The Iron John Podcast

In this episode of The Iron John Podcast, poet and musician Jesse Dermody interviews the authors of the poetry collection, In the Bear's Cabin, Thomas R. Smith, Dougie Padilla, and Timothy Young. The poets are joined by Walton Stanley, representing the book's publisher, Apsu Publishing, an Imprint of the Minnesota Men's Conference. To learn more abou the book, or to purchase In the Bear's Cabin, go to:
https://minnesotamensconference.com/apsu

Look for upcoming men's soul-work conferences and events at:
https://minnesotamensconference.com/

In this episode of the Iron John Podcast, we talk with poets Thomas R. Smith, Dougie Padilla, and Timothy Young about their newly released poetry collection, In the Bear's Cabin.

In this engaging book, poetic descendants of Minnesota poet and author, Robert Bly, Thomas R. Smith, Dougie Padilla, and Timothy Young honor their forty plus years in Robert’s orbit. Written by men who were actively involved with Bly from the beginnings of the Minnesota mythopoetic men’s conferences, this book arrives just in time to honor the centenary of Robert Bly’s birth.

In the Bear's Cabin is the first release of Apsu Publishing, An Imprint of the Minnesota Men's Conference. 

To purchase In the Bear's Cabin, go to:
https://minnesotamensconference.com/events/in-the-bears-cabin-poetry-by-thomas-r-smith-dougie-padilla-and-timothy-young

In this episode of The Iron John Podcast, Walton Stanley, Ian MacKenzie, Trevor Mervyn, and Miguel Rivera discuss mythopoetic men's work, and the upcoming Cascadia Men's Conference: Courting the Divine Spark. 

The Cascadia Men's Conference draws from the same mythopoetic lineage as the Minnesota Men's Conference and is a brother conference to the Minnesota conference. 

The Cascadia Men's Conference: will be held August 6-9, 2026 in the Squamish Valley of British Columbia, Canada. More information can be found at: https://www.cascadiamensconference.com/

The Minnesota Men's Conference has two scheduled events ahead: The Iron Earth, Iron Soul Conference in Queensland Australia and the 2026 Fall Minnesota Men's Conference—Crossing the Torrent, Facing the Cannibal Self. 

To get more information on Minnesota Men's Conference events, go to www.minnesotamensconference.com

In this talk from the 2025 Fall Minnesota Men's Conference—Men Who Stand Atop the Old Mound of Miracles, author, psychotherapist, and soul activist, Francis Weller speaks on emptiness and on the great sense of what is missing when the desires of the soul are not addressed. 

Francis is the author of the bestselling essay collection, The Wild Edge of Sorrow, and of the recently released book, In the Absence of the Ordinary.

If this podcast speaks to you, please consider joining us at one of our events for men. Go to www.minnesotamensconference.com for more information

The 1988 Minnesota Men's Conference was especially potent for me, Timothy Young. I was one of the organizers and our headliners that year were Robert Bly, James Hillman, Robert Moore, and Etheridge Knight. Bly's main presentations were on the deeper meanings of William Blake's poetry.  Etheridge's poems shook our hearts, and I was able to invite Roy McBride and Thomas Smith to read on our evening of poetry,

Welcome to the Iron John Podcast! 

In this episode, writer, activist, and publisher of InRoads Magazine, Anthony Signorelli interviews tracker, writer, and permaculturist Joel Glanzberg on permaculture, men’s wrk, the environment, and the role of human beings in the web of being. 

 Joel will be one of the presenters at the 2025 Fall Minnesota Men’s Conference—Men Who Stand Atop the Old Mound of Miracles, October 7 through 12, 2025. 

 To get more information about the fall conference or future Minnesota Men’s Conference events, go to www.minnesotamensconference.com. 

Hello, And welcome to the Iron John Podcast! 

In this episode, Minnesota Men's Conference Board member, Tyler Schueffner Interviews author, ritualist, and psychotherapist, Francis Weller on grief, healing, responsibility, and the alchemy of becoming a fully-cooked human being in connection with the web of being of which we are a part. Francis will be one of the presenters and facilitators at the 2025 Minnesota Men'’s Conference—Men Who Stand Atop the Old Mound of Miracles, October 7-12, 2025. 

 To learn about upcoming Minnesota Men's Conference events, go to: https://minnesotamensconference.com/

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Dennis Merritt, a Jungian analyst and author of the four-book series on Jungian Ecopsychology: The Dairy Farmer's Guide to the Universe. 

Dennis will be one of the presenters at the upcoming 2025 Minnesota Men's Conference—Men Who Stand Atop the Old Mound of Miracles, (October 7-12, 2025)

For more information about the Minnesota Men's Conference, go to www.minnesotamensconference.com

In 1996 Paul Bendix attended his first Minnesota Men's Conference.  He continued to attend the annual conference for nineteen years and has continued support the conference and its mission. This episode has a number of the memories he carries for his time with the men.  

Mythologist and storyteller, Ben Dennis speaks with the author, poet, and translator Robert Bringhurst, about why oral and written traditions should work together and not displace one another.  Both men will participate in the 2025 Minnesota Men's Conference.

If this podcast speaks to you, please consider joining us at one of our events for men. Go to www.minnesotamensconference.com for more information.