unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students (Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask)

“We’re trying to make being a teacher sexy again. You know, I can’t even say ‘again’ because I don’t know if it was ever sexy. But we got to make it sexy.” - Jason Muhammad

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Brother Jason Muhammad. Jason teaches middle school in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. And the fact that Jason isn’t fixated on labels and boundaries means that he doesn’t think of himself as an employee of his school - he thinks of himself as an employee of his community. And he applies that mindset to other things. For example, as a card-carrying member of the Nation of Islam, he’s still not above criticizing the hypocrisy of organized religion. It’s interesting how boundaries, labels, and language affect all aspects of our lives, and we’re excited for you to learn about how it affects Jason’s.

(2:30) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:40) Jason introduces himself, his work, his family, and his passion for community work.

(12:20) Jason and Ashanti make their masks together and, as fellow educators, discuss what they observe in schools.

(18:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate/intense, dedicated, creative - and observes some of his “old programming.”

(21:35) Jason shares the front of his mask - joy/jubilance, community, therapy - and how he destigmatizes going to therapy.

(28:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, worry, sadness re: brother.

(32:10) Jason shares the back of his mask - anger, insecurities, my faith - and he and Ashanti both tell some stories about their faith.

(45:00) Then, they discuss how we might build understanding amongst different religions and different individuals.

(47:20) Jason shares a message to parents, students, and educators as the school year approaches.

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Connect with Jason Muhammad:

Podcast: instagram.com/epndpodcast

Jason’s friend, Amil: instagram.com/bootuppgh

Twitter: twitter.com/jsunkm

Instagram: instagram.com/jsunkm

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“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 and the path to becoming a father intersected at around the same time, and it pushed him to fully understand his relationship with masculinity. In other words, Andrew is the type of man who both writes and lives his work. We hope you enjoy the episode!

(2:10) Ashanti's introduction.

(5:45) Andrew introduces himself, his writings, his teachings, and how becoming a father and writing a book continued to push him to examine his masculinity. Then, he and Ashanti discuss how we are imprinting a certain masculinity upon boys “straight out of the womb.”

(16:30) Andrew and Ashanti discuss how the conversation around “toxic masculinity” is losing context. Then, they ponder how we can get men and boys to acknowledge their emotional truth more often.

(35:30) Andrew shares the front of his mask - positive, hopeful, patient. Then, Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, passionate, serious - and they compare what it is like caring for young teenagers versus caring for college students.

(41:00) Andrew shares the back of his mask - sad, frustrated, scared.

(43:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - anger, justice-driven, self-doubt.

(45:15) Ashanti and Andrew had this conversation on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They reflect on Dr. King and the self-doubt he must have overcome.

(50:05) Andrew shares some final thoughts and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Andrew Reiner:

Instagram: instagram.com/andrew.reiner.author

Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewTReiner

Website & Book, "Better Boys, Better Men": andrewreinerauthor.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Trigger 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 discussing the power of listening without judgement.

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Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ashantibranch

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/everforward...

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.”

- The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Mohandas. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Mