Ian MacKenzie: Masculinity, Mythology, and the Search for Meaning | The Canadians Ep. 27

Ian MacKenzie is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, storyteller, and host of The Mythic Masculine podcast, where he explores masculinity through mythology, psychology, storytelling, and the traditions of initiation and brotherhood. We begin by exploring Ian’s journey into the mythopoetic men’s movement and the influence of thinkers and storytellers such as Robert Bly, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell. From there, we discuss the role of mythology in human life, the value of men gathering together, and whether modern society has lost important traditions that once helped young men find their way into adulthood. Our conversation also explores some of the more challenging questions surrounding masculinity today, including gender identity, transgender inclusion in men’s spaces, and the growing influence of the manosphere and figures like Andrew Tate. Throughout our discussion, we return to a larger question: as society places increasing emphasis on individual freedom, rationality, and technological progress, what might we be losing in our search for meaning, community, and belonging? Ian’s Links The Mythic Masculine: https://www.themythicmasculine.com/po... Article on The Manosphere: https://themythicmasculine.substack.c... Filmmaking Archive: https://www.ianmack.com The Canadians Links Website: https://www.thecanadianspodcast.ca/ Support Page: https://buymeacoffee.com/thecanadians Follow us on X: https://x.com/TheCanadiansPod Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wxT42... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Conversation recorded on September 14, 2026 Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.