
Returning to Yourself with Ariana
07/06/21 • 19 min
Ariana discusses five ways to return to yourself and your creativity that helped her after moving through a period of overwhelm, loss and imbalance.
In this episode, Ariana’s starting point of conversation is the importance of recognizing when you need to take a step back and take care of yourself.
Ariana discusses five ways to return to yourself and your creativity that helped her after moving through a period of overwhelm, loss and imbalance.
In this episode, Ariana’s starting point of conversation is the importance of recognizing when you need to take a step back and take care of yourself.
Previous Episode

Off the Sidelines, to the Front Page with Emily Leibert
Emily Leibert is a writer, journalist, reporter, former NFL cheerleader, former public relations professional and dancer who is originally from Southern California and is now based out of New York City and is currently attending New York University in pursuit of her Master’s Degree in journalism.
Emily previously attended USC, where her peak interest into the world of entertainment began and she studied broadcast journalism in the Public Relations field. After three years of experience as a professional cheerleader with the Los Angeles Rams while balancing her traditional college career, she was quick to realize that she was meant to pursue a career in writing and applied for the Master’s program at NYU during the pandemic in 2020.
With the experiences in the world known organizations like the Los Angeles Rams, Dreamworks Animation and working red carpets in Hollywood on the PR side, Emily has gained knowledge and first-hand experience to include in her writing.
Emily is fueled by her passion for social change and is hopeful for a brighter future not only in the NFL cheer organization, but in social issues such as women’s rights, gender roles and women in the arts. Emily also has experience grant writing for dance companies. She's always hoping to tell stories of gender inequity with empathy, compassion, and trust.
If you have a story that deserves to be told, you can send news tips or interview ideas to [email protected] or reach out to her on Twitter @by_emilyleibert.
You can connect with Emily on Instagram as well: @emilyleibert
Visit these sites to see some of Emily's work:
- LINDSAY ROSENBURG IS CHANGING HOW PRO CHEERLEADERS ARE SEEN ONE PHOTOGRPAH AT A TIME
- HOW THE NFL RISKS THE HEALTH OF CHEERLEADERS
- THE CL!CK - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY’S JOURNALISM ONLINE MASTERS PROGRAM
Episode Highlights
- Creativity rooted from Dance
- Broadcast Journalism at USC turn Public Relations - life as the multi-professional
- What kept her from exclusively picking journalism?
- Roles as a publicist
- A defining moment that ultimately put into question - am I aligning with my purpose?
- NFL Cheerleader Life
- The 3 year moment - hanging up the pom poms
- Balancing NFL rehearsal schedule + Daily life
- Mental and Physical exhaustion
- The progression of the career
- The loose unofficial requirements
- Pushback for expressing concern for fundamental rights in sports industry in regards to women
- The Second Full time job
- Optimism about the future of the industry
- Furloughed during the pandemic
- “Pandemic Guilt”
- Hopeful for the industry
- Highlight article in Teen Vogue - highlighting female photographer of NFL cheerleaders
- Understanding the ramifications for speaking up
- Emily’s “Dance” and her Gift
Next Episode

Dancing for her Dreams: Breaking Barriers as a Professional Dancer with Paula Ayotte
Paula Ayotte is a professional dancer, entertainer, former marine scientist, model, actress and inspirerer based out of Los Angeles. Paula Ayotte started her professional dance journey in the 1980s when she was in her 20s, working gigs such as the Disneyland Christmas Parade, Sesame Street Live U.S. tour, the Las Vegas Show “Splash at the Riviera” was a backup dancer for a Latina Artist in Mexico City and roller skating as an Apple on the Newhart show. She had a shift in careers in the 90s and turned to corporate consulting and only danced on the occasion for fun. A career in Hawaii later, it wasn't long after a life event changed her perspective on the need to pursue her dream of dancing.
Paula’s credits include Ariana Grande, I Can See Your Voice, Ellen, Kelly Clarkson and commercials for Beis Luggage, Piercing Pagoda, Sherwin Williams, and Etsy and modeling for many more.
In this episode, Ariana and Paula discuss Paula’s career, returning to college to pursue her dream job as a marine scientist, auditioning for her music videos and feeling her purpose is to inspire people on her journey to show that your dreams have no boundaries or age requirements. Your time is now.
Follow Paula and her journey on her Instagram: @paulaayotte
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Starting to dance in the 80s then heading into corporate consulting
- Returning to school in her 30s to pursue her next chapter: marine science
- Trying to fill her cup with the occasional classes - searching for more
- Losing a mentor and what that meant for her
- Landing a commercial with A list artist - the start of the dream
- Imposter syndrome - in a dance room full of 20 somethings
- Pursuing acting - understanding that she’s learning something new
- "Aging is not a bad thing, getting older is not a bad thing- "
- Reassurance from other creatives
- Vulnerability, unafraid and unashamed
- Analysis Paralysis gets you no where you want to go!
- Making a decision and using her gift to inspire - breaking barriers
And You Will Dance Podcast - Returning to Yourself with Ariana
Transcript
SPEAKER - Ariana Sanchez
INTRO - 0:00
The one thing that I've learned the most, in the past month and a half, is really how do you want to be remembered?
0:07
This is And You Will Dance. I'm your host, Ariana.
0:22
Hey, everybody, and I am here and I am back. It's been a good shoot like, a month and a half to two-ish months to four months since I la
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