Rope Podcast

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!