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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
Neonazism
Community
Combat Sports
Masculinity
Gender-Based Violence
Consent

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes75Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsWrestlingNewsSports News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Matt Tansey and Daniel Millstein: two licensed mental health professionals who also train jiu-jitsu. They attack one of the most repeated claims in the sport ("jiu-jitsu is my therapy"), wh... more

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, host Steve Kwan sits down with Valerie Worthington: BJJ black belt, professor of educational psychology, and one of the sport's most thoughtful voices on culture and ethics. They dig into why the peopl... more

YouTube

Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw explore the terrifying consequences of MAGA coopting Christianity and using misinterpretations of biblical ideas like the rapture, the apocalypse, and end times theology as justification for going to war with Iran. We al... more

YouTube

School violence researcher and Homeland Security expert David Riedman joins Steve and Jesse to break down the radicalization pipeline feeding modern school shootings. David covers how isolated kids get pulled into nihilistic violence through deregula... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

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)
David Riedman
Researcher and author focusing on risk, security, and education
Riedman Report / K-12 School Shooting Database
Episode: Discord & Roblox: The pipeline to school shootings (w/ David Riedman)
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

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 Kingdom2 months ago
  • More of this!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biglou502
    United States8 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 States10 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 Statesa year 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
#138
United States/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#106
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#128
United Kingdom/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#90
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#42
Sweden/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
Q: What ethical distinctions exist between therapists and jiu-jitsu coaches?
Therapists adhere to professional codes of ethics and avoid imposing personal beliefs, whereas jiu-jitsu coaches operate in a coaching/education role without the same formal ethical constraints, which can lead to overpromising or misrepresenting benefits.
Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
Q: How does jiu-jitsu interact with therapy in practical terms?
Jiu-jitsu offers mood and motivation benefits and can complement therapy, but it is not a substitute for medical treatment or a tailored therapeutic plan; therapists warn against overgeneralizing benefits and emphasize careful onboarding for trauma survivors.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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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

Where can I find podcast stats for Fighting Matters?

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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. Conspirituality
2. If Books Could Kill
3. The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
4. Behind the Bastards
5. Knowledge Fight

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched a year ago and published 75 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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What guests have appeared on Fighting Matters?

Recent guests on Fighting Matters include:

1. Matt Tansey
2. Dan Millstein
3. Valerie Worthington
4. David Riedman
5. Deon Thompson
6. Stephen Hall
7. Shaun Benson
8. Adrian Nathan West

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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