What are men really longing for?
In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Boysen sits down with filmmaker, mythosomatic guide, and founder of The Mythic Masculine, Ian MacKenzie, to explore the deeper story underneath modern masculinity.
Together, they unpack the roots of mythopoetic men’s work, the cultural loss of village, the rise of the manosphere, and why so many men are searching for belonging, purpose, and deeper initiation.
Ian shares his own journey into men’s work through Iron John, the ManKind Project, and years spent studying myth, ritual, animism, and cultural regeneration with influential teachers like Stephen Jenkinson, Martin Shaw, and Michael Meade.
This episode explores:
- Why masculinity may be better understood as a strategy rather than a certainty
- The difference between mythopoetic men’s work and the manosphere
- What happens when men grow up without village, mentorship, and rites of passage
- Why grief, ritual, and brotherhood matter for modern men
- The role of myth in helping men reclaim meaning and purpose
- Emerging conversations around masculinity, identity, and cultural evolution
- Why healthy masculinity may depend on learning how to belong again
This conversation is thoughtful, challenging, and deeply hopeful.
Whether you’re new to men’s work or have been walking this path for years, Ian offers a compelling vision for how men might reconnect with themselves, each other, and the world.
Learn about the Cascadia Men’s Conference:
August 6 – 9 | Squamish Valley, Canada https://www.cascadiamensconference.com/
Learn about the Deep Masculine Journey
Enrollment closes midnight Monday, May 18.
The Journey Starts: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
MKP men get 10% off the Guided or Self-Directed Paths.
Next steps:
Some of the Authors & People we mentioned today:
- Bayo Akomolafe – https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/
- Stephen Jenkinson – https://orphanwisdom.com/about-stephen-jenkinson/
- Sophie Strand – https://sophiestrand.com/
- Riane Eisler – https://rianeeisler.com/
