Pretty Deadly Podcast

Performing drag, cosplay, pole dancing, or burlesque often puts performers in difficult situations where breaking character to defend yourself can cost you your paycheck. So how can performers make defense part of the dance? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being aware of your situation can help you stay safer, but does it work all the time? This episode talks about how women already use situational awareness and are really good at it, how pickpockets are even better (and it's ok not to be better than a professional pickpocket) and Shelby drops some bullfrog facts on the group and how their behavior fits in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Pretty Deadly Coach Maírelise brings up a scenario that a lot of women have encountered: being followed by a stranger on the street. Unlike in the movies, it's a whole different reality than just shaking a tail. All four women share their favorite tactics for being followed, with variations specific to the city each of them lives in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains graphic content addressing sexual assault. Shelby asks what we can do when we are groped in public spaces, like the subway or on the street. Maírelise asks if letting the perp know you know is useful, and Susie shares her theory of the powerplay behind the assault. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seriina brings up the question of how to stay safe when a protest goes sideways. Based on her experience as a college protest "marshall", she takes us through some basic safety tips to protect yourself during a protest, as well as the walk home when you may be confronted by a counter-protestor. Maírelise and Shelby chime in with tips for prep and other actions you can take if you don't feel comfor...

2020 saw police brutality both exposed and reaching new levels of violence. Maírelise wonders what our rights are, how much you have to endure and what we can do about it. Susie did a little digging and opened a whole new can of worms on the subject of getting frisked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susie kicks off Season 4 with Pretty Deadly Trainers Seriina, Shelby, Mairelise and talk about self defense, martial arts and bro culture.... and what Susie's problem with BJJ is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the final episode of Season 3 and of 2020, and the second in our special 2-part interview with my teacher, Sensei Chad Minge. In Part 1, Chad took us through his history of martial arts, from ttraining in the US Army all the way to meeting Shoto Tanemura and being invited to train directly with him in Japan. Part 2 takes us on a more intimate journey: Susie and Chad share what the art mean...

In part 1 of a special 2-part interview, Susie chats with her teacher, Sensei Chad Minge. Chad has lived martial arts for over 60 years, and he shares his martial arts journey across decades, along with what he's been seeking, and what he's found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet your Ninja Neighbors! Miwa Nishiji is our second Warrior Woman series artist. Miwa talks growing up in Japan next door to real ninjas, how she got into training ninjutsu and how her martial arts training has helped her work as a storyboard artist in Hollywood! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we use creativity to fuel our fires for social justice, equality and change? Susie talks with Ananya Rao-Middleton, the first artist to kick off our Warrior Women Wednesday series, about illustration, disability, social justice and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the Coach! Susie chats with the third part of our fabulous LA trio of coaches, Máirelise Robinson, about how the meaning of martial arts changed for her over time, finding family and building community, and her work for migrant rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pretty Deadly Podcast got a new theme song this year, thanks to Berlin-based band Dead Sentries. Susie chats with the boys in the band about punk rock, politics and self defense. Check out all their tracks at https://deadsentries.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What magical powers do you get from martial arts? That's what Ed Hines wanted to find out when he started learning Tai Chi as a teenager, only to discover a deeper power within. Susie talks to Ed Hines of I-Bagua about his lifelong journey in martial arts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can martial arts help chronic illness? This week, Susie talks to Seriina, a 10+ year practitioner of Ninpo Tai Jutsu who was diagnoed with MAST cell syndrome. Seriina shares what it's like to adapt to a diagnosis and how martial arts helps her to hang on to what matters most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do negotiation and self defense for women have in common? It's more than just negotiating our way out of a dangerous situation, and guess what? Women are already experts at it! Susie talks to Negotiatress founder Yasmine Guerin about dealing with toxic office environments, hostile boardrooms and women's secret negotiating talent! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why would anyone become a martial arts instructor... or a self defense instructor? Susie talks to Shelby Laterza, a young female martial artist based in LA, and a Pretty Deadly Coach! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While there are more and more women in martial arts, we still don't make up even half of all martial arts practictioners. Women over 50 active in martial arts are even more rare (like gems, thank you very much). What's it like to start martial arts in your 40s, and continue into your 60s? Our guest this week is Cheryl Ilov. Cheryl found Ninpo Tai Jutsu only at the age of 47... 17 years later, she'...

Susie meets Simone Marini, a martial artist living and training in Italy. Simone talks busting martial arts myths, combining styles and how to have fun. with fitness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's it like to a petite woman in the world? Are her safety concerns different? Can she use her size to her advantage? Susie talks to Rithiki Punj, an ESL teacher, petite Crossfitter, and emotional intelligence facilitator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our new season! For this season, Susie is chatting up other women and men in the world of self empowerment, self defense and martial arts. In this episode, she chats with an old colleague, Aaron Rieley, a 26-year martial arts vet and active member of The Saber Legion. What does this have to do with self defense? Find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate shares a personal experience with family sexual violence and asks Susie about the reality that there is no recourse or forum to challenge an abuser, especially if the offense doesn’t rise to the level of criminal violation, for example child sexual abuse. Kate and Susie talk about the difference between sexual harassment in the workplace where there are HR policies and other forums to call at...

TRIGGER WARNING: What is the difference between violent physical assaults and attacks that are a sexual in nature? Are defense responses the same? Susie talks about the history of sexual violence as male and male attack, destruction of bloodlines, and rape as a weapon of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“What did I do wrong? How did I get sucked into this? How could I let this happen to myself? I feel like I have a target on my back for this kind of thing!” Kate and Susie talk about emotional abuse and narcissistic abuse and how abusers identify victims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do men take their anger out on women? With global cases of domestic violence are on the rise since the pandemic, Susie and Kate talk about men and anger, and the way that expression is often directed at women. This episode explores how women and men can help each other deconstruct socialized behavior and shared knowledge around emotional intelligence, and why self-defense is necessary to comba...