The Problem With...

Ffion Davies joins James Smith to reveal the problem with women in jiu-jitsu, a sport often gatekept by a "sausage fest" mentality and dangerous myths about self-defense. Davies, a six-time world champion, exposes why the current narrative is failing women and how the lack of equal pay is a quiet crisis threatening the sport's growth. They confront the reality of the "big strong dude" syndrome, the biological discrepancies in training, and the high-stakes battle for financial respect in elite competition.

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Ffion's Online Training Membership: https://ffiononline.com/

Ffion Davies on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ffioneiradaviesbjj

Ffion Davies on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ffiffipengtinginlondon

We cover:

⬛ Why the "Self-Defense" Narrative is a Dangerous Lie

⬛ Equal Pay, ADCC & The Battle for Financial Respect

⬛ Why Athleticism is a Trap for Beginners

⬛ The Truth About Skin Infections & "Ballgate"

⬛ Why You Should Learn from Purple Belts, Not Just Legends

Chapters:

00:00 Breaking Barriers for Female Grapplers

2:56 Challenges Facing Women in the Sport

6:33 Building Trust and Community in Training

10:02 Reframing Motivation for Jiu-Jitsu

15:19 Realistic Expectations for Beginners

17:23 First Experiences and Gym Challenges

22:53 Judo vs Jiu-Jitsu Training Differences

29:35 Judo People Are Unique Athletes

36:05 Gi vs No-Gi: Technical Differences

45:56 Skin Infections and Training Hygiene

52:26 Armor Gym: A New Training Environment

59:56 Seminar Dynamics and Rolling Etiquette

1:01:57 Competing in Adult Divisions

1:04:06 Encouraging New People to Try Jiu-Jitsu

1:09:44 The Global Jiu-Jitsu Community

1:12:36 Fion Davies' Current Projects
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🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith

📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business

🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com

Max Olesker joins James Smith to discuss the problem with following your passion. Why an unstructured life can lead to an intellectual and spiritual vacuum if you aren't prepared for the consequences. Olesker explains that pursuing a calling without a strategy is a dangerous gamble that often ends in physical and financial ruin.

We cover:

⬛ Why "Follow Your Passion" is a Strategic Dead End

⬛ The Brutal Reality of Pro Wrestling & Performative Pain

⬛ Navigating the Rigorous Path to Orthodox Conversion

Chapters:

0:00 The Problem With Passion

5:40 The "Yes Man" Lifestyle

9:13 The Cost of the Ring

16:13 Wrestling & Social Media

26:36 The Comedy Flow State

36:07 The Creativity Grind

40:45 Identity & Heritage

47:12 Rigorous Conversion

1:08:19 The Shabbat Detox

1:15:16 The Surgical Finale

1:36:23 Making The Cut

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Property expert and investment strategist Ravi Sharma joins James Smith to reveal the problem with the global housing market.

This is no longer just a hurdle for first time buyers; it is a systemic time bomb that is stripping away financial agency and threatening the future of social mobility. The quiet crisis of skyrocketing prices is not an accident of the market, but the result of a rigged system that prioritizes corporate incentives over human survival.

Ravi Sharma's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PersonalFinancewithRaviSharma

We cover:

⬛ Why Housing Affordability is a Global Crisis

⬛ Property, Pensions and the Rigged System

⬛ The Truth About Mortgages and Wealth Building

⬛ Renting for Freedom vs Buying for Status

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🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith

📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business

🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com

0:00 Housing Market Reality Check

0:36 Housing Affordability: A Persistent Challenge

1:56 Personal Journey in Property and Renting

7:06 Landlord Perspectives and Property Investment

12:05 Mortgage Strategies and Wealth Building

19:16 Overcoming Financial Anxiety and Fear

23:11 Property vs. Other Investment Options

28:04 Challenging Traditional Financial Advice

34:01 Leveraging Offset Mortgages Strategically

40:24 Emotional vs. Rational Property Decisions

45:05 Property Investment Process Explained

49:52 Breaking Free from Emotional Financial Traps

54:35 Ethical Considerations of Property Investment

59:36 Advice for Younger Generations

1:02:24 Renting as a Path to Personal Freedom

1:07:54 Financial Decisions and Life Constraints

1:10:16 Investment Strategies for Different Scenarios
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In this episode, George Horne (known online as @thetinmen) joins James Smith to confront the uncomfortable reality of The Problem with Men’s Mental Health. Beyond the surface-level "men need to talk" slogans, George reveals a quiet crisis of structural failings that range from biased family courts to a suicide rate that continues to climb despite increased awareness.

👁️ Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith

🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith

📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business

🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com

The Tin Men on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCpIPgsoOjI8dgQ9fOlmc7TQ

Follow The Tin Men on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetinmen

We cover:

⬛ Why Structural Issues Trump "Talking" for Men

⬛ Family Courts & The Fatherlessness Epidemic

⬛ Why Men Need Shoulder-to-Shoulder Therapy

⬛ The Biological Necessity of Roughhousing & Combat

Timestamps:

00:00 The Problem With Mental Health

03:52 What We Miss About Men

07:37 Mental Health Beyond The Brain

09:21 Obesity As Mental Health Analogy

12:04 Status, Identity, And Fatherhood

14:16 Custody Battles And Male Suicide

17:07 Domestic Violence Misconceptions

21:30 Why Men Don’t Leave Abuse

25:15 Bad Research And False Narratives

30:27 Hiring Bias Against Men

35:53 The Motherhood Pay Gap Explained

40:55 Representation And Media Stereotypes

44:34 Fatherhood As Mental Health Anchor

49:26 Masculinity And Meaning

52:08 Community As Mental Health Treatment

56:06 Movement, Touch, And Men

01:00:16 Why Jiu Jitsu Builds Purpose

01:05:51 Boys, Violence, And Discipline

01:10:10 Fatherlessness And Gangs

01:15:13 Why Fathers Aren’t At Home

01:22:19 Rethinking Solutions For Men

01:29:04 Men’s Charities And What’s Next
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Adam McDonald joins James Smith to reveal the uncomfortable truth about the problem with hydration, electrolytes and why the $100 million hydration industry is selling a dangerous lie that is creating a quiet crisis in cardiovascular health. McDonald explains how modern marketing has convinced healthy individuals to consume toxic levels of sodium under the guise of "optimisation" while ignoring the actual biological requirements of the human body.

👁️ Try Neutonic: https://www.neutonic.com/jamessmith

🧪 Check your Test: https://www.manual.co/smith

📝 Business Mentoring: https://www.jamessmith.business

🏋🏼‍♂️ Online Coaching: https://www.jamessmithacademy.com

They Cover:

⬛ Why Electrolyte Supplements Are The New BCAAs

⬛ How Excess Sodium Fuels The Silent Killer of Blood Pressure

⬛ The Myth of Morning Dehydration and Salt Water Rituals

⬛ Why Glucose Outperforms Salt for Real World Hydration

⬛ The Psychological Trap of Wearable Data and Health Anxiety

00:00 Hydration Myths Explained

01:09 Why Electrolytes Get Hyped

03:04 The Real Hydration Problem

06:36 Sodium Vs Table Salt

07:55 Do BJJ Athletes Need Electrolytes?

10:35 Why You Can’t Replace Sweat

12:58 When Hyperhydration Helps

13:08 Water Loading And Peeing

15:56 Electrolytes For Multi-Match Days

17:54 Morning Salt Myth Debunked

20:13 Sugar Fear In Sports Drinks

23:29 Flavor Beats Fancy Formulas

28:07 Blood Pressure Tracking Basics

32:04 Health Anxiety From Metrics

33:49 Eight Sleep Worth The Money

37:05 Falling Asleep To Podcasts

39:58 How Powerful Placebo Is

42:27 Mouth Taping Reality Check

45:17 Sleep Stack That Helps

49:47 Peptides And Injury Recovery

52:38 GLP-1s And Fat Loss Ethics

57:09 Food Noise Relief On GLP-1s

59:37 Hair Loss Drugs And Transplants

01:08:37 Biohacking Hype Calling Out

01:11:41 Why Marathoners Spit Drinks

01:13:51 Greens Powders Under The Microscope

01:18:14 Proprietary Blends Exposed

01:21:07 What A Better Greens Mix Needs

01:22:43 Coaching, Research, And Perfectionism

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