Witney Carson loves that Dancing With The Stars is getting the “resurgence” it deserves. The beloved reality competition series has been nominated for the Outstanding Reality Competition Program Emmy, which has not happened since 2016. Carson and her fellow pros couldn’t be prouder. “Dancing With The Stars embraces everyone’s differences,” said Carson. “We’re all about positivity. We try not to harp on the drama and instead focus on the transformation of each of these celebrities.” As Carson prepares to embark on her 15th season on the series, she’s recently made a big announcement. She and her husband Carson McAllister are expecting their third child! Carson will make history as the first pro to be pregnant at the start of a season.

Carson is clearly no stranger to hard work, which is why she believes Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro is a “brilliant idea for a show.” The series allows audiences to see the “sacrifice” the pros make for their craft. “We leave our families,” said Carson. “We go through a lot mentally and physically to be able to make these celebrities shine.” This week’s DWTS: The Next Pro episode—entitled “But Can You Teach? Coaching Superfans with Witney Carson”—features Carson mentoring the contestants who will be tasked with training a non-dancer for a routine. Carson believes this challenge is one of the most important in the competition because part of a pro’s job is to make their partners “look the best that they possibly can.”

Carson also got to reunite with her DWTS Season 34 partner (and fellow Mirrorball champion) Robert Irwin, who hosts the series. “He is like my little brother,” said Carson. “The camaraderie and connection we have are the best.” Not only did Carson get to “choreograph something new” for Irwin, but she also “got to co-host with him in the finale.” “He brought me into his world a bit,” said Carson happily.

Decider got to chat with Carson in studio about the Emmys love for DWTS, the contestants of DWTS: The Next Pro, and more.

DECIDER: Dancing With The Stars received an Outstanding Reality Competition Program Emmy nomination for the first time since 2016! What does that mean to you and the other pros?

WITNEY CARSON: I think it’s so well deserved. Dancing With The Stars is a show that embraces everyone’s differences. We uplift everyone. We’re all about positivity. We try not to harp on the drama and instead focus on the transformation of each of these celebrities. They learn so much about themselves over their journey on the show.

It means the world to me that the fans continue to support us year after year. They engage with us on social media and TikTok, and they want more and more. It’s really a testament to how beautiful this show is. It’s an honor to be on the show for as long as I have. I’ve been doing this for 11 years. I’ve grown up on the show! I’m so proud to see the resurgence of DWTS. The show is once again getting the recognition that it deserves.

We’re so excited to see you on DWTS: The Next Pro! How surreal is it that one of these dancers is going to be a pro alongside you next season?

DWTS: The Next Pro is such a brilliant idea for a show. It’s an amazing way to allow dancers an opportunity to become a pro on Dancing with the Stars. It’s really one of the top jobs in the dance world. I was fortunate enough to be there for three episodes, so I really got to know these dancers. They’re amazing and beautiful. Any one of them could do incredible as a pro on the show. I think the winner really deserved it. I was very impressed by the challenges that the dancers went through every week. It’s going to be an amazing season with them.

What’s so wonderful about The Next Pro is that audiences get a glimpse of how much work goes into being a pro, which is a lot! Are you glad that fans have a better understanding (and new appreciation maybe) for your job?

We pros really do sacrifice a lot. We leave our families; we are choreographing 24/7; we’re always strategizing. We go through a lot mentally and physically to make these celebrities shine. Plus, we let them have all the credit! Our job is to uplift them and to make them look the best that they possibly can. The fact that we are getting some appreciation for what we do feels really good. DWTS: The Next Pro allows people to get to know us and what we love about this process.

Robert Irwin told us that you and he will dance together again on DWTS: The Next Pro. What was it like to reunite with him on the dance floor?

It was amazing to reunite with Robert. He is like my little brother. After we ended the season, we went on tour together. That we dance together again is a little extra treat. Actually, I choreographed something new for us, and it was really fun to be in Australia—his home country. I also got to co-host with him in the finale, which was really fun. He brought me into his world a bit.

Besides winning the whole damn show, what was your favorite part about working with Robert Irwin on Season 34?

He texted me the other day while I was doing press. He’s like, “You better be saying nice things about me!” [Laughs] Obviously, come on! The best thing about working with Robert is he is just so kind nad a really good person to be around. He is like family to me, and my kids absolutely adore him. He supports us no matter what, and we’ve got his back as well. The camaraderie and connection we have are the best.

You were at the ESPYs recently and got to see future Dancing With The Stars contestant/ Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson in action! What did you think of his moves?

Honestly, I was pretty impressed. He memorized all his choreography; he was totally on beat; and, he had rhythm. He’s going to be a contender, for sure. I actually went up to [Olympian] Alysa Liu and I was like, “Please do Dancing with the Stars.” I want her to be on so badly! For now, she replied, “I’m not going to do it.” Still, I am putting my dream of her competing on our show someday out into the universe.