How Amanda Franklin Turned a Personal Pole Dancing Passion Into a Business

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Amanda Franklin about building Phoenix Pole Fitness and turning a personal passion into a business in Charleston. She walks me through how she got started, what pole dancing has meant in her life, and why she wants other women to experience the strength, balance, and confidence it can build. We get into the reality of business ownership too. She explains that running a business takes your full attention and that trying to split time between this and a regular job did not work for long. We also talk about the stigma around pole dancing and the false idea that someone has to already be strong or fit to begin. Amanda pushes back on that and makes the case that growth comes from showing up and staying with it. What I take from the conversation is that she believes in her work, cares about her students, and stands by the idea that fear and judgment should not stop someone from trying something new.