Episode 26

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Published on:

2nd Sep 2025

Fit to Fight Founder Ryan Hoover on Training, Mindset & Self-Defense for All

I’m super excited to share my interview with one of my old friends, training partners, and author of several incredible books, Ryan Hoover of  ⁨@FitToFightRepublic⁩ .

If you know me, you know my passion for martial arts runs deep. But beyond that, my bigger mission is encouraging women and anyone who feels vulnerable to embrace what I believe is the ultimate form of self-care: self-protection and self-defense.


In this conversation, Ryan and I cover a lot: mindset as both a martial artist and business owner, some technique talk for those who love the details, and most importantly, the hope that if you’ve been on the fence about training you’ll finally step into a nearby gym and start your journey.


If you need help finding the right training space, shoot me a DM and I’ll see if I can help point you in the right direction. You can also grab all of Ryan’s books on Amazon.


The Incomplete Guide to Modern Krav Maga™: A Manual for Real-World Self-Defense: https://a.co/d/02fIFsw


College Bound: How to Be Ready, Stay Safe, and Still Live Your Life: https://a.co/d/eGZ611p


And if you’re ready to go deeper into these conversations—exploring self-protection, mindset, and empowerment with me and others on the same journey—come join The Circle on Substack. It’s where we connect beyond the podcast, share resources, and build a stronger community together.


https://substack.com/@thoughtexperimentcalledlife

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About the Podcast

Thought Experiment Called Life
A podcast for multi-passionate creatives forging nontraditional life paths.
This is a podcast for multi-passionate creatives forging nontraditional life paths.
I’ve never neatly fit into any niche, neither do many people, and neither does this podcast. This is a space for the multi-passionate person—the individual who looks at the world with glittering eyes despite the challenges of a multifaceted life. It’s for those seeking inspiration from positive, unconventional lives and hoping to glean lessons to guide their own path. It’s for those who trust that the right message will find them at the right time, no matter how unrelated it may seem.
This is a space for the existential mind and the open heart—those who understand the power of sharing stories to remind others they’re not alone.

I’ve lived many lives in my time here on Earth, and this podcast dives into a plethora of topics, including (but not limited to):
- Living and thriving with Lyme disease (and autoimmune disease).
- Pursuing your purpose in a world that celebrates conformity.
- Staying mentally healthy as a neurodivergent person in an insane world.
- The power and beauty of plant medicine and nourishing nutrition.
- Why learning self-defense is the ultimate self-care (especially for women)
- The magic of jiu-jitsu: a roadmap to growth and success in every area of life.
- Building healthy relationships—romantic and platonic.
- And perhaps most exciting of all, hearing real stories from multi-passionate individuals living fulfilling, unconventional lives.

This space exists to bring you inspiration, tools, resources, and proof that the call in your heart is there for a reason. I’m excited to walk this path with you.

The wild heart in me bows to the wild heart in you.

About your host

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Greta Hotmer