Insights from recent episode analysis
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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
10,001 - 25,000 - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
25,001 - 75,000 - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
5,001 - 15,000
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On the show
Recent episodes
How YOU Can Clean Up Jiu-Jitsu
May 5, 2026
1h 03m 41s
Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
Apr 24, 2026
1h 02m 41s
How to Identify "Active Clubs" in BJJ
Apr 17, 2026
1h 06m 03s
How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn)
Apr 9, 2026
1h 07m 27s
Jiu-Jitsu in the Face of War and Economic Disaster
Mar 22, 2026
58m 23s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5/26 |  How YOU Can Clean Up Jiu-Jitsu | After yet another sexual abuse case in the BJJ community, the Fighting Matters crew works through a question every grappler eventually has to answer: "What can I, as just a student, actually do about this?" They get into voting with your wallet, the black belt blackmail trap, why we're great at sweating into each other's eyeballs but terrible at conversations, and Mike's framework for delivering hard feedback without lighting the gym on fire. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Magic BJJ — https://magicbjj... | 1h 03m 41s | ||||||
| 4/24/26 | Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ), and Niamh Bryn (Snowblind BJJ) for a recap of the recent Rough Hands spring camp in Louisville. The four of them argue that the best jiu-jitsu camps are not the ones that cram the most jiu-jitsu in, and that the celebrity instructor model has quietly priced out and burned out the people the sport depends on. 🔗 Links Mentioned: - Gi to Sea (Jeff Shaw, Bernardo Faria, D... | 1h 02m 41s | ||||||
| 4/17/26 | How to Identify "Active Clubs" in BJJ | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Hannah Gais, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center who has tracked white nationalist and neo-Nazi movements since 2016 and also trains jiu-jitsu. They get into how active clubs and far-right groups use combat sports gyms as recruitment grounds, why most practitioners don't see it happening, and what coaches and gym owners can actually do about it. ⸻ 🔗 Links Mentioned: - Southern Poverty Law Center — https://... | 1h 06m 03s | ||||||
| 4/9/26 | How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn) | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting sit down with Eric Lowe, a 13-year HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) instructor and school founder. HEMA had a serious white supremacist problem, and they actually did something about it. Eric walks through what worked, what didn't, and what BJJ and MMA can steal from the playbook. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: - Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com - Stephan Kesting — https://grapplearts.com - Eric Lowe — https://crossroadsswor... | 1h 07m 27s | ||||||
| 3/22/26 |  Jiu-Jitsu in the Face of War and Economic Disaster | Today, Jesse, Mike and Stephan discuss the impact of war on everyday life, particularly how the ongoing war in Iran could affect gas prices and essential goods if it continues. Conflicts in the Middle East can turn luxury activities into financial burdens, forcing people to prioritise their spending and making jiu-jitsu training and other leisure activities unaffordable as the cost of everyday living rises. | 58m 23s | ||||||
| 3/19/26 | Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Matt Tansey and Daniel Millstein: two licensed mental health professionals who also train jiu-jitsu. They attack one of the most repeated claims in the sport ("jiu-jitsu is my therapy"), what's actually true about it, what isn't, and why the distinction matters more than most people think. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: • Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com • Matt Tansey — https://matthewtansey.com • Daniel Millstein — https://www.psychology... | 1h 15m 48s | ||||||
| 3/12/26 | The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington) | In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, host Steve Kwan sits down with Valerie Worthington: BJJ black belt, professor of educational psychology, and one of the sport's most thoughtful voices on culture and ethics. They dig into why the people doing the most good in jiu-jitsu are also the least visible, what it would actually take to fix BJJ's culture problems, and why opening a gym means signing up for a job nobody prepared you for. This is a conversation about leadership, accountabi... | 1h 00m 32s | ||||||
| 3/5/26 |  How MAGA is Using Religion to Go to War | Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw explore the terrifying consequences of MAGA coopting Christianity and using misinterpretations of biblical ideas like the rapture, the apocalypse, and end times theology as justification for going to war with Iran. We also look into Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's religious denomination and find some truly disturbing details. | 53m 59s | ||||||
| 3/3/26 | Discord & Roblox: The pipeline to school shootings (w/ David Riedman) | School violence researcher and Homeland Security expert David Riedman joins Steve and Jesse to break down the radicalization pipeline feeding modern school shootings. David covers how isolated kids get pulled into nihilistic violence through deregulated social media, grooming on Roblox, and private Discord servers, and why your BJJ gym might be one of the most powerful interventions available. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Riedman Report (Substack) — https://riedmanreport.substack.com • K-12 School S... | 59m 18s | ||||||
| 2/18/26 | Gordon Ryan & The Epstein Fallout | In this Presidents Day episode, Fighting Matters connects two explosive stories: Gordon Ryan’s inappropriate DMs and the growing fallout from the Epstein file releases. We debate accountability, conspiracy culture, institutional corruption, and whether justice can survive political power. The conversation turns to Jiu-Jitsu’s own culture, red flags in gyms, and what responsibility communities have when systems fail. ⸻ 👥 Featuring: • Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting (Host) • Mike Mahaffey —... | 1h 03m 18s | ||||||
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| 2/12/26 | Martial Artists Should Get Political | In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker are joined by Joshua Peters: martial arts instructor, former school teacher, and current candidate for Anne Arundel County Council. They explore why local politics matters, how martial arts and civic duty intersect, and why “keeping politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” is a myth. This is a conversation about courage, participation, and standing up for your community. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Joshua Peters Campaign — https:/... | 1h 04m 40s | ||||||
| 2/6/26 | How the USA is Trying to Steal Canada's Oil | In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw are joined by Tyson LaRone (The Warrior Philosopher) to unpack the renewed push for Alberta separatism, its connections to Trump and MAGA, and the growing influence of U.S. political forces in Canadian domestic affairs. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters ⸻ 👥 Featuring: • Stephan Kesting — https://www.grapplearts.com • Jeff Shaw — https://bellinghambjj.com • Tyson Lar... | 1h 09m 42s | ||||||
| 2/5/26 | How Hate Found a Home in Jiu-Jitsu & MMA | This interview is an excerpt from Dark Martial Arts History, an 8-part audio documentary chronicling the history and rise of extremism in martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. The rest of the documentary is available on BJJ Mental Models Premium, but this piece is relevant to current events, so we're publishing it here for free. In the sixth episode of Dark Martial Arts History, hosts Ben Van Doren and Eva Schubert are joined by longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu educator and commentator ... | 1h 23m 21s | ||||||
| 2/3/26 | The collapse of Atos (and what comes next) | The allegations against Andre Galvao, and subsequent collapse of Atos, have sent shockwaves through the Jiu-Jitsu world. In this episode, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker unpack the allegations against Atos leadership, the victim statements that triggered a mass exodus, and why this moment feels different from past scandals. We explore abuse of power in martial arts, why competition success can’t excuse ethical failure, and what real accountability could look like, beyond statements and social med... | 55m 11s | ||||||
| 1/31/26 | You Can’t "Keep Politics Out" Anymore | The idea of “keeping politics out” is no longer tenable, especially in Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts communities. Against the backdrop of escalating political violence, institutional breakdowns, and global instability, we explore the civic responsibility of gym owners, coaches, and athletes, and why silence increasingly amounts to complicity. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters • Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com •... | 1h 00m 32s | ||||||
| 1/26/26 | The Minnesota Shootings and What Comes Next | Mother, poet, and US citizen Renée Good was shot by ICE on January 7, closely followed by the shooting of ICU Nurse and US citizen Alex Pretti on January 24th, apparently by members of the Border Patrol. Both Renée and Alex were immediately denounced as "domestic terrorists" by the US administration and an army of bots has been circulating a deluge of easily debunkable falsehood about the two victims. In this episode of Fighting Matters BJJ black belt Stephan Kesting is joined Tyson Larone, ... | 1h 31m 45s | ||||||
| 1/23/26 | Racism Can’t Be Ignored in Jiu-Jitsu Gyms (w/ Deon Thompson & Stephen Hall) | Racism, extremism, and exclusion aren’t abstract problems in martial arts. They show up in real gyms, affect real people, and shape who feels safe on the mats. In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Mike Mahaffey and Jesse Walker are joined by Deon Thompson and Stephen Hall for a candid, deeply personal conversation about how racism and hate groups intersect with Jiu-Jitsu culture, why “staying neutral” is not an option, and what responsibility coaches carry when they teach people how to ... | 1h 13m 40s | ||||||
| 1/18/26 | This moment feels like the 1930s | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting unpack the political chaos of early 2026 and its real-world consequences for martial artists. From international instability and economic shocks to propaganda, media capture, and rising authoritarianism, they discuss why “keeping politics out of jiu-jitsu” is no longer possible... and what individuals can actually do in moments like this. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters • BJ... | 1h 09m 26s | ||||||
| 1/7/26 | We Must Never Forget January 6th. — Jeff Shaw, Fighting Matters | No description provided. | 2m 59s | ||||||
| 12/30/25 | BJJ's Best and Worst of 2025 | This episode of Fighting Matters closes out the year with a no-holds-barred look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2025. The hosts break down the biggest wins, deepest disappointments, and most important moments that shaped the sport—on and off the mats. From cultural flashpoints to genuine bright spots, this is BJJ’s year in review, warts and all. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktr.ee/fightingmatters • Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com ⸻ ... | 1h 00m 30s | ||||||
| 12/18/25 | The relentless bullying of trans athletes | In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker confront the relentless bullying and scapegoating of transgender athletes, especially within combat sports. They unpack how bad-faith arguments, misinformation, and moral panic have turned a tiny minority into a political and cultural punching bag, and discuss what gym owners, coaches, and training partners can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Lin... | 57m 25s | ||||||
| 12/13/25 | The True Villain in The Boys (And It's Not Who You Think) | The Fighting Matters crew is joined by Shaun Benson from The Boys to talk about about the show and how it relates to the state of the world right now. Along the way we explore the blurring of lines between credible information and disinformation, the rise of Fascism, and the real bad guy responsible for evil in both The Boys and the real world. Follow Shaun on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunybenso and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shaunmbenson/ | 1h 22m 00s | ||||||
| 12/3/25 | Craig Jones trolled his way into the NYT | In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • The NYT Article — https://nyti.ms/3Y1N6oz • Nate West’s Website — https://anathanwest.com • The Baffler — https://thebaffler.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com Adrian Nathan West — htt... | 58m 02s | ||||||
| 11/27/25 | How bad BJJ coaches trap you with rank | In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker break down how bad BJJ coaches trap students with rank. They explore how belt pressure becomes a tool for fear and control, why some gyms drift into cult-like behavior, and how to spot red flags before you get stuck. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Grapplearts Black Friday Sale — https://www.grapplearts.com • BJJ Mental Models Premium — https://bjjmentalmodels.com • Rough Hands BJJ — https://roughhandsb... | 1h 03m 52s | ||||||
| 11/19/25 | MAGA Needs an Exit Strategy | In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker talk about the recent political shift of Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and her public apology regarding her past rhetoric and actions. They explore the implications of her apology, the need for accountability, and the potential for redemption in politics. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters • Fighting Matters Food Drive (direct link) — https://te... | 1h 08m 44s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
12 placements across 12 markets.
Chart Positions
12 placements across 12 markets.