The Viall Files

E1045 - Mormon Wives Reunion, Witney Carson & Carson McAllister Talks DWTS, RHOBH Premiere & Southern Charm

December 9, 2025

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  • The hosts preview a packed episode of *The Viall Files Reality Recap Edition* featuring Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister discussing their *Dancing With The Stars* win, alongside segments on the *Mormon Wives Reunion*, *RHOBH* premiere, and *Southern Charm*. 
  • The hosts discussed the *Mormon Wives Reunion*, noting fan disappointment with its structure and pacing, and Nick Viall explained his absence as host due to a conflict of interest with his upcoming Netflix project. 
  • Whitney Carson shared that winning her second Mirror Ball trophy was crucial for restoring her confidence after years of losses, while her husband Carson admitted to feeling like 'bad luck' during her previous near-misses. 
  • Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister rely heavily on a strong support system, including family members living with them, to manage the intense schedule of *Dancing With The Stars* while raising two young children. 
  • Whitney Carson is actively considering transitioning from a professional dancer role on *Dancing With The Stars* to a judge or host role due to the limited longevity of a dancer's career. 
  • The conversation touched upon the challenges of parenting during intense filming schedules, noting that young children, particularly two-year-olds, react strongly to a parent's absence, and also featured a humorous segment about children misnaming their parents. 
  • The hosts concluded their discussion by thanking guests Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister and promoting their app for dancing. 
  • The hosts teased an upcoming 'spicy and fun' Going Deeper episode featuring Hilaria Baldwin. 
  • The final segment included advertisements for MyFICO, Groons gummies, and a call for donations to the Ally Forney Center supporting LGBTQ+ homeless youth. 

