Feeling unsafe because of who you are? You’re not imagining it — and you’re not alone.

In this Pride special, Julie Waite and Dene Josham (self defence expert and former bodyguard of Angelina Jolie) share 4 life-changing truths about real self-defence for LGBTQ+ people — truths that most people never talk about.

 This isn’t about fighting. It’s about self-worth, setting boundaries, protecting your peace, and reclaiming your power.

 💡 If you’ve ever shrunk yourself to stay safe, this one’s for you.

Resources

• Galop - support for LGBT people who have experienced abuse and violence
• 1-Hour Online Self-Defence Essentials Course
• LBTQ group training 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Phone snatching is fast, shocking, and on the rise — especially in busy public places. But with a few simple habits, you can make yourself a much harder target.

In this quick 10-minute tip episode, women's safety advocate and Co-Founder of Streetwise Defence, Julie Waite, breaks down how phone thieves operate (think scooters, pickpockets, cafés, and even muggings), and shares practical, real-world strategies to protect your phone—and your peace of mind.

We cover:

• Where phone snatching is most likely to happen
• The biggest mistakes people make (that make you an easy target)
• What to do instead — safer habits, smarter choices
• Why your phone is as tempting to thieves as a £1,000 cash bundle
• Whether phone straps actually help—or make things worse

Whether you’re commuting, travelling, or walking to school pickup, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you stay aware, stay calm, and stay safer.

👉 Want to go deeper? Visit our website for our free blog on phone snatching prevention and technical settings to secure your device.

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Are you feeling manipulated, emotionally drained, or constantly second-guessing yourself? You may be dealing with gaslighting or a toxic relationship.

In this episode, Julie Waite, women's safety advocate, and Dene Josham, self defence instructor and former celebrity bodyguard, expose the red flags of emotional abuse — from guilt-tripping to love bombing — and explain how emotional self-defence is just as vital as physical skills.

Learn how to spot manipulation early, reclaim your voice, and build the boundaries you need to protect your emotional space.

“Emotional self-defence is about recognising your worth — and protecting it without apology.” – Julie Waite

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

What if the person you loved became your greatest threat? In this powerful episode, Julie Waite speaks with domestic abuse survivor and advocate Sharon Livermore MBE, founder of Domestic Abuse Education.

Sharon shares her story of surviving coercive control, attempted kidnap, and abuse — and how she now educates others to break the cycle.

You’ll learn how to spot red flags, understand the cycle of abuse, and what real support looks like for victims, friends, and employers.

"Abuse thrives in silence — but education gives us power." – Sharon Livermore MBE 

Find out more about Sharon and her workplace training at Domestic Abuse Education. 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Ever had that gut feeling someone’s following you? Your instincts might be right — and this episode teaches you exactly what to do.

Julie Waite and self-defence expert Dene Josham (former bodyguard to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt) walk you through step-by-step actions to stay safe if you sense you're being followed.

Learn how to confirm the threat, escape safely, stay mentally ahead, and protect yourself in a confrontation — without relying on tools alone.

 “If it feels wrong, it probably is — your body knows before your brain catches up.” 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

What if everything you’ve heard about women’s self-defence is only half the truth?

In this episode of Self Defence for Women, Julie Waite (women's safety advocate) and self-defence expert Dene Josham (former bodyguard of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe) debunk the biggest myths — like needing strength or learning to fight strangers. Instead, they reveal how real self-defence starts with awareness, emotional resilience, and believing you’re worth protecting.

Discover the truth about where most threats come from, why saying “no” is a self-defence skill, and how your mindset is your best weapon.

 “Self defence isn’t just about physical moves; it’s about mindset, awareness, and setting boundaries.” – Julie Waite 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Menopause can mess with your mind, drain your energy, and leave you doubting yourself — but you don’t have to stay stuck.

In this empowering episode, Julie Waite is joined by Juli Madacey (menopause coach and Co-Founder of Fabulous Beyond 40) to explore the emotional, psychological, and identity changes that come with menopause — and how to build emotional self-defence from the inside out.

From medical gaslighting to setting boundaries at work and home, this is your permission slip to speak up, protect your peace, and stop apologising for it.

“You’re not lost. You’re finding your way back to who you truly are.” — Juli Madacey

Find Juli at Fabulous beyond 40

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

If you’re confused by UK self-defence law, you’re not alone. In this episode, Julie Waite (Co-Founder of Streetwise Defence) breaks down the real rules around protecting yourself — and what the law actually allows.

Using the case of Martyna Ogonowska as a starting point, Julie explores why she was convicted of murder, the truth about carrying weapons, and what “reasonable force” really means.

Learn what you can do to stay safe legally — from improvised weapons to pre-emptive strikes — and why awareness and mindset are your most powerful tools.

“You can fight back. You just need to do it within the law.” – Julie Waite

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

In this eye-opening episode, Julie and Dene break down the most overlooked yet high-risk places children face danger — from trusted family members and online predators to public toilets, sleepovers, and the school run. With real stories, powerful stats (like 90% of abuse cases involve someone the child knows), and actionable safety tips, this is a must-listen for parents who want to protect their children without fear-mongering. Learn how to have difficult conversations, build safety routines, and teach your child to trust their gut. 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

What would you do if someone tried to mug you? In this episode, Julie Waite (women's safety advocate) and Dene Josham (self defence expert and former bodyguard of Brad Pitt) share real-world personal safety tips every woman should know — from preventing a mugging to surviving one safely.

You’ll learn how to stay alert, trust your gut, and respond decisively without escalating danger. They cover what to do if someone demands your belongings or tries to get you into a vehicle — and how to prepare your mind to act under pressure.

“Nothing is more valuable than your life — everything else is replaceable.” – Julie Waite

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Could your pen, keys, or handbag actually save your life? In this episode, Julie Waite (women's safety advocate) and Dene Josham (self-defence expert and former celebrity bodyguard) explore the power of improvised weapons — everyday items you already carry that can help protect you in a self-defence situation.

From street encounters to terror attacks and home invasions, they explain how mindset, awareness, and quick thinking matter more than brute strength. You’ll learn how to identify, practise with, and legally use improvised tools to stay safe.

“Self-defence isn’t about what you carry — it’s about how you think.” – Dene Josham

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

80% of women have experienced harassment in public — and yet many still feel silenced or blamed. It’s time we talk about it.

In this powerful episode, Julie Waite (women's safety advocate) and Dene Josham (self-defence expert and former bodyguard of Angelina Jolie) share real experiences and unpack the uncomfortable reality of street harassment — what it looks like, how it impacts women psychologically, and why it’s about power, not attraction.

You’ll learn practical, safety-first strategies for handling harassment, visualisation tools for planning responses, and how sharing your story can be part of healing.

“It’s not your fault. Harassment is about their need for power, not what you're wearing.” – Julie Waite 

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Are you tired of saying yes when you mean no? Apologising for things that aren’t your fault? This episode will help you stop people-pleasing and start protecting your energy.

Julie Waite, women's safety advocate, and self-defence expert Dene Josham break down how confidence, boundaries, and self-worth are essential to emotional self-defence — and why saying “no” is a safety skill, not a selfish act.

Learn how to let go of guilt, stand firm in your space, and reclaim your energy without apology.

“You don’t need to shrink to make others comfortable — your boundaries deserve space too.” – Julie Waite

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.

Do you feel guilty for saying no? Struggle to protect your time, energy, or peace? You’re not alone — and it’s time to change that.

In this episode, Julie Waite, women's safety advocate, and Dene Josham, self defence expert and former A-list bodyguard, unpack how boundary-setting is a core part of emotional self-defence. They explore the types of boundaries we all need — emotional, physical, time, and personal — and how to communicate them with clarity and confidence.

Learn how to deal with guilt, stand firm when people push back, and protect your emotional energy without apology.

“Every time you say ‘no’ to what drains you, you say ‘yes’ to your self-worth.” – Julie Waite

🎧 Want to feel safer, stronger, and more prepared?
Join our community of people taking back control of their safety — and get instant access to our free self defense and safety tip downloads.

👉 Head to Streetwise Defence to grab your free resources and start your journey today.

💡 PS – As a podcast listener, you also get 25% off our online courses. Just use the code PODCAST25 when you’re ready.