Rope Podcast

Fox and Mya discuss active bottoming in rope - what it does (and doesn’t!) mean to them and the pros and cons of being an active bottom in scenes. They also talk about: * The different things people call active bottoming in Rope, and how Fox and Mya differentiate what they call active bottoming * How bottoms might prepare for active bottoming by knowing their strengths and development areas in rope * Mya gives some examples of what she knows about herself in rope, and how she uses active bottoming to compensate - and where she doesn’t have the skills to do this * What a bottom might be ‘active’ about and how * Why you might active bottom - and why you might not * Safety in active bottoming * How and why you might want to discuss active bottoming with your top in advance, to make sure you don’t accidentally change the dynamic of the scene

Fox and Mya interview Miranda, the person behind Friction Live, who host video conference classes live streamed to the comfort of your own home. They partner with experienced presenters, so individuals can access high-quality educators outside their locality, and educators can reach multiple communities at the same time - brilliant for those of us who don’t live close to more formalized rope education. (Or, you know, in a global pandemic where you can’t leave home.) In the episode, hear Miranda talk about: * How these kind of events work and what’s different from video courses * How to get the most from this style of event when you attend * How the Covid-19 crisis has affected the business * What’s next for Friction Live (check out this week’s question to make suggestions on future classes in the comments)

We know you love these! Fox reads one of his recent pieces of erotic writing, this time writing in advance of a scene he planned for Mya on Valentine’s Day. Read about the wicked delights he had in store for her. Contains rope suspension, sadistic rope, fear play and needles.

Fox and Mya discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of using rope bondage photos as an inspiration for tying. They also talk about: * Why we might want to use rope bondage photos as inspiration * Where to find such photos * The pros and cons of there being so many rope photos out there * The risks of tying from photos * How you might use photos for inspiration in creative ways They also play a quick game where Mya selects three photos from Fetlife in real time, and Fox shares what he might do to recreate them.

Fox and Mya introduce a new type of episode, a Rope Field Report! Most of us are stuck at home right now, and kinks events are (rightfully!) cancelled. Fox and Mya came across a new type of event for them, a live streamed class, and were thrilled to attend from the comfort of their home in Bangkok. The workshop was hosted by @FrictionLive, and presenters @YumYumPanda and @ShaktiBlissBunny did a great job educating through this format. Fox and Mya share their experience of the workshop including: * An overview of the workshop and what to expect if you attend * The things they enjoyed about the workshop and this format * The knowledge and skills Fox and Mya took from the education and where they’ve applied it already * The pros and cons of this kind of workshop versus face-to-face learning

Fox and Mya discuss the aspects of what makes a good rope scene from a top point of view (whilst reminding us that what good looks like might be different for every top!). As a rigger/rope top, Fox shares his experience as a case study, and they explore the factors that make scenes good for him. They also discuss: * Connection for tops * Working successfully with a bottom * The idea of competence and how tops can feel it * The notion of flow and how it applies to tops and rope * How bottoms can support their tops in having a great scene

Fox and Mya discuss the less common topic of rope top health, and how to keep our rope tops (whether we’re the rope top ourselves, or the rope bottom!) in good emotional and physical health. They discuss: * The types of common physical injuries rope tops might sustain * Potential emotional and mental health challenges rope tops might face * Ways to warm up physically before rope * Tools, adjustments and props to help with rope top health * Preparation before a scene to manage potential emotional and mental issues * Some things to do after a scene for rope top health

Fox and Mya interview rope power couple, @WykD_Dave and @clover! The pair have just celebrated their 10th anniversary together and gotten engaged, and this year they also opened their amazing rope space, Studio Kokoro. Fox and Mya discuss with them how they’ve evolved as a rope couple, the changes they’ve been through and their rope journey, and how they’ve seen the scene change. In the episode, hear from them about: * Their couple origin story * Their power exchange relationship and how it’s evolved over time * The shocking news they’re not just into Japanese rope bondage! * The origins of the Rope Bottoming Guide * The journey to get Studio Kokoro up and running * What they see as being necessary to evolve and stay in the scene long-term * How they’ve evolved their own teaching and practice as rope culture has changed and grown See behind the scenes into the relationship and lives of these well-loved but down to earth rope experts.

A listener’s question from Co, who asks: What’s a good way to respond to a bottom asking them to tie them - when the bottom has no idea what they want to do. Fox and Mya discuss the topic, talking both in the abstract and concrete, looking at how rope tops can deal with this very common situation. They explore: * Why different types of rope bottoms (experienced and new) might respond with ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t mind’ when a rigger asks them what they want in the scene * Why this kind of question is important, and why it shouldn’t be treated lightly * The type of negotiation style they’d recommend in this situation * Balancing the risks of this situation * Why every rope top isn’t necessarily a good match for every rope bottom * Reminding both parties of some of their ‘responsibilities’ in rope, as well as the importance and detail of communication and consent (we continue to recommend the FRIES consent model) * What you might need to do after the scene * How rope bottoms can avoid the ‘I don’t know’ r

Fox and Mya build on their previous episode and go deeper with the minimalist technique of ‘one-rope’ (also sometimes called Ichinawa or Ipponawa) - with one rope, two people. They share: * What’s awesome about it and why they love it * The benefit of preparing some ‘ichinawa forms’ and muscle memory * Why Fox both loves it and dreads it * The risks and the challenges * Rope top Fox’s perspective on this kind of rope * Rope bottom Mya’s perspective on doing one-rope * Some of the scenes they’ve done that involved ichinawa They also get some input from friend long-time rigger @Jake_Wing.

Fox and Mya discuss the minimalist technique of ‘one-rope’ (also sometimes called Ichinawa or Ipponawa) - with one rope, two people. They discuss: * What it is and some definitions * How you do it * How to start * Where music fits * Safety and difficulty levels They also get some input from friends experienced rigger @ChristianRed and the host of the Japanese bondage podcast, ’Kinbakunomicon’, @Faviola_Llervu.

Once again, Fox and Mya have cajoled their interviewees from the year into sharing some bonus materials, in order to bring you a very special Christmas present episode - details of their favourite scenes. The rope couple then share their thoughts on the themes, learnings and ideas that the rest of us might be able to draw from their scenes, whatever our levels of experience. This year, Fox and Mya also share their top and bottoming perspectives on one of their favourite scenes on a holiday in rural Thailand. The episode includes: @GuiltySmile talking about objectification at Eurix @Pyth01 playing with subtle tension, movement and control between rope top and bottom @Kinky_Engineer sharing a scene with playful rope that started with him as the rigger, and ended with him being tied @Jake_Wing recalling a magical scene with fear play, outdoor rope, eroticism and heightened senses @FoxofBangkok (Fox) and @MyArms_BendBack (Mya) share a scene they both loved with impact, sex and exposure

In 2019, a beautiful new Studio opened by veterans of the rope scene, @WykD_Dave and @clover in Mansfield, UK. Mya had the opportunity to visit, and had a wonderful time. Fox questions her about her experience as a visitor, how she approached her touristing, the rope she did, her perspective on the studio itself and the people she met, as well as her tips to get the most from your visit.

Fox and Mya discuss power exchange and how it interacts with rope. As a 24/7 power exchange couple, as well as rope partners, this is a subject dear to their heart, and something they have researched, read about and explored in detail in their own lives. They share their ideas (while noting their ideas are not the only way!) and really welcome thoughts from listeners about their experiences in the comments. They talk about: * Different types of power exchange * Where topping and bottoming and power exchange interact * The challenges of the word ‘bunny’ in rope * Whether there are any truly ‘D-type’ or ’s-type’ activities (Mya and Fox have strong views!) * What their D/s means for their rope * The challenges and potential dangers of combining power exchange and rope * Balancing shared responsibility and encouraging bottoms to be empowered and educate themselves around risks * Abuse, power exchange and rope * Risk profiles and rope * What a rope scene might feel like with and without power exchange * How yo

In one of our most popular episode styles, Fox reads one of his recent pieces of erotic writing, inspired by his and Mya’s play. Contains rope, D/s, impact, whipping, exhibitionism and fear play.

Fox and Mya interview podcaster Faviola Llervu about her interest in rope, her podcast (including some of Fox and Mya’s favourite episodes such as Shibari myths), and her aim to get Japanese kinksters more represented in the global rope community. Listen to this interview to hear Faviola’s inspiring thoughts on: *The very unusual reason she started to learn Japanese *How her studies of Japanese SM and rope connect, including the reality of rope versus what she’d initially encountered in comics and stories *What she’s currently exploring in her Japanese SM studies *What her access to Japanese source materials gives her in turns of her approach to rope, and how she translates that into her podcast episodes *The perhaps surprising intersection between rope and Japanese prostitution *How and why modern rope bondage now is a sanitised, fantasised and idealised version of bondage that had been going on in other parts of life for years *The fetishes that go along with rope in Japan that don’t typically get represe

Fox and Mya discuss Hashira tecniques, which are suspensions to a vertical beam. They discuss: *How you do it, including on different types of beams *The benefits and Fox’s three scene styles he tends to use it for *The risks and the challenges *The perspective on this kind of suspension from the rope top from Fox *The perspective on these ties from the rope bottom from Mya and why she finds it a tougher suspension *Detailed descriptions of a number of scenes they have built around this kind of suspension *Fox’s surprising first Hashira suspension (hint - his bottom wasn’t breathing)

Fox and Mya (in slightly giddy form) discuss the ball tie, which is where you tie your bottom into a ball - or as close equivalent as possible! In the episode they discuss the variations and ways you can do it, the functions, safety and risks and what it feels like. They also share a number of examples of scenes where they’ve used the tie, and how it worked for them. Check it out now and try the tie!

Cats-Pajamas, who is primarily a rope bottom, runs a munch in Malaysia with her partner, KitKatKen, and came to us with a potentially controversial topic. She’s been thinking about the needs of rope tops and whether in the current climate where there is a great deal of focus on rope bottoms, the needs of rope tops are becoming invisible, and whether we’re truly treating our rope tops as humans rather than rope dispensers. Fox and Mya talk with her about * The consequences of bottoms being passive and the expectation being more focused on tops * How we can use negotiation better to cover the needs of both parties * Whether we should focus more on what the bottom can do for the top, as well as the other way round * Making sure the bottom isn’t passive, but takes responsibility engages with the rope and the top * The load on tops and how bottoms can share this * The challenge of giving feedback versus ‘topping from the bottom’ * Fox’s experience of this as a rope top and the question only one new rope botto

Mya shares a rope erotica piece inspired by her play with Fox. Contains Ichinawa, D/s, choking and rough body play. (If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to be choked unconscious* while doing Ichinawa, now’s your chance :) ) . *Don’t try this at home kids without training and experience!