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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
Consent
Gender-Based Violence

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes56Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsWrestlingSports NewsSports

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Artwork for Fighting Matters

Latest Episodes

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

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

YouTube

In this episode, Steve Kwan, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker break down how the ongoing SNAP and ACA shutdown could devastate working-class Americans, and why Jiu-Jitsu gyms will be hit especially hard. They unpack how food assistance and healthcare subs... more

YouTube

In this episode, Steve Kwan sits down with journalist Michael Colborne of Bellingcat to expose how far-right movements use aesthetics and martial arts culture to recruit young men. They discuss the origins of the “active club” network, the rise of fa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
David Figueroa-Martinez
Jiu-Jitsu black belt, advocate for mental health in the Jiu-Jitsu community
Gracie La Mesa
Episode: What Jiu-Jitsu Gets Wrong About Masculinity

Hosts

Jeff Shaw
Co-host and Jiu-Jitsu expert, engaged in discussions around ethics in martial arts and the defense against extremist ideologies.
Steve Kwan
Co-host actively involved in BJJ culture and critique of far-right narratives in martial arts.
Jesse Walker
Co-host and commentator on the far-right's influence in combat sports and community building within martial arts.

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 States5 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 States6 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Reviews highlight the importance of challenging extremist views, emphasizing the relevance of these discussions in today's political climate.
Listeners appreciate the community-centered approach and the critical discussions on social issues that resonate within the martial arts landscape.
Many commend the hosts for not shying away from tough topics, viewing the podcast as a necessary voice for change in combat sports.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#129
United Kingdom/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#144
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#124
Germany/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#203
Australia/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#16
Finland/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#61
Netherlands/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Washington Post Is Silencing Journalists (w/ Karen Attiah)
Q: Do you feel this incident might change how people perceive free speech in this context?
Karen expresses concern regarding the chilling precedent set for her colleagues and the implications for future discussions about political violence and suppression of dissenting voices.

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?

Focused on the intersections between combat sports and sociopolitical themes, these discussions emphasize a commitment to fighting against fascism and far-right ideologies in martial arts. Episodes feature conversations on topics such as consent, community, and the ethical implications of martial arts within the context of extreme political views. Notable discussions include the influence of far-right extremism in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the ethics of consent in martial engagements, and the normalization of hate in combat sports. The hosts engage with expert guests to challenge harmful narratives and encourage a more inclusive and conscious martial arts community.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Fighting Matters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Fighting Matters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Fighting Matters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
3. How Did This Get Made?
4. Weird Little Guys
5. The Chewjitsu Podcast

How many episodes of Fighting Matters are there?

Fighting Matters launched 7 months ago and published 56 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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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. Luke Thomas
2. Chris Ingram
3. Karen Attiah
4. Derek Jones
5. Derek Beres
6. Janet O'Shea
7. David Ley
8. Andrew Burcham

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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