I started training with Rachel in September last year for the World Pole Championships in Argentina and straight away I knew I had to interview her. So this is a different conversation between a pole coach and athlete and I think you can hear the closeness in rapport. Lots of laughing together and being comfortably vulnerable. 

I’m not sure if Rachel realises how hilarious she is but you can hear in this episode I laugh a lot. Laughing is very important I find as I can take myself a bit seriously when competing. 

We talk a lot about tackling performance anxiety and shifting the weird narratives our brains sometimes create. As Rachel has so much competing and performance experience some of the insight she gives on her journey with her mindset is gold.

You can book classes with Rachel here:

http://www.hertsdanceandfitness.com/

Rachel’s Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_brit?igsh=ZXd0MmRrbDY5cDJs

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This episode is with Pole Unicorn Kitty Velour as you’ve never heard her before! 

We delve deep and get vulnerable pretty quickly! 

We talk about sex workers rights, what working as stripper is really like, her performance highlights, the fact that she is a shy and introverted person when not onstage and discuss her past of body issues and eating disorders. 

It’s incredible to hear how Kitty worked on her body insecurities: from hiding her body in layers of clothing to embracing her curves and ‘jiggly bits’ on stage. 

Dancing has helped Kitty reclaim her power and take her sensuality back as her own.

Dancing sexy is an art that can be learnt Kitty says. If you’d like to learn to dance with Kitty check the links below. 

Links:

Dance with Kitty: https://dancewithkitty.com

Watch Kitty’s Wedding Show: https://dancewithkitty.com/programs/barkervelourcircus

Kitty’s Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/kitty_velour/

Dance With Kitty Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dance_with_kitty/

The Pxssy Parlour Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thepxssyparlour/

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We kickstart 2024 with a thought inducing Episode with Yumi Sykes - who fuses ballet and pole in her performances. 

We talk imposter syndrome, dealing with the critical voice and talk strategising and goal setting for 2024.

It’s also very ironic that I’ve spent many a day wanting to be able to dance more soft and subtle, whilst Yumi has had moments questioning her own style and feels a need to go more dramatic, more comedic. Proof that those self worth thoughts ‘Am I enough?’ ‘Is my art any good?’ etc. are prevalent amongst creatives. 

Why can’t we embrace our critical styles and celebrate our uniqueness? 

What is this strangeness that makes us want to, instead of embrace our strengths, pick at our weaknesses like some strange scab that’s very tiny but annoying? 

Can we stop picking at ourselves and create the art our hearts want us to? 

Links: 

Yumi’s Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/yumipolerina?igsh=MTlvdHNvOXM0MmM5cg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Learn with Yumi:

https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.krissypolestudio.com%2Ffull-timetable%3Ffbclid%3DPAAab05nanwwoBj01XeaMbFlKim1M5Fy218fKNLVqaBPK-jTet3UIz9ikQEVQ_aem_ATPDAwE8mtiYepKsjZcWhomD0zfaZ922aPyD_e4W06X0049uCFjVY_zUITNXDoGgPz0&e=AT3s5V30NV4CorhfunDIfIvsAH1eBjc0N6AziCg-5V7KejHncC0WtY83hgjsUCD9rJByFL-fOpYmvfvTvBkUcWLx8m2fNr3J6lnSo5EmFggoauDOCs9ycg

https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgoteamup.com%2Fp%2F7027861-venus-pole%2F%3Ffbclid%3DPAAabxTmWncCSj9rfYBlJ7KgIAOeCt4LaRaAAHvBRAUDCcx7onbZWsyMPJ2rE_aem_ATNYjSS80t7Rk1BRcQBnp1UCHkLbkV2Nnk8feP5RJT0xzYF5b0GHhysIh-gaZFFV1UM&e=AT10D7pK71oG47fPBrhbblzggJdy0Xbf1WZWEgs7T5kh-y_ughfNX4aLWIZlqLSsDcH5tpPP2Q-ldeTzLuEPJJR_h6Y-IjjPeAThcPJg9KYcHSrj-IkxGw

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Jojo Fox is a pole performer, studio owner, instructor, competition organiser and fellow vegan who lives with Level 4 Osteoarthritis. She is also neurodivergent and queer. In this episode we talk about her pole and mindset journey and the misconceptions some people have when it comes to disability. 

She points out many things the pole industry could do to improve diversity when it comes to disability. For example advertising with a disabled poler or with a dancer using their mobility aid. We never see this. Why?

We talk the founding of her new competition Glow, and the UKPPC hiatus. 

We delve deep into her mental health journey and how she dealt with harassment from a fellow pole instructor.

I learnt a lot from Jojo. For one thing I realised that competition organisers are usually just one person dealing with all the financial responsibility and a lot of risk. I also questioned the I way I tend to rush to achieve a trick and what cost that has on my body. Maybe being kinder to my body, taking my time and accepting its limitations is a better idea in the long run. 

‘Some things just aren’t feasible for my body and that’s ok. You can be a performer, competitor and cool things without those things. You don’t need what you haven’t got.’

Follow Jojo’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jojoxfox?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

Jojo’s pole studio: https://instagram.com/freebirdpolefitness?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

Jojo’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jojoxfox

Apply to Glow: http://ukppc.co.uk/glow

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Today I was brave and decided to talk a little about how I’m feeling with the World Pole Championships, Argentina looming just a few weeks away.

