S2 E22: I'm a Dominatrix With a PhD, and There's a Lot of Us, With Olivia Snow
When We're Not Hustling: Sex Workers Talking About Everything But
Release Date: 12/02/2024
When We're Not Hustling: Sex Workers Talking About Everything But
In this special crossover episode of When We're Not Hustling and Hobby Whores, Jessie Sage speaks with Mia Walsch, an Australian leatherworker and former sex worker, about her journey into leather crafting during the extended lockdowns in Melbourne. The conversation explores Mia's transition from sex work to a creative outlet that became a side hustle, as she intricately crafts leather harnesses and other items, emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of working with her hands. They discuss the challenges of selling on platforms like Etsy and the ethical considerations Mia faces as a vegetarian...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage speaks with Zalika U. Ibaorimi, PhD, about the complex intersections of race, gender, and sex work. They discuss how Blackness disrupts conventional categories of identity and the limitations of the term "sex worker" in encompassing the diverse experiences within the sex industry. The conversation delves into the historical and systemic dehumanization of marginalized bodies, particularly focusing on the concept of "no humans involved" as a police code and its broader implications in Black studies. Zalika, an anti-disciplinary artist and...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage speaks with Ruby about her extensive work with the Peers Victoria Resources Society, a nonprofit supporting sex workers in Victoria, BC. Ruby shares insights into the organization's history and services, such as night outreach and harm reduction programs. She discusses the challenges sex workers face, including legal issues under the Nordic model and societal stigma, and highlights efforts to reform Canadian sex work laws. Ruby also touches on her personal journey from being sex work-adjacent to advocating for sex worker rights and her...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage interviews Savannah, a UK-based full-service sex worker turned webcam model and contemporary artist. Savannah discusses her self-care guide for sex workers, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging sex workers as full people with complex lives beyond their jobs. She shares how art has helped her find a sense of home and belonging as an immigrant and how it aids in processing her experiences of survival and stigma. Savannah's work includes the Self Care for Sex Workers Journal, aimed at promoting well-being and balance for sex workers,...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, host Jessie Sage and guest Katarina "The Domme Kat" Pierce delve into her journey from TV production and journalism to becoming a co-founder of the Sex Work Survival Guide, a nonprofit providing crucial resources and education to sex workers. The conversation covers the challenges and stigmas within the sex industry, the importance of safety and community, and the unique blend of creativity and empowerment found in wrestling and BDSM. Katarina highlights her passion for wrestling as both an art form and a means of personal expression, illustrating...
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In this episode of the When We're Not Hustling podcast, host Jessie Sage welcomes Ms. Faith Rae, a Canadian sex worker and multidisciplinary artist. The conversation explores Faith's life outside her work persona, delving into her passions for sustainability and art. Faith shares her unique craft of creating art with ethically sourced animal bones, a practice that connects her with nature and offers a sense of healing and honoring life cycles. Her dedication to sustainability extends to her lifestyle choices, including plans to build a homestead with permaculture principles. Throughout the...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, host Jessie Sage sits down with Steph Sia, a multidisciplinary artist and content creator from Vancouver, to discuss her diverse experiences in the adult industry. As a stripper, podcaster, and online content creator, Sia shares insights into balancing work and personal life while navigating the challenges and misconceptions surrounding sex work. The conversation also explores her unique YouTube channel, Sia Slurps, where she reviews instant noodles, highlighting her passion for creative expression beyond the industry. Throughout the episode, Sia...
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In S3 E5 of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage sits down with Jet Setting Jasmine, an award-winning adult film director, psychotherapist, and master fetish trainer, to discuss perimenopause, evolving identities, and the challenges of navigating life, family, and sex work with autonomy and care. They explore the impact of bodily changes, the importance of boundary-setting, and Jasmine’s unique approach to parenting and education through travel. This episode offers a candid look at embracing new phases of life with confidence, community, and self-acceptance. In this Episode: 00:02:51...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, host Jessie Sage sits down with Suzanna Weiss, a sexologist and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject. Weiss shares her journey toward sexual empowerment, beginning with overcoming an eating disorder tied to societal objectification and evolving through experiences like sex parties and sex writing. Her book challenges traditional narratives around women’s sexuality, urging women to reclaim agency and become active participants in their own desires, rather than passive objects of male fantasy. This episode offers a nuanced discussion on...
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In this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage sits down with long-time friend Xanthe Rhea to discuss her journey from stripping to full-service sex work. Xanthe shares insights into the financial pressures dancers face, including the challenges of "pay-to-work" club systems, and how these experiences shaped her transition within the industry. Beyond sex work, the conversation explores Xanthe's passion for urban farming, her background in herbalism, and her commitment to holistic health practices. They discuss the philosophical differences between herbalism and Western medicine, as...
info_outlineIn this episode of When We're Not Hustling, Jessie Sage interviews Olivia Snow, a writer, professor, and dominatrix, to discuss the intersections of academia, labor rights, and the surveillance of sex workers. Olivia shares insights from her research on algorithmic surveillance and how technology, particularly smartphones, profiles sex workers. The conversation delves into themes of class, labor, and societal perceptions of sex work, weaving in elements from Olivia’s dissertation on cannibalism and capitalism in 19th-century American literature. Together, Jessie and Olivia reflect on their experiences and the broader implications of their work, offering a nuanced look at the complexities of the industry.
In This Episode:
00:01: Introduction to When We're Not Hustling
01:23: Podcast Overview with Host Jessie Sage
02:44: Season Finale and Guest Introduction: Olivia Snow
05:01: Olivia Snow on Academia and Sex Work Research
06:53: Surveillance and Sex Work: A Discussion
10:22: Historical Context of Surveillance in Sex Work
12:30: Olivia Snow's Academic Background
20:18: Cannibalism and Capitalism in American Literature
28:02: Class Dynamics and Sex Work
50:18: Sex Work, Queer Identity, and Community Dynamics
Guest:
Dr. Olivia Snow is a writer, professor, and dominatrix based in New York City. She’s currently a Visiting Assistant Researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles’s Department of Gender Studies and Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2), where she studies sex work, labor rights, tech, and policy. She’s written for WIRED, The Daily Beast, Jezebel, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Nation, Slate, and Motherboard/VICE, and she’s been quoted in stories on sex work and whorephobia for Business Insider, Buzzfeed, CNN, The Daily Dot, Fast Company, Forbes, Glamour, The Guardian, Inside Higher Ed, Mashable, MEL Magazine, The New York Post, Paper Magazine, Polygon, Prism, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, and more.
You can find Olivia:
Website: doctrixsnow.com
Instagram: @mistresssnowphd
Recommendations:
Pretty Baby, by Chris Belcher
The Rest:
Host: Jessie Sage
Producer: Emily Foster
Music: Benjamin J Benamati
Sponsor: Assembly Four
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