Segments

Holiday Shopping with Rufus
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Amazon’s Rufus AI shopping assistant helps users find affordable holiday gifts while keeping budgets in mind.
  • Summary: Amazon was named the lowest-priced U.S. online retailer for nine consecutive years. Rufus, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, suggests gift options based on the recipient and budget. Listeners are encouraged to visit Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter shopping.
American Home Shield Home Protection
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(00:00:31)
  • Key Takeaway: American Home Shield covers repairs for major home systems and appliances regardless of their age.
  • Summary: American Home Shield helps new homeowners manage unexpected breakdowns of systems like HVAC, plumbing, or electrical components. Coverage applies to covered items regardless of their age, preventing surprise repair bills. Listeners can visit ahs.com/viallfiles for a 20% discount on any plan.
Episode Preview and Guest Introduction
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(00:01:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode features Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister discussing their recent Dancing With The Stars victory.
  • Summary: The hosts welcomed Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister to discuss their Mirror Ball victory and relationship dynamics. Upcoming guests include Hilaria Baldwin on Wednesday’s ‘Going Deeper’ segment. Thursday’s Reality Recap will feature Kate Arthur discussing Bravo shows like Salt Lake City and the new Vanderpump Rules season.
Mormon Wives Reunion Analysis
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(00:03:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The Mormon Wives Reunion felt structurally disorganized, with hosts feeling they needed more context on ongoing online drama.
  • Summary: The hosts felt the reunion was disappointing because it covered topics already far past in real-time, especially given the cast’s ongoing online disputes. One host noted their previous reunion took about six hours to film, suggesting much content was cut from the final product. A major point of contention was the extended focus on the Demi/Marciano situation and the unexpected appearance of Dakota’s parents.
Legal Action Against Demi
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(00:16:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Marciano is reportedly taking legal action against Demi for defamation, moving beyond previous threats of cease and desist letters.
  • Summary: The filing of a defamation lawsuit by Marciano against Demi is significant because it moves past prior threats and allegations. The hosts believe this legal action could lead to depositions involving the entire cast, potentially revealing more context. They agreed that if Marciano feels innocent, he has the right to clear his name through the proper legal channels.
Influencer Breakups and Rumors
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(00:18:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex Earl and Braxton confirmed their breakup after persistent rumors circulated during her Dancing With The Stars run.
  • Summary: The hosts speculated that Alex Earl may have delayed announcing her breakup to avoid distracting from her success on Dancing With The Stars. They noted the difficulty public figures face when managing relationship status updates alongside career milestones. Amanda and Kyle Cook also debunked rumors of separation by posting a humorous video showing Amanda moving into a dollhouse.
Summer House Speculation and Holiday Decor
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(00:27:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts speculate the current Summer House cast may be heading toward a ‘Valley situation’ as the spin-off films, signaling a potential end to this iteration of the show.
  • Summary: The hosts anticipate the current Summer House season might be the last for this cast, similar to how Vanderpump Rules evolved into The Valley. They noted Kyle Cooke’s reluctance to film daytime-only content for the new spin-off, as his schedule often requires late-night work. The segment transitioned into celebrating the holidays by decorating the studio using Amazon products.
Whitney Carson DWTS Process
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(00:36:43)
  • Key Takeaway: For DWTS professionals, winning the Mirror Ball is highly respected within the competitive community after years of effort and self-doubt.
  • Summary: Whitney Carson described the DWTS process as an all-encompassing, competitive beast that requires constant choreography and strategy, leading to emotional strain. She felt her second win validated her efforts after a long period of losses that caused her to doubt her skill level. Carson’s husband, Carson, acted as her grounding force, helping her maintain logic amidst the show’s intensity.
Supporting Partners and Family Life
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(00:50:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Whitney Carson credits her husband Carson for being her rock, helping her manage the emotional toll of DWTS by providing logic and practical support.
  • Summary: Carson supported Whitney by setting up mirrors at home for extra choreography time, looking through music for inspiration, and reminding her of their family life outside the show. The couple relies on a strong support system, including swapping grandmothers to help care for their children while both were working full-time during the season. They prioritize remembering the larger picture—their family—to stay connected.
Balancing DWTS and Family
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(00:50:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The Carson family utilized a ‘village’ support system, including rotating grandmothers, to manage Whitney’s Dancing With The Stars schedule while Carson worked full-time on their Finesse app.
  • Summary: The couple credits their ability to manage the intense DWTS schedule to having extensive help, including alternating grandparents staying with them for four months. They prioritize remembering the ‘bigger picture’—their family and faith—to stay grounded during demanding seasons. Carson McAllister and Whitney Carson’s brother were simultaneously working full-time launching their Finesse app during the season.
Children’s Reaction to Absence
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(00:52:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The two-year-old child exhibited strong separation anxiety upon the mother’s return, indicating that the time away is a significant sacrifice for the children.
  • Summary: The children, aged four and two, are beginning to understand Whitney’s TV presence, often reenacting winning the Mirror Ball trophy. The younger child, River, experienced intense distress when Whitney had to leave for filming, which was emotionally difficult for the mother. Being away forces the children to be isolated in Los Angeles where the family lacks a strong community.
Finesse App Details
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(01:01:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The Finesse app offers accessible and affordable dance training for all skill levels, incorporating workouts and featuring contributions from Dancing With The Stars colleagues like Jenna Johnson’s niece.
  • Summary: The dance training app was created because Whitney Carson recognized that not everyone has access to high-quality dance instruction. The platform includes tutorials for beginners up to professional dancers, as well as dance-focused workouts. They have involved friends like Danny and Ezra, and Jenna Johnson’s niece, Haley, in creating content.
Parental Name Confusion Anecdotes
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(00:59:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Young children often call parents by the wrong name, with River Carson frequently calling her father ‘Nick’ and her mother ‘Carson’.
  • Summary: River Carson called her father ‘Nick’ multiple times, much to Carson McAllister’s mock offense, while calling her mother ‘Carson’. Nick Viall shared that his two-year-old daughter calls him ‘Carson’ sometimes, but she correctly calls him ‘Dada’ when prompted. The hosts noted that two-year-olds often exhibit sassiness, exemplified by one child telling their mother to ‘worry about yourself’.
Welcome Home Celebration
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(01:01:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Carson McAllister organized a large, surprise welcome home party for Whitney Carson, coordinated with a planner and friends, to show appreciation after her DWTS win.
  • Summary: The party was organized by Carson from afar to celebrate Whitney’s hard work and victory, which she described as a super special moment with family and friends showing support. Whitney felt it was a small gesture to show appreciation for the effort she put into the show for their family. Carson emphasized that this win was a once-in-a-lifetime event worth celebrating.
DWTS Casting Fairness
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(01:02:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Dancing With The Stars producers aim for fairness in pairings, often not knowing a celebrity’s actual dance ability until rehearsals begin, despite considering popularity.
  • Summary: Whitney believes the producers, specifically casting director Dina, are smart about pairings but strive for fairness, even if outcomes seem biased. They match based on personality fit, as they did not know Robert Irwin’s dance potential beforehand. Whitney does not expect to be paired with another winner immediately, suggesting producers balance the field.
Whitney’s Future on DWTS
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(01:05:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Whitney Carson is contemplating future roles like judging or hosting Dancing With The Stars as the physical longevity of being a professional dancer is limited, especially with plans for more children.
  • Summary: Whitney acknowledges her decade-long tenure on the show and recognizes the physical demands limit her competitive longevity, especially wanting to have more babies. She is interested in exploring roles like judging or hosting because she loves what the show represents—positivity and joy. Nick suggested she would be excellent as a judge, offering sweet demeanor combined with direct feedback.
RHOBH Premiere Recap
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(01:17:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiere established new dynamics, including Dorit and Kyle’s seemingly repaired friendship, the introduction of new housewife Rachel Zoe, and ongoing tension surrounding Sutton and the fallout from Tom Girardi’s legal issues.
  • Summary: Kyle Richards’ daughters showed strong solidarity regarding their father Mauricio’s alleged infidelity, which Nick found wholesome. Monica Garcia is praised for being transparent about her past legal issues, contrasting with the group’s general unease around Sutton. The segment concluded with Nick expressing relief that his own relationship is far from the ‘old man fuckboy era’ displayed by PK.
Southern Charm Recap & Craig’s Costumes
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(01:26:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The Southern Charm episode highlighted Craig Conover’s confusing literary costume choice (Rufio from Hook) at a literary party, despite his earlier confession about sobriety struggles.
  • Summary: Craig’s choice of Rufio from the movie Hook for a literary figures party was deemed too niche, especially since he incorrectly associated Dorian Gray with 50 Shades of Gray. Austin Kroll expressed jealousy over Craig’s single lifestyle, leading to an argument, which Nick felt Craig should have shut down since they were filming. The dynamic between Craig, Sally, and Charlie suggests Craig is enjoying being pursued by two women.
Molly and Vinita Interaction
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(01:39:59)
  • Key Takeaway: The perceived awkwardness between Molly and Vinita during greetings was interpreted by one speaker as being mean rather than simply being bad at acting fake.
  • Summary: A specific interaction between Molly and Vinita, where Sally greeted them, felt forced, leading one speaker to suggest Vinita was being mean. The counterpoint was raised that being nice to a friend one has an issue with, without addressing the conflict, is itself a form of being fake. The segment concluded with a suggestion to hash out issues directly.
Guest Thank You and Wrap Up
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(01:41:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts formally concluded the main interview portion, thanking Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister and promoting their dance app.
  • Summary: The hosts wrapped up the segment featuring Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister, encouraging listeners to check out their app if they wish to dance more. They also promoted the next day’s episode, promising a ‘very spicy and fun’ Going Deeper with Hilaria Baldwin.
MyFICO Advertisement
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(01:41:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The MyFICO app allows users to monitor their FICO score, receive free credit monitoring, and get a free credit report monthly without needing a credit card.
  • Summary: Holiday shoppers are encouraged to use the MyFICO app to manage credit confidently, as FICO scores are utilized by over 90% of lenders. Users can access their FICO score directly from its creators, along with free monitoring and monthly reports. The service can be accessed by visiting myfico.com/slash free or downloading the app.
Groons Gummies Promotion
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(01:42:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Groons released a limited-edition Grinch Punch flavor of their wellness gummies designed to support energy, gut health, and immunity.
  • Summary: Groons offers a simple wellness routine alternative to messy powders with their gummies, now available in a limited-edition Grinch Punch flavor. Each pack contains over 20 vitamins and minerals from 60 ingredients, supporting digestion, energy, and immunity. Listeners can get up to 52% off by using the code Grinch at groons.co.
Ally Forney Center Appeal
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(01:43:03)
  • Key Takeaway: 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, often due to being kicked out by their families, and the Ally Forney Center provides them with life-saving support.
  • Summary: The Ally Forney Center works to keep queer youth safe and provides comprehensive support necessary for them to become independent adults. A significant portion of homeless youth are LGBTQ+, frequently facing family rejection for their identity. Donations are requested to continue this life-saving work via alleyforneycenter.com/slash donate.