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The Mythic Masculine

The Mythic Masculine

By Ian MacKenzie

Explorations on mythology, culture and the emerging masculinities. Hosted by visionary filmmaker Ian MacKenzie.
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#31 | Into The Belly of the Dragon - Jan Blake (Storyteller)

The Mythic MasculineJan 19, 2021

00:00
01:16:11
Bonus | Capricorn and The Provider with Charles Sue-wah-Sing (School of Mythopoetics)
Jan 16, 202301:15:41
#54 | Mastering Energetic Androgeny - Ke’oni Hanalei (Pōhala)
Nov 24, 202201:11:44
Bonus: Composting the Mycelial Masculine with Sophie Strand

Bonus: Composting the Mycelial Masculine with Sophie Strand

What if hidden in the soil below the monumental myth of patriarchal masculinity there was a rhizomatic biodiversity of alternative masculinities? What does it mean to create an ecosystem of narratives, rather than uplift a singular story? Looking to the past for ingredients to compost into better stories for the future, Ian and Sophie bring their personal experiences and mythic mycelial systems into a conversation about their own exploration into the myths of the masculine.

Register for Sophie's new course Rewilding Mythology https://www.rewilding-mythology.com
Use the code RewildMYTHPO

Full the full transcript here https://advaya.co/read/2022/10/19/ian-mackenzie-sophie-strand-rewilding-mythology

Nov 08, 202201:01:44
Bonus | Rites of Passage in an Age of Fugitivity - Chris Christou (The End of Tourism)

Bonus | Rites of Passage in an Age of Fugitivity - Chris Christou (The End of Tourism)

This bonus episode is actually a conversation recorded for another podcast The End Of Tourism.  The host is my good friend Chris Christou, who I initially met through Stephen Jenkinson’s Orphan Wisdom School.

We have spent many a time gathering on the farm in Ontario where the School is held, and have woven threads of companionship over the years.

A few months back, he invited me on his show to discuss subjects of which I’ve rarely spoken publicly, including my former years working for an online travel magazine, my own self-created initiatory adventures to Australia, the paradox of being a traveller in the modern age, and more.

Listen to more episodes of The End of Tourism https://www.theendoftourism.com
Support on Patreon http://patreon.com/theendoftourism

Sep 03, 202254:33
#53 | Igniting The Playful Hearts of Men - Jason MacKenzie (Sacred Sons)

#53 | Igniting The Playful Hearts of Men - Jason MacKenzie (Sacred Sons)

My guest today is Jason MacKenzie, co-founder of Sacred Sons, a men’s organization whose self-professed aim is to “steward the return of the father archetype through men's relational and physical training.”

I first met Jason in 2019 at the Sacred Sons Convergence in San Diego, a powerful gathering of 300 other men. I experienced firsthand the container that he, alongside his core collaborators Aubert Bastiat and Adam Jackson crafted together.

In our conversation today, Jason and I dive into his own experience with drug and alcohol abuse early in life. He speaks of finding his way into men’s work and committing himself to the ManKind Project, before ultimately departing to follow his own path. We talk about the deep longing for elders in a largely elderless time. And finally, he speaks of his learnings from the ending of a partnership, and coming into a new relationship with his own feminine spirit.

Before we begin, you might consider listening to episode #51, which is my interview with Bill Kauth, the co-founder of the ManKind Project. This sets up the lineage that connects to my conversation with Jason. You might also wish to read the essay I wrote after my participation at the Sacred Sons Convergence, titled “The Rise of the Embodied Masculine.” I’ve linked to it in the show notes.

Explore Sacred Sons http://sacredsons.com
Read my essay https://ianmack.medium.com/sacredsons-5cf03070b28d
Listen to more episodes http://themythicmasculine.com

Jun 23, 202201:16:06
Live | The Fall & The Underworld - Martin Shaw (School of Mythopoetics)

Live | The Fall & The Underworld - Martin Shaw (School of Mythopoetics)

This episode is a live recording as part of a series of events leading to the Grand Opening of The School of Mythopoetics June 1st, 2022.  Consider joining as a Founding Member http://schoolofmythpoetics.com

In myth, the Underworld is a place of testing and initiation, but hopefully not a final destination. Within many stories the descent is the second element of a three stage process, leading to final grounding that is both redemptive and a gift to others.  Martin Shaw is suggesting in the West we have often made the Underworld so comfortable, so subtle, and in some case so chronic, we’ve become a two stage, not three stage culture. Without quite knowing it, the Underworld has become home.  In this state we experience the liminoid not the liminal, the rupture but not the rapture. Nothing grows, expect cynicism. Come and join Martin as he speaks old world stories and ideas into the malaise of our times.

May 18, 202201:28:55
Bonus | The Reunion of Jesus and Mary Magdalene - Autumn Skye
Apr 18, 202201:10:11
#52 | Can Psychedelic Masculinity Stop War? - Nicholas Powers

#52 | Can Psychedelic Masculinity Stop War? - Nicholas Powers

My guest for this Live Episode will be Nicholas Powers, author of The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man, New Orleans to Darfur, Haiti to Occupy Wall Street. He is a poet and an associate professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury with writings in Truth-Out, HuffPost, Alternet and The Indypendent.

Nicholas recently published the essay “Can Psychedelic Masculinity Stop War?”, a poignant weaving of numerous threads I have explored here on The Mythic Masculine podcast. He weaves myth, psychedelics, culture theory, and more - I knew I had to reach out and make contact.

Support this Podcast http://mythicmasculine.com/supporter
Listen to more episodes http://themythicmasculine.com

Apr 15, 202201:12:27
#51 | Building A Circle of Men - Bill Kauth (ManKind Project)

#51 | Building A Circle of Men - Bill Kauth (ManKind Project)

My guest today is Bill Kauth, the resident visionary and co-founder of The ManKind Project, one of the most recognized men’s organizations in the world.

In 1984, Bill was working as a psychotherapist when he conceived and co-created the New Warrior Training Adventure. Since then, over 75,000 men in 12 countries have completed this neo-initiatory experience. In 1992, Bill also authored one of the first books for starting and running effective men’s groups: A Circle of Men.

In our episode today, he shares about these early days of what became the mythopoetic men’s movement, including reaching out to Robert Bly during the heyday of Iron John. Bill shares  some of the hard lessons learned along the way, what inspires him about the current generation of men’s work, and the alchemical power of holding space for men to open their hearts to each other.

Also: this episode is released in tandem with my forthcoming interview with Jason MacKenzie, one of the co-founders of Sacred Sons, a more recent men’s organization that grew in part from the soil of The ManKind Project. I’ve chosen to release both conversations in sequence, in order to offer a portrait of the similarities and differences between the generations.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack

Mar 30, 202201:10:40
#50 | Reclaiming Your Ancestral Roots - Dor and Ophir Haberer (Kinhood)

#50 | Reclaiming Your Ancestral Roots - Dor and Ophir Haberer (Kinhood)

My guests today are Ophir & Dor Haberer, Jerusalem-born identical twins, who are, among many things, facilitators, ritualists, storytellers, chefs, and organizational consultants.

The brothers bring together their connection to ancestral Arabic Jewish Roots with their love for ecology, healing, and village-building. They have been guiding men’s work for over 4 years, and have just launched their new organization and online platform called Kinhood.

In our conversation today Dor and Ophir share what it was like to grow up on an Israeli kibbutz, and the culture shock they experienced when moving to the United States. They speak of their journey into men’s work and the power of a container to be vulnerable. They share some of the guiding stories and myths of Judaism, and the gift of connecting to one’s ancestral roots.

And finally, Ophir shares two of his original poems to end our time together.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Listen to more episodes http://themythicmasculine.com

Mar 15, 202201:02:44
#49 | Agents of Cultural Regeneration- Steven Martyn (The Sacred Gardener)

#49 | Agents of Cultural Regeneration- Steven Martyn (The Sacred Gardener)

My guest today is Steven Martyn, M.A. (traditional plant use), an artist, builder, and farmer who is also the founder of The Sacred Gardener School. 

Steven has spent more than 30 years of living co-creatively with the Earth, practicing traditional living skills of growing food, natural building, and nurturing community.

He has written numerous books, including the newly released The Roundhouse: A Meditation and Guide to Building A Handmade House with Local Materials, as well as Sacred Gardening: Seeds for the Reemergence of Co-Creative Agriculture.

In our conversation today, we speak of Steven’s four year period of solitude and what eventually drew him back to society. He reclaims the divine roots of agriculture and the wisdom of our neolithic ancestors. And finally, he speaks on the spirit of the Wild and what it might take to once again regrow a culture of reciprocity.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Listen to more episodes http://themythicmasculine.com

Mar 02, 202201:12:08
#48 | The Second Most Interesting Man In The World - Robin Esrock (Bucket List)

#48 | The Second Most Interesting Man In The World - Robin Esrock (Bucket List)

My guest today is Robin Esrock, a global adventurer, travel writer, and author of the Great Global Bucket List.

After a chance encounter on a Canadian TV talk show, Robin and I have remained friends for over a decade. We’ve shared countless experiences together, from working on his acclaimed international reality series Word Travels, to exploring the playa at Burning Man, and even attending the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City (where he was the Master of Ceremonies).

Robin is a man who has done it all. In our conversation today, he shares about his life growing up in apartheid South Africa and his immigration to Canada. He details the fortuitous motorcycle accident that became his gateway to travel writing, and what he discovered about various rites of passage for men around the world.

And finally, he shares key insights on how to travel with children (he has two), and what might remain on his list when it’s time to kick the bucket.

Robin's official website http://robinesrock.com
Support the podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack

Feb 08, 202201:17:41
Bonus | Sex, Men and Stealing the Key - Heather Pennell (Kin of Kind)

Bonus | Sex, Men and Stealing the Key - Heather Pennell (Kin of Kind)

In this 60 minute conversation, Ian MacKenzie and Heather Pennell unpack the opening chapter of Iron John, the classic tale made famous by poet Robert Bly.

JOIN THE NEW COURSE: REVISITING IRON JOHN
http://revisitingironjohn.com 

The book almost single handedly spark the mythopoetic men's movement of the early 90's, which crested before heading underground. Now a new generation of men are discovering the power of story to illuminate the challenges and pathways of their lives.   What might this story reveal about the nature of men's sexuality in the culture, and how it might be liberated through reconnection to the Wild Man - the instinctual primal nature connected to the intelligence of life?

Jan 22, 202201:05:48
Revisiting Iron John with Special Guests - Begins Jan 26, 2022

Revisiting Iron John with Special Guests - Begins Jan 26, 2022

REGISTER HERE http://revisitingironjohn.com

In 1990, Robert Bly’s book Iron John: A Book About Men ignited a generation of men towards what would become known as the mythopoetic men’s movement. Suddenly, men (at least in Western culture) had a map to their inner landscape and their outer experience. The exploration of a German fairy tale, alongside poetry and ritual, offered a pathway into the realm of soul work – and the book has continued to touched millions of men around the world.

In 2022, the spiral has come around as a new generation discovers Iron John alongside an urgent crisis of masculinity. What might Iron John offer in the era of COVID, the #metoo movement, AI, post-truth, multi-generational trauma, and biospheric breakdown?

Join Ian MacKenzie, host of The Mythic Masculine podcast, for this five part online exploration to discover once again the mythic ground of possibility amidst the peril. Each week, Ian will be joined by a number of Special Guests including Stephen Jenkinson, Sophie Strand, Stefanos Sifandos, Michael Gay and more.


Jan 17, 202201:19
#47 | Bringing Fatherhood Into Alignment - Chris Fletcher (Nine Rings)
Jan 05, 202201:10:17
Bonus | Sketching The God of Ecstasy, Dionysus - Red K Elders
Dec 06, 202136:23
New Series: The Pandemic Is A Prism

New Series: The Pandemic Is A Prism

Host Ian MacKenzie shares an update on the The Mythic Masculine Podcast, along with an announcement of our new series: The Pandemic Is A Prism. 

The Pandemic Is A Prism http://agatheringofstories.com/pandemic

Support the Podcast https://www.themythicmasculine.com/supporter
Join the Mythic Men's Lodge https://www.themythicmasculine.com/network

Nov 01, 202106:46
#46 | Rewilding The Fungal Gods - Sophie Strand (The Flowering Wand)

#46 | Rewilding The Fungal Gods - Sophie Strand (The Flowering Wand)

My guest today is Sophie Strand, a writer who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Though she admits, it would be more accurate to call her a neo-troubadour animist with a propensity to spin yarns that inevitably turn into love stories.

I first encountered her work on social media, reading her surprising and beautiful essays from her forthcoming book: The Flowering Wand: Lunar Kings, Lichenized Lovers, Transpecies Magicians, and Rhizomatic Harpists Heal the Masculine.

In our conversation today, we explore the connection between mycelium and myth, and how various gods from Jesus to Dionysus, can be seen more clearly as related to specific ecosystems and specific times.  Sophie makes the case to dissolve toxic masculinity by dispersing it within a chorus of diversity, and why the Hero’s Journey would benefit from a little intentional pruning.

And finally, we unpack the wild nature of emergent systems, and how wedding our wounds to the wounds of the earth could invite a kaleidoscopic empathy for an ecocentric activism rooted in participation, not salvation.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Oct 05, 202101:17:12
Bonus | Transforming Pain Into Purpose - Zamir Dhanji + Sabrina Lakhani
Sep 17, 202142:28
#45 | Navigating Your Underworld With Conscious Kink - Justice Schanfarber
Sep 06, 202101:16:30
Excerpt | Are You Okay? Spoken Word by Deus Fortier

Excerpt | Are You Okay? Spoken Word by Deus Fortier

This is an an excerpt from the full episode A Psychedelic Guide to Healing Trauma. My guest Deus Fortier delivers a powerful spoken word transmission that begs to be listened to multiple times over.  Enjoy! 

Connect more with Deus http://deusfortier.com
Support this podcast http://themythicmasculine.com/supporter

Sep 02, 202111:10
#44 | A Psychedelic Guide to Healing Trauma - Deus Fortier (The Impeccable Man)

#44 | A Psychedelic Guide to Healing Trauma - Deus Fortier (The Impeccable Man)

My guest today is Deus Fortier, a multi-faceted artist, men’s coach, and ceremonial facilitator.

He is a fire-keeper and drummer for the Blackfoot sundance in southern Alberta, as well as an initiate of Kriya Yoga, a comprehensive spiritual science, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda of the ancient Swami order.

Since 2007, Deus has been working intimately with entheogens and plant medicines, which is how I had the opportunity to experience the psychedelic 5 MEO DMT.

I’m grateful to call Deus one of my closest friends, and this interview follows a powerful one on one ceremony he offered me with the medicine. I can say without hesitation, it was...the most intense experience of my life.

Our conversation here is recorded in the late afternoon, with the spirit of the journey still with me. We cover potent ground, including Deus’ journey as a spiritual seeker with a deep yearning to understand consciousness.  We talk about the power of liberating the intelligence of emotions and the nature of healing trauma.

And finally, we cover the dangers and possibilities of intentional psychedelic ceremony, ending with a fierce original spoken-word piece from Deus called “Are You Okay?”

Support the Podcast http://themythicmasculine.com/support
Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Aug 18, 202101:50:32
#43 | Gender Is A Lie, Gender Is a Truth - Zhenevere Sophia Dao (MogaDao Institute)
Jul 19, 202101:45:59
Bonus | Karen Lee Downes on Regenerating Feminine Intelligence (FemmeQ)

Bonus | Karen Lee Downes on Regenerating Feminine Intelligence (FemmeQ)

Today I'm happy to speak with Karen Lee Downes, co-founder of FemmeQ, who are holding their next event in Costa Rica as well as online July 24-31st. We are producing the next A Gathering of Stories livestream event in collaboration with their conference. In our conversation, we discuss the journey to come.  

Get tickets for FemmeQ http://femmeq.org
Get tickets for A Gathering of Stories II http://agatheringofstories.com

Learn more about Karen https://karenleedownes.com

Jul 15, 202123:24
#42 | Attuning to the Deep Feminine - Maya Luna (Holy Darkness)

#42 | Attuning to the Deep Feminine - Maya Luna (Holy Darkness)

My guest today is Maya Luna, a poet and creator of the Deep Feminine Mystery School.

She has also authored a book of poetry, OMEGA: Feral Secrets of the Deep Feminine and released a spoken word album, Holy Darkness: A Tantric Opus.

In our conversation today, we discuss how to tune into the frequency of the Deep Feminine, through the gateways of the senses.  We speak of the historical consequence of literacy on the cultures that venerated the Goddess and the subsequent rise of distorted masculinity.  We wonder on the original trauma that may illuminate the gender conflict still unfolding today, and the Madonna/Whore split that many women (and men) are seeking to integrate.

And finally, Maya shares one of her powerful poems on the truth of Feminine power.

Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network
Support this Podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack

Jul 02, 202101:24:58
#41 | The Journey of Soul Initiation - Bill Plotkin (Soulcraft)

#41 | The Journey of Soul Initiation - Bill Plotkin (Soulcraft)

My guest today is Bill Plotkin, PhD, a depth psychologist, wilderness guide, and founder of western Colorado’s Animas Valley Institute.

Bill has led thousands of women and men through nature-based initiatory passages, and is the author of number books, including Soulcraft, Nature and the Human Soul, and Wild Mind.

In our conversation today, we discuss his recent book The Journey of Soul Initiation, which distills decades of his insights into human development and the mythopoetic relationship between humanity and ecology.

We explore the Five Phases of what he calls The Descent to Soul, including Preparation

Dissolution, Soul Encounter, Metamorphosis, Enactment. We compare his model and the significant differences between Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, along the challenges of navigating through each stage of development.

And finally, Bill names the blessing and burden it is to take on one’s own unique ecological niche, and how this invites us to become visionary artisans of cultural evolution.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Jun 11, 202101:19:43
#40 | Before The Patriarch, The Trickster - Allan Chinen (Beyond the Hero)

#40 | Before The Patriarch, The Trickster - Allan Chinen (Beyond the Hero)

My guest today is Allan B. Chinen, a psychiatrist in private practice in San Francisco and Clinical Professor Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.

He has lectured extensively and presented numerous workshops on the role of myths, fairy tales and legends on our life stories. He the author numerous books, including In the Ever After: Fairy Tales and the Second Half of Life, and Beyond the Hero: Classic Stories of Men in Search of Soul.

In our conversation today, we explore the relationship between the Hero and the Patriarch, and men’s initial fear and fascination with the Feminine. We unpack the tales that may guide men’s roles at mid-life, after the Hero has come home. And finally, we reach further back into the time before civilization, wherein lies the deep masculine wisdom of the Trickster.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

May 25, 202158:03
#39 | What the Hand That Dare Seize Fire - Matthew Stillman

#39 | What the Hand That Dare Seize Fire - Matthew Stillman

My guest today is Matthew Stillman, a dear friend who has been obsessed with how modern humans fit into an ancient world since, forever.

He has a wildly eclectic background, from highlighting the connection between food and culture as a programming executive on the Food Network. He co-produced an acclaimed documentary on The End of Poverty.  He even created a traditional skincare company, called Primal Derma, delivered from his home in Harlem, New York.

I first met Matthew as a scholar in the Orphan Wisdom School with Stephen Jenkinson, and we have spent many hours wondering about many things, from love, to poetry, and beyond.

In our conversation today however, he shares about his upbringing in the world’s most mystical bookstore. He tells the tale of sitting at the feet of Robert Bly in the time just before his book Iron John would ignite the mythopoetic men’s movement. Matthew also speaks of the divine presence in the art of improv comedy, and the rules that govern finite and infinite games.

And finally, he shares the ancient myth of Phaethon and being undone by his own awakening into fatherhood.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

May 11, 202101:33:52
Bonus | Reflecting On 'A Gathering of Stories'

Bonus | Reflecting On 'A Gathering of Stories'

Happy Beltane! In this bonus episode, Ian MacKenzie and Zamir Dhanji reflect on the inaugural 'A Gathering of Stories' held during Imbolc 2012. This magical weekend brought together a global feast of storytellers, musicians and poets to explore The Soul of Masculinity.  The entire journey is has just been released as a self-directed course on The Mythic Masculine Network, available to all members.  As well, Ian & Zamir hint at the future event to come.  Stay tuned. 

Music: Naad https://naad.bandcamp.com

Access the Journey as a Course http://themythicmasculine.com/network
Learn more about A Gathering of Stories http://agatheringofstories.com

May 04, 202132:34
#38 | We Shall Dance With Chaos - Ramon Parish (Naropa University)

#38 | We Shall Dance With Chaos - Ramon Parish (Naropa University)

My guest today is Ramon Parish, an assistant professor in Naropa University’s department of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ramon has been synthesizing mindfulness, embodiment, social justice, the environment, and ritual & ceremony for over a decade, and has helped usher hundreds of young people through contemporary threshold experiences.

In our conversation today, we explore a dazzling array of themes, including: the impact of comics as modern mythologies, the power of healing personal and ancestral trauma through movement, the spiral dynamics of emergence, and how these uncertain times ask that we become riders of chaos.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Apr 27, 202101:19:22
#37 | Last Stand for the Ancient Forests - Yogi Shambu (Fairy Creek Blockade)

#37 | Last Stand for the Ancient Forests - Yogi Shambu (Fairy Creek Blockade)

This is a very special episode, recorded only a few days ago, from the front lines of the Fairy Creek Blockade - a peaceful 8 month occupation to prevent the logging of some of the last remaining old growth forest on Vancouver Island, Canada.

I have been allied with effort these last few months, including releasing a short film ARISE in collaboration with The Mama’s Movement, which weaves voices of indigenous elders like Bill Jones, of the Pacheedaht Nation, alongside activists and children.

On April 1st, the courts granted an injunction to the logging company Teal Jones, which means they are legally able to have the forest protectors arrested so they can continue their destruction. Luckily, the movement continues to grow exponentially, with creative and positive support pouring in from around the world.

This past weekend, I joined the blockade for the first time, and experienced the beauty within the old growth trees, as well as the human community that has taken root.

I sat down in the midst of a clear cut to interview Yogi Shambu, a musician, healer, and longtime member of the Rainforest Flying Squad, who were the initial catalyzers of the blockade.

In our conversation today, he shares of his spiritual upbringing in rural Ontario, being surrounded by powerful women in his family. He speaks of his journey into Tantra Yoga, as well as becoming a professional mystic offering healing wherever he was called.

Shambu reflects on his mythic models for masculinity, including the joy of coming into right service with the Great Mother, and how spiritual practice can best prepare one for generative conflict.

And finally, we reflect on the stories that seeded us with an environmental consciousness in our youth, and how these flowers might bloom in our time of ecocide and evolution.

Support Fairy Creek Blockade http://laststandforforests.com/

Apr 13, 202101:09:16
Bonus: Breaking Down The Mythic Mindbomb of Lil Nas X's 'Montero'

Bonus: Breaking Down The Mythic Mindbomb of Lil Nas X's 'Montero'

The internet is abuzz with reactions to Lil Nas X's new video 'Montero', which abounds with a dazzling array of mythological symbolism and queer reclamation. I felt inspired to offer my take in this short bonus episode. 

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Network http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Mar 31, 202116:13
#36 | Video Games, Violence and Healing the Shadow Lover - Eivind Skjellum

#36 | Video Games, Violence and Healing the Shadow Lover - Eivind Skjellum

My guest today is Eivind Skjellum, an expert in the field of archetypes and masculine psychology.

He is also the founder of Reclaim Our Inner Throne, a three month program aimed at guiding men through an initiatory framework of transformation.

In our conversation today, Eivind shares about his earlier challenges with chronic fatigue syndrome, and how that forged his creativity to craft the Inner Throne framework. We discuss our childhood experiences with video games and their impact on our mythological worldview, as well as the dangers of young men left in the underworld where isolation can turn to rage.

And finally, he speaks of the importance of male mentorship to model a life of purpose and service to the world, which is ultimately the hero’s quest young men crave.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Mar 30, 202101:11:02
#35 | A Man's Guide to the Mystery of Menstruation - Meghan Kurts

#35 | A Man's Guide to the Mystery of Menstruation - Meghan Kurts

My guest today is Meghan Kurts, a writer and entrepreneur dedicated to self-care and planet care.

She is the solo mother of a young son, and co-founder of Evohe (ev-oh-AY), an ethical skincare company based in Australia, as well as the author of “A Man’s Guide: Navigating the Menstrual Mood Swing.”

In our conversation today, Meghan shares the impetus behind writing her book, and the challenge making it accessible to all readers (not just men).  She articulates her unique practice of mapping the seasons and archetypes to the cycles of menstruation, along with practical tips to support the women in your life. And finally, we muse on the connection between the blood cycle and this modern culture’s fear of death, and why slowing down just might be the medicine we all need right now.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Mar 17, 202101:09:46
#34 | No Accountability Without Community - Taiaiake Alfred (Kahnawà:ke Mohawk)

#34 | No Accountability Without Community - Taiaiake Alfred (Kahnawà:ke Mohawk)

My guest today is Taiaiake Alfred, an Indigenous scholar and activist.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including best column writing for the Native American Journalists Association, as well as a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. Taiaiake is an author, governance consultant and former university professor known for his keen focus and commentary on Indigenous resurgence and decolonization.

In our conversation today, he shares of his early years as a young man in the US Marine Corps and what it means to be a warrior in a dominator system. He explores the origin cosmology of the Mohawk peoples and the capacity to find harmony within a complex system, and he reflects on fathering his three sons and how his understanding of leadership has shifted over the decades.

Finally, on the question of toxic masculinity, he names the necessity for the soil of rooted community to live true accountability - as there is no good man without the health of the land.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Mar 02, 202101:29:23
#33 | The Return of Ragnarok & Our Apocalypse Now - Rune Hjarnø (Nordic Animism)

#33 | The Return of Ragnarok & Our Apocalypse Now - Rune Hjarnø (Nordic Animism)

My guest today is Rune Hjarnø, a doctor of History of Religions, educated from the Universities of Uppsala and Copenhagen.

He has lived and worked in a number of countries - with a particular focus on Afro-Atlantic and Nordic religions.  He is the creator of Nordic Animism, a popular Youtube channel that explores the themes of Nordic religion, culture, and history in short accessible videos. As well, he is the orginator of the Rune Animist Calendar that introduces seasonal animism from Northern Europe.

In our conversation today, we look at the function of mythology as the capacity to create relationship. We explore the challenges of modern culture, where the absence of functional mythology gives rise to conspiracy theories, and we learn how the pantheon of Nordic gods can provide expressions of transgressive masculinity.

Finally, we explore the myth of Ragnorak and what guidance it might offer us in these apocalyptic times.

Support this podcast http://patreon.com/ianmack
Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Feb 17, 202101:15:03
#32 | Way of the Graceful Warrior - Gary Dillon (Kekoanui)

#32 | Way of the Graceful Warrior - Gary Dillon (Kekoanui)

My guest today is Gary Dillon, a mentor of many years and man I consider deeply grateful to know. I first met Gary through the Orphan Wisdom school, and have discovered that Gary’s rich and varied life has taken him through many pathways and modalities: including learning the traditional Hawaiian art of Lomilomi bodywork, transformational movement therapy, and the arts of sacred intimacy. In our conversation today, Gary shares how he was given the name Kekoanui, which means A Warrior of Aloha. We explore the tale of Eros & Psyche and the dynamic nature of divinity, and we speak of the role of memory and beauty, as nourishment for the mythological World Tree.

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Feb 03, 202101:24:05
#31 | Into The Belly of the Dragon - Jan Blake (Storyteller)

#31 | Into The Belly of the Dragon - Jan Blake (Storyteller)

My guest today is Jan Blake, one of Europe’s leading storytellers who has been performing for 35 years.  Jan specializes in myths and folktales from Africa, the Caribbean and Arabia - and has mesmerized audiences at every major storytelling festival worldwide.

She has been the Storyteller-in-Residence for the Hay Literary Festival, the curator for Shakespeare’s Stories at the World Shakespeare Festival, and the recipient of the British Award for Storytelling Excellence.  Jan also leads popular workshops for emerging storytellers, and gives masterclasses on the craft of storytelling.

In our conversation today, we speak of the return to her childhood home after many years living in the city of London. We explore the role of the storyteller and the necessity of permission to connect with an audience. Jan shares the story of The Hunter and the challenges young men face in the cultural climate of today, and finally we speak of the magic that blurs the line between telling a story, and the story telling you.

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Jan 19, 202101:16:11
#30 | We Forgot We Were Kings - Alan Cooke (The Wild Irish Poet)

#30 | We Forgot We Were Kings - Alan Cooke (The Wild Irish Poet)

My guest today is Alan Cooke, a filmmaker, poet, and speaker from the wilds of Ireland.

Alan’s poetic and literary work is based on the narrative of the medicine of nature, forged from the sorrow of undergoing numerous personal and cultural losses in his days.  Back in 2009, Alan won an Emmy for writing a film about his time in New York City, titled Home.   After returning to Ireland, he spent 13 years as a wandered and walker of the Irish landscape, refining the power of words to alchemize trauma into beauty.

In our conversation today, we speak of his youth growing up in Dublin and his initiation into the poetic imagination, we speak of his hard days in New York and the cascade of loss that met him upon returning to Ireland, and we speak of how nature brought Alan back to a deeper sense of his masculinity, and how in the end, all darkness turns to beauty.

And of course, Alan shares a few poems.   I’ve layered the beautiful harp playing of Andee Anko behind his words.

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Jan 05, 202101:11:55
#29 | Awakening From The Trance of Domination - Riane Eisler (The Chalice and the Blade)

#29 | Awakening From The Trance of Domination - Riane Eisler (The Chalice and the Blade)

My guest today is Dr. Riane Eisler, a social systems scientist, cultural historian, and author whose research, writing, and speaking has made an enormous impact on the cultural landscape.

I first encountered her work through the book The Chalice and the Blade, where she first articulated her cultural transformation theory of history, which includes the lens of dominator versus partnership society.

In the decades since, she’s written numerous other books include Sacred Pleasure, and most recently Nurturing our Humanity. Dr. Eisler is president of the Center for Partnership Studies (CPS), as well as given keynotes at the United Nations General Assembly, the US Department of State, along with corporations and universities offering applications of the partnership model introduced in her work.

In our conversation today, we cover the foundations of her cultural transformation theory, along with her own childhood experience of fleeing Nazi Germany.  We look at the limitations of language that have so far prevented the depth of cultural change we urgently need, and how sharing a new mythology of partnerism may yet regenerate a more humane and environmentally sustainable world.

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Dec 23, 202001:13:05
#28 | Patriarchy In A Time With No Father - Stephen Jenkinson (Come of Age)

#28 | Patriarchy In A Time With No Father - Stephen Jenkinson (Come of Age)

My guest today is Stephen Jenkinson, a culture activist, teacher and author, and principle instructor of The Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded with his wife Nathalie Roy. He has Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work). 

Stephen’s most recent books are the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul (2015), and Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble (2018). I first encountered Stephen back in 2012, when a friend invited me to a summer teaching that was close to my home in Vancouver. That first morning, he gathered us at first light and told a story about the sun, rising.  I was never to be the same again. That meeting has altered my life completely. 

That winter, I joined the Orphan Wisdom School on his farm in Ontario, and have returned to many gatherings and teachings over the years. I have also produced numerous short films on Stephen’s work, including The Meaning of Death, the Making of Humans, and Lost Nation Road (2019). If you’ve listened to this podcast for some time, you know that I usually quote Stephen at least once an episode. And this interview has been a long time coming - largely because I wished to record it in person, and not over Zoom. 

I finally had that opportunity last September when I travelled to Ontario on a whirlwind trip to the farm.  If you’d like to hear more of that story, I’ve shared an additional recording which is available to my Patreon supporters.  Head over to the Mythic Masculine website and click ‘Become a Supporter’ if you’d like to gain access. 

For now, I’m very pleased to share our conversation, where we explore personal and profound territory, including: the lost origins of the mythopoetic men’s movement, the times Stephen met Robert Bly and James Hillman, the deep etymology of the word ‘patriarchy’, and the mythic understanding that a culture needs its fathering, as much as it needs its fathers. 

And so, enjoy my conversation with Stephen Jenkinson.

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Dec 08, 202001:39:43
#27 | The Law Is In The Land - Tyson Yunkaporta (Sand Talk)

#27 | The Law Is In The Land - Tyson Yunkaporta (Sand Talk)

My guest today is Tyson Yunkaporta, an academic, poet, and carver of traditional tools and weapons. He is a senior lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges at Deakin University in Melbourne, and the author of the book ‘Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World’.

Since its release, Sand Talk has received many glowing reviews, and offered a crucial indigenous perspective on the areas of history, education, money, power and sustainability - using traditional wisdom for a livable future.

I first learned of Tyson from the Melbourne based men’s group Warrior Within, and with the surprising success of his book, have observed Tyson being ushered into a growing spotlight.

For our conversation, I was excited to explore his take on masculinity - and he offered a raw and personal dive that touched some deep places in us both.

We speak about the importance of relationship as the truth of our being, where the term “toxic masculinity” came from and why it’s a bad story, how a man’s relationship with the land mirrors his intimate relationships to others, and why tracking the mystery of emergence invites us to look to the wisdom of the outliers.

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Nov 24, 202001:17:04
#26 | The Big Epic One Year Anniversary Episode - Ian MacKenzie + Elisa Spring

#26 | The Big Epic One Year Anniversary Episode - Ian MacKenzie + Elisa Spring

Greetings dear listener. This is a special episode of the podcast, where I reflect on the year since launching. It’s been hugely satisfying for me, and based on the feedback, for many listeners as well. I thought to record this anniversary episode to share about the journey of The Mythic Masculine. But rather than be a solo-cast, I invited my friend Elisa Spring to conduct the conversation, with some questions gathered from members of The Mythic Masculine Network.

In our conversation today, we explore the intersection of eros, emergence and village, the problem with personal growth, the poverty of location independence, and how to intentionally pollinate the noosphere - that is, the realm of interconnected consciousness unites us all.

Nov 11, 202059:43
#25 | Rebuilding Men's Culture Through Song - Murray Kyle (Talisman)

#25 | Rebuilding Men's Culture Through Song - Murray Kyle (Talisman)

My guest today is Murray Kyle, a mystic troubadour from Byron Bay, Australia. Over 15 years of of writing and touring his music has built him grassroots audience from all over the world.  His songs have become anthems of the heart, inviting reconnection to each other and the wisdom of the earth. I first met Murray while touring Australia back in 2016.  I attended a singing circle he led with other local men - I still remember how rich and healing it was to raise my voice in soulful brotherhood. In our conversation today, we speak about awakening to his soul’s purpose as a musician, the cultural beauty of men coming together in song, and the power of music to beckon forth our service to the world.

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Nov 03, 202001:10:51
#24 | The Anthropocene is a Motherf*cker - Jane Caputi

#24 | The Anthropocene is a Motherf*cker - Jane Caputi

My guest today is Jane Caputi, a professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Florida Atlantic University.  Dr. Caputi’s primary research is in contemporary American cultural studies, including pop culture, gender and violence, and eco-feminism.  She is the author of many articles and four books, including The Age of Sex Crime; Gossips, Gorgons, and Crones: The Fates of the Earth; and Goddesses and Monsters: Women, Myth, Power and Popular Culture.

Her most recent work is Call Your Mutha: A Deliberately Dirty-Minded Manifesto for the Earth Mother in the Anthropocene, which does fierce and mythic battle against the techno-hegemony of The Age of Man.

In our conversation today, we explore the roots of patriarchy from a mythic lens, we illuminate startling perspectives on ancient stories, from Gilgamesh to the Garden of Eden, and we wonder what might it take for civilization to come back into right relationship with the life force of the Earth Mother, lest she turn away, forever.

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Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Oct 20, 202001:15:58
Special Episode: Launching The Mythic Masculine Network - Daniel Robert (Community Manager)

Special Episode: Launching The Mythic Masculine Network - Daniel Robert (Community Manager)

This is a special episode of the podcast, the first of its kind. It's a conversation with my good brother Daniel Robert, who is also the community manager of The Mythic Masculine Network.
With our official launch happening last week, I thought it would be a supportive offering to share more about the origin and intention behind the network, as well some of Daniel's story, and how it came to be that we are collaborating on this growing community of artists, activists, scholars, and mythopoets.
In our talk, we speak about how he found his way to men's work, our showdown in the brotherdome at the sacred sons convergence, and understanding men and the current crisis of meaning in our culture.
Finally, we share in depth about the Mythic Masculine Network and why you might join us, and many others building this community.
Enjoy my conversation with Daniel Robert.
Sep 21, 202001:20:08
#23 | The Divine Path of Intimacy - Jack Zimmerman (Flesh and Spirit)

#23 | The Divine Path of Intimacy - Jack Zimmerman (Flesh and Spirit)

My guest today is Jack Zimmerman, an elder in the realm of relational intimacy.

He is the co-author of The Way of Council (with Gigi Coyle), what I consider to be a key book on teaching the foundations of functional community.  He is also the co-author of Flesh and Spirit: The Mystery of Intimate Relationship, which he wrote with his life partner Jaquelyn McCandless.

In our conversation, we cover the origin and foundations of the council practice. We explore the mystery of partnership: from understanding resonating wounds and the nature of projection, to how to tune into the consciousness of the Third - that relational space between you and another person.

And finally, he speaks how walking the path of radical intimacy is to partner with the evolutionary intelligence of life itself.

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Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Sep 15, 202001:12:53
#22 | Language Is A Lens - Jared Qwustenuxun Williams (Cowichan Tribes)

#22 | Language Is A Lens - Jared Qwustenuxun Williams (Cowichan Tribes)

My guest today is Jared Qwustenuxun (QUEST-AY-NA-HUN) Williams, a Salish Food Sovereignty Chef and Manager at the Elders Kitchen for his community of the Cowichan Tribes. He is also a father and owner of Medieval Chaos, the largest live action role playing game in Western Canada.

I’m grateful for our conversation, where he illuminates his love for traditional teachings, language, and story, deeply informed by his rootedness to his place, the land of the Cowichan peoples, where I currently also call home.

We explore how language is lens into a indigenous view of the world, how it has come to be that modern people know more about Greek gods and Marvel superheroes instead of the stories of place beneath their feet, and why really, it all comes back to the food.

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Join the Conversation http://themythicmasculine.com/network

Sep 02, 202001:24:40
#21 | The Roam and the Rapture - Michael Gay (Sacred Sons)

#21 | The Roam and the Rapture - Michael Gay (Sacred Sons)

In today’s episode, I speak with Michael Gay, a therapist in private practice based in Boulder, Colorado.  Michael has worked in the field of counseling for the last 14 years as a guide, therapist, and trainer.  He specializes in work with depression, trauma, PTSD, grief, and families.

I first encountered Michael at the Sacred Sons Convergence last October in San Diego California, where he led the men in a group process of healing through attunement to stuck energy, ultimately unlocking the deep alchemy of transformation.

In our conversion today, we touch upon his own adolescence and grappling with the big questions of life, how he encountered the mythopoetic men’s movement and his time with Robert Bly, how emotions like anger can be powerful tools for healing, and why a culture of safety is fundamentally about coming back into relationship, with ourselves and with each other.

Enjoy.

Aug 19, 202001:05:15
#20 | Surrendering To The Wisdom Of Your Body - Philip Shepherd (Radical Wholeness )

#20 | Surrendering To The Wisdom Of Your Body - Philip Shepherd (Radical Wholeness )

My guest today is Philip Shepherd, an international authority on embodiment. He is the author of two books New Self, New World and Radical Wholeness, along with the developer of The Embodied Present Process, a series of practices for people to undo the stress and imbalances that are caused by disconnection, and find instead what it means to rest in the deeper, connected wisdom of the body.

Philip's personal path was shaped by his adventures as a teenager, when he cycled alone through Europe, the Middle East, India and Japan; by his deep commitment to and studies of bodywork; and by his experiences as an actor, playing lead roles on stages in London, New York, Chicago and Toronto.

In our conversation today, we explore: why living in the head, as many men do, guarantees a state of loneliness, how to tap into the emergent intelligence of life, and why the future of humanity may depend on our ability to finally come home, to your body and the earth.

We begin with a guided presence practice led by Philip Shepherd.  

Aug 04, 202001:19:51