Inspire Change SEASON 7-288 Men as Allies Advocating for Gender Equity

 This week on Inspire Change, Gunter is opening up a mindful conversation on men as allies and advocating for gender equity. This not just being an ally to women, but also to other men. Having a sustained commitment. Being an ally means to stand in solidarity with others, especially those facing injustice. This podcast is being an ally toward not just woman but to others. 

Gratitude Sessions: This week we would like to take the time to show our appreciation for the Ukraine.  We acknowledge that your country is going through a tremendous amount, but your people, they keep listening and inspiring change.   The people of the Ukraine have been loyal listeners of Inspire Change since the start; however, within the last 4 seasons we have watched the Ukraine climb from #18 all the way to #8 earning you a CONGRATULATIONS and placing the Ukraine on the Top 10 Global Listeners List.   Since the invasion, the struggle for your freedoms is apparent and the team at Inspire Change with Gunter stand with you and President Zelensky.  We strive to set the example of what it means to be human through positive social change and inspiring human connection.  
Sincere gratitude to everyone in the Ukraine, we appreciate everyone of you and are grateful for your likes, shares, follows and subscribes, but most of all for you continuing to inspire positive social change!   If you want to share your story of social change, please feel free to reach out  to the show directly. See the show-notes for our contact information.


On a side note: Gunter Swoboda and Lorin Josephson's neo-noir/supernatural thriller novel Amulets of Power, Book I A Brian Poole Mystery is officially ON SALE EVERYWHERE you like to get book, but if you want a discount please consider ording direct. ANY LISTENER who order's direct will get a surprise gift. https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=3RoOA6kVQ7ZgmqSK9LdnvNyDAZZFsg9IMaLUaprPgXK

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there in the USA!

The entire team at Inspire Change with Gunter would like to bring attention to our neighbor listeners to the south of us in Mexico!  Particularly all of you in Mexico City for this week's gratitude journey.  Congratulations!!  For the first time you are only 5 spots away from the "Top Ten Global Listeners List" as you made it to #15 .  Thank you/Gracias  to each and every listener.   We appreciate everyone of you and are grateful for your likes, shares, follows and subscribes, but most of all for you continuing to inspire positive social change!

Make sure you LIKE SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW our new Official YouTube Channel of Video Shorts series: https://www.youtube.com/@InspireChangewithGunterSwoboda/videos where we will be adding new videos and content every week from Gunter and our guests.  https://www.youtube.com/@InspireChangewithGunterSwoboda/videos

Gunter Swoboda and Lorin Josephson's new novel Amulets of Power, Book I - A Brian Poole Mystery trilogy.  CHECK OUT the critic's praise:

Editorial Reviews
"Gunter Swoboda and Lorin Josephson's entrée novel weaves you in a deep and captivating story of thematic and impactful visuals of traditions and the obligations that come with it.  The reader will be hooked and ready for the next book in this trilogy." - The Associated Press

"Captivating character development and unforeseen plot twists; the novel guarantees to enthrall readers with its seamless merger of historical depth and contemporary drama, ensuring a riveting and electrifying read." -Publishers Weekly

"Gunter Swoboda and Lorin Josephson's debut novel Amulets of Power blends noir detective with the supernatural; set in London, England." - KTLA News

Visually impactful1" - Australian Post Observer

https://www.amazon.com/Amulets-Power-Book-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0999266861/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3138WSYER8QW7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0xI2jpo4SQUQV36nWY8d4Q.e7_ogc11xe5fR6J7kl3m5EfTJeYBQty35YqdG-eoutY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Amulets+of+Power%2C+Book+I%3A+A+Brian+Poole+Mystery&qid=1745973832&s=books&sprefix=amulets+of+power%2C+book+i+a+brian+poole+mystery%2Cstripbooks%2C171&sr=1-1 (Worldwide free shipping for Prime Members)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amulets-of-power-book-i-gunter-swoboda/1147319115?ean=9780999266861
https://www.booktopia.com.au/amulets

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners, it's good to siboa here with some exciting news.
We're on the lookout for sponsors to join us on
our incredible journey with Inspired Change with Conta. If your
organization cares deeply about meaningful conversations around masculinity, self development,
and mental health, we'd love to partner with you. Our

(00:24):
podcast has a wonderful, dedicated audience committed to personal growth
and positive social change. By sponsoring Inspired Change with Conta,
your brand will connect with listeners who truly value thoughtful
discussion and support initiatives that promote real transformation. We're incredibly

(00:47):
proud to be ranked number one in Australia and number
five in the USA on feed spots top men's mental
health Podcasts. For more information on how to become sponsor,
please reach out to Miranda Spegner sap On, our showrunner
and executive producer. We'd love to explore how we can

(01:09):
work together to inspire change. Now. Thank you for your
continued support, and let's keep inspiring change together.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
You're listening to Inspire Change, the broadcast that strives to educate, motivate,
and empower men to challenge traditions of masculinity to guide
us through the intricacies and intersections of emotions, relationships, and
male identity is renownced psychologists, author and speaker Gunter Swubota.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
This is Inspire Change.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Before I begin the actual podcast, I would like to
respectfully acknowledge the gategor people of the Order Nation, who
are the traditional custodians of the lane on which I work.
I would also like to pay my respects to their elders,
past and Presentlcome everybody to another episode of Inspired Change

(02:03):
with Gunta. I'm your host. Welcome everybody to another episode
of Inspired Change with Gunta. I'm your host. I'm a psychologist,
I'm a speaker, writer, author, and the creator of the
Making Good Men Great framework. This podcast is all about
unpacking the psychology, history, philosophy, and culture behind masculinity and

(02:30):
inviting men and everyone else to come and join me
in the journey of personal growth and social transformation. So
what's today's episode? Well, I titled today's episode as Men
as Allies advocating for gender equity, but I want to

(02:52):
stretch the idea of our ship. It's not just about
being an ally to women, It's also about being an
ally to other men. The work that we embark on
is relational, and it's absolutely and fundamentally necessary. So let's

(03:16):
start with a really simple question, what does it mean
actually to be an ally Now? Allyship isn't just about
saying the right things or reposting the right content on
social media. What it's really about is a sustained commitment

(03:38):
through action, through presence, and most of all, through integrity.
Being an ally means standing in solidarity with others, especially
those who are experiencing injustice and marginalization. Not because it's trendy,

(04:01):
but because it's just, and anyone who follows the news
about today's world will agree that this is fundamentally important.
So I'm talking about being a vocal advocate for gender

(04:22):
equity but also for other forms of equity. And it's
not just when women are present, but especially when those
people who live and are forced to be in an
unequal state, that we're there for them even when they're

(04:46):
not in the room. And for us as men, that
includes being an ally to each other, especially when men
are struggling emotionally men relationally, being an ally to another
man can mean challenging the toxic myths that say real

(05:11):
men don't cry or manner and move on. True, allyship
requires empathy, but more than that, it demands courage, the
courage to interrupt the status quo, and this is essential.

(05:34):
It means being out of step with the current trends.
I grew up in the mid seventies and part of
being outside the current trend was perceiving the Vietnam War
as unjust wanting to preserve our ecology, especially Wales, being

(05:59):
part of the green peace movement, and looking at an
anti nuclear position because ultimately that was what was going
to bring us to the brink. Now. Did I get criticism, absolutely,
But at the same time I was absolutely convinced, even

(06:22):
though I was quite young, that my position was the
right one to take based on many many levels. I
started reading philosophy, I was into spirituality, I was into surfing.
So to me, nature took a very particular and special
place in my life and I didn't want to see
it destroyed. We were watching mining companies, and we still

(06:46):
watch mining companies do inconceivably hostile things to the environment
just for profit. So this is what I mean by
allyship requires and demands courage. We need to challenge the
status quo. Since then, we've had a particularly toxic economic

(07:12):
political ideology take hold of us neoliberalism and you hear
me talk about this all the time. And to put
it bluntly, the neoliberals position only respects the individual amassing
money and assets, profit and dominance and control. This is

(07:38):
an unethical and immoral ideology. So not only do we
need to be women's allies, we need to be allies
for each other for a continued existence, but in a
better ethical place. So where does this all fit in

(08:04):
with patriarchy. Well, patriarchy is simply part of the neoliberal package.
In fact, I argue that the neoliberalism that we deal
with today is simply an extension of patriarchal values, the
sort of traditional masculine norms which doesn't just harm women.

(08:29):
I would argue that it deforms us as men. It
restricts our emotional range, and therefore it isolates us from
meaningful connection, and it frames dominance as a virtue. When

(08:50):
we perpetuate those norms actively or passively, we reinforce a
system that thrives on equality. It is unethical and immoral.
It is an inequality. I want to stress that we
need to pay attention to this. Now. I know some

(09:15):
men hear the word ally and immediately think, doesn't that
mean I have to apologize for being a man? And
my unequivable answer is that no. That's essentially what I'm
saying is this allyship is not self erasure, it's self expression.

(09:39):
It's stepping beyond defensiveness and stepping into responsibility. But that
responsibility includes challenging the environments we're in our workplace, our
sports teams, our peer groups, anywhere where they're sexist jokes

(10:02):
that are passed off as humor, where women's voices are dismissed,
or where emotionally vulnerable people are air in essence punished,
and where emotional vulnerability is actually punished in men, something
that we see frequently now in those moments, silence equals complicity.

(10:31):
So ask yourself, am I showing up for gender equity?
Or am I just not rocking the boat. Let's take
it from theory to practice. Is what real allyship can

(10:52):
look like. Listen more than you speak when women's speak
about the experiences. Believe them. Don't try to fix, minimize,
or defend. Just listen, intervene respectfully. If someone's making a
sexist joke or a comment, you don't have to go nuclear,

(11:16):
A calm Hey, that's not cool, can shift the tone.
Allyship isn't about being the loudest or the most dominant.
It's about being consistent. Share the space. Are you dominating meanings,
interrupting others, amplifying voices that often go unheard. Use your

(11:40):
privilege to elevate, not overshadow. Now here's a really important
one model vulnerability with other men. Go ahead, break the
cycle of silent suffering. Say I'm struggling too, or I've

(12:01):
been thinking about how I was raised to see women
and I'm unlearning some of that. Be the one to
open the door and finally educate yourself and others. Allyship
isn't about expecting others to do the labor forore you.

(12:24):
How about you read something that's becoming scarce these days unfortunately, listen, reflect,
and then share what you've learned, especially with other men.
Now here's the other side of the coin. If we

(12:48):
only talk about being allies to women, we risk ignoring
the silent epidemic among men, which is loneliness, shame, depression,
and suicide. Being an ally means calling out sexism and
calling in struggling men. It means checking in with a

(13:10):
mate is gone quiet. It means making space for men
to talk about the abuse they've experienced, yes, even at
the hands of other men. It means checking in with
a mate who's struggling, either because he's been abandoned in
a relationship or he's had to leave. So ultimately, it

(13:36):
means creating a culture where boys grow up knowing that
they can be nurtured. We're being kind isn't soft or girly,
and we're being strong doesn't mean being silent Allyshipped to
men and allyship to women are not opposites. They're intertwined.

(14:00):
It's about caring, respecting, and working with each other. Because ultimately,
the same system that says men must dominate also says
they must suppress their feelings. The same system that silence
as women also shames men for showing vulnerability. When we

(14:27):
dismantle one, we free both. And it's a simple trick.
So where do we begin? As I've said, we begin
by choosing to show up again and again and again
and again and again. Not perfectly, there is no such thing,

(14:49):
but consistently, not performatively. It's not a stage play. We
need to be sincere in this.

Speaker 4 (15:01):
Now.

Speaker 1 (15:02):
It usually starts small, a conversation with your son about respect,
an apology when you realize you interrupted someone, a moment
of honesty with a friend, a refusal to laugh at

(15:23):
that joke. Now, these moments ripple out and as always
I'll say this, being an ally is a process. We'll
get it wrong sometimes, will be challenged. But the question
is will we stay in the room, will we keep learning,

(15:44):
unlearning and doing better again? It's a relational activity, it's reflexive.
Now personally I believe we can do this. So on
the final light, thank you for joining me again on
inspire change with gunto Now, if this episode's resonated, if

(16:07):
you share it with someone who's doing the work, or
someone who might need a gentle nudge. And remember, allyship
isn't a title, it's a practice, it's work, its behavior,
it's an attitude, and it's not about being the hero,
it's about being human together. So until next time, stay compassionates,

(16:30):
stay curious, and has always keep striving to make good
men great.

Speaker 4 (16:35):
Hello. This week, we would like to take the time
to show our appreciation for the Ukraine. We acknowledge that
your country is going through a tremendous amount, but your people,
they keep listening and inspiring change. The people of the
Ukraine have been loyal listeners have inspired change since the start. However,
within the last four seasons we have watched the Ukraine

(16:59):
climb from number eighteen all the way to number eight,
earning you a congratulations and placing the Ukraine on the
top ten global listeners list. Since the invasion, the struggle
for your freedoms is apparent and the team it inspire change.
With Gunter stand with you and President Zelensky, we strive

(17:21):
to set the example of what it means to be
human through positive social change and inspiring human connection. Sincere
gratitude to everyone in the Ukraine. We appreciate every one
of you and are grateful for your likes, shares, follows
and subscribes, but most of all for you continuing to

(17:43):
inspire positive social change. If you want to share your
story of social change, please feel free to reach out
to the show directly. See the show notes for our
contact information.

Speaker 1 (17:55):
Love to hear from you, and if you're interested, please
check out my work on www. Dot Gonta, Swaboda dot
com or www Dot Goodman Grade dot com.

Speaker 3 (18:12):
Thank you for listening to Inspire Change. A broadcast this
for us to educate, motivate, and empower men to challenge
traditions of masculinity. For more information on the making Good
Men Great movement, or for individual or group coaching fenterships
with Gunter, visit goodmangrade dot com