Pole the Other One!

What happens when your art becomes your job?

Pole dancer, tattooist and artist Lana talks to us about moving pole dancing from strip club into studios and self-expression vs. capitalism. We also test the limits of how much visual stuff we can do through the podcasting medium, and Lulu's patience with astrology.

Follow Lana on Instagram & TikTok for art, illustrations & tattoos: @moysilks

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

Is pole dancing like therapy? Who better to ask than an actual therapist!

Siân and Lulu have a counselling sessio- sorry, INTERVIEW with Nika Jelendorf, pole dancer and practicing Gestalt Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. We ask: how do mental health professionals look after their own mental health? How much of your true self should you bring to work? And, crucially: who would be the most psychologically upsetting person to see on a pole?

Have a little sit down, tell us about your mother and listen to the first episode of Series 2! Find out more about Nika's work here: https://nikajelendorf.uk

Thanks for listening - please Like, Share and Subscribe! 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

Is pole dancing a feminine art form?

Queer pole dance performer, instructor and goth queen of kittens CAT LEE joins us for a chat about honouring the stripper origins of pole, finding a style that works for you, and opening up pole spaces to everyone while keeping it cosy for the girls, the gays and the theys.

Follow Cat for news about their performances and classes on Instagram @the_pole_cat !

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. This episode was edited by Magenta Bridges with support from Sam Nicoresti.

You can find us on Instagram @poletheotherone , support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/poletheotherone , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

How can everyone make spaces more fun and inclusive for trans and non-binary people?

Pole dancer and newly-qualified instructor Ali Peach explains how introducing pronouns is a simple way to make pole studios (and everywhere else) more trans-inclusive, finding a more authentic gender by pole dancing, and the practicalities of performing with snakey friends.

Find Ali on Instagram @polepiglet and Mermaids Gender on: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. This episode was edited by Magenta Bridges with support from Sam Nicoresti.

You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

How do you learn without stealing other people's material? Is copying ever OK? Is there a pole dancing version of that time in comedy when everyone was doing a terrible impression of Stewart Lee?

Siân talks to multi-competition winning pole dance performer and instructor Leanne Cummins about drawing on your influences to find your own style. From working with your specific body type to putting obscure references from pop culture and literature into routines, Leanne gives us a fascinating insight to making performances totally your own. Find Leanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/leannedancedance/

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

How do you build self-love into your business as well as your life?

Pole dancer, instructor and owner of Edinburgh’s hidden gem Pivot Pole Studio explains how pole can change a whole circus of harmful ideas about yourself and your body, and help everyone feel more at home in themselves. We talk getting past imposter syndrome, constantly learning how to make spaces more inclusive and fun for all students, and knowing when to hit the pause button.

Content warning for non-graphic descriptions of self-harm.

You can find Jessica on Instagram @ jessicarosepole and Pivot Pole Studio at @ pivotpolestudio and www.pivotpolestudio.co.uk

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

Workers of the world!… Pole dance?

How do you unionise people who don’t think of themselves as workers? From feminist organising for abortion rights in Poland to becoming the first UK stripper to win an employment rights case where she was legally recognised as a worker, Sonia Nowak AKA Electric Girl has amazing activist credits served with a high-voltage mix of humour, pole dancing and techno. She explains the different skills needed to pole dance in a strip club to your own creative stage routines, how political organising with sex workers can be fun, and how everyone can support the fight for sex worker rights.

Find Sonia / Electric Girl on Instagram @ imyourelectricgirl . For more information about the East London Strippers Collective visit www.eastlondonstripperscollective.com , and the multi-industry union for workers in precarious industries United Voices of the World on www.uvwunion.org.uk .

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

How does the way you move evolve with you?

From training with English National Ballet to becoming the pole dancing face of Nike, Burberry and British Vogue, Leila Davis a.k.a. Cutie Whippingham is one of the biggest movers and shakers in the UK pole scene. We talk about moving between dance disciplines, the magic of collaborating with other QTBPOC artists, and changing the game by founding Blackstage Pole: a Black, Queer, Sex Worker-led showcase creating opportunities for BPOC dancers in response to the lack of diversity in the pole industry.

You can find Leila Davis a.k.a. Cutie Whippingham on Instagram @ cutiewhippingham and on her website www.leiladavispole.com , and Blackstage Pole on Instagram @ blxckstage and on their website www.blackstagepole.com .

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

How do you build a more compassionate relationship with your body, whatever it needs?

George Lou Bon is a queer pole dancer and multidisciplinary artist who creates work about invisible disabilities including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and multiple sclerosis. They give us the DL on how pole has helped to build movement and exercise back into their life while living with chronic pain, and brought better health and well-being habits into other areas of their practice. Plus, a great deep dive into making art from negative experiences, unapologetic gushing about our spiritual sexy stick home Queer Pole London, and the joy of collaborating with your loves and friends.

Content warning for references to sexual assault at approximately 00:25 - if that's not what you want to hear about, you can pause the episode there.

You can find George on Instagram @ thisismybody , on their website www.itismybody.com and on Medium @ georgeloubon (Coming soon!)

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.

What is art?

The Irish Queen of Sexistential Dread, very first Miss Pole Dance Ireland and all-round walking album cover Arlene Caffrey talks ART! With over 15 years’ skin in the pole dancing game, multiple national competition titles under her belt and an international community around her studio Irish Pole Dance Academy, Arlene has plenty wisdom on overcoming creative blocks, managing the business side of being an artist, and bringing more magic into your life.

You can find Arlene on Instagram @ arlenecaffrey , and Irish Pole Dance Academy on Instagram @ irishpoledanceacademy or www.irishpoledanceacademy.com .

Pole the Other One! is produced and hosted by Siân Docksey, with original music by Amelia Bayler. You can support the podcast on Patreon at Patreon.com/siandocksey , or drop us a lovely tip in the form of a Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com/poletheotheronepodcast .

Thank you for listening! Please Like, Subscribe & Share, tell your friends about the show, and have fun on all your own sexy stick adventures.