Born to Be a Badass

This is the Born to Be a Badass Podcast. Focused on Women, Violence & Safety, Life after Trauma, and Developing Personal Power & Courage.

076 - INTERVIEW: The Four Elements and Self Defense with Alice Alexandrescu 10/25/2021

076 - INTERVIEW: The Four Elements and Self Defense with Alice Alexandrescu Alice Alexandrescu is an options facilitator who helps people identify and protect their mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical boundaries. Currently, she is mentoring under Tony Blauer in his SPEAR System Elite Masterclass. She is an Army veteran, holds a Master of Fine Arts in Behavioral Aesthetics and is a qualified mental health associate skills trainer. In 2020, Alice was awarded third place in the National Veterans’ Art Festival for her piece entitled, “888 Paper Cranes”, which she gradually completed while hospitalized for PTSD. Saying, “during my treatment, crushing waves of emotions, thought, and sensation were delicately folded into each crane”. Alice’s work can be viewed in her Instagram where she just lays her studio and research methodology as a public living journal in video and photography. In this episode, Alice and I discuss: Being In tune with your elements - Air, Water, Fire and Earth The Three D’s - Detect, Defuse, Defend Non-violent communication - jackal mindset versus giraffe mindset Key Takeaways: Everybody deserves to live out their dreams but usually conflict and harm gets in the way of that, either coming from other people or from the bully within. Defending yourself from attacks from both fronts will help you live your life the best that you could. Have an understanding of what you want to protect and express that with passion. Create a clear system of boundaries. Practice stillness and quietness. Have compassion on your body, be mindful of what you’re eating and doing. Remember D1, D2, and D3. Detect to avoid, be situationally aware to not be in a threatening place in the first place. Defuse to deescalate, when the first D doesn’t work, try to defuse the situation, or get to a place where you can be safe. Defend to protect yourself if the other options are unavailable. Step out of violent communication where somebody wins and somebody loses.. Shift into being able to let both sides win together. Use language to heal each other. “Language is the first technology - effective, clear, language to represent what’s going on in our internal world to coordinate, create, and manifest" — Alice Alexandrescu Connect with Alice Alexandrescu: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20920871

075 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - BEHAVIORAL CUES 10/22/2021

075 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - BEHAVIORAL CUES Melissa Soalt is a women’s self-defense pioneer, a black belt hall of fame recipient, former trauma psychotherapist, and the creator of Fierce & Female Self Defense. She is a forerunner in full-force padded assailant scenario training, her approach is both practical and transformational. She has taught thousands of women how to safeguard their boundaries, protect themselves from danger and resist attack while reconnecting women with deep-seated, primal and emotional powers to live safer, bolder, and fuller lives and to reverse female fear. Melissa is an outspoken advocate for self-defense as physical feminism, she has been featured in national and international media and has also taught in Europe, India, Nepal, and Kenya. She provides customized online training and corporate consulting and is at work on a manifesto for women. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: Pre-assault indicators, the power of fear, and innate awareness. Staying focused and alert for street crimes Signs that someone is going to physically attack you Seeing the whole person Key Takeaways: Pre-assault indicators go beyond physical cues, manipulation and terror tactics are part of it. Fear is pervasive, it affects every decision you make in your life. We need to have an innate awareness, attuned fully to our intuition. The feeling of unease, or discomfort are important factors. . When you feel like a person is trying to distract you, do these things: watch their hands, have a neutral face, see as wide as possible, create a bit of distance, and observe scouting. Watch out for signs of when someone’s about to attack you. They will often be anxious, build up adrenaline, and so will be shifting from foot to foot, going into a boxer’s stance. You may also notice their jaw clenching forward and an unmistakable tension. You want to see the whole person if you want to remain safe and prepared from any sudden movements that they may do, watch their shoulders - they’ll go back before striking. “Most of us don’t go around punching things, choking people, grabbing people from behind. But we need to learn what that looks like so that if we’re out in the street, or a shopping mall, and somebody has this intention, we’ll see it faster - if we have that kind of training." — Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood Connect with Melissa Soalt: Facebook: Website: LinkedIn: YouTube: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20899583

074 - INTERVIEW: Recognizing Safety Nets with Raven Scott 10/18/2021

074 - INTERVIEW: Recognizing Safety Nets with Raven Scott Raven Scott is a survivor of an abusing relationship with a narcissist, she’s gone from being a people pleaser to a kick-ass author, podcaster, and mentor and she’s a certified meditation teacher and a Destiny Coach. She teaches women how to shed negative patterns one step at a time, to find their power and potential through healing so that they can kick ass in their own life. Raven has a terrific podcast called “Unlock Your Destiny” and she recently published a book that’s a memoir combined with an empath’s healing guide, that book is called “Empath and The Narcissist: A Healing Guide For People Pleasers”. In this episode, Raven and I discuss: Spotting a narcissist and examples of manipulation When psychological abuse turns physical Concept of Safety Nets and keeping safe from cyber-stalking Coping with PTSD through breath and EFT Key Takeaways: Often, low self-esteem caused by experiences in one’s childhood can make them a perfect target for narcissists’ manipulation - it’s important to make peace with your past and focus on building back that self-worth in order to raise your defenses against people with no empathy. Narcissist don’t have any empathy. You’ll know one is manipulating you if they’re showing no regard or your emotions and are always pinning the blame on you or something you did. You often will not get any arguments with a narcissist early on because they will be love-bombing you to gain your trust but when you do argue, you’ll find yourself questioning your perception of right and wrong and by the end of the argument, you’ll find that the whole problem is you, and it’s all up to you to fix it and it’s not their problem. Psychological abuse often turns physical, pay attention to the signs and escape. Recognize Safety Nets - there’s many ways you can do to be safe from an abuser and keep yourself safe. A few avenues you can take is through the law, by filing for a restraining order or changing your name, you can also contact family and close friends to help you through transition, and you can also turn off your phone’s GPS tracking. "The biggest thing that narcissists want is attention… treat them like a stranger, don’t feel empathy for them and disengage from conversation… give yourself time for you." — Raven Scott Connect with Raven Scott: Website: Podcast: Book: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20831492

