kill and they’re leading to climate change but people have to use them. So, how we invest in our whole streetscape plan. The nuts and bolts of a local council member is streets, trees and sidewalks.” (30:52 | Mayor John Erickson) 
 
Links
Connect with John Erickson:
weho.org
https://www.instagram.com/JohnEricksonWH
vote.org
 
Be a supporter of the podcast join
www.patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 21: My Dance Dad, John Corella Sr.

“The obstacle is the opportunity,” says the original Dance Dad, John Corella Sr. On today’s episode of Dance Dad, he joins his son, host John Corella, Jr. to discuss John Sr.’s rise from a young child growing up in the barrio in Arizona to business advisor to several former U.S. presidents, and whose achievements as a minority entrepreneur have been entered into U.S. Congressional record. Throughout the show, father and son discuss the importance of having a supportive family, of getting an education, and the power of talking to—and walking with—God.
 
Before setting out on any venture, John Sr. advises, you have to learn what you truly want. There are Four T’s to success, which he shares here. Unfortunately, in today’s business landscape, one’s word is no longer one’s bond, and John Sr. explains how to protect yourself while building your business. He also discusses the importance of being a team player, focusing on what you have to give rather than what you want to take from a partnership, while also speaking up about what you want. 
 
He also shares a touching story about being an example to his peers when he was named to a major advisory position with the Arizona government. Join today’s inspiring and uplifting discussion about what can happen when dreams meet self-belief and hard work. 
 
Quotes
“When you focus in and walk with God—not that we’re perfect—things are good. There might be problems, but things get solved. So things are good.” (8:07 | John Corella, Sr.) 
“All of us have obstacles. What we do to get around that obstacle and make it an opportunity is the way I always viewed it. I didn’t look at it as a negative, though it felt like a negative at times because when you can’t eat sometimes, it hurts.” (12:27 | John Corella, Sr.) 
“Everybody talks about, ‘I want to be rich. I want to be successful,’ but how many people are willing to take that risk? Very, very few people will take that risk.” (25:12 | John Corella, Sr.)
“I always go into it looking at, ‘What can I give you?’ not ‘What can I take from you?’ That’s the problem with most people nowadays, it’s, ‘What can I take?’ No. It’s ‘What can I give you?’” (29:34 | John Corella, Sr.) 
“You’ve got to tell people what you want because people can’t read minds. I’ll always tell you what I want. You might not like it, but I’ll tell you what I want, and I get what I want, basically. And that’s part of success. What do you want?” (38:34 | John Corella, Sr.) 
“Unfortunately, there are evil people. People will do things that are not ethical. You and I were raised with ethics—it used to be, you would shake hands and your word meant something. Now, if it’s not in writing—and even if it is in writing—they still challenge it…So, the values have changed.” (56:49 | John Corella, Sr.)
 
Links
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 20: Good Moments Season 1 on Dance Dad with John Corella

This very special episode of Dance Dad with John Corella is a compilation of just some of the many good moments from Season 1 of the podcast. Throughout this episode, you’ll be treated to a highlight reel of past guests and their meaningful conversations, starting with Dance Mom OG and Queen Bee Christi Lukasiak who talks about how we can forgive ourselves even when our past mistakes threaten to haunt us forever. Fellow OG, Minister Dawn and Sharon “Rocky” Roggio, director of the documentary “1946” each weigh in from their respective episodes about the importance of interpreting the Bible with historical accuracy, and why it’s quite literally a matter of life and death. 
 
You’ll also hear from legends in the entertainment business, from acting coach Howard Fine on handling on-stage nerves and choreographer Frank Gatson on recognizing the one-in-a-generation star quality in a then-unknown Beyonce Knowles. Former competitive dancer Brittany Markle, child star and triple threat Alisan Porter each reveal how, as mentors, coaches and judges, they are offering the next generation of performers and competitors what they wish they’d been given when they were young performers themselves. 
 
Lisa Wetzel reveals what makes for an empowered, healthy competitor while trans teen Ally Marc Jacobs and Dance Mom to Lennon Torres, Gina, reveal what it means to accept yourself and your loved ones for exactly who they are. After today’s episode, you’ll feel a little more empowered to go out into the world as your authentic self, bold and fierce. 
 
Quotes
“To me, everybody’s past doesn’t really exist; the only people holding onto it are the people retelling it, or your own brain. However, when you make mistakes that are repeated on the streaming service, those mistakes still exist. And I think, ‘Damn it! Can we please…’ I have a hard time getting past some stuff because I will still see clips of my worst behavior. I get it. I was terrible. I don’t know what else to say.” (4:58 | Christi Lukasiak)
“We are so uncomfortable with sexuality and sex. And there’s so much sex in the Bible. You know, we’re banning books. Have we banned the Bible?” (9:20 | Minister Dawn)
“It’s not hard. You listen to your kid, however your kid is feeling you support that, and you make sure everyone that’s around them supports that, and it’s not that hard to be OK with it. I think parents and people in these children’s families make it about them…it’s not about you. It’s about your kid.” (14:12 | Gina Torres)
“With Beyonce, you could just tell that she was gifted with something very, very special. So, after working with those girls for four hours that day I came out of that rehearsal talking about, ‘I just met the second coming of Michael Jackson.’” (20:08 | Frank Gatson)
“You’re not alone in the situation. You’re not the only one; I know it might feel like you’re the only person that is going through this, but you’re not. There are so many other people who are going through exactly what you’re going through and you just need to find them. You just need to find your people.” (40:27 | Ally Marc Jacobs)
“I can make you feel. I think that’s ‘it.’ That’s what I mean by ‘it.’ If you can bring someone in and make them feel, I don’t care if you’re not the most technical, the most perfect, the most this or that, if you can bring somebody into your world when you are performing in any capacity, that’s ‘it.’” (48:09 | Alisan Porter)
 
Links
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 19: Just Be. Labor Day Message

“I really want to encourage everyone to ‘just be.’ That’s kind of been an ongoing theme in this, in my life, and with the podcast.”
 
John delves into the true meaning of Labor Day, tracing its origins to union workers’ protests and how it has evolved into a day of rest and reflection. How often do we let the noise of daily life drown out the importance of being truly present, both in our everyday interactions and on stage? John challenges us, especially those in the dance community, to pause our busy lives, unplug from social media, and fully immerse ourselves in the moment.
 
He offers heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support. If you haven’t already, follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Apple, download episodes, and help spread the word. John also invites you to support their Patreon, where you can watch on-camera versions of the episodes for an even richer, more personal experience.
 
As John reflects on the summer, he recalls the incredible lineup of guests—from Olympic champions to a transgender teen voguer—and the powerful conversations that took place. To all the dance moms, dads, and dancers out there, he encourages you to revisit these episodes as he prepares for the new season of Dance Dad with John Corella. 
 
Quotes
“I really want to encourage everyone to ‘just be.’ That’s kind of been an ongoing theme in this, in my life, and with the podcast.” (01:39 | John Corella) 
“This week, this weekend, if some of you can’t take time off, maybe you can at least take off Monday and just be, and just be with yourself. Maybe get off social media, maybe avoid the television, and be outside and present. Know that when we practice being present in our daily lives, it becomes easier to do when we are on stage, dancing, acting, or even when we’re trying to create numbers. To access that presence, we have to practice in simple moments. So I hope you all do that today, this weekend.” (03:21 | John Corella) 
“I just want to thank you all for your support and listening. This is your podcast. This is our podcast.” (04:17 | John Corella)
 
Links
www.patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella
 
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: 
www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella
 
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 18: What the Winner of The Voice Has to Say About Dance Competitions and Being a Child Star, Alisan Porter

“Alisan is the definition of a triple threat,” says host John Corella of today’s guest Alisan Porter. Many know her as an actress from hit movies like 1991's “Curly Sue” or for her impeccable vocal technique that led to her victory on NBC's The Voice in 2016. However, Alisan’s extensive background in and passion for dance is less well-known. In this episode of Dance Dad, Alisan shares her experiences in dance competitions, her efforts in mentoring the next generation of performers, and what it truly means to be a star.
 
Growing up, Alisan was inspired by her grandmother, the legendary choreographer and teacher Charlotte Klein, who believed in “loving people into the best versions of themselves.” Alisan emphasizes that teachers must set their egos aside, while students need to understand the role of dance in the larger context of life. She also discusses how parents can protect their children in the entertainment industry and how her definition of happiness has evolved over the years.
 
Tune in as these two former roommates share fond memories and hilarious anecdotes from the dance world, and discover more about Alisan's latest musical release.
 
