11/19/2024
You Won’t Want to Miss this Self Defense Success Story! An Interview with Ashlyn Johnson
Folks this is a jaw-dropping self-defense success story! Meet Ashlyn Johnson, a martial artist of many years who uses her skills and experience to help make the world a better place. Here’s Ashlyn’s bio: Ashlyn Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE Dr. Johnson is an assistant professor of nu...
11/09/2024
Post Election 2024 - A Few Reflections
It's the week after the election. For me, and likely for many of you, it’s been a week of feelings, reflections, and long talks with friends…and what a week it’s been! This episode is a few of my initial reflections on this week in the US. post-election 2024. It’s for those of us who teach E...
05/27/2024
It was inspiring to teach Empowerment Self Defense in a women's prison last week. Ellen Scott, professor at the University of Oregon, has been teaching "The Ravages of Social Inequality", and one of the course textbooks is "Get Empowered" by colleagues Nadia Telsey & Lauren Taylor.
The folks in custody are hungry for empowerment. We know a high percentage of incarcerated females are victims of sexual assault, have experienced violence, and live with trauma. Kudos to Professor Scott for providing this accredited course, thanks to Jocelyn Hollander for recommending me, and deep love to those who participated in my three-hour workshop. ❤
05/24/2024
The Origins of the Women’s Self Defense Movement - An Interview with Historian Wendy Rouse
We’ve got an award-willing guest speaking with us and we’re about to learn a lot about the origins of the women's self-defense movement in the United States. Turn up your volume and put on your thinking cap. Here we go! Wendy Rouse, among many other things, is a historian who teaches at San Jose...
04/14/2024
San Francisco State’s Empowerment Self Defense Program – An Interview with Stephanie Cyr | The Empowerment Podcast By Naga
Stephanie Cyr has started an Empowerment Self Defense Program at SFSU that is rolling out in the Fall of 2024! In this episode, she’ll tell us all about it, share a wonderful self-defense success story and so much more. Our wide-ranging conversation covers how great it will be when we can make ESD...
04/11/2024
San Francisco State’s Empowerment Self Defense Program – An Interview with Stephanie Cyr
Stephanie Cyr has started an Empowerment Self Defense Program at SFSU that is rolling out in the Fall of 2024! In this episode, she’ll tell us all about it, share a wonderful self-defense success story and so much more. Our wide-ranging conversation covers how great it will be when we can make ESD...
04/05/2024
Congrats to Poekoelan Tjimindie’s newest Green Sashes, Mas Barbara and Mas Jane!!!
02/29/2024
Samra’s Story – And How She Got Her Joy Back
My friends, this is a true story about a girl who innocently, during a wonderful time in her young life, was robbed of her joy. Adults, the narrative can be hard to hear. Please listen first and decide if or how you would like the children in your lives to hear this episode. If you decide to listen....
02/28/2024
Silvia Smart will be receiving an award from the City of Beaverton on Monday evening for "The Best of Beaverton". She is recognized for her passion and dedication to teaching empowerment, self-defense, resilience and safety in the community over these many years. Aside from teaching martial arts and Empowerment Self Defense, Silvia hosts two podcasts, "The Empowerment Podcast by Naga" and "The Power Up Kids Self Defense Podcast. She was inducted into the AWMAI Hall of Fame in 2020 and volunteers at the local county jail bringing awareness to folks who are incarcerated about addiction and options for living and thriving clean and sober. Please join us in congratulating Silvia Smart!
02/15/2024
PORTLAND PEOPLE: I'm looking for two strong older teens or younger adults willing to hold pads for me in downtown PDX next week. If you know someone who wants to earn some good $ for a couple hours of physical work, please PM me. Hours 1-5PM on Thursday, 2/22.
02/15/2024
Success Story – Complying & Playing Along
Did you know that complying and playing along are essential tools you already have in your toolkit? It can help us buy time to get help or get to safety. Join host Silvia Smart as she shares how one person “played along” to stop an attempted r**e and get to safety. Our stories are important. YOU...