Have you ever ignored your gut instinct because you didn’t want to “overreact”? Or risked your safety because you felt pressured to be agreeable… even though the situation made you uncomfortable? In this Ready Living Podcast episode, self-defense expert Nicole Snell teaches people how to prepare so they can move through the world with confidence and a fearless mindset.
Nicole is an award-winning international speaker, TEDx Speaker, trainer, survivor, and self-defense expert specializing in gender-based violence prevention and empowerment. She is a Credentialed Victim Advocate and multidisciplinary educator who has trained every branch of the U.S. military at hundreds of installations around the world, and trained millions of people globally in academia, corporate industries, and outdoor recreation.
Her own journey to empowerment began in childhood when she found solace and strength in the great outdoors. Now, she’s dedicated to changing outdated narratives around safety and helping people learn the skills they need to live limitlessly. As founder of Girls Fight Back and Outdoor Defense, and creator of the course Yes I'm Hiking Solo© :Self-Defense for the Outdoors, Nicole teaches self-defense strategies that include but go beyond just physical techniques.
Self-defense, she argues, also includes awareness, intuition, and knowing how to set firm boundaries. Setting boundaries is something many people – especially girls and women who are conditioned to prioritize politeness over personal safety – need to learn. She argues it’s time to reject the pressure to be “nice,” especially when well-being and safety are on the line.
This episode dives into the power of situational awareness, the importance of recognizing what’s normal in your environment, and how to spot when something feels off. It also breaks down essential self-defense strategies, including the “3 Rs of Self-Defense” and the “Physical Self-Defense Formula,” giving listeners practical tools to protect themselves in a variety of situations.
Additionally, Nicole shares expert insights on self-defense tools like pepper spray and the critical step people must take if they choose to carry them.
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a solo traveler, or just someone who wants to feel more confident in your daily life, this episode is full of practical advice to feel safe, set boundaries, and live boldly.
