Christi Lukasiak steps Behind The Rope. We figured this blast from the past was a perfect chat for Thanksgiving Day (you didn’t think we would take a day off, did you?). First off, Christi fills us in on all that she has been up to see we last saw her on our TV screens on Dance Moms. Christi talks daughter Chloe, working with Abby Lee Miller and spills the tea on what the Dance Mons Reality TV experience was really like both on and off air. We talk about why the term "stage mom" has such negative connotations and the perceived notions of that phrase versus the reality of the term. Christi opens up about the difficulties of balancing being an actual mom versus running your child's career, and how those goals often do not meet. Christi explains how her and Chloe were originally cast, how competitive it was to get cast, how she “knew” her and Chloe were gonna get the job and how she kinda just felt this show may be a huge hit. We discuss how she felt when she first saw the show and the differences between how she was edited and what she remembered during filming.  We also talk about those famous Dance Mom’s fans that Christi and Chloe have met throughout the years - Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, Kristin Chenoweth and Millie Bobby Brown. On a more serious note, we talk about her decision to leave the show, how and why, how the show "changed" the entire cast - for better or worse, the positives and negatives of fame, and her decision to return.  @christilukasiak @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef BONUS & AD FREE EPISODES Available at - www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope  BROUGHT TO YOU BY: AIRDOCTOR - airdoctorpro.com (Use Code VELVET23 To Save Up To $350 Off Purifiers, 20% Off Filters and Get A Free 3 Year Extended Warranty on Any Purifier In Your Cart)  AQUATRU- aquatrue.com (Use Code VELVET25 For a Massive 25% Off During This Limited Time Black Friday Sale Plus a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee on The Best Water Purifier Around) HONEYLOVE - honeylove.com/velvet (50% Off Entire Order This Month Only on The Best Shapewear & Bras) UNCOMMON GOODS - uncommon goods.com/VELVET (15% Off This Holiday Season The Most Remarkable & Unique Gifts For Everyone On Your List) VESSI FOOTWEAR - vessi.com/VELVET (Get 15% Off the Most Comfortable, Most Stylist Waterproof Footwear Ever) WATERBOY- waterboy.com (Use Code Velvet For 15% Off For the Best Hangover Cure That Is Scientifically Formulated To Cut Your Hangover Time In Half) BUBLY - bubly.com (Crack a Smile with The Best Sparkling Water - No Calories, No Sweeteners. The Sparkling Water of “Reality TV”) AURAFRAMES - auraframes.com ($40 Off Their Best Selling Carver Mat With Code VELVET Now Through Black Friday and Cyber Monday) LIFEMD - lifemd.com/VELVET (Visit lifemd.com/VELVET To Start Your Weight Loss Journey Today) EARNIN - Download The EarnIn App Today (In Google Play or Apple App Store and Type in “Velvet Rope” When You Sign Up To Get Access To The Cash You Have Earned Today!) WONDERY: ACADEMY (Prime Members Can Binge All Ten Episodes of Academy on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music App Today.) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES - Please contact execs.com">David@advertising-execs.com MERCH Available at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices