In The Business of Healthy Masculinity Avoiding regrets at the end of life with John Engle
Hi there,
How are you doing? I am finding it oddly refreshing!
Whilst there is much harm and damage unfolding, the mask of supremacy culture is well and truly ripped off with the unravelling of the interconnections between Epstein, the business and political elites, and even the Israeli government/Mossad. What seems to have been sold as conspiracy seems more and more like conspira-fact!! How are you following and interpreting world event sat this time, I’d love to hear from you.
However back to what YOU and I can control, another week, and another incredible conversation is coming your way as above/below :)
I am humbled to introduce you to a truly incredible human in John Engle, who joins me on episode #17 of In The Business of Healthy Masculinity:
John Engle is a social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader. He is a recipient of WorldBlu’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work advancing democratic practice and freedom-centered leadership. For more than three decades, John has been deeply engaged in Haiti, where he serves as a co-founder of Haiti Partners in the U.S. and The Children’s Academy and Learning Center in Haiti, serving over 500 PreK through high school students and led by an all-woman leadership team.
John’s journey has been shaped by early lessons in usefulness, responsibility, and service, values he continues to explore through his writing, coaching, and speaking. He is currently working on a teaching memoir that weaves together personal stories, leadership reflections, and questions of legacy in a rapidly changing world.
John has been contracted by organizations such as the World Bank and USAID to facilitate large-group meetings and conferences using the Open Space method. In addition to serving as Haiti Partners’ Co-Director, John is in the process of becoming a certified life coach, with a focus on helping individuals and organizations grow deeper meaning, purpose, and connection, and the courage to act on what matters most.
You can reach/follow John via the following means:
Substack - https://substack.com/@englejohn
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnengle/
Email - john@johnengle.com
As well as in this substack, you can also find this conversation on the following platforms:
* Apple
* Spotify
* YouTube
A reminder that this conversation is sponsored by the amazing space holder Hannah Litt. If you would value 1-1 or team safe spaces, do reach out to her at hannah@hannahlitt.com, or click the image below:
The impact of women in leadership
“The role of women in my work and in leadership in the work that I’ve been involved with Haiti has been absolutely essential in terms of having a positive impact. So for me, there are so many qualities that are more aligned with feminine that are so essential for us.” - John Engle
There is little I can add to this potent statement by John.
How does his reflections land with you, in your heart as well as head? Do share with us in the comments below.
Yet I will add that when I look at my global personal learning network, I have observed a pattern over the past decade that easily 70% + of the leaders, activists, challengers of the status quo, and creatives that I interact with are women.
I often reflect on why that may be, and one hypothesis I hold is that the system is designed for folx that look like me to stay comfortable and to never need to challenge and rebel.
To what extent would you challenge, agree, or build on my personal reflections?
John’s ultimate question
“There’s this question that has been that has stayed with me for forty five years and has shaped my life and that is how do we live and ultimately die well” - John Engle
Have you ever reflected upon a question like this before? Please let us know in the comments.
I have found it fascinating reading Bronnie Ware’s ‘5 regrets of The Dying,’ which gives me some insight into answering this question, but I am blown away that John has sat with this question for four and half decades.
After having my near-death experience getting testicular cancer in 2020, I do feel able to feel into John’s question, and the 5 regrets, yet how differently could the world could look and feel if we started with how do we design life and systems to help us ALL live and die well?
The time is now!
“The stakes are higher than ever for humanity with nuclear, with climate change. There’s just so many different things, with AI and the ability to concentrate power. This is when we have to change.” - John Engle
John’s insight is so critically important here. I myself still work within the chemicals / multinational environment and I can assure you that those with power are not joining the dots that John is joining here - whether due to wilful blindness and/or ignorance.
The sponsor of this platform, Hannah Litt (she/her), often says we have to re-imagine and build new systems and ways of being based on mutual exchange, not relying on a central power base, and this is becoming increasingly clear to me.
What are you thinking and what are your thoughts with regards to these intersections and interconnections? What are you seeing and seeing as possibilities that can help us co-create healthier and more just? Please do share in the comments.
The (embodied) power of healthy masculinity
“When money and power are taken off the table, leadership has to be rooted in humility, stewardship, and purpose. And that’s the power. That’s the power of healthy masculinity. Where it creates space for this.” - John Engle
This statement from John really encapsulates a) the seed through which this platform emerged and b) the piercing clarity that we already have within us what we need to reimagine and co-create better, healthier, and more just.
Humility, stewardship, and purpose are not gendered. They are wholly possible for every single one of us, however we identify, and THAT is powerful.
A common pattern throughout the first 17 episodes of this platform has been the importance of consciously balancing our masculine and feminine energies.
The unhealthy masculine side of power-over, domination, and control, with a myopic focus on financial returns is that which tends to get rewarded today, combined with the healthy feminine of care, listening, and co-creation, generally, being oppressed, devalued, and suppressed.
It is SO the time for us to reclaim our self worth and agency and we can ALL do that from the inside-out of ourselves, and whilst in community.
Until next time
We hope that you join us in this exploration, and please do feed back and share with your networks if you are getting value.
Finally, if any of the above questions have ignited curiosity within you,I am here if you are looking for a 1-1 Thinking Partner that can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, I have found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best.
If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity and the goodness that brings, at home and at work, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk.
Episode #18 of the podcast will be published next Mon 16th Feb 2026 with Entrepreneur and business disruptor Tim Sutton.
Here is a clip to whet your appetite in advance:
I am always interested in your reflections, challenges, and anything else that piques your curiosity with these updates.
Until next time, take care and have as good a week ahead as possible,
Garry Turner
garry.turner@radicality.co.uk
+44 7928 979358
Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe