Welcome to The Movement Mic — the podcast where dancers are heard, empowered, and inspired, and where the rhythm meets the real talk. In this debut episode, host DJ the Kid and cohost Chloe Grant Abel sit down with sport psychologist and grief specialist Dr. Natasha Trujillo to talk about one thing almost every dancer will face: transition. After pulling back from dancing full-time, DJ opens up about the guilt, fear, and grief that come with stepping away — even when it’s the right move. Dr. Natasha reframes transition as a pivot, normalizes the waves of grief, and unpacks why dancers so often confuse who they are with what they do. Chloe shares her own path from company life to freelance and motherhood, and the group gets honest about identity, body image, routine, and the fear of leaving before you’ve peaked. In the back half, Dr. Natasha explains why grief must be witnessed, why you can’t outrun it, and how “dosing” grief and rebuilding routine help you move forward — plus her course, Revising Your Game Plan, for athletes and performers in transition. If you’re a dancer navigating change of any kind, this one’s for you. Remember: this is your mic, your movement. [00:00] Cold Open [00:28] Welcome to The Movement Mic [02:00] Meet Dr. Natasha Trujillo [06:43] Does Transition Ever Stop? The Power of the Pivot [09:33] Confusing Who You Are With What You Do [12:27] The Emotional Rollercoaster [18:36] Grieving vs. Depression [20:06] “You Danced 20 Years, Out For Two” [28:46] Forced Transition, Ageism & Two Deaths [36:20] Motherhood, Identity & Coming Back [39:14] Body Image, Control & Transition [48:00] Why Grief Must Be Witnessed [50:41] The Cost of Avoiding Grief [54:37] Revising Your Game Plan [01:13:48] Rapid Fire: This or That [01:16:03] Final Takeaways & Seek Help Connect with Dr. Natasha Trujillo: [https://npttherapy.com / @npttherapy About The Movement Mic: The go-to podcast where dancers are heard, empowered, and inspired. Subscribe on YouTube @themovementmic and follow on Instagram, TikTok, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. This is your mic, your movement. #TheMovementMic #DancerLife #DancePodcast #MentalHealthInDance #DanceTransition #SportPsychology #PerformancePsychology #GriefSupport #DancerMentalHealth #LifeAfterDance
