Empowering YOU to live your best life!

Are you ready to be empowered with knowledge on how to stay safe? If yes, then this is the podcast for you. Your host, Rachel Kealy is the founder of the Women’s Self Defence Network and she just loves empowering everyone, especially women on how to live a safer life. In the world of Self Protection, knowledge is your superpower!!! Rachel is thrilled to be delivering weekly tips and strategies in not only Self Defence, but also various topics that will empower you to live your best life. Rachel will be sharing this stage with her co-star, Tristan Kealy, and various guest speakers which excel in their profession. We all want to live our best life, and Rachel is here to help you do that.

Ep22. Money Myth, Habits + Stories with MELISSA BROWNE

Today I am interviewing Melissa Browne, who is an ex-accountant, ex financial advisor, ex-working till she drops, bestselling author, business strategist & mentor and entrepreneur who is passionate about helping women particularly live a life by design and not by default.

We want to make sure we are out living our best life and money is just one area that can help make that happen. In this episode, we bust open those money myths, discuss money habits we should be employing to get us further ahead financially, we talk about sexually transmitted debt and what we can do to protect ourselves plus much more.

We are all about empowering you and Mel is here to empower you financially.

If you would like to know more about Mel, work with Mel or if you would like to access all of the info we discussed today, then please head to: Melissa Browne

Ep21. Ego, Escalation & Violence

A big part of Self Defence is learning how to avoid a violent encounter.

We talk a lot about de-escalating a situation as we want to avoid violence at all costs as anything can happen in a violent encounter. No one wants to get into a fight (well, most of us don’t anyway) but unknowingly we can set ourselves up for a fight in a split second when we allow our ego to run free. This is where a situation can escalate and lead to a devasting outcome. We need to keep our ego in check and work towards de-escalating the situation.

In today’s episode, we talk about the importance of de-escalation and changing the narrative so that we can avoid an ego-based violent encounter.

We also focus on unwanted attention and the best way to handle this. Wanting to yell back at someone catcalling us is something we would love to do. Stand our ground you could say but is this the safest way to deal with this situation. There is quite the debate about how to deal with this situation but let me say that your safety is at the forefront of our minds, making sure you get home safe is what we care about.

Ep20. Where are you hanging out? Do you have an exit strategy?

We are all about avoiding violence and the best way to do that is to give ourselves options. We want to make sure that the places we are hanging out provide us with maximum visibility, space to move plus many exit points so that we can leave a situation if we need to.

Think of it as a room with one door, you have just one exit point which is not ideal, the same goes for when you are out and you have limited options. Just taking a moment to assess our surroundings and seeing what options are available to us can make all the difference.

Ep19. SELF DEFENCE - We can do it the EASY way or the HARD way!

We cannot be perfect all the time but there are so many things we can do in our day-to-day life that are EASY and put us ahead of the game when it comes to our safety. Today’s episode is to point out the easy side of Self Defence as sometimes we forget that a little change in our life can make all the difference.

The easy is so damn easy compared to the hard, the violence. It is extremely hard from a mental and physical aspect to fight for your life which is why we bang on today about the easy.

Now, maybe you are already doing some of these things or maybe you just need this little reminder of how we can change our daily habits that allow you to live a safer life. At the end of the day, the choice is yours alone how you live your life. We just want to present you with the information and its benefits and you can take it from there. Take care and stay safe.

Ep18. "I've F*#king Got This" What is your inner chatting saying?

What is your inner chatter like when it comes to your safety? Do you instantly think “shit, shit, shit” or do you tell yourself “I’ve got this”?

Today I talk about the importance of having the right mindset, living your best life in the safest way possible. Focusing on the things we can control, will make all the difference. We must think about the environment we actually live in and not the one we would like to live in. We can all say “I should be able to do this or that” but we really need to think about what we can actually do in regards to our safety. We have to be making smart choices when navigating our day so that we can go and live our best life. Living in a state of worry and panic is not living. I want you to feel empowered when it comes to your safety, you are the one controlling your actions.

Ep17. What role does your PHONE play in Self Defence?

There are lots of ideas out there about how to use your phone when it comes to self defence and today I want to share our thoughts on when we feel your phone is needed.

Tristan and I talk about how we would use our phone if we were confronted with a potential threat, just one on one. We also look at what role our phone can play in a third party situation where we are witnessing a violent encounter.

We have many tools at our disposal when we find ourselves in a violent encounter, is the phone one of them?

Ep16. Safety tips when you're out with BABIES + KIDS

I have had so many messages sliding into my DM’s about how to stay safe when you’re out with babies and kids. I get it, I have been there, I have two boys and I know what it feels like when all you want to do is protect these tiny people from everything in the world and you can feel quite vulnerable when doing it.

