The Brainy Ballerina Podcast

• 72. Behind the Curtain with Lauren Ostrander McArdle: The Psychology of Dance

  In this inspiring episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional ballerina and performance psychology expert Lauren Ostrander McArdle. Lauren danced with companies including the National Ballet of Canada and as a soloist with Sarasota Ballet and now holds a Master’s Degree in Sport and Performance Psychology. She is the founder of Behind the Curtain, a platform dedicated to equipping dancers with the mental tools they need to thrive on and off the stage.Lauren shares her unique dance journey, from her reluctant early ballet days, to leaving home at just 14 to pursue serious training, to eventually securing professional contracts. We dive into the highs and lows of a dance career, from dream contracts and devastating injuries to resilience, mental strength, and redefining success beyond the stage. Lauren shares her powerful comeback story, insights into ballet culture, and practical advice for dancers navigating both the physical and mental demands of the art form.Key Points in this Episode: Why Lauren didn’t love ballet at first, and what changed her mind at age 10. The pivotal role of teachers and environment in shaping a dancer’s path. The challenges of balancing independence, schooling, and training as a teen dancer. Lauren’s transition from student to professional and how she navigated auditions. Lauren’s devastating early-career injury and the long road back to dancing. The pivotal moment she returned to the stage with the National Ballet of Canada. Behind-the-scenes stories of being thrown onstage last minute at San Francisco Ballet. The mental challenges dancers face especially fear of failure, comparison, and external validation. Why confidence is a trainable skill and how to start building it today.The unique cultural pressures of ballet compared to traditional sports. How teachers and mentors can balance high expectations with high support.Connect with Lauren:INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/behindthecurtain.sppPERSISTENCEPSYCH IG: instagram.com/PersistencepsychPIVOT DANCER IG: instagram.com/pivotdancerLinks and Resources:Get 10% off registration for Étoile Dance Competition with code BRAINY10Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition GuideLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

  --------  

  58:12

  --------

  58:12
• 71. Mr. Brainy Ballerina Unplugged: The Partner's POV of the Dance World with my Husband, Steve Sloan

  In this week’s podcast episode, I’m joined by my husband, THE Mr. Brainy Ballerina Steve Sloan, to reflect on our journey together - from his background as a college soccer player to supporting my career as a professional dancer, and now navigating life as parents. We share stories from our early days of dating, his first impressions of the ballet world, and the infamous “apple crisp incident” during tech week.Steve also opens up about the sacrifices we’ve both made for each other’s careers, how his corporate work “selling robots to scientists” compares to the ballet world, and what lessons dancers can teach everyone about resilience and determination.We also tackle some fun audience questions, including Steve’s hidden talent, his favorite roles he’s seen me perform, and his heartfelt advice for anyone in a relationship with a dancer.This episode is full of laughter, honesty, and love. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at our marriage and the ways ballet has shaped our lives!Key Points in this Episode: Steve’s background as a soccer player and how it connected him to ballet culture Our early relationship and the sacrifices we made for each other’s careers Steve’s first time seeing me perform (which was also his first time at a ballet ever!) Quirky realities of living with a dancer How the ballet industry and corporate America could learn from each other Reflections on supporting each other’s dreams through marriage and parenthoodLinks and Resources:Get 10% off registration for Étoile Dance Competition with code BRAINY10.Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition GuideLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

  --------  

  48:09

  --------

  48:09
• 70. Dream Big, Make It Happen: Hannah Martin's Journey from Rhythmic Gymnastics to the Birmingham Royal Ballet

