Chokeholds and Chill Podcast

chokeholdsandchillpod

Chokeholds & Chill is a candid, unfiltered jiu-jitsu podcast hosted by Jenn and Mallory—two women who train hard, laugh loud, and aren’t afraid to talk about everything that lives on and off the mats. From athlete interviews to deep-dive conversations about competition, community, lifestyle, recovery, mental health, and the messy reality of being a grappler, this show brings honesty and humor straight from the mats to your ears. Featuring world-class guests, difficult conversations, and plenty of behind-the-scenes chaos, Chokeholds & Chill is where real jiu-jitsu people come to actually talk. Hosts: Mallory Ingalls @itsmaltime and Jenn Holmberg @jennholmberg  Show: @chokeholdsandchillpod  Email: chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com

  1. Aug 11

    From Self-Silencing to Self-Trust: Dr. Leslie Davis on Women, Jiu Jitsu & Mental Wellness

    What happens when we stop making ourselves smaller, quieter, easier, and more agreeable? In this episode, Jenn and Mal sit down with Dr. Leslie Davis for a conversation that goes far beyond Jiu Jitsu. After Mallory experienced Leslie’s powerful roundtable on self-silencing at Roll Model Grappling Camp, the conversation stayed with her—and we knew we needed to bring it to the podcast. We talk about the ways women learn to silence themselves, often without even realizing they’re doing it, and what happens when we finally start trusting our own voice, instincts, boundaries, and bodies. Leslie takes us into the intersection of mental health, relationships, power, boundaries, self-defense, and Jiu Jitsu, including why learning to recognize a bad position on the mats can be surprisingly similar to recognizing one in a relationship. We also talk about Defend & Rise, why self-defense is about far more than knowing how to fight, the importance of verbal boundaries, and what changes psychologically when a woman realizes she doesn’t have to be powerless. And, of course, we bring it back to Jiu Jitsu—what happens when women stop apologizing for taking up space, start trusting themselves, and realize they are capable of more than they thought. This is a conversation about finding your voice, setting boundaries, building self-trust, and ultimately learning what it means to rise. Our Sponsors Roll Models Women’s Only Grappling Camp July 9–11, 2027 www.rollmodelswanted.com/collections/womens-grappling-camp Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off your registration. 🌿 MilUsos Skincare We’ve seen a real difference in our skin texture, breakouts, and even the scarring and irritation that comes from living on the mats. www.milusosskincare.com Use code CHOCHI when you shop MilUsos. 🩹 Limitless Tape Custom gear and some of the best finger tape we’ve found for grapplers. www.limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop Use code CHOKEHOLD for 10% off. 🎧 Chokeholds & Chill — real conversations about Jiu Jitsu, women in the sport, life, and all the messy stuff in between.

  2. Aug 3

    Damien Tanenbaum: It's Always Worth Showing Up

    This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with entrepreneur, action actor, fight coordinator, producer, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Damien Tanenbaum. Damien didn’t begin his jiu jitsu journey until his mid-30s after his son introduced him to the sport. What started as supporting his child quickly became a lifelong pursuit—one that eventually led to earning his black belt, helping build Triple Crown Athletic, coaching the fundamentals he loves, and discovering an unexpected career in film. In this episode, we talk about: Starting jiu jitsu later in life and embracing the beginner’s mindset Why the fundamentals never stop mattering How jiu jitsu opened doors to acting, fight coordination, and producing His upcoming film projects, including A Dish Best Served. His passion project, Shattered, a film centered on a father’s relentless fight to rescue his daughter from human trafficking, where Damien serves as producer, actor, and fight coordinator Why success isn’t about giant leaps—it’s about taking small steps consistently and refusing to quit Whether you’re a brand-new white belt, someone considering trying jiu jitsu for the first time, or simply chasing a new dream later in life, Damien’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to begin. Learn more about Shattered at www.shatteredthemovie.com. Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 9–11, 2027 | Indianapolis, IN 🌐 www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 OFF registration. 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Premium skincare made for grapplers. 📲 Instagram: @milusos_skincare 🌐 www.milusosskincare.com Code: CHOCHI 🩹 Limitless Tape High-performance tape built for athletes. 📲 Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD 🌐 https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

    Damien Tanenbaum: It's Always Worth Showing Up
  3. Jul 6

    Breaking New Ground with Coach Lobes

    Sometimes the best things in jiu jitsu come from the plans that never worked out. This week, we sit down with Mike “Coach Lobes” Frausto, founder of New Ground Jiu Jitsu, to talk about building something meaningful from the ground up. From pursuing the dream of opening a 10th Planet academy, to relocating and navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, and eventually teaching out of a one-bedroom apartment and a garage before opening New Ground’s doors in 2021, Mike shares the journey behind one of Southern California’s fastest-growing no-gi academies. We also dive into coaching philosophy, creating a gym culture where beginners feel welcome and experienced grapplers continue to grow, the evolution of modern no-gi jiu jitsu, and what it really means to lead a community. Whether you’re a gym owner, coach, competitor, hobbyist, or someone chasing a dream that hasn’t gone according to plan, this conversation is full of perspective, resilience, and plenty of laughs. Grab a coffee, hit play, and enjoy this episode of Chokeholds & Chill.   Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com 🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

  4. Jun 1

    Chris Vazquez: @burro_bjj, Creating Content & Keeping Jiu Jitsu Real

    This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with Chris Vazquez — better known online as @burro_bjj on Instagram, training out of Goodyear 10th Planet in Arizona Chris represents a side of jiu jitsu a lot of people connect with right now: authentic, community-driven, technical, funny as hell, and not overly polished for the internet. In this episode, we get into: The story behind “Burro BJJ” Social media, gym culture, and the weird side of internet jiu jitsu Building community in a sport that can sometimes take itself way too seriously The difference between “content jiu jitsu” and real training room culture Competition, pressure, and why people actually stay in the sport long-term This conversation feels like hanging around after open mat with people who genuinely love training — equal parts funny, thoughtful, and brutally honest about the current state of jiu jitsu. If you’ve ever wondered whether jiu jitsu is becoming too polished online while still being beautifully chaotic in real life… this episode is for you. Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com 🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

  5. May 25

    US Coast Guard, Wrestling Roots & Discipline Through Jiu Jitsu with Kauhane Harding

    This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Kauhane Harding — Native Hawaiian, United States Coast Guard law enforcement officer, wrestler, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt training out of Ewa Beach, Hawaii Kauhane grew up in a strict household where discipline wasn’t optional. Between wrestling, family expectations, and eventually finding his way back to jiu jitsu, his path was built on structure, accountability, and learning how to handle pressure early. In this episode, we get into: Growing up in Hawai‘i with a strict father and traditional values How wrestling shaped his mindset long before jiu jitsu Working law enforcement in the U.S. Coast Guard The crossover between combat sports, discipline, and service What training means to him mentally and physically The realities of balancing duty, family, and life on the mats Kauhane brings a no-excuses mentality and a grounded perspective that comes from both the mats and real-world responsibility. This episode is about discipline, identity, pressure, and the work it takes to carry all of it well. Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Grappling Camp Indy Base Camp | July 10–12, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN www.rollmodelswanted.com Use code CHOKE50 for $50 off registration 🌿 MilUsos Skincare Skincare made for athletes who live on the mats Instagram: @milusos_skincare Shop: https://milusosskincare.com 🩹 Limitless Tape High-quality tape designed for grapplers who train hard Instagram: @limitless_tape Use code CHOKEHOLD Shop: https://limitlesstape.square.site/s/shop

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Chokeholds & Chill is a candid, unfiltered jiu-jitsu podcast hosted by Jenn and Mallory—two women who train hard, laugh loud, and aren’t afraid to talk about everything that lives on and off the mats. From athlete interviews to deep-dive conversations about competition, community, lifestyle, recovery, mental health, and the messy reality of being a grappler, this show brings honesty and humor straight from the mats to your ears. Featuring world-class guests, difficult conversations, and plenty of behind-the-scenes chaos, Chokeholds & Chill is where real jiu-jitsu people come to actually talk. Hosts: Mallory Ingalls @itsmaltime and Jenn Holmberg @jennholmberg  Show: @chokeholdsandchillpod  Email: chokeholdsandchillpod@gmail.com