The first episode of In Our Powers: The Holistic Self-defense Podcast has officially launched!

If you’re curious about self-defense but have always felt intimidated, this episode is for you.

After I was sexually assaulted in high school, it took me more than fifteen years to find the courage to take a self-defense class.

In this podcast episode, I share the roots of my resistance to self-defense training: denial about my past experiences, fears about physical confrontation, and anxiety about the psychological side of fighting back. I recall the misguided and confusing advice I received out of context and the advice that finally convinced me to move through my fear and reclaim my power.

Listen to learn more about the practices that helped me experience a level of peace I hadn’t experienced in a very, very long time.

Episode Chapters

00:49 — The beginning: a father's advice and the first seeds of self-defense A movie night at 12 years old, a wrestler dad, and words that stayed with Carolyn for decades — even when she didn't fully understand them yet.

02:21 — The assault that changed everything — and the 15 years of silence that followed At 16, Carolyn's math SAT tutor violated her boundaries. She froze. She pleased. And then life moved on — until it couldn't anymore.

09:46 — The Drew Barrymore moment that finally broke it open Rewatching Ever After during COVID, Carolyn saw a character wield her voice and her body with fierce, unapologetic power — and decided it was time.

12:17 — Walking into the fighters gym for the very first time Turquoise yoga pants. Pink pedicure. Hand wraps she didn't know how to use. And a dark parking lot afterward where she finally felt peace.

21:37 — The statistic that redefines everything: 90% of self-defense is not physical During her RAD instructor certification, Carolyn learned that the vast majority of self-defense is risk awareness, risk reduction, and risk avoidance — which means the practice starts long before you ever step into a gym.

Did you enjoy this episode? Let's stay connected!

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In Our Powers is hosted by Carolyn Fallert, a writer and trauma-informed feminist self-defense coach based in Pittsburgh.