What if a single dare changed your life? British burlesque legend Goodtime Mama Jojo takes us from a pewter-tankard tip jar to standing ovations, showing how a spontaneous first strip became five decades of stagecraft, sensuality, and radical self-belief. We dig into the real mechanics of tease—how stillness, breath, and timing electrify a room—and why burlesque and striptease belong together as sister arts rather than competing labels.

Jojo opens the scrapbook on London’s cabaret clubs, private members’ afternoons, and the 2000s resurgence that brought glamour back to the scene. She shares the origin of her London School of Striptease and London Academy of Burlesque, sparked by activist Tuppy Owens, and the teaching philosophy that made her a sought-after mentor: no clones, no cookie cutters, just bespoke coaching that amplifies each performer’s strengths. Along the way, we talk about polishing West End acts, coaching actors and models, and creating space for performers of all genders, sizes, ages, and abilities.

This conversation also faces the tough stuff: snobbery between genres, the erosion of sensuality in favour of acrobatics, and ageism that tries to sideline seasoned artists. Jojo counters with lived proof—legend honours, a roaring Hall of Fame crowd, and a now-iconic C-string escapade that turned near-chaos into triumph. Her closing message lands hard and hopeful: life might be one run, so do not live small. Choose what lights you up, own your body, and take the stage—whatever that stage looks like for you.

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