May 18, 2026

Slightly Scandalous, Completely Badass

Slightly Scandalous, Completely Badass
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Michelle Stanek has been dancing since she was four years old. She drew a ballerina in a second-grade coloring assignment when they asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Decades later, she is a professional pole artist, world-touring performer, national champion, and now — inventor.

The path there was anything but straight. A toxic dance director who made her cry in the car at 16. A grad degree in art history. A job she loved and lost in the 2009 economy. A random Tuesday afternoon pole class a coworker dragged her to. And then — millions of views, workshops in Japan, Russia, Australia, Iceland, and a competition performance in 2012 that people still show their moms and aunts when they want to explain what pole dancing actually is.

In this conversation we get into what it really takes to make art your career (hint: the "find something you love and it never feels like work" line is, in her words, bullshit). We talk about teaching philosophy, neuroplasticity, going deeper instead of harder, and the difference between being a sellout and just trying to pay your rent. We also talk about the Stanek Spinner — the pole accessory she's been prototyping and bringing to market — and what it means to make a physical art form accessible to more bodies.

Michelle is one of those people who makes you think and laugh at the same time. This one runs long because I couldn't bring myself to cut it.

About Michelle Stanek:

Michelle Stanek is a NYC-based pole dancer, boy mom, part-time art fair producer, and newly-self-appointed entrepreneur whose motto is "I'll figure it out."

Connect with Michelle:


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Show Notes:

00:00 - Work You Love Myth

00:23 - Show Mission Intro

00:54 - Life Updates and Substack

03:02 - Editing vs AI Debate

05:46 - Meet Michelle Stanek

09:34 - Childhood Dance Dreams

10:35 - Quitting Ballet at 16

14:05 - College and Real Job Track

16:11 - First Pole Class Spark

18:29 - Layoff to Pole Career

21:55 - Gig Economy and Income Streams

25:47 - Pole Grit and Empowerment

28:18 - Competing and Going Viral

32:02 - Why That Performance Hit

34:24 - Imposter Syndrome After Winning

37:43 - Cancer Fueled Mantra

38:56 - Winning Then World Tours

40:36 - Art Business Not Sport

41:41 - Aging And Sustainable Income

43:08 - Money Passion And Pressure

49:13 - Beyond Basic Teaching

52:07 - Building Self Directed Students

57:24 - Inventing The Spinner Platform

01:03:57 - Prototypes Patents And Process

01:05:46 - Daily Progress Mindset

01:10:01 - Advice To Younger Self

01:11:47 - Closing