Why do four million people return to watch American Pickers week in and week out? “The show inspires hope,” says Danielle Colby Cushman, one of the stars of the History Channel hit. “You can watch our show and not have a material possession to your name and you can still have hope that you can feed your family off of rummaging thru someone’s garbage. You can find these things and resell them. From the poverty level to the richest in the country, it inspires hope for a better future.”

Danielle, or Danny, as her friends call her, grew up in Clinton, Iowa, which is just outside the Quad Cities in the Midwest. Her mom taught her to sew and make clothing; her father was a fourth-generation photographer. “I had a dark room in my bedroom,” she remembers. “I was always taking apart cameras and putting them back together. I still am a tinkerer.”

Danielle met Mike Wolfe, lead star on American Pickers, nearly fifteen years ago at a yard sale of all places. “I remember Mike as being a handful. Mike has a huge personality and his laugh made me giggle. Mike was always the first person at my gallery showing and was always so kind to my children.”

Besides taking care of her family and appearing on the TV show, Danielle also works as a trained burlesque dancer. “Burlesque is very important to the female community because it celebrates our history as women and also our future as women. Many women don’t appreciate their form because it doesn’t look like what they see on the front cover of a magazine. They feel ashamed of their bodies. I use burlesque to appreciate what I do have. The history of movement is beautiful.”

As if Danielle isn’t busy enough, she is gathering pickers from all over the country to participate in her new foray, American Vintage Market. This market will feature vintage jewelry, clothing, antique furniture, toys, etc. There are still a few open slots for vendors to participate in this new venture. The event will take place on October 25 and 26 in Davenport, Iowa. “I love to see what people do with their vintage and how it is being re-purposed.”

How does she fit it all in? Ask her: “I wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning every day. I check emails and then do burlesque. I sleep three or four hours every night, but I wouldn’t change anything. I love my family and love my jobs.”

American Pickers airs every Wednesday at 8pm EDT on the History Channel.