🎙️ What’s This Episode About?

Toni, also known as Hennessy XX, is a queer pole dancer, dance instructor, and performer who has turned movement into both power and protest.

Toni joins John for an open conversation about her journey into pole, from first stepping into a studio to becoming Xpert qualified in Pole Fitness Levels 1 & 2, and performing under the name Hennessy. She talks about the discipline behind the glamour, the bruises behind the confidence, and the work it takes to build strength in a world that constantly critiques bodies.

They unpack the stigma that still surrounds pole dancing, especially for queer women – from fitness to performance pieces, she reflects on how pole has allowed her to explore sensuality, queerness, control and vulnerability on her own terms.

There’s also honest discussion about teaching: what it means to hold space for beginners, to help others feel safe in their bodies, and to create an environment where strength and softness can co-exist. Toni speaks about community, self-belief, and how pole gave her not just confidence… but ownership.

It’s thoughtful, empowering and refreshingly real, a reminder that movement can be healing, and that taking up space isn’t something you have to earn.

🗣️ Why Listen?

If you’re seeking genuine conversations that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, Proudly Said offers a platform for those narratives.

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