Pole the Other One!

Siân Docksey

Forget what you think you know about pole dancing! Pole dancing comedian Siân Docksey noticed how much pole dancing had improved her mental health, so she started asking other people how pole dancing has been a force for positive change in their lives. This grew into conversations about everything from creativity and gender identity to political activism and business skills. Co-hosted with comedian Lulu Popplewell, the podcast speaks to sexy stick enthusiasts at all levels about what led them to the art of stick-dangling, and where it's taken them. Pole the Other One! is Patreon-funded, you can help us keep making it with a monthly pledge here or buy us a Ko-Fi! Follow us on Instagram and don't forget to Like, Subscribe and recommend us to a friend. Created by Siân Docksey, edited by Alice Rosenthal and Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler.

  1. UGLY with Callum Stevens

    05/21/2025

    UGLY with Callum Stevens

    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

    57 min
  2. RIGHTS with Gemma Rose

    12/21/2024

    RIGHTS with Gemma Rose

    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

    57 min

About

Forget what you think you know about pole dancing! Pole dancing comedian Siân Docksey noticed how much pole dancing had improved her mental health, so she started asking other people how pole dancing has been a force for positive change in their lives. This grew into conversations about everything from creativity and gender identity to political activism and business skills. Co-hosted with comedian Lulu Popplewell, the podcast speaks to sexy stick enthusiasts at all levels about what led them to the art of stick-dangling, and where it's taken them. Pole the Other One! is Patreon-funded, you can help us keep making it with a monthly pledge here or buy us a Ko-Fi! Follow us on Instagram and don't forget to Like, Subscribe and recommend us to a friend. Created by Siân Docksey, edited by Alice Rosenthal and Beth Crane with original music by Amelia Bayler.

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