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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
Community
Neonazism
Combat Sports
Masculinity
Consent
Gender-Based Violence

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes58Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Sports NewsNewsWrestlingSports

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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu.

🔗 Links Mentioned:

• The ... more

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In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker break down how bad BJJ coaches trap students with rank. They explore how belt pressure becomes a tool for fear and control, why some gyms drift into ... more

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In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker talk about the recent political shift of Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and her public apology regarding her past rhetoric and actions. They explore the ... more

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MMA analyst Luke Thomas joins the Fighting Matters crew to discuss fixing fights in the UFC in particular, and MMA in general.  We look at which specific type of fighter is being targeted, who might be behind it, and the role of the FBI in investigat... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Janet O'Shea
Professor and author of 'Risk, Failure, Play'
Independent Academic
Episode: Fighting vs. Violence: What’s the Difference? (w/ Jay O’Shea)
David Ley
Clinical psychologist and author
Episode: 🧬 Real Talk: What Science Says About Gender Differences
Andrew Burcham
An attorney and mediator with 13 years of Jiu Jitsu experience.
Episode: ⚖️ BJJ, Law, and the First Amendment

Hosts

Steve Kwan
Host and activist with a focus on social justice and ethical practices in combat sports.
Mike Mahaffey
Co-host and gym owner dedicated to discussing community empowerment and participation in activism.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • More of this!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biglou502
    United States4 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 States6 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 States7 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There's a desire for more content addressing harmful ideologies in sports and society.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful discussions that challenge mainstream narratives.
Many express gratitude for the show's focus on social issues within the combat sports community.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#102
United States/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#111
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#243
United Kingdom/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#124
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#32
Austria/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The UFC Betting Scandal, with Luke Thomas
Q: How can you describe the role of betting integrity partners like IC360 in detecting suspicious betting activity?
IC360 utilizes proprietary software and human agents to monitor betting lines for any suspicious activities and has successfully flagged questionable betting patterns in various sports.
The UFC Betting Scandal, with Luke Thomas
Q: Do you have any idea of, or is there any idea of the scope of how much money these fighters actually would be making without this?
It's difficult to ascertain exact figures due to the UFC's policies, but fighters on lower-tier cards may make around $20K for a fight without including potential bonuses.
Fashion, Fitness, Fighting: How Hate Groups Attract Young Men
Q: What are some of the warning signs that parents should look out for regarding potential exposure to hate groups?
Parents should be aware of far-right brands in combat sports gear and should look for subtle symbols on clothing or gear. Additionally, developing visual literacy to recognize symbols can help.
The Washington Post Is Silencing Journalists (w/ Karen Attiah)
Q: What advice do you have for martial artists or those disengaged from politics?
Karen emphasizes the importance of confronting oneself and being aware of societal issues, urging individuals to turn their martial arts practice into a means of community engagement and service.

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?

Focusing on the intersections of combat sports and sociopolitical issues, the content frequently addresses the influences of far-right ideologies within martial arts communities and their implications for society at large. Discussions cover a broad scope of topics ranging from ethical dilemmas faced by practitioners, critiques of toxic environments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) academies, to the role of activism in countering extremism. The hosts bravely tackle controversial subjects, including political violence, misinformation, and social justice, along with interviews featuring notable figures from various fields in media and activism. Listeners can expect a thought-provoking blend of personal narratives, expert insights, and community en... more

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How many listeners does Fighting Matters get?

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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. The BJJ Fanatics Podcast
3. Bulletproof For BJJ Podcast
4. The Chewjitsu Podcast
5. The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched 8 months ago and published 58 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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. Adrian Nathan West
2. Luke Thomas
3. Chris Ingram
4. Karen Attiah
5. Derek Jones
6. Derek Beres
7. Janet O'Shea
8. David Ley

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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