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Ever wish someone handed you the map for approaching people in leather spaces without stepping on landmines? We unpack protocol as a living language—one that helps us communicate identity, negotiate consent, and feel like we belong—whether you’re navigating a bar, a dungeon, or a crowded inbox.

We start by reframing protocol from “rules for subs” to a shared system that binds everyone. Then we get practical: how to build pre-approach awareness, read the room, and use simple first contact—introductions and a handshake—to set a respectful tone. You’ll hear why theatrical submission backfires, how to extend honorifics “on credit” and assess whether they’re earned, and the safest way to approach collared folks, couples, or triads when you don’t know their internal dynamic.

We also translate those same principles into digital life. Thoughtful DMs beat “hey,” explicit photos without consent are out, and profile-reading is basic respect. On the community side, we cover play space etiquette—observing scenes, protecting space around implements, no unsolicited touch or photos—and why dungeon monitors are non-negotiable. We touch on event microcustoms, the tension between bar chatter and contest speeches, and how inclusivity and neurodiversity call for clearer signals and gentler corrections. Along the way, we share a story about the “never touch someone’s cover” custom and why small protocols can reveal who’s truly in community.

By the end, you’ll have concrete steps that turn awkwardness into invitation, and a template for creating your own personal protocol that signals values, boundaries, and openness. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s finding their on-ramp, and leave a review to tell us the one protocol you think more people should learn.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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A suit can announce power to the room and whisper surrender to the one person who knows how to read it. We sit down with Doctor Tom, a self-described Sir and suit fetishist, to unpack how tailoring, uniform codes, and ritual details transform wool and silk into tools for desire. From Bond’s tux getting ripped to the scent of warm leather dress shoes, we trace the sensory and psychological threads that make suits a stealth fetish—hyper-visible to everyone, invisible to most.

We map the terrain where menswear meets military lineage: structured shoulders, tall collars, and the ceremonial logic that mirrors leather protocols. Doctor Tom shares practical starting points—why thrifting post-COVID is gold, how to spot quality construction, and why a good tailor is your best accomplice. We explore community “tells” like sheer dress socks and double Windsors, Instagram codes, and Recon tags, plus why excess is a signal and restraint often reads vanilla. Along the way we tackle elitism, access, and red flags, and we highlight a crucial reminder: suit fetish is gender inclusive, and gender-affirming tailors exist.

We also cross the aisle into leather—formal looks rebuilt in hide, the satisfaction of hierarchy, and the pleasure of rules you know well enough to break once, on purpose. In Ask Edge, we address accepting masochism, the need for mutual enjoyment in DS play, and resources for emotional fluency. Then we turn to kink on screen, calling out what lands and what misfires, and why some sacred spaces might be better served by community-made stories.

If suits have ever made your pulse quicken—or you want to build a look that doubles as a scene—this conversation gives you history, tactics, and permission to play. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good knot, and leave a review telling us your first suit memory.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.

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Imagine discovering a time capsule that reveals the birth of leather culture—the codes, practices, and fierce spirit of resistance that shaped our community. Larry Townsend's Leatherman's Handbook, originally published in 1972, was exactly that: a revolutionary document that dared to say "your desires are valid" when society labeled kinky people as mentally ill.

When Edge first discovered this book as a young leather person in the late 1980s, it was nothing short of "a lightning bolt of revelation." Now, after decades of being virtually unobtainable (unless you were willing to pay $400 for a used copy), this foundational text has been reprinted, allowing a new generation to connect with leather's origins.

The available edition combines both the original 1972 text and Townsend's 1997 Silver Jubilee commentary, offering a fascinating dual perspective—showing leather culture at its emergence and then through the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. What makes this historical document so surprisingly relevant today is its portrayal of leather's political roots. The central figure wasn't the leather uniform cop but the outlaw biker—a symbol of defiance against constant police harassment and criminalization.

This episode explores what parts of Townsend's vision remain valuable today: the accessibility of leather identity (requiring minimal gear investment), the importance of community protection and solidarity, and the understanding that leather practices have always varied by region rather than following rigid "Old Guard" protocols. Edge doesn't shy away from acknowledging the dated elements—the rigid roles, exclusionary focus on cis gay men, and terminology now considered offensive—while highlighting how our community has evolved beyond these limitations.

Whether you're a leather history buff or simply curious about the foundations of kink culture, this episode offers both historical context and thought-provoking questions about what parts of our heritage deserve reclaiming. The Leatherman's Handbook wasn't just a sex manual—it was the blueprint for a community of resistance and mutual support that continues to inspire us today.

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Ask Edge! Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/LTHREDGE to leave ask a question or leave feedback. Find Edge's other content on Instagram and Twitter. Also visit his archive of educational videos, Tchick-Tchick.