Rope Podcast

Fox and Mya rope tourist in their own town! Some highly experienced Japanese and other international rope bondage enthusiasts come to Bangkok, and your podcast hosts were lucky enough to be invited to an event with them run by the Thai community. Fox and Mya attended a public event at a new dungeon opening up who hosted a rope salon, and then a private event with a lot of rope - and they share their personal experiences (whilst noting they really did feel like tourists this time as they had no idea what was happening for most of the time during the events!). (And Mya shares she still has no idea which part of Bangkok Fox actually took her to the event!) Hear from them about: * What they think is the difference between a Rope Salon and a Rope Jam (listener comments invited!) * The incredible new RedRoom Dungeon they visited, with fantastic furniture and other equipment (Mya liked the cages especially, Fox more the giant anal toys) * Which animal the majority of the latex masks in the dungeon were of * The tie that Fox and Mya did at the Rope Salon (and how Fox and Mya got Mya down from the suspension, got 25 coils of rope off her and coiled super fast when suddenly time was up) * A question to riggers: Who coils your rope? How this might connect with D/s * Some of the scenes they watched, with the techniques and skills that inspired them * How Mya vies for the title ‘Most Awkward Rope Bunny Asking For a Scene’ but managed to get tied by a visiting rigger anyway, and what was new and different about that scene

Mya has been both a naughty and a nice bunny and has been working with Fox to bring you a Christmas present - new bonus material from our interviewees this year, where they tell us about some of the favourite scenes. We share our thoughts on the themes that come out, and the lessons and ideas that we can all put into our scenes even if we’re not as experienced as the illustrious interviewees. The episode includes: @Raiju telling us how she tied up, beat and humiliated a germophobe in rope - and the catharsis that experience brought @Belle- telling us about two very different scenes that pushed her to new levels of intensity @ChristianRed telling us about his favourite takedown rope and forced exhibitionism scene (includes neck rope, yay!) @-EM- telling us how one of his rope/drowning scenes might have saved his bottom’s life @IpCookieMonster talks about the most powerful, intense rope scene of her life - one that took several days to decompress from and included sex and rope magic

We interview associate Professor of Sociology and kinkster Dr Julie Fennell exploring her background into rope and kink, and her research on rope subculture, one of her key areas of interest. She tells us about: Her first rope scene * The tie that actually got her into rope (despite her having tied several times before) * Why she doesn’t feel she fits into ‘ropeworld’ * Circus Bondage and how contrarty to many people’s opinions, performance can still be connective * ‘Expectations’ in rope and how she likes to mess with them * What her research has taught her about rope subculture * How sex and rope connect in American shibari Listen now for a fascinating insight into rope subculture!

Fox and Mya discuss the Strappado. Originally a torture method, the rope community adopted the position for a tie. The episode includes discussion of shape, function, variations, difficulty level, safety and risk, what it feels like for the bottom, as well as some ways it can be used in floor work or suspensions. They also discuss two example scenes where they have used the tie.

Trying to develop your edge-play in rope? Fox and Mya talk to experienced edge-player -EM- on the podcast this week in the second part of their interview with him, to understand more about how he has built up his experience in the collection of ‘abnormally horrible’ things that he does to his partners, and the many sadistic activities which he blends with rope. Among the many interview highlights, you can hear: - How he built up his experience to be able to safely (as much as one can) do many high risk activities, from suturing to waterboarding, from cutting to whips, along with his rope. - How he deals with injuries - How he has amazing photos - but doesn’t do photoshoots - How he approaches the first scene with a new partner to make sure they’re a match with him We got so engrossed in chat with -EM- that we had to cut the interview into two parts. Check out the previous episode to hear part 1 of this interview!

Want more ideas on how to be a better sadist in your rope play? Fox and Mya talk to respected edge-player -EM- on the podcast this week, a man whose kink risk profile is pretty out there even compared to the fetlife norm. -EM- considers rope a versatile tool in his BDSM kit, rather than considering himself a ‘rope person’, and yet is definitely a ‘name’ in the world of rope. Among the many interview highlights, you can hear: - How he takes things from the very physical world of whips and sadistic rope to the emotional and mental play space that is his focus - The point at which many Dominants or Tops stop, but which for -EM- signals when play really begins - How he built up his experience with choking his partners to unconsciousness We got so engrossed in chat with -EM- that we had to cut the interview into two parts. Look out for the next one coming soon!

Negotiation and consent is a highly relevant topic in rope bondage, and one of the Rope Podcast’s listeners, @Sensual_Dominant, asks Fox and Mya to share their thoughts on the best way to safely negotiate. Fox and Mya discuss what consent and negotiation is, and the basics of what we’re looking for in the area for a scene, and when it is and isn’t a good idea to negotiate. They share examples of the methods and content of a negotiation, as well as some of their suggestions from their own negotiations as a rope top, and a rope bottom. Also discussed are a number of key points to look out for that might make *you* safer negotiating - remembering that we all have difference preferences, and doing it in the way that suits you is likely to make sure you negotiate in the safest way possible. They also share an important definition about two different forms of consent-based negotiations - and Mya even manages to convince Fox of an even safer approach to negotiation for the future.

Rope bondage is an activity that carries risk. Fox and Mya discuss the different types injuries you can get (including some that Mya doesn’t really mind), how you might get them, how to identify them as early as possible, how to react to injuries, and we how might address and treat these injuries. We also discuss our own experience with injuries during rope scenes, and the learnings we acquired and applied from them, such as the question Fox added to his pre-rope negotiation questionnaire based on one incident.

Fox and Mya discuss the classic rope bondage tie, the Futomomo. The episode includes discussion of the shape and function, variations, the safety and risks, what it feels like, as well as how we can use futos in suspension and floor work. They also share a number of examples of scenes where they’ve used the tie.

Fox and Mya discuss how you know you’re ready for your first rope suspension. They cover: • What are the skills you need for rope suspension as a top, including technical skills, practical non-rope skills, some mechanical principles and safety • What do you need to understand, and what are the things you need to be able to do as a bottom, including around your body in rope, the less-fun possible-consequences so you can accept the risks appropriately, and the concept of active bottoming • The kinds of equipment you might need, from rope to the hard point, and keeping control of the scene • How you might put together a plan for your first suspension