Rope Podcast

To music or not to music? Music can be a hot debate in rope bondage - when to use it, what to use - whether to use it at all! Mya and fox love music and often include in in their scenes. In this conversation, they talk about: * Where and when music can be used * When you might not want to use music * At what points during a scene you might change your soundtrack up * How different tops and bottoms might use music * The benefits or effects of music that we can draw on for scenes * Some of the challenges or downsides of using music * Music and ableism * Should you include music in your negotiations? * Pros and cons of lyrically themed playlists * Popular examples that *could* work * Fox and Mya’s seal of approval for the official soundtrack of rope bondage ;)

Renee is a Canadian photographer and digital artist, whose kink journey started in the late 90's. Shibari photography for her became a visual expression of shapes in defiance of gravity, a delicate display of sadomasochism. Working with talented riggers, bottoms and self tying artists, she aims to create strong, clean kink images that respect the community and the artists. Mya and fox are big fans of her striking and distinct imagery, and in this episode, you can hear them discuss a wide range of fascinating topics, including: ◦ Her start as a rope bottom and the motorbike accident that changed her relationship with pain ◦ How she became a photographer of rope and used her experiences to inform her photographs ◦ The kinds of images she loves to create ◦ How she decides what to shoot ◦ The ways she collaborates and the teams she has for photoshoots ◦ Safety measures she uses to mitigate the risk of her shots ◦ What she looks for in rope photos she falls in love with ◦ How she got into composites and digital painting ◦ She talks us through the before, during and after of her ‘Icarus shoot’ ◦ And more!

In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss how you might use rope bondage with water, something they like a lot! Listen to them chat through the joys and challenges including: * All the safety, all the time: This is edge play within edge play! * Many of the risks and how you might mitigate them to some degree * The importance and support of how one (or more) spotters can support * Different types of water from baths to waterfalls and their unique challenges * Some of the gear you can involve * Three of their favourite scenes that have involved water

Tifareth is one of the Rope Podcast hosts’ favourite performers. In this episode, which continues the interview from part one (see Ep.122), we explore this topic with her, and discuss: ◦ How she developed her graceful rope handling style ◦ The drills she does and her attention to detail ◦ How she crafts her (amazing) rope performances ◦ How she works with her rope model during performances ◦ How she memorises her performances ◦ The critical role music plays in her performance and why ◦ Her new rope-photography space (Birdhouse, Toronto, Canada) and how it came to be Tifereth's introduction to rope bondage came in 2011 in the form of a surprisingly enjoyable futomomo tsuri. Since then she's drawn on her dual background in high-performance athletics and figurative arts to push herself physically and aesthetically on both ends of the rope. Known for her dynamic style of sadism, performative rope and creative approach to harness construction, she loves conveying her passion through engaging hands-on methods of instruction. A veteran educator and performer with credits including Prague Shibari Festival, Bondage Expo Dallas, Eurix, Helsinki Shibari, Shibaricon, as well as weekend workshops and performances all over the globe, she is most often found wherever the weird stuff is.

Tifereth's introduction to rope bondage came in 2011 in the form of a surprisingly enjoyable futomomo tsuri. Since then she's drawn on her dual background in high-performance athletics and figurative arts to push herself physically and aesthetically on both ends of the rope. Known for her dynamic style of sadism, performative rope and creative approach to harness construction, she loves conveying her passion through engaging hands-on methods of instruction. A veteran educator and performer with credits including Prague Shibari Festival, Bondage Expo Dallas, Eurix, Helsinki Shibari, Shibaricon, as well as weekend workshops and performances all over the globe, she is most often found wherever the weird stuff is. In this intimate episode, she discusses: ◦ Being banned from entering the USA, and how that changed her rope career ◦ Opening a venue and event space ◦ Her bottoming history and the injuries she was left with ◦ The challenges of being an early female rigger and how she had dealt with that ◦ How the scene has changed for female riggers over time ◦ The unique perspective she brings as a rope educator

The Damsel in Distress trope and fetish is something that can often be seen in rope bondage, particularly Western rope. The trope itself in mainstream media ignited many a kinky person’s desires. Fox and Mya discuss the trope, along with: * The gendered aspect of the term, what this might mean and alternatives * The history of the trope * Examples in the media and how these are already being subverted more recently * What kind of ties might be involved * The feel of this kind of scene * Role plays you might want to try * The importance of team in this kind of rope

Marceline VQ is an internationally recognized shibari artist whose work challenges viewers with aesthetic and technically complex rope work. She engages rope from all perspectives—as a model in her own rope, with other models in her rope, and as a model in others’ rope—allowing for a deeper understanding of the medium as a creative and connective tool. She adores the sensory experience of being in rope, as well as the idea of becoming “human sculpture.” Her work engages in conversation with themes from quantitative disciplines including geometry and physics and with themes from qualitative disciplines including analytic philosophy and universal empathy. She has studied with shibari communities across the globe, and is classically trained in visual fine arts. Marceline is based in New York City, USA, and with her co-creator/model Anya Demure, works to create rope imagery that is surprising and inventive. In this articulate and authentic episode, discover: ◦ Her journey through rope bottoming, self-tying and topping and what these different experiences have brought to her experience ◦ What she loves about rope and where it fits into her sexuality ◦ The difference between art and play ◦ How she collaborates with others ◦ Being pigeonholed for play because of her internet presence ◦ Negotiating for human sculpture play ◦ Installation art, and where her inspiration for these pieces comes from ◦ How her academic background contributes to her rope style and teaching ◦ Her biggest challenges in rope

In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss rope and ties that center on the butt. This topic is a particular favourite of Fox’s and he’s very enthusiastic. No, like really. Really really… Listen to the episode to hear a lively discussion about: * The kind of ties you might use for this rope, such as butt baskets and spreader ties * Special considerations in terms of negotiations and consent around this type of rope * Top and bottom thoughts on this kind of tie * The types of play and scenes where this type of tie might be fun * When you might not want to use these ties * Some examples of the host’s favourite scenes to use them in (spoiler alert: Fox’s favourite = every scene) Fox is also ON FIRE with his jokes in this one y’all - like he’s been saving all his jokes on this topic for this episode…. Click the links below to listen now :)

An early question for most rope enthusiasts is which rope should they use - with hemp, jute, nylon, cotton and even coconut rope available, how do you know which one you should tie with? Before you can decide, you need to think about some key questions to make sure your rope choice works for you. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss some of the factors you might consider when deciding which rope type to choose. And of course bottoms can buy their own rope kit too, and the hosts discuss why and when. The episode explores: * Limitations on the rope you might buy * How the way the rope looks affects your choice * The importance of touching the rope if you can before you buy, and why * The upkeep and care of different types of rope * Safety implications of different fibers * Transport and storage implications Click the links below to listen now :)

There’s a surprising amount of communication required in rope, and that can be done in a huge number of ways. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss when and how communication happens before, during and after a rope scene, and make suggestions about how to do this effectively. They also discuss: * Methods of communication and when they might be more or less helpful * Pros and cons of using different methods of expressing yourself * Possible goals of communication at different times * Who and why you might need to communicate with * Drawing on scuba diving and the military to create your own communication methods * Communication about communication!

When Fox and Mya met, they weren’t living in the same city, and so rope getaways - opportunities to go stay somewhere different, usually at least overnight, and do rope there - have been part of their history together from the start. In this episode they discuss what to plan for when thinking about a rope getaway, and some useful tips to think about when you get there. They also discuss: * How you might assess your potential rope get away location * Factors for suspension versus floor rope * Research to do before you get there * Safety and risk * Creative ways to use your new environment * Gear to bring with you - including stuff you really don’t want to forget * Rope-only getaways versus a getaway-with-rope * And a lot more They also share a couple of examples of scenes from their own rope getaways of times that have been especially memorable.

Fox and Mya discuss the Bunny Ears tie in this episode - also sometimes called the Duck Tie or Pillow Tie. This is a tie they use quite a lot in floor rope, and they share their experiences with this tie, including: ◦ What it looks like ◦ How it feels to be in ◦ Potential risks and safety ◦ Hair management issues that go along with the tie! ◦ Versions Fox has tied, and why he is tying his current, perhaps unusual, version ◦ When you might use this tie ◦ Scenes we’ve used the Bunny Ears tie in and how it added to our play

Addie is a rope switch in all the ways - she ties, is tied, self-ties, teaches and performs, some of this with her equally well-known partner rope partner Barkas. There was so much good stuff when talking to Addie we had to split the content split into two episodes! In this episode, part 2, you can find out: ◦ How to create your own narrative in rope ◦ Ways you can investigate your strengths as a rope bottom ◦ How to connect with a rope partner after a scene ◦ The negative physical consequences versus emotional consequences in rope ◦ How Addie discovered her strengths in rope ◦ Her personal definition of ‘good rope’ ◦ The next steps in her rope journey ◦ Teachers, education and community in rope and some of the challenges the field of rope faces

Addie is a rope switch in all the ways - she ties, is tied, self-ties, teaches and performs, some of this with her equally well-known partner rope partner Barkas. A very popular request as an interviewee, Mya and Fox were super excited to interview her for the podcast. In the episode, learn: - How she developed her experiences in the different realms of rope - How she and her partner experimented for a year before they found the right TK she could suspend in - Phases of developing your own style in rope - as a top and bottom - Where bratting fits in rope for her - Metaphors for rope that can help us understand our experiences better - What’s important to her in rope - How rope and her day job as a nurse have influenced each other Mental health conditions and her experiences of their interaction with those in rope

As is now the tradition at end of year festivities time, Fox and Mya revisit all the interviews on the Rope Podcast during the year and ask their guests what their favorite rope scene was. Discover how they do rope in their personal life, what touches them, and what stays with them. Happy New Year!

As is now the tradition at Christmas time, Fox and Mya revisit all the interviews on the Rope Podcast during the year and ask their guests what their favorite rope scene was. Discover how they do rope in their personal life, what touches them, and what stays with them. Merry Christmas!

“My main motivation is to improve the literature. People need to know what we do is okay…. hearing all the ways people experience pleasure in rope, whether it’s athletic, or meditation, or grounding, or that complicated pain-pleasure, I just love that.” @-Ropeology- Fox and Mya love to deepen their understanding of rope. When they came across Zoey (@-Ropeology-), a BDSM researcher who also does rope, they knew they wanted to talk to her. Zoey is keen for rope and BDSM to be understood better by those who do academic research on it, and in this interview, Fox and Mya talk to her about her findings, particularly around rope bondage practice and community, and the sociology of rope, as well as getting to know more about Zoey’s personal rope journey. In the episode, discover: ◦ Zoey’s personal rope practice as a switch ◦ What the current academic literature says about rope ◦ How rope sub-culture is experienced and how people feel about rope ◦ Zoey’s research on community and how rope connects people beyond their local physical city and country ◦ How Fetlife is used by the rope community versus other platforms like Instagram ◦ How members of the rope community often go through a change cycle in their experience of rope ◦ The pros and cons of practicing rope in public community spaces versus private spaces ◦ The way that people talk about the “complicated pleasure of rope” ◦ Her ideas on future research

In this vulnerable episode, Fox and Mya discuss the challenge of chronic pain in rope, inspired by a listener - a rope bottom with fibromyalgia. Both Mya and Fox have some chronic health issues which include the symptom of chronic pain, and they share some of their own challenges as a rope top and rope bottom in this context, as well as some ideas for handling this. In the episode hear them discuss: * The challenge of trying to understand where pain is coming from when in rope * Spoon Theory and how it relates to rope * How chronic pain might impact you as a rope top or rope bottom * How chronic pain impacts your body image * How the dichotomy of ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ pain might not be helpful, and a better question to ask * Practical things to help you do rope when you are handling chronic pain * How the constraints of chronic pain can support creativity * Scene negotiation when you have chronic pain * And a lot more!

“I can’t emphasise enough how good of a learning tool I think self-suspension is. Of course you learn tying techniques, but also skills relating to the experience of being in rope. As a person in rope, self-suspension is an invaluable tool: to lab your preferences, to learn to differentiate between warning signs of damage and sensations that are intense, but not harmful.” Shay Tiziano CW: Mentions self-harm, domestic abuse. Shay is the author of Tying and Flying: Bondage for Self-suspension, BDSM and sexuality educator, medical professional and host and facilitator of many kink events. One of our most-asked for interviews, Mya and Fox are also big fans of her online performances and classes, and were thrilled when Shay agreed to come on the podcast. Though the podcast focuses on self-suspension, as Mya and Fox will attest, there’s plenty of useful ideas for ropes bottoms and tops too In the episode, discover: - How Shay got into self-suspending initially - The role of intention in self-suspending and how it makes a difference to your practice - Flow, self-suspension and different feeling states it can create - How Shay works self-tying into partnered play - The skills self-suspenders might need before going in the air - How to mitigate the risks of self-suspension, especially some that are less well-known - What can rope tops and bottoms learn from self-suspending? - Why she thinks a spotter is critical for self-suspenders, and great practical tips to help spotters - Circus rope - what is it, and how the BDSM scene needs to embrace it more

The 30Q Rope Challenge was created last year to gather and explore a diversity of people in the rope community’s experiences with rope. So many thanks to everyone who completed it so far! This is the second part of a two-episode special Fox and Mya discuss (without sharing any details from any individual respondents) themes and the most popular answers to questions that included: * Rope in the mouth - hot or not? * Favourite music during rope? * Which do you like more: how rope looks or how rope feels? * Do you like rope marks /burns / bruises? * Favourite body part to tie/be tied? * Dyed rope or natural color? If dyed, what color(s)? * Biggest influence in rope? The podcast hosts loved these episodes, and exploring the answers of their wonderful listeners and rope community. There were plenty of surprises - check out the episode at the links below now to listen!

The 30Q Rope Challenge was created last year to gather and explore a diversity of people in the rope community’s experiences with rope. In this, the first part of a two-episode special on the results, Fox and Mya discuss (at an aggregate level, with no one’s experiences shared apart from their own!) themes and what the most popular answers were from the community to questions such as : * What was your first rope experience? * Weirdest rope experience? * Favourite tie? * Sexual or non sexual rope? Why/ when? * Favourite suspension orientation? * Favourite kink to mix with rope? * Indoors or outdoor rope? * Do you like pain with your rope? * What do you like to wear for rope? * Scariest moment in rope?

Fox and Mya both have their own ‘rope user manual’ - a document they share with potential rope partners to share key information about the rope they each do. This episode talks about the concept of a rope user manual, and in it, the Rope Podcast hosts discuss: * Why you might have a rope user manual, and what purpose it can serve * The kind of topics you might address with it * What a rope manual can and can’t do * Their own manuals and what they do - and don’t - include and why * The different purpose and intent of their personal rope manuals * What they’ve seen others include in rope user manuals

Fox and Mya discuss the Ebi position in this episode, and how it can be used. Fox enjoys this tie a lot, while Mya more ’suffers through it’ - which Fox feels is perfect! In the episode hear them discuss (along with a bit of silliness today!): * What it looks like * What to watch out for in terms of safety and risk * Why and when to use the Ebi * How the Ebi builds suffering in Semenawa in different ways, and how to intensify this * Suspending the Ebi versus using it on the floor * How we’ve used an Ebi in scenes

“There are a lot of different variations in terms of human anatomy. Certain nerve pathways are quite set…and a lot of the anatomical studies show the variation in the nerve pathways is very small. But other nerves have large variations, therefore you can’t really tell where, because in 80% of the population the nerve pathway will be in this area +/- 1cm, but then in the other 20% you can have 7 different variations in the same nerve pathways.” WoodenTiger Wooden Tiger is a polyamorous, pansexual relationship anarchist who dabbles in ‘correctional sadism’ using rope bondage, along with a host of other kinks including pressure points, rough body play, knife play and firecupping. He draws on knowledge from experiences teaching physiology and anatomy at collage level, many years of martial arts and his training and practice as a registered acupuncturist. In addition, Tiger is one of the facilitators of Friction Live. Fox and Mya have enjoyed his classes on at @FrictionLive, and wanted to explore the brand of sadism he pairs with rope: In the episode, discover: - The similarities between Hojojutsu as practiced as a modern day martial art and within Shibari - What is ‘Correctional Sadism’ and what techniques does it include - Why he doesn’t let the bottom in this kind of scene go into subspace - How listeners can improve their understanding body mechanics to make their rope better - How he negotiates and then decides on what kinks to pair with rope - The kind of feedback he likes in a scene - How to get started with pressure point play safely - And finally - some of Tiger’s favourite pressure points to use with rope so you can get started!

Not many of us live in a world where we get to do rope all day, so in this episode Fox and Mya discuss: How do we manage rope in our daily lives? In the episode they explore some of the ‘real world’ obstacles that can get in the way of doing rope, and consider ways to work around these so you can fit rope into your life in whatever the way you want it. In the episode they consider challenges such as: * The space you have available to do rope * Money and the costs that can be associated with rope * Health issues and how to manage these * Kids and romantic partners * Family and friends * Finding a rope partners * Time and how to fit rope into your busy life

Fox and Mya watch *a lot* of rope performances as part of their fascination and interest in rope. In this episode they break down what engages them when they watch a performance. This is a subjective topic, this is definitely only their opinions and ideas - and they’d love to hear other views about performances in the comments <3 In the episode they discuss: * Context and atmosphere * How narrative and story interact with performance * Where other types of kinks add or detract from the performance * Emotions and how the connection between the performances can affect our experience * The difference between play and performance * What holds Mya and Fox’s attention in rope performances * Some performance examples they love

It’s a big day for the Rope Podcast! With one episode every two weeks since 2017, Fox and Mya have hit 100 episodes! And somehow haven’t run out of topics yet… The Podcast asked our Patrons what they would like to hear for the 100th episode, and they requested that Fox and Mya interview each other, about how rope fits into our lives and our preferences in rope. They also contributed some of the questions, so thank you patrons. First Fox interviews Mya, and she talks about: * Her origin story in rope * What rope bottoming does for her and the kind of rope she enjoys the most * Challenging ties Mya has done (there’s a lot!) * Rope related injuries she has had and how she handled them * Her evolution in rope and what her rope future holds. Then Mya interviews Fox. He shares: * How he had preconceptions that he couldn’t do rope for a long time * What he likes about rope and how it fits with his other kinks * His rope system and how a tie makes it into his rope system * How he plans his scenes and an example * What ‘range’ in rope means to him and how he is developing it * What his favourite episode/s of the podcast have been so far

Fox and Mya discuss hair ties - one of Fox’s favourite ties. As a bit of a long hair fetishist, they are part of many of Fox’s scenes, and in this episode, the podcast hosts discuss the different ways to use hair ties and how you might incorporate them in your rope. They discuss in the episode: * Reasons for using hair ties * The length of hair you need to do a hair tie * Safety and risks of this style of tie * Types of hair ties * Some examples of where they’ve used hair ties in scenes (so many!) * The most critical skill you need to do this type of rope - it’s not what you think!

With the best rope-origin story we’ve every heard, listener Dropellet sends us a message with a few great questions, centering around her and her husband’s entry into kink. Fox and Mya discuss her message in the episode, covering: * How the way you enter rope affects your rope journey * How kinky rope really is * What the responsibilities of those doing rope to those who are watching - and what they aren’t * Can you even tell whether something is kinky anyway just by watching? * How to get started learning rope * Why the concept of a ‘normal body’ is unhelpful (and how kinky and popular doesn’t represent the kind of people who you’re likely to see at your local event) * Taking back ownership of your kink social media feeds

Fox and Mya discuss a visit to a local fetishwear event on Rope and Latex that they attended a few months ago (when there were no COVID cases in Thailand!). They attended as kinksters who are new to latex, and share their experiences and stories from the night - as well as their learnings. In the episode they discuss: * Watching a performance of fetishwear and rope * The environment of a fetish and latex shop * The kit they take with them * Fox’s experience of tying someone in latex * Fox and Mya’s rope play at the event * Handling miscommunication in a noisy environment * Learnings and tips about playing in this kind of semi-public context

“So far I’ve not come across any condition that we couldn’t adjust things in a way that still made [rope] enjoyable for the other person.” Alexielle. Alexielle is a rope switch active in the UK scene. She has a 24/7 D/s relationship with her collared pet Little-Boy-Blue as his owner and Domme, though Alexielle and Little-Boy-Blue switch in rope regularly. Alexielle is the presenter, along with Little-Boy-Blue of the ‘Diverse Bodies in Rope’ class, and we wanted to catch up with her about what this means, and why it’s important for all of us, riggers and bottoms, to be more aware of this topic. Fox and Mya discuss with Alexielle: ◦ What it means to tie diverse bodies ◦ Practical ideas on how she adapts her style and tying to diverse bodies ◦ Myths about diverse bodies ◦ The range of health conditions she has come across and how she manages these in rope ◦ Tips on how to discuss health conditions with your rope partner ◦ Neurodiversity and how you can adapt rope to suit this ◦ How she and her partner maintain their power exchange when they switch in rope

After a short update on Mya’s health, Mya and Fox talk about escape games with rope. Often a more playful type of rope, the duo discuss: * Examples of rope bondage escape games you can play * Variations in your games and where you can find inspiration * Safety and risk * Who might enjoy this type of rope play * What you can learn from this sort of rope play * How Fox and Mya use it in their rope

Sometimes, you need simple rope to get the job done. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss the type of tying that isn’t necessarily focused all about the tying itself, but is used restrain someone quickly for another purpose - often sex! Here bondage is a tool, and they talk in this episode about how you might want to use it. They discuss: * When you would and wouldn’t use this type of rope bondage * What rope adds to this type of activity * Specific risk factors to consider * What tops might need to manage when tying * Learnings for bottoms around this type of tying * The types of ties you might include * Toys to use and things to tie to * And finally, some surprising rope and sex interactions!

“Once you master how to tie some thing, you will start tying some one.” @RiggerOdys Odys is a rigger/kinbaku artist and educator who discovered rope bondage six years ago. Initially inspired by the traditional Japanese style bondage of Akira Naka and Yukimura Haruki, he has studied with Naka for four years. In 2017 he created Kinbaku odyssey studio. He describes his style as sensually erotic semenawa. Fox and Mya discuss with Odys: ◦ His inspiration in Japanese bondage and what drew him to it ◦ Attending a Naka performance and the huge impact it had on Odys ◦ Erotic Semenawa and how hard it can be to define ◦ Where power exchange and control fits in rope bondage for him ◦ Sensuality versus sexuality in rope ◦ Rope and how he has developed his photography style ◦ How he connects with bottoms and builds trust both ways ◦ How he channels his own emotions into his rope and the shared experience with his partner

VioletRain is a Thai rope switch with an international background, who now lives in the States. A thoughtful and experienced rope-focused kinkster, she visited Thailand earlier this year and we had the pleasure to sit down with her and talk about rope. Through the discussion, listeners can hear abut how as a more experienced bottom but a newer rope top, she’s developing her skills. We also discuss with her: ◦ How an uninspiring single column as a first tie didn’t put her off a partial suspension for her second tie - which made all the difference ◦ How she started as a rope bottom and then grew as a top - and what has been even more powerful for her than classes ◦ A great tip on how to get the most from your classes ◦ The connection she makes between hiking and Rope! ◦ Her love of impact and whips and how she combines them with rope (Mya can attest to her gleeful sadism, see below!) ◦ Wha she’s attracted to as a bottom in rope versus what she’s attracted to as a top ◦ Her rope touristing and travels, her learnings and her experiences at Beach Bind ◦ Tips for listeners who want to rope tourist themselves Click the links below to listen now!

Fox and Mya discuss face rope - which is essentially - rope on the face! The podcast hosts are big fans of face rope, and use it in a variety of ways, and when the Rope Podcast Patreon community voted this episode as their next suggestion, Mya and Fox were excited. They discuss in the episode: * What it looks like and how you might do it * The kind of scenes face rope can contribute to * Safety and risks of the tie * Mya explains her feels about being in this kind of tie, and aspects she enjoys and dislikes * Scenes they’ve used it in * And as a bonus, find out how many times Fox has broken his nose :)

EbiMcKnotty is a rope lover based in Quebec City, Canada. She has been self-tying since 2006, and started modelling as a tied-up person in 2007. She started tying others and self-suspending in 2011 when she learned with the Ichinawa-Kai and Kazami Ranki in London. She travels all over the world to learn and share her discoveries with her community. Grounded in the Japanese style, her ropes have been described as experimental, sweet, sensual and sadistic; usually all at the same time. She got into rope before fetlife existed, and partly because of this has always been a great energiser, curator and creator of rope communities, as well as visiting communities all over the world. We wanted to talk to her about her personal journey, and how that has linked with the creation of the many rope events and rope learning experiences she has been a part of. Listen to hear about: ◦ Her rope journey, which started before fetlife existed ◦ The pitfalls of the idea that all tops should bottom ◦ What draws her to the idea of rope bondage ◦ How she ties with a range of bodies ◦ The pros and surprising cons of running rope events ◦ Knowing when to step down and how to stay psychologically healthy in the world of running rope events ◦ Rope as a hobby versus rope as a job ◦ Creating the amazing rope365.com website ◦ How her video game design career influenced her design of the site ◦ How YOU can use rope365.com to help you on your journey, whatever your level

Fox and Mya discuss the Teppou/Teppo or Rifle (possibly Musket!) tie, an asymmetrical tie with arms behind the back, one elbow pointing up(ish) one pointing down (ish). They discuss in the episode: * What it looks like * When you would and wouldn’t want to use it * Safety and risks of the tie * How it feels to be in this type of tie * Scenes they’ve used it in Click the links below to listen now!

Subay is a Shibari artist and founder of Kokoro Studio based in Hong Kong. She was first introduced to Shibari eight years ago and spent the first few years exploring and learning the different styles from several well-respected nawashi in Japan. In 2014, she met and was deeply inspired by Yukimura Haruki, and from then on she dedicated herself to the study of the traditional Japanese style. In 2015, Subay met Naka Akira and chose to focus her study on his style of semenawa. She continues to explore her own style of semenawa which she describes as both feminine and inclusive. She teaches and performs internationally. Fox and Mya attended one of Subay’s classes on empathy and rope, and loved her focus on the feelings and emotions in rope, and in this interview explore these topics, along with: ◦ Some of the feelings Shibari brings out in Subay herself ◦ How a challenging experience with a Rigger led her to start tying herself ◦ Body image and stereotypes and generalisations in rope bondage ◦ What drew her to her teacher, @NakaAkira ◦ The signs she looks for to tell her more about the feelings of the person in her rope ◦ How she knows whether her students are ready to move onto the next class ◦ Some of the limits of our ability to explore emotions in rope ◦ How rope bottoms can express and communicate their emotions better ◦ Why rope tops need to be as vulnerable as rope bottoms ◦ Fascinating cultural differences in rope communities around the countries she has visited

As part of our Patreon perks, our wonderful supporters are now able to vote on topics they want to hear (see below for how you can join them!). The first topic our supporters chose was ‘Rope Jam Etiquette’, so in this episode, Fox and Mya discuss the many facets of how you can ensure your first jam in a community goes well. They follow the journey of imaginary rope people, Penelope the rope top and Bradley the rope bottom, and consider the challenges these two might face, and what they might want to consider. Hear: ◦ What is a rope jam anyway…?! ◦ How to prepare for a jam ◦ What to be aware of when you go, including ideas on how not to be creepy! ◦ How to understand what’s okay at a jam and what isn’t ◦ How to find play at a jam - and how not to ◦ What to do when you do find a play partner at a jam ◦ And how to finish a rope jam strong

Marc (akuaku) has been living in Japan for sixteen years. In 2006, he ventured into the underground world and encountered traditional Japanese bondage, and from 2010, he began studying under Hajime Kinoko, one of the the most prolific Japanese rope artists. Marc graduated to become a rope instructor in 2012 and has been practicing, teaching, performing, and helping Kinoko in various projects ever since. Fox and Mya met Marc last year when he and some other Japanese rope visitors came to our Thai BDSM community. When, at the end of 2020, he launched a kickstarter along with two friends for ‘The Japanese Rope Kama Sutra’ we were excited - and impressed when it was funded at three times its goal. We thought he’d be a great person to talk to about how rope and sex interact, and to hear more about his book. Our discussion covers: ◦ How Marc went from visiting Kinoko’s bar, to being an instructor with him ◦ Insights into the Japanese rope scene ◦ Cultural and practical differences between rope in Japan and rope in other places ◦ How communication can differ in English versus Japanese and the implications for rope ◦ Some of the many ways Marc feels rope can enhance sex ◦ How the book came about, and background to the design and content choices ◦ Marc’s view of the three elements that rope can be ◦ How they came up with the lovely names (and the surprising link to Sumo!) ◦ How to use the book ◦ Marc’s favourite position from the book PS from Mya - this is a TWO FRENCH ACCENT episode, so given all the feedback we get about how much people love Fox’s accent, get ready for some aural pleasure <3

Fox and Mya share bonus material from this year’s interviewees, who talk about their favourite rope scenes - a special Christmas present for our listeners! Mya and Fox share thoughts on ideas, learnings, themes and other aspects of the scenes that the rest of us might be able to pull into our own real-life rope play, whatever experience-level we have. Fox and Mya also share one of their own scenes from both top and bottom perspective where they created a new tie, the Hitsugi, an intense and restrictive tie they both loved. The episode includes: @clover talking about one of the most meaningful rope scenes of her rope life @Wykd_Dave reviews a number of his favourite rope scenes - including one with carpet burn for clover @Miranda- describes the scene where her mindset flipped @Zero-Gi - some of the most playful rope we’ve heard about: ‘The floor is lava” @Samjay - Hot sauce Hashira, and introducing your work colleagues to rope! @Hey_LittleOne - a delightfully dirty story with a Game of Thrones surprise @RopeDaddy_AJ - simple yet satisfying bedroom bondage @EbiBex - A sadomasochistic rope scene that was not what she expected at all

@Bravo_Juliet, a rope bottom and listener from the UK, asks the Rope Podcast whether a top can experience some of the feelings and headspace that are more traditionally associated with bottoms as she asks: “Can rope be relaxing for tops too?” Fox and Mya explore this topic, touching on: * What ‘bottom space’ in rope might look like * Cathartic triggers for bottoms * Pros and cons of altered headspace in rope * The importance of not pressuring yourself to feel a certain way in rope * The influence of the bottom’s emotions on the top * Barriers to a top relaxing in rope * How a bottom can support a top to a different headspace in rope * The limited research on altered mindstates in tops and bottoms in BDSM * Fox’s experience of a different headspace as a rigger * Conditions to achieve ‘flow state’

Fox and Mya go to the beach! Living in Thailand, the rope podcast hosts have more opportunity than some to go to the seaside, and when it’s appropriate, they tie there. They share their very practical experiences here on the podcast, so you can get all prepared for your next visit. They discuss: * Why go to the beach to do rope? * Concerns about doing rope in public * Privacy concerns * Taking photos on the beach * Environmental factors (so many!) * Nature to look out for and things Mya is afraid of on the beach (it’s another long list) * Tying at night * Preparation and equipment - a useful list * What they love about tying on the beach * Things that have fallen on Fox’s head And mostly importantly, sand management!

Fox and Mya interview the lovely rope couple, @WykD_Dave and @clover for the second time - these two just have so much amazing rope knowledge and experience to share! In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss with them their experience with Japanese rope, including Ichinawa, Semenawa, and helping to sort out some useful sources for those of us who can’t visit Japan or get relevant in-person teaching. In the episode, hear them discuss: * What is semenawa and how does it feel to the top and bottom * What cherry blossoms have to do with rope! * How Dave and Clover built their education and training in Japanese rope * The importance of learning and development in rope, even when you’re experienced * How they’ve developed their own ties * How to start with Japanese rope and some of the difference between Japanese practitioners * What do people get wrong about Japanese rope bondage in the West * Emotions and rope * Ichinawa and Dave’s seminal influence on the technique

Fox and Mya discuss the concept of ‘failure’ in rope, its origin, and most importantly how we can either mitigate it, or even not create a situation where you might feel it in the first place. They share some of their own vulnerable feelings of failure and how they managed them together. They also discuss: * What do we mean by failure in rope * Where do our feelings of failure come from externally and internally * Comparisonitis * How communication between top and bottom impacts feelings of failure * Injury and safewords and how they relate to feelings of failure * Top and bottom examples of ‘failure’ * Aftercare after ‘failure’ * How to avoid feeling that you’ve failed in rope from the start * The transferable skills from handling failure rope that you can use in the default world They hope this episode is helpful to removing any feelings of failure you’ve experienced while doing wonderful rope. Have fun tying! NB: This isn’t including the sort of failure incited via consensual emotional sado-masochism

@EbiBex is a a queer, masochistic bottom who (along with her partner @DWL), participates and teaches at national and international events. In this discussion that covers edgeplay and some intense BDSM experiences and kinks, Fox and Mya discuss with EbiBex the concept of emotional sadomasochism, and what it might look like when played with in rope. EbiBex really shared so much of herself in personal approach to this vulnerable topic, and Fox and Mya appreciated her contribution a great deal, and hope you enjoy her lively exploration of this sensitive area. The discussion also covers: ◦ EbiBex’s journey into rope ◦ How the wider rope scene has changed, especially for rope bottoms, even in the six or so years she’s been in it ◦ Definitions and examples in rope of terms such as degradation, humiliation, objectification and shame ◦ How to negotiate for this kind of play, and discussion of risk profiles and safety ◦ The idea of ‘rope cuckholding’ ◦ The differences for her between this and Non emo rope scenes ◦ Her views on subspace and the pressure the concept puts on scenes ◦ Her recommendations if you want to start exploring emotional sadomasochism with your rope

Fox and Mya discuss the rope concept of Microbondage - tying up smaller body parts, with small diameter ‘rope’. They discuss in the episode: * What parts of the body you might want to tie * Different reasons that tops and bottoms might be interested in this type of rope * How it feels to be in this type of rope * The kind of bottoms who might NOT enjoy this type of rope and why * Risks to different parts of the body to look out for (or just….weirdnesses bottoms might not like) * How and when you might use it in a scene * General safety considerations Plus find out Mya’s favourite part of her body to be microbondaged… Fox is on fire with his jokes in this episode so be warned ;)

Fox and Mya discuss a listener suggestion from @z4DDy who said he would love to hear a discussion about sensuous rope. He suggested topics included: different means to create sensuousness, rope handling for sensuality, physical connection to enhance sensual connection, suspension types with sensuality and experiences of sensuality in rope. Fox and Mya dig into the area and address his questions as well as: * Sensual versus sexual rope * How tops can use their bodies and physical sensation to create more sensuality * Sensual rope handling * How the bottom can increase the level of sensuality in a rope scene * Non-rope factors to increase the level of sensuality in a scene * The importance of creating a sense of safety with each other to increase sensuality * The pros and cons of music * Creating more sensuality in the different phases of a suspension tie * Micro-expressions and why to pay attention to them in your partner * How different types of bottom’s touch can express different emotions * Mindfulness, presence and headspace This episode was sponsored by FrictionLive.CA Check them out!

Fox and Mya continue their interview with author and educator Andrew James, Ph.D.on building eroticism through power exchange and rope. In the episode, AJ discusses with Fox and Mya his thoughts on: * How a Rope Daddy might express himself differently from a Rope Master and how partners can express different power exchange archetypes with rope * How it might work when a D-type is inside the rope, and the s-type is outside the rope * Practical tips on how to make a rope scene more erotic * Re-affirming consent and desire in a rope scene in a power exchange context * Playing with emotions such as erotic shame and fear in rope * Rituals in rope to enhance the power dynamic * Practical constraints on play in the real world - including doing rope with a disability * His experience with the queer and LGBTQ+ community and how he has seen the rope world change in ways that echo that * The huge variety of diversity in rope now, and what that means Note - If you haven’t already listened to part 1 of this episode, check it out. Author of 6 books on alternative relationships and sexuality, including the wonderful Erotic Slavehood (as Christina Abernathy) and the way of the pleasure slave, AJ is A trans man who identifies as both a Master and a Daddy. Involved in D/s and the kink community since 1992, he has been in a 24/7 authority-transfer dynamic with his wife for 8 years. This episode was sponsored by FrictionLive.CA Check them out!