Rope Podcast

Self-care is a topic Mya is particularly passionate about, and in this episode we take a deep dive into what self-care means for people who practice rope.

Although many of our episodes touch on aspects of caring for ourselves and our partners, this conversation focuses specifically on building self-care practices that support a healthy and sustainable relationship with rope.

Topics include:
• What self-care is and what it isn't
• Why self-care is important in rope practice
• The foundations of effective self-care
• How self-care can look different for tops and bottoms
• Mya and Fox's personal self-care approaches
• Why self-awareness is one of the most important self-care skills
• The highly individual nature of self-care
• Practical ideas to support your own wellbeing
• Adapting self-care to different styles and intensities of rope
• The relationship between self-care and aftercare
• Simple ways to start developing your own rope self-care practices

Whether you're a top, bottom, switch, beginner or experienced practitioner, understanding your own needs can help you create a safer, more enjoyable and more sustainable rope journey.

Thank you to listener MoonBunny5 for sharing a difficult and vulnerable question.
After experiencing a very negative interaction with a rigger, she now struggles to even look at rope without feeling disgusted. She wants to know whether it's possible to return to rope after an experience like this, and if so, how.
While neither Mya nor Fox are therapists, this episode explores some of the concepts that may be helpful when approaching recovery from rope-related trauma.
Topics include:
• Why trauma can occur in rope communities more often than many people realise
• The role of nervous system regulation and emotional safety
• Understanding the difference between thoughts and feelings
• Using free writing to process difficult experiences
• Exploring alternative contexts and associations
• Reintroducing rope slowly, beginning with rope as a simple object
• The principles behind exposure therapy
• Practising self-compassion throughout recovery
• Creating safe environments for trauma work
Important note: We strongly encourage seeking support from a qualified therapist where available. The ideas discussed in this episode are intended as general discussion and are best explored alongside professional support.

Vetting is the process of deciding whether someone is a good fit before you trust them as a rope partner. It might sound simple, but in practice there’s a lot to consider - your context, your risk tolerance, and what information actually matters.

In this episode, Fox and Mya explore how vetting can shift over time, the different types of risk you might weigh, and how to approach references with a critical lens. They discuss what information can be useful, the role of asking intentional questions, and how instinct and bias can both shape your decisions.

They also cover common red flags, why self-awareness is key to vetting others effectively, and share their own personal approaches to the process.

With an infectious delight in what she calls “macramé with humans,” Mystrix brings a thoughtful, creative approach to minimalistic western rope. In this conversation, she shares how her style focuses on adapting rope to the individual - prioritizing intention, efficiency, and connection over complexity.
We talk about her journey into rope, what continues to fuel her passion, and how her perspective has evolved over time. The discussion explores tying diverse bodies, navigating the scene as a fat femme rigger, and the importance of understanding physics - especially when working with larger or squishier bodies.
The episode also covers the differences between shibari and minimalistic western rope, separating rope from other kink dynamics, and the practical and creative choices that shape her practice; from rope materials like POSH to incorporating scent and sensory elements.
Mystrix frames rope as playful problem-solving: a balance of fundamentals, curiosity, and continuous refinement. Her focus is on creating experiences where bottoms feel strong, supported, and fully seen - while emphasizing that rope should always adapt to the person, not the other way around.

What happens when precision meets tension? In this episode, Mya and Fox dive into the edge where rope and sharps intersect - an intense, deliberate form of play that demands skill, trust, and control.

- What counts as sharps play
- Real risks (and why they're often misunderstood)
- When the top may be at greater risk than the bottom
- Why people are drawn to sharps—on both sides of the dynamic
- Tie styles that pair well with sharps
- Roleplay dynamics that elevate the experience
- Staying organised and in control
- Incorporating sharps into suspensions
- How sharps interact with (and can damage) rope
This is one of the less talked-about combinations - and there's a reason it requires experience and intention.