Quotes
“The more I work with kids and the more I work with their parents, the closer I try to get with them. They’re my family. If I’m helping raise a child in this industry, if it’s my job to be their vocal parent, then I am not allowed to abuse them, and I am not allowed to put myself first. This isn’t about me, this is about helping to guide a very talented child.” (16:12 | Alisan Porter)
“You can’t abuse somebody into talent. You’re talented or you’re not. You can shape and mold talent. You can make somebody who’s almost there, there. But you’re not going to scream and yell at someone and make them a star. They’re either a star or they’re not.” (23:48 | Alisan Porter)
“I could make you feel. I think that’s ‘it.’ That’s what I mean by ‘it.’ If you can bring someone in and make them feel—I don’t care if you’re not the most technical, the most perfect, the most this or that—if you can bring somebody into your world when you are performing in any capacity, that’s ‘it.’ And I think that’s what I have above anything else, any of my other talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, acting, whatever. When I’m doing those things, I include you.” (34:46 | Alisan Porter) 
“You can smell desperation in this industry from a mile away. And I think the grossest, most unappealing thing for me, is to see a child who is phenomenally talented and then to watch their parents doubt that they can have a space.” (39:42 | Alisan Porter)
“What matters in life most is to love, to be loved, to wake up every day and have a purpose, to do the things in life that truly make me happy.” (59:40 | Alisan Porter)
“Every moment I get to show up for my talent I believe that God gave me…it’s not about the wins anymore, it’s really about digging in and experiencing it.” (1:02:38 | Alisan Porter)
 
Links
Connect with Alisan Porter:
https://www.instagram.com/iam_alisanporter
https://alisanporter.com/
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 17: Olympic Gymnastics Team Member and Olympic Trials Judge Kristie Phillips

“Leave it on the floor. No regrets.” Continuing with Olympic month, host John Corella welcomes Kristie Phillips, 1988 Olympic team member, former national champion, winner of the American Cup to the Dance Dad podcast—and his inner child is screaming. For all of her career achievements thus far, Kristie exemplifies that unlimited opportunities lay ahead—opportunities to learn new things, embrace new experiences and, in turn, provide new opportunities for other people. Today she discusses how she helped to change the sport of gymnastics as an athlete, and later as an athlete representative and an elite judge.
 
As much as Kristie has won, she also knows what it means to fail—and to be made to feel insignificant as a result. Failure is part of the process and we must know how to deal with it, while remembering that we are enough just as we are. Citing Simone Biles as an example, Kristie and John discuss the changing attitudes toward the health and well-being of athletes in competition, and the importance of inclusivity at all levels, and why gymnastics is the best preparation for life. 
 
Join today’s discussion to hear Kristie talk about her relationship to legendary gymnast coaching duo the Karolyis, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated making a gymnastics comeback ‘late in life,’ and taking up ballroom dancing for the first time. 
 
Quotes
“To me it’s kind of the mother of all sports. It embodies grace, power, discipline, perseverance, self-motivation. It’s just every life lesson that you’re going to need in your life, you will experience in the sport of gymnastics at a high level of competition.” (13:23 | Kristie Phillips) 
“Everybody’s enough. You’re born enough. And I think as society, we’re so judgmental, and we’re so quick to tear someone down and I wish we could get back into building people up.” (16:15 | Kristie Phillips)
“I just enjoyed being out there and performing and making people happy and touching lives. Inspiring people. That’s what I love to do…I love providing for people opportunities—probably my kids would say I like to do that too much—but I just truly enjoy giving to other people and helping them on their journey.” (34:34 | Kristie Phillips) 
“I see the big picture now. I think I’ve kind of lived my life with blinders on and kept doing what’s next—what’s next—what’s next and so I’m starting to really enjoy the process and really starting to appreciate the opportunities that life has given me.” (1:01:32 | Kristie Phillips) 
“Once you’re there, leave it all on the floor. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to save it. Go for it. Go big or go home. And enjoy giving it your all. If you win, you win; if you don’t, you don’t, but there will be no regrets. Leave it on the floor. Put it all out there and enjoy every minute of it.” (1:03:47 | Kristie Phillips) 
 
Links
Connect with Kristie Phillips:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristie_phillips_kpac/
Website: www.kpacgym.com
 
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 16: 3 Time Olympic Gymnastics Champion Daniela Silivas

“I was born to be a gymnast,” says Daniela Silivas, Olympic gymnastics champion and member of the legendary 1988  Romanian women’s Olympic gymnastics team and 1987 World Championship Gold Medal team. Throughout her career, she mesmerized crowds—including host John Corella—with her unique dance-based technique and her signature move, the Silivas, a staple in many gymnasts’ routines today. Despite her success, she humbly insists the move was just luck, a humility evident throughout this episode of the Dance Dad podcast. Daniela shares how she began in gymnastics, overcame performance nerves, and where she keeps her medals.
 
Despite being a talented, quick learner and fearless, Daniela emphasizes that talent is nothing without hard work. She details the rigorous training Romanian gymnasts endured, training Monday through Sunday for years before even learning to tumble.
 
Tune in to hear why Daniela prefers the American approach to gymnastics and who she believes is the next Olympic hopeful.
 
Quotes
“I don’t keep up with my trophies and medals. I think memories are more important than those.” (3:48 | Daniela Silivas) 
“Hearing from everybody else that the ’87 team was the best, that’s how we felt. But it wasn’t just one person and then everybody in the team. I think everybody in the team had the same talent, the same routines, the same great gymnastics. It was the whole team that was amazing, and very few teams have that.” (9:26 | Daniela Silivas) 
“That’s what makes people great instead of just good: when you do things that you don’t want to, and it’s not fun, but you know you have to do it, and you do it.” (17:58 | Daniela Silivas) 
“I don’t feel comfortable talking about my accomplishments. Yes, they were my accomplishments but I feel like they’re mine and I didn’t do them to get that recognition, so I don’t feel really comfortable. People say, ‘Oh, she won a gold medal!’ And I say, ‘Yeah, I did. So?’” (27:16 | Daniela Silivas) 
“I was that gymnast that had that extra talent and I learned skills really easily and I wasn’t a kid that was afraid. So, I think I had that perfect combination of working and talent. You cannot do anything—it doesn’t matter how hard you work and how much you want it, if you don’t have that talent, it’s very hard to get to be the best. But, again, you have that talent and you’re not working, then you cannot accomplish or be the best because you have to have a combination of both, and I think I did.” (31:12 | Daniela Silivas) 
 
Links
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 15: What Are Dance Competition Judges Looking For? with Judge Brittany Markle

“I want to give them what I wish someone had given me,” says former competitive dancer, choreographer, teacher and mentor, Brittany Markle. Now, as a competition judge, she hopes to offer a new generation of dancers more than just a score, but thoughtful guidance and critique. In this episode of Dance Dad, she shares some of her best advice to competitive dancers, how they can stand out and be remembered among a sea of other dancers, many of whom are the best in the country. What’s more, she’ll talk about accepting disappointment, keeping things professional and appropriate and how children can maintain healthy boundaries with judges while still feeling empowered to use their voices. 
 
Brittany explains how she scores points according to category and how she stays organized throughout the long days of a competition. She’ll explain what responsibility dance studios have and where the ethics get blurry. She also shares how her points of view toward dancing as well as toward competitions—which are very different from performance showcases—have evolved.
 
Tune in to hear Brittany give a live critique of a “mini” dancer and to hear host John Corella reveal what inspired him to co-create Dance Moms. 
 
Quotes
“I feel like I have so much understanding and so much patience and so much grace I give kids whenever there’s a mistake that happens or a stumble. I want to give them what I wish someone had given me.” (6:29 | Brittany Markle) 
“I love the energy I get back from sitting there and knowing that I’m engaged—and that could be because of the way I grew up—but it’s very honest for me to sit there and watch a kid dance all day long and still have something to say at the end of the day. I feel like there’s always something productive to be giving back.” (11:47 | Brittany Markle) 
“My last judging weekend, our highest score of the whole day, which I think is hard to do as there’s a stigma around being number one and being first—not winning first, going on stage first—and I feel like everyone thinks, ‘Ugh. We’re on at 7:00am, this is our best dance. What are we going to do all day long? How are we going to hold on to a high score? Are [the judges] awake?’ And what stuck with me the entire weekend was our first number on stage, and it ended up winning the highest score of the whole competition because of how present they were.” (27:54 | Brittany Markle) 
 
Links
Connect with Brittany Markle:
https://www.instagram.com/brittmarkle
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 14: The Word Homosexual Was Put Into the Bible in 1946

“That may be how the Bible reads, but that’s not what the Bible says,” explains award-winning film director and producer Sharon Rocky Roggio of many of the mistranslations within the Book’s scripture which have not only misrepresented the message of Jesus Christ but have been been historically weaponized against marginalized groups, notably the LGBT community. 
 
Today, Sharon joins the Dance Dad podcast to discuss her new film “1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture,” a documentary which explores the first time that the word “homosexual” was used in the Bible. Through never-before-seen archives from Yale University, the film conveys proof that this was a mistranslation from the original text, which referred more to systems of status and power than sexual identity. 
 
