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Here's a quick update to let you know what's going on. I've missed you!   Also... Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group. TELL ME YOUR STORY! Connect with Silvia: www.nagacommunity.com/contact Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you!   #theempowermentpodcast, #theempowermentproject, #emowermentselfdefense, #selfdefense, #nagacommunity

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 know where yours begin and end? How do you set a boundary? How do you make your boundaries known and how do you enforce them? This is the good stuff! Enjoy! Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group. #theempowermentpodcast, #theempowermentproject, #emowermentselfdefense, #selfdefense, #nagacommunity, #boundaries Connect with Silvia: www.nagacommunity.com/contact Evoke Episode – Enmeshment (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rRlbljITSRxy6Q0hQAY48?si=av5mL_PnQMyezO6gbvfXTQ&dl_branch=1)

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 areas of their personal and professional lives. Here’s proof that Empowerment Self Defense keeps participants safer and changes lives and the balance of power. Join me and my guest, Jocelyn Hollander as we discuss her research methods and findings on the efficacy of ESD and so much more! Jocelyn is a professor at the University of Oregon. Researching the efficacy of ESD has become her life’s work. She’s got fantastic information and perspective! Enjoy! Find out more: Jocelyn at the U of O: https://sociology.uoregon.edu/profile/jocelynh/ Jocelyn’s Web Page: https://jocelynhollander.com/   #theempowermentpodcastbynaga, #nagacommunity, @nagacommunity @nagamartialarts #esd, #empowermentselfdefense   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 deal of resistance on the part of both individuals and institutions to taking and offering Empowerment Self Defense Programs. Join me and my guest, Jocelyn Hollander as we dissect and pull apart the various hurdles and obstacles people and institutions raise as reasons to NOT take or offer ESD classes. Jocelyn is a professor at the University of Oregon. Researching the efficacy of ESD has become her life’s work. She’s got so much great insight! Enjoy! https://jocelynhollander.com/ #empowermentselfdefense #theempowermentpodcastbynaga   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 and talent to create healing for himself and others. He is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Leviathan Lab and wrote his one-man show, “Full Contact”: “What does it mean to have a body? Ariel Estrada investigates his experiences as a 20-year survivor of a brutal martial arts cult, interweaving his Filipino father’s immigrant story with his own coming-of-age as a gay man at the height of the AIDS crisis. Through these histories, he brings to life the emotional battle between father and son, and his ongoing battle to take pride in himself as a gay Filipino American man against all odds.” Ariel and I trained martial arts together and experienced the same weird and abusive cult-like dynamics simultaneously. We both left, got out, and cut ties independently of one another. But then, we found our way back to friendship as we were both processing what happened years later. It’s been really great to reconnect. arielestrada.com  leviathanlab.com arielestradadesign.com   #theempowermentpodcastbynaga #empowermentselfdefense #nagacommunity   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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. Clara has worked as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at the University of New England. She was the Coordinator of Interpersonal Violence Prevention at the University of Southern Maine and was the Executive Director at the Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine before focusing full-time on Prevention. Action. Change. Clara is certified in Advanced Trauma First Aide, and has extensive experience working with organizations and people of all ages including folks with physical, mental/emotional, and developmental challenges. Clara’s Website: https://pacmaine.com/ @nagacommunity, @silviasmart, #empowermentselfdefense #theempowermentpodcastbynaga   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 service, provide a backdrop to Wim’s journey of healing and redemption. Host, Silvia Smart reads excerpts from the book and finds out from Wim how “don’t give up ever, no matter what life throws at you” has become his message of empowerment and hope. #theempowermentpodcastbynaga, #empowermentselfdefense, @NagaMartialArts, @NagaCommunity   Wim Wetzel’s Book “Surviving Death By A Thousand Cuts”: https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Death-Thousand-Cuts-Wetzel/dp/0463558634   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 resources and more information. Mature content. Janessa’s Blog, "Well, Actually":  http://www.janessajaye.com/well-actually/ Janessa’s YouTubeChannel:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiuVjApfqNe3HAF29FksnuA/videos Janessa’s Podcasts on SoundCloud:  https://soundcloud.com/user-49527017 (JANESSA AFTER DARK is their pop culture/commentary show, MISS JAYE: THE RENOVATION is their limited series about self-help and personal growth) Instagram: http://Instagram.com/JanessaJayeOfficial  Expect strong language. @nagamartialarts, @nagacommunity #stealthing #bodyautonomy #theempowermentpodcastbynaga #empowermentselfdefense   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 Trainings on Zoom: https://nagacommunity.com/active-shooter-training/ FBI Information: https://youtu.be/55v7fP5nn9c Stop the Bleed: https://www.stopthebleed.org/ #nagacommunity #theempowermentpodcastbynaga #activeshootertraining   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 motherhood, and into a deep conviction to make the world a better place, you’ll love getting to know Julie! Where to find Julie Belew, her podcast, and her editing business: www.rapethepodcast.com @rapethepodcast www.chickedits.com   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group. Production and Editing Credit: Henry Smart-Denson

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 they’ve learned, legal issues they’ve faced, how they’ve supported one another, how far they have come, what friends and family can do to support a loved one in an abusive relationship and so much more. Join us for this courageous and empowering conversation! Names and voices have been changed for safety. Please be aware that the content is at times, very hard to listen to. #nagacommunity #theempowermentpodcastbynaga   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 story shows how the perpetrator used similar ploys and strategies on both women but evolved to an even greater level of abuse over time. With Abigail, for example, he controlled and manipulated a false narrative that she was emotionally unbalanced, leaving her even more isolated and alone. Most importantly we begin to see how, when Abigail was ready to reach out to her, Pam’s journey and support made the difference between life and death for herself and her two small children. In the next episode, Part Three, Pam and Abigail come together and we discuss what they’ve learned, how they’ve helped one another, how far they have come, what friends and family can do to support a loved one in an abusive relationship and so much more. Join us for these heartfelt stories of courage and survival! Names and voices have been changed for safety. Please be aware that the content is at times, very hard to listen to. #nagacommunity #theempowermentpodcastbynaga   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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. This is the first of a three-part series. In Part Two, we’ll meet Abigail, who married the same abuser a few years after Pam left him. In Part Three, Pam and Abigail come together and we discuss what they’ve learned, how they’ve helped one another, how far they have come, what friends and family can do to support a loved one in an abusive relationship and so much more. Names and voices have been changed for safety. Please be aware that the content is at times, very hard to listen to.   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 particular to People of Color within the broad framework of the empowerment self-defense movement. @NagaMartialArts @ImpactBoston http://impactboston.org/, https://nagacommunity.com/   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 belongs: on the perpetrator. “No more victim-blaming” is a paradigm-shifting concept taught in Empowerment Self Defense classes. Join us for this important conversation!   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 what makes it different from self-defense courses that don’t make that distinction. Find out how ESD responds to social change movements and what has driven Martha to dedicate her life to this work!   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 institutions, organizations, families, and individuals use the wealth of information in this landmark study to prevent the so-called "Red-Zone" and create campuses where students are able to be both autonomous and safe? This is a paradigm-shifting book. Listen up, read the book, then let's get out and make the world a safer place! @jennifershirsch @shamuskhan @wwnorton   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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. Py was Chief Instructor there from 1971 through 1984. Back in 1978, Py published “Fear Into Anger: A Manual of Self Defense for Women” which you can still buy on Amazon. There was even a song written about her by The Righteous Mothers call, aptly, “PY”. Be sure to look it up!   Py has been one of my heroes since I first heard her name back in the early 90’s when I was a self-defense teacher wannabe. Some of you will remember Py’s amazing story from episode #2. If you haven’t heard that episode yet, about the continuum of sexual assault, be sure to go back and listen!   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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 think about, so remember to breathe!   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.

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’s a lot to listen to and think about, so remember to breathe!   Special thanks to my producer/editor, Henry Smart-Denson   Support this important work: Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silviasmart Donate through my website: https://nagacommunity.com/product/support-the-empowerment-podcast-by-naga/ Thank you! Join “The Empowerment Project” Group on Facebook. For everyone’s safety, please know that if you don’t answer the questions, we will not accept you into the group.