I talk honestly about how my competition journey has been for me: from the very lowest moment to how I’m feeling right now. I’m very much feeling the fear and doing it anyway. I am noticing imposter syndrome and realising how I habitually shrink myself to make others feel comfortable. I’ve been trying to build my confidence in my ability and creative vision and am learning to be kinder to myself. It’s all a process.

I hope you appreciate my honesty. I felt scared to do this but I’m excited to see how people react.

Happy listening!

Dolly

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*Trigger warning: As Sam describes the event of her injury you may feel uncomfortable. If you are sensitive to hearing about traumatic injury you might want to skip a few seconds ahead around 5 mins in.

However, I’d recommend staying with the discomfort as Sam relays the traumatic event honestly and bravely. The severity of this event is her reality that she had to work through and overcome. 

There is also some colourful language 😀*

Imagine you are training for a high level pole competition and just as you are running your routine for the final time that day, in front of your peers, you fall out of a pole move you’ve practised many times. You dislocate your shoulder resulting in multiple injuries (including an avulsion fracture at the greater tuberosity, slap tear grade 2, supraspinatus tendinosis…)

This is a nightmare for any pole dancer. For any athlete. I can’t even imagine…

One moment you are focusing on preparing to compete internationally and the next moment you need help to brush your teeth, to dress, to shower…to do everyday actions you never previously needed help with.

You have to focus on your rehab and find a new identity whilst you recover. You have to somehow support yourself financially when you used to make money through teaching your sport. 

This is Sam’s story - it’s a story of resilience, of believing in the impossible and not losing hope. 

Useful links: 

Artemis Pole Studio Instagram: 

 https://instagram.com/artemispolestudio.ldn?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng==

Sam’s Instagram:

 https://instagram.com/polewithsam?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

Websites

https://www.artemispolestudio.com/

https://www.polewithsam.com/

Useful evidence based books recommended by Sam:

The Vital Shoulder Complex

John Gibbons

https://amzn.to/3QSGCpt

Explain Pain

Lorimer Moseley, David Butler

https://amzn.to/3SB2oPQ

Clinical Sports Medicine 

Brunner and Khan's 

https://amzn.to/3syhNWf

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I loved listening back to this conversation with the incredible Aimee Spinks.

If you don’t know Aimee I would definitely recommend heading over to her Instagram @aimeespinkspersonal and watching the performances we talk about here. Her Pole Art 2021 winning routine is highlighted on her Instagram profile and we talk about this performance in detail.

What stood out to me from this conversation was how Aimee feels fear and, knowing that’s a sign to do the thing that’s uncomfortable, moves towards it. 

I also love how she rarely gets stressed or frustrated when creating and has confidence in her problem solving ability so remains calm throughout the creative process. 

I will definitely be trying to emulate this calm, quiet confidence and maybe she’s convinced me try weight training too! 

Links:

Aimee’s Instagram : @aimeespinkspersonal

Aimee’s Photography: @aimeespinksphotography

Aimee’s Photography Website: https://www.aimeespinks.com/

Book Dolly mentions:

Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers PHD 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-Fear-Anyway-Quick-Reads/dp/1785041126/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=8PNLG1RK1QRB&keywords=feel+the+fear+and+do+it+anyway+susan+jeffers&qid=1698752062&sprefix=feel+the+%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-2

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I was lucky enough to speak to the incredible Kheanna Walker a few days ago. 

We talked all things from her morning routine to how she deals with overwhelm, what manifestation is, how to build mental toughness, improving diversity in the pole industry and we also dive into what people misunderstand about her. 

This is definitely a revealing interview showing a side to Kheanna that maybe you’ve never seen before. I’m in love with her laugh and her strong work ethic. I loved hearing about her athletic history and talking to her about our mutual love of the Rocky movies.

Feel free to reach out to us and let us know what you think. Links to podcasts and our mutual life coach mentioned in the episode below:

Links :

Train with Kheanna:

https://www.kheannawalker.com

Reach out to Kheanna on Instagram: @kheannawalker 

Patrice Lefebvre Life Coach: https://bio.site/PatriceLifeCoach

Podcasts Kheanna recommends:

The Mindset Mentor - Rob Dial - https://spotify.link/sfgyUns3cEb

On Purpose with Jay Shetty : https://spotify.link/k9wghb30cEb

Mel Robbins Podcast: https://spotify.link/rY3m9F60cEb

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In this episode Pole Idol Felicity Logan talks to me candidly about her experience of burnout whilst preparing to compete at Pole Theatre UK 2023.

She explains her symptoms of burnout and gives advise on what to do if you are experiencing these symptoms.

She talks about her experience of taking a two month break from pole and explained how she noticed fearful, negative thought patterns whilst having this time off.

We delve deep into the competition and creative process, how to combat perfectionism, how to stop comparing yourself to others and how to celebrate yourself and your achievements - no matter how small they are!

Thank you Felicity for being so open and honest.

Please follow her on Instagram: @felicitybambidoll

Her training platform is also excellent and is part of my daily routine: @alignwithfelicity

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