Women Who Fight supports female fighters, collecting specialist advice and sharing current research from the experts. We are passionate about creating a space where women can find answers in a supportive and safe environment, promoting equality in the gym, on screen, in research and in prizes, as well as sinking our teeth into the best ways to optimise our health and training. We believe that our training should work with our unique and dynamic bodies, building on our strengths to help us grow and evolve in our field. In a male dominated sport, women need to support each other as we develop within it, and Women Who Fight aims to bring knowledge to the people who need it.
Episodes
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Mike Piekarski lives in Eastern Washington where he works as a performance coach specialising in sports performance for combat athletes and as a physical therapist.
Mike originally went to college to study psychology at Binghamton University in Upstate New York, however during his time there he discovered his true passion - BJJ. He has since focused on his martial arts training competing in BJJ, submission grappling, muay thai and competing as a pro MMA fighter. He returned to study to become a physical therapist, graduating from Stony Brook with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. He has since completed advanced studies become a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. Still an active competitor, Mike is a brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and instructor.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Mike Piekarski
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Kelly McNulty is a PHD student studying the effects of menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on performance, recovery and adaptation in sports women.
Kelly started a platform called Period of the period with the goal to ‘change the narrative for women’s health and performance in sport & exercise through awareness, evidence-based education & support”.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Kelly McNulty
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Joyce Harper is an author, academic, scientist and educator. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London in the Institute for Women’s Health where she is Head of the Reproductive Science and Society Group. She is a Director of the Embryology and PGD Academy which delivers an online certificate in clinical embryology and founder of Global Women Connected.
She has worked in the fields of fertility, genetics and reproductive science since 1987, written over 230 scientific papers and published three books. She started her career as an embryologist, then moved into reproductive science and genetics. Now she is researching into fertility and reproductive health education, FemTech, IVF add-ons, gamete donation and the menopause.
Joyce is a passionate educator at all levels, from the general public to PhD students. She is invited to numerous international meetings, including keynote and plenary lectures. She regularly appears on TV, radio and in the press. She gives talks for companies to understand fertility issues in the workplace, including the menopause. In 2022, she is giving free talks in UK schools to discuss fertility education.
She is founder of Reproductive Health at Work, helping companies ensure that the reproductive health needs of their staff are catered for https://joyceharper.com/repro-at-work/
She is co-founder of the UK Fertility Education Initiative (www.fertilityed.uk) and founder of the International Fertility Education Initiative (www.eshre.eu/ifei).
Her latest book, 'Your Fertile Years', What you need to know to make informed choices, has been published by JOHN MURRAY PRESS, SHELDON PRESS and signed copies can be ordered from www.joyceharper.com.
She is a cold-water swimmer and an ambassador for This Girl Can.
Follow on Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok and Linkedin - @ProfJoyceHarper
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Joyce Harper
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Emma Thomas is a former Muay Thai fighter who's been living in Bangkok for 10 years. She's also the creator of the blog Under the Ropes where she writes about her experiences as a woman in Muay Thai and gender inequality in the sport. Her article about being sexually assaulted by a trainer has ultimately led Emma to become a public speaker and activist working for the elimination of gender-based violence and rape culture.
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Dr Anna Kavoura is a sport psychology specialist and a postdoc researcher. Her research has focused on issues related to gender and sexuality in sport, in particular combat sports. Anna is interested in identifying approaches that contribute towards more inclusive, ethical and safe sport cultures. Anna is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Anna Kavoura
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.kavoura.3
Insta: annakavo_sportpsych (professional account)
annakavoura (personal account)
Twitter: @DrAnnaKavoura
Wednesday May 25, 2022
Wednesday May 25, 2022
Sky has been coaching for seven years now as a PT and became a certified nutritionist three years ago. Sky setup soci.eaty, which has three main services, online training & nutrition coaching, business mentoring & public speaking. She works predominantly with women, coaching them to have a better relationship with food, exercise & themselves.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Sky Elizabeth Asquith
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
Jenny Valentish is a journalist and author, including the books Everything Harder Than Everyone Else: Why Some of Us Push Our Bodies to Extremes, and Woman of Substances: A Journey Into Addiction and Treatment. At 46 she had her first amateur Muay Thai fight as part of her immersion journalism quest to understand the fine line between hedonism and endurance.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Jenny Valentish
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Lesley Sackey is a former EU gold medalist and Team GB boxer. On Friday 13th of May Lesley will be fighting on an all female boxing show, The Fight Back, at Allstars boxing gym in west London. This will be her final amateur fight as she turns 40 this year and amateur rules prevent her from fighting after this age.
The Fight Back event launches Fight Forward, a social enterprising aiming to educate young girls and women in the issues surrounding Domestic Abuse.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Lesley Sackey
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Victoria Team USA Wrestler, 2x World Team Member, 2x US Open Champion, 3x Pan American Champion in Women's Freestyle Wrestling, Judoka and now pursuing MMA.
Victoria radiates joy and warmth in this eye opening conversation about her experiences and personal development through training and competing throughout her life.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Victoria Anthony (Vortex)
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
Mackenzie Dern is a former world no.1 ranked IBJJF competitor and an ADCC world champion. She had her first MMA fight in 2016, and in 2018 entered the UFC. She had two fights before becoming pregnant - she returned within 4 months of giving birth Mackenzie won her recent fight against Tecia Torres and is currently ranked 4th in the female divisions.
Hosts: Shanti & Marina
Guest: Mackenzie Dern
Sound Editor and Composer: Will Grant