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Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask

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unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students175. The Most Popular Girl in School (solo episode with Ashanti Branch)In this solo episode, Ashanti Branch tells the story of his encounter with the most popular girl in school… A story about emotions, class, wealth, status, bullying, family structures, and what we need to provide for our young people as educators. Then, he looks ahead at what’s in store for the Ever Forward Club in 2024.  --- (0:00) Ashanti introduces the episode and his story about the most popular girl in school. (13:10) Ashanti reflects on the story and applies it to the work he and the Ever Forward Club do in schools, advocating for more...
2024-01-1030 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students173. The Difference Between Self-Love and Self-Compassion - with Diego Estrada, Alegrador de Vidas / Brightener of Lives - Monterrey, Mėxico (RE-Release)“I knew that if I wanted to control the outcome before someone was about to make fun of me, or judge, or criticize; it was better for me to be the first one to make a joke about myself.” - Diego Estrada Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 143, with Diego Estrada. Enjoy! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Diego Estrada. Born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mėxico, Diego currently speaks at conferences and delivers workshops on authenticity. Diego lists his job title as an Alegrador de Vidas; the clos...
2024-01-0241 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students158. Yoga, and Finding Your Essence - with Rondy Isaac, Yoga Instructor, Life Coach“I often greet people with a smile, no matter how I’m feeling. I’ve always wanted folks to feel comfortable engaging with me. No matter how I feel I want them to feel comfortable, like I’m approachable.” - Rondy Isaac Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Rondy Isaac. Rondy is a father of two, the Wellness Program Director for Create The Space, and a Yoga Instructor, certified in Vinyasa yoga teacher training, power yoga teacher training, psychotherapeutic yoga teacher training, and trauma-based yoga training with the Art of Yoga Project. Rondy would consider the...
2023-09-1347 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students154.The Key to Public Speaking - with Gerry Sandusky, Speaker, Consultant, and Voice of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens“I’ve always been, quietly, a fearful kid growing up. And there’s always that fear in the background. It probably wasn’t until I was in college - fear was the only form of motivation that I knew.” - Gerry Sandusky Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gerry Sandusky. Gerry is the voice of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, and he’s a broadcaster and communications coach. As Gerry puts it, “I show leaders how to become presenters people cancel plans to hear.” And, wouldn’t you know it, Gerry believes that the key to being a great pub...
2023-08-1635 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students153. Where Schools Are, and Where Schools Need to Be - Three Year Anniversary Special“I became trained to feel that I always need to be doing something. To get loved. To get respect. To be appreciated. When I look back, it wasn’t healthy. But it was the reality.” - Ashanti Branch In this solo episode of Taking Off The Mask, Ashanti Branch looks at the past, present, and future - of schools, of himself, and of the Ever Forward Club as it approaches its 20th anniversary. (0:00) Ashanti introduces the episode and the concept behind this podcast. (5:15) Ashanti reflects on where the Ever Forward Club and this podcas...
2023-08-0930 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students152. How to Form Genuine Connections with Students - with Donovan Hall, Youth Empowerment Advocate, Educator, Coach“Sometimes I just want someone to sit with me and say, ‘I know you’re scared.’ And I never had that when I was a kid, and I don’t have it now.” - Donovan Hall It’s our THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY episode and this conversation is a SPECIAL ONE! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donovan Hall. As a youth empowerment and development advocate, Donovan is currently speaking, coaching, creating content, and working on creating his first docuseries about youth in America. Donovan, with his teaching persona Donofriend, is a natural talent with kids and in the class...
2023-08-021h 17unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students150. How to Un-learn Grind Culture - with Saed Hill, Psychologist, Speaker, Connector, Mentor“We’re different adults, this is a different situation, and you don’t have to be that child anymore. You can be, for that child, what you needed when you were their age. And we can do that now. And we can do that differently. That’s how healing happens.” - Saed Hill Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Saed Hill. Saed is a Counseling Psychologist, and the Assistant Director of Prevention and Masculine Engagement at the Center for Awareness, Response, and Education (CARE) at Northwestern University. There, he develops and implements strategies to improve masc...
2023-07-1953 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students147. What Whiteness Takes Away from White People - with David Dean, Political Educator, Speaker, & Writer“Racism has been used as this tool for centuries to divide and conquer, and to separate ordinary people of different colors, and to keep them from working together to challenge the corporate domination of working people and the planet.” - David Dean Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by David Dean. David is a political educator, speaker, and writer dedicated to supporting white people to engage in multiracial social movements with emotional strength, political clarity, and fierce purpose. Whether it’s in the hallways of Oakland Public Schools or the neighborhoods of working-class Americans, Ashanti and Davi...
2023-06-2854 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE143. The Difference Between Self-Love and Self-Compassion - with Diego Estrada, Alegrador de Vidas / Brightener of Lives - Monterrey, Mėxico“I knew that if I wanted to control the outcome before someone was about to make fun of me, or judge, or criticize; it was better for me to be the first one to make a joke about myself.” - Diego Estrada Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Diego Estrada. Born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mėxico, Diego currently speaks at conferences and delivers workshops on authenticity. Diego lists his job title as an Alegrador de Vidas; the closest translation to English is a “Brightener of Lives”. He loves to connect with people...
2023-05-3141 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE137. On Shame, Terrors, and Beauty - with David Bedrick, Teacher & Writer“I’m not trying to glorify suffering. If people can find ways of suffering less, I think that’s a really great thing. But I also find some beauty in - if we all sat around and talked about how terrified we were, I would rather be in that group than a bunch of groups who think they’ve healed it all.” - David Bedrick Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by David Bedrick. David is the founder of the Santa Fe Institute for Shame-Based Studies where he teaches therapists, coaches, and healers from around the world. ...
2023-04-1959 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE134. Fathers, Sons, and Bullies - with Paul Newell, Educator, Facilitator, & Author“This is how you can communicate. This is how you can express. This is what tough can be. You being able to speak your truth about what’s happening is tough and courageous. Most people would just keep it to themselves.” - Paul Newell Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Paul Newell. Paul is a Men’s Health and Well-Being Teacher intent on co-creating a heart-full culture of men by guiding himself and other men to vibrate authentically in body, mind, and spirit. He facilitates personal development and empowerment courses for men to support them in en...
2023-03-291h 08unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE132. Warrior Compassion - with Sean Harvey, Chief Compassion Officer, TEDx Speaker, Author, & Interfaith Minister“As men, it’s often our terminal uniqueness that we think we’re the only one struggling with ‘x’ and so we’re not going to bother or burden anyone else with this thing because it’s so minuscule. Yet it’s actually so powerful in ways that it can derail us.” - Sean Harvey Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Sean Harvey. The Chief Compassion Officer of Warrior Compassion Men's Studio, Sean is also a TEDx Speaker, Author, and Interfaith Minister whose book, “Warrior Compassion:  A Man's Quest for Deeper Connection”, offers a roadmap for men's healing...
2023-03-151h 17unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE129. Embrace The Suck - with Ross Leppala, Coach, Guide, SpeakerHelp is available. We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Dial 988. “There is nothing comfortable about powerlifting. I have an ability to embrace the discomfort. I have an ability to embrace the suck. Now I just have to also apply that to outside of the gym. There’s gonna be moments of discomfort, so I have to embrace those. And when I can embrace those moments of discomfort, I le...
2023-02-2253 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE124. I Wish My Dad… - with Romal Tune, Author & Social Impact Entrepreneur, Atlanta, GA“The journey I'm on is trying to unpack my story in a way to find out who I am without my trauma. And what does life look like and how is it lived if I stop living through the lens of my trauma and the things that have been challenging for me, and really focus on purpose.” Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Romal Tune. Romal is a father, author, social impact Entrepreneur, and VP of Strategic Partnerships at TMS Global. Along with his main purpose - to help people heal their stories - Romal...
2023-01-1858 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE123. It Takes Trust - with Wenceslao S., High School Student, Speaker, Musician from San Francisco, CAEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Wenceslao S. Wenceslao is a high school student based in San Francisco, CA, and an aspiring musician and car racing aficionado. Wenceslao is also Ever Forward Club’s new Youth Host! Signing up for duties as the new host is a big deal for Wenceslao, someone who struggles with social anxiety. In this conversation, Ashanti and Wenceslao discuss what it took for him to take this role, while both looking to the future and looking back on how far Wenceslao has come. (7:50) Wenceslao is introduced as the Ever Forw...
2023-01-1144 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE122. Oakland to Mexico, and Back Again - with Ashanti BranchThis December, Ashanti went on his (somewhat) annual trip to Mexico. In this podcast, Ashanti reflects on the trip, spreading the Million Mask Movement, and returning to the Bay Area for a New Year’s Eve celebration filled with juxtapositions… (1:40) Ashanti recaps his trip to Mexico City and explorations with Rohit Tigga and Rodrigo. Then, he looks ahead at what’s in store for the Ever Forward Club this coming year. (8:30) Ashanti tells the story of his trip back to the Bay Area and attending London Breed’s New Year’s Eve party. After the party, he...
2023-01-0438 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE121. Let’s Be Weak, Brothas - with Phillip Tyler, Community Advocate“I was 50 years old when my son took his life. At that point in my life, I was in the best shape I’ve ever been. Bench 400 pounds, squat 550, deadlift 550, but I wasn’t strong enough to save a life.” - Phillip Tyler Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Phillip Tyler. Phillip is many things, including an Air Force Veteran, former Corrections Lieutenant, and a former Vice President and President of the Spokane NAACP. But Phillip boils it all down to being a community advocate, and most importantly a loss survivor and passionate suicide prevention...
2022-12-2857 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE120. If You Miss Somebody, Call ‘Em - with Zeke Crawford, Professional Basketball Player based in Lausanne, Switzerland“Something my mom always says - and she makes it seem so simple - is, ‘If you miss somebody, call them.’ We have no excuse not to communicate with the people that we want to talk to.” - Zeke Crawford Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Zeke Crawford. Zeke is from San Francisco, California, and Zeke and Ashanti first connected when Ashanti held a workshop at Zeke’s Stuart Hall High School. Currently a professional basketball player based in Lausanne, Switzerland, Zeke loves to try new foods, explore new places, meditate, and watch anime. Internationa...
2022-12-2150 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE118. If These Walls Could Talk - with André Portela, Young Educator, Eternal Learner, & Student based in São Paulo, Brazil“I started to be selfish because I didn’t want to be hurt… Even how someone’s day was… If it didn’t matter to me, then I would not give it attention. This is awful. This is awful… Walls that I put around myself to block myself from being hurt… When you start to do this, you start to be alone.” - André Portela Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by André Portela. 20 years old and from Fortaleza, Ceará, André now lives in São Paulo, Brazil. He is set to graduate with a degree in Educomunicação...
2022-12-071h 09unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE117. Everything And Everyone All At Once - with Gidai Maaza, Speaker, LMFT“We all create this idea that we’re OTHER, rather than, ‘our experiences may be other, but, actually, our emotions are identical.’” - Gidai Maaza Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gidai Maaza. Gidai is a son, father, husband, and community member. Having survived the refugee camp experience with his mother by way of Ethiopia in the early 80s, Gidai turned his trauma into awareness and insight that inform how he views people's pain. Now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, we’re excited for you to see how Gidai has reimagined the mask analogy into a...
2022-11-3058 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE116. White Allyship - with Jason Biehl, Antiracist Educator, History Teacher, & Writer“White folks need to realize that something’s been done to us - that we’re raced. Like, we’re not actually white… We were Polish, we were German, we were Irish. We’ve lost that ethnicity we’ve lost that culture, and our legacy is taking it from other folks, right? I still have work to do on exploring my own family… We actually have more ability to research our people and find them, and yet we still don’t do the work. Why is that? ‘Cause we’re afraid of what we’re gonna find.” - Jason Biehl Ever Forward...
2022-11-231h 00unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE115. Modern Day Straitjackets - with Dax-Devlon Ross, Author, Equity Strategist, Speaker, and Social Entrepreneur“One of my deep beliefs and convictions is that we live in a society where people are hyper-focused on getting their point across and having their point of view heard and seen. And therefore they do not develop the muscle and/or ability to provide people the same space and latitude that they want for themselves. So I’ve taken it upon myself to be someone who stands in that gap, who sits in that gap, who holds the tension of [that gap].” - Dax-Devlon Ross Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dax-Devlon Ross. Dax is t...
2022-11-1656 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE114. Mama’s Boys and Traffic Cones - with Jim Young, Coach, Author, Comedian, & Speaker“It’s like having orange street cones there. You see ‘em. You know they’re there, but you can blow past them and it’s not going to stop you. That was my story ten years ago... I had to say it’s not about some external circumstance. It’s about what am I choosing.” - Jim Young, on chasing self-worth through work Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jim Young. In addition to being a wildflower collector that loves working in his garden, Jim is a men's burnout coach, an improv comedian, an author, a speaker...
2022-11-0955 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE112. Living in Truth and Honesty - with Marcelo Peterlini, Educator, Programing Director - Latin American Leadership Academy“I’ve been seeking truth in life more and more. For such a long time, I felt like my truth wasn’t accepted in spaces or whenever I even tried to speak truth that was denied, in a sense. And for me, it has been a liberation of really being able to just live in truth and honesty - of what really matters to me and my own feelings and internal life.” - Marcelo Peterlini Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Marcelo Peterlini. Marcelo is from São Paulo, Brazil, and is currently working as the Prog...
2022-10-2656 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE111. Call Me Man - with Man Le, Husband, Father, Nurse, & EFC AlumnusE111. Call Me Man - with Man Le, Husband, Father, Nurse, & EFC Alumnus “If I walk into a room, they’re gonna feel it. They’re gonna feel my positivity. I’m trying to smile as much as possible, especially with the job that I’m doing. I got to be able to - regardless of what the situation is - show a smile, be positive. You run into some tough situations with the job I’m in. So, I just got to do my best to show the positivity, to light up the room somehow.” - Man Le ...
2022-10-1945 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE108. Boulders and Mentors - with Marcus L. Strother, President & CEO of Mentor California“The great positive stuff comes to you, and it’s like a nice little charm you can put in your pocket. But, when somebody comes down on you, it’s like a boulder that just sits on your shoulder. And it’s like, why’d I let that be the thing? Why can’t that be the charm where I’m like, ‘Alright yeah it’s there, but I got all this positivity. And I’m going to surround myself in that.’” - Marcus L. Strother Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Marcus L. Strother. As President and...
2022-09-281h 16unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE107. Convergence: The Death Ceremony - with Ashanti Branch“I need to take a look at myself in the mirror, and accept exactly who I am right now, on the journey of being who I really want to be.” In the coastal forests of Oregon, there is a mirror hammered onto what remains of an old tree. Framing the mirror are the bones of a bull that has long passed. And, in this special episode of Taking Off The Mask, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch shares what he said to the mirror, to himself, a year ago during Convergence 6 - an event held by Sacred Sons.
2022-09-2125 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE101. People Pleasers - with Newton Cheng, Director of Health + Performance at Google, World Champion Powerlifter“I’m a people pleaser. For good reasons - because I want to take care of others - and then bad reasons - because I think I am seeking love and acceptance, and so I will give beyond what I should in order to get that. At some point I start to get weary, I get overwhelmed. I start to get resentful, where I’m like, ‘okay, I’ve given a lot. Everyone, can you please back off me?’ But I don’t have the skills to lay down that boundary.” - Newton Cheng Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch i...
2022-08-1058 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE100. Ever Forward: Then and Now - with Eduardo Canche, Engineer & Ever Forward Club Founding Member“I didn’t have much support from my folks at home. I was the first one to go to high school here in the United States. It was, like, uncertainty on what my next step was. And so, going to your class during lunch time, kind of helped me forget about that and just be confident in who I am.” - Eduardo Canche, on his relationship with Ashanti Branch It’s Episode 100! And Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Eduardo Canche. Now an engineer, Eduardo was a founding member of the Ever Forward Club - 18 years...
2022-08-0346 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE99. Finding His Voice - Johnathan P., Student & EFC Intern“I was doing really good in school, but, self-esteem, self-confidence, all that, I didn’t work on that. I worked on just schoolwork. I wasn’t focused on working on myself.” - Johnathan P. Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Johnathan P. Johnathan has known Ashanti for quite some time. As a 7th grader, Johnathan was one of the first interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social Emotional Leadership Academy. Now, he’s a sophomore in high school and, to quote Ashanti, “he’s grown into an incredible young man.” Ashanti used to always tell Johnatha...
2022-07-2758 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE98. The Next Generation of India - with Prranav Reddy, Student from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India“There are so many decisions that are to be made for students [in India] at this point in time - about their college, about which course they want to take in their high school… on how we good maintain rapport with our friend, on how to move forward with a relationship, and all the things like that… we just don’t have to jump into conclusions. We have to give things time. Everything around us is just in a hustling and bustling mode.” - Prranav Reddy Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Prranav Reddy. A self-descr...
2022-07-2049 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE96. Engaging 21st Century Students - with Dr. Tim Daponte, Science Educator“I’m a teacher, I have two masters, I have my doctorate. My father would always call me ‘stupid stupid…’ The only good piece of advice he ever gave me was ‘you don’t have much of a brain so you might as well learn how to use your hands’… I always felt that, even though I have all these diplomas on the wall, I’m just faking it. And, some day, someone’s going to pull back the curtain.” - Dr. Tim Daponte Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Tim Daponte. Dr. Daponte, or Tim, has been...
2022-07-0654 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE95. Tu David Phu (re-release) - “Just You, Your Paddle, and the Water”“If anything, you’re on a journey. And if you want to use a metaphor of a kayak in a river, don’t worry about who’s looking on the shores. It’s just you and your paddle and the water.” - Tu David Phu Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Tu David Phu. Tu is a renowned chef. You may recognize him from Bravo’s television show, “Top Chef”, or write-ups from the San Francisco Chronicle, or his documentary that aired on PBS, “Bloodline.” Tu boils life down to “living and loving righteously”. And he does this through fil...
2022-06-291h 02unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE93. A Writer Walks into a Speaker… - with Jason Rogers, LA-Based Writer, Olympic Medalist in Fencing“Public speaking has always made me very very nervous, on a neurological level. So there’s a part of me that feels safe when I’m writing because I can spend a really long time working through one sentence. And also I can make sure that it’s padded by all of the caveats…” - Jason Rogers Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Rogers. Jason is an Olympic medalist in fencing and a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine. As an Olympic medalist, he spent most of his life conforming to unhealthy expectations of...
2022-06-1556 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE89. Real Superheroes Go To Therapy - with Nicholas Domingo, Author & Creator - Captain Encouragement, Happy Hive Studios & Productions“I’ve kind of worn the front of the mask so much that it’s become attached… Even when I’m with myself, like, the ability to take it off has basically been diminished… It doesn’t help that one of my titles is Captain Encouragement. ‘Wait, you’re going through depression? Wait aren’t you Captain Encouragement?’” - Nicholas Domingo Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nicholas Domingo. Nicholas is the creator and Executive Director of Captain Encouragement, a superhero (yes) and organization that promotes children’s wellness. He also runs Happy Hive Studios, which helped create...
2022-05-181h 12unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE87. The Divine Masculine And Feminine - with John Okhiulu, Creative Community Organizer & Healer“In this society today, in this culture today that we live in… You have to have it all figured out before you can talk about it, or before you can speak on it. And we forget the school of life, we forget that we’re constantly learning and evolving. And so you might need to express yourself to be able to receive that feedback and get those answers and be able to move and shake…” - John Okhiulu Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by John Okhiulu. A recent Stanford graduate, with degrees in African & African Amer...
2022-05-041h 06unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE86. You Can Laugh Or You Can Cry - with Arturo Aviña, Theatre Teacher & Content Creator“It’s been a very challenging time and my way of coping with this adversity has been through humor. I think a lot of people have been using humor as a coping mechanism because it’s a hard time, and you need to be able to laugh about it or see the absurdity in it.” - Arturo Aviña Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Arturo Aviña. As a Los Angeles-based theatre teacher, Arturo found his calling within education by first experimenting with incorporating film and theatre into his lessons. Now, he also uses his ski...
2022-04-2755 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE85. Youth, Heard - with Ashanti Branch“I don’t come to education as just a teacher. I come to education as a teacher, as an administrator, as a former really bad student, as a former really good student, as a community person, as a man in a body that I identify with - but knew how hard it was to be my full self at school.” - Ashanti Branch In this special episode of Taking Off The Mask, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch reflects on the organization’s trip to Austin, Texas, to attend South by Southwest. Also, while on the trip, he receive...
2022-04-2033 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE83. Young People, Deep Connections - with Mohandas D., High School Student & EFC Youth Host“Why do I want this? Why do I react like that? Why do I do this? I think that’s something that more people need to be asking themselves. I think that people need to explore themselves a bit more, understand why they do what they do.” - Mohandas D. Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mohandas D. This week’s episode will feel a little bit different. Mohandas is a High School student, and he will soon be hosting conversations on behalf of the Ever Forward Club - on the EFC’s social media and po...
2022-04-0649 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE82. A Tree with Onion Roots - with Leo Mercer, Creative, Thought Leader, & Raptivist“I was raised in a violent environment, so, as much as I want to be positive, it’s just satisfying to do some of that petty stuff. As much as I don’t want to, as much as I’m like, ‘I can’t- that’s ratchet- whoo wham,’ like, that’s me. That’s how I grew up... There is a lot of pressure to be a positive person.” Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Leo Mercer. As an Oakland native, Leo has been running creative campaigns and executing community organizing work in Oakland since 2009. Leo...
2022-03-301h 00unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE81. An Ally, A Better Man, A Better Person - with Ray Arata, Founder - Better Man Conference; Author, Coach, & Facilitator“For people like myself, who have a lot of privilege, I try to become aware of other people’s experiences. And then I can make a conscious choice: ‘How do I want people to experience me? What choices can I make to level the playing field?’ And the only way that that really works is when I take off my mask.” - Ray Arata Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ray Arata. Ray is the author of SHOWING UP: How Men Can Become Effective Allies in the Workplace. He’s also a coach, master facilitator, a...
2022-03-2347 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE78. Better Boys, Better Men - with Andrew Reiner, Author, Father, Professor, & Speaker“It literally starts when [boys] come out of the womb, before they’ve even got their language. Because they’re already being talked to by their parents… in ways that they didn’t ask for… What they’re being told, what they’re not being told, are both equally powerful.” - Andrew Reiner Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Andrew Reiner. Andrew has written about contemporary and healthy masculinity extensively for the New York Times, and he published the book "Better Boys, Better Men" in 2020. Then, it came to be that the path to publishing this book...
2022-03-0256 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE77. Emotional Sobriety - with Ceasar F. Barajas, Wellness Mentor, Performer, & Activist“What I’m most proud of is… I realized after my divorce that I needed some help, and so I found therapy - 11-plus years ago. So I like to share with people that I’ve been emotionally sober for 11 years. And with all sobriety you’ve got waves to ride, and sometimes the wave crashes you into a shore. [But] sometimes you ride it - and you’re in this place where you get to step onto the shore. Because the board carried you” - Ceasar F. Barajas Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ceasar F. Bar...
2022-02-231h 08unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE76. Coming of Age - with Preston Lee, Filmmaker & Senior at Marin Catholic High School“I’ve just gone through this process of realizing who I am, what I want to be interested in, and not having to really care about the inputs that other people have on things that I enjoy doing… I love to dress how the way I dress now - I don’t care if I get a look here or there. I love talking about the subject of mental health. I love being friends with people that genuinely care about me - and not just friends with them because they have status… In my past self, I was extremely self-consc...
2022-02-1656 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE75. The Spectrum of Aliveness - with Shems Heartwell, Life & Relationship Guide“I think of it as simply more ‘spectrum of aliveness’…  What happens is if our spectrum of aliveness is narrow because we’re not feeling much - we feel numb, we don’t have sexual energy on tap, we don’t feel joy - it’s usually because there’s some stuff that’s bottled up in us that’s taking up bandwidth or real estate in our system.” - Shems Heartwell. Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shems Heartwell. As a Life and Relationship Guide, Shems has been honing his craft for 20 years. And what’s resulted is a un...
2022-02-0954 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE74. Prioritizing Resonance in Schools - with Roni Habib, Speaker & Founder of EQ Schools“It turns out the fastest way to experience resonance is through laughter… One of the things that I show in my workshops with teachers is let’s invest in moments of resonance, invest in moments of play… These games put us in a mindful state right away, in a state where we’re aware of the other person. And so right away it’s an entry point into joy, positive emotions, and awareness - and attunement with other people.” - Roni Habib Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Roni Habib. As the founder of EQ Schools, Roni...
2022-02-021h 00unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE73. One Heartbeat at a Time - with Zev Grossman, Student at Montana State University“I can’t change the fact that I’m vulnerable and that I’m open. Like, as much as I want to act all tough and stuff and throw up more masks, I can’t. And so even if me being more sensitive and just, like, soft is preventing me from making some connections - whether they be deep connections or surface connections - it’s more important to me to be who I am than it is to change who I am for other people.” - Zev Grossman Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Zev Grossman...
2022-01-2651 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE72. The Soul That Lives Within - with Devan Sandiford, Writer, Storyteller, & Workshop Facilitator“First time we ever had this conversation, we talked for three and a half hours. First time I heard about my uncle's life, first time I heard about the actual incident of his death, first time I’ve seen my mom cry in my entire life - really powerful moment. And that all came not from me being a hero, not from me being fine, but me just being honest… And, as a result of admitting I was not in a good place, it actually led me to some deep connections that I had been missing.” - Devan Sandiford Ev...
2022-01-1954 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE71. Achieving Structured Love - with Louka Parry, Education Futurist & Social Entrepreneur“When I’m careful it’s also making myself slightly smaller… The care is around approval and not upsetting anyone. When, really, the greatest contribution we can make is just being more of ourselves. Because when we do that, we’re not clenching, we’re not competing, we’re just serving and contributing.” - Louka Parry Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Louka Parry. As a learning strategist, education futurist, and social entrepreneur, Louka allows his insatiable curiosity to lead the charge as he helps schools and organizations adapt for the future. A school principal at age 2...
2022-01-1258 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE70. Sticks and Stones - with Ashanti Branch (SPECIAL EPISODE)“I cannot be shackled by words. Whatever caused that man to believe that that was the words that he needed to use against me, I can’t stop him from believing that. But I cannot let him have power over me by making me react how he thinks I should react. That’s the freedom that I’m going to have. That’s the freedom that I’m taking back.” In this special first episode of 2022, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch reflects on a racist incident that occurred over one year ago. 0:44 Ashanti’s introduction. ...
2022-01-0532 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE68. J Meast - on Old School Men, and Keeping an Open Mind“Keep an open mind… When people come through with advice or some good game, listen to it. Listen. You ain’t gotta do it or live by it but listen. Keep an open mind. I wish I would’ve kept an open mind when I was younger. I didn’t have no open mind; I did not care; I was on my own thing, and bumped my head so many times.” - J Meast Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by J Meast. As a rapper based in Bend, Oregon, by way of North Oakland, California, J...
2021-12-2238 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE65. Welcome to the MAN Park - with Noam Raucher, Rabbi, Coach, & Teacher“We need safe spaces in which guys can drop into that boyhood, that kicking the ball, or throwing the ball, or goofing around and roughhousing with each other or telling jokes, whatever it is… Because being in those moments and acting that way, I believe, takes us back to a boyhood element of ourselves, which at some point was beaten out of us… ‘That’s immature. What you’re doing, you can’t be doing. Stop!’ What that does though is it cuts us off from the bridge that takes us to those other places of vulnerability where we really do need t...
2021-12-0157 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE64. The Hitman in All of Us - with Devon Gaster, Violence Prevention Advocate“In the very early stages of the work, we name our ‘Hitman’, our violent side, our abusive side - words that describe how we become when we become abusive. And mine is ‘The Justified, Vengeful, Equalizer.’ He’s mean; he gets revenge - if you mess with me, I’m going to mess with you, I’m going to hurt you. And I get biblical… That hitman side of me has gotten me into a lot of trouble.” - Devon Gaster Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Devon Gaster. As the co-founder and Executive Director of Men Creati...
2021-11-241h 07unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE63. Steering Clear of the Safe Route - with Chioke Allen-Alvarez, Social Media Analyst & Assistant“The safe route… It’s just a life without risks. Really, to me, what it sounds like is a life without pursuing..” - Chioke Allen-Alvarez Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chioke Allen-Alvarez. Chioke is a sophomore at San Francisco State University, on a journey to find his purpose in life. He is also responsible for most of the Ever Forward Club’s social media pages, and right now he is creating a Youtube channel focused on fitness. At the time of the recording of this episode, Chioke was embracing his desire to take risks and li...
2021-11-1756 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE62. Breaking the Cycle - with Chris Harrigfeld, Custom Car Builder, Father, Brother, & Humanitarian“Hard-working is definitely in my DNA. I learned that from my mom and my dad growing up. My dad always seemed like the hardest working guy that I knew, but that’s a double-edged sword, that’s really a double-edged sword. When I don’t want to be present, in certain situations with people, family, friends, I bury myself in work. And I guess that’s a way of hiding and running from what’s really going on in front of me. And that has been the biggest struggle for me - to slow down and stop burying myself into work.”...
2021-11-1048 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE61. Tu David Phu - “Just You, Your Paddle, and the Water”“If anything, you’re on a journey. And if you want to use a metaphor of a kayak in a river, don’t worry about who’s looking on the shores. It’s just you and your paddle and the water.” - Tu David Phu Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Tu David Phu. Tu is a renowned chef. You may recognize him from Bravo’s television show, “Top Chef”, or write-ups from the San Francisco Chronicle, or his documentary that aired on PBS, “Bloodline.” Tu boils life down to “living and loving righteously”. And he does this through fil...
2021-11-031h 02unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE60. Embracing Tension and Dissonance - with Jonathan Santiago, Marketer & Creator“It’s never going to be perfect. That balance will never be perfect. I go back to the idea of tension and dissonance. It’s always going to kind of be this see-saw process. But, you know, that’s just life. That’s how I think life is.” - Jonathan Santiago Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jonathan Santiago. Jonathan is a former sports journalist turned content marketer, and in 2016 he started traveling the world. While visiting more than 30 countries since he started this journey, Jonathan also spent time reflecting on his upbringing as a son of immig...
2021-10-271h 01unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE58. Go Farther Together - with George Hofstetter, Founder and CEO of GHTech Inc.“We’re just trying to be able to support and cultivate the strongest community that we can, especially of our loved ones - All that conditioning, where it’s like, we got to do it by ourselves? Nah. ‘You want to go farther, go together. If you want to go fast, go alone.’ But fast is never the right decision. I don’t think it’s ever the right decision.” - George Hofstetter Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by George Hofstetter. For many, the first things that come to mind with George are his many accomplishmen...
2021-10-1348 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE57. “Eat Bitter” - with Joshua Gao, High School Student, Co-Founder & CEO at SAFE“I used to approach life with this mindset, this mentality, that I’m trying to get to this one end goal. I’m trying to get to this final destination - of where I want to be able to make a change in this world and do all these things... I’m willing to take on some pain right now so I can see fruits in the future - which is true, but the danger of that mindset is you don’t live in the moment and you don’t enjoy even the mundane things.” - Joshua Gao Ever Forward...
2021-10-0655 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE56. Greetings from Perú! - with Gustavo Heredia, Founder of Edulimitless, and Graduate of the Latin American Leadership Academy“This is about willingness. If you’re willing to share what’s happening in your life, everything is going to be fine. But if I have to remember [for] myself, a couple years ago, I wouldn’t do that. Because I didn’t feel prepared at the time.” - Gustavo Heredia Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gustavo Heredia, whose full name is Luis Gustavo Heredia Vasquez. As a gap year student, Gustavo is dedicated to volunteering for NGOs and developing the social project, Edulimitless, which he founded. Also interning for Enseña Perú, Gustavo is a bus...
2021-09-2951 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE55. Getting off the “Hedonic Treadmill” - with Chip Conley, Hospitality Entrepreneur & New York Times Bestselling Author“For me, being more vulnerable made me more of a visionary. I really do believe that. It allowed me to move beyond the past and to see the future.” - Chip Conley Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chip Conley. Chip is a man that has disrupted the hospitality industry twice in his lifetime - once as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, and again as a key strategic advisor during Airbnb’s rise. What does it take to build two industry-transforming businesses, all while being a New York Times Bestselling Author? While taking o...
2021-09-2249 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE54. What parts of yourself does your heart long to reunite with? - with Didier Sylvain, Life and Leadership Coach“I come from a worldview, a belief, an assumption that all people are inherently whole and resourced to give all their gifts and greatest contributions to the world. So for some of us, our fires might be dormant for a variety of reasons, but it’s not that there’s no fire. Everyone has fire.” Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Didier Sylvain. As a life and leadership coach, Didier coaches individuals and groups, helping them become fuller versions of themselves. Both Didier and Ashanti’s work is motivated by a belief that a better futur...
2021-09-1557 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE52. Same Things, Different Masks - with Will Tidwell, Founder of Speak Up Zee“The reason I speak with such passion and love when I’m creating is because I’m the one dealing with a lot of those the things that I’m telling you about... Somebody is going through the exact same thing, it just has a different face on it. It has a different mask on it.” - Will Tidwell Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Will Tidwell of Speak Up Zee. Often referred to as the “Neighborhood Hero”, Will is a multi-talented poet, writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and organizer of community outreach. Among many things, Ash...
2021-09-0144 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE51. Bicycles and "Harm Reduction" - with Antonio Chavez, Courier & Founder of Lost Soul Courier CollectiveEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Antonio Chavez. Recently, Antonio was harassed by a man in Pacific Heights. He recorded a video of the situation, and it went viral. More important than the incident itself, Antonio considers what it means with respect to fatherhood, education, trust, masculinity, and his community. As the founder of Lost Soul Courier Collective, Antonio delivers Narcan, a medicine essential in fighting the opioid epidemic and saving lives. He also organizes community bike rides, which function as his form of community "harm reduction". Enjoy the show! 1:50 Ashanti’s introduction. 5...
2021-08-251h 01unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE50. The One Year Anniversary Episode - with Ryan Louie, Filmmaker and Producer of Taking Off The MaskEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ryan Louie. Ryan is the producer behind this very podcast, so it felt very fitting to have him as the guest in this one-year anniversary episode. Ashanti and Ryan follow the same format that makes this podcast what it is; they share the front and back of their respective masks and let the conversation go where it needs to be. Along the way they discuss legacy, setting boundaries, standing up for something, and what a year’s worth of podcasting has taught them. 4:40 Ashanti’s introduction. 10:30 Ashant...
2021-08-111h 22unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE47. Normalcy Comes from Transparency - with José Quintero, Radio HostEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by José Quintero. José is a Mexican American man, working as a radio host for CALI 93.9, a Spanish reggaeton station in Los Ángeles. Ashanti and José share their excitement over the changing landscape in men’s vulnerability, the many ways to define success, and the similar ground they walk as survivors. Enjoy the episode! (1:55) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:55) José introduces himself and how he found his passion - hosting a podcast and hosting Spanish radio in Los Angeles. Then, they spend time appreciating those who are leading the way for mor...
2021-07-2155 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE46. Windows into our Personalities - with Spencer Atkinson, Career Coach and Experiential EducatorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Spencer Atkinson. Spencer is a Career Coach and Experiential Educator, helping students at UC Davis navigate university life and find fulfilling careers. In this conversation, Ashanti and Spencer find a connection looking back on their careers as veteran educators. They even overlapped as collaborators at Stanford University. We hope you enjoy hearing Spencer’s dedication to the well-being of our youth come through your speakers. (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction. (8:10) Spencer introduces himself, his career in education over the years, how he and Ashanti overlapped at Stanford University throug...
2021-07-141h 15unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE45. The Future of Masculinity - with Christian Lopez, Vulnerable ManEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Christian Lopez. As a former pro athlete, Christian has done the difficult work of rediscovering himself in order to understand what he can offer the world without the label of “pro athlete” hanging over him. When asked what he would like to be listed as his title or job title when we promote the podcast, he simply responded, “Vulnerable Man.” We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation with Christian, and learn what it takes to rediscover your identity and write the future of your own masculinity. (1:21) Ashanti's introducti...
2021-07-071h 03unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE44. The Opposite of Addiction is Community - with Samir Zakir, Entrepreneur & ActivistEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Samir Zakir. As an entrepreneur and activist, he has founded companies like Illuminate Entertainment Group and MediaBuzz Global. He and Ashanti both share a desire to have a positive impact on culture and mental health. They share their masks and discuss how their understanding of mental health and wellness has improved over the years. (1:30) Ashanti's introduction. (4:30) Samir introduces himself and his work as an activist and media entrepreneur. Ashanti familiarizes Samir with “the mask” and the work surrounding it. (9:30) Ashanti shares the front of his ma...
2021-06-301h 05unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE43. Moving at the Speed of Trust - with Malcolm Dydo, Director & Co-Founder, Freedom Within ProjectEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Malcolm Dydo, the Director and Co-Founder of Freedom Within Project. In this conversation, Ashanti’s passion for working with youth is equaled by Malcolm’s drive to create environments that allow the incarcerated population to heal. Recorded on the eve of Father’s Day weekend, Malcolm holds space for Ashanti as he shares his perspective on the holiday. (1:55) Ashanti's introduction. (6:42) Malcolm introduces himself, his work supporting the incarcerated population, and his belief in the collective’s ability to heal. (11:48) Malcolm shares the front of his mask...
2021-06-231h 03unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE41. Free Our Own Minds - with Donté Clark, PoetEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donté Clark. After watching and being moved by Donté’s poetry, Ashanti invited him on the podcast. What follows is a conversation about compassion, emancipation, and overcoming the “400-year head start” that the Black community has been up against for generations. (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:30) Donté introduces himself, his work, his interest, and his attitude as a lifelong learner. (7:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working, caring. Donté shares the front of his mask - smiling, positive, quiet, thoughtful, talking/singing to self.
2021-06-091h 04unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE40. Planting the Seeds of Success - with Victor Manuel de la Mora Patiño, Architect Designer and Construction CoordinatorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Victor Manuel de la Mora Patiño. Victor is an alumni of the Ever Forward Club, and, in addition to sharing their masks and reflecting on old times, Victor fills Ashanti with immense pride as he tells Ashanti how he is applying the mentoring principles he has learned from the Ever Forward Club. As the CEO of his own architecture firm, Victor uses his experience with the Ever Forward Club to mentor the next generation of young people in Mexico. (1:36) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:35) Victor introduces himself, his p...
2021-06-0257 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE39. Try Everything and Pray for the Best - with Leo L., High School Student & Gaming EnthusiastEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Leo L., a high school sophomore living in San Francisco, CA. In his first podcast appearance, Leo shares what it is like being an introvert - specifically an introvert that has adopted a "no regrets" philosophy. Ultimately, Leo's courage, to have such a public and vulnerable discussion with Ashanti, leads to a heartwarming discussion about self-discovery. (1:02) Ashanti’s introduction (4:20) Leo introduces himself, his origins, his interests, and his love of gaming. Ashanti shares how he and Leo connected. (7:15) Ashanti and Leo make their masks toge...
2021-05-2655 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE37. The Little Characters Inside Our Heads - with Niroj Bhandari, Health Researcher, Entrepreneur, DoctorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Niroj Bhandari. Niroj is based in Nepal, and his non-profit work focuses on strengthening access to health for low and middle income countries. Ashanti and Niroj discuss “gloominess”, providing structures to express and discuss negative emotions healthily, and how accurate the movie Inside Out really is. (00:57) Ashanti's introduction. (5:40) Niroj introduces himself and how he and Ashanti know each other, and Ashanti congratulates Niroj for completing medical school. (9:57) Ashanti and Niroj make their masks together. (13:42) Niroj shares the front of his mask - peacef...
2021-05-121h 00unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE36. Joe Hawley - on Fear, Leadership, and Life after the NFLEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Joe Hawley. Joe is determined to help professional athletes find their purpose after leaving the game that they love. After 8 seasons in the NFL, Joe retired in 2017, donated his belongings, bought a van, and traveled the US for nearly two years. Ashanti and Joe discuss what’s on the back of Joe’s mask; what Joe learned on the road; the importance of trust, courage and boundaries; and why fear is a guiding post to freedom. (1:44) Ashanti’s introduction. (6:00) Joe shares his background as a former NFL play...
2021-05-0548 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE35. How can we shoulder trauma and emotional burdens as a community? - with Kevin Romero, Scholar & College StudentEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kevin Romero. Kevin is a young college student with an emotional wisdom that goes beyond his years. After sharing their masks, Ashanti and Kevin engage in a deep, philosophical discussion on emotional burdens - how much should the individual be responsible for handling their own emotions, and what is the role of the individual’s peers, significant other, family, and friends in this emotional burden? (3:55) After finishing setting a brand new podcast website with the help of Ashanti, Kevin shares why he wants to inspire others. (6:40) Asha...
2021-04-281h 13unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE34. Turtles Live Longer than Rabbits - with Earl Crawford Jr., Educational LeaderEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Earl Crawford Jr. Earl is a director and principal of multiple programs that serve at-risk youth. He views himself as a “servant leader”, but prefers to leave out the word “leader.” Ashanti and Earl work in the same field. But beyond discussing the world of education, they take off their masks and explore their fears, their family relationships, and how life can be summed up with a tortoise and a hare. (1:29) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:30) Earl introduces himself and his work, and Ashanti shares how they have overlapped i...
2021-04-2140 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE33. Speaking Up for Yourself - with Luis Canseco, Domestic Violence Prevention EducatorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Luis Canseco. Luis speaks with both youth and adults about domestic violence prevention, and he believes that early prevention and vulnerability are the keys to reducing violence and building a better world. Ashanti and Luis connect over their love of Oaxaca, and discuss how experiences being bullied as children shaped them and their future work advocating for social justice. (1:48) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:27) Luis introduces himself, his work, his beliefs on how to achieve a healthier sense of masculinity in our society, and his ties to Oaxaca.
2021-04-1451 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE32. Updates and Good News - with Ashanti Branch and Sam R.Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch gives some updates and news around the EFC. He then shares the story of an Ever Forward Club member and student leader, Sam R. Here are some updates: (1:47) An Ever Forward Club student and Ashanti are appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show, on April 7, 2021, at 3 pm PST. Learn how you can watch the program on NBC or online. (3:46) Alameda High School submitted 1,850 new masks, during a school wide Taking Off The Mask workshop, led by student leadership. Ashanti shares what the experience was like. (6:18) Learn ho...
2021-04-0726 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE31. Removing the Stigma of Loneliness - with Adam Smiley Poswolsky, Keynote Speaker & Author: Friendship in the Age of LonelinessEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. Adam is a person full of empathy, and his desire to build understanding for the common good comes across in this conversation. As a millennial workplace expert, his goal is to foster a sense of belonging in the digital age. Currently he is de-stigmatizing loneliness in his newest book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness.” (1:45) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:30) Smiley introduces himself and his work as an author and millennial workplace expert. Then he and Ashanti reflect on how their work and their relationship has evol...
2021-03-3146 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE30. Adam Roa - on Faith, Doubt, and the Magic of LifeEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Roa. Adam is a renowned artist, poet, and coach. Beyond his millions of YouTube views, Adam is known for being radically vulnerable and open with his emotions. In this conversation, Adam and Ashanti discuss fulfillment, discovering the "magic" of life, and how a giving people the right emotional tools can change perspectives and lead to healthier, happier lifestyles. (1:42) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:55) Adam introduces himself and his purpose in life. (10:25) Ashanti and Adam recall how they met. And Adam shares how he came up with...
2021-03-2454 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE29. When a Wound Becomes a Scar - with Keita Demming, Director of Innovation and Development, The Covenant GroupEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Keita Demming. In addition to his work with The Covenant Group, Keita is interested in how our society can have better conversations. Keita's grandmother passed away recently before the recording of this podcast, and Ashanti lost his grandmother a year ago, so the men bond and reflect on where their emotions have taken them during the grieving process. (1:36) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:05) Keita introduces himself, his work, and why he believes why doing small things exceptionally well is the best way to have a big impact. (9...
2021-03-1736 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE27. Something Worth Fighting For - with Thomas Sage Pedersen, CEO, Mentor, and Podcast HostEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Thomas Sage Pedersen. Thomas hosts the podcast Speak For Change, works as CEO of the award winning music school Everyone's Music School, serves on the Steering Committee for Santa Cruz County’s Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, and is a Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer. Thomas and Ashanti share their masks, and their conversation centers mostly around Parker Palmer’s idea of a “Critical Gap” that exists between one’s own world as it is, and one’s own world as he/she wants it to be. (1:36) Ashanti’s intr...
2021-03-0355 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE24. Overcoming food addiction and setting high standards - with Chuck Herñañdez, Founder, Aqua Duck EnterprisesEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Charles Luis Herñañdez, or “Chuck”. Among many things, Chuck is “a man on a mission to lose 300 lbs”. In this conversation, Ashanti and Chuck discuss how each man has gained purpose and inspiration from their friendship. (1:20) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:05) Chuck introduces himself, the origins of his nickname, his family, his work in education, as well as his passion for projects in music and video. They reflect on how a chance meeting with Ashanti at a conference has grown into a friendship. (10:42) Chuck talks briefly...
2021-02-1058 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE22. The Cultivation of Relaxation - with Dan Doty, Men’s CoachEverforward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dan Doty. Dan has done it all, from writing, to meditation teaching, to men's coaching, to wilderness exploring, to podcasting, to filmmaking... Ashanti's relationship with Dan includes an appearance on Dan's podcast, as well as a retreat into Joshua Tree with Evryman. In this conversation, Dan and Ashanti explore the fronts and backs of their masks, and they reflect on what it means to break the "rules" of masculinity, and whether there are any rules to begin with. (1:54) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:25) Dan introduces himself, his background, and the...
2021-01-2736 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE21. Still Swimmin’ - with Big Bruh, host of the podcast "Live with Big Bruh"Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Big Bruh. Big Bruh is a family man, and the host of the podcast Live with Big Bruh. Ashanti and Big Bruh find common ground over hard work, experiences with grief and loss, and conquering the urge to numb pain with distraction instead of confronting pain with honesty and vulnerability. (1:02) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:07) Big Bruh introduces himself. He talks about his family and what it’s like to record and host a podcast in a car, with his wife. (9:00) Ashanti shares the front of his ma...
2021-01-2048 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE20. Leveraging Self-Awareness - with Jordon Hodges, EFC Alumnus and HR CoordinatorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jordon Hodges. Jordon is an alumnus of the Ever Forward Club, a former student of Ashanti at San Lorenzo High School, and a UC Irvine graduate, who now works and lives in Orange County, California. The two men discuss how one's expression of anger can change over the course of one's life, and they look back on their experiences at San Lorenzo High School from the perspectives of identity and emotional intelligence. (1:15) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:45) Jordan introduces himself - an Oakland native, a father, the first blac...
2021-01-1347 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE18. Kindred Spirits (re-release): A Conversation with Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male AchievementEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever specifically naming the activity, happening through free-flowing conversation, story, and reflection. (1:38) Ashanti introduces the podcast. (4:11) Shawn and Ashanti reflect on the mantra of the season, the current state of affairs, the tu...
2020-12-301h 10unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE17. A Moment of Transparency - with Mike Veny, Keynote Speaker and AuthorThis week Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Veny. Mike is a keynote speaker, who usually speaks on mental health topics, and is an author of multiple books, including Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero. (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:33) Mike shares his background with Ashanti, including his speaking experience, his own struggles with mental health, and the mission of his company. Ashanti then relates to Mike’s story with his experiences as a Vice Principal and with the Million Mask Movement. (12:30) Ashanti and Mike make their masks together. (16:37) Ashanti shar...
2020-12-2348 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE16. Special Episode: An Appearance on CNN Takes on a Whole New MeaningOn November 29th, 2020, Ashanti appeared on “Lost Boys,” an episode of Lisa Ling’s nationally televised CNN Program, This Is Life. The episode took on a whole new meaning when things were revealed that he was not yet ready to share with his mother, who was watching the program as it aired live. (0:10) In Ashanti’s introduction he gives context for the special episode, leading up to a story he is going to tell about when he was 8 years old. (3:50) Ashanti begins his story, about a tragic event that happened when he was 8 years old, and how...
2020-12-1636 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE15. The Best Risk You Can Take: Looking Inwards - with Justin Odom, High School Senior and FilmmakerEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Justin Odom. Justin is a talented filmmaker and senior at Encinal High School. (1:25) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:00) We learn about how Justin and Ashanti met, and about Justin’s background, his work as a filmmaker, and how he is bringing the Million Mask Movement to his high school. (5:45) Justin talks about the first time he made a mask during his freshman year. Ashanti celebrates how, three years later, Justin is now entering a leadership role. (8:55) Ashanti and Justin make their masks together. (11...
2020-12-0959 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE14. A New Work of Art - with Nana Oduro Frimpong, Artist, Photographer, 2020 Adobe Rising StarEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nana Oduro Frimpong, a renowned artist, and photographer based in Ghana. Frimpong was recently named a 2020 Adobe Rising Star of photography.  (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction.  (3:55) Frimpong introduces himself and the journey that led him to art.  (5:20) Ashanti and Frimpong go back to the moment when Frimpong fell in love with photography and how it started while sitting under a tree, taking photos, at a time when he was deferring his college education to help his mother financially.  (11:10) The men prepare to share their masks, a...
2020-12-0240 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE13. The Conqueror Narrative - with Chris Ategeka, Entrepreneur, Engineer, and Founder of UCOTEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chris Ategeka, an entrepreneur, engineer, curator of TEDx Oakland, and the Founder/CEO of UCOT (Unintended Consequences of Technology). (1:25) Ashanti’s Introduction. (4:07) Chris introduces himself - an entrepreneur, engineer, father, and Ugandan. Chris and Ashanti share how they met and have gotten to know each other. (6:00) Chris and Ashanti make their masks together, and share thoughts throughout the process. (11:55) Chris shares the front of his mask - funny, resilient, and hard-working - before Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, seri...
2020-11-2553 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE11. Awakening Your Higher Self - with Khiari Allen-Infante, Ever Forward Club MemberEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Khiari Allen-Infante, a high school senior, Ever Forward Club member, and graduate of EFC’s social-emotional leadership academy. (3:00) Ashanti’s introduction (6:10) Ashanti welcomes Khiari and introduces Khiari’s role with Ever Forward Club and the podcast. (7:10) Khiari and Ashanti make their masks together. (12:15) Khiari shares more about himself, an Alameda High School senior, who has lived all over the Bay Area in his lifetime. (13:45) Ashanti and Khiari connect over how they both initially grew up in single-mother households, and both had expe...
2020-11-111h 00unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE9. Confronting The Voice in the Basement - with Mark Greene, Keynote Speaker and AuthorEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mark Green, keynote speaker and author of the books The Little #MeToo Book for Men and Remaking Manhood. (3:11) Mark shares information about his publishing house, ThinkPlay Partners, NYC. (5:48) We learn about how starting a blog on masculinity 12 years ago, and stepping outside the traditional rules of masculinity led Mark to the work he does today as an author, work that is closely tied to Ashanti’s work around masks. (12:45) Mark and Ashanti reflect on how they both found their calling: Mark came...
2020-10-281h 02unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE7. What does true leadership look like? Being fully known, with Pastor and Youth Leader, Spencer RomeroEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by pastor, youth leader, and cyber security business operator Spencer Romero. Spencer is not a stranger to the mask-making process, as Ashanti and Spencer have known each other for ten years. Ashanti has seen Spencer grow into a wonderful pastor and youth leader through their affiliation with TheMovement.church, in Oakland, California, whose mission is to "Overwhelm Oakland with Love." (3:00) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:29) Spencer introduces himself and his work, and how being a young father changed the trajectory of his entire life. (9:00) Spen...
2020-10-1449 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE5. Freehand Profit - Finding Passion by Creating a Mask a DayEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by mask maker and artist, Freehand Profit, also known as Gary Lockwood. Gary began making masks ten years ago, starting a movement on his blog called “Mask 365”, in which he created one mask every day for a year. Now with over 161,000 Instagram followers, he has become known for reimagining and taking apart sneakers, transforming them into one of a kind masks. (1:39) Ashanti's introduction. (5:30) Gary introduces how he started making masks, struggling to find his place in the art world, and how sneakers and the surrounding sneaker culture are sy...
2020-09-3051 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE4. Finding Your Galaxy and Shining Brighter - Interview with educator and artist, Noxhe Galactica and Ashanti BranchEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by fellow Fremont High School alumni; Dean of Students at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA; and music artist, magazine curator, and podcast host Noxhe Galactica, also known as Christian Martinez. Christian is our first educator on the platform, and the flow and connection is evident, to the point where the men are moved to share the back of their masks before even sharing the front: (3:15) Ashanti introduces the episode. (5:30) Christian introduces himself and his podcast. (7:30) We learn about Christian’s deep connection with...
2020-09-2348 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE2. Why do we resist support for our Pain and Emotions? - Interview with Clive Bryan Jr. and Ashanti BranchEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by former student and graduating high school senior, Clive Bryan Jr. (6:23) The conversation starts with Clive introducing himself, which prompts himself and Ashanti to reflect on the ups and downs of their relationship. (20:07) Next, Ashanti and Clive share the front of their masks, (21:17) then share and discuss the back of their masks. (31:30) Finally, they reflect on the mask making process and how it has allowed Clive to continue to grow comfortable with lowering his emotional guards. ___ Send in a vo...
2020-08-0343 minunMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male StudentsE1. Mentorship, Leadership, and Failure at 19 years old - Interview with Breno Teixeira and Ashanti BranchTrigger Warning: In this conversation the subject of suicide is talked about as Breno reflects on his friend who took his life. Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Breno Teixeira, an alumni of Ever Forward Club programming in São Paulo, Brazil. (4:18) They discuss Ashanti’s inspiration for the podcast, (5:46) Breno’s interests in philosophy as a recent high school graduate, his history with Ever Forward Club in Brazil, as well as his experience founding the non-profit Construindo o Futuro with his late friend, (20:24) and then finally wrap up by d...
2020-08-0327 min