Like host John Corella, Sharon grew up in the Evangelical church, and the two discuss their experiences of coming to terms with what they were taught versus the many questions that they had. The film is not meant to vilify the Church or the Bible, Sharon explains, but to demonstrate the impact and influence of the text, and to encourage new dialogue, reflection, redemption and healing. 
 
Referred to as “the documentary ‘Da Vinci Code,’” the film is also being used as a tool for civic engagement. The team behind the film will be embarking on a 14-city tour of the U.S. called “1946 Road Trip Across America,” and Sharon shares how you can get involved and share the message. 
 
Quotes
“I feel people are afraid of the film, at least the ones I mention it to who are anti-[LGBTQ], because they know it’s going to rock their system, and their minds. And we’ve had to do that our whole lives. Our minds were deconstructed when we knew we were gay, so we had to go seek and find.” (7:41 | John Corella)
“The Bible was mistranslated, that’s an indisputable fact, but that doesn’t mean that the Bible doesn’t have wonderful things to offer, and different ways to experience community through this religion—not just Christianity, the Bible impacts the three largest religions in the world—and so the takeaway would be, the Bible wasn’t written in English, and how are we using or misusing the Bible to treat one another?” (8:30 | Sharon Rocky Roggio) 
“This doesn’t just impact the LGBTQ community. We see how the Bible is misused against women’s rights, we see how it’s being misused against reproductive rights in America, and all of these different things.” (9:51 | Sharon Rocky Roggio)
“I kind of look at this as a way to have a voice for the voiceless because I know that there are people like you and I who were able to come out of this at a young age, and call BS, and be able to be OK, and deconstruct and be fine. And there are adults who can make up their own minds, but there are kids who are still being brought into these church buildings and being subjected to these ideas and so I’m going to continue this mission for many people, but I think about them the most.” (32:00 | Sharon Rocky Roggio) 
 
Links
https://www.1946themovie.com/
https://www.instagram.com/1946themovie
 
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP 13: Ally! Ally! With Teen Voguer Ally Marc Jacobs and Her Mom

“I loved how free I was,” reflects Ally Marc Jacobs, a transgender teen and emerging star in the worlds of voguing and drag. Inspired by the House of Juicy Couture’s performances and the House of Balmain  on the HBO series “Legendary”, Ally began vogue dancing and quickly became a sensation across social media. She is now a member of both the House of Juicy Couture and House of Marc Jacobs. Today on the Dance Dad podcast, Ally shares insights into the ball culture, her personal journey of coming out, and how both her mainstream and kiki house communities have become like a second family to her.
 
Ally’s biological family, including her mother Amy—who also joins the podcast—has supported her from the start. Amy discusses the pressures facing Ally as a prominent figure in the trans community, and the scrutiny she faces as a parent. 
 
Ally addresses her experiences with bullies in various settings—from playgrounds to churches and even political arenas—and how she has found a supportive community. Host John Corella highlights the hypocrisy of parents who criticize Amy for 'forcing a lifestyle' on Ally, while they themselves push their children into unwanted activities.
 
Ally, confident in her identity from a young age—and perhaps even in past lives—is forging ahead fearlessly. Tune in to hear her discuss her love for Beyoncé, Monster High dolls, and her very own dance dad.
 
Quotes
“I like to say a house is your second family, in my eyes. They treat you so well. Whenever you’re down, they bring you up, uplifting, they teach you stuff. Basically, a second family, I’ll say it a thousand times. It’s everything you could hope for in a family. Everything you need. Everything you want.” (8:43 | Ally Marc Jacobs) 
“She does not have a coming out story. There was no, ‘Hey, Mom. I need to tell you that I’m trans.’ From the time, again, like she said, from the time that she spoke, from the time that she could form a sentence, she was telling us who she was.” (14:59 | Amy)
“Everybody always used to say, ‘Barbie is for the girls. Barbie’s for them. You can’t have that.’ So, I said, ‘OK, now what? I have Monster High dolls. You can’t put a label on them, they’re literally Frankenstein.’” (33:14 | Ally Marc Jacobs)
“Do you know how many times I was forced to go to baseball? I hate baseball. Do you know how many times I was asked if I had a girlfriend when I was five years old? I don’t like girls. So, let’s just say you were doing that, it is no different than anybody else, any other parent.” (34:57 | John Corella)
“You’re not alone in the situation; you’re not the only one. I know it might feel like you’re the only person that is going through this, but you’re not. There are so many people going through exactly what you’re going through and you just need to find them. You just need to find your people.” (42:37 | Ally Marc Jacobs)
 
Links
Connect with Ally Marc Jacobs:www.instagram.com/allymarcjacobs
Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/
John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm