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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Fighting Matters

Fighting Matters
Jiu-Jitsu
Far-Right Extremism
Fascism
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu Jitsu
Martial Arts
Community
Sexual Assault
Mental Health
MMA
Combat Sports
UFC
Violence
Trump's Big Beautiful Bill
Donald Trump
Active Clubs
Political Violence
Charlie Kirk
Authoritarianism
Consent

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes82Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
WrestlingNewsSportsSports News

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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined again by Dr. David Riedman: 17-year jiu-jitsu practitioner, MIT-trained data analyst, and PhD researcher whose dissertation focused on measuring the accuracy of large language model outputs. D... more

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Andrea Tang: novelist, brown belt at District Martial Arts, and host of BJJ Today on the BJJ Mental Models Premium Network. Three years ago, a serial home invader broke into Andrea's apartm... more

YouTube

After yet another sexual abuse case in the BJJ community, the Fighting Matters crew works through a question every grappler eventually has to answer: "What can I, as just a student, actually do about this?" They get into voting with your wallet, the ... more

YouTube

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ), and Niamh Bryn (Snowblind BJJ) for a recap of the recent Rough Hands spring camp in Louisville. The four of them argue that ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Andrea Tang
Host on BJJ Today; published novelist
Penguin Random House / BJJ Today
Episode: A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Jesse Walker
From Rough Hands BJJ
Rough Hands BJJ
Episode: Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Niamh Bryn
Mutual friend from Snowblind BJJ
Snowblind BJJ
Episode: Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Mike Mahaffey
From Old Bastard BJJ and Magic BJJ in Lansing
Old Bastard BJJ / Magic BJJ
Episode: Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Hannah Gais
Senior Research Analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
Episode: How to Identify "Active Clubs" in BJJ
Eric Lowe
HEMA practitioner and educator
Episode: How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn)
Matt Tansey
Clinical mental health counselor
Private practice in Vermont, Connecticut, Colorado
Episode: Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
Dan Millstein
Clinical psychologist
Mass General Hospital (Boston area); private practice in Massachusetts and New York
Episode: Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
Valerie Worthington
Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, educator, and researcher
Gracie Philly (Philadelphia) and Saybrook University
Episode: The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington)

Hosts

Steve Kwan
Host focused on fighting matters within the martial arts community; frequently leads discussions on culture, safety, and accountability.
Stephan Kesting
Co-host and owner with deep ties to Grappler Arts; brings historical and technical perspectives to discussions on culture and leadership in martial arts.
Jesse Walker
Guest/Co-host focusing on community-building, events, and gym culture.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • Absolutely love your show!!!

    I’ve been looking for a community of martial artists who lean progressive. I’m a 59 year old getting back into taekwondo after being out of martial arts since my college days. Thank you for what you all do!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slingmeister
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • More of this!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biglou502
    United States10 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thoughtful, research-driven discussions that tackle tough issues in martial arts.
Listeners appreciate candid conversations about culture change and practical guidance for gym owners.
Feedback highlights the show's role in challenging extremist narratives within gym spaces.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#136
United States/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#64
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#96
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#2
Norway/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#46
Denmark/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#67
Finland/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Q: What message would you share with other survivors considering speaking out or pursuing justice?
Speak when you're ready, because the public response can be cruel, but sharing your experience can connect and empower others, and it also helps expose systemic issues that need reform.
A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
Q: How did your martial arts training influence your response during the incident and in the courtroom later?
The training gave me practical reflexes to create space and breathe, and the courtroom process exposed me to the realities of trauma, evidence, and long-term resilience.
The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington)
Q: How could the sport advance through professionalization and education?
She proposes clearer roles for instructors, better preparation and ethics training, and a system that supports individuals and communities in evaluating and improving practices, not just policing behavior.
The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington)
Q: What are the core cultural challenges in Jiu-Jitsu today?
Valerie highlights radicalization issues, unsafe environments in some gyms, and a need for constructive leadership that emphasizes ethics, education, and community building rather than pure competition focus.
Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
Q: What risks are associated with psychedelic or other cutting-edge treatments discussed in the episode?
The guests note that psychedelics and cannabis carry risks and need careful, trauma-informed approaches; there is concern about overhyping these tools without robust evidence and proper clinical oversight.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fighting Matters

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

The show consistently pushes back against fascism and extremist influences within combat sports, hosting researchers, coaches, and activists who illuminate how gyms, camps, and federations can foster safer, more inclusive cultures. Across episodes, listeners hear practical guardrails for countering radicalization, safeguarding participants, and promoting accountability, while also exploring how politics, culture, and media narratives intersect with jiu-jitsu communities. Notable is the willingness to tackle sensitive topics—from safeguarding and mental health to accountability for misconduct—through a principled, research-informed lens that emphasizes real-world applicability for gym owners, coaches, and practitioners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Fighting Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Fighting Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Fighting Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. Bulletproof For BJJ Podcast
3. It Could Happen Here
4. Behind the Bastards
5. Some More News

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched a year ago and published 82 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Fighting Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Fighting Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Fighting Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Fighting Matters?

Recent guests on Fighting Matters include:

1. Andrea Tang
2. Jesse Walker
3. Niamh Bryn
4. Mike Mahaffey
5. Hannah Gais
6. Eric Lowe
7. Matt Tansey
8. Dan Millstein

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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