Kenzie Ziegler: No Closure, Just Getting Older
Singer, dancer, and former reality star Kenzie Ziegler joins the Lautners to discuss navigating success and pressure from an incredibly young age. She shares the toll that reality TV took on her childhood and how it caused her to lose her passion for dance. Kenzie explains how she couldn't differentiate between reality and what was manufactured for the show, and shares the advice she would offer a production team tackling a reality show centered around children. She attributes her mental health struggles to the show, and shares with your hosts when she first discovered she was suffering from anxiety. She opens up about her relationship with social media, which she has navigated since the age of eight, and how she has grown to become more private, allowing less of the negativity to affect her. She also talks about her song Anatomy, her family's reaction to the deeply personal song, who she played it for first, and how cathartic the recording process was. The Lautners had such a great time with Kenzie, and look forward to signing those adoption papers! You can adopt a 19-year-old, right?!
00:00 Intro
03:20 Welcome Kenzie
05:10 Citrus Got Real
10:40 Growing up on reality tv
12:09 Losing her love of dance
13:55 Inability to differentiate between what was actually reality and what was manufactured for the show
15:29 Advice she would give if hired as a consultant for a reality show involving kids (remember that children are children)
19:00 Discovering her anxiety
21:30 Relationship with sister Maddie Ziegler
22:30 Navigating a large social media following from a young age
26:53 Her song Anatomy and relationship with her father
29:57 Her family’s reaction to the deeply personal song
31:40 Dating history and how therapeutic the writing room was to her
34:38 Lemon 11
43:06 Outro
Follow Kenzie and check out the music video for Anatomy below!
kenzie?hl=en
• kenzie - anatomy (Offi...
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Dance Moms footage used in intro, credit to Lifetime: • Mackenzie FIGHTS to Be...
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Gosh. Kenzie is just so sweet and down to earth. Just by watching this I can tell she’d be an incredible person to be around.
Not me trying to hold back tears at work hearing her talk about the song because I paused and listened to the song and then came back
@lisakafmw2673
7 ай бұрын
This!! I went and listened till halfway, and decided to just read the lyrics only lol I genuinely couldn’t, it hits too close home. I’ll revisit it in a week 😂
@enriqueolguin3601
7 ай бұрын
That’s awesome !! Her song was so real
@kris12896
Ай бұрын
Same here
The fact that mental health wasn’t a conversation for these young kids in the spotlight is absolutely insane. Bless Kenzie and how strong she is. As a person who developed anxiety that young I couldn’t imagine not having access to therapy and being open about my mental health
@asmith4328
2 ай бұрын
Think it’s general with all child stars her explaining from 6-12 no childhood sounds like jodi sweetin from full house and being lost afterwards
@mandy7131
Ай бұрын
Right
@mandy7131
Ай бұрын
Crazy how Once the show took off The producers got crazy greedy 😢😢😢 Poor girls All them .
Knowing from how much Kenzie has grown into a young woman,u can notice how much she matured and how she has dealt with these things.Loved this episode!
Thank you Kenzie. I watched Dance Moms occasionally, until the abuse you girls experienced became so evident that I had to turn it off.. Abby was awful - she never seemed to realize the harm she caused, and just went on and on, always justifying her behavior. She was a bully, and you were victimized. I hope our expectations today ae very different. I'm so glad you've sought and benefitted from therapy.
@ElizaLou75
7 ай бұрын
Abby was dreadful, but that the production company egged it on and basically documented the emotional abuse with little thought of the kids emotional well-being is shocking.
@Abbyglitters
3 ай бұрын
At what point do we start to blame the parents that kept their kids in that environment for what seems like it may have been for the money fame and opportunity brought. No one seems to talk about that.
I watched Dance Mom's from the beginning. I felt like Kenzie has grown up and matured in a positive way. I enjoyed this podcast. Thank you.
i absolutely love this podcast. thank you all for being so willing to talk about such vulnerable topics and just being so REAL.
When Taylor said she used to be a nurse and now she does... this. But then said she doesn't edit the podcast. That's exactly why we all want to marry a rich person. 😂
Please try to interview Maddie Ziegler as well! I really love seeing these sisters❤
Poor Kenzie. Her mom kind of lived vicariously through the girls and I don’t think she could have left the show even if she wanted those first years
@ALT1308_
7 ай бұрын
Her mom regrets the things she did, and MacKenzie and Maddie ziegler have forgiven them, so please leave them alone and let them be
@kyleemeg2171
7 ай бұрын
@@ALT1308_they’re not attacking anyone…. All they did was state their opinion. Stop being so god damn sensitive
@Cfbln
6 ай бұрын
@ALT1308_ regreting something doesn't change her past actions. No mom should put a child through all that for money, she destroyed her daughters childhood.
@samday2534
3 ай бұрын
@@Cfbln well Kenzie forgives her. That’s all that matters. Your opinion means nothing.
@Cfbln
3 ай бұрын
@samday2534 I never stated my opinion about her it's just common sense , NO MOM SHOULD PUT A CHILD THROUGH ALL THAT SUFFERING FOR MONEY. Yall need therapists, everything is an attack, and you get upset easily if someone says something you don't want to hear
This makes me want to go to my friends and digest our feelings and lives together it’s so cool how one conversation can make a major chain of healing together ❤
So nice to see an interview with someone that has actually watched the show… I’m a huge fan ❤
loveee seeing kenzie she’s so grown up and beautiful
this podcast is so soothing. keep it up you guys, you’re providing a safe and relaxing space for many ♥️
@joycedominguez8997
7 ай бұрын
Yes but sometimes I can barely hear them. It's like they have a secret. Lol
@ivckrxs118
5 ай бұрын
@@joycedominguez8997Icl this made me laugh
Watching/listening to this podcast has gotten me through so much. Thank you for doing what you do and thank you to the guests for being so vulnerable in such a judgmental world.❤
Literally screamed when I saw this. Cant wait to watch!!
She’s sooo kind hearted. I absolutely love her.
@melt2947
11 күн бұрын
Literally remembering her empathy every time someone else was injured, or cried. She has a huge heart ❤️
They should’ve had them in therapy since the beginning. Having someone help sort through what is real and what is not could’ve been so helpful😢
Never thought I’d hear Taylor Lautner say he was a Dance Moms fan while Mackenzie was sitting across from him!
I’m so in love with this episode, Kenzie is obvs an awesome girl and you guys just vibe I loved it
My new favorite podcast! ❤ also this is so wholesome it’s absolutely what I needed today thank you guys for your content ❤
I love how girl Tay and boy Tay how they are respectful and kind and have a heart of gold and there podcast is one my favorite podcast
one of your best eps so far! i love this sm
I love dance moms & Kenzie & this is one of the best interviews I’ve seen of one of the girls. You asked great questions🩷
I genuinely love this podcast so much it’s my favorite podcast your both so down to earth and genuine
Idk how we all got teary eyed listening to anatomy, it’s such a girl code that almost every girl relates to, and love how it wasn’t overly complicated and or anything it was just a rant explaining what I remotely felt without knowing how to put it in words
It is all their MOTHERS fault. They put them on the show. Allowed it all to happen. Sat there and watched. Cashed those checks!!
@yacobeinauan9533
Ай бұрын
The moms were under an almost unbreakbable contract. It took Sia to set Melissa, Maddie and Kenzie free. If any of the moms would leave Abby demanded 100s of thousands of dollars and would blackball them in the dancing industry. Stop blaming them. You have no idea how it affected the OG moms sitting there and seeing their child suffer and they couldn’t do anything. They have spoken about it multiple times that that was the situation so for you to sit here and make them look like awful mothers is disgusting. Kelly’s marriage went down the drain because of the show. F you.
@sarab4241
22 күн бұрын
So much child exploitation. Really sickening.
@just-a-generic-username
14 күн бұрын
I think it's odd that you're only holding the mothers responsible without acknowledging that the girls have fathers too.
Taylor lautner really asks THE best questions. good for him
Love the podcast Soothing and relaxing
So proud of you Kenzie 💕
You know you're an adult when you realize that being home alone and doing things like a nice bath is the best thing in the world 😂 same here girl ❤❤
I can’t wait for this one!
loved finding more out about kenzie
I love this so much Kenzie is one of my favorites. Next I would love to see Jules and Hayley Leblanc
Love Kenzie!❤❤
This was just amazing kenzie is so sweet and amazing love her so much and you guys are the best ❤
I love that maddie and makinze both say totally so much in interviews love you guys ❤
Such a great conversation.
have you thought of inviting jennette mccurdy for an interview?
@zodiacmoonchild_meg
7 ай бұрын
Yes!!! That would be so good 🖤
@z.e.p.p.e.l.i.n
7 ай бұрын
dude that’s such a good idea
Loved it. I'm big fan of the Zieglers and loved how you treated every topic with respect and empathy. Kenzie is amazing. I would love you to bring Maddie to see her side of the story as well. It was lovely to see and listen to the three of you💕
Kenzie, we love you. Sending hugs to you ❤❤❤
Tay & Taylor your voices are sooooo calming and soothing
@humongousobesity
23 күн бұрын
Fr I almost fell asleep
I love hee for being so real
Both of you are great interviewers.
Heated mattress pads are a lifesaver for when a spouse sleeps cold and one sleeps hot. The mattress pads are divided down the center so one spouse can crank the heat and the other stays cold.
OMG you guys are so nice ❤ and kenzie is the best
Such a beautiful girl.❤
I loveee kenzie
@amslj
7 ай бұрын
wait and i love this you guys are so sweet
kenzie was always my fav
Its so true Poor girls man .
Stoppp I love hee. I swear you get the best people to come onto the podcast
I’m new here, and I don’t listen to podcast and I love this so much. 😇
i love kenzie
this is a crossover i did not expect...
Yep, went to her music video and played it 2x. 😢
My name is Remy and I didn't do the deep breath at the beginning. Imagine my shock when I got called out by name 😅
This is the first episode I’ve watched and the two Taylor’s vibes in the beginning seemed weird. It felt like when I was younger and walked into the room with my parents who just finished arguing.
@jayline1087
2 ай бұрын
feel this in my soul
My 7 year old and myself decided to watch all the twilight movies because he's never seen them . My son just walked in the room while I was watching the podcast and goes "He looks like the wolf guy from the vampire movie." I told him "It is the same guy" My son goes "What?! So he's not really a wolf?" Hahaha nice pod guys :)
i'm likeeee "is that jacob" lmao
Love this podcast and series! Sort of confused why tay says kenzie is another generation, she's just 7 years older so defo gen z both of them🤣
Nice interview. Will you invite Maddie too?
Taylor was as amused by that breathe in the opening as Remi was...i feel like this episode was one of those "we weren't arguing 10 minutes ago....who was arguing 10 minutes ago?!" Moments.
Am I the only one confused by T.Lautner saying he has been a fan of Kenzie since he was a child himself? I mean, isn't he like 10 years older than her? Hahaha
@marissakillingsworth2385
7 ай бұрын
Same here, the math isnt mathing. Kind of strange lol
@ashac7183
6 ай бұрын
He probably started watching when it premiered and he was 19, but didn’t remember exactly what age he was at the time since it was long ago.
@MsMckenzie2011
6 ай бұрын
Right!? I’m 25 and I know that kenzie is younger than me by 6 years but I remember Taylor Lautner being so much older than me😂(also 6 years) I remember watching dance moms as a young teen so I was like huuuuh???? Taylor is 12 years older than kenzie🤣
@ErikaWright-hc4gb
Ай бұрын
I swear I was just thinking the same thing… I was like the math ain’t mathing
@kxnormk
18 күн бұрын
Adults watched the show too
❤❤❤
Yall should interview Joshua Bassett!
As a dance mom fan i can see why these girls needed therapy loved this episode!
💕💕💕
Goodmorning
I need a moment for the pillowcase ad When she says he’s always warm And his heat radiates when she sleeps next to him And my first thought is Jacob in Eclipse. 26:12
they definitely should’ve always had a mental coach. that’s so sad 💔
🙏🌍🙏
Wait she wrote it w ppl in a room or she wrote it alone and sent to her therapist I’m confused
@Kaalyn_HOW
7 ай бұрын
Probably wrote the initial letter to her dad that she sent to her therapist and then turned that into a song with the writing team she's collected.
It is a great loss because Mackenzie was a great dancer
I felt so bad for Kenzie her own mom was horrible towards her. Always favoring Maddie
Does anyone else find it kind of funny that McKenzie name was Talylor but then changed
I feel like every time the guy speaks the girl next to him always has something negative to say about what he has to say
Is so Sad imagine Lost your love for something that you love... P.s: i'm forma Brazil, so my english is basic
I always wondered if the sisters Still get along Or cut ties
Taylor gets warm at night...*thinking* - don't say it, don't say it... :P
At 9:58 does Tay realize she's part of the same generation as Kenzie? Lol
Is there a reason the hosts are so whispery/soft-spoken? No shade, but it felt more like ASMR than a podcast… Their voices are almost *too* calming like borderline boring.
taylor launter talks so quiet i can barely hear him with my volume all the way up and you guys should make better eye contact with the guests lol
i love all the dance mom girls but i h8 abby fr
Count how many times Mrs. Taylor says “like”😭…
@keetasmit
5 ай бұрын
ikr
Great interview! Maddie is a true gem! Just a word of constructive criticism, watch your video and count the number of times you say the "filler" word, "like". Once you are aware you can work on lessoning the filler word.
@samday2534
3 ай бұрын
This is McKenzie
@suebuchert7797
2 ай бұрын
@@samday2534I guess she was too preoccupied with getting her " constructive" criticism typed in to realize.😂
I love that you had Kenzie on! 🥺🩷 You guys should also have Maddie, Chloe, or Nia on the pod!!
Love the pod but I wish you guys would speak up. It’s hard to hear clearly what you’re saying with being so soft spoken.
Why does girl Taylor need to cut down original T.Lautner because he mentioned he used to dance a lil to be a part of the comvo and show interest ..n she has to go with the " he can't count an 8 count!"
I honestly did not know that they teach dance in colleges.
Hi baby please invite kristen stewart and rob
@alohaarianna
7 ай бұрын
that would be so great
Maddie, Chloe and Paige have bad anxiety too.
She’s 19?
@liv-gh7sf
7 ай бұрын
yes
Made me sad too, those poor babies, and yet all of us commenting on this is going to encourage it :o( all the stuff youtube censors but this is ok to post.... Demented world we live in anymore
I love your podcast! A little advice: Taylor you say like like a million times a sentence lol. Maybe you can be more aware of that 😊❤️
@joycedominguez8997
7 ай бұрын
Like he really does, lol
pls have maddie on her
love this! but the vocal fry is killing me😬
I don't understand why kenzie went on instagram live and said that she didn't attend the dance mom reunion because "she and her sister didn't want to rehash/relive the past" and move on....but she talks about dance moms in multiple podcasts? maddie has made it VERY clear that she doesn't want nothing to do with dance moms and she cleared it up in the cosmopolitan magazine for closure and always refers to dance moms as "the show she was on" when she attends interviews and never names the show. but kenzie claims she wants to leave it in the past but talks about the show in interviews and podcasts. idk i just dont get it. kenzie shouldve been at the reunion. i also wish the reunion wasn't just the "OG girls" besides kendall, kalani, and jojo. because maddie, mackenzie, and nia aren't there i wish they had invited asia, brynn, vivi, peyton, the minis (during season 6), or anyone else involved in the show
@ALT1308_
7 ай бұрын
Leave her alone please
@bebeerin
7 ай бұрын
dance moms was a huge part of her life and how she got famous so of course she's going to get asked about it in interviews! that doesn't mean there is no longer trauma there and that she wants to continue doing it. fans need to accept that the zieglers want to leave dance moms in the past and move on with their lives. they don't owe you any more episodes or anything at all
@brookekupec5736
7 ай бұрын
@@ALT1308_ wdym "leave her alone" i was just making a general inquiry. im a huge fan of the dance moms girls and i was just confused. stop assuming im hating just because i have an opinion. grow tf up
@user-gb5om7sl5s
7 ай бұрын
There’s a difference between talking about something you experienced on podcasts and interviews and physically being in an atmosphere (the reunion) to recall it. You can be okay doing one thing regarding something and not something else regarding that same something.
@ashac7183
6 ай бұрын
She talks about Dance Moms in relation to her mental health and what has made her who she is today. Going to a cast reunion in person done as a media/entertainment event is a totally different thing and in no way should she be compelled or expected to go.
Imagine TAYLOR LAUTNER fan girling over you!
Why on earth does he talk in this way. You just want to speed him up, he is so annoying and she uses the word "like" all the time, just stop it! I watched Dance Moms for some time and I saw this and thought it would be interesting to see what Kenzie was up to now. This is such a hard watch with the two presenters, Kenzie was interesting, to see how she has changed and I wanted to find out how she now gets on with her former dance mates.
Why are y’all whispering