Best theempowermentproject Podcasts (2025)

1
Pornography Exposure in the Sixth Grade in Beaverton, Oregon - What's Happening and What Can be Done? 56:25

6d ago56:25

56:25

An 11-year-old in the Beaverton School District in Oregon was exposed to pornography during science class at school. You KNOW if it’s happening in one middle school, it’s happening in many, if not most. This episode is a conversation with the student’s mother. We hear what happened and how the school and school district have responded – spoiler ale…

1
You Won’t Want to Miss this Self Defense Success Story! An Interview with Ashlyn Johnson 32:20

6M ago32:20

32:20

Folks this is a jaw-dropping self-defense success story! Meet Ashlyn Johnson, a martial artist of many years who uses her skills and experience to help make the world a better place. Here’s Ashlyn’s bio: Ashlyn Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE Dr. Johnson is an assistant professor of nursing and a dual-certified family nurse practitioner a…

1
The Origins of the Women’s Self Defense Movement - An Interview with Historian Wendy Rouse 49:34

12M ago49:34

49:34

We’ve got an award-willing guest speaking with us and we’re about to learn a lot about the origins of the women's self-defense movement in the United States. Turn up your volume and put on your thinking cap. Here we go! Wendy Rouse, among many other things, is a historian who teaches at San Jose State University in CA. She’s a researcher, the autho…

1
San Francisco State’s Empowerment Self Defense Program – An Interview with Stephanie Cyr 48:13

1y ago48:13

48:13

Stephanie Cyr has started an Empowerment Self Defense Program at SFSU that is rolling out in the Fall of 2024! In this episode, she’ll tell us all about it, share a wonderful self-defense success story and so much more. Our wide-ranging conversation covers how great it will be when we can make ESD a standardized course offering in all public school…

1
Success Story – Complying & Playing Along 20:41

1y ago20:41

20:41

Did you know that complying and playing along are essential tools you already have in your toolkit? It can help us buy time to get help or get to safety. Join host Silvia Smart as she shares how one person “played along” to stop an attempted rape and get to safety. Our stories are important. YOUR stories are important! Consider sharing your story w…

1
GET EMPOWERED – An interview with Lauren Taylor 51:26

1+ y ago51:26

51:26

Host Silvia Smart and author Lauren Taylor discuss this newly released book which is an excellent resource for everyone – those interested in empowerment, in self-defense and instructors of ESD as well. Join Silvia and Lauren as they do some of the exercises in the book and chat about the ins and outs of this fascinating publication worthy of a rea…

1
Success Story! What to Do: Attack from Behind 18:51

1+ y ago18:51

18:51

Smart shares one of her favorite success stories in which a person running solo through the woods gets free after an attack from behind. Connect with Silvia Special thanks to my editor, Collin Taber (@that2ndtaberkid) Resources: National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Support this impor…

1
Traveling Self Defense Stories 22:07

1+ y ago22:07

22:07

Join host Silvia Smart on the Camino de Santiago. Thank you, listeners, for 10,000 downloads! 😘By theempowermentproject

1
Finding Empowerment within the Upsetting Context of Mass Shootings – an Interview with SAC Kieran Ramsey, FBI Portland 59:19

1+ y ago59:19

59:19

There’s a clear uptick in mass shootings across the country leading to lots of fear, confusion, and anguish. Who better to talk to than the FBI? Join me and my guest, Special Agent in Charge of the Portland FBI, Kieran Ramsey. We discuss how regular people like you and me can help prevent mass shootings and play a role in stopping this disturbing c…

1
Florida is on the Frontlines – An Interview with Brandon Wolf the Press Secretary of Equality Florida 41:34

2y ago41:34

41:34

Folks, Florida is on the front lines right now. There are huge safety concerns brought on by the cruel laws, restrictions, rhetoric, and policies of Ron DeSantis and his friends that are affecting many people. Because of this, Equality Florida, along with the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens, have all issued travel advisories …

1
Denial, Safety and Empowerment 33:18

2y ago33:18

33:18

If we’re gonna talk about Empowerment Self Defense, we have to talk about denial. When talking with survivors of sexual assault and survivors of other types of relational violence it is common to hear that the survivor had a funny feeling something was wrong but then doubted themselves or rationalized or minimized their intuition and flat out ignor…

1
Silvia’s Upcoming Zoom Classes 2:33

2y ago2:33

2:33

Hey listeners! If you haven’t had a chance to take an empowerment self-defense class and you want to, or if you know someone who’d like to, I’m teaching a beginning class in June on Zoom! I'd love to see you there! Also, if you’re at all interested in my training around active shooter survival strategies, I’m doing an hour-long class a little later…

1
Self Defense Success Stories - Meet Jill Shames 33:47

2y ago33:47

33:47

Meet Jill Shames, Empowerment Self Defense Instructor. Listen in as she and host, Silvia Smart, share a few self-defense success stories and talk about all the things the survivors did RIGHT! Find out why they recommend a perspective shift as you think through your own experiences! You are strong and powerful and Jill and Silvia believe in you! Wat…

1
Meet Lauren Taylor! 41:38

2y ago41:38

41:38

Meet Lauren Taylor who has been working to end gender-based violence since 1978, when she co-founded Washington, D.C.’s first shelter for abused women. As an empowerment self-defense teacher and founder-director of Defend Yourself, she’s trained more than 35,000 people in the D.C. area and elsewhere in the U.S. She's also trained dozens of trainers…

1
I Survived a Cult 34:00

2y ago34:00

34:00

Join host Silvia Smart as she shares pieces of her journey to empowerment and survival from a cult-like martial arts system. Listen to the red flags that crop up around these dysfunctional and sometimes dangerous systems and people. Cults and charismatic leaders with ill intent are everywhere – Qanon, NXIVM, Scientology, and The Children of God, ar…

1
What to Do: Choke From Behind 13:19

2y ago13:19

13:19

Smart shares a surprising self-defense success story that is near and dear to her heart. Find out how her 90-year-old dad responded when he was choked from behind while walking down the street! Connect with Silvia Zoom Self Defense Classes with Silvia Special thanks to my editor, Collin Taber (@that2ndtaberkid) Resources: National Sexual Assault Ho…

1
You are Worth Fighting For! An Interview with Tasha Ina Church 33:39

2+ y ago33:39

33:39

Join host, Silvia Smart and her guest, Tasha Ina Church, an empowerment self-defense teacher with a life story you want to hear about! On her website, she writes: “Empowerment goes beyond physical safety. It is understanding that YOU have a VOICE and that voice has POWER — It’s about knowing that in any fight; physical, psychological, or emotional,…

1
Welcome New Listeners! Start Here! 7:40

2+ y ago7:40

7:40

Happy New Year! It’s 2023 and I’m glad you are here! Welcome to my new listeners. I hope you find something here that helps you out or inspires you to become your most empowered self. Listen to this quick recording to get your sea legs and hear my quick recommendations about how to listen. My hope for all of us is that we keep defining who we are, …

1
Empowerment and Dragons! 25:51

2+ y ago25:51

25:51

Empowerment is a lifelong journey. Celebrate your wins and contemplate your next steps. Join host, Silvia Smart, as she shares a piece of her journey into and beyond a lifelong challenge that impacted every area of her life. Find out how she vanquished her dragon and lived to tell about it. Think through what's on the horizon for YOU! Empowerment m…

1
Zero Tolerance 34:18

2+ y ago34:18

34:18

Are you ready to set a Zero Tolerance Policy? Is another person’s behavior toward you hurtful, demeaning, disrespectful, or downright threatening? In this episode, we contemplate our tolerance levels for others’ behaviors. We think through becoming ready to make a boundary and draw a line: to have “Zero Tolerance”. We look at the planning and prepa…

1
Blowback: What it is and How to Handle it 21:18

2+ y ago21:18

21:18

Blowback is another person’s reaction when you reclaim your power, take up your space, set boundaries and make changes in your life. Blowback comes in a large variety of sizes and shapes and can look and feel many different ways. Ultimately, it’s about the other person trying to maintain the status quo. It’s their way of trying to keep the power dy…

1
Listener Questions: What Should I Do if I See Someone Being Followed? 21:38

2+ y ago21:38

21:38

Listeners ask questions. Let’s discuss: What should I do if I see someone being followed or pursued? Do I help? If so, HOW do I help? Here’s a quick episode to talk you through some options. Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee Donate through my website Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, plea…

1
Boys and Young Men are Assaulted Too – Interview with a Survivor 52:23

2+ y ago52:23

52:23

Meet survivor, Jake Sinclair as he and host Silvia Smart, discuss what happened, what it was like, how he has dealt with it, how he’s found healing, and what his life is like today. According to RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), one out of every ten rape victims is male and about 3% - or 1 in 33 – American men have experienced an a…

1
Decolonization and Empowerment Self Defense. An Interview with Magdalena Dircio Diaz 53:00

2+ y ago53:00

53:00

Colonization is all around us and even lives inside of us. We can find it right now as we look at our politics, power, spirituality, daily life, families, and relationships— it’s literally everywhere. How do we become aware of it? And once we see it, how do we start to pull it apart? Join this interesting and wide-ranging discussion about decoloniz…

1
Coercion Part 2: Build Your Resiliency to Sexual Coercion with Justine Halliwill 48:19

3y ago48:19

48:19

What does coercion look, feel and sound like when it’s used in intimate settings - when we are often at our most vulnerable? How do you build your awareness of and resilience to it? What self-defense tools will you want to have stashed in your self-defense toolkit to deal with sexual coercion? Join host Silvia Smart and her guest, Justine Halliwill…

1
Coercion’s Many Faces - An Interview with Justine Halliwill from the University of Oregon! 1:04:33

3y ago1:04:33

1:04:33

What is coercion as it relates to sexual assault? What does it look like, sound like, feel like? How do we build resilience to it? What are tools we can add to our toolkit to deal with coercion when we feel it is happening to us? Luckily for us, in this episode, we are joined by Justine Halliwill from the University of Oregon where she teaches self…

1
Boundaries! 29:14

3+ y ago29:14

29:14

Boundaries are fundamental to our emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health and safety. Join host Silvia Smart and THRIVE – with a little help from your boundaries! Find out: What is a boundary? How do boundaries make us safer? What other reasons make them important? What does a boundary have to do with empowerment self-defense? How do you k…

1
Empowerment Self Defense Works! An Interview with U of O’s Jocelyn Hollander 29:08

3+ y ago29:08

29:08

Empowerment Self Defense really works! Find out how Jocelyn Hollander’s research at the University of Oregon is proving this – and so much more! ESD training works not just to keep you safer, though it does that REALLY WELL! It also has positive impacts that reach far beyond your class. Participants report being empowered in a variety of different …

1
Why in the World is There Resistance to Empowerment Self Defense Training? 39:16

4y ago39:16

39:16

Empowerment Self Defense challenges the status quo, the balance of power, and unconscious biases. It challenges myths and attitudes, cultural norms, and beliefs. It gives participants agency and tools to question power dynamics in society, but also in their intimate relationships. Because of this, and myriad other reasons as well, there is a great …

1
Ariel Estrada: Finding Empowerment Through Creativity, Artistry and Self Defense 1:11:26

4y ago1:11:26

1:11:26

Meet Ariel Estrada, an actor, singer, playwright, arts advocate, director, and producer living in New York City. Ariel’s trajectory, his journey through early childhood challenges, and experiences of racism and abuse as an adult have given him a unique perspective on healing and empowerment. One of many cool things about Ariel? He uses his artistry…

1
Clara Porter: Empowerment Self Defense as a Means to Healing from Trauma 39:59

4y ago39:59

39:59

My guest, Clara Porter, is a one-of-a-kind human being. Clara holds a Master of Social Work Degree and is the director of Prevention. Action. Change. In Maine. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Clara is a nationally certified instructor in Empowerment Self Defense. She is also certified through the Center for Anti-Violence Education. C…

1
Interview with Wim Wetzel, author of ”Surviving Death By A Thousand Cuts” 31:17

4y ago31:17

31:17

Meet Wim Wetzel, author of “Surviving Death By A Thousand Cuts”. There are many ways to overcome tough times and trauma. In his book, Wim describes what it was like growing up as the oldest child in a fascinating yet challenging family dynamic. War, immigration to the US, a family Martial Arts school, discipline beyond the pale and more wartime ser…

1
Janessa Jaye Chamgagne - Stealthing 44:48

4y ago44:48

44:48

My guest in this episode is Janessa Jaye Champagne, a Drag Queen living in North Dakota. Janessa is going to introduce us to “stealthing”, through their own experience of it. We’ll find out what it means and how it works. And, as always, you’ll find links in the episode description & on The Empowerment Project Community, our Facebook Group to resou…

1
Active Shooter Survival Training 56:08

4y ago56:08

56:08

From Columbine to Sandy Hook and Atlanta to Boulder, these shootings are on the rise and leave us feeling anguished and terrified. Talking about mass shootings and training for such a situation, one of the worst-case scenarios imaginable, is important because knowing what to do and making fast decisions save lives. For Active Shooter Survival Train…

1
From Incest to Empowerment 39:30

4y ago39:30

39:30

Join host, Silvia Smart, and her guest, Julie Belew! Julie’s empowerment journey finds her currently investigating how law enforcement in her town responds to rape survivors. She discovered her unique voice and perspective in “Rape, the Podcast”, a labor of love. Starting with an experience of incest at the young age of seven, moving through mother…

1
Pam & Abigail Courageous Survivors, Part 3 of 3 1:00:36

4y ago1:00:36

1:00:36

This is the third in a three-part series. In Episode 19 we met Pam and heard how she survived a dangerous domestic relationship and learned about her frightening and powerful escape. In Episode 20 we got to know Abigail, who married the same abuser a few years after Pam left him. Today, in Part Three, Pam and Abigail come together to discuss what t…

1
Abigail, Domestic Violence Survivor, Part 2 of 3 40:35

4y ago40:35

40:35

Meet Abigail and hear her story of bravery and resilience. This is the second of a three-part series. In the last episode, Part One (Episode #19), we met Pam, who shared how she was manipulated, groomed, and finally escaped with her small child. In this episode, Part Two, we meet Abigail, who married the same abuser a few years later. Abigail’s sto…

1
Pam, Domestic Violence Survivor, Part 1 of 3 1:02:10

4y ago1:02:10

1:02:10

Meet Pam and hear her story as she shares with us what happened, how she was manipulated, groomed, and tricked into staying. She’s going to point out red flags that popped up along the way, and explain how her awareness grew. We’ll find out what made her finally decide to leave and we’ll get to hear the story of her dangerous and powerful escape. T…

1
From Student to Empowerment Self-defense Instructor 28:51

4+ y ago28:51

28:51

Join host, Silvia Smart and her guest, Adriana Li! Get to know Adriana and find out about her Empowerment Self Defense journey. She started off as a student at Impact Boston and has, over the past three years, become an ESD Instructor there. We’ll discover what inspires Adriana and we’ll spend time talking about issues and experiences that are part…

1
No More Victim Blaming! 33:20

4+ y ago33:20

33:20

Join host Silvia Smart and guest, Katherine White, as they discuss “Victim Blaming” and why we don’t do it! We’ll talk about what it is, how it came about, why it’s so awful, and how it perpetuates the shame cycle relative to sexual assault and violence. Free yourself of blame, release the weight of judgment and place the blame squarely where it be…

1
Interview with Martha Thompson: The Empowerment Self Defense Model 54:42

4+ y ago54:42

54:42

What’s the difference between EMPOWERMENT Self Defense and other schools of self-defense? Join host, Silvia Smart, as she speaks with Martha Thompson, Senior Lead Instructor at Impact Chicago for over 30 years, academic and current NWMAF Self Defense Coordinator. They explore what puts the “empowerment” into the Empowerment self-defense model and w…

1
Interview with Jennifer Hirsch, co-author of ”Sexual Citizens” 46:06

4+ y ago46:06

46:06

Join host Silvia Smart as she interviews Jennifer Hirsch, Professor of Socio-Medical Sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and co-author of “Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power and Assault on Campus” published by WW Norton. Why are college campuses such incredibly ripe environments for sexual assault? How could institut…

1
Interview with Py Bateman 1:23:57

4+ y ago1:23:57

1:23:57

Join host Silvia Smart as we spend some time with Py Bateman! Py is one of the original founders of what has become the Empowerment Self Defense Movement. When Py began training Karate, she was one of only a very small handful of women in the martial arts. Py was the founder of the Feminist Karate Union in Seattle, which is still going strong today…

1
Domestic Violence Part 3 41:46

4+ y ago41:46

41:46

In part three of this series on domestic violence, we continue to look at behaviors of an abusive person along with warning signs and red flags. We talk about indicators of an unhealthy, potentially dangerous relationship. As a balance to that, we think through a few guideposts pointing the way to a healthy relationship. It’s a lot to listen to and…

1
Domestic Violence Part 2 33:48

4+ y ago33:48

33:48

In part two of this series on domestic violence, we look at some of the behaviors of an abusive person. We get specific about warning signs, signals, and “red flags”. By now you know my philosophy, which is that the more you know, the safer you are. In that spirit, we're going to dig around some unhealthy behaviors and start to pull them apart. It’…

1
Domestic Violence Part 1 27:50

4+ y ago27:50

27:50

In this episode, we’re going to look at the basic facts and statistics of Domestic Violence – sometimes called Intimate Partner Violence - to see how sexual assault and violence in relationships affect various populations. We’ll also take a look at the continuum of sexual assault but through this particular lens. Special thanks to my producer/edito…

1
Planning and Preparation 34:06

4+ y ago34:06

34:06

Learn the secret code that unlocks your empowerment! Find out why a good self-defense class can make you more confident, stronger, and freer. In this episode, we start to pick apart the differences between empowerment self-defense programs and other, frankly, not-so-empowering self-defense classes. Our stories and focus are all about preparation an…

1
Verbal Self Defense 42:04

4+ y ago42:04

42:04

In this episode we talk about the actual words we use and how we can create safety through their application as a self-defense tool. Of all the tools, the voice and our verbal self-defense can go the farthest to prevent unwanted attention and situations. As with all of empowerment self-defense, we’re also going to look at the multitude of ways word…

1
Your VOICE – One of the Most Powerful Tools in Your Self-defense Toolkit! 49:12

4+ y ago49:12

49:12

In this episode, we’re going to talk about VOICE! We’ll be talking about HOW we use this important and powerful body weapon - in daily life and in our self-defense. We are going to set ourselves up to use it consciously as a self-defense tool, probably one of the most important tools in our toolkit! Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart…

1
College Edition Part Two -Marti McCaleb Interview 44:33

4+ y ago44:33

44:33

Meet Marti McCaleb, the Civil Rights and Sexual Assault Coordinator at Middlebury College in Vermont. Her background as a sexual violence survivor, a victim's advocate, a lawyer, and a martial artist make her uniquely qualified for this position! Listen in as we discuss the projects she's working on and the successes she's having. Get excellent adv…

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Theempowermentproject Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen