My guest today is Matt Sturm, a guide and writer dedicated to the evolution of masculinity. His offerings include psychotherapy, psychedelic-assisted work, sacred sexuality, and men’s retreats. He is the author of two books—The Organic Masculine and Primal Drives—and the creator of the Living Kosmos tarot deck.

(You might also remember Matt from when he joined Deus and I to discuss eros & intimacy in men’s ritual space).

After a decade working in the corporate climate sector, Matt left his dream job to embark on a spiritual path that led him deep into yoga, tantra, and the mythic roots of masculine identity. His work bridges archetypal psychology, developmental theory, and sacred embodiment, inviting men into a more integrated and life-affirming expression of their power.

In this conversation, we explore the crisis and rebirth of masculinity in a time of global unraveling. Matt shares his framework of the "organic masculine," and how the primal drives of aggression and sexuality—when unintegrated—fuel much of the world’s destruction. We look at the role of rites of passage, the death-rebirth journey of the hero, and the challenge of moving from domination to deep relationality.

We discuss the symbolic power of myths like Hercules and the Hydra, the collective adolescent psyche behind our social and environmental collapse, and how reclaiming the warrior archetype can support a shift from violence to sacred protection.

Together, we ask: How might men transform their primal drives into devotion? What kind of masculine presence is needed to meet the polycrisis of our time? And how do we embrace the monster within so that it becomes an ally rather than an adversary?

This episode is a call to enter the depths—where masculinity is not conquered or discarded, but composted, reimagined, and reborn in service to life.

The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

MATT’S LINKS

* Website

* Essay: Masculinity & The Polycrisis

ADDITIONAL EPISODES

If you like our conversation, check out my earlier complimentary conversations:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Note: you can watch the Youtube version of this podcast here.

___

Well, the saga around Aubrey Marcus continues.

You may recall a few weeks back when I spoke about Aubrey, an American entrepreneur, influencer, and “psychonaut”, who released an episode of his podcast with his wife Vylana, their lover Alana, and their mentor Marc Gafni.

The main reveal was that during a trip to Egypt, Aubrey received a “download” from the goddess Isis instructing him to “impregnate both women.”

They described this not as polyamory but as “radical monogamy.”

​Their episode originally titled “A New Pattern of Sacred Relationship" created a wide cultural ripple, sparking deep conversations around sex, relationships, monogamy/polyamory, spiritual bypassing, divine union, cult dynamics, and more.

In my initial response with Deus Fortier, a central point I emphasized was the crucial role of community in holding the intense energies of intimacy and sex — something we learned through our years documenting Tamera, the radical “free love” community in Portugal, and featured in our film The Village of Lovers.

Following that newsletter, a mutual friend connected me directly with Aubrey. I invited him and his partners to watch The Village of Lovers. They did - and they loved it.

This opened the door for a deeper, more nuanced conversation directly between Aubrey and I, which is available now.

In this new interview, Aubrey and I explore:

* The cultural impact and backlash to his original podcast — and whether he can truly receive and integrate some of the core critiques rather than dismiss them only as a “witch hunt.”

* His evolving understanding of power, influence, and community accountability — including reflections on the risks of spiritual grandiosity.

* The difference between personal sovereignty and relational ecology, no matter your relationship container

* The question of whether “downloads” or divine guidance can ever be fully trusted outside a community context.

* The tension between individual desires and collective responsibility in love and intimacy.

* What it would look like to truly embed these experiments in a supportive, truth-telling community.

Rather than a debate or a takedown, this is a respectful invitation to wonder together.

We seek to illuminate the edges and complexities of relational evolution - for ourselves and for all who are navigating love in these turbulent times.

__

Note: This conversation has already been out almost a week, and while I’ve received a number of positive reviews, I want to address one of the main criticisms: my decision not to bring up the presence and influence of Marc Gafni. Someone even made the assertion that Aubrey must have “made a deal” with me prior to the interview.

In truth, Aubrey and I didn’t speak at about what we would cover.

I made the call for two reasons:

Watching almost 2 hours of a podcast where Aubrey interviews Marc and his partner Kristina Kincaid spend a lot of time speaking to the controversy from their perspective.

Aubrey also responded to the controversy around Marc in the follow up newsletter to the the “Sacred Relationship” podcast:

"Finally as a last note, I’ve already addressed the historic controversy surrounding our lineage teacher Dr. Marc Gafni in a podcast that I did with his life partner Kristina Kincaid. I’ve read the published letters of analysis from those who have analyzed the issues well, and spoken to people who have known him for decades. I trust his goodness and his greatness. But more important than any of that, is what I feel in my own body after the hundreds of hours we have spent together with him and his partner. Whether that is grieving together for ten days after the death of my father, grinding out sets with a barbell, or raising cups of wine with a bellowing “CHAAAAAAA.” He’s a brother, he’s my teacher, and he’s not my guru. Marc has been unwaveringly loving and fair to each of us individually in this relationship process, seeking only to serve our own highest sovereign will."

To be clear: do I believe the presence of Marc and his influence is troubling? Yes. Do I find it odd that he plays in the original conversation with Vylana and Alana, where he contributes to the confusing and spiritual jargon? Yes.

And yet, confronting Aubrey one more time about this did not seem a worthwhile avenue given he would have just repeated what he's already said. There was zero chance, in my opinion, about him changing is stance.

And overall, my conversation aimed to be about Aubrey and his relational explorations with his partners, and not about Marc Gafni.

There are plenty of podcasts and videos out there that critique Marc and Aubrey.

The goal in my conversation with Aubrey was not to cover all the bases, but to bring in some additional pieces that would contribute to the collective feedback loop.

Once again, you’re invited to watch The Village of Lovers to understand more deeply the lens I was attempting to offer.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Greetings friends.

By now you have likely heard about, if not already listened to, Aubrey Marcus’ podcast “A New Pattern for Sacred Relationship.”

If you haven’t I would recommend at least check out the first 30 minutes.

Last weekend I listened to the whole thing, all 2.5 hours. I've also read and watched a number of responses to it (and there are many).

Some folks call him a "false king" who is not a "real man". Others say the women (his wife and their lover) are being manipulated and have lost their own inner compass.

Marc Gafni, their mentor (also featured on the podcast) calls them "evolutionary lovers in a field of erotic mystics" ... or something.

It seems to have hit the cultural zeitgeist on sex, relationships, monogamy/polyamory, spiritual bypassing, divine union, cults, psychedelics, all of it.

Just that alone has been fascinating to witness.

A few days ago I posted an initial response on my Facebook.

I also sent the episode to my friend and collaborator Deus Fortier, and he responded with is take here.

I felt inspired to jump on a call today and record an emergent conversation between us. Enjoy!

As named, you can stream my film The Village of Lovers.

And check out Deus and I’s upcoming men’s offerings here:

* Awaking the Wild Erotic (In-Person)

* The Deep Masculine (Online)

SHOW NOTES

* 00:00 – Opening and framing: why this conversation matters now

* 00:50 – Who is Aubrey Marcus? Context on his influence and subcultural position

* 02:45 – Summary of the podcast episode: divine union, polyamory, and the “radical monogamy” claim

* 06:50 – The Egypt “download”: Aubrey’s call to impregnate both women

* 08:00 – Mark Gafni’s role as spiritual mentor and the atmosphere of unquestioned affirmation

* 10:30 – Deus shares his initial unease and what made the episode feel “off”

* 13:30 – The concept of krivda: when truth is wrapped in distortion

* 17:00 – Power dynamics, spiritual bypass, and concerns about lack of transparency

* 22:00 – Reflections on biological imperative and cultural conditioning around monogamy

* 31:00 – Lessons from Tamara: embedment and forum as collective relational technologies

* 40:00 – The danger of personal downloads without communal discernment

* 44:00 – Deus’s personal journey of erotic healing, trauma, and moving at the speed of trust

* 50:00 – How to offer better relational support to each other

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Last week, I sat down with Chris Kyle, co-founder of the upcoming Big Tent Summit, a gathering for men & woman who are involved in the stewardship of healthy masculinity today.

Chris has been in the exploration for nearly three decades, and he articulates his perspective on the “three waves” of the modern men’s movement: from its mythopoetic roots, to the rise of embodied presence, and now—an integrative call to wholeness.

We speak of the fragmentation many men feel, the seductive pull of the mansophere & adolescent masculinities, and the hunger for a mature, grounded path rooted in a greater cosmology.

The Big Tent Summit, happening May 29–June 1 in Loveland, Colorado, is a gathering of leaders, facilitators, and culture-makers. It will be a place to compare maps, cross-pollinate practices, and connect with others engaged in this work.

Get full info & tickets at BigTentSummit.com

—

For more of the history and evolution of men’s work, you’re invited to check out my free webinar An Introduction To Mythopoetic Masculinity.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I’m honored to share a conversation with Minna Salami—author, social critic, and senior fellow at The New Institute.

This exchange was recorded during the Fugitive Futures Summit I co-hosted in February 2025. I’m sharing it here because of the powerful resonance between Minna’s work and the questions we hold on this podcast.

Her book Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone proposes a liberatory way of knowing that’s embodied, relational, and rooted in both thought and feeling. Drawing on African cosmologies and feminist philosophy, Minna challenges the dominance of Euro-patriarchal systems and invites us toward a more holistic worldview.

We explore this sensuous way of knowing—and its deep relevance to masculinity. We speak to the adolescent forms of masculine power so common in leadership today, and ask how a more mature, rooted masculinity might emerge through depth and inner listening.

UPCOMING OFFERINGS

Speaking of pathways of mature masculinity, men are invited to check out my online trainings and in-person events.

The Deep Masculine - 12 week online journey to repattern your relationship to sex, soul and purpose. Begin anytime.

Awakening The Wild Erotic - A men’s ritual initiation into the archetype of The Lover. We have two upcoming weekends:

* July 25-27 - Montreal, Canada

* Aug 22-24 - Vancouver Island

All folks are invited to explore Iron John: A Mythic Story about Men.

Would love to hear your comments on my conversation with Minna! Leave you thoughts below.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Heads up - we’re taking AWE on the road this July!

I’m pleased to share this conversation with my collaborator Deus Fortier, and two colleagues, Paul Simard and Robin Corlux, who are supporting us to bring our men’s ritual weekend to the Montreal region this July.

AWE is more than a retreat - it's an initiation into erotic maturity, focusing on the Lover archetype. This archetype, which emphasizes relational consequence and interconnectedness, is crucial for cultivating a deeper sense of beauty and soul.

In a culture that often glorifies the King and Warrior archetypes, AWE offers a unique opportunity for men to explore the more nuanced and vulnerable aspects of masculinity.

The weekend is a blend of mythopoetic and body-centered therapeutic practices. Participants will engage in rituals, hear mythic stories, and work with symbols to explore their deep psyche, as well as somatic exercises to embody and express their emotional landscape.

The goal is to create a safe and trusting environment where men can de-armor, build non-sexual intimacy with other men, and reclaim a trust and connection to a deeper masculine essence.

The weekend is not just a one-time experience but an entry into a continual process of returning to the wellspring of the Lover archetype.

If you’re in the region (Montreal, Toronto, New York, etc) consider joining us.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Earlier this week, I posted this on Facebook and Instagram and received quite a strong response - so I’m publishing here as well to hear from my readers.

In my recent interview with Tyson Adams, we explored the phenomenon of pornography and its deep, often hidden, effects on men.

You might think it’s not so different from what previous generations faced—but after listening to our conversation, you’ll see we’re living in an era unlike any before.

Once upon a time, a young boy’s access to pornography required either cunning effort—like sneaking into his dad’s hidden stash—or sheer luck, like Tyson stumbling across a Playboy in a field.

Today, that mediation is all but gone.

Youth can now access an unending stream of pornographic imagery and videos—24/7, in any variation imaginable.

And the impact has been nothing short of catastrophic.

Martin Shaw, mythteller and rites-of-passage guide, speaks to the mythic loss pornography has inflicted on the male psyche:

“There used to be shadowy areas in the imagination that contained passageways for Aphrodite, Dionysus, and lusty Pan to emerge through and ignite the sexual experience. However, that requires an imaginal flow, not the oddly passive imprint of negotiated image, downloaded into the mind by a jaded computer techie in Silicon Valley. […] Porn provides the picture—a very limited one—that short-circuits the entrance of ‘the mind’s eye’ to the erotic imagination. […] In other words, we fail to develop our own erotic imagery.”

And now, with the advent of AI, we are entering exponential territory.

The involvement of a human woman is no longer required.

Busty, “perfect” AI-generated women now have hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, with legions of adoring men. AI porn platforms allow users to conjure whatever woman or scenario they desire—on demand.

It’s a godlike power, exercised within the confines of a false, synthetic reality.

I can’t help but return to a common thread in many indigenous traditions: that everything has a spirit.

When that spirit is extracted, manipulated, and concentrated, it becomes addictive. Think: sugar cane versus refined sugar. Sacred tobacco versus commercial cigarettes. The same for alcohol, coffee, the list goes on.

Pornography, in this light, makes a promise: connection to the Feminine.

But it cannot deliver.

Instead, it offers a ghost.

A distorted, addictive shadow of the feminine.

So how does a man break free?

The path is not linear—and it involves multiple layers.

One is rewiring the nervous system: learning to seek self-regulation not through porn, but through practices like breathwork, meditation, movement, and creative expression.

Another is healing the shame that clings to so many men’s sexual histories. This is the heart of my work in Stealing the Key: Men, Sex, and the Mother Complex.

And finally, a man must expand his relationship to sexuality itself—reclaiming it as a doorway into eros, the primal force of life.

He comes to realize that sex is just one channel of this vast current, and that when he stops seeking it solely through women—or through substances—he opens to a cosmos teeming with beauty and inherent purpose.

If you're a man who wants to begin this journey, send me a DM.

___

I’d also love to hear your comments on this below!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Tyson Adams, a trauma-informed IFS men’s coach, somatic bodyworker, and psychedelic facilitator.

After spending twenty years entangled in pornography addiction, Tyson broke free seven years ago and has since dedicated his life to helping men reclaim their lifeforce energy. He co-facilitates men’s leadership intensives, supports couples navigating intimacy, and brings a grounded, embodied presence to the evolving landscape of modern masculinity.

In this conversation, we enter one of the most charged topics in men’s lives today: pornography. Tyson shares his personal path through addiction and healing, revealing the deep cultural silence around male sexuality and the absence of rites of passage for boys becoming men.

We explore the psychological and physiological impacts of porn, the line between eros and exploitation, and the difference between pornography and erotica. Tyson speaks to the healing power of celibacy, mindful self-pleasure, and ‘parts work’, inviting a more conscious relationship with sex.

From AI fantasy to the hunger for genuine intimacy, we ask: How can men reclaim erotic sovereignty in an overstimulated world? What initiations are needed to guide desire into devotion? And how do we plant the seeds of a culture that honors sex as a life-giving force in alignment with life?

This episode is a call to remember eros as sacred—woven with integrity, healing, and soul.

LINKS

* Follow Tyson Adams on IG

* Explore Tyson’s Programs

You’re also invited to check out The Deep Masculine, my 3 month online program for men to repattern their relationship to sex, soul, and purpose.

There are pathways for men and women to explore the masculine through a mythopoetic lens, with weekly lessons, somatic skills, and ritual practices to empower your journey.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

I remember coming across this quote at Burning Man years ago. It's from writer and essayist Anais Nin.

It struck me then, and it reverberates for me still.

This photo was taken that year.

That sky is particularly specific to that time of evening, as the heat of the day dissolves into gorgeous blue & purple hues.

I remember my friends and I were stopped at an art piece, after gallivanting around the playa on our bikes, weaving in and out of the dust and denizens of Black Rock City.

That year was the Temple of Transition, and it was a threshold that changed everything.

It was then I learned of the role of grief and the necessity to come together in tending the endings that make us human.

It was then I recognized my marriage was over, even though it was another year before we parted ways.Recently I had the impulse to look up the words from Anais Nin, and discovered the rest of the quote:

"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through.

Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death. Living never wore one out so much as the effort not to live. Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity and stumble from defeat to defeat.

Perfection is static, and I am in full progress."

I love that. That a live worth living is not one of striving for success, but a willingness to fail again and again. This is how one comes to know life. To blossom is a risk. To expose your vulnerability, your authenticity and your creativity is to expose yourself rejection.

To dare to become. Somewhere in there, your soul comes alive.

This is the spirit of my upcoming Awakening the Wild Erotic, an ritual immersion for men release dysfunctional patterns around “eros,” the primal force of life, and step into a new phase of aliveness.

This will our 5th time running the event, and men have found the container incredibly valuable.

Upcoming AWE Dates:

April 4-6, 2025 Vancouver Island has a few spots left. (Last chance to apply now!)

We are also bringing AWE to the Montreal area July 25-27, 2025.

Get the full details and apply here.

Podcast Roundup

Over the last few months I’ve been featured in a number of great podcasts. I figured I’d round them up as a digest and share below.

The Authentic Man - Mythopoetic Masculinity and Navigating Conflict in Relationship

I really enjoyed this conversation with David Chambers, where we cover a number of topics, including: Domination vs. Partnership Culture, Reconditioning for Connection, Support systems for couples, Regenerating Culture, The Power of Deep Partnership, Understanding and Dealing with Jealousy, How to deal with conflict in a relationship

Evolving Man - Iron John And The Foundations Of Mythopoetic Masculinity

A solid conversation with my longtime friend Ben Goresky. In this episode, I share my journey into the mythopoetic men’s movement, which explores masculinity through myth, initiation, and men’s groups.

I open up about how the death of my grandfather led me to this work and helped me understand the challenges of modern manhood, especially in a culture that lacks clear rites of passage. We discuss the archetypes of the Hero and the King, dive into the themes of Iron John, and explore the importance of men’s circles for personal growth and emotional support. We also reflect on the rediscovery of lost initiation practices, reconnecting with passion, and embracing The Deep Masculine to navigate life's stages and challenges.

The Smiling Human - Myth as Medicine: Addressing the Crisis of Meaning

In this conversation, Oak Mountain and I discuss the themes of mythopoiesis, masculinity, and the cultural narratives that shape our understanding of identity. We cover the importance of myth in making sense of the human experience, the evolution of masculinity through different cultural eras, and the current crisis of meaning faced by many men today.

RiverFlow - Weaving Love, Eros & Men’s Work

In this episode, Harry Friedman and I explore into rich territory. We explore the metaphor of polyamory as a wetland and “relational exclusivity” as a river, to understand different approaches to love and relationships. We dive into the traditional views of elder mentors around marriage and matrimony, contrasting those with the ideas of free love and open relating, particularly those espoused in the Tamera research project. We also discuss how romantic relationships can serve as vehicles for healing, while community plays a crucial role in the broader process of personal and collective healing.

Tripping with Nick Sun

Finally, you’re invited to check out this episode with Nick Sun', whose podcast “seeks to explore the fundamental question: How do we live as human beings during these crazy times without losing our freaking minds?”

Thanks for reading.

P.S. My Deep Masculine 3 month program is also live. There are pathways for both men & women. Get the full details here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Simon Yugler, a longtime friend who is a psychedelic therapist, educator, and the author of Psychedelics & the Soul—a mythic guide to deep healing, depth psychology, and cultural repair.

With a background steeped in Jungian thought and apprenticed to earth-based wisdom traditions, Simon walks the liminal spaces where myth and medicine meet, where the personal journey of the soul intertwines with the great unfolding of culture.

In our conversation, we explore the archetypal landscapes revealed through psychedelic experience—those luminous, perilous realms where the collective unconscious speaks in image and story. We trace the deep roots of mythopoetics and their role in personal and societal transformation, turning to tales such as the Inuit folktale Eagle’s Gift to illuminate what it means to undergo initiation in a world that has largely forgotten its rites of passage.

We also wade into the turbulent waters of modern politics, asking: What might a mythopoetic lens reveal about our current crises? How do we make sense of an era teetering between collapse and renewal? And what are the practical tools for integrating the peak experiences—psychedelic or otherwise—into the hard soil of daily life?

This episode is an invitation to journey into the deep mythic currents shaping our time and the soul’s quest to remember its place within them.

Simon’s Book Tour Dates

* Denver, 3/17 w/ Jaz Cadoch (@_jaz.ie) at Greenspaces

* Santa Fe, 3/22 w/ Michael Garfield (@michaelgarfield) at The Arc Bookstore

* LA, 3/27 w/ Tony Moss (venue to be confirmed)

* Bay Area (3/29, venue to be confirmed)

* Nevada City, 3/31, at Elixart

LINKS

* Simon Yugler’s Official Website

* Book - Psychedelics & The Soul: A Mythic Guide to Psychedelic Healing, Depth Psychology, and Cultural Repair

UPCOMING OFFERINGS:

Heads up, the doors open for the next round of The Deep Masculine, my 3 month online offering for men (and now women) to repattern your relationship to sex, soul & purpose. Save $100 with Early Bird rate - Ends March 13.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 Introduction to Archetypal Imagery

01:23 Meet the Host and Guest

01:58 Exploring Psychedelic Experiences

02:16 The Role of Myth in Personal and Societal Transformation

02:26 Modern Politics Through a Mythopoetic Lens

02:38 Practical Tools for Integrating Peak Experiences

02:47 Invitation to Journey into Mythic Currents

02:56 Show Support and Website Information

03:28 Welcome and Setting the Scene

04:45 Simon Yugler's Book and Its Journey

07:30 The Genesis of 'Psychedelics and the Soul'

10:42 Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Critical Perspective

16:30 The Importance of Integration Work

17:30 Mythopoetics and Depth Psychology

31:44 The Five Skills of Mythopoetic Integration

37:10 Assembling the Myths in 'Psychedelics and the Soul'

41:37 Interpreting Myths Through Masculinity

42:08 The Eagles’s Gift: An Inuit Folk Tale

44:48 The Hunter's Journey Begins

47:03 Encounter with the Fox Spirits

51:33 Meeting Mother Eagle

56:03 The Hunter's Return and Transformation

58:58 Reflections on Masculinity and Myth

01:06:51 Mythopoetic Lens on Contemporary Politics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe