In this Presidents Day episode, Fighting Matters connects two explosive stories: Gordon Ryan’s inappropriate DMs and the growing fallout from the Epstein file releases. We debate accountability, conspiracy culture, institutional corruption, and whether justice can survive political power. The conversation turns to Jiu-Jitsu’s own culture, red flags in gyms, and what responsibility communities have when systems fail.

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👥 Featuring:
• Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting (Host)
• Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj (Host)
• Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj (Host)

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Gordon Ryan DM controversy
• The Epstein file releases and redactions
• Conspiracy culture vs. evidence
• Civil vs. criminal accountability
• Power dynamics in martial arts
• Red flags when choosing a gym

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Presidents Day cold open
02:17 — Gordon Ryan controversy
03:30 — The Epstein files breakdown
21:27 — Justice, collapse & consequences
32:03 — Jiu-Jitsu governance debate
52:03 — Would you recommend Jiu-Jitsu to women?
01:01:50 — Closing thoughts

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker are joined by Joshua Peters: martial arts instructor, former school teacher, and current candidate for Anne Arundel County Council. They explore why local politics matters, how martial arts and civic duty intersect, and why “keeping politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” is a myth. This is a conversation about courage, participation, and standing up for your community.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Joshua Peters Campaign — https://friendsofjoshuapeters.com
• Combat Principles MMA — https://combatprinciplesmma.com
• Run for Something — https://runforsomething.net

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👥 Featuring:
• Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
• Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com
• Joshua Peters — https://friendsofjoshuapeters.com

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Why local politics is more powerful than you think
• The overlap between martial arts and civic responsibility
• Running for office without “main character syndrome”
• Virtue signaling, participation, and public courage
• Supporting your community beyond the mat

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Introducing Joshua Peters
05:35 — From teaching to running for office
11:30 — Why local government matters
18:42 — Losing, competing, and civic courage
24:25 — Politics inside the Jiu-Jitsu gym
29:49 — “Keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu?”
35:14 — What it actually takes to run
43:35 — Virtue signaling and public participation
01:03:00 — How to get involved locally

In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw are joined by Tyson LaRone (The Warrior Philosopher) to unpack the renewed push for Alberta separatism, its connections to Trump and MAGA, and the growing influence of U.S. political forces in Canadian domestic affairs.

🔗 Links Mentioned:
• Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters

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👥 Featuring:
• Stephan Kesting — https://www.grapplearts.com
• Jeff Shaw — https://bellinghambjj.com
• Tyson Larone — https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarriorphilosopher

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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• The Alberta Prosperity Project and separatist rhetoric
• U.S. political influence and destabilization narratives
• Economic myths around equalization and the “Alberta advantage”
• Oil, foreign ownership, and who actually benefits
• Grievance politics vs. evidence-based policy
• Why martial arts spaces are vulnerable to political radicalization

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📖 Chapters:
00:00 — Introductions & Alberta separatism overview
01:40 — How real is the threat of separation?
07:20 — U.S. politics, propaganda, and destabilization
12:40 — Economic myths and equalization explained
31:40 — The “Alberta advantage” under scrutiny
52:20 — American corporate interests and oil profits
01:03:00 — Parallels with Ukraine and foreign interference
01:04:50 — Martial arts, gurus, and political influence