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 to talk about how she built Phoenix Pole Fitness and why she chose to bring that work to Charleston. She shares that pole dancing became part of her life years ago after seeing what was possible and deciding to learn it for herself. What started with a pole at home and YouTube turned into a studio, a business, and a mission to help other women build strength, balance, and confidence.

What stands out to me in this conversation is how honest Amanda is about the cost of building a business. She talks about the pressure, the stress, and the way ownership takes over your time and attention. She also makes it clear that the work feels worth it when students open up about how much the classes have helped them. We get into the shift from having a job to going all in on a business, and she explains how trying to split her focus stopped working once she saw what her students needed from her.

We also talk about the challenges she faces now. A big one is the stigma around pole dancing. Amanda pushes back on the idea that someone has to look a certain way or already be strong before they begin. She wants people to understand that nobody starts at the top and that growth comes through showing up. By the end, she comes back to a simple belief I respect: if you want to try something, do not let fear or judgment make the choice for you.