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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Fighting Matters

Fighting Matters
Jiu-Jitsu
Far-Right Extremism
UFC
Jay Rod
Supplements
Active Clubs
Mental Health
Fascism
B-Team
Authoritarianism
Health
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
MAGA
Donald Trump
Neonazism
Community
Combat Sports
Masculinity
Gender-Based Violence
Consent

Fighting fascism and the far-right in combat sports like MMA and BJJ.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes71Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsNewsSports NewsWrestling

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

In this Presidents Day episode, Fighting Matters connects two explosive stories: Gordon Ryan’s inappropriate DMs and the growing fallout from the Epstein file releases. We debate accountability, conspiracy culture, institutional corruption, and wheth... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker are joined by Joshua Peters: martial arts instructor, former school teacher, and current candidate for Anne Arundel County Council. They explore why local politics mat... more

YouTube

In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw are joined by Tyson LaRone (The Warrior Philosopher) to unpack the renewed push for Alberta separatism, its connections to Trump and MAGA, and the growing influence of U.S. poli... more

YouTube

This interview is an excerpt from Dark Martial Arts History, an 8-part audio documentary chronicling the history and rise of extremism in martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. The rest of the documentary is available on BJJ Mental Models Pre... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Deon Thompson
Runs Ohio Brasa in Toledo, experienced in Jiu-Jitsu and a respected figure in the community.
Ohio Brasa
Episode: Racism Can’t Be Ignored in Jiu-Jitsu Gyms (w/ Deon Thompson & Stephen Hall)
Stephen Hall
Long time Jiu-Jitsu competitor and coach, involved in discussions on combating racism in the community.
Real BJJ Lifestyle
Episode: Racism Can’t Be Ignored in Jiu-Jitsu Gyms (w/ Deon Thompson & Stephen Hall)
Shaun Benson
Actor known for his role as Ezekiel on The Boys
The Boys
Episode: The True Villain in The Boys (And It's Not Who You Think)
Adrian Nathan West
Novelist and essayist, author of 'My Father's Diet' and contributor to The Baffler.
Episode: Craig Jones trolled his way into the NYT
Luke Thomas
Prominent MMA commentator and analyst
Various MMA platforms
Episode: The UFC Betting Scandal, with Luke Thomas
Chris Ingram
Founder of The Truth Collective, advocating to reclaim social narratives
The Truth Collective
Episode: 2025 Feels Like a Conspiracy Theory (w/ JimmyTheGiant)
Karen Attiah
Former Global Opinions editor at The Washington Post, journalist, and martial artist.
The Washington Post
Episode: The Washington Post Is Silencing Journalists (w/ Karen Attiah)
Derek Jones
Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, works in social innovation
Rough Hands BJJ
Episode: Memes: The New Face of Propaganda
Derek Beres
A friend and longtime science and health journalist, co-host of the Conspirituality Podcast.
Conspirituality Podcast
Episode: How RFK Jr. is Actually Making America SICK Again, w/ Conspirituality Podcast’s Derek Beres

Hosts

Steve Kwan
Host of the discussion focusing on the intersection of martial arts and political issues, advocating for civic engagement and community activism.
Stephan Kesting
Co-host of the show, providing insights into political discourse within the martial arts community and the need for accountability.
Mike Mahaffey
Co-host discussing the implications of political issues on the martial arts community and advocating for inclusivity.
Jesse Walker
Co-host highlighting issues of racism, inclusivity, and the political climate affecting martial arts.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Timely and Important

    This is exactly what we need right now. It’s so important. I’m a professional historian (not a YouTube historian) and a lifelong martial artist. It’s about time the martial arts community opened its eyes to what is happening. We can be on the right side of history, or the wrong side. The good guys or the bad guys.

    This podcast is important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FreeBornAde
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • More of this!

    This is the energy we need more of in this community!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biglou502
    United States7 months ago
  • Thank you!

    Thank you so much for putting this out there! We need more of this in the BJJ community, we are not all on the Rogan

    to fascist pipeline.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BJJ lawyer
    United States9 months ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    Glad to see there are sane bjj people out there and it’s not just me listening to right wingers in the change room

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Judokris
    United States9 months ago
  • Important

    These hosts are hearing from all sides, asking questions, and doing research, for real! A thoughtful, if at times impassioned, set of messages.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dmillls
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The discussions around accountability and civic engagement resonate positively with the audience.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its timely exploration of critical issues in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA community.
Listeners feel encouraged to confront uncomfortable truths about their sport and its larger societal implications.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#219
United States/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#133
United Kingdom/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#140
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#128
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#35
Finland/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Martial Artists Should Get Political
Q: How do you balance martial arts with your political aspirations?
He emphasizes inclusivity in his gym while using his platform to support social issues.
Martial Artists Should Get Political
Q: What inspired you to run for local office?
Joshua wanted to make a direct impact in his community, focusing on housing and education issues.
The Minnesota Shootings and What Comes Next
Q: How do Americans stop this?
The biggest threat to global security right now is the United States and the idea that any change in administration could bring another Trump into power means any international deals need to be cautious.
The Minnesota Shootings and What Comes Next
Q: If you had to guess, what is the plan?
The plan is to flood the streets of cities that tend to lean a little bit more toward the liberal side of things because they know full well that they can act with impunity and will not be held accountable.
Craig Jones trolled his way into the NYT
Q: What are your thoughts on the responsibility of athletes in this space?
It's a complicated issue because people can't help but look up to athletes, but they shouldn't necessarily turn to them for political advice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fighting Matters

What is Fighting Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A focused discussion on the intersections of combat sports, particularly MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), and pressing societal issues, including politics and social justice. Episodes tackle the impact of political extremism within combat sports, the role of martial artists in civic engagement, and the responsibility of the community in addressing issues related to racism, sexual misconduct, and political accountability. The conversation often features personal stories and insights from experienced martial artists and advocates, creating a space for meaningful dialogue about challenging topics that are rarely addressed in traditional sports media.

Noteworthy is the podcast's commitment to raising awareness about the darker sides of the c... more

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How many listeners does Fighting Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Fighting Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Fighting Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Fighting Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Fighting Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fighting Matters:

1. BJJ Mental Models
2. Empire: World History
3. Chapo Trap House
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. Behind the Bastards

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched 10 months ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fighting Matters?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fighting Matters?

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What guests have appeared on Fighting Matters?

Recent guests on Fighting Matters include:

1. Deon Thompson
2. Stephen Hall
3. Shaun Benson
4. Adrian Nathan West
5. Luke Thomas
6. Chris Ingram
7. Karen Attiah
8. Derek Jones

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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