Ruwando Podcast

The Magician Archetype is the part of the psyche responsible for creativity, making meaning, and spirituality. It's the part of you that "writes" your life story. This episode covers: Understanding "magic" and the creative process Removing blocks to "becoming the Magician" Opening the floodgates I reference some mystical/occultist models. You can take them as a metaphor...

Last week I coached a listener of the podcast on integrating the Dark Masculine archetype— I invited him on the podcast to share his experience with overcoming shame and fear of rejection in intimacy. We also discuss what do when your needs seem to conflict with your woman's needs, and how to respond to a woman's past traumas. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full ac...

Dr. Cam Sepah is a psychology, professor at UCSF Med School, and the founder of a number of startups including Maximus, a telehealth service for men's psychological and physiological development. We speak about his Dopamine Fasting protocol, men in the modern era, testosterone and more. Learn more about Maximus at: https://maximustribe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/camsepah/ https://twitter.c...

The Road of Trials is a stage in the Hero's Journey where the hero powers up between "Meeting the Mentor" and "Apotheosis" (god mode). In real life, it's periods where there seems to be no progress, so it's easy to sink into apathy or frustration... But this is actually one of the greatest opportunities to recreate yourself and recreate your life. This episode covers: T...

Nalaya Chakana is my beloved. She's also an intimacy coach and has been on the podcast before. We speak about maturing archetypes, dating, and a bit on our love story. (Don't worry it's not too sappy.) Join Nalaya's community Make Love to Life . Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwando Substack at ruwando.substack.com/subscribe

Should you "Go hard" or "Embrace where you're at?" Each of these two impulses have a time when they are useful but also negative fallout.-- Going hard gets results, but at the wrong time can lead to burn out. Acceptance can be "healing" but too much leads to mediocrity. What if there was a single axiom to determine which path to follow in every moment? In this episode I...

Apathy mutes your ability to experience life. It blocks you from enthusiasm, connection, creativity, and even knowing what to do with yourself. I speak about the root cause of apathy and the ONE thing that overcomes it. Btw, we're trying a new version of Masculine Underground on Telegram. Come be a beta tester of the new group: t.me/masculineunderground Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle...

I had a moment (few hours) of very ungrounded little b*tchness due to a DMV-like experience. But then I remembered a somatic technique to transform the "wound-up" feeling into something more pleasurable. You can try it next time you're frustrated to calm your mind and relax your body. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwando Substack at ruwando.sub...

Why don't men like being told what to do? Some may call that "fragile masculinity" or some insecure need for dominance. But actually there are real consequences for the man and his relationships if he too frequently takes orders. I share an example of when a buddy and I refused to listen to a good suggestion and why that mattered. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get...

I slaughtered one of my roosters yesterday. It was my first time killing something that I had raised and it felt important. I share the different phases of emotion I felt and some thoughts on doing your own dirty work, strength, and responsibility. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwando Substack at ruwando.substack.com/subscribe

The last few months I've realized how important sleep quality is for testosterone, and therefore energy, mood, strength, libido, and success in life. Mollie is the founder of Sleep is a Skill, a company and podcast that aims to optimize your sleep. She shares a wealth of info on sleep optimization. Sleepisaskill.com Also check out the Sleep is a Skill podcast. Advertising Inquiries: https://re...

A lot of men lose their masculinity when they catch feelings for the feminine. (But it doesn't have to be that way.) As voted on, and inspired by recent posts in the group, next live discussion is on maintaining polarity in relationship. We'll focus on 3 stages: How to maintain polarity in any sexual relationship. (Heightening masculinity via its opposite.) How to make relationships a vehi...

If a woman you're intimate with is throwing anger at you, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Actually, it might be a good sign. And an opportunity to deepen the relationship. However, many analytical guys mess it up.... In this episode I share the 3 common mistakes guys make when their woman is angry. I also share how to differentiate okay anger scenarios from the not so good. (2 of them ar...

Jack Donovan is author of The Way of Men, Becoming a Barbarian, and A More Complete Beast. We speak about the tactical virtues of masculinity, honor cultures, male mythologies, polytheistic take on psychology, and even a little economics (kind of.) jack-donovan.com @starttheworld on IG The Way of Men: https://amzn.to/37Dl6wS Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ru...

"Gnosis" is the name for a mental state that you've probably experienced before, if only accidentally. This state is a solution to anxiety and a way to "get out of your own way" in creating what you want. I share some perspectives from Carl Jung, Steven Pressfield, Eckhart Tolle, Robert Anton Wilson, and the occultist Peter Carroll. I also tell the story of my first heartbreak...

I recently spoke with a guy who realized that he walled up his heart to prevent sadness... but it also blocked him from feeling joy and real intimacy. How does one get over the fear of being heartbroken? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwando Substack at ruwando.substack.com/subscribe

The Sexual Shadow is the set of pre-conscious impulses that stimulate the libido but counter your morality. Dissociation is common in men and seen in the 'Madonna-Whore Complex'— the categorization of women as either pure sources of love, or as naughty sex objects... but not both. To stay in this dichotomy robs you of your full integrated expression (AND robs your partners of a full-spectr...

Christian Graugart is the founder of BJJ Globetrotters, a community for people who travel and do jiu-jitsu. We speak about the tribal nature of humans (and its problems), his taoist-like philosophy, and of course, jiu-jitsu. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwando Substack at ruwando.substack.com/subscribe

"We're a generation of men raised by women. I'm wondering if another woman is really the answer we need." (Tyler Durden, Fight Club) There are certain aspects of the psyche that men can only access around other men. Building off last week's Warrior Archetype, we look at the hero traits as they pertain to male-to-male interaction: - Why honor, courage, and strength are universal...

Sarah Steel is the host of Let's Talk About Sects , a podcast about cults. I was on her show just recently in episode on OneTaste (premiers today). We talk about group social dynamics, the psychology of cult leaders and members, ethics, and propaganda. Follow her work at ltaspod.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Get full access to Ruwan...

The Warrior Archetype is the set of testosterone-driven impulses that have a man develop his competence and courage. It's also associated with aggression which is why it's often attacked as "toxic masculinity". This episode discusses the function of this archetype, how it relates to mental health/confidence, the hormonal basis, and how to embody it in a constructive way. My website...

"There is a lot of correlation between rough childhoods and fatherless homes. But there is also a negative effect on the FATHER shirking his responsibility." Despite the fact that women are usually the ones raising the topic of commitment in hetero relationships, commitment is actually a masculine (testosterone-driven) virtue. The ability to commit, be it to family group, purpose, or value...

" Come back with your shield - or on it " ~ Spartan mothers to their sons before battle (according to Plutarch) Queen Gorgo says those words to Leonidas in the movie 300. Deontay Wilder referenced it in his willingness to be KO'ed cold rather than a ref stoppage in his loss to Tyson Fury. This line stirs up something in anyone with testosterone-receptors because it hits the primal masc...

Many ancient traditions and mythologies speak of the "4 Elements" which represent 4 neurotransmitters: Fire - Dopamine, Serotonin - Water, Acetylcholine - Air, GABA - Earth. Understanding this balance allows you to express your gifts, but also find internal balance, and play better with others. In this episode I'll break down the biological basis, self-assessment, and reaching balance...

Our Emotional-Territorial brain evolved to 1) connect as social groups, 2) determine place in the 'dominance hierarchy'. Much of our self-esteem, locus of control, and ability to socialize comes down to the imprinting of the primitive nervous system. This episode covers the evolutionary purposes of the territorial brain, the hierarchal layer of reality, and how to access the virtues of dom...