What is a Rite of Passage?

About What is a Rite of Passage?

Hello and welcome to 'What is a Rite of Passage' a podcast dedicated to the exploration, awareness and proliferation of contemporary initiation in our modern culture. I'm your host, Dame Smith. I come with a background as a builder, a martial artist, a father and a practitioner of teenager and adult mens initiation. Join me and my guests as we explore the many 'hero's journeys' that men, women, boys and girls take as we all experience ourselves on this planet.

Publisher

Damien Smith

Category

religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

20 Mar 2026

Latest episode

6 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Sept 2026

   My Still Place

   This week we welcome back Billy Hill to talk about 'My Still Place' which is a body of work built around Billy's extensive experience in Personal Growth, Process work, Therapeutic modalities and a shit tonne of mistakes in service to humanity. True to form, this conversation bolts out of the gate.. Billy is charged with the opportunity to convey the efficacy of 'My Still Place' technology, crash landing into the call dysregulated AF! The level of vulnerability and coherence modelled from there is one of the reasons I regard Billy as the most impactful teacher on my journey to self discovery right now! Details for My Still Place training are as follows ONLINE Tuesdays 29 Sep to 27 Oct · 7.30–9pm on Zoom IN PERSON Fri 30 Oct to Sun 1 Nov Yoga Room, Pachamama House, Hamilton NSW $750 full program · $600 MKP members · $300 returning · Couple discounts https://mystillplace.com/ (https://mystillplace.com/) To register https://forms.gle/JqkdtsnNkWTsgBMs5 (https://forms.gle/JqkdtsnNkWTsgBMs5) Contact / Enquiries Chris Roach: +61 438 262 552 Gavin Banks: +61 425 302 260

2. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Chad

   Hello and welcome back. This weeks guest is Chad Taylor, A clinical Psychotherapist, an author and a seeker. Chad's book, 'It's You Oh Fuck It's Me' was a masterclass in taking responsibility for myself and even with all the personal work I've done in the past, it woke me up to how much I blame and want others to change before I can live the life I want. Chad is honest and truthful and it was nice to share that space with him.. https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Its-You-Oh-Fuck-Its-ME-Audiobook/B0GQ1JPNLD (https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Its-You-Oh-Fuck-Its-ME-Audiobook/B0GQ1JPNLD) https://chadtaylorpsychotherapy.com.au/book-sales (https://chadtaylorpsychotherapy.com.au/book-sales)

3. 

   26 Aug 2026

   Steve Hill

   Welcome, It's my pleasure to introduce Steve 'Crow' Hill. Steve is one of the most impactful leaders I know. A skydiver, A Clinical Psychotherapist, A Full leader in the Mankind Project and Co-Founder of Primal Intelligence, educators in therapeutic coaching and facilitation. This episode is also an opportunity to promote a Teenage Rite of Passage experience that Steve and myself are a part of October 2026 on Gumbaynggirr country near Bellingen, NSW. https://forms.gle/wWMxdqJXEGCshYaG6 (https://forms.gle/wWMxdqJXEGCshYaG6) https://tinyurl.com/J2M-Bello (https://tinyurl.com/J2M-Bello) https://coffsskydivers.com.au/ (https://coffsskydivers.com.au/) https://www.primalintelligence.com.au/ (https://www.primalintelligence.com.au/)

4. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Frase

   Welcome back! This weeks guest slash host is Paul Fraser. Frase is the Bugleman for MKP Australia. After listening to all previous episodes, Frase offered to host me through a reflection to capture what I've noticed so far in this process. For the first time ever on this podcast, I'm the person doing most of the speaking as I recollect and allocate parts of the experience to and from my psyche. This was a gift for me and a blessing from an elder whom I respect greatly. It's a longer episode than usual, feel free to use it as background ambiance or to put the baby to sleep. Frase has a beautiful voice. It was a vulnerable experience for me and it feels right to experience sitting on the other side of the desk!

5. 

   9 Jul 2026

   Miki

   Welcome. This weeks guest is Miki Dedijer. Miki joins us from the Sweden where it's currently daylight all day! After multiple attempts to record, we landed on a beautiful conversation which shed additional light on our understanding of teenage Rites of Passage from the whole family perspective. In addition I'll be hosting a free webinar with Miki at 5pm Eastern Australia Time 18th July. Come along for a deeper understanding of what Miki offers as a year long family Rite of Passage. Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.se/e/grassroots-rite-of-passage-masterclass-for-parents-of-boys-tickets-1993763559477?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true (https://www.eventbrite.se/e/grassroots-rite-of-passage-masterclass-for-parents-of-boys-tickets-1993763559477?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true) website: mikidedijer.com (http://mikidedijer.com) alternative understanding of iron john: https://themythicmasculine.substack.com/p/61-an-animist-retelling-of-iron-john (https://themythicmasculine.substack.com/p/61-an-animist-retelling-of-iron-john) martin shaw substack mentioning iron john: https://martinshaw.substack.com/p/what-to-do-with-the-wild-man (https://martinshaw.substack.com/p/what-to-do-with-the-wild-man)

6. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Mark

   Welcome back! This week we have a gift for Castlemaine Rites of Passage by way of a meandering historical account of the Australian Men's Work scene with Mark MacDougall. Marks energy has been a driving force for our organisation and he has been a mentor to me. For those seeking to know more about mark and the Sydney Men's Festival. Tune in! For information about Castlemaine Rites of Passage, click here https://castlemainerop.org/ (https://castlemainerop.org/)

7. 

   16 Jun 2026

   Leslie

   Welcome! This weeks guest is Brad Leslie. Brad is the founder of YMAW (Young Men's Adventure Weekend) in Vancouver and Kingmakers, a network of men committed to Rites of Passage and the next generation of men. Brad is a craftsman and a musician who brings his best to that and those he loves. https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-boy-crisis-warren-farrell/book/9781948836135.html (https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-boy-crisis-warren-farrell/book/9781948836135.html) https://www.ymaw.com/the-weekend/ (https://www.ymaw.com/the-weekend/)

8. 

   4 Jun 2026

   Garry

   Welcome! This weeks guest is Garry Thomson. Garry was a COO of the Pathways foundation, building and delivering their facilitator training programs. He is an educator, an artist and a loving father. I've decided that this guy is about as congruent as it gets.. Garry was also the founder of Uplifting Australia, now an online resource that helps 1500 families per week to communicate, connect and understand each other better.

9. 

   30 May 2026

   Pete Lustig

   Welcome! Our guest today is Pete Lustig. Pete is a lawyer who has been around mens work for quite a while. I first met him in the Mankind Project. He was also involved in Pathways for 7 years. Pete has just returned from a 12 month sailing race on a 70ft yacht, circumnavigating the globe.. I tried to be clever here track Pete's adventure through the principals of the hero's journey. Hmm 🤨 What came out of it was some beautiful relational tales of ex wife's, siblings and trauma healing.. Oh we did get to a few sailing yarns too. Below are a few links.. Find Penguins will get you to Pete's blog and there's a link to MKP if you want to check out an amazing, deep and life changing adult Rite of Passage experience. Here's an open link to Find Penguins: https://findpenguins.com/1kp5ustcjuylf/trip/68761047358396-00212159?s=fa64ad5cf42b2a01303878dfba17708e336a7352 (https://findpenguins.com/1kp5ustcjuylf/trip/68761047358396-00212159?s=fa64ad5cf42b2a01303878dfba17708e336a7352) https://www.mankindproject.org.au/ (https://www.mankindproject.org.au/)

10. 

    23 May 2026

    Garrett

    Welcome back! I love this conversation.. It felt like talking to parts of myself. Garrett is the founder of Rocky Mountain Rites. Today we discuss how he got there and also how his context has shifted to taking a year off. We discuss 'the cost' of this work and who pays it.. We also get pretty deep into how awesome it is and what we get out of it. This conversation was a motivating force for this podcast. I'm grateful and excited to bring this project to life!

11. 

    18 May 2026

    Joel

    Hi there! Welcome back. It's been a little while. I've had a some teething issues with the project that I needed to address.. The type of things that could be expected when a guy with no idea how to make a podcast throws himself into it anyway! We've also just completes a Rite of Passage camp and as we discuss in this episode.. Its energetically expensive! My guest today is Joel Hines. I've known Joel for over 10 years.. since before we were both in this work. Since then Joel has been involved at a professional level creating R.o.P programs for schools and working as a facilitator with Rites of Passage Institute in Byron Bay. Joel is extremely articulate in conversation about this subject. We meet fairly regularly to share our feelings for this work. It's a huge pleasure to share one of these chats with you. www.joelhines.au (http://www.joelhines.au) (http://www.joelhines.au/ (http://www.joelhines.au/)) https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-hines-22a1121b/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-hines-22a1121b/) https://www.instagram.com/beinghumanau/ (https://www.instagram.com/beinghumanau/)

12. 

    20 Apr 2026

    Andrea V

    It is my pleasure to welcome Andrea Villa to the podcast. Andrea brings a unique and invaluable perspective to the question. He reminds us of the critical role that love plays in initiation and in the process of the teenager in preparation to their Rite of Passage. Please check out his website https://www.thesacredmale.com/ (https://www.thesacredmale.com/) Also check out his conversation with Ian MacKenzie from a few years back https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-mythic-masculine/id1487709630?i=1000651901129 (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-mythic-masculine/id1487709630?i=1000651901129)

13. 

    10 Apr 2026

    Ian L

    Our guest today is the pioneering founder of Castlemaine Rites of Passage. Ian is a creative thinker and an authentic advocate for community and culture. Ian throws down a few breadcrumbs to trace back to Kangaroo Island Rites of Passage and he's given me a few contacts there so look out, I hope to get in conversation with those giants soon too!

14. 

    3 Apr 2026

    Moggie

    Hi there and welcome. Todays guest is my friend Moggie who is fresh back from a 3 day Rite of Passage for teenage girls. A few days after this was recorded, I had the pleasure of singing her and a flock of mothers, sisters and teenage young women off on their journey. In this interview, Moggie talks about her preparation for this event and her journey in the work. It is a great honour to have the female perspective in this conversation.. She's the first but by no means the last! Enjoy.

15. 

    30 Mar 2026

    Peter

    Hi, Welcome back! Today's guest is Peter Glencross, A leader in MKP and a practitioner of Teen rites of passage for some 30 years. Peter's approach to the work is ceremonial and grounded in the enquiry of listening to participants rather than instructing. A short note from the host... there were some unprecedented Sync issues which took some editing.. My apologies for any remaining glitches in flow or feeling. Please enjoy! 🔥

16. 

    29 Mar 2026

    Scott

    Today's guest is Scott Hallam. Scott is a builder, a practitioner of ceremony and he as been involved in ManKind Project for 20 years. Scott shares insights from his years in Men's work and building sites and how he made his own maps for fatherhood and mentorship.

17. 

    28 Mar 2026

    Camilo

    Hi and welcome! This is about the 4th edit of the first interview for the podcast. My guest today is Camilo Demarco. Cam is a good friend of mine and we have shared the Rites of Passage space for 10 years together. In this episode we discuss how relevant Rites of Passage is in todays culture, we discuss masculinity and some of the challenges men face. We also discuss the courage and integrity that's possible when men are held accountable by men. I hope you enjoy the conversation!

18. 

    21 Mar 2026

    Billy

    Hi, Welcome back to the question. My guest today is Billy Hill. I'm pleased to say that we really get into the meat and potatoes of how and why this ceremonial process is so important. Billy has 30 years of experience in Rites of Passage with teenagers and also men with the Mankind Project. I really love this guys style.

19. 

    20 Mar 2026

    Ruben

    My Guest today is Ruben Cahill. Ruben is a very good friend of mine who brings a unique perspective to the question through his own healing journey and his years of experience in Rites of Passage processes.

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