Those who fly high, fall hard. Pole dance company S-Factor crashed and burned in 2021 amidst a stack of complaints. Detractors said the company was conducting unlicensed group therapy, cosplaying enlightenment by co-opting the labour of sex workers, and whitewashing issues of racial equality. Created by former actor Sheila Kelley, S-Factor monetized pole dancing as a path of feminist and spiritual awakening. In this second installment of Listener Stories (part 2 next week), Matthew speaks to Jessica Hopper about her 13 years learning and teaching in the now-defunct company. Hopper paints a picture of a confusing, high-demand group, and tells us how she made her way out. Show Notes Stripped Down: The Undoing of Hollywood's Favorite Pole-Dancing Studio —Hollywood Reporter. "Strip Down, Rise Up" | Official Trailer | Netflix Faces of Fierce Femininity—online conference organized by Kelly Brogan Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema—Laura Mulvey, 1975 -- -- -- Support us on Patreon Pre-order Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat: America | Canada Follow us on Instagram | Twitter: Derek | Matthew | Julian Original music by EarthRise SoundSystem