073 - INTERVIEW: Practicing Situational Awareness with M.E. Heald 10/11/2021

073 - INTERVIEW: Practicing Situational Awareness with M.E. Heald M.E. Heald graduated 2006 with a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, and in 2010 with a masters in Criminal Justice specific to gangs and youth offenders. She has worked all over the place, including food service, sales, a few years as a promotional and advertising model, a year as a Miller Light Gal, she has also been an advocate at a sexual assault center and has spent the last 7 years as a corrections officer, the last 9 as a case manager. She trains new staff in self-defense, control tactics, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, scenario-based trainings, conflict management, negotiations and more. In this episode, M.E. Heald and I discuss: Practicing situational awareness Understanding the criminal mind Crisis intervention and negotiations Safety tips to use when travelling Key Takeaways: Be aware and listen to your gut - it will save you from a lot of trouble. Understanding the criminal mind will help you keep yourself safe and be one step ahead of predators. People are complicated, there are a lot of things that happen that make people who they are - choices they made and choices that were made upon them. Give people a way out, if it’s an option, when intervening in a crisis and you might get to them more effectively. "Know your surroundings, know your go-to places, let the people you trust know where you’re going, know who you’re with" — M.E. Heald Connect with M.E. Heald: Website: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20744486

072 - INTERVIEW: The Process of Healing Trauma with Wendy Keir 10/04/2021

072 - INTERVIEW: The Process of Healing Trauma with Wendy Keir Wendy Keir has spent her whole life recovering from the traumatic aftereffects of being institutionalized in the United Kingdom’s care system. She believes that healing from emotional and traumatic scars is an inside out job. The path to successful ongoing recovery and to breaking the cycle starts with your relationship with yourself and others, how you perceive the world around you and changing your inner world. In this episode, Wendy and I discuss: What is trauma and denial? Recognizing how trauma affects your life Processing your trauma and rebuilding back your self-esteem Finding your identity as a fighter Key Takeaways: A trauma is any event that leaves an emotional imprint within your identity that changes your behavior. Trauma completely changes your personality, body and mind. Trauma can be passed on from parent to child. Recognizing trauma starts from diving within yourself, it’s a process of healing and that starts with being self-aware. Take the one thing that’s affecting your life the most right now and address that right now. Take things one step at a time. One of the things that is often lost when going through traumatic events is self-esteem. You can regain your self-esteem by connecting with the part of you that’s able to see yourself from a loving, compassionate, forgiving, and more empowering mindset. Fear isn’t real, it’s an illusion of the mind that has been created from what we experienced in the past. "When you start reconnecting with and connecting with the part that is able to acknowledge, to forgive, to comfort the child or the young woman, or young adult that had that experience, you naturally start to see a different side of your personality. You start to recognize that it wasn’t not your fault, it was out of your control. You can start to recognize who it is you are, as an individual." — Wendy Keir Connect with Wendy Keir: Facebook: Website: Email: LinkedIn: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20683091

071 - INTERVIEW: Real-world self-defense with Meredith Gold 09/20/2021

071 - INTERVIEW: Real-world self-defense with Meredith Gold About Meredith Gold: She is a scenario-based, full force, self defense instructor. She’s been teaching Adrenal Stress Scenario Training, also known as ASST to adults and teens since 1992 and started her empowerment-based assertive communication and self-defense program RAW Power: Real World Self-Defense in 2000. Meredith’s primary focus has always been teaching self-defense and verbal empowerment skills to previously untrained women and teens but her focus has expanded to other high risk targeted communities including LGBTQ and AAPI. She has also been instrumental in bringing awareness to this training method to the martial arts community. She and her husband/training partner Michael Belzer have offered training and instructor certifications to martial artists all around the world. A contributing for Black Belt Magazine for five years, Meredith was inducted into their hall of fame in 2003 when they named her their Woman of The Year. In this episode, Meredith and I discuss: The difference of martial arts and full force self-defense training RAW Power - The three most important components of self-defense How people can deal with threats Setting and communicating boundaries clearly Key Takeaways: Fighting in martial arts and fighting in real life have different rules. You might need to learn practical fighting techniques that will help you defend against predators along with martial arts. RAW stands for Ready, Aware, Willing. These are the three most important components of self-defense. Be aware when you’re outside - predators are always looking for someone who’s not paying attention. Remember “elevator” - communicate clearly that you’re not comfortable and escalate with every ignored remark, then give a warning that there will be consequences if they don’t stop. "The most important component in these situations is fighting spirit - it’s the deep belief that we have the right and ability to live a safe life." — Meredith Gold Check out Managing Violence Podcast by Joe Saunders - Episode with Meredith Gold and Michael Belzer: Connect with Meredith Gold: Facebook: Website: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20527553

070 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - RAPE DEFENSE 09/17/2021

070 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - RAPE DEFENSE Melissa Soalt is a women’s self-defense pioneer, a black belt hall of fame recipient, former trauma psychotherapist, and the creator of Fierce & Female Self Defense. She is a forerunner in full-force padded assailant scenario training, her approach is both practical and transformational. She has taught thousands of women how to safeguard their boundaries, protect themselves from danger and resist attack while reconnecting women with deep-seated, primal and emotional powers to live safer, bolder, and fuller lives and to reverse female fear. Melissa is an outspoken advocate for self-defense as physical feminism, she has been featured in national and international media and has also taught in Europe, India, Nepal, and Kenya. She provides customized online training and corporate consulting and is at work on a manifesto for women. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: When submission is necessary Tonic immobility or rape paralysis Skills and strategies to counteract tonic immobility Self-defense options when being attacked by a rapist Key Takeaways: Sometimes submission is the best choice against an attack if there is too much at stake. Tonic immobility is something that happens to anyone, whether animals or humans, who are attacked by a predator. It serves as an automatic biological response - a cushion for the person who’s supposedly experiencing imminent death. This happens to rape victims too. Use your intuition to dissuade and trick the predator, make some type of noise with the objects around you. Coil in to yourself and don’t telegraph your thoughts. Bring awareness into the situation but don’t let the assailant’s words get under your skin. If you see a space to take action, take it. If their face is near your head, scream into their ear. Use your body’s natural weapon or get a weapon from around you. Go zero to a hundred on them. If you can get your legs and heels planted on their hipbone, you might be able to get up and run - control the hip to control the situation. "Your goal is to facilitate escape. But often, to enable escape you have to disable or hurt something on the other person. That’s what enables our escape. — Melissa Soalt Connect with Melissa Soalt: Facebook: Website: LinkedIn: YouTube: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20505902

069 - INTERVIEW: Advocating for Yourself with Alice Alexandrescu 09/13/2021

069 - INTERVIEW: Advocating for Yourself with Alice Alexandrescu Alice Alexandrescu is an options facilitator who helps people identify and protect their mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical boundaries. Currently, she is mentoring under Tony Blauer in his SPEAR System Elite Masterclass. She is an army veteran, holds a master of fine arts in behavioral aesthetics and is a qualified mental health associate skills trainer. In 2020, Alice was awarded third place in the National Veterans’ Art Festival for her piece entitled, “888 Paper Cranes”, which she gradually completed while hospitalized for PTSD. Saying, “during my treatment, crushing waves of emotions, thought, and sensation were delicately folded into each crane”. Alice’s work can be viewed in her Instagram where she just lays her studio and research methodology as a public living journal in video and photography. In this episode, Alice and I discuss: Standing up for injustice and learning the skills to back up that courage Recognizing cycles of abuse - listening to your intuition Non-clinical art therapy and other tools for healing Key Takeaways: Learning self-defense doesn’t only have to be for yourself, you can use it to protect others and take action when you see injustice and abuse. Just because the current abuse you take is lesser than the previous, doesn’t mean that it’s better - don’t fall into the trap of abusive cycles. Survivors of abuse often speak of a “bad feeling” that they get before the abuse happened. Learn to listen to your gut and respond to it accordingly. Creations of art often bring about healing through self-reflection and expression of pain. Similarly, self-defense can be considered a certain kind of art in itself. “When I start making these choices to advocate for my needs, be self-aware, identify what I need and want, be brave to communicate that, and respond to the response..." — Alice Alexandrescu Connect with Alice Alexandrescu: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20451635

068 - INTERVIEW: Setting Strong Boundaries With Randy King 09/06/2021

068 - INTERVIEW: Setting Strong Boundaries With Randy King Randy is an education-based self-defense coach with over 15 years of experience who has taught thousands of people all over the world to better understand conflict management and violence prevention. In his quest to help people better understand conflict and violence, he has had the privilege to work with a truly diverse group of people including communities such as the first nations in Canada, Women’s Shelters as well as professional organizations like law enforcement and private corporations. He also has an absolutely amazing podcast channel called Randy King Live. In this episode, Randy and I discuss: The most essential skills to defend against alcoholic assailants Avoiding or deescalating social violence Mixture of skills that supplement self-defense skills The difference between social violence and predatory violence Key Takeaways: It’s easier to choose non-violence if you’re already skilled in violence. If you don’t have any skills, you don’t really have any choice - but if you know self-defense, you have a “fight” to fall back to in situations that need it. Train yourself to think beyond the situation and to not take things personally in social violence situations so that you can avoid further violence. Train your communication skills, boundaries and physical skills. If you’re able to talk a person out of making a bad decision, you might not even need to fight - but it’s always good to have your fighting skill ready. Social violence is for the ego of the group or the person while predatory violence is more about taking something away from you. One is about status and one is about resources. Show the predator that they chose the wrong target. "If your boundaries are strong and you look like you’re capable of stopping that person, they’re going to choose weaker prey… boundary-setting is the root of self-defense." — Randy King Connect with Randy King: YouTube: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20377793

067 - INTERVIEW: Becoming A Diamond with Aisya Carroll 08/30/2021

067 - INTERVIEW: Becoming A Diamond with Aisya Carroll Aisya Carroll is a certified life-coach, author, mentor, advocate for childhood trauma, a consultant and the CEO of Survivor Not By Chance LLC., whose mission is to help people cope with traumatic experiences by teaching them healthy coping mechanisms. Aisya has clients from across the globe with various backgrounds and experiences. She has mentored teenagers and young adults for over 15 years and is an advocate for children and adults affected by childhood trauma and domestic violence. Aisya volunteers to educate the community about racial injustice and systemic oppression in minority communities. She uses her own experiences with childhood trauma, domestic violence and poverty as a tool to help others heal. Aisya is the author of the book, “The Pressures of Becoming a Diamond”, an autobiographical novel about her challenging life experiences. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The New Jersey Institute of Technology In this episode, Aisya and I discuss: Taking back your voice Becoming a diamond, embracing the pressure Coping with trauma by releasing emotions Practicing meditation to cultivate a stronger coping ability Key Takeaways: People will silence you and will invalidate your story, but you can take your voice back and never let it be taken away from you. Speak up and don’t let anyone stop you. There is an inner healing and an inner peace that only you can give yourself. Diamonds are beautiful, but they are made beautiful by a process of intense pressure. Our culture teaches us that crying is weak, but it’s the opposite - being able to show emotions is strength. Meditation can be done anywhere, anytime and in any way that works for you - but it gives many benefits for your mind. “Diamonds are amazing jewels… very valuable, something that almost everyone wants. Yet people forget the process that diamonds go through to be as beautiful as they are… In my life, I had a lot of pressures that pushed me and forced me into becoming the diamond I am today." — Aisya Carroll Connect with Aisya Carroll: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: Email: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20298107

066 - INTERVIEW: Embracing Reality with Kinko Hamilton 08/23/2021

066 - INTERVIEW: Embracing Reality with Kinko Hamilton Kinko Hamilton has a mission to heal the world. While she was taking a break from her holistic healing practice due to pregnancy or the delivery of her second son, she started learning martial arts thinking that she’s learning self-defense. After several serious injuries, she started redefining what self-defense is and now she teaches Tony Blauer’s SPEAR System as an official affiliate trainer. Kinko has also studied DTS which is Dacascos Tactical System, kyusho jitsu which is pressure-point self defense, and trauma-informed self-defense. She created and hosted the Women’s Self-Defense Summit in 2020 and will continue to host it every year, gathering the world’s top self-defense experts to educate women to live inspired and empowered. She’s fluent in Japanese and plans to bring her work to her home country, Japan, in the near future. She’s also the host of a great podcast called, “Rise Up Against Violence” In this episode, Kinko and I discuss: Teaching both compassion and self-respect to children Experiencing violence in school and at home Changing your expectations Practical martial arts Key Takeaways: Teach our kids to fight back when someone hits them and stand up for themselves when they’re being victimized, but otherwise be kind and compassionate. Teach them to be a fighter with a good heart. People in authority in school don’t often stand up for targeted children because of fear of dealing with the family of the child - but abuse will continue if nobody takes action. Accept what’s happening - stop holding on to what should be or what should’ve been and see things for what they are. Martial arts and self-defense are different from each other. Just because you know one, doesn’t mean you’ll be good at the other. "Embrace reality. Embrace the fact rather than holding on to an idea. Face the facts and go from there." — Kinko Hamilton Connect with Kinko Hamilton: Instagram: Facebook: Podcast: Website: Email: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20219849

065 - INTERVIEW: Violence, Trauma and Healing with Pamela Armitage 08/16/2021

065 - INTERVIEW: Violence, Trauma and Healing with Pamela Armitage Parmila Armitage is the Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Studyviolence.com, an online resource with free online courses on violence prevention and defense. She is a violence prevention and defense teacher, certified trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, and a trauma-sensitive educator. She has created a Train The Trainer Program which educates self-defense and martial arts teachers how to conduct their classes in a trauma-informed and sensitive ways to better reach and empower her students. She has been working with survivors of abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and substance abuse disorder since 2016. In this episode, Pamela and I discuss: Experiencing abuse during childhood Predators and narcississts in the entertainment industry, red flags to watch out for and how to survive Caring for your mental health state, recognizing emotional abuse, and utilizing yoga and marial arts The difference between trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive Key Takeaways: Many targets of abuse tend to blame themselves for the crime done to them, but it’s important that somebody tells them it’s not their fault and the shame is not on the target but the perpetrator. We must teach people that predatory behavior and inappropriate comments disguised as jokes or comments are not okay, and could become the start of exploitation - it could be a predator testing the waters to see what they could get away with. Healing from trauma is possible through many paths, one of them being yoga. Preventing trauma can be done through learning self-defense. Take a step above being trauma-informed into being trauma-sensitive, learn to recognize the symptoms of trauma in your students if you are an educator who values trauma. "Trauma is the root core of all our societal issues… from mental health struggles, substance abuse disorders, domestic violence… it is the core to all of the pain in our society. Violence causes trauma and trauma causes violence." — Pamela Armitage Pamela’s Book Recommendations: Dr. Gabor Maté: | Bessel van der Kolk: Daniel J. Siegel: Connect with Pamela Armitage: Twitter: Facebook: Twitter: Email: TikTok: LinkedIn: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20146904

064 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - WOMEN AND VIOLENCE with Melissa Soalt 08/13/2021

064 - FIERCE AND FEMALE - WOMEN AND VIOLENCE with Melissa Soalt Melissa Soalt is a truly badass pioneer in the world of women’s self defense, the creator of Fierce and Female Self Defense, and my partner in this special series of Fierce and Female Fridays. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: Reconciling Buddha Nature and Killer Instinct. Acknowledging the violent potential as part of your personal identity. Women Warriors and Deadly Dames - looking into the history of women and violence Violence as a last resort when diplomacy fails Key Takeaways: In a perfect world, there wouldn't be a need for violence to defend oneself. Your violent potential is always within you on reserve, ready for access whenever needed. First, violence is not always evil. And second, the potential for violence is a part of people, even good people. Get acquainted with your identity as a woman warrior. There have been many in history, in many cultures and nations - you’ll find that you’re not alone. There have been many women warriors and deadly dames. Fear is what oppressors and predators count upon. "Women have always been warriors and deadly dames… When we discourage women from learning self-protection, we inadvertently encourage women to therefore submit to victimization." — Melissa Soalt Connect with Melissa Soalt: Facebook: Website: LinkedIn: YouTube: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20125577

063 - 10 Myths about Self-Defense 08/09/2021

063 - 10 Myths about Self-Defense In this episode, I discuss: The many different meanings of “self-defense” and what it actually is False beliefs on attracting violence, and the feeling of being too weak to protect yourself. Learning how to navigate through fear and other limiting beliefs - the cycle of behavior The truth about violence and how not all of it is bad Relying on tools and weapons to protect yourself and other self-defense myths Key Takeaways: Self-defense is the act of choosing safety when danger is imminent. You don’t have to wait to be struck, when you see imminent danger, you can pre-emptively make decisions that increases your chances to avoid violence or harrassment. Tap into the resources that you have, and be committed to not stop until they’re unable to hurt you. Give yourself a chance to learn everything you need: principles, mindset and techniques to not be defenseless. Fear can never be eliminated. Fearlessness is not possible, but you can grow into someone who’s more able to handle fear, someone who’s able to navigate through fear. Think about the image of a momma bear - they would do anything, including using physical force, to protect their loved ones. "You are your best weapon. Your best tools are your brain and your mindset." — Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/20074928

062 - INTERVIEW: Staying safe online with Charlotte Jolicoeur 08/02/2021

062 - INTERVIEW: Staying safe online with Charlotte Jolicoeur Charlotte is a Communications Consultant for Technology and Cybersecurity Companies that make today’s enterprises and governments safer. In her off hours, she is passionate about personal privacy and cybersecurity. She has degrees in Communications and Criminal Justice with a focus on cybercrime and cybersecurity. She was born and raised in Silicon Valley, earned a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 10, and was a competitive amateur ballroom dancer for several years. In this episode, Charlotte Jolicoeur and I discuss: Cybercrime and online harassment How to stay safe online The best way to manage your passwords The biggest threats to women in the online world Key Takeaways: Anonymity in the internet is often seen as an opportunity by predators to commit crime Think about the information you’re sharing online. Even if you don’t think that there’s any reason that anyone would target you, it’s still important to keep safe and keep your personal posts private. Change your passwords, make them complicated. Chances are that you’re reusing passwords. Once they crack that, they can get to your other accounts too. Look at your social media profiles and update all your security settings. What you’re looking for is posts which show your location, workplace, schedule, frequent places, home address. Google yourself. Google your information, your phone number, email and full name to see where your information has been posted. There’s so much about us that’s available out there that we don’t know about. “Go through your friends group and connections, and make sure that you are connecting with people that you trust with your information. Limit your information to everybody else." — Charlotte Jolicoeur Check out this website to know if you’re email or contact number has been acquired online: Connect with Charlotte Jolicoeur: Twitter: Website: LinkedIn: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19972580

061- INTERVIEW: Martial Arts and Self-Protection with Mary Stevens 07/26/2021

061- INTERVIEW: Martial Arts and Self-Protection with Mary Stevens Mary Stevens is a third degree black belt and martial arts instructor with 18 years experience with Karate, weapons and Jujitsu. She holds a master’s degree from Oxford University and a post-graduate certificate in education. She runs her own Martial Arts School called the Athena School of Karate, has written a series of children’s books and works with an international charity called Fair Fight which empowers young girls in developing countries, using Karate as a tool to develop confidence and self-determination. Mary is passionate about martial arts as a tool for confidence building and is a strong advocate for personal security education. In this episode, Mary and I discuss: Tips for women for finding and learning about their strengths and weaknesses Going through an abusive or manipulative relationship and how to get out Educating young men and women about avoiding and defending one’s self from abuse How martial arts lessons translate to other parts of life Key Takeaways: Attending martial arts classes is not only about self-defense, but self-empowerment. Finding your strength is not only in practical arts, but can also be found in reading good books. When going through abuse, try to see the bigger picture. Taking action to distance yourself from your abuser might be a tough decision, but it’s the only one that’s good. To know if you’re getting gaslit, write everything down. It’s important that we teach the youth today, both young men and women, what it’s like to be in a healthy relationship in order that they may not fall into an abusive or manipulative relationship. Martial arts can cultivate confidence, discipline, and self-determination - while also of course, giving one more ability to protect themselves. “A good martial artist is a good learner on all different environments" — Mary Stevens Connect with Mary Stevens: Twitter: Facebook: Website: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, or are a survivor, healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19928918

060 - FIERCE AND FEMALE FRIDAY - BOUNDARIES 07/23/2021

060 - FIERCE AND FEMALE FRIDAY - BOUNDARIES In this episode, we discuss: The most important technique for being safe, our first line of defense What happens in the absence of boundaries Setting firm boundaries Defending yourself when somebody crosses your boundaries and knowing when your boundaries are violated Key Takeaways: Set and defend firm boundaries, it will prevent attacks. Setting boundaries is our right. Our ability to set them is what makes us far less vulnerable to intrusion, manipulation, or attacks. Predators and abusers see the absence of boundaries as a power vacuum - weak boundaries is what they look for. If somebody intrudes on your boundaries, it’s not your fault. But it’s your right and your responsibility to set boundaries. Acknowledge your intuition if something doesn’t feel right. Assert your feelings to someone who’s making you feel uncomfortable, and get ready to back up that assertion because it will be challenged. Predators are looking for a way to control and get to someone’s mind; small acts of denial of their control can save your life. Assert your limits, speak firmly. Setting boundaries is our first line of defense, if a predator crosses that, you have to take further actions to defend yourself. Yell, tell them to back away. If that doesn’t work, prepare to defend yourself physically. "Setting limits around our mind, our authority, our sense of self, it’s what keeps us intact as having the ownership over our own lives and determining what’s around us." — Cynthia Jolicoeur CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19903364

059 - SOLO: Street Harassment with Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood 07/19/2021

059 - SOLO: Street Harassment with Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood In this episode, I discuss: Common examples of and statistics on street harassment How street harassment can affect targets What you can do about street harassment if you're a target A larger perspective on street harassment, more solutions for protecting yourself from predators and reasons behind predatory behavior Key Takeaways: It's not productive to engage harassers. Your number one goal is being safe, not teaching an asshole a lesson. Most harassers are generally harmless, but some are actually predators - listen to your intuition, pay attention to what your primal survival system is telling you. Be prepared to take action when you need to. When they move from verbal to physical, you absolutely have to act. You may ask a bystander to walk with you, draw attention to people around, or fight. Do whatever it takes to drive them away. There’s nothing wrong with you. You have the right to take space in this world, a right to go about your life unimpeded, and fend off unwanted unwelcome comments, gestures and touching. Walk confidently, listen to your intuition and don’t let predators take your joy away from you. “Your body and your life are worth protecting. So be prepared to do whatever it takes to protect yourself." — Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19841723

058 - INTERVIEW: Forging A Path To Freedom with Mytrae Meliana 07/12/2021

058 - INTERVIEW: Forging A Path To Freedom with Mytrae Meliana Mytrae Meliana is a Women’s Empowerment and Spiritual Teacher, a Holistic Psychotherapist, Trauma Expert, speaker and author. She leads workshops and programs for women that empower them to heal from trauma, liberate themselves from patriarchy, and connect with the divine feminine so that they can live true, bold, inspired lives. Mytrae is also the founder of Temple of Sound Healing, which teaches Sound Healing to Health and Wellness Practitioners and Social Justice Community Leaders. An immigrant from India, Mytrae shares her story of healing, empowerment, and awakening in her memoir: “Brown Skin Girl: An Indian-American Woman's Magical Journey From Broken To Beautiful”. In this episode, Mytrae and I discuss: Seeking a way out in an abusive relationship How children are affected by abuse - signs to watch out for and how they may cope Knowing your rights as a human being The clash between individuality and family, culture and religion Key Takeaways: Acknowledge when you discover that you’re living a lie and letting your freedom be limited by other people - you have the capacity to break free and make it on your own, even if it doesn’t feel like it. It’s important to explain sexual boundaries to your child; they might be getting abused but don’t have the language to express to you what they’re going through Own and proclaim your freedom, don’t follow the train tracks of control and expectation, and build your own life. Your culture might tell you that God is angry at you or that you are bad, but there’s never a moment that you’re not loved by the Divine. "Taking the baby steps when I couldn’t chart out anything in my life was a way to crawl forward in my life… we’re scared and daunted of what we have to do but take that one step… that’s plenty. It’s a way to build that muscle and move… you’ll be stuck, unless you keep moving " — Mytrae Meliana Check out Mytrae’s book, “Brown Skin Girl”, here: Connect with Mytrae Meliana: Twitter: Facebook: Website: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19767191

057- INTERVIEW: Recapturing joy with Cindy Villanueva 07/05/2021

057- INTERVIEW: Recapturing joy with Cindy Villanueva Cindy Villanueva is a memoirist and an inspirational writer with a passion for helping women achieve lives of strength and joy. She’s the author of a terrific book called “Don’t Fight Mad: A Black Belt’s Quest To Recapture Joy” and she is the co-author of “Finding Our Wings: Seven Entrepreneurs on Reclaiming Hope and Power”. Cindy is a seventh degree black-belt master instructor and the owner of Ernie Reyes’ World Martial Arts. Her love of teaching led her to be an adjunct professor at Concordia University of Texas where she teaches undergraduate marketing and graduate marketing management and leadership. She speaks regularly on leadership and women in business. Cindy has four children and two grand-children and she splits her time between Austin, Texas and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. In this episode, Cindy and I discuss: Difference between progression in girls and boys when learning self-defense How to set healthy boundaries and how to communicate effectively Navigating through fear and dealing with it healthily Warning signs of an unhealthy or a potentially dangerous relationship Key Takeaways: Don’t be afraid to change. Be the person who you’re designed to be, that person can change and that’s okay. To learn self-defense quicker, be comfortable with getting hurt and be ready to hurt. Sometimes violence is appropriate. Not all kinds of violence are evil. Think about the upside of embracing that fear vs capitulating to that fear. If you choose the latter, you would be less than who you are designed to be and who you’re capable of being. Don’t instantly dismiss yourself when you feel something is wrong. Trust your intuition and make an informed decision. "As soon as you hear or start saying the word ‘should’, run the other direction… there shouldn’t be a should, everyone is different. Figure out who you are… and what brings you joy." — Cindy Villanueva Connect with Cindy Villanueva: Twitter: Website: | LinkedIn: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19687817

056 - INTERVIEW: Seizing the Power Within with Melissa Soalt 06/28/2021

056 - INTERVIEW: Seizing the Power Within with Melissa Soalt Melissa Soalt is a women’s self-defense pioneer, a Black Belt Hall of Fame recipient, former trauma psychotherapist, and the creator of Fierce & Female Self Defense. She is a forerunner in full-force padded assailant scenario training, her approach is both practical and transformational. She has taught thousands of women how to safeguard their boundaries, protect themselves from danger and resist attack while reconnecting women with deep-seated, primal and emotional powers to live safer, bolder, and fuller lives and to reverse female fear. Melissa is an outspoken advocate for self-defense as physical feminism, she has been featured in national and international media and has also taught in Europe, India, Nepal, and Kenya. She provides customized online training and corporate consulting and is at work on a manifesto for women. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: The journey from innocence to awakening into aggression and survival Fighting back against violent attempts from people who won’t take no for an answer Our power and potential as part of our original, primordial nature. The reversal of horrific oppressive culture Key Takeaways: Don’t silence yourself nor let yourself be silenced. Your body is an instrument of power. Your body, as a tool, can be dangerous to oppressors. We have to be able to make room in our hearts for the capacity for aggressive force, that’s the first step to fighting back. You can still be caring and loving, but at the same time be fierce and indomitable. The reversal for the oppressor’s perceived right to take is our right to take control, to embrace power and defend ourselves. "Speak up and take action if something doesn’t feel right. Free yourself from fears that inhibit you…" — Melissa Soalt Connect with Melissa Soalt: Facebook: Website: LinkedIn: YouTube: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/19545806

055- INTERVIEW: Healing From Trauma with Alba Soto 09/21/2020

054- INTERVIEW: Women and Safety with Sheena Williams 09/14/2020

054- INTERVIEW: Women and Safety with Sheena Williams Sheena has been teaching 20 years, ten of which have been dedicated to self defense. With loads of hands on experience with violence and defending herself and others from violence her expertise is undeniable. Certified as an Instructor in Krav Maga, Striking and MMA, Firearms, Grappling and more, Sheena owner and Lead Instructor of Krav Maga Salem in Oregon where they also teach Muay Thai, Catch Wrestling, Knife Fighting, Kali and more. In this episode, Sheena Williams and I discuss: Utilizing martial arts to subdue combative people in a hospital facility. Learning to engage against violent threats but to meet the people with dignity and respect. De-escalation in various situations, in yourself and in others. Integrative Defense Strategies by Todd Fossey. Key Takeaways: When thinking about edged weapons, don’t just think knives, box cutters, or traditional edged weapons, think outside of the box. Adapt your language to de-escalate the situation rather than put the situation/person into crisis mode again. Meet the person at the situation and mental state they are in, not where you feel they should be. Most defense situations while carrying a firearm happen within 6 feet. Utilize the training for that situation. "I, and I alone, am responsible for my happiness." — Sheena Williams Connect with Sheena Williams: Website: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15991955

053- INTERVIEW: Narcissism with Babita Spinelli 09/07/2020

053- INTERVIEW: Narcissism with Babita Spinelli Babita Spinelli is a psychotherapist and certified coach who works with people who are experiencing significant life transitions and couples looking to improve or rebuild their relationships and survivors of trauma and abuse. One of her key areas of focus is on narcissism and how to deal with people who are narcissists. She received the 29 Teen New York psychotherapist award. She's also a lawyer, and she used to work on Wall Street. In this episode, Babita and I discuss: Setting boundaries so that you can recognize when people are taking space in your life when they shouldn’t be. Setting relationship boundaries by making the space of a sacred couple. The pressures surrounding getting into and being in a relationship. The narcissism spectrum, the roots of narcissism, and the lack of empathy. Key Takeaways: If you are in a relationship with a narcissist you need to give yourself permission to leave. Use an utilize your village to help you leave and to help you stay safe. Use fear as your friend, understand the dangers of breaking up with a narcissist, the cost of taking action, and the cost of not taking action. Moving forward after a narcissistic relationship, apply what you have learned, realize what you want and need in your next relationship, and ultimately to trust yourself. "There is an inner voice that is indicating something isn’t right. Notice what you are feeling around the individual you are dating." — Babita Spinelli Mentioned: Connect with Babita Spinelli: Instagram: Facebook: Website: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15886925

052- INTERVIEW: Safety and Self-Defense in the Urban Environment with Beverly Baker 08/31/2020

052- INTERVIEW: Safety and Self-Defense in the Urban Environment with Beverly Baker Beverly Baker is an amazing badass woman who is a martial artist and self-defense coach. She is the founder of the Metropolitan Finishing School, which is not the place to go if you are looking to learn how to serve tea correctly, it is where you want to go if you want to learn how to keep yourself safe in urban environments. In this episode, Beverly Baker and I discuss: Distance management: where distance is your best friend.Avoidance, situational proximity, what’s normal for the context of your situation. Circling around behind someone while pretending like you are looking at something else. Tactics for keeping an eye people. Pieing the corner: don’t hug corners, have an open field of vision. Street dodging: utilize the reflections on the windows around you, how are the people around you reacting, turn, and look nonchalantly. Play spot the bad guy, take in your environment and someone who may be standing out When visiting a new city know what you want to do, where you want to go, and what the top crimes for the area are. Be aware of how people are intersecting with you. They can use charm, discount boundaries, teaming “we”, and/or loan sharking. Key Takeaways: Preparing for and dealing with the situations that you will encounter. It’s all about what makes sense at the moment you are in and what scenario you are in. Prepare ahead by knowing what bags you will be carrying and practice how you will carry and store them in the different locations you will be visiting. When visiting a new city decide what do I want to do, where do I want to go, and what are the top crimes for the area. Feel free to lie and deflect questions back toward the unknown person who is asking about you. "The largest threats that women face are from people they know." — Beverly Baker Mentioned: Connect with Beverly Baker: Website: Instagram: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15792680

051- INTERVIEW: Insights into Domestic Violence – A Conversation With Danny Burde 08/24/2020

051- INTERVIEW: Insights into Domestic Violence – A Conversation With Danny Burde Danny Burde is the founder of Iron Crew Athletics. He has bachelor's degrees in both psychology and kinesiology. He's a CrossFit level two coach, and was a head coach at NorCal CrossFit (akaNCfit) before he started Iron Crew Athletics. He's been immersed in fitness since he was 12 years old and has an immense passion for helping other people. Danny specializes in helping people find sustainable exercise and nutrition plans and his vision is a world where everyone stays in shape and eats healthy forever. A former police officer who used to respond to domestic violence calls, he’s also waiting to serve his sentence after being convicted of felony domestic violence. In this episode, Danny and I discuss: Being a police officer and dealing with domestic violence incidents. The cycle of abuse as well as abuse in emotional, psychological, and physical ways. How police officers are trained to handle conflict resolution. Domestic violence: happens to everyone. It doesn’t pick a sex or body type. Key Takeaways: Danny’s favorite self-care practice is exercising. Danny’s advice to men in their 20’s is to realize that you are young, don’t give in to the pressure of being in a rush to start your life. "This incident, this moment in time, does not define who you are." — Danny Burde Connect with Danny Burde: Website: Instagram: Youtube: LinkedIn: Podcast: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15725333

050- INTERVIEW: A Badass Out of History with Mila Johanson 08/17/2020

050- INTERVIEW: A Badass Out of History with Mila Johanson Mila Johansson is a professional director, playwright, and writer. She's the author of 22 plays and musicals that circle the globe, along with two teaching manuals, 101 Theater games, and 50 scenes to go. Mila also teaches social media screenwriting, creative writing, herbology, and Public Speaking at a local Adult Education School. She has just published a book about her famous suffragette grandmother, Jesse Haver Butler, just in time for the hundredth anniversary of women getting the right to vote which is in August of 2020. The book is called From Cowgirl to Congress. Mila lives on her organic citrus ranch in Northern California with her husband, four dogs and a cat. She says that every woman in the United States today owes their voting rights to her grandmother Jessie, and to the others who fought so bravely for women's suffrage. In this episode, Mila and I discuss: Women’s suffrage and the life of women before they had won the right to vote. The fights and lobbying to Washington during the suffrage movement. The variety of issues that Jesse tackled to address the unfair treatment of people. Jessie, her friends, and her husband’s stories during the fight for equal rights. Key Takeaways: Mila’s favorite self-care practice is eating organically, eating fresh food, utilizing her skills as a certified herbalist, and walking. Mila’s advice to women in their 20’s is to pay attention more and study history more. Mila’s best advice for women to develop their own personal power and courage is to recognize that you've always had the power. You have it, assume it today. There's nothing to stop you except yourself. "Don't wait for the right moment." — Mila Johanson Connect with Mila Johanson: Website: YouTube: Book: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15623462

049- INTERVIEW: Women and Firearms with Caren Heise 08/10/2020

049- INTERVIEW: Women and Firearms with Caren Heise Karen Heise is an emergency preparedness coach and firearms instructor. She leads two shooting chapters of The Well-Armed Woman and has multiple instructor certifications. She and her husband have a business where they help individuals and families become better prepared for emergency situations, covering all aspects of emergency preparedness including firearms training and maintenance. In this episode, Caren and I discuss: Getting exposure to firearms, firearm education, and situational awareness levels. The Well Armed Woman (TWAW) a group of women who meet monthly and practice, learn and grow as shooters. All levels from newbies to experienced competition shooters. Listening to your intuition, recognizing and sensing that something bad is about to happen, and not ignoring it. Conditioning yourself to recognize danger and how to prepare for handling danger when it is imminent. Key Takeaways: Caren’s advice to women in their 20’s is to just go after what you want. And if you fall down, get back up again. Also know there's a special someone out there for everyone. Get out there, do it and give it your best shot, but be cautious at the same time. Don't be naive, try to educate yourself on how the world works so that you don't follow into some of the common pitfalls that many young women do. Caren’s advice to find your own power and courage is to find your voice, your calm, and learn how to be okay with not reacting. "These ladies are not only self-protection like-minded and second amendment like-minded, but they're just cool and kind ladies." — Caren Heise Connect with Caren Heise: Website: Email: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15541559

048- Roundtable: #500 Rising Training 08/03/2020

048- Roundtable: #500 Rising Training #500 Rising is a movement that stands on the strong shoulders of the women who have come before us. Our first mission is to train female instructors in essential self-defense, and to support them as they reach out to their communities and networks to make a difference in the stubborn statistics of violence against women. It was founded by Tammy Yard McCracken. The first instructor training was recently held in Minneapolis, MN, and today’s roundtable discussion features many of those who participated and who were certified as the first officially endorsed #500Rising instructors. Tammy Yard McKracken is owner of Kore Self-Defense & Krav Maga and a globally certified expert level Krav Maga instructor. She is the third woman ever to earn an expert rank with Krav Maga Global (KMG) in North America. She is also one of the instructors for Violence Dynamics. Allison DiRienzo Allison is co-founder of Wolf Dog Marketing, a full service digital design agency, an Executive Team member of the #500Rising and Violence Dynamics organizations, a Board Member on She's Local and the Metrowest Conference for Women, and is a kickboxing instructor. She lives and trains martial arts in the greater Boston area with her husband and two giant wolf dogs. Kasey Keckeisen is a police officer in Minnesota and is an executive officer on the force’s tactical team. He has been training in martial arts for more than 25+ years and holds 6th degree black belts in Judo, Jujitsu, and Aikido and a black belt in Taiho Jutsu. Kasey is one of the founders of Violence Dynamics. Liisa Carter is a civilian follower of Violence Dynamics and a participant of the 500 Rising training. Sheena Williams experience is working in private security working hand in hand with law enforcement in an ER setting. She has since opened her own self-defense school and has been working there for 8+ years where she utilizes her skills in martial arts that she has been practicing for nearly a decade. Tia Keck along with her husband owns the Rock Hill Martial Arts gym. Tia is also an advocate of training for women to help them be safer not just feel safer. Kelly Sayre is the owner of Diamond Arrow Group where the training includes situational awareness, pre threat indicators, reading body language, while also making and reinforcing your boundaries. Amy Stewart Cooper is from Boise, Idaho, and has been training in martial arts for 8-10 years. She has been teaching women’s self-defense for a year and going to self-defense seminars for 3 years. Maggy Rae (Emme) is a self-defense trainer who spent 14 years in the corrections field and was also an officer for 7 years. She believes it is OK to have the fighter mindset and still be feminine. Lisa Abbott is the owner of Subtle Warrior Self-Defense in northeastern Nevada and she spends her time traveling to teach at self-defense seminars. In this episode, the Guests and I discuss: The #500Rising movement and the recent Foundations Training for the first group of #500Rising instructors What prevents women from attending a self-defense course? Why have Women’s-only as opposed to mixed-gender self-defense and training courses? Benefits and positive challenges within the 500 Rising Training. The advice and corresponding resources to improve self and familial protection abilities. Key Takeaways: Being understanding and making the training and self-defense environment comfortable for women that have been in negative and triggering past scenarios. Distinguishing between the actions of being responsible for and responsible to a person. Utilizing teach-backs in training. While intimidating, it is also a useful teaching tool for constructive feedback, and to help you improve as an instructor and coach. Trust your instinct and intuition that you can defend yourself. "Trust your intuition, always. When you get that feeling that something’s not quite right, listen to it." — Amy Stewart Cooper Mentioned: Connect with Tammy Yard McKracken: Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/tammyyardmccracken/, Instagram: Connect with Alison DiRienzo: Website: Facebook: IG: Connect with Kasey Keckeisen: Website: Connect with Sheena Williams: IG: Youtube: Facebook: Website: Connect with Tia Keck: Website: Connect with Kelly Sayre: Website: Instagram: Facebook: Connect with Amy Stewart Cooper: Instagram: @streetshieldselfdefense Blogger: [email protected] You Tube: Street Shield Self-Defense Connect with Maggy (Emme): Instagram: @mheald10 Facebook: Maggy Rae Connect with Lisa Abbott: Facebook: Instagram: Website: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15449066

047- INTERVIEW: Taking Action with Caterina Rando 07/27/2020

047- INTERVIEW: Taking Action with Caterina Rando Caterina Rando is a best selling author, sought after speaker, and an extraordinary women’s business mentor who passionately serves women leaders on a mission. Her over 25 years of educating and empowering audiences and groups makes her truly masterful at providing a ton of value. She shows women how to be loud and proud about the value they bring in order to serve more people and make their businesses thrive. She’s a published author with books including Learn to Think Differently which was released in more than 13 countries and multiple languages. A Women’s Guide to Starting a Giving Circle, and her latest book The ABC’s of Public Speaking which quickly hit number one in 4 Amazon Best Seller categories. Caterina is an absolute powerhouse and probably one of the most joyous uplifting people you can meet. In this episode, Caterina and I discuss: Shifting your self-perception mindset, dealing with setbacks, life obstacles, and managing disappointment. Not isolating yourself. Build a community or be a part of a community that supports you. Make an effort to consciously connect and only to take and accept feedback from trusted sources and to trust yourself. Not letting typical expectations and things hold you back. Embracing the fear, not worryng about what other people think, and letting go of thoughts of perfection. Creating Giving Circles: providing education and support and improving the lives of girls and women around the world. Key Takeaways: Caterina’s favorite self-care practice is in the power of action. Getting up and making things happen instead of wallowing and making the conscious decision to be positive in life. Caterina’s advice for women in their 20’s is that everything is going to work out, stop worrying so much. Caterina’s view on developing your own personal power and courage is to feel the fear and do it anyway. Navigate through fear by taking action. Action is the antidote to fear. Be proactive vs reactive when it’s something you want to do but are afraid to. "I want every woman to know that she matters, she has massive value to bring, that her voice matters." — Caterina Rando Book Mentioned: Connect with Caterina Rando: Podcast: Facebook: Website: Books: CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your with her today! Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected] To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or . Connect with me on , , , and /episode/index/show/borntobeabadass/id/15355112

Born to Be a Badass

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