Episode 4: Nadia Sharif
In Episode 4 of YAS Podcast, AM Davies (they/them) sits down with Nadia Sharif (she/her), world champion pole dancer and founder of Twisted Movement, for a candid conversation about reinvention, resilience, and navigating the blurred lines between pole dance and stripping.
AM opens the episode reflecting on how artists—especially strippers and pole dancers—are forced to continuously evolve in a rapidly changing technological and economic landscape. Nadia embodies that adaptability. Originally trained as an engineer, she walked away from corporate life after experiencing burnout and a mental health crisis, choosing instead to pursue pole dancing full-time. Her leap from a stable engineering career into the unpredictable world of performance art highlights the emotional and financial risks artists often take in pursuit of authenticity.
The conversation explores Nadia’s experiences dabbling in strip club environments, including performing at Jumbo’s Clown Room and competing in strip club-based pole competitions. She speaks openly about the skill gap between competitive pole dancing and stripping—particularly the art of communication, sales, and “extraction,” or confidently asking for money.
AM and Nadia also unpack the ongoing tension between pole dancers and strippers, addressing misconceptions, stigma, and the controversial “#notastripper” narrative. Rather than framing the divide as purely hostile, they discuss the role of education, cultural ignorance, and evolving industry trends in shaping public perception.
The episode concludes with Nadia sharing how Twisted Movement was born out of burnout from nonstop travel, transforming her performance career into a sustainable fashion business.
At its core, Episode 4 is about creative survival—choosing freedom over comfort and constantly redefining success on your own terms.
Read the full transcript