25. Mac McGregor │The Gender sensei teaching about the yin & yang of gender norms. A journey of transition after years as a world class female athlete.

Apr 28 2023 • 1 hr 3 mins

In this episode of the Epics podcast, Alex interviews Mac McGregor, also known as the Gender Sensei, who is an activist and public speaker focused on creating a world where people can be their authentic selves. Mac talks about how martial arts impacted his life, his transition, and the importance of looking at gender norms in a new way. He also discusses his book, Positive Masculinity Now, and his self-help workshops for men to develop healthy masculine qualities and overcome toxicity. This conversation is an insightful exploration of how to combat hate and discrimination through understanding and education.

Mac McGregor is the author of Positive Masculinity Now and is known as the Gender Sensei. Before his transition, he was a successful female athlete and inductee to the U.S. Karate Hall of Fame and a business owner. Mac has served as the Seattle City Commissioner from 2011-2016 and acted as a keynote speaker on the subjects of masculine behavior and sexuality. He runs several self-help workshops for men to develop healthy masculine qualities, learn about the queer community, and to overcome toxicity. Mac is a dedicated, heartfelt activist and educator who focuses every part of his existence on creating a world where people can feel free to be their authentic selves.

The listener will learn about Mac's background in martial arts, their personal journey with gender identity, and their work as an activist and educator on topics of diversity, gender, and healthy masculinity. The episode offers insights on how to look at gender norms in a new way, including the importance of re-examining gender biases and stereotypes, challenging traditional gender norms, and embracing differences. Mac also discusses the concept of yin and yang energies and how they relate to gender norms and masculinity.

Timestamps:

[00:01:34] Martial arts as a soulmate. [00:06:05] Positive Masculinity. [00:09:42] Gender neutrality in martial arts. [00:13:02] Rare opportunity in sports. [00:16:11] Transitioning as an athlete. [00:20:23] Women's rights in sports. [00:24:10] Creating change from within. [00:27:38] Gender journey and martial arts. [00:31:56] Men learning from women's experiences. [00:35:48] Gender socialization and beliefs. [00:41:30] Redefining gender norms. [00:43:53] Masculine and feminine energies. [00:50:55] Masculinity and nurturing. [00:53:46] Challenging traditional masculinity norms. [00:55:27] Learning from Different Experiences. [01:00:27] Safe space at conventions. [01:02:54] Don't Miss Our Epic Stories.

I started this podcast because I believe that the foundation of hate and discrimination in our world comes from a lack of understanding of those who are different from ourselves. We plan to combat that by hearing everyone's stories, that we can better understand them, be a part of creating real positive change.

🎙 Show Notes: EpicsPodcast.com/episodes/macmcgregor

Mac’s Links: