Chokes and Consciousness

Embracing our 'Villain Era'

In this episode of Chokes and Consciousness, Deja and Michaela explore the theme of duality, reflecting on their recent birthdays and personal growth. The episode highlights exciting developments at Ground Theory, including a new location and the anticipation of a special guest. Additionally, Deja and Michaela then transition into a light-hearted exploration of their 'villain era,' discussing how they relate to villains and the energy they feel. Furthermore, they touch on UFC fight predictions and updates. The dialogue emphasizes the imp. They touch on how everyone has to face challenges to evolve and how recognizing and accepting the darker aspects of oneself can lead to empowerment and balance in life. The dialogue emphasizes the duality of human nature and the necessity of both light and dark energies in personal development.

Finding Joy!

In this episode, Deja and Michaela explore a variety of themes, including personal growth, the significance of tattoos, memorable experiences like scorpion hunting, and the fear of spiders. They reflect on life and death, share their thoughts on the Final Destination movies, and discuss their weekly updates. They discuss the idea of becoming a tree and the legacy one leaves behind. The conversation also touches on the return of UFC and MMA news and the challenges of transitioning from an athletic career to retirement. Finally, they discuss the joy of practicing jiu-jitsu and the personal growth that comes with it. In this episode, Deja and Michaela celebrate their birthdays, share memorable Halloween experiences, and reflect on life lessons learned over the years. They discuss the importance of relationships, finding joy, and setting boundaries to protect one's energy. They end with a reminder of the ability to manifest one's reality through positivity and self-awareness.
 

Spices of Positivity

In this episode, Deja and Michaela celebrate their upcoming birthdays and reflect on their personal growth over the past year. They share stories from their childhood, including memorable experiences in school and sports, and discuss their recent adventures in jiu-jitsu training. In this discussion, Deja and Michaela reflect on their experiences leading up to 2025, discussing the importance of affirmations and the power of positive thinking. Deja shares about her recent road trip to Colorado, highlighting the beauty of nature and the challenges of navigating new environments. Furthermore, they explore the theme of intrusive thoughts, particularly in the context of driving through the mountains, illustrating the mental challenges that can arise in stressful situations. The discussion then shifts to updates on competition training, discussing upcoming events and personal growth in their respective martial arts journeys. Overall, the conversation highlights the evolving landscape of MMA and the importance of trying new approaches in training and competition. The episode emphasizes the journey of self-improvement and the courage required to embrace change.
 

Transformative Chaos

In this episode, Deja and Michaela discuss their caffeine journeys, share their latest life updates, the impact of aging on time perception, and the exploration into intriguing conspiracy theories, specifically those predicted by The Simpsons. Additionally, Deja and Michaela discuss their fitness routines, fall festivities, their favorite seasonal treats, and the latest UFC/MMA and jiu jitsu news. During their Topic of the Week and Zen Talk, they explore the importance of personal growth and transformative energy, especially in the context of recent events like the solar eclipse. Furthermore, they discuss the mental and physical aspects of training, the importance of establishing routines, and the transformative energy that comes with change. The conversation emphasizes the need for motivation, resilience, and the acceptance of both forced and unforced absences in one's journey.

Humble Power

In this episode, Michaela and Deja explore various topics ranging from their personal fitness journeys and reflections on aging to the impact of astrology on their lives. They discuss the upcoming UFC events and the importance of community engagement. Furthermore, they discuss the evolving landscape of MMA in Kansas City and the cosmic energies influencing their lives. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of personal growth and navigating life's transitions. Additionally, Michaela and Deja target the belt system in Jiu-Jitsu, the controversies surrounding MMA fighters like Jon Jones, and Kayla Harrison and the importance of role models in sports. Discussing Topic of the Week and Zen Talk, they touch on the dynamics of power in Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and the acceptance of one's limitations to harness true power. 
 

Trust your intuition

In this episode, Michaela and Deja celebrate their 10th episode, reflecting on their consistency and the support from their community. They discuss the transition into fall, and the cosmic energies affecting their moods. They then shift to pop culture references, Halloween costumes, and the evolution of health trends, particularly in protein products. Michaela and Deja share their feelings about the recent full moon and its emotional effects, as well as insights from tarot readings. The episode transitions into updates on the Fight2Win event and a recap of UFC Noche, highlighting notable fights and frustrations with event organization. In this conversation, Michaela and Deja discuss the importance of fighter safety in MMA, and the risks associated with the sport. They also analyze recent fight predictions and outcomes, discuss Topic of the Week regarding personal experiences about decision-making in their journeys, and conclude with Zen Talk and the exploration into the significance of trusting one's intuition and emotions. The dialogue emphasizes self-awareness, the acceptance of emotions, and the importance of making decisions that align with personal values and well-being.
 

Opportunities come from challenges

In this episode, Deja and Michaela dive into the chaos of their lives, mainly focusing on Deja's wild Friday the 13th filled with unexpected events. They also discuss their upcoming fight matches, the event's uncertainty, and their shared love for horror movies and superstitions. The conversation shifts to Deja and Michaela exploring their shared love for horror movies, discussing personal superstitions, and reflecting on their fears. They also provide updates on upcoming fight events, including UFC and Invicta, and share their predictions. The discussion transitions into their Topic of the Week regarding their reflection on how their experiences in Jiu-Jitsu mirror their personal lives, emphasizing growth and learning through the sport. In this conversation, Deja and Michaela explore the various stages of learning Jiu-Jitsu, discussing the challenges and growth of each belt level. They then go into their Zen Talk and reflect on their personal experiences, the importance of perseverance, and how challenges can lead to opportunities for deeper understanding and skill development.

Passive assertiveness is a virtue

In this episode, Deja and Michaela discuss their recent upgrades in audio and video quality for their podcast. They also talk about their personal fitness journeys and the importance of finding balance in treating themselves. They review upcoming UFC fights and share their thoughts on recent MMA news. They also discuss the Mikey Musumeci and the Mighty Mouse interview and the topic of waiting for success versus being assertive. They also talk about the UFC and Dana White's contender series. They mention a bare-knuckle fighter who plans to donate her brain to science for a cognitive study. They discuss the risks and safety concerns in combat sports, including CTE. They also mention the possibility of participating in combat jiu-jitsu. In this part of the conversation, Deja and Michaela discuss the importance of being authentic and building your brand in jiu-jitsu. They also touch on the topic of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the sport and the differences in mindset between former collegiate athletes and non-athletes. They emphasize the constant learning and growth in jiu-jitsu and the dedication required to achieve goals. In this conversation, Michaela and Deja discuss the concept of waiting for success versus being assertive. They explore the idea of going with the flow and allowing opportunities to appear, while also being intentional and taking steps forward in their process. In Zen Talk they discuss the energy you put in and the energy you receive. They emphasize the importance of finding a balance between waiting and taking action. They also discuss the impact of energy on our experiences and relationships, highlighting the need to protect our own energy and set boundaries with others. The conversation concludes with a quote from Maya Angelou: 'Everything in the universe has a rhythm. Everything dances.'
 

Tending to the foundation

In this episode, Michaela and Deja recap IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Con and World Masters in Vegas, discuss post-competition thoughts and their overall reflection on being in Vegas, discuss the Topic of the Week: What did I know competing, and what did I learn afterward?, and discuss Zen Talk: Tending to the bricks of your foundation to build continued evolution through natural transitions. 

Mindfulness Vegas time, baby!

Join Michaela and Deja as they converse about their upcoming competition in Vegas: Jiu Jitsu Con and World's Masters, the latest UFC news and upcoming events, local MMA and grappling news, ADCC and CJI recap, Topic of the Week: Letting go of expectations, and closing with Zen Talk: Staying present