How do you build a kinder relationship with your body to deal with the knocks life throws at you?

UK pole icon Annie Norris isn’t afraid to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to what a human body can go through. From a powerful sexual awakening that helped her connect pole dancers from all walks of life to their sensuality, to experiencing multiple miscarriages and surgery that kept her away from the pole for months, Annie’s 25 year pole journey has seen all the ups, downs and upside downs. Annie gives us the tea on starting a pole studio at the very dawn of the industry, the unexpected gig that put her signature heels style on the map, and pro tips for what keeps dancers coming back to the magic of pole dancing at all stages of life.

Listen in for our series finale and follow Annie on Instagram @annienorrisdancer and @houseofslink for events, retreats and workshops!

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying the show, you can help us keep making it by becoming a Patreon or leave a tip by buying us a Ko-Fi !

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey, edited by Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What does “ugly” tell us about what we think is “beautiful?”

Pole movement artist Callum Stevens is known worldwide for his incredible flexibility and expressive, fluid routines. In this episode, Siân travels to Edinburgh to take Callum’s signature “Ugly Pole” workshop and explore his specialist subject: the huge range of things you can unlock in movement, dance and creative work by focussing on “ugly” instead of trying to force it into “beauty.” Callum uses “ugly” in his own practice and with other artists to open more creative possibilities, question what is “beautiful” and play with all the interesting material around the edges.

We talk about the joy of collaborating with artists across different mediums, what you can learn from the most undignified onstage performance mishaps, and balancing pole around another full-time career. Siân is delighted to find out she’s not the only poler who’s been massively overshadowed by seagulls and whose playlist includes unhealthy quantities of Lana Del Rey.

Taking this workshop was part of Siân’s QUEER NATURES Artist Residency with University of Exeter, funded by Arts & Humanities Research Council, with in a performance at Venus Pole London on 24 May 2025.

Find Callum on Instagram @callumspoledance

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying the show, you can help us keep making it by becoming a a Patreon or leave a tip by buying us a Ko-Fi !

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey, edited by Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

How do you slink into the most confident and badass version of yourself?

A professional pole dancer since 2006, Old School Pole icon Jamie Taylor helps students from all walks of life celebrate their strength by mastering tricks on the pole and tap more deeply into their sexy, most vibrant selves. Renowned in the pole world for her trademark SERPENT POWER sessions and sensual movement classes, Jamie combines expert pole teaching with guided meditative movement that encourages everyone to stay wild and sizzle.

From the strip clubs where she discovered her craft to opening Defy Gravity Studio in the heart of Pembrokeshire, we dive into Jamie’s epic journey as a pole dance artist, performer and teacher, using pole as a magical instrument to make life more soulful, joyful and colourful.

Follow Jamie on Instagram @dgafandpole and join classes in-studio or online at www.defygravity.info

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying the show, you can help us keep making it by becoming a a Patreon or leave a tip by buying us a Ko-Fi !

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey, edited by Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

Can pole dancing help the fight for sex workers’ rights?

Siân and Lulu meet the UK’s slinky queen of campaigning for sex workers’ rights while literally grinding on a stick! Pole dance performer, instructor, competition director, proud sex worker and activist Gemma Rose joins the pod to talk de-stigmatising the industry, using pole to educate about workers’ rights and creating a new wave of allies.

Gemma has been sprinkling her distinctive sexy style into pole dancing studios and strip clubs across the UK and internationally with a hot dollop of activism. Her signature workshop and seminar “Why You Should Give A F*ck About Strippers” uses the craft of pole dancing itself to debunk harmful narratives about sex work, inform pole dancers about the reality of the job and celebrate the strippers who pioneered the art of pole.

We talk about the complexities of giving general audiences a truthful, nuanced look at sex workers’ lives, why Gemma founded her own pole dancing competition, and how everyone (inside or outside the pole studio!) can take up the fight for sex workers’ rights.

Find Gemma on Instagram @gemmarosepole and her website: www.gemmarose.co.uk

Gemma’s podcast The 6am Club is available on all major streaming platforms.

Gemma’s stripper-driven pole dance competition PDSM is on Instagram @pdsmuk and website: www.poledancestrippermovement.co.uk

Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying the show, you can help us keep making it by becoming a a Patreon or leave a tip by buying us a Ko-Fi !

