Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss – Details, episodes & analysis

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Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss

Isabella Bliss

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/39d. Total Eps: 8

Step behind the glittering curtain and discover the real world of burlesque.

Hosted by international showgirl, producer, and Marilyn Monroe tribute artist Isabella Bliss, Behind Burlesque dives into the stories that feathers and rhinestones can’t tell.

Each month, Isabella sits down with the performers, producers, and creatives who keep cabaret alive to explore what really happens when the lights dim and the music fades. Expect candid conversations, untold stories, and plenty of sparkle.

We’ll talk about:
✨ The craft — how acts are built, polished, and performed.
✨ The courage — resilience, confidence, and showing up authentically.
✨ The community — how representation, diversity, and shared experience make burlesque a force for change.
✨ The culture — from Hollywood glamour to underground grit, and everything in between.

This is burlesque beyond the clichés: not just feathers and fishnets, but a living, breathing art form that continues to inspire and empower audiences worldwide. Whether you’re a fan, a fellow performer, or simply curious about the fearless world of cabaret, you’ll find laughter, insight, and maybe even a little courage to step into your own spotlight.

Subscribe now to go Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss and her extraordinary guests and discover the magic that happens when you dare to shine.

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https://crystalparade.co.uk/
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How Tempest Rose Built A Modern Burlesque Empire

Season 1 · Episode 8

Saturday, August 1, 2026 • Duration 01:04:31

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Burlesque isn’t just sparkle, striptease, and a few familiar clichés. When we sit down with Tempest Rose, one of the leading figures in the UK’s modern burlesque revival and the founder of House of Burlesque, we get the real story of how an art form built on satire, individuality, and nerve becomes a lifelong craft. She takes us back to the early days: auditioning in a Brixton church hall, learning fast on packed show nights, and discovering that one “hit” act doesn’t stop you from being humbled by the next one.

We also go deep on confidence and body image, not as buzzwords but as lived experience. Tempest explains how burlesque widens what we see as beautiful, how community can change your relationship with your body over decades, and why your social media feed quietly shapes your self-worth. If you’ve ever wanted to feel more at home in your own skin, you’ll hear practical, grounded advice on building a friendlier connection with yourself, whether you’re taking burlesque classes in London or simply learning to take up space in everyday life.

Then we lift the curtain on the work: producing, touring, budgets, and the mental load of running shows. Tempest shares the boundaries that keep her sane, why “get to the solution” matters, and what it really takes to go from performer to producer. We also talk about the future of burlesque, the pressure to be polished, and why authenticity and a little rebellion are the engines of innovation in cabaret and live performance.

Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves the arts, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast and join the conversation.

Proudly Sponsored by Crystal Parade www.crystalparade.co.uk

Support the show

🎙️ Behind Burlesque. The Burlesque Podcast— Hosted by Isabella Bliss

Pulling back the curtain on life behind the glamour.

✨ Real stories. Raw courage. The sparkle beneath the spotlight.

🎧 New episodes every month — listen, subscribe, and leave a review.
🌐 Follow us on Instagram @behind_burlesque and @miss_isabella_bliss

📩 For partnerships & guest enquiries: behindburlesque@outlook.com

www.isabellabliss.co.uk

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No One Died When I Did The Reveal

Season 1 · Episode 7

Sunday, May 31, 2026 • Duration 57:49

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Burlesque looks effortless when it’s done well, but the real story is what happens before the spotlight hits. I’m Isabella Bliss, and I’m joined by the brilliant Lindsay McGlone, a producer, performer, and stage manager with over a decade in the burlesque and cabaret industry. From her very first show as a stage kitten to building rooms where marginalised voices are centred, Lindsay brings the kind of grounded honesty that makes you rethink what “performance” really means.

We talk about the craft that audiences rarely notice: backstage etiquette, why stage management can make you a stronger performer, and how one small shift like slowing down can turn an act into a genuine connection. Lindsay also shares the vulnerable side of the work, from body image and fat phobia to the pressure to fit a stereotype just to get booked. Her take on confidence is refreshingly practical: it isn’t only about how you look, it’s about how you hold yourself, how you create safety, and how you make people feel in a live room.

We also get into the business of burlesque, because creatives run businesses whether or not anyone wants to give us that respect. Lindsay breaks down boundaries, communication tools like “tone check”, and why she now defines success as choice. You’ll hear how Reclaim Means Business connects burlesque with the wider business world, puts money back into the scene, and helps grow new audiences for live performance. If you care about burlesque, cabaret, live theatre, and the people behind the sparkle, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show.

Support the show

🎙️ Behind Burlesque. The Burlesque Podcast— Hosted by Isabella Bliss

Pulling back the curtain on life behind the glamour.

✨ Real stories. Raw courage. The sparkle beneath the spotlight.

🎧 New episodes every month — listen, subscribe, and leave a review.
🌐 Follow us on Instagram @behind_burlesque and @miss_isabella_bliss

What If One Brave Class Changes Everything ? Rose Thorne's Story

Season 1 · Episode 6

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 01:04:08

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It starts with a back injury and a collapse in confidence, then turns into a life built around stagecraft, community, and service. We sit down with Rose Thorne, UK cabaret producer, performer, and founder of Cabaret vs Cancer, to talk about what burlesque looks like when you stop treating it like a costume and start treating it like a practice.

We go back to the East London roots of Rose’s journey with Good Time Mama Jojo, the nerves and blur of those early performances, and the moment she realises she has found something more than a hobby. From there, we get practical about producing: the reality of being your own PR, marketing team, bookkeeper, and front of house, plus the one thing that can make or break a show that audiences never see. Rose lays out why backstage etiquette matters, how to treat stage managers and tech with respect, and why dressing rooms have to feel safe if you want a scene that lasts.

Then we follow the thread that turns cabaret into real-world impact. Cabaret vs Cancer begins with a charity calendar and grows into a registered charity that has raised and distributed more than £460,000, supporting people affected by cancer through ring-fenced grants and practical help. Along the way we talk body image, social media comparison, switching off technology, and the quiet power of small kindnesses that build a chosen family.

If you’re a performer, producer, or fan of burlesque and cabaret, you’ll leave with grounded advice you can use straight away and a reminder that community is something we build on purpose. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with the moment that stayed with you.

To reach out to Cabaret Vs Cancer - https://www.cabaretvscancer.co.uk/

Proudly Sponsored by Crystal Parade - https://crystalparade.co.uk/

Support the show

🎙️ — Hosted by Isabella Bliss

From Zimbabwe To Brighton: Drag, Burlesque, Art and Becoming The Madame

Season 1 · Episode 5

Saturday, February 28, 2026 • Duration 01:04:19

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What if fear was a pool you could swim in? We sit down with The Madame—Brighton’s glitter-dipped force of nature—to trace a life built from courage, community, and craft. From a conservative childhood in Zimbabwe to earning icon status on the south coast, she unpacks how drag and burlesque became both art and antidote: a way to rewrite internal scripts, set hard boundaries, and choose joy over ego.

Across an hour of candour and wit, we map the evolution of a persona and the human underneath. The Madame talks about leaving a safe residency for the unknown, why auditions are art even when they don’t land, and how to protect an “artistic signature” in a copy‑heavy world. We dive into the overlap between drag and burlesque—parody, pageantry, shared rhinestones—and the practical realities audiences never see: pink tax discoveries in the shaving aisle, heels that change how you move, and the Monday crash after weekend highs. You’ll hear how stripping taught consent in real time, what it takes to keep your voice when the sound is bad, and why hydration and good shoes might be the most underrated stage tech.

Grounding sits at the heart of it. We trade tools that actually work: transcendental meditation before tough shows, one‑line‑a‑day journals that reveal life cycles, seaside walks that reset frazzled nerves. We question social media’s highlight reels, reframe jealousy as a compass, and practice self‑validation when the crowd is silent. There’s a gift for nine‑to‑fivers too: build an alter ego for hard rooms, a steady advocate you can switch on without draining your battery. Above all, we return to the same note—art is worth most when you remain yourself.

If this conversation gave you courage or clarity, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more creatives can find us. Your support helps bring more brave voices to the mic.

This episode is sponsored by our amazing lead sponsor Crystal Parade a one stop place for all your gorgeous crystals and sparkles for costumes and beyond.

https://crystalparade.co.uk/

A Happy Accident That Sparked a Movement

Saturday, January 31, 2026 • Duration 01:13:42

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Glitter can be armour, but it can also be a welcome sign. We sit down with award-winning vintage cabaret performer, producer and self-expression coach Dawn Gracie to explore how a life of sequins, show tunes and quick wit became a force for community, inclusion and joyful ageing. Her route was anything but linear: a childhood spent glued to classic musicals, a karaoke machine that led to a band, and a Goodwood Revival win that opened the door to paid care home shows. From there, Dawn built a career hosting, teaching, and producing cabaret that puts connection above perfection.

We go deep on the craft of hosting as stewardship—reading the room, setting boundaries, keeping performers safe, and turning mishaps into magic. Dawn shares the moments she’ll never forget, from bra-on-the-light chaos to acts that bend reality with humour and heart. Along the way, we touch the roots of variety and vaudeville, the influence of icons like Madonna, and the way drag and burlesque have always made space for people to show up as themselves.

The heart of the conversation is community action. Dawn co-founded Chichester Pride and created Dicky Bows and Petticoats Club, a daytime cabaret for people 65+ designed to tackle isolation with tea, bingo, drag, and burlesque. Tins-for-tickets feed the local food bank; volunteers make it sing. We also face the realities of modern show business: sudden social media bans, rising censorship, and AI deepfakes. Dawn lays out practical strategies—websites, mailing lists, local partners, and kinder backstage practices—that keep artists visible and audiences cared for.

Expect candid lessons for performers and producers, a celebration of absurd brilliance alongside classic glamour, and a clear message: art is activism when it builds safety, laughter and belonging. If you care about cabaret, community and keeping stages open to everyone, press play, subscribe, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What story resonated with you most?

This episode is sponsored by our amazing lead sponsor Crystal Parade a one stop place for all your gorgeous crystals and sparkles for costumes and beyond.

https://crystalparade.co.uk/

A Mime, A Microphone, And The Making Of Authentic Cabaret

Season 1 · Episode 3

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 • Duration 01:10:39

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The room decides where the act goes—that’s the electric promise of cabaret. We sit down with performer, writer and director Alexander Lutley to map a journey from actor training and Madrid mime school to global stages, unpacking how a silent clown named Pi and a silver-tongued host named Mercury grew from the same creative core: authentic play with the audience.

We dig into what burlesque really is—la burla, satire, and liveness—and why the art doesn’t exist without the crowd. Alexander shares the out‑of‑body rush of letting a character ignore the rehearsal plan because the audience invites a different game. We talk about communication beyond language, touring with English in non‑English rooms, and how gesture, rhythm and eye contact make jokes and meaning travel. You’ll hear how acts are built from story, costume or music, and why pacing, tone and transitions turn a lineup into a true show. Expect candid talk on craft: weeks of research, design, and rehearsal hidden under “effortless” stage moments, plus the resilience required when tech is thin and the martini glass has to appear on cue.

Identity runs through the work without becoming a lecture. Alexander reflects on queerness as an inherent presence and on the politics of simply showing up as your real body. We explore why authenticity reads as sexy, how comedy and seduction coexist, and the practical ethics of performing for the audience that’s actually in front of you. For newcomers, there’s clear guidance: know your why, set boundaries, and build toward the experience you want—be it confidence, community, or a career that tours the world. Along the way, we celebrate collaboration, passing the baton between acts, and the simple, radical joy of letting the inner child lead.

If you love cabaret, burlesque, clowning, stagecraft or the artistry behind audience connection, this conversation will spark new ideas and maybe a little mischief. Listen, share it with a friend who needs creative courage, and if it resonated, subscribe and leave a review so more curious minds can find us.

This episode was sponsored by Crystal Parade - https://crystalparade.co.uk/

Glitter, Grit, And Goodtime Mama Jojo - 48 Years Of Stagecraft, Sensuality & Self-Belif

Season 1 · Episode 2

Saturday, November 29, 2025 • Duration 01:03:21

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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.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a confidence spark, and leave a review with the question you want us to ask the next burlesque icon.

Support the show

🎙️ Behind Burlesque. The Burlesque Podcast— Hosted by Isabella Bliss

Pulling back the curtain on life behind the glamour.

✨ Real stories. Raw courage. The sparkle beneath the spotlight.

Episode 1: Jessabelle Thunder – Beyond the Glitter, Into the Truth of Burlesque

Season 1 · Episode 1

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • Duration 01:08:16

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Episode 1: Jessabelle Thunder – Beyond the Glitter, Into the Truth of Burlesque

Glitter doesn’t tell the whole story.

In this very first episode of Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss, I sit down with Jessabelle Thunder — Miss Exotic World, Reigning Queen of Burlesque — to trace a path from a hesitant first class to global stages. Together we uncover the craft, courage, and community that make burlesque so much more than feathers and fishnets.

Jessabelle shares the truth behind the crown: why she never chased titles, how she learned audience connection as a deliberate skill, and what it really means to break the fourth wall and turn a room into a living conversation. Along the way, we talk perfectionism, resilience when the music cuts, and the art of delivering your best performance for this audience, today.

But this conversation also pulls apart the stereotypes. We dig into the good stuff:
✨ How burlesque negotiates with censorship.
✨ Why tassels are a historical hack.
✨ The way styles shift across the Atlantic — from LA’s gritty floorwork to the UK’s theatre-rooted satire.
✨ Why authenticity matters more than fitting into boxes — from choosing music that truly moves you to creating acts that honour your body and your story.

Jessabelle makes the case for representation as a source of power. When the lineup reflects real people — Black, queer, fat, disabled, trans — audiences don’t just clap; they feel seen. That recognition can be life-changing, even if you never step onstage yourself.

If you’re curious about burlesque, Jessabelle’s advice is simple: start small and bold at the same time. Go to more shows. Try a class. Let judgment give way to curiosity. Live performance is a practice of presence, and it has a way of softening self-talk, strengthening confidence, and reconnecting us to one another.

This is the perfect place to begin your journey . Whether you’re a seasoned fan, an aspiring performer, or simply someone looking for inspiration to show up more fully in your own life, Jessabelle’s wisdom will resonate far beyond the stage.

Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss – Details, episodes & analysis

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Behind Burlesque with Isabella Bliss – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

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