Episode 67 – Sharp Women: Embrace Your Intuition with Kelly Sayre

What if trusting your instincts just 10% more could help you live with more confidence and less fear?

On the Art of Badassery podcast, host Jenn Cassetta talks with women’s safety educator and Sharp Women author Kelly Sayer about “sharpening” intuition dulled by social conditioning to be nice, ignore red flags, and avoid setting boundaries. Kelly shares how she built practical, non-physical, proactive safety training, translating situational awareness, communication, and body-language skills into everyday tools for moms, travelers, and professionals, including corporate workplace violence prevention. 

They discuss common scenarios like romantic interest disguised as business, gaslighting, and the shame that keeps women silent, plus travel tips such as researching locations, being discreet at hotel check-in, and using taxis. Kelly recommends a high-lumen flashlight and a non-metallic “Sharpie” tool, and previews her personal safety subscription box. 

Listen to the episode here

Watch the episode here

https://youtu.be/_Nb1WDwEhjk

Welcome to an exciting exploration of women’s empowerment through safety awareness and intuition. In this post, we delve into the enlightening conversation between Jenn Cassetta, chief badassery officer of the “Art of Badassery” podcast, and her friend Kelly Sayre, an expert in women’s safety and author of Sharp Women. Kelly shares her transformative approach to personal safety, emphasizing intuition and situational awareness. This discussion provides invaluable insights into living life safely and on one’s own terms.

Meet the Author: Kelly Sayre

Kelly empowers women with practical tactics to navigate life’s challenges safely. Her unique focus on non-physical, proactive techniques encourages women to recognize and avoid dangers before they manifest. Kelly is a certified expert in various safety and emergency programs, making her an invaluable resource in the field.

The Journey to Empowerment

Kelly’s venture into safety began not with martial arts or law enforcement but as a mother concerned about her children’s safety. This realization sparked her journey toward becoming a safety advocate. Rejecting the conventional focus on physical defense, Kelly emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and intuitive decision-making.

Understanding Intuition and Social Conditioning

A core element of Kelly’s message is the impact of societal conditioning on women’s intuition. She argues that women often second-guess their instincts due to pervasive social norms urging them to be accommodating and non-confrontational. Her book, Sharp Women, aims to restore women’s confidence in their intuition, likening it to sharpening a dulled blade.

Safety and Intuition in the Workplace

Kelly highlights the challenges women face in professional environments, often overshadowed by inappropriate advances disguised as business interactions. She offers guidance on setting boundaries and trusting one’s instincts to navigate such situations effectively. Building on her corporate experience, she educates companies on recognizing subtle behavioral cues to prevent workplace violence before it escalates.

Travel and Personal Safety Tips

As an avid traveler, Kelly shares essential travel safety tips. She advises researching destinations ahead of time, choosing taxis over rideshares for experienced drivers, and maintaining awareness while exploring new places. Her inventive safety tools, like non-metallic Sharpies and flashlights, blend convenience with self-defense capability.

The Power of Community and Continued Learning

Kelly’s initiatives include the Sharp Women Collective, an online community fostering safety education and support. Through courses and subscription boxes, she equips women with tools and knowledge to fortify their personal safety networks. Her efforts remind women of the importance of continuous learning and the power of sharing experiences in community settings.

Conclusion: Embracing Intuition for a Safer Life

Through proactive awareness and intuition, women can navigate the world with greater confidence and less fear. Kelly’s insights encourage women to reclaim trust in their instincts, enhancing their overall quality of life. As Jenn and Kelly emphasize, these conversations are crucial across all platforms to foster a safer, more empowering environment for women.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Intuition is Key: Trusting one’s intuition can prevent dangerous situations before they occur. It’s essential to listen to that inner voice and follow its guidance.
  2. Empower Through Awareness: Being aware of your surroundings and understanding the importance of situational awareness can be central to maintaining personal and community safety.
  3. Education and Community Support: Joining communities like the Sharp Women Collective can provide continuous learning and support, helping women stay informed and connected to safety resources.

Important Links

About Kelly Sayre

Kelly Sayre empowers women with realistic tactics and tools to help them live life safely and on their own terms. Her refreshing angle on women’s safety emphasizes non-physical, proactive situational awareness techniques that recognize and avoid threatening situations before they happen.

With a grounded approach and high energy, Kelly works with law enforcement, nonprofit, corporate and youth organizations on violence prevention, situational awareness training and personal safety. She is a highly sought after speaker at national events, known for her ability to engage the audience, and a frequent guest on global podcasts. Kelly’s book, “Sharp Women” is a best seller and available in Audiobook format.

Kelly is trained in FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team program, the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Preparedness Workshop, Texas A&M Extension Service’s Crisis Communications & Special Events Risk Management and is certified in Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) as a Train The Coaches (TTC) member. She belongs to the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and is the social chair for the Great Lakes Chapter. Kelly lives in Minnesota with her two children. 

Learn more about Kelly Sayre at  https://www.thediamondarrowgroup.com

Episode 66 – Sit With Me: Embracing Mindfulness and Metta with Oneika Mays

Ever wonder how to stay kind and grounded when the world feels angry, divided, and unsafe, especially as a woman carrying so much? 


On The Art of Badassery podcast, Jenn Casseta interviews mindfulness teacher and author Oneika Mays about her book Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, unpacking metta (loving-kindness) and how it’s practiced by extending care from yourself to loved ones, strangers, difficult people, and all beings, without abandoning boundaries. 

Oneika shares her path through trauma, grief, career identity loss, and rediscovering herself through therapy, yoga, and meditation, including pivotal lessons on the “middle way.” She also describes teaching trauma-informed mindfulness at Rikers Island, the sensory intensity of jail, and breakthroughs like choosing tree pose instead of violence. They close with a practical 15-second mindfulness reset using the hands as an anchor. 

Listen to the episode here

Watch the episode here

https://youtu.be/11EPRHugFBs

What if one of the most powerful ways to navigate life’s challenges isn’t by changing what’s happening around you, but by changing how you respond?

In a recent episode of The Art of Badassery podcast, host Jenn Casseta sits down with mindfulness teacher, meditation guide, yoga instructor, and author Oneika Mays to explore the transformative practice of mindfulness. Inspired by her book, Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, the conversation offers an honest, accessible look at how mindfulness can help us cultivate resilience, self-compassion, and genuine inner peace.

What Is Metta?

At the heart of the conversation is Metta, a Pali word that translates to loving-kindness. Rooted in Buddhist tradition, Metta is the practice of extending unconditional love and compassion—beginning with yourself and gradually expanding that kindness to others.

During a Metta meditation, participants silently repeat phrases such as:

  • May I be safe.
  • May I be happy.
  • May I be healthy.
  • May I be free.

From there, those same wishes are extended to loved ones, acquaintances, difficult people, and ultimately all living beings.

For Oneika, this practice has been life-changing. Rather than focusing on external circumstances, Metta has helped her deepen her relationship with herself, expand her emotional capacity, and approach others with greater compassion and understanding.

A Journey from Survival to Self-Acceptance

Oneika’s path to mindfulness wasn’t born from a life of ease—it emerged from adversity.

In her late twenties, she found herself navigating childhood trauma, profound grief, and the loss of a former partner. Like many people searching for healing, she began with therapy before discovering yoga, which eventually led her to meditation and mindfulness.

Over time, these practices became more than wellness routines. They became tools for self-acceptance, helping her move beyond simply surviving difficult experiences and toward living with greater intention and authenticity.

Her story serves as a reminder that mindfulness isn’t about eliminating hardship—it’s about learning how to meet hardship with awareness instead of overwhelm.

Bringing Mindfulness to One of the Most Challenging Places

One of the most remarkable chapters of Oneika’s journey took place inside Rikers Island, where she became the jail’s first mindfulness coach.

Introducing meditation in an environment filled with constant stress, noise, and uncertainty was no small task. Yet through patience and consistency, she created opportunities for incarcerated individuals to experience moments of stillness, reflection, and emotional clarity.

Her work demonstrates that mindfulness isn’t reserved for quiet retreats or perfect conditions. Its greatest impact often comes in the places where peace feels hardest to find.

Mindfulness Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Many people assume mindfulness requires lengthy meditation sessions or a complete lifestyle overhaul. Oneika offers a much simpler invitation: start with what you’re already doing.

Whether you’re brushing your teeth, washing dishes, walking the dog, or drinking your morning coffee, try giving that activity your full attention. Notice your breath. Notice your surroundings. Notice when your mind wanders—and gently bring it back.

These small moments of presence create the foundation for a more mindful life.

Over time, these simple practices help us pause before reacting, allowing us to respond with greater clarity rather than operating on autopilot.

Choosing Your Response

One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation is personal responsibility.

While we can’t control every circumstance life places in our path, we can choose how we respond. Mindfulness creates the space between an event and our reaction, giving us the opportunity to act from a place of intention rather than impulse.

That choice—to respond with awareness, compassion, and self-respect—is where lasting growth begins.

Final Thoughts

Oneika Mays reminds us that mindfulness isn’t about becoming a different person. It’s about becoming more present with who you already are.

Through practices like Metta, everyday mindfulness, and intentional self-reflection, we can build greater resilience, deepen our relationships, and navigate life’s inevitable challenges with more compassion—for ourselves and for others.

No matter where you’re starting, mindfulness begins with a single moment of paying attention.

Three Key Takeaways

  • Practice loving-kindness from the inside out. Cultivating compassion for yourself first makes it easier to extend grace and empathy to others.
  • You can’t always control what happens—but you can control how you respond. Mindfulness creates space for intentional, empowered choices.
  • Start small. Bringing mindful awareness to ordinary daily activities is one of the simplest and most effective ways to build a lasting mindfulness practice.

Important Links

About Oneika Mays

Oneika Mays, LMT, E-RYT, is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist, and author of Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation (HarperOne, 2026), called “a book that will speak to you as a human who is worthy of love” by Lion’s Roar. With deep roots in Buddhist and yogic teachings, she brings practical application and authentic connection to every space she enters. She served as Mindfulness Coach at Rikers Island Correctional Facility for four years and can be seen as the Mindfulness Expert on TBS’s Lost Resort. 

Learn more about Oneika at https://www.oneikamays.com/