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What's it like living with ADHD?

Political journalist, author and radio presenter Marie Le Conte talks all things neurodivergence and pole dancing!

Siân catches Marie during a gap from reporting on politics all around the world to gush about the absolute joy of pole dancing and why we are so evangelical about this weird, difficult, and wonderful thing in our lives. We chat in more depth about Marie's experience of living with ADHD: is it a superpower, or a disability, or both? How does an ADHD diagnosis tie in to your sense of personal identity?

Follow Marie on Instagram / Bluesky / Substack, and check out her three published books and articles here!

Thanks for listening! You can support the show by becoming a Patreon , Liking and Subscribing or buying us a Ko-Fi .

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What do stand-up comedy and pole dancing have in common?

After a hit Edinburgh Fringe Festival run of her show Bahookie, Scottish stand-up, writer and producer Jay Lafferty joins us to chat all things comedy and pole! From managing broken ribs to writing callbacks into a pole routine, we get the tea on how Jay brought these two mediums together to make a completely unique solo show.

Follow Jay on Instagram @jayjaylaffs

Thanks for listening! Give us a Like, Share and Subscribe, and you can support the show by becoming a Patreon (i.e., a LEGEND): or buying us a Ko-Fi

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What's the point of doing competitions?

Pole artist, instructor, competition judge and award-winning choreographer Ayesha Agogo joins us to talk COMPETITIONS: Why bother doing them? How do they help you develop as a performer? And will Steve Bennett ever take down Siân and Lulu's mega cringe Chortle Student Comedian videos?

Follow Ayesha for classes, workshops and collaborations on Instagram: @ayeshaagogopole

Thanks for listening! Give us a Like, Share and Subscribe, and you can support the show by becoming a Patreon (i.e., a LEGEND): or buying us a Ko-Fi

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey and co-hosted with Lulu Popplewell. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What is sex-positivity? How do you put enthusiastic consent at the centre of everything you do?

Queer academic, recently qualified pole instructor and linguist Dr Alon Lischinsky is a specialist in the language around sexuality. Siân and Lulu chat to the most intellectually qualified deviant they know about power dynamics in porn, how to flip the script on sexy stuff, and how to help complete beginners literally flip around a sexy stick.

Follow Alon for slinky pole on Instagram @alon_lk and drag for introverts @lamia.lone

Thanks for listening! Give us a Like, Share and Subscribe, and you can support the show by becoming a Patreon (i.e., a LEGEND): or buying us a Ko-Fi

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey and co-hosted with Lulu Popplewell. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Find us on Instagram: @poletheotherone

What actually happens in a strip club?

Pole dancer, stripper and organiser with Bristol Sex Workers Collective Luna Minxx gives us the debrief! We talk about the difference between pole dancing in studios and in the club, how Luna is bringing stripper skills to her workshops, and why sex workers need the same rights as all other workers. Lulu tries to organise an ethical stag do and Siân finally gets to talk to someone about raccoons.

Follow Luna for pole dancing workshops and activism on Instagram @luna.minxx

Thanks for listening! Give us a Like, Share and Subscribe, and you can support the show by becoming a Patreon (i.e., a LEGEND): or buying us a Ko-Fi

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey and co-hosted with Lulu Popplewell. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Instagram: @poletheotherone

What does pole dancing tell us about the human species? We ask a real anthropologist!

Lucy Davies is a pole dancing anthropologist who did their Masters thesis on the wonderful world of pole. We talk about how pole dancing can help you redefine the relationship with your body, gender and identity on your own terms. Also how pole can be a form of self-care, and the peculiar relationship that pole dancers have with physical pain.

Please note that this episode contains multiple references to explosives, which is one of 400 reasons it's not suitable for kids, probably.

Thanks for listening! Give us a Like, Share and Subscribe, and you can support the show by becoming a Patreon (i.e., a LEGEND): https://www.patreon.com/poletheotherone?fan_landing=true&view_as=public or buying us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast

Pole the Other One! was created by Siân Docksey and co-hosted with Lulu Popplewell. This episode was edited by Alice Rosenthal with original music by Amelia Bayler. Instagram: @poletheotherone