In this episode, Tristan and I talk about what you can do to not only feel safer when you’re out with babies and kids but actually be safer. Planning plays a large role but the type of planning will differ depending on the age of the child. We run through each stage, starting with Infants working our way up to 12-year-olds, which covers the primary school years.

You know your child best, so apply these tips and strategies when you feel your child is ready. Self-protection is a life journey and one that evolves with the various stages of your life. We have one life so make sure you are living it to the max in the safest way possible.

Ep15. The Other Pandemic - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE with Caroline McGuinness

WARNING - Some people may find this episode disturbing as we are talking about Domestic Violence and I would like you to listen at your discretion.

Today Rachel talks with Caroline McGuinness who is doing amazing things to bring more awareness to domestic violence. She is a qualified social worker with a wealth of expertise in human behaviour, trauma and engagement. She is the founder of McGuinness Consultancy, Empowering Leading Women, and The WHY Campaign which kicked off last year during the pandemic. Caroline is so passionate about bringing an end to domestic and today she talks about how she is going to make this happen. 

If you find this episode overwhelming at any time and you would like to speak to someone, support is available. If you are in Australia:

Call 1800RESPECT for 24/7 support

Call 000 if you are in danger

If you are not in Australia, please find your local support services hotline.

For more information on Caroline, please visit:

Website: www.thewhycampaign.com/

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @empoweringleadingwomen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-mc-guinness/

Ep14. Safety Tips for Travelling

Say what??? Who is travelling in this pandemic? Everyone is going to be travelling at all different times during this pandemic and Rachel believes it is important to get the information out there so you can refer to it when it applies. Some people are heading out for an overnight stay, others are travelling interstate and some will be heading overseas.

Rachel and Tristan cover a broad range of travelling safety topics, starting at the early planning stages and then onto just before you leave, and when you arrive at your destination. The big bonus, there is a Travel Safety Checklist that you can download here: Travel Safety Checklist so that you can locate this info when you are ready to travel. Head over and download it.

Ep13. An honest look at Self Defence with JEFF PHILLIPS

In today’s episode, Rachel + Tristan sit down and talk with Self Defence expert Jeff Phillips who is not only the chief instructor of Western Combatives in Sydney but also the director of SAFE International Australasia. Jeff has an extensive background training in Martial Arts and also as a competitive fighter. He is an industry leader in the instruction of Self Defence and is passionate about delivering skills sets and knowledge that is based on truth. He takes great responsibility upon himself to ensure that his students are prepared to face and survive the realities of a violent encounter.

You can see all things Jeff here:

Instagram: @westerncombatives @therealjeffphillips

Facebook: @combativessydney

Website: www.westerncombatives.com.au/

Ep12. SELF DEFENCE - More Mental than Physical!

Today Rachel and Tristan discuss the importance of the “Mental” side of Self Defence. As the “Physical” side seems to get most of the limelight.

The reason we hear more about the physical side is because of the violent nature of the crime, we hear about the physical trauma inflicted upon the individual, the cuts, bruises, broken bones, blood, rape and perhaps death! We hear about these things because it creates shock and terror in our minds. Violence sells news! It’s the physical violence that grabs people’s attention and Rachel believes this is why many people expect this to be the main topic in her workshops and seminars.

While the physical gets all of the attention, it is the mental aspect that Rachel and Tristan place huge importance on. You cannot control......

Ep11. Living Your Best Life With BIANKA ISMAILOVSKI

Are you living your best life? If not, can you reinvent yourself? The answer is “Absolutely”!!! In today‘s episode Rachel talks (and laughs a shit load) with the gorgeous Bianka Ismailovski about the major changes that have taken place for her over the past two years that were a must in order for her to live her best life. She has openly shared her darkest moments with her followers and inspired so many to make the necessary changes they needed so they too could live their best life.   

Bianka is a comedian and podcaster. The former party girl turned sober role model has had a very eventful 2020, which saw her marriage fall apart and left her stranded during stage four lockdown in the middle of a pandemic. Despite this, she has managed to launch a new podcast, “Damsel Undistressed” where she is dominating the podcast comedy charts as well as moving into her own place.

Change can be hard which is why a lot of us tend to put it off but we must remind ourselves that we only have one life. Are you living your best life or at least working towards it?

​Alcohol Mini Series (runs from 30th JAN 2020 – 31st MAR 2020. First episode starts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/alcohol-origins/id1322824072?i=1000464113062

Ep10. What to do in a KNIFE ATTACK!

Knife attacks are more common than gun attacks here in Australia. Unfortunately, we hear about them more often these days in the news, social media, private chat groups, even really young kids are carrying them. They are easy to acquire, conceal, and don’t require any training for them to be effective. Most of all they are extremely dangerous.

In today’s episode, Rachel and Tristan discuss the 2 types of knife situations that occur and.......

Ep9. What do we do it we witness VIOLENCE?

So, you are walking down the street and you spot a violent encounter taking place, what do you do? At this very moment, you must be aware that you are entering into a world of risk. At the end of the day, you legally have no obligation to do anything. It really is up to you and how much risk you are comfortable with taking.

Today, Rachel and Tristan talk about the various violent encounter scenarios that can take place .......

Ep8. INTUITION is GOLD!!! So why don't we listen to it?

How many times have you had a feeling in your gut that something just wasn’t quite right? Call it a hunch, sixth sense, butterflies in the stomach, it is basically your gut’s brain telling you that based on what you can see in your environment, something isn’t quite right. Most of us have experienced the sense of knowing something without knowing why. It is when the subconscious mind communicates with the conscious mind which gives us that ability to make split second.......

Ep7. SALLY PROSSER - A Confident Voice

Confidence plays an important role in Self Defence. Today Rachel talks with voice coach, Sally Prosser, about how to get confident in your voice. Your voice matters whether it be in a 1 on 1 conversation at a café, at a conference presenting to 1000 people, or screaming at a predator who is moving into your personal space.

Rachel and Sally talk about various tips and strategies that will empower you on your journey to feel confident in your voice no matter what the occasion. Mindset is a big one. No one is confident 100% of the time, you have to work at it. The more we practice.......

Ep6. FIGHT / FLIGHT / FREEZE!!! How to give yourself the best chance.

Fight, Flight, or Freeze. Which one do you think will kick in? To be honest, there are no guarantees, we do not know how we will respond because we have no control over it. The Fight-Flight-Freeze response is your body’s natural reaction to danger. But like anything the more you educate yourself and plant those seeds in your brain of what you need to do at that moment, the better chance you give yourself to make the right decisions when it matters.

Today Rachel and Tristan dive into what happens to your body during that Fight-Flight-Freeze response and what we can do to .....

Ep5. Can I buy you a drink? How to deal with UNWANTED ATTENTION

Nobody likes rejection, throw alcohol and drugs in the mix and it can get out of control. So how do we reject someone without bruising their ego and causing the situation to escalate?

In today’s episode, Rachel talks about the importance of having a story. By changing the mood you can reject the situation and not the person which allows them to walk away with their ego intact.......

Ep4. Let's get COMFORTABLE being UNCOMFORTABLE

There are always going to be uncomfortable moments in your life. Things you just don’t want to deal with or maybe something you want to say “yes” to but it is so far out of your comfort zone, that you say “no” instead. As uncomfortable as these challenges may be, they are also necessary for you to live your best and safest life.

In today’s episode, Rachel talks about the importance of pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone not only for your personal growth but to also put you in a position.......

Ep3. The Big One - SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Let’s talk about Situational Awareness. This is what Rachel likes to call the big one, the main topic, we can’t make smart choices for our safety if we don’t know what is happening around us.

Situational awareness doesn’t mean we have to live like a paranoid meerkat 24/7, but there are definitely times when we do have to switch on and give 100% to our surroundings. In today’s episode, Rachel runs through the 3 levels of awareness and talks about “when is” the time to be completely switched on.......

Ep2. TRISTAN KEALY - My Self Protection Journey

Today we talk with Tristan Kealy who has been Rachel’s No.1 Self Defence trainer for the past 20 years.  

After training in the Martial Arts industry for over 35 years, Tristan’s wealth of knowledge will blow you away. When it comes to safety and general wellbeing for your body, you couldn’t be in more capable hands.

Tristan is continually learning, testing, and seeking out new techniques to find the most effective forms of Self Defence. He doesn’t believe that one particular Martial Arts covers it all and he has trained in many, Judo, Hapkido,......

Ep1. Introduction to "Knowledge Is Your Superpower"

A big welcome to the “Knowledge Is Your Superpower” podcast. I am thrilled to be delivering weekly tips and strategies in not only Self Defence, but also various topics that will empower you to live your best life. I will be sharing this stage with my co-star, Tristan Kealy, and various guest speakers which excel in their profession.

This episode will give you an insight into your host, Rachel Kealy, the founder of the Women’s Self Defence Network and how she began her self defence journey which led her to start this business.

Violence is ugly and anything can happen so Rachel’s goal is to empower as many people as possible with knowledge and confidence on how to avoid a violent encounter. At the end of the day, we all want to live a safe life.