Episode 5: Trouble with the Word Stripper
In Episode 5 of YAS Podcast, AM Davies (they/them) sits down with Megan Rippey (she/her) for an honest conversation about longevity in stripping, ageism in the industry, and what it means to transition without shame. As Megan enters her 11th year as a dancer—nearly a decade at Jumbo’s Clown Room—the discussion challenges the myth that strippers have a “shelf life” tied to youth.
AM and Megan unpack how patriarchal beauty standards shape dancers’ perceptions of aging, desirability, and self-worth. Megan reflects on how her idea of what a stripper “should” look like has evolved over time, recognizing that many of the strongest, most captivating performers she knows are in their 30s and 40s. The episode also explores the psychological weight of language—why terms like “exotic dancer” can feel safer than “stripper,” and how internalized stigma lingers even after years in the industry.
The conversation moves into Megan’s artistic life outside the club, including her one-woman show Deer Woman, a theatrical piece blending autobiography and mythology. Drawing from her experiences with incremental injustices inside strip clubs, Megan created an alter ego—part deity, part protector—to embody strength, rage, and boundary-setting in moments when direct confrontation feels difficult.
Throughout the episode, AM and Megan examine classification within sex work, generational divides, slut shaming, and the broader cultural gaslighting women experience around their bodies. The episode closes with practical performance advice: personality, eye contact, and genuine human connection often matter more than tricks or physicality on stage.
At its core, Episode 5 is about reclaiming power—at any age—and defining transition on your own terms.
Read the full transcript