Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Masonic Mic
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time, Tact, And Tolerance | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:39:44 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! Jim Hopley’s father once told him there were three essentials in life: time, tact and tolerance—and that Jim had none of them. Jim reckons he’s proved him wrong. In this episode, Dan, Reuben and Tony sit down with Jim to explore a Masonic journey spanning more than four decades. From five generations in one lodge to the Royal Arch, Knights Templar, Rose Croix and beyond, his curiosity has taken him through a remarkable range of experiences. Jim shares what those experiences have brought to everyday life: patience with others, the confidence to give people a chance, friendships through difficult times, and knowing when to put family first. He also explains the diplomatic agreement that keeps his lodge expenses and his wife’s musical instruments peacefully out of conversation. A conversation about lifelong learning, service and the continuing work of building your own temple—with a few laughs along the way. | |||
| The Fabric Of Society | 03 Sep 2026 | 00:37:54 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! The Fabric Of Society For nearly 150 years, Ashley Lodge No. 28 has been part of the life of Rangiora and North Canterbury. Then the earthquakes came. Its home in Percival Street was eventually condemned and demolished, leaving the Lodge without a permanent home for more than a decade. In that time, other New Zealand Constitution lodges across North Canterbury closed their doors for good. Ashley kept going. In this special episode of The Masonic Mic, we sit down with Bro. Bernard Fears and Bro. Roger Smith to hear the story of a Lodge that refused to disappear. We talk about the loss of the old building, thirteen years of displacement, the brethren and widows Ashley has continued to care for, and the long search for somewhere to call home again. Then came 15 Coronation Street. An old community hall. A building with character. “The Fabric of Society” painted across it. Checkered floors. Bees. And, as it turned out, a builder who had himself been a member of Ashley Lodge and later served as its Worshipful Master. Now Ashley has the opportunity to return home to Rangiora. But there is still work to do. This episode is about more than renovating a building. It is about identity, continuity, fellowship and what happens when a community loses the place where it gathers. It is also the story of a group of Freemasons determined to make sure Ashley Lodge is not the next name added to the list of those that disappeared. The Fabric Of Society Masonic Frequency on Frequency. Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| What Did We Lose Along the Way? | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:44:50 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! What happens when a young Freemason starts asking whether progress sometimes costs us more than we realise? In this episode of The Masonic Mic, we sit down with Bro. Michael Galloway — mechanical engineer, Junior Warden, full-time father and one of Christchurch SRIA’s newest Zelators. At 32, Michael might seem an unlikely advocate for old traditions. Yet much of what drew him to Freemasonry was precisely its ability to carry ideas, symbolism and human connection forward through generations. And there is a certain poetry in discovering that Michael also happens to work on the development of modern steam engines. From ritual, ancient stories and the effects of an increasingly digital world, to community, responsibility, suffering, truth and what he describes as “a ladder to climb,” this conversation moves well beyond the usual question of what Freemasonry is. Instead, Michael asks something more interesting: What have we gained through progress — and what might we have lost along the way? Thoughtful, occasionally strange and frequently philosophical, this is a conversation about preserving what matters without becoming trapped in the past. And, naturally, about finding somewhere you can ask the "batshit crazy" questions and still get a serious answer. Masonic Frequency on Frequency. Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| More Than One Way to Do the Work | 09 Aug 2026 | 01:04:41 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! How can someone sing in front of 20,000 people… yet still find reading from a page one of his biggest fears? In this episode of The Masonic Mic, we sit down with Bro. Dean “Deano” Johnstone — artist, signwriter, performer, film-industry craftsman and Freemason — for a conversation about creativity, confidence, perseverance and finding your own place within the Craft. From working on major film productions and singing in Las Vegas, to restoring lodge spaces, creating Masonic art and confronting the parts of Freemasonry that don’t come quite so naturally, Deano’s story is a reminder that contribution doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. We talk about the loss of a close friend who helped push him toward following his dreams, what it really means to call yourself an artist, the symbols you begin to notice once you learn how to look, and whether Freemasonry has changed the man behind all of it. Funny, thoughtful and occasionally unexpected — this is a conversation about discovering what you can bring to the work, rather than worrying about whether you fit the mould. Masonic Frequency on Frequency. Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| We Need To Talk About The Good We Do. | 25 Jul 2026 | 00:41:09 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! What do the Royal Navy, the Falklands War, a mysterious black briefcase and a suspiciously productive potato have in common? In this episode, they all lead back to Freemasonry. Dan and Reuben sit down with Worshipful Brother Clive Fletcher, a Royal Navy veteran, marine engineer and three-time Master of Avon Shirley Lodge No. 185. Clive reflects on growing up in a deeply Masonic family, despite nobody being willing to explain where his father kept disappearing to in a dark suit, and on joining his father’s lodge in 1985. The conversation explores the camaraderie Clive found in both naval service and Freemasonry, his move from England to Christchurch, and the remarkable chain of coincidences that led him to Avon Lodge. He also shares candid advice on leadership, preparing for the Master’s chair and knowing when to focus your energy rather than collecting Masonic titles like particularly elaborate Pokémon. Along the way, Clive discusses cancer support, men’s health awareness, community volunteering and the legendary lodge potato-growing challenge. It is a thoughtful, funny and refreshingly honest conversation about brotherhood, service, leadership and finding somewhere you truly belong. Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| An Irish Kiwi Freemason On Charity And Belonging | 27 Jun 2026 | 00:59:10 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! He starts by saying the quiet part out loud: he researched Freemasonry because he believed it was evil. From there, Tony Fallon takes us through the real-world moments that challenged the conspiracy narrative, from visible Masonic charity in New Zealand to the people he met once he actually knocked on the door in Christchurch. If you’ve ever wondered what Freemasons do and why the symbols matter, this is a grounded, human answer from an Irish Kiwi. Masonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| The Rest of the Book | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:24:08 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! You've been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. Now what? For many Brethren, that question arrives sooner than expected. The ceremonies are complete, the excitement settles, and a new curiosity begins to emerge: is there more? In this episode, Bob Wright joins Dan and Reuben to discuss the wider world of Freemasonry beyond the Craft Degrees. From side orders and additional Masonic pathways to the deeper lessons that continue long after the Third Degree, this conversation explores why so many Brethren choose to continue their journey. If you've ever wondered what lies beyond the Third Degree, this episode is for you. The first three degrees may tell an incredible story. But they might not be the whole book. Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| What If Diversity Is Simply Harmonious Inclusion | 21 May 2026 | 01:07:22 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! Progress can be a loaded word in Freemasonry, especially when people confuse it with getting everything perfect. From inside Lodge of Progress No. 22, we talk with the Worshipful Master about why “progress over perfection” is not lowering the bar, it’s choosing a healthier way to grow. That single shift links straight to wellbeing, confidence, and staying engaged in lodge life without the stress of needing to nail everything instantly. Masonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| What Would It Mean To Die Regretted? | 21 May 2026 | 01:06:25 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! Freemasonry gets labelled as secretive or old-fashioned, but the real challenge is far closer to home: can you honestly look at yourself and do better? We’re joined by Graham Martin, a past grand lecturer and long-time Royal Arch Mason, for a grounded conversation about New Zealand Freemasonry that starts with a simple origin story. After losing his father, Graham didn’t wait for an invitation. He went to the library, found a lodge phone number in 1991, and asked to join. That choice sets the tone for everything that follows: no shortcuts, no easy path, just steady work. Masonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| A New Mason’s First Year | 21 May 2026 | 00:57:45 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! Freemasonry gets talked about like it’s either a punchline or a plot twist, but what’s it actually like when you’re the new bloke walking through the door? We sit down with our friend Yotti, a new Fellowcraft in Christchurch, to hear the honest version: what sparked his curiosity, what made him feel “ready”, and why the first year can be both confronting and genuinely uplifting. Masonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||
| From Chennai To Christchurch Through Freemasonry | 21 May 2026 | 00:59:43 | |
Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next! Freemasonry can look mysterious from the outside, but the real story is usually human: family, belonging, and a decision to be useful. We’re joined by Worshipful Brother Arvind Masilamani, an Indian Kiwi who grew up in Chennai and later made Christchurch home, to talk about the moments that shaped his Masonic journey, from watching his father suit up for lodge to finding his own way into the Craft through a trusted connection. Masonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. | |||