The Empowerment in Action:Global Voices of Self Defense Podcast

The Empowerment in Action:Global Voices of Self Defense Podcast

Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self Defense is a podcast sharing stories of Global Voices during the UN Women’s 16 Day of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Episodes

December 4, 2025 28 mins

In this AEP Spotlight episode, we sit down with Obadiah Mshindi, Founder of Mshindi Pan African Cultural Arts, LLC, a lifelong martial artist, educator, and community empowerment leader based in Philadelphia. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Obadiah shares how his unique blend of African combat systems, functional training, and cultural arts shapes the transformational learning experiences he ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Season 3, Episode 4: AEP Spotlight: Janice Okamoto

 

In this episode of Empowerment in Action: AEP Spotlight, host Adanma Nwokoma sits down with Janice Okamoto, Executive Director of the Alameda HS Jujitsu Alumni, Inc., and Chief Instructor at Alameda Judo/Jujitsu in California, USA.

 

With over 45 years of martial arts experience, Janice shares how she’s integrating the Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) curriculum into her outreach, ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Rising Through Empowerment with Jess Gordon

In this episode, Adanma Nwokoma speaks with Jess Gordon, educator, Empowerment Self Defense instructor, and founder of Arise in British Columbia. Jess shares how she blends movement, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed education to build confidence and safety from the inside out. From preteen programs to corporate traini...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In this second episode of the AEP Spotlight series of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, we shine the light on Stephanie Cyr, attorney, educator, health coach, lifelong martial artist, and one of ESD Global’s Accredited Education Providers.

 

From creating the first university-accredited Minor in Empowerment Self-Defense at San...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Season 3 of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense opens this September with our AEP Spotlight on Tasha Ina Church—an indigenous female entrepreneur, empowerment coach, bestselling author, and founder of ElleLiveAction.

 

With over 25 years of experience and more than 13,500 students trained in 132 countries, Tasha is a true force in Empowerment Self-Defense. As an Accredited Education Provider (AEP) with ESD Global, ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Violence isn’t always what we can see, sometimes it hides in systems, habits, and the silences we’ve been taught to accept.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sarah Malotane Henkeman unpacks the layered realities of visible and invisible violence, reveals tools for externalizing conflict, and shows how real accountability can transform both relationships and societies.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Reclaiming Power: How Empowerment Self-Defense Transforms Lives

Guest: Nicole Snell, CEO of Girls Fight Back

 

In this episode of Empowerment in Action, we sit down with award-winning speaker and self-defense advocate Nicole Snell to explore how Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is more than a safety strategy—it’s a path...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

“Safety, Resistance, and Reclaiming Power” with Meg Stone

What does it really mean to feel safe? In this powerful episode, Meg Stone, Executive Director of IMPACT Boston and IMPACT: Ability, joins us to challenge the traditional narratives around safety, especially for people with disabilities and trauma histories. We explore the difference between safety through reliance an...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

In this empowering episode of the Empowerment in Action Podcast, we sit down with Dr. John Ughulu — best-selling author, award-winning leader, and founder of the John Ughulu Foundation. Together, we explore the powerful themes in his book, "Leadership Principles Unleashed," and dive into his inspiring work promoting positive masculinity, mentorship, and purpose-driven leadership. Dr. Ughulu shares why r...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

New Episode Alert!

Mentorship is a game-changer in the Empowerment Self-Defense movement! In this episode of Empowerment in Action, we sit down with Kim Rivers, an expert ESD instructor and mentor, to discuss leadership, boundary-setting, and the power of ethical mentorship in violence prevention.

 Tune in now

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

For the first time on Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, we're featuring a male guest—Eric Ellis—in recognition of his outstanding work promoting positive masculinity.

As President & CEO of Integrity Development Corp., Eric is a DEI strategist, mentor, and musician making a profound impact in various spheres:

Transforming w...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Join us on Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense as Dr. Dawn Malotane-Lindsey, Executive Director of ESD Global, explores the critical topic of Preventing Secondary Abuse. Discover the ripple effects of abuse, how to break the cycle, and empower survivors through transformative approaches rooted in Empowerment Self Defense.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense! Join Miriam L. King, "The Safe Space Maker," as she shares her journey as an educator, artist, and advocate for empathic leadership. Discover how she empowers teams, bridges generational gaps, and fosters safer workplaces. Tune in to learn how leadership and self-defense align to create transformative change!

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense! Join Miriam L. King, "The Safe Space Maker," as she shares her journey as an educator, artist, and advocate for empathic leadership. Discover how she empowers teams, bridges generational gaps, and fosters safer workplaces. Tune in to learn how leadership and self-defense align to create transformative change!

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Welcome to the second episode of Empowerment in Action: Global Voices of Self-Defense, where we amplify stories of resilience and transformation. Today, we’re thrilled to feature Dr. Lami Ibrahim, a trailblazer in faith-based advocacy, education, and Empowerment Self-Defense. Join us as we explore how her groundbreaking work equips women and girls to reclaim their dignity, assert their boundaries, and b...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast series: Empowerment in Action – Global Voices of Self-Defense.

Content Warning: This episode contains information that could be activating to listeners. 

This episode, titled "Dealing with Abuse and Psychopathy," features Dr. Dawn Malotane Lindsey, Executive Director of ESD Global. Dr. Lindsey coura...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices