OMEGA MALE

EPISODE 8: KODAH PIPITONE the man who became a woman who became a man again

I met Kodah at an interactive social event in LA and instantly found him to be interesting, charismatic and eloquent. I had no idea about his transgender backstory and experience, but when I was told about it, I knew he would make for a compelling interview subject. Trigger warning: the subject of transgender is controversial and polarized to begin with, and Kodah's story cannot help but serve as a cautionary tale of sorts. That does not mean that Kodah's message, nor the message of this episode is anti-trans in any way. This is the exploration of one man's journey out of and back into manhood and should be taken as such.

Kodah begins with a summary of his life story, offering along the way his own self-analysis of how his journey towards gender transformation unfolded. He also discusses trans culture, some aspects of which he found welcoming and life-affirming, others he found problematic. He describes his direct experience with sissy hypno-porn, the politicization of the trans movement and ventures into other topics that some will find challenging. I believe anyone who gets to know Kodah will not find him to be anti-trans. The Omega Male podcast seeks to explore emergent paradigms, concepts and notions of maleness and is founded upon the spirit of inclusiveness, expansiveness and Love. I hope to have the opportunity to interview both trans men and women in the future to hear more perspectives in this particular domain. 

Kodah is a peak performance and leadership facilitator and strategist. His journey has been informed by deep personal transformation at the interaction of gender, tech and anthropology.His career experience spans entrepreneurship, venture strategy and givernment partnerships. Currently facilitating team leadership through the Flow Genome Project.

EPISODE 7: JOHN FUGELSANG renowned political commentator, comedian, TV host, writer, actor and cultural critic

John Fugelsang is a cultural maverick whose glib humor and razor sharp wit provide a reliably entertaining delivery mechanism for his gently challenging views and observations. Imagine an east coast intellectual with a decidedly liberal/progressive disposition who happens to also be a faithful Christian. I call John the "gentleman iconoclast" in that he mercilessly lampoons those who share his faith but not his politics, but always with basic human dignity, respect and humor, even at his most biting.

We talk about being both a father of a son and the son of a father, so-called masculinity in our time, our own notions of manhood, and we expand from there into more philosophical and esoteric directions. Truly a treat to hang with this generous spirit! 

EPISODE 6: TYSON ADAMS - trauma-informed personal coach who helps men outgrow pornography, objectification and infidelity

Not all men's coaches are created equal, and Tyson Adams truly stands out from the burgeoning crowd with his unique approach to men's inner health. San Diego resident Tyson identifies himself as a trauma-informed men’s coach who utilizes Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) to help men outgrow unwanted sexual behavior such as habitual pornography use, objectification and infidelity. The majority of men's coaches today seem focused on leadership, success and empowerment. While those things interest Tyson, too, his primary domain lies in healing. Our conversation ranges from deeply personal exchanges about our own formative experiences with pornography to sweeping philosophical explorations of intimacy, masturbation, circumcision and more. By far the raciest episode!  

EPISODE 5: LISA ROMERO - personal development author, public speaker and Anthroposophical meditation teacher on masculine and feminine forces

Spoiler alert - this episode gets deeply esoteric! Lisa brings a uniquely spiritual perspective to our topic, leading into new territory for the podcast. Speaking from a point of view that incorporates considerations of karmic purpose and mission, she discusses the connection between violence and subverted sexual energy and how the capacities inherent to a male incarnation might differ from those of a female one. Her take on the terms "masculine" and "feminine" as referring to forces available to all humans is revelatory. It's a pleasure to hear how Lisa manages to translate nuanced spiritual concepts into straightforward, comprehensible language.

EPISODE 4: STEPHEN JENKINSON ~ elder, author, storyteller, sage, death witness and teacher of ”orphan wisdom”

Teaching through story, song, metaphor and poetry can be so much more powerful than the mere intellectual transference of ideas. Stephen Jenkinson employs his extraordinary mastery of language in loyal service of that more creative, illustrative sharing of wisdom in ways only a true elder is equipped to do. In so doing, he is an inspiration and a pleasure just to listen to.

While the willingness to cast off outmoded ways of being and thinking is crucial to the envisioning of new paradigms and forms, so is also the consideration of what elements of past forms still merit retention and incorporation. Who could be better endowed than an elder with the wisdom to make that discernment? Stephen talks about the responsibility of linguistic prowess and reframes the contemporary conversation about patriarchy. Breaking the term down to its roots, he lays out a unique understanding of patriarchy as a function rather than an identity or a system and later explores Vladimir Putin as an example of someone who falls egregiously short of that function.

EPISODE 3: JOHN HAMBURG ~ the blockbuster comedy filmmaker who makes us laugh while helping us evolve

John Hamburg writes - and sometimes directs - Hollywood blockbuster comedy films. His "best known for" list is nearly identical to his entire filmography: the "Meet The Parents" trilogy, the "Zoolander" films, "I Love You, Man", "Along Came Polly" and "Why Him?". Whether he is exploring more mundane scenarios with everyday characters or the outlandishly satirical world of Zoolander, Hamburg evokes hilarity while also giving us plenty of cultural food for thought - particularly about the challenges that come with being a guy. While he is far too humble to acknowledge the immense cultural impact of his own work, a deep dive into his films reveals how Hamburg's thematic exploration of "guyhood" has helped us evolve in our conception of and reflections about men. In his interview we explore how he exploits men's discomfort with intimacy, vulnerability, conflict and societal expectations for comedy gold by simply reflecting his own experiences and what he observes in the world around him.

EPISODE 2: SANDRA DEWEY - entertainment business power player discusses gender dynamics in Hollywood

Sandra Dewey was until recently president of business operations and production at Warner Media's HBO MAX, TBS, TNT and TruTV. In this interview host Dan Mackenzie encourages Sandra to explore the sociological culture and power structures in the entertainment business as she has observed and experienced them. From the expansive vantage point of of an exemplary career marked both by material success and humanitarian contribution, Sandra offers compelling insights about everything from the women's support programs she initiated to sexual harassment to boardroom dynamics and beyond. She specifically addresses how the power imbalance between the genders is slowly shifting in Hollywood, how she has personally endeavored to move that needle, and what still needs to happen. Along the way Sandra shares entertaining anecdotes, observations and advice for both young women and men in the business.

EPISODE 1: STEVE CONNELL - spoken word master, hip-hop artsist, public speaker and cultural influencer

Daniel Mackenzie interviews multi-media creator Steve Connell about his personal background, experience in various performative art mediums, the often radically outspoken creative advocacy for women in his work and his evolving understanding about the changing role of men in contemporary society.