In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage sits down with long-time friend Xanthe Rhea to discuss her journey from stripping to full-service sex work. Xanthe shares insights into the financial pressures dancers face, including the challenges of "pay-to-work" club systems, and how these experiences shaped her transition within the industry. Beyond sex work, the conversation explores Xanthe's passion for urban farming, her background in herbalism, and her commitment to holistic health practices. They discuss the philosophical differences between herbalism and Western medicine, as well as the social and environmental benefits of local, organic farming. The episode delves into the challenges of urban gardening, including community resistance and regulatory hurdles, and reflects on the intersection of climate change, empowerment, and personal growth. Xanthe concludes by sharing her vision for balancing her farming aspirations with her work in the sex industry.

In this Episode:

00:00:06 Introduction to When We're Not Hustling 00:02:49 Guest introduction: Xanthe Rhea 00:05:00 Experiences in dancing and stripping 00:09:52 Labor issues and female labor struggles 00:14:10 Urban gardening and farming experiences 00:16:11 Herb school and herbalism 00:21:39 Code switching between herbalism and Western medicine 00:30:19 Midwives and naturalistic approaches 00:37:02 Health tips and firewater benefits 00:42:33 Importance of organic, local produce 00:51:48 Interpersonal skills learned from sex work 00:57:57 Vision for future farming and community living 01:01:20 Plans for 2025 and touring goals 01:05:02 Where to find Xanthe Rhea online

Guest:

I'm a traveling stripper from Pittsburgh who is transitioning to in-person sex work. Right now, I'm also working on aerial skills to become a traveling feature performer. I have a formal education in nursing. Once I finished my nursing program and obtained my license I ran screaming into herbalism education and started getting serious/obsessive about travel dancing. I also trained with a trail-building non-profit when I was a teenager. This experience stays with me in the form of desire to find sweet hiking spots or natural swim spots wherever I travel. I'm looking forward to continue to build community resilience within the SWer community and the femme community at large that's built on radical honesty, pleasure and connectedness. P.S. In my future there will be chickens.

Website: xantherhea.com

Bluesky: x-rhea.bsky.social

Recommendation:

Books:

Saturn Return Survival Guide by Lisa Stardust

Dreaming the Soul Back Home by Robert Moss

The Rest:

Host: Jessie Sage

Producer: Emily Foster

Music: Benjamin J Benamati

Sponsor: Assembly Four

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