We're The MotherFogging DJ's

Emma Ryalls

Welcome to We’re the Motherfogging DJs! — the podcast for women who refuse to age quietly. Whether you’re a DJ, a dancefloor devotee, a creative who pressed pause for family, or a woman wondering “is it too late for me?” — this podcast is your reminder that it absolutely is not. We’re the Motherfogging DJs! is a bold, funny and refreshingly honest podcast exploring the intersection of womanhood, aging and club culture. Hosted by two female DJs Shanaz & Emma, navigating middle age with humour, heart and a healthy disrespect for stereotypes, the show blends storytelling, music culture, social commentary and interviews with fierce female-identifying DJs and promoters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6d ago

    DJ Nikki Beatnik: Rave Culture, Female DJ's & Breaking the Rules

    This week on We're the Motherfogging DJs, Shanaz and Emma sit down with legendary DJ, producer, artist and founder of Mums That Rave, Nikki Beatnik, for a no-holds-barred conversation about life behind the decks, breaking barriers in the music industry and why women are still fighting for their place on the dance floor. From sneaking into clubs as a teenager and cutting her teeth in the underground rave scene to DJing for global superstars including Beyoncé, Missy Elliott and Kelis, Nikki has spent decades shaping dance floors and doing things her own way. And she's got plenty to say about how club culture has changed. In this episode, we're talking about: 90s rave nostalgia and the golden era of club culture – from warehouse parties and pirate radio to the legendary nights that helped shape British dance music.Life as a female DJ in a male-dominated industry – misogyny, unequal opportunities, tokenism on festival line-ups and why women still have to work harder to get the same recognition.Mums That Rave and motherhood – juggling school runs, family life, late-night gigs and a career in music, plus the lack of support for mums working in the creative industries.Behind the decks with the stars – stories from Nikki's incredible career working alongside music icons, including Kelis, and what it really takes to deliver an unforgettable DJ set.The state of nightlife today – disappearing clubs, the rise of viral DJ culture, pre-recorded sets and why protecting grassroots venues matters for the future of music.Boundaries, confidence and being unapologetically yourself – why saying no, embracing your individuality and refusing to people-please can be your greatest superpowers.Creativity, fashion and finding your people – how music, art and underground culture shape our identities, and why it's never too late to keep evolving.And, of course, we get into motherhood, midlife, female friendships, finding your tribe and why women should never have to quietly step aside just because they've reached a certain age. This is a conversation about the realities behind the rave: the graft, the grit, the good tunes and the fight to keep dance floors alive. It's about women who refuse to be boxed in, mums who still want to rave, and creatives who aren't prepared to fade into the background. Whether you're a lifelong raver, a female DJ, a music lover, a working mum or simply navigating your midlife era with your volume turned up, this one's for you. Hit play, turn it up and join the Motherfogging party. * ** Follow We're the Motherfogging DJs for more honest conversations about music, midlife, motherhood, womanhood, wellness, culture and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    DJ Nikki Beatnik: Rave Culture, Female DJ's & Breaking the Rules

  2. Sep 29

    Wildblood & Queenie: DJing, Sobriety & Queer Nightlife

    In this episode of 'Were the Motherfogging DJs', Shanaz & Emma are joined by Wildblood & Queenie — DJs, promoters, broadcasters, activists and lifelong champions of LGBTQ+ nightlife. From Brighton’s early-90s club scene and 'Shameless Hussies' to Candy Bar, Wild Fruit and beyond, they take us on a brilliantly honest trip through the highs, chaos and changing face of club culture. Their lives are basically a living history of queer club culture. In this gloriously unfiltered episode they get into Brighton's club scene, wild nights, sobriety, sex and relationships, vinyl, Pride, female DJs, neurodiversity, accessibility & getting older in nightlife. There are topless DJs. There are bongos. There are fish fingers. There are hangovers. There are love notes. There are also some surprisingly profound thoughts about Jesus. Amongst the laughs there's serious stuff too: creating genuinely inclusive dancefloors, making space for disabled and neurodivergent DJs, challenging all-male line-ups, and why sometimes talking to people gets further than shouting at them. Expect big tunes, big laughs & big tangents. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can still rave, DJ, love music and cause a little trouble as you get older… this one’s for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Wildblood & Queenie: DJing, Sobriety & Queer Nightlife

  3. Sep 3

    So Far, So Motherfogging Good

    We’ve laughed, raved, overshared, questioned everything and had some seriously brilliant conversations… so it’s time to take a breath and look back at the Motherfogging journey so far. In this special episode, Shanaz & Emma swap the guests for a change and sit down together to reflect on the series, the conversations that have stayed with them, the moments that made them laugh, and the stories that have surprised them. From motherhood and midlife reinvention to ageing, confidence, music, female friendship and finding your way back to the dancefloor, the series has already taken us into some pretty honest (and occasionally chaotic) territory. So what have Shanaz & Emma loved most? Which moments have stuck with them? What have they learned along the way? And has making this podcast changed the way they see themselves, their music and this whole glorious, messy midlife chapter? Expect favourite moments, behind-the-scenes chat, plenty of laughs, a few surprises and a big fat celebration of everything the Motherfogging community has created together so far. If you’ve been listening from the start, this is your chance to relive some of the best bits. And if you’re new to the Motherfogging party… what better way to find out what you’ve been missing? Press play. Turn it up. And come have a little look back with us. Because the party definitely isn’t over yet… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    So Far, So Motherfogging Good

  4. Aug 16

    Eves’ Drop Collective: 13 Women, 300 Years of Decks, One Unstoppable Energy

    Motherhood took the decks away. Midlife gave them back.   This week on We're the Motherfogging DJs, Shanaz & Emma are joined live at Wilderness Festival at The Clubhouse by three powerhouse members of Eves’ Drop Collective — the 13-strong all-female DJ, vocalist and selector crew who've become one of the most talked-about names in UK dance music and sound system culture.   Sweet P - takes us back to the Hacienda-era Manchester club scene of the early '90s, running a room at the legendary Home nightclub — before walking away from DJing entirely for 15 years to raise her kids. Sarah Sweeney shares her journey from bedroom decks in Southport, through the Southport Weekender and Chibuki Shake Shake, to residencies at Fabric and the Heavenly Social. And Duchy takes us through her roots as a teenage R&B and reggae vocalist, her time with United Vibrations and Underwolves, and how motherhood pulled the phone quiet for years — until it didn't.   Together they open up about: - What it actually feels like to walk back into a booth after a decade-plus away — and relearning the craft on digital decks after a lifetime on vinyl - The unfiltered truth about sexism, gatekeeping and the "get a sponsorship deal, sweetheart" advice women DJs were handed in the '90s and early 2000s - Why We Out Here festival became the birthplace of Eves’ Drop Collective, and the one place they can bring all 13 members together - Navigating menopause, HRT, ADHD and perimenopause while holding down five-hour sets, day jobs, ageing parents and grown-up kids — and the supplement stack keeping them upright  - The insta-follower generation of DJs versus decades of dues-paying — and why there's room for both - Music as therapy, sisterhood as medicine, and why a dance floor can hold thirty years of grief and joy at once   Honest, hilarious and completely unfiltered — this is a love letter to every woman who stepped back from the thing she loved to raise a family, and found her way back to the decks anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Eves’ Drop Collective: 13 Women, 300 Years of Decks, One Unstoppable Energy

  5. Jul 27

    Physio to Producer | Shak Jackson's Incredible Reinvention

    What happens when you close your clinic, buy a second-hand controller off Facebook Marketplace, and go all in on a dream at 44? You get Shak Jackson — DJ, producer, and the first female artist to grace the iconic Hooj Tunes artwork with her very own stick woman. This week Shanaz and Emma sit down with the brilliant Shak for one of their most inspiring conversations yet. Shak's story is proof that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. A former physiotherapist who built a successful clinic from scratch, she walked away from it all when music came calling — and hasn't looked back since. In this episode they get into how a 45-minute mix recorded on tiny second-hand decks led to an invitation onto LP Giobbi's radio show Femme House, what it felt like to stand behind the decks at Lost Village while LP Giobbi played her track, the relentless rejection before Hooj Tunes finally said yes to Frisson, and the vinyl EP (complete with the debut Hooj Tunes stick woman) that's just dropped. They also dig into the realities of being a woman — and a mum — navigating a male-dominated industry, the ageism that's very much alive in electronic music, plus, as a physiotherapist, Shak shares the DJ health hacks every artist should know—from protecting your body behind the decks to the recovery routines that keep you performing at your best. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start over, this episode is your answer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Physio to Producer | Shak Jackson's Incredible Reinvention

  6. Jun 29

    The Midlife DJ Revolution: Meera's Story

    This week on We're the Motherfogging DJs, Shanaz and Emma are joined by Meera—London-born selector, radio host and lifelong music lover—for a funny, honest and inspiring conversation about finding your way back to yourself through music. From learning on Technics at 18 and coming up through legendary clubs like Bagley's, Turnmills and The Cross, to stepping away for motherhood and teaching, then finding her way back to the decks later in life, Meera's story is honest, funny and deeply relatable. They get into ageing in club culture, rebuilding confidence, social media pressure, female DJs, South Asian representation, family expectations, late ADHD diagnosis, peri brain fog, parenting, party promotion, and why dancing in midlife might actually be one of the best things you can do for yourself.  If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to reinvent yourself, get back out there, or take your love of music seriously again - this one's for you. This conversation will remind you that passion doesn't have an expiry date. Because midlife isn't the end of the story—sometimes it's where the best part begins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The Midlife DJ Revolution: Meera's Story

  7. Jun 15

    Madame Electrifie: Reinvention, Resilience & Finding Your Rhythm in Midlife

    This week, Shanaz and Emma sit down with DJ, producer, promoter and mentor Madame Electrifie for a candid conversation about longevity, creativity and carving your own path in an industry that's constantly evolving. From the underground scene to major festival stages, Madame Electrifie has spent decades immersed in music culture. But behind the bookings, releases and achievements lies a story of resilience, navigating significant health challenges, rebuilding after burnout, and learning how to create a life and career that work on her own terms. Together, they explore what it means to keep growing creatively in midlife, the pressures women face in music and business, the importance of community, and why success looks very different once you've stopped measuring yourself against everyone else. This is a conversation about self-belief, reinvention, boundaries, ambition, recovery and the freedom that comes from caring less about expectations and more about authenticity. Whether you're a DJ, a music lover, a creative entrepreneur, or simply figuring out your next chapter, you'll find plenty of wisdom, humour and reassurance in this one. In this episode, we discuss: • Building a sustainable creative career over the long term • Women, visibility and age in the music industry • Health, wellbeing and managing energy in midlife • Creativity, confidence and overcoming setbacks • The power of female networks and supportive communities • Redefining success on your own terms • Why it's never too late to start something new A thoughtful, inspiring and often hilarious conversation with one of the most respected women in the scene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Madame Electrifie: Reinvention, Resilience & Finding Your Rhythm in Midlife

  8. May 31

    Lemon Aid for Midlife: DJ Abi Lemon on Raving, ADHD, Menopause & Finding Herself Again

    This week on We’re The Motherfogging DJs, Shanaz and Emma sit down with DJ Abi Lemon — former Ministry of Sound insider turned midlife DJ powerhouse — for a brutally honest, funny and emotional conversation about identity, ageing, club culture, ADHD, motherhood and rediscovering yourself through music. Abi shares her journey from the 90s rave scene and working behind the scenes at Ministry of Sound, to stepping away from music to raise children, navigate marriage, burnout and people-pleasing… before returning to the decks at 47 and building a whole new career in house music. Together they dive into: Returning to DJing in midlife Women in electronic music & club culture ADHD, hyperfocus & DJ life Menopause, hormones & mental health Motherhood, identity shifts & reinvention 90s rave nostalgia Social media, trolling & finding confidence later in life Why female DJs over 40 are finally taking up space again This episode is funny, vulnerable, empowering and deeply relatable.  Expect conversations about dopamine, old-school house music, imposter syndrome, healing through music and the joy of reclaiming yourself — one dancefloor at a time. If you love house music, rave culture, women-led podcasts, DJ stories, wellness conversations and unapologetic midlife honesty, this one’s for you.  Follow, subscribe and join the Motherfogging party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Lemon Aid for Midlife: DJ Abi Lemon on Raving, ADHD, Menopause & Finding Herself Again
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About

Welcome to We’re the Motherfogging DJs! — the podcast for women who refuse to age quietly. Whether you’re a DJ, a dancefloor devotee, a creative who pressed pause for family, or a woman wondering “is it too late for me?” — this podcast is your reminder that it absolutely is not. We’re the Motherfogging DJs! is a bold, funny and refreshingly honest podcast exploring the intersection of womanhood, aging and club culture. Hosted by two female DJs Shanaz & Emma, navigating middle age with humour, heart and a healthy disrespect for stereotypes, the show blends storytelling, music culture, social commentary and interviews with fierce female-identifying DJs and promoters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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