  What does it take to go from Commonwealth Games rhythmic gymnast to professional ballerina with the Birmingham Royal Ballet? In this episode, Hannah Martin shares her remarkable journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and why she’s passionate about helping dancers dream big and make it happen.What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Hannah’s early career as a rhythmic gymnast, including competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and earning 22 national titles. The key differences between gymnastics training and ballet training—and why flexibility alone wasn’t enough. How competing on the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer became a turning point, ultimately leading to her acceptance at Elmhurst Ballet School, where she graduated with the Sir Peter Wright Award for Performance. The challenges and breakthroughs of transitioning into ballet at 16—and why learning the “in-between steps” became her biggest growth moment. How recovering from injury gave her a deeper appreciation for dance and helped unlock the “next level” of ballet. Why Hannah founded the Make It Happen Academy—an online platform empowering dancers to build strength, refine technique, and develop mental skills for long-term success. Her best advice for young dancers stepping into the professional world: find a life outside of ballet, avoid burnout, and protect your body.Connect with Hannah:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmartinrgYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hannahmartinrgWebsite: www.hannahmartin.infoMake it Happen Academy: https://make-it-happen-academy.teachery.co/make-it-happen-academyLinks and Resources:The Ultimate Audition GuideBallet Help Desk WebsiteLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected] episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

  --------  

  52:04

  --------

  52:04
• 69. Listening to your Body with "The Therapist who Moves You", Erica Hornthal

  In this episode, I sit down with Erica Hornthal, licensed clinical professional counselor and board-certified dance/movement therapist, to explore the transformative power of movement for emotional and mental health. Known as “The Therapist Who Moves You”, Erica shares how dance and movement therapy can help us reconnect to our bodies, regulate the nervous system, and rewire patterns shaped by trauma, stress, and perfectionism.We unpack misconceptions about dance therapy, the challenges dancers face in balancing technique with authenticity, and how to foster embodied practices for healthier, more resilient artistry. Erica also offers a simple grounding exercise you can try right now, and opens up about her books Body Aware and Body Talk, which provide practical tools for cultivating body awareness and self-expression.Whether you’re a professional dancer, a teacher, or simply someone curious about somatic healing, this conversation will inspire you to embrace movement as more than performance - it’s a pathway to self-discovery, healing, and joy.Key Points in this Episode: What dance/movement therapy is and how it differs from a dance class How our bodies hold unspoken stories, patterns, and emotions Why embodiment enhances artistic performance Ways to nurture creativity in young dancers without stifling expression Common misconceptions about dance therapy (hint: you don’t need to be a dancer to benefit!) How movement can support healing from trauma, anxiety, and burnout Practical advice for teachers on creating trauma-informed, person-first dance spaces A simple leaning exercise you can use anytime to feel grounded and supportedConnect with Erica:WEBSITE: www.ericahornthal.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/the.therapist.who.moves.youLinks and Resources:Get 20% off your first order of ALOHA protein bars: https://aloha.com/BRAINYBALLERINAJoin the Brainy Ballerina Book ClubLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

  --------  

  53:56

  --------

  53:56
• 68. Fueling the Mind-Body Connection with Registered Sports Dietitian Lisa Rivera

  In this episode, I’m joined by registered sports dietitian Lisa Rivera, who brings her unique background in both dance and nutrition to the conversation. Lisa shares her personal journey of healing her relationship with food, how proper fueling transformed her dance career, and why she’s passionate about helping dancers thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.From understanding the mind-body connection to diving into gut health, brain function, stress management, and supplements, this episode is packed with practical insights to help dancers improve performance, resilience, and well-being.Key Points in this Episode: Lisa’s journey from struggling with body image as a dancer to becoming a sports dietitian. How nutrition impacts not just physical performance, but also focus, mood, and emotional health. The role of the gut microbiome and how it connects to brain function. Foods and habits that support gut health and mental clarity. Fueling strategies to manage performance anxiety and stressful rehearsal weeks. Supplements dancers should consider (like omega-3s and magnesium) and how to choose quality brands. Tips for traveling dancers to maintain digestion and energy on tour. One small step dancers can take this week to better fuel their body and brain.Connect with Lisa:WEBSITE: https://performancenutritioncompany.com/p/homeRegister for Lisa’s course ‘Nutrition for Dancers’ and receive 50% off with code BrainyBallerina50INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/nutritionco_for_dancersLinks and Resources:Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition GuideSet up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)Let’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

  --------  

  54:23

  --------

  54:23

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About The Brainy Ballerina Podcast