Rope Podcast

Fox and Mya discuss the less common topic of rope top health, and how to keep our rope tops (whether we’re the rope top ourselves, or the rope bottom!) in good emotional and physical health. They discuss: * The types of common physical injuries rope tops might sustain * Potential emotional and mental health challenges rope tops might face * Ways to warm up physically before rope * Tools, adjustments and props to help with rope top health * Preparation before a scene to manage potential emotional and mental issues * Some things to do after a scene for rope top health

Fox and Mya interview rope power couple, @WykD_Dave and @clover! The pair have just celebrated their 10th anniversary together and gotten engaged, and this year they also opened their amazing rope space, Studio Kokoro. Fox and Mya discuss with them how they’ve evolved as a rope couple, the changes they’ve been through and their rope journey, and how they’ve seen the scene change. In the episode, hear from them about: * Their couple origin story * Their power exchange relationship and how it’s evolved over time * The shocking news they’re not just into Japanese rope bondage! * The origins of the Rope Bottoming Guide * The journey to get Studio Kokoro up and running * What they see as being necessary to evolve and stay in the scene long-term * How they’ve evolved their own teaching and practice as rope culture has changed and grown See behind the scenes into the relationship and lives of these well-loved but down to earth rope experts.

A listener’s question from Co, who asks: What’s a good way to respond to a bottom asking them to tie them - when the bottom has no idea what they want to do. Fox and Mya discuss the topic, talking both in the abstract and concrete, looking at how rope tops can deal with this very common situation. They explore: * Why different types of rope bottoms (experienced and new) might respond with ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t mind’ when a rigger asks them what they want in the scene * Why this kind of question is important, and why it shouldn’t be treated lightly * The type of negotiation style they’d recommend in this situation * Balancing the risks of this situation * Why every rope top isn’t necessarily a good match for every rope bottom * Reminding both parties of some of their ‘responsibilities’ in rope, as well as the importance and detail of communication and consent (we continue to recommend the FRIES consent model) * What you might need to do after the scene * How rope bottoms can avoid the ‘I don’t know’ response in the future!

Fox and Mya build on their previous episode and go deeper with the minimalist technique of ‘one-rope’ (also sometimes called Ichinawa or Ipponawa) - with one rope, two people. They share: * What’s awesome about it and why they love it * The benefit of preparing some ‘ichinawa forms’ and muscle memory * Why Fox both loves it and dreads it * The risks and the challenges * Rope top Fox’s perspective on this kind of rope * Rope bottom Mya’s perspective on doing one-rope * Some of the scenes they’ve done that involved ichinawa They also get some input from friend long-time rigger @Jake_Wing.

Fox and Mya discuss the minimalist technique of ‘one-rope’ (also sometimes called Ichinawa or Ipponawa) - with one rope, two people. They discuss: * What it is and some definitions * How you do it * How to start * Where music fits * Safety and difficulty levels They also get some input from friends experienced rigger @ChristianRed and the host of the Japanese bondage podcast, ’Kinbakunomicon’, @Faviola_Llervu.

Once again, Fox and Mya have cajoled their interviewees from the year into sharing some bonus materials, in order to bring you a very special Christmas present episode - details of their favourite scenes. The rope couple then share their thoughts on the themes, learnings and ideas that the rest of us might be able to draw from their scenes, whatever our levels of experience. This year, Fox and Mya also share their top and bottoming perspectives on one of their favourite scenes on a holiday in rural Thailand. The episode includes: @GuiltySmile talking about objectification at Eurix @Pyth01 playing with subtle tension, movement and control between rope top and bottom @Kinky_Engineer sharing a scene with playful rope that started with him as the rigger, and ended with him being tied @Jake_Wing recalling a magical scene with fear play, outdoor rope, eroticism and heightened senses @FoxofBangkok (Fox) and @MyArms_BendBack (Mya) share a scene they both loved with impact, sex and exposure

In 2019, a beautiful new Studio opened by veterans of the rope scene, @WykD_Dave and @clover in Mansfield, UK. Mya had the opportunity to visit, and had a wonderful time. Fox questions her about her experience as a visitor, how she approached her touristing, the rope she did, her perspective on the studio itself and the people she met, as well as her tips to get the most from your visit.

Fox and Mya discuss power exchange and how it interacts with rope. As a 24/7 power exchange couple, as well as rope partners, this is a subject dear to their heart, and something they have researched, read about and explored in detail in their own lives. They share their ideas (while noting their ideas are not the only way!) and really welcome thoughts from listeners about their experiences in the comments. They talk about: * Different types of power exchange * Where topping and bottoming and power exchange interact * The challenges of the word ‘bunny’ in rope * Whether there are any truly ‘D-type’ or ’s-type’ activities (Mya and Fox have strong views!) * What their D/s means for their rope * The challenges and potential dangers of combining power exchange and rope * Balancing shared responsibility and encouraging bottoms to be empowered and educate themselves around risks * Abuse, power exchange and rope * Risk profiles and rope * What a rope scene might feel like with and without power exchange * How your rope origin story could impact your links with power exchange

In one of our most popular episode styles, Fox reads one of his recent pieces of erotic writing, inspired by his and Mya’s play. Contains rope, D/s, impact, whipping, exhibitionism and fear play.

Fox and Mya interview podcaster Faviola Llervu about her interest in rope, her podcast (including some of Fox and Mya’s favourite episodes such as Shibari myths), and her aim to get Japanese kinksters more represented in the global rope community. Listen to this interview to hear Faviola’s inspiring thoughts on: *The very unusual reason she started to learn Japanese *How her studies of Japanese SM and rope connect, including the reality of rope versus what she’d initially encountered in comics and stories *What she’s currently exploring in her Japanese SM studies *What her access to Japanese source materials gives her in turns of her approach to rope, and how she translates that into her podcast episodes *The perhaps surprising intersection between rope and Japanese prostitution *How and why modern rope bondage now is a sanitised, fantasised and idealised version of bondage that had been going on in other parts of life for years *The fetishes that go along with rope in Japan that don’t typically get represented in translated English language materials *What English-language Japanese ‘rope purists’ get wrong *The rope anarchy collective The Devil’s Mask Society and how it was formed, and how you might form similar in your area *And Mya and Faviola’s bonding over their perfectionism - while Fox despairs! Faviola Llervu is the creator and narrator of The Kinbakunomicon, an informational podcast about the historical traditions and foundations of kinbaku. She has translated for bondage artist Kasumi Hourai's official website and for Nawapedia, and has presented at Bondage Expo Dallas. She is also a founding member of the Devil Mask Society. Faviola's main interest is in tracing the development of torture, eroticism, sadomasochism and censorship represented in Japanese media from pre-modern times to today, as well as understanding its impact on early SM in Japan.