Science of Slink: The Evidence Based Pole Podcast with Dr. Rosy Boa - Details, episodes & analysis

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Science of Slink: The Evidence Based Pole Podcast with Dr. Rosy Boa

Dr. Rosy Boa of Slink Through Strength

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Frequency: 1 episode/13d. Total Eps: 102

Hi pole dancer, ready to nerd out? 🤓 Then you're in the right place. I'm your host, Dr. Rosy Boa -- pole dancer, teacher and proud meganerd -- and in this podcast we dive into the pole dance research & talk to experts to learn how to improve our pole dance lives... through science! This podcast is a production of Slink Through Strength online pole studio, which can be found at slinkthroughstrength.com.

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https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup
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https://app.acuityscheduling.com/catalog/25a67bd1/?productId=1828315&amp
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http://slinkthroughstrength.com/
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https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2024.2342323
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-015-9640-7
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153986
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https://www.instagram.com/drcatliang
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https://www.instagram.com/cuccolo_lab
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https://www.instagram.com/sallyradell
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So what if you never invert? When pole goals backfire 🙈

Friday, October 30, 2026 • Duration 10:41

Dr. Rosy Boa, a pole teacher and former researcher who runs the online studio Slink Through Strength, discusses how highly specific, difficult pole goals can undermine enjoyment and sustainability when they’re repeatedly missed. Citing a 2021 Frontiers in Psychology study by Hoffner and Keats, she notes that repeated goal failure increases negative affect, lowers self-esteem, and reduces motivation, a problem amplified by social media comparisons to professional athletes. She shares her own experience of burnout from pursuing an unrealistic academic job goal, while overlooking the meaningful impact her research still has through citations. She encourages dancers to refocus on why they started pole, set achievable short-term or intermediary goals, and consider working with a coach to choose realistic targets based on time, energy, and resources.

00:00 What If You Never Get It

00:36 Meet Dr Rosy Boa

01:27 Why Pole Attracts Achievers

02:19 When Goals Backfire

02:38 Research on Goal Failure

04:14 My PhD Burnout Story

05:24 Redefining Success

07:14 Remember Why You Started

08:14 Set Realistic Milestones

09:44 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Citations:

Höpfner J and Keith N (2021) Goal Missed, Self Hit: Goal-Setting, Goal-Failure, and Their Affective, Motivational, and Behavioral Consequences. Front. Psychol. 12:704790. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.704790

Links and resources:

Free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup
Sign up for community flow: https://slinkthroughstrength.as.me/community-flow-class
Join my mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/slinkthroughstrength/newsletter
2025 studio dance playlist (these are all songs members suggested/brought to class!): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06yzGCF4wi22B8516YuhIZ?si=9226904ac6f54287

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How to Rekindle Your Pole Spark: Capacity, Goals, Novelty, and Lowering Demands

Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 20:51

Dr. Rosy Boa of Slink Through Strength discusses why long-term pole dancers may lose motivation and how to rebuild a sustainable relationship with pole. She flags that dreading hobbies and anhedonia can be a symptom of depression and encourages seeking mental health support if that’s present. Otherwise, she recommends: assessing overall life capacity and scaling pole to fit current energy (including taking breaks without fear of major strength loss), clarifying what you currently want from pole using a “best possible self” meditation or journaling to align training with changing goals, adding novelty through different teachers, movement styles, and music to increase play and awareness of preferences, and reducing perfectionistic demands by focusing on consistency and effort over outcomes while lowering setup friction to make showing up easier.

Links and resources:

Free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup
Join my mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/slinkthroughstrength/newsletter
2025 studio dance playlist (these are all songs members suggested/brought to class!): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06yzGCF4wi22B8516YuhIZ?si=9226904ac6f54287

Citations:

Carrillo, A., Rubio-Aparicio, M., Molinari, G., Enrique, Á., Sánchez-Meca, J., & Banos, R. M. (2019). Effects of the best possible self intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 14(9), e0222386.

De Kleine, E., & Van der Lubbe, R. H. (2011). Decreased load on general motor preparation and visual-working memory while preparing familiar as compared to unfamiliar movement sequences. Brain and Cognition, 75(2), 126-134.

Encarnação, I. G., Viana, R. B., Soares, S. R., Freitas, E. D., de Lira, C. A., & Ferreira-Junior, J. B. (2022). Effects of detraining on muscle strength and hypertrophy induced by resistance training: A systematic review. Muscles, 1(1), 1-15.

Too slippery on the pole? Too sticky? Here’s why! The SCIENCE of pole grip

Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 21:35

Did you know there’s a whole scientific field that just studies friction?? It’s true! And we can apply a lot of those findings to help us stick better to the pole.

In this episode we’ll dig into why you might be too slippery or too sticky by focusing on friction and research from tribology (much of it drawn from prosthetics studies). We’ll talk about how skin, fat and muscle all contribute to grip and how to navigate each.

I also break down all the different types of grips and when/why you might want to use each one.

Want to train with me? Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Citations:

Gerhardt LC, Strässle V, Lenz A, Spencer ND, Derler S. Influence of epidermal hydration on the friction of human skin against textiles. J R Soc Interface. 2008 Nov 6;5(28):1317-28. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2008.0034. PMID: 18331977; PMCID: PMC2607440.

Xu, Z., Sun, H., Tang, W., Fang, X., Kosimov, A. A., & Mamadamon, A. (2026). Influence of muscle fatigue on pain based on friction and brain activation. Tribology International, 112362.

(I didn’t talk about it, but this is a fun blog post about tribology: https://www.stle.org/files/TLTArchives/2024/12_December/Feature.aspx)

Chapters:

00:00 Sticky vs Slippery

00:38 Science of Slink Membership

02:17 Friction and Tribology Basics

03:34 Skin Layers and Hydration

06:16 Body Fat and Surface Area

10:10 Muscle Tension and Fatigue

10 Tips to Set up a Home Pole Dance Space

Friday, September 4, 2026 • Duration 21:14

Dr. Rosy Boa of the Science of Slink podcast shares 10 key considerations for building a home pole space based on a decade of home training, emphasizing that a home setup will differ from a studio. She covers choosing reputable pole brands and safe installation (permanent vs. tension-mounted), proper placement under structural supports, using boards to distribute weight in plaster construction, checking tension with temperature swings, and shaking the pole before use. She discusses flooring choices for different styles, avoiding gaps that can catch toenails, and keeping cleaning tools nearby. Other topics include optional open wall space, storing alcohol/grip and towels, safety gear like mats and self-spotting bands, additional props (chairs, blocks, weights), airflow/humidity/temperature control, lighting options, music setup considerate of neighbors, and filming considerations like corner placement and fisheye lenses.

Chapters:

00:00 Home Pole Setup Intro

01:05 Studio Versus Home Reality

01:55 Pole

05:43 Flooring

07:39 Wall Space

08:28 Storing essentials

09:20 Safety equipment

10:30 Props

11:55 HVAC

14:00 Lighting

15:46 Music

16:34 Filming

17:48 Recap And Final Thoughts

Iris Sparrow lighting tips: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcRKQnJhoX4/

Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

What to do if You’re Scared of Freestyling

Friday, August 21, 2026 • Duration 19:06

Freestyling in pole dance can feel frightening and physically stressful, often driven by fear of failure and harsh self-criticism. This episode offers some practical strategies to cope with that. Drawing on sports psychology, we’ll talk about research (Ceccarelli et al., 2019) showing self-compassion predicts better stress recovery and fewer maladaptive thoughts after recalled sports failure, and use Neff’s (2003) framework of self-compassion: mindfulness (noticing thoughts without over-identifying), common humanity (remembering others struggle too), and self-kindness (treating yourself as you would a friend). We’ll also go through some specific strategies that you can use in the moment to help cultivate more self-compassion.

Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Citations:

Bluth, K., Gaylord, S. A., Campo, R. A., Mullarkey, M. C., and Hobbs, L. 2016. Making friends with yourself: a mixed methods pilot study of a mindful self-compassion program for adolescents. Mindfulness. 7:479–92. doi: 10.1007/s12671-015-0476-6
Ceccarelli, L. A., Giuliano, R. J., Glazebrook, C. M., & Strachan, S. M. (2019). Self-compassion and psycho-physiological recovery from recalled sport failure. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1564.
Neff, K. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and identity, 2(2), 85-101.

Chapters:

00:00 Freestyle Fear Is Real

00:57 Coach Disclaimer And Shoutouts

01:48 Why We Fear Failure

04:13 Research On Self Compassion

06:19 What is Self Compassion?

07:25 Mindfulness And Meditation

10:55 Common Humanity And Community

Stronger Shoulders for Pole Dance

Friday, August 7, 2026 • Duration 18:18

Dr. Rosy Boa explains why pole dancers need strong, stable shoulders for hanging, spinning, climbing, and inverted work, outlining shoulder anatomy and key movement demands. She reviews general strength patterns used in pole—horizontal and vertical push/pull—and emphasizes the importance of isometric straight-arm hanging strength. For overhead stability, she highlights conditioning the rotator cuff via external rotation to keep the humeral head securely positioned during arm flexion, offering a simple external rotation drill. She also stresses scapular upward rotation for full overhead range and stability and concludes that shoulder mobility requires stability training to pole safely and long-term.

Learn more about the Science of Slink membership & join now: https://scienceofslink.com/

The book I reference (HIGHLY recommend!):

Emily Scherb, D. P. T. (2018). Applied anatomy of aerial arts: an illustrated guide to strength, flexibility, training, and injury prevention. North Atlantic Books.

https://www.thecircusdoc.com/book/

Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Chapters:

00:00 Why Shoulders Matter

01:51 Shoulder Anatomy Basics

03:55 Push Pull Patterns

05:44 Vertical Strength Demands

07:22 Hanging Isometrics

08:44 Rotator Cuff Focus

11:36 Scapular Upward Rotation

15:51 Key Takeaways

16:27 Mobility Needs Stability

17:48 Wrap Up And Resources

What happens when you take a break from pole?

Friday, July 24, 2026 • Duration 17:59

Dr. Rosy Boa discusses what happens when you take a break from pole, covering both physiological detraining and the emotional side of returning. She emphasizes not beating yourself up and notes that feeling awful after missing one class can signal an unhealthy dependency, suggesting support for possible exercise addiction. Aerobic capacity tends to noticeably drop after about two weeks away, while strength loss is slower and depends on training status and age: very trained lifters may not show measurable 1RM decreases until around 32 weeks, untrained individuals can lose strength after a 10-week break, and adults 74–86 may see strength and balance declines after two weeks. Returning typically takes about half the break time, and strength is often easier to rebuild due to “muscle memory,” with evidence that people can catch up to peers who never took a break.

Interested in training online with Rosy? Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Chapters:

01:36 Be Kind About Breaks

04:40 Detraining Timelines Overview

09:41 Rebuilding and Muscle Memory

11:15 Catching Up After Breaks

13:38 Personal Trick Loss Story

15:31 Final Takeaways

Citations:

Cumming, K.T., Reitzner, S.M., Hanslien, M., Skilnand, K., Seynnes, O.R., Horwath, O., Psilander, N., Sundberg, C.J. and Raastad, T. (2024), Muscle memory in humans: evidence for myonuclear permanence and long-term transcriptional regulation after strength training. J Physiol, 602: 4171-4193. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP285675

Neurodivergence and Pole with Psychologist Gabby Desmond

Friday, July 10, 2026 • Duration 43:46

Dr. Rosy Boa hosts an episode of Science of Slink on neurodivergence and pole with neurodivergent psychologist and pole dancer Gabby Desmond. They define neurodivergence as a broad umbrella beyond autism and ADHD (including OCD, BPD, and learning disabilities like dyslexia) and discuss why neurodivergent people may be drawn to pole for its structure, predictability, community “parallel play,” and endless achievable challenges. They explore sensory processing and regulation through spinning, inversion, and aerial hammock, plus differences in interoception and pain that can affect conditioning, stretching, and injury risk. The conversation covers learning preferences (visual vs verbal cues), difficulties with right/left and choreography, managing ADHD/autistic boom-bust training cycles, focusing on core vocabulary over trick inflation, and using external cues and varied feedback to support motor learning. Gabby shares where to find her work at unfurlpsychology and on Instagram.

Where to find Gabby:

Unfurl psychology: https://www.unfurlpsychology.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/unfurl.psychology

Want to train with me? Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

02:11 What Neurodivergence Means

03:51 Why Pole Attracts ND Folks

06:30 Sensory Seeking and Spinning

11:41 Dyslexia and Learning Pole

15:35 Learning Styles and Flow

18:41 Boom Bust Training Cycles

24:05 Interoception and Pain

25:45 Stretching and Hypermobility

Poling Safely in the Heat

Friday, June 26, 2026 • Duration 31:03

In this episode of 'Science of Slink,' Dr. Rosy Boa delves into what every pole dancer should know about exercising in extreme heat. Key topics include the physiological adaptations to heat acclimatization that typically occur within two weeks, the symptoms and handling of heat exhaustion versus heat stroke, and specific risk factors such as dehydration and medications. She also shares practical tips for pole dancers, such as managing equipment and grip issues, staying hydrated, and taking frequent breaks to avoid heat-related illnesses. Emphasis is placed on listening to one's body, recognizing the varied individual responses to heat, and prioritizing safety over performance.

Want to train with me? Try a free sample class: https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/sample-class-signup

Chapters:

00:00 Summer Episode Intro

00:19 Heat Topic Overview

02:04 Sweat Evolution Rabbit Hole

03:13 Heat Acclimatization Science

07:33 Two Week Adaptations

10:25 Performance Mindset in Heat

11:46 Heat Exhaustion Signs

15:15 Heat Stroke Emergency

18:15 Risk Factors and Meds

22:59 Humidity and Cooling Gear

24:45 Pole Specific Heat Tips

27:54 Hydration and Towels

30:12 Final Safety Recap

Citations/further reading

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, April 6). Heat exhaustion. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250

Howe, A. S., & Boden, B. P. (2007). Heat-related illness in athletes. , (8), 1384-1395.

Science of Slink: The Evidence Based Pole Podcast with Dr. Rosy Boa - Details, episodes & analysis

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Science of Slink: The Evidence Based Pole Podcast with Dr. Rosy Boa - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

DOI Foundation26

Instagram23

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

DOI Foundation26

Instagram23