Rope Podcast

RopuNawa first encountered Shibari and Kinbaku in 2008 at a performance in Australia with Arisue Go. This experience stayed with him, and he began his own journey with rope back in his home of Switzerland, first learning Osada Steve’s style with local teachers. Rather than stay with one style, however, he has been inspired by many, as he feels that there is not one way to tie - rather, the heart of his style lies in the needs of his model. Through the diversity within his approach, he can best respond to his partner’s needs and wants, focusing and appreciating the non-verbal connection that he creates with each tying partner. He currently teaches fulltime in his Studio in Basel (Switzerland), while travelling and teaching internationally with his muse @FreyaHellesdim. Fox has had an interest in Ropeunawa’s online classes for a while, and the podcast team were pleased to be able to talk to him about: ◦ His early inspirations from rope-related Manga and Hentai ◦ How he balances his desire to please his bo

‘Intent’ in rope is mentioned a lot in rope circles, but can feel a bit ethereal and hard to pin down. The podcast hosts think it’s pretty important to be on the same page about your intent in rope when you go into a scene - but what, then, IS intent in rope? And why, exactly, is it important? In this episode, Fox and Mya try to make the topic more practical and explore: * A definition of intent in rope and its possible consequences * Practical implications of not being on the same page about intent * The 12 types of possible intent that we could think of (so far!) * Questions to ask to try and understand each others’ intent better * When/whether you ‘should’ always share your intent with your scene partner * Can you have more than one intent during a scene? * The importance of agreeing not to play if your intents are incompatible (and why) * Ways to get over different intents (assuming you have overlap in your ‘venn diagram of intent’) * When and how intent can vary even between the same two partners

In episode 127, the podcast hosts explored with queer and trans rope educators and performance artists Lief Bound and Icarus how they fell for rope, and each other. In this second part of the interview, they open up about: ◦ How the pair keep their inspiration alive in rope ◦ A great rope dinner party question ◦ Transitioning rope from a passion to a profession ◦ The ups and downs of making a living with rope ◦ Whether being paid for doing rope is s3x work or not ◦ Exploding myths about ‘the perfect rope bottom’ ◦ How Lief sets boundaries with rope clients ◦ Handling mental health challenges in rope ◦ Allowing their rope practice to shift and change Lief Bound and Icarus currently reside in Los Angeles, California. Lief Bound is a rope switch who found their love of rope nine years ago and believes that rope can be the most honest way that we can connect with each other. Icarus is a switchy pain enthusiast who started their rope bottoming exploration nine years ago and is most passionate about exploring i

Lief Bound and Icarus are queer and trans rope educators and performance artists currently residing in Los Angeles, California. Having enjoyed attending a number of their online classes, and their inclusive but practical style, fox and Mya were excited to explore a wide ranging set of topics with them. In this first episode with them, hear us discuss: ◦ Where Icky fell in love with rope - despite the fact there was no rope ◦ How the pair met each other and fell in rope-love ◦ Their passion for teaching and being educators and how they work together ◦ The delightful chaotic switchiness of their relationship and who does what when how ◦ How they create trauma-informed classrooms (and what that means) ◦ The types of rope they do together, along with other play ◦ Breaking down with exposure and then building your partner back up in rope ◦ Inspiration in rope Lief Bound is a rope switch who found their love of rope nine years ago and believes that rope can be the most honest way that we can conne

To music or not to music? Music can be a hot debate in rope bondage - when to use it, what to use - whether to use it at all! Mya and fox love music and often include in in their scenes. In this conversation, they talk about: * Where and when music can be used * When you might not want to use music * At what points during a scene you might change your soundtrack up * How different tops and bottoms might use music * The benefits or effects of music that we can draw on for scenes * Some of the challenges or downsides of using music * Music and ableism * Should you include music in your negotiations? * Pros and cons of lyrically themed playlists * Popular examples that *could* work * Fox and Mya’s seal of approval for the official soundtrack of rope bondage ;)

Renee is a Canadian photographer and digital artist, whose kink journey started in the late 90's. Shibari photography for her became a visual expression of shapes in defiance of gravity, a delicate display of sadomasochism. Working with talented riggers, bottoms and self tying artists, she aims to create strong, clean kink images that respect the community and the artists. Mya and fox are big fans of her striking and distinct imagery, and in this episode, you can hear them discuss a wide range of fascinating topics, including: ◦ Her start as a rope bottom and the motorbike accident that changed her relationship with pain ◦ How she became a photographer of rope and used her experiences to inform her photographs ◦ The kinds of images she loves to create ◦ How she decides what to shoot ◦ The ways she collaborates and the teams she has for photoshoots ◦ Safety measures she uses to mitigate the risk of her shots ◦ What she looks for in rope photos she falls in love with ◦ How she got into composites an

In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss how you might use rope bondage with water, something they like a lot! Listen to them chat through the joys and challenges including: * All the safety, all the time: This is edge play within edge play! * Many of the risks and how you might mitigate them to some degree * The importance and support of how one (or more) spotters can support * Different types of water from baths to waterfalls and their unique challenges * Some of the gear you can involve * Three of their favourite scenes that have involved water

Tifareth is one of the Rope Podcast hosts’ favourite performers. In this episode, which continues the interview from part one (see Ep.122), we explore this topic with her, and discuss: ◦ How she developed her graceful rope handling style ◦ The drills she does and her attention to detail ◦ How she crafts her (amazing) rope performances ◦ How she works with her rope model during performances ◦ How she memorises her performances ◦ The critical role music plays in her performance and why ◦ Her new rope-photography space (Birdhouse, Toronto, Canada) and how it came to be Tifereth's introduction to rope bondage came in 2011 in the form of a surprisingly enjoyable futomomo tsuri. Since then she's drawn on her dual background in high-performance athletics and figurative arts to push herself physically and aesthetically on both ends of the rope. Known for her dynamic style of sadism, performative rope and creative approach to harness construction, she loves conveying her passion through engaging hands-on me

Tifereth's introduction to rope bondage came in 2011 in the form of a surprisingly enjoyable futomomo tsuri. Since then she's drawn on her dual background in high-performance athletics and figurative arts to push herself physically and aesthetically on both ends of the rope. Known for her dynamic style of sadism, performative rope and creative approach to harness construction, she loves conveying her passion through engaging hands-on methods of instruction. A veteran educator and performer with credits including Prague Shibari Festival, Bondage Expo Dallas, Eurix, Helsinki Shibari, Shibaricon, as well as weekend workshops and performances all over the globe, she is most often found wherever the weird stuff is. In this intimate episode, she discusses: ◦ Being banned from entering the USA, and how that changed her rope career ◦ Opening a venue and event space ◦ Her bottoming history and the injuries she was left with ◦ The challenges of being an early female rigger and how she had dealt with that ◦ How th

The Damsel in Distress trope and fetish is something that can often be seen in rope bondage, particularly Western rope. The trope itself in mainstream media ignited many a kinky person’s desires. Fox and Mya discuss the trope, along with: * The gendered aspect of the term, what this might mean and alternatives * The history of the trope * Examples in the media and how these are already being subverted more recently * What kind of ties might be involved * The feel of this kind of scene * Role plays you might want to try * The importance of team in this kind of rope

Marceline VQ is an internationally recognized shibari artist whose work challenges viewers with aesthetic and technically complex rope work. She engages rope from all perspectives—as a model in her own rope, with other models in her rope, and as a model in others’ rope—allowing for a deeper understanding of the medium as a creative and connective tool. She adores the sensory experience of being in rope, as well as the idea of becoming “human sculpture.” Her work engages in conversation with themes from quantitative disciplines including geometry and physics and with themes from qualitative disciplines including analytic philosophy and universal empathy. She has studied with shibari communities across the globe, and is classically trained in visual fine arts. Marceline is based in New York City, USA, and with her co-creator/model Anya Demure, works to create rope imagery that is surprising and inventive. In this articulate and authentic episode, discover: ◦ Her journey through rope bottoming, self-tying and

In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss rope and ties that center on the butt. This topic is a particular favourite of Fox’s and he’s very enthusiastic. No, like really. Really really… Listen to the episode to hear a lively discussion about: * The kind of ties you might use for this rope, such as butt baskets and spreader ties * Special considerations in terms of negotiations and consent around this type of rope * Top and bottom thoughts on this kind of tie * The types of play and scenes where this type of tie might be fun * When you might not want to use these ties * Some examples of the host’s favourite scenes to use them in (spoiler alert: Fox’s favourite = every scene) Fox is also ON FIRE with his jokes in this one y’all - like he’s been saving all his jokes on this topic for this episode…. Click the links below to listen now :)

An early question for most rope enthusiasts is which rope should they use - with hemp, jute, nylon, cotton and even coconut rope available, how do you know which one you should tie with? Before you can decide, you need to think about some key questions to make sure your rope choice works for you. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss some of the factors you might consider when deciding which rope type to choose. And of course bottoms can buy their own rope kit too, and the hosts discuss why and when. The episode explores: * Limitations on the rope you might buy * How the way the rope looks affects your choice * The importance of touching the rope if you can before you buy, and why * The upkeep and care of different types of rope * Safety implications of different fibers * Transport and storage implications Click the links below to listen now :)

There’s a surprising amount of communication required in rope, and that can be done in a huge number of ways. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss when and how communication happens before, during and after a rope scene, and make suggestions about how to do this effectively. They also discuss: * Methods of communication and when they might be more or less helpful * Pros and cons of using different methods of expressing yourself * Possible goals of communication at different times * Who and why you might need to communicate with * Drawing on scuba diving and the military to create your own communication methods * Communication about communication!

When Fox and Mya met, they weren’t living in the same city, and so rope getaways - opportunities to go stay somewhere different, usually at least overnight, and do rope there - have been part of their history together from the start. In this episode they discuss what to plan for when thinking about a rope getaway, and some useful tips to think about when you get there. They also discuss: * How you might assess your potential rope get away location * Factors for suspension versus floor rope * Research to do before you get there * Safety and risk * Creative ways to use your new environment * Gear to bring with you - including stuff you really don’t want to forget * Rope-only getaways versus a getaway-with-rope * And a lot more They also share a couple of examples of scenes from their own rope getaways of times that have been especially memorable.

Fox and Mya discuss the Bunny Ears tie in this episode - also sometimes called the Duck Tie or Pillow Tie. This is a tie they use quite a lot in floor rope, and they share their experiences with this tie, including: ◦ What it looks like ◦ How it feels to be in ◦ Potential risks and safety ◦ Hair management issues that go along with the tie! ◦ Versions Fox has tied, and why he is tying his current, perhaps unusual, version ◦ When you might use this tie ◦ Scenes we’ve used the Bunny Ears tie in and how it added to our play

Addie is a rope switch in all the ways - she ties, is tied, self-ties, teaches and performs, some of this with her equally well-known partner rope partner Barkas. There was so much good stuff when talking to Addie we had to split the content split into two episodes! In this episode, part 2, you can find out: ◦ How to create your own narrative in rope ◦ Ways you can investigate your strengths as a rope bottom ◦ How to connect with a rope partner after a scene ◦ The negative physical consequences versus emotional consequences in rope ◦ How Addie discovered her strengths in rope ◦ Her personal definition of ‘good rope’ ◦ The next steps in her rope journey ◦ Teachers, education and community in rope and some of the challenges the field of rope faces

Addie is a rope switch in all the ways - she ties, is tied, self-ties, teaches and performs, some of this with her equally well-known partner rope partner Barkas. A very popular request as an interviewee, Mya and Fox were super excited to interview her for the podcast. In the episode, learn: - How she developed her experiences in the different realms of rope - How she and her partner experimented for a year before they found the right TK she could suspend in - Phases of developing your own style in rope - as a top and bottom - Where bratting fits in rope for her - Metaphors for rope that can help us understand our experiences better - What’s important to her in rope - How rope and her day job as a nurse have influenced each other Mental health conditions and her experiences of their interaction with those in rope

As is now the tradition at end of year festivities time, Fox and Mya revisit all the interviews on the Rope Podcast during the year and ask their guests what their favorite rope scene was. Discover how they do rope in their personal life, what touches them, and what stays with them. Happy New Year!

As is now the tradition at Christmas time, Fox and Mya revisit all the interviews on the Rope Podcast during the year and ask their guests what their favorite rope scene was. Discover how they do rope in their personal life, what touches them, and what stays with them. Merry Christmas!