The Empowerment in Action:Global Voices of Self Defense Podcast

In this AEP Spotlight episode, we sit down with Obadiah Mshindi, Founder of Mshindi Pan African Cultural Arts, LLC, a lifelong martial artist, educator, and community empowerment leader based in Philadelphia. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Obadiah shares how his unique blend of African combat systems, functional training, and cultural arts shapes the transformational learning experienc...

Season 3, Episode 4: AEP Spotlight: Janice Okamoto   In this episode of Empowerment in Action: AEP Spotlight, host Adanma Nwokoma sits down with Janice Okamoto, Executive Director of the Alameda HS Jujitsu Alumni, Inc., and Chief Instructor at Alameda Judo/Jujitsu in California, USA.   With over 45 years of martial arts experience, Janice shares how she’s integrating the Empowerment Self Defense (...

Rising Through Empowerment with Jess Gordon In this episode, Adanma Nwokoma speaks with Jess Gordon, educator, Empowerment Self Defense instructor, and founder of Arise in British Columbia. Jess shares how she blends movement, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed education to build confidence and safety from the inside out. From preteen programs to corporate trainings, her work shows tha...

In this second episode of the AEP Spotlight series of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, we shine the light on Stephanie Cyr, attorney, educator, health coach, lifelong martial artist, and one of ESD Global’s Accredited Education Providers.   From creating the first university-accredited Minor in Empowerment Self-Defense at San Francisco State University to launching her own com...

Season 3 of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense opens this September with our AEP Spotlight on Tasha Ina Church—an indigenous female entrepreneur, empowerment coach, bestselling author, and founder of ElleLiveAction.   With over 25 years of experience and more than 13,500 students trained in 132 countries, Tasha is a true force in Empowerment Self-Defense. As an Accredited Educati...

Violence isn’t always what we can see, sometimes it hides in systems, habits, and the silences we’ve been taught to accept. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sarah Malotane Henkeman unpacks the layered realities of visible and invisible violence, reveals tools for externalizing conflict, and shows how real accountability can transform both relationships and societies. Listen now and discover how...

Reclaiming Power: How Empowerment Self-Defense Transforms Lives Guest: Nicole Snell, CEO of Girls Fight Back   In this episode of Empowerment in Action, we sit down with award-winning speaker and self-defense advocate Nicole Snell to explore how Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is more than a safety strategy—it’s a path to confidence, freedom, and personal power. Nicole shares her journey from outdo...

“Safety, Resistance, and Reclaiming Power” with Meg Stone What does it really mean to feel safe? In this powerful episode, Meg Stone, Executive Director of IMPACT Boston and IMPACT: Ability, joins us to challenge the traditional narratives around safety, especially for people with disabilities and trauma histories. We explore the difference between safety through reliance and safety through resist...

In this empowering episode of the Empowerment in Action Podcast, we sit down with Dr. John Ughulu — best-selling author, award-winning leader, and founder of the John Ughulu Foundation. Together, we explore the powerful themes in his book, "Leadership Principles Unleashed," and dive into his inspiring work promoting positive masculinity, mentorship, and purpose-driven leadership. Dr. Ughulu shares...

New Episode Alert! Mentorship is a game-changer in the Empowerment Self-Defense movement! In this episode of Empowerment in Action, we sit down with Kim Rivers, an expert ESD instructor and mentor, to discuss leadership, boundary-setting, and the power of ethical mentorship in violence prevention.  Tune in now

For the first time on Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, we're featuring a male guest—Eric Ellis—in recognition of his outstanding work promoting positive masculinity. As President & CEO of Integrity Development Corp., Eric is a DEI strategist, mentor, and musician making a profound impact in various spheres: Transforming workplaces into inclusive, people-centered environmen...

Join us on Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense as Dr. Dawn Malotane-Lindsey, Executive Director of ESD Global, explores the critical topic of Preventing Secondary Abuse. Discover the ripple effects of abuse, how to break the cycle, and empower survivors through transformative approaches rooted in Empowerment Self Defense.

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense! Join Miriam L. King, "The Safe Space Maker," as she shares her journey as an educator, artist, and advocate for empathic leadership. Discover how she empowers teams, bridges generational gaps, and fosters safer workplaces. Tune in to learn how leadership and self-defense align to create transformative chang...

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense! Join Miriam L. King, "The Safe Space Maker," as she shares her journey as an educator, artist, and advocate for empathic leadership. Discover how she empowers teams, bridges generational gaps, and fosters safer workplaces. Tune in to learn how leadership and self-defense align to create transformative chang...

Welcome to the second episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, where we amplify stories of resilience and transformation. Today, we’re thrilled to feature Dr. Lami Ibrahim, a trailblazer in faith-based advocacy, education, and Empowerment Self-Defense. Join us as we explore how her groundbreaking work equips women and girls to reclaim their dignity, assert their boundaries,...

Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast series: Empowerment in Action – Global Voices of Self-Defense. Content Warning: This episode contains information that could be activating to listeners.  This episode, titled "Dealing with Abuse and Psychopathy," features Dr. Dawn Malotane Lindsey, Executive Director of ESD Global. Dr. Lindsey courageously shares her personal journey of surviving abu...