Cheryl Burke goes behind the scenes on Dancing With the Stars podcast: 'Fans have the short end of the stick'

Former Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke may be done with chassés, but she's far from done with chitchat.

Burke, who was the first pro on the ABC competition series to win in consecutive years, has launched a podcast that will dive deep into what fans don't see on TV. Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans "is a chance for not just me and the celebrity contestant to get together, but for the fans to really get a different outlook on what this show really entails," Burke tells EW.

The upcoming season 32 of Dancing With the Stars will include multiple changes — including former pro Julianne Hough replacing Tyra Banks as cohost alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. It's also headed back to ABC, after only streaming on Disney+ last season (this season, it will still be available on Disney+, and will stream next-day on Hulu in addition to airing Tuesdays on ABC).

Below, Burke explains her leap into podcasting, reflects on head judge Len Goodman's death, and reveals which of her eliminations throughout 26 seasons as a pro was the most shocking.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What is your podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans going to explore?

CHERYL BURKE: [As I've taken a step back from the show in retirement], I realized there are so many gaps. If I were a fan, there are so many things I [would] want to know. I'm not doing this podcast to bad mouth the show by any means. I would never; I'm their No. 1 fan, and I've been a part of this for almost half my life.

At the end of the day, the fans have the short end of the stick. You only see that minute of our package, and then you see us perform live, and then the season ends ... And there's no closure, especially with shocker eliminations.

How do you feel about all of the changes made for the upcoming season of DWTS and how do you feel about the future of the show?

I love it when they keep it within the family... And with a show that's been going on for as long as Dancing has, it's important to have that camaraderie, and it has to be genuine, and the host has to care about the workload that is brought upon each couple. It's not easy, but Julianne's been through it all, and [she] and Alfonso seem to have great chemistry. Alfonso also has been through it in a different way. And I love that it's brought back to ABC.

I will be here rooting for every single couple, and I'm grateful for my time on the show. I hope to continue this podcast because it's like a rewatch, but the show's still happening. If I wait until the show ever gets canceled, which I don't think it will, then I'll be in my 80s doing this.

Sadly, this is the first season without head judge Len Goodman. Do you have a favorite memory looking back on your years with Len?

Len is what made the show. I think his honesty, his authenticity to ballroom dance, the show — I was always nervous that the show would veer away from what people tuned in for in the first place, which was to see two people dance ballroom. But he made sure that it never [veered away]. And I know him from when I was a little girl; he judged me when I would compete in England, like some of the other pros. He never changed for television.

Over the years, which elimination was the most shocking to you?

Mine and Juan Pablo's elimination. We got 60 out of freaking 60, and we didn't even make the semi-final or the final. I'm still not over it. I never will be. Not one person voted, not one, just one? It's crazy to me.

You were the first female professional to win the show and the first professional to win consecutively, first with singer Drew Lachey in season 2 and then the next season with NFL star Emmitt Smith. How did it feel to win consecutively and how did those two wins differ?

And how come I haven't won again? I'm kidding... What was so different between Emmitt and Drew was that with Drew, that was the season I knew that the freestyle is either make-it or break-it. Either you're going to come out with a great freestyle and win, and you might as well just erase everything that you just did the prior weeks. It matters only about this freestyle.

Now with Emmitt, Mario Lopez was the better dancer technically, but Emmitt's journey was so relatable and he was the dark horse for sure. Technically, Mario should have won, but that's when I realized, wow, this is not a dance contest, this is about someone's journey.

Is it harder to train a star who has dance experience or one who has none?

It is harder to train somebody with dance experience because it's like relearning how you've been walking this whole time, right? Let's say there's a right and wrong way, whatever you want to label it. And then now you have to relearn as an adult how to walk properly. You have different challenges, but if you're a dancer coming on and you've never ballroom danced, good luck.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Dancing With the Stars season 32 premieres Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

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