Life is a Festival

What does it feel like to climb every mountain and arrive at the top feeling... nothing? Chris Stakich knows.Chris is the new CEO of Summit, the 18-year-old community behind Summit at Sea. On today's show we talk about following the script until it breaks, the specific loneliness of high performers, what really happened with Powder Mountain, and what Chris is promising the community now that Summit has been acquired by events.com. This is a conversation about building a life around connection rather than achievement.Chris Stakich is a Harvard graduate who spent two decades building Rustic Pathways, a global student travel company, into one of the largest of its kind before serving as Chief Experience Officer at YPO. He is now CEO of Summit, the community and events organization behind Summit at Sea, returning April 23-26, 2026 aboard Virgin Voyages.Links:Summit SeriesSummit (@summit) • Instagram photos and [email protected]

Today on Life is a Festival, Ian MacKenzie and I unpack “Inside the Manosphere:” the performance, the status games, the Lamborghinis that need to be witnessed to exist. We trace it back to father absence, the failure of the nuclear family, and generations of uninitiated men. We explore the distinction between grief and grievance, asking why male pain so readily converts into domination rather than surrender. MacKenzie shares his own four-year cycle of wilderness vigils, sits of four days without food or water, as a counter-image to the Manosphere's hollow heroism, describing initiation not as a heroic feat but as a devastating encounter with one's own smallness. The conversation moves through the crisis of young male loneliness, the complicity of wellness culture in creating the pipeline, and lands on eros and queerness as unexpected antidotes, arguing that the manosphere's deepest poverty is its total absence of genuine intimacy, play, and erotic aliveness.Ian MacKenzie is a filmmaker, writer, and host of the Mythic Masculine Podcast, which explores modern masculinity through the lens of myth, ritual, and culture-making. He is the co-director of The Village of Lovers, a documentary about the intentional community of Tamera in Portugal, and writes on Substack under The Deep Masculine. He is co-facilitating the inaugural Cascadia Men's Conference later this year near Vancouver, Canada, inspired by the 40-year-old Minnesota Men's Conference founded by Robert Bly.Links:Ian MacKenzie WebsiteThe Mythic Masculine PodcastThe Mythic Masculine | Ian MacKenzie | SubstackThe Village of LoversTimestamps:(05:19) Why Myth Matters(12:22) The Manosphere as Hyperobject(22:17) Nuclear Family vs the Village(28:24) Women as Status Props(35:34) Status Scarcity Hierarchy(37:38) Tamara Village (46:11)  Crisis of Uninitiated Boys(51:02) Ian’s Wilderness Vigil Initiation(01:02:12) Eros Queerness Integration

After seven years and more than 180 episodes, this is the final episode of Life Is a Festival in its current form.It felt right to close this chapter with a conversation with my friend Jenna Ansell, cofounder of Medicine Festival about what festivals have promised, what they’ve delivered, and what still matters.In this conversation, we explore why the utopian promise of festival culture feels strained in 2025, whether large gatherings can still act as engines of cultural change, and the difference between individual transformation and collective healing. We talk about ancient ritual technologies, the role of land and lineage, the limits of peak experience, and why play, myth, and the trickster still matter in dark times. Jenna Ansell is the co-founder and managing director of Medicine Festival in the United Kingdom. With a background in social anthropology from Cambridge and international relations from Johns Hopkins, she has worked across political, cultural, and conscious events for over twenty years. Through Medicine Festival, Jenna has helped create a large-scale ceremonial gathering centered on indigenous wisdom, community healing, and relationship to land, and is emerging as a key bridge-builder between festival culture, academia, and spiritual traditions.Timestamps(08:45) – The missing tipping point: why festival utopia never arrived(10:15) – Festivals as liminal spaces and temporary autonomous zones(14:00) – Status-quo festivals vs revolutionary festivals(17:00) – Land, ritual, and why Burning Man falls short(21:00) – What makes Medicine Festival fundamentally different(27:30) – Peak experiences, healing culture, and getting stuck in the underworld(29:45) – Collective healing, ancient traditions, and remembering community(38:00) – Rites of passage, myth, and why festivals still matter(44:00) – Advice to young festival builders in 2025(47:00) – Utopia, striving together, and redefining successLinks:Medicine Festival: HomeMEDICINE (@medicinefestival)rogueriding - 𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐋How Festivals Build Real Communities from Utopian Visions TEDBRC 2015

At Burning Man 2025 inside the Playa Alchemist Pyramid, I sat down with legendary mycologist Paul Stamets to explore mushrooms, mycelium, and the cosmos. Through scratchy playa dust voices, we connected fungal intelligence with Burning Man culture, random acts of kindness, and the future of psychedelic medicine.Our conversation ranged from Stamets’ new book Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats,, to reflections on mycelium as a cosmic organizing principle and the healing power of biodiversity. We discussed the dangers of misidentification, the promise of clinical trials, and how Burning Man functions as a living ritual for transformation.Paul Stamets is a pioneering mycologist, author of eight books, and an Invention Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has discovered new species of mushrooms (including Psilocybe stametsii), collaborated on breakthrough fungal research, and is known widely as the guide of Fantastic Fungi. His work bridges ecology, medicine, and culture with a vision of mushrooms as allies in human and planetary evolution.Timestamps(04:00) – Stamets introduces his new book Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats(06:00) – Trickster mushrooms: dangers of misidentification(10:00) – Random acts of kindness vs. AI’s transactional mindset(17:00) – Psychedelics as a creative leap (20:00) – Mycelium as metaphor and cosmic network(25:00) – Burning Man as default-mode reset and the importance of biodiversity and discomfort.(29:00) – Lightning, vibration, and music: how mycelium “listens” to thunder and drums.(34:00) – Clinical trials: comparing pure psilocybin vs. whole mushrooms, healing and neuroplasticity.(46:00) – Mushrooms vs. other psychedelics, democratization of psilocybin, and accessibility.(49:00) – Bees, immunity, and mycelium as planetary medicine: discoveries with pollinators and viral resistance.LinksPaul Stamets - MycologistPaul Stamets (@paulstamets)Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural HabitatsFungi PerfectiGive Bees a ChancePlayAlchemistRoots to Thrive: Community-Based Psychedelic-Assisted TherapyClinicalTrials.gov

In this conversation with Josh Schrei, a mythteller and founder of The Emerald, they delve into the revival of myth in our modern lives. Josh shares insights on the ancient power of festivals and their role in community spirit. They discuss the complexities of modern masculinity and the challenges young men face in seeking meaning. The importance of daily rituals for spiritual connection and the need for genuine storytelling to combat disillusionment are also explored. Josh's rich background in myth and practice adds depth to this enlightening discussion.

I recently revisited Iboga — the psychedelic root bark from Equatorial West Africa — six years after first experiencing it in a traditional Bwiti ceremony in Gabon. This time, I received Ibogaine treatment at Beond in Cancún. (Full disclosure: I produce their podcast, Ibogaine Uncovered.)To my surprise, my mentor Benjamin also spends time at Beond, quietly supporting others through their Ibogaine journeys. After my own treatment—complete with a flood dose and a booster dose—the best way to share my experience felt like a conversation with Benjamin himself.I also interviewed Tom, Beond’s CEO, for The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast — check that out for more details on the clinic and Ibogaine. As always, you’ll find links in the show notes. Now, please join me for my chat with my mentor, spiritual guide, and extraordinary role model, Benjamin.Links Ibogaine Treatment Center in Cancun, Mexico | Beond The Yang Container | Benjamin To Escape the Tyranny of the Self | Benjamin The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast Ibogaine Uncovered | Podcast on SpotifyTimestamps 05:10 The Ibogaine Process and Its Benefits 09:18 Ibogaine and Traumatic Brain Injury 20:22 Reflections on Healing and Growth 29:57 The Beond Experience 30:43 My Ibogaine Journey 32:32 Post-Treatment Reflections 35:59 Connecting with Others 37:38 Understanding Addiction

Alex Ebert, an award-winning artist and cultural critic, joins to discuss the evolving concept of masculinity amid political divides. They explore why young men are leaning towards right-wing figures and the left's struggle to present aspirational masculinity. Ebert emphasizes integrating feminine traits for personal growth, and they dive into the complexities of shifting political loyalties from Bernie Sanders to RFK Jr. Their candid conversation sheds light on the need for inclusive role models that foster emotional intelligence and connection.

On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, we’re exploring the theme of participation, a principle central to both Burning Man culture and our role as citizens. In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Miller, former Director of Communications for Burning Man, to talk about how civic responsibility and active engagement can help us navigate this complex cultural moment. I’ve also included a clip from a recent Substack article by one of my favorite thinkers, Jamie Wheal, to set the stage for our conversation.On the show, Megan and I discuss the importance of civic responsibility and the role of local government, especially in a time of political polarization. We delve into her 2020 article, Reaching Across Party Lines, and examine how festivals like Burning Man can foster unity. We also touch on gender and the dynamics in the 2024 election, as well as the way forward after November.Megan served as Burning Man’s Director of Communications from 2014 to 2021 and is a seasoned political strategist with experience in the U.S. Senate, political campaigns, environmental advocacy, and HIV/AIDS prevention. She brings her expertise in public engagement and strategic communications to today’s discussion, helping us think about participation beyond the election.Timestamps (05:00) “The Curse of the Clever” by Jamie Wheal (15:00) Burning Man and Civic Responsibility (20:00) Megan’s Early Political Career (26:00) Cities and the Importance of Local Government (33:00) Navigating Political Polarization (41:00) The RFK Question in the Burning Man community (48:00) Gender and the 2024 Election (58:00) The Way Forward After the ElectionLinks Megan K. Miller (@millermegank) Megan K. Miller Reaching Across Party Lines with Participation and Civic Responsibility Jamie Wheal | Substack: Homegrown Humans Newsletter The Gender Election - The Daily

Atish last joined us four or five years ago for a powerful conversation about authenticity, anxiety, and life as an artist. Now, as he takes a break from touring to prioritize mental health, I knew it was time to have him back for an inspiring and candid conversation.In this episode, Atish and I discuss the challenges of touring, redefining success as a DJ, and Atish’s unexpected desire for a “day job.” We explore the validation cycle between DJing and social media, the courage in vulnerability, and what it means to connect with the South Asian community as an artist. Together, we even do a little men’s work, unpacking the ideas of service, legacy, and giving back to one’s community.As many of you know, Atish is a celebrated DJ, producer, and mentor—he even composed the opening music for this podcast! His unique blend of vulnerability and presence has always inspired me, and I’m honored to share our conversation with you. Timeline (04:00) — Touring is stressful (09:00) —  What it means to “make it” as a DJ (16:45) — Atish wants a day Job (22:45) — DJing is immediate validation (32:00) — Setting a vulnerable example on social media (43:30) — What does it mean to be a South Asian artist? (49:00) — Atish and I do mens work  (55:00) — Serving the South Asian communityLINKS atish (@atishmusic) • Instagram photos and videos atish: DJ, Producer, Manjumasi, Mentor

Will Chase, former Minister of Propaganda for Burning Man, shares his insights on maintaining the festival's relevance. He discusses the transformative journey to Burning Man and the serendipity that often arises. Will reflects on Larry Harvey's lasting influence and emphasizes the importance of storytelling in community engagement. He also explores how to instill a festival mindset in everyday life and advocates for inclusivity and sustainability to enhance the festival's core values beyond the desert.