In this episode, Partner Emma Bartlett and Associate Mitchell Blythe are joined by Izabella Malewska, the actor portraying Grazyna “the Tramp” Jarzynowska a rising MMA fighter in the feature film Tramp. The film dives deep into identity, motherhood, physical transformation, and the realities of navigating combat sports as a woman under intense public scrutiny.
Together, they discuss:
• The story behind Tramp – how the film interweaves the stark physical world of MMA with the intimate realities of motherhood, vulnerability and survival, and why these two worlds share more parallels than people might think.
• Izabella’s journey into the role, including her rapid‑fire MMA training, learning from world‑class fighters Ruth “Ruthless” Nelson and Ruqsana Begum and the emotional challenge of portraying a young mother facing judgement, exhaustion and grit.
• Representation, identity and visibility, including the importance of showcasing a Polish female lead in combat sports and how cultural identity shaped Izabella’s performance.
• Training with real fighters, and how working alongside multiple‑time world champions brought authenticity, camaraderie and unexpected emotional depth to the fight sequences.
• The evolution of women’s participation in sport, from wider representation in fitness and advertising to increased inclusivity for different cultures, body types, and life stages — including motherhood.
• The pressures female athletes face, from social media trolling to expectations around body image, recovery after childbirth and the emotional labour that often remains unseen.
• Role models and personality in women’s sport, and why showcasing authenticity, humour and humanity – not just performance – is crucial for inspiring the next generation.
• What Izabella hopes audiences take away, particularly the message that motherhood and ambition need not be mutually exclusive: “You can have your cake and eat it.”
Listen to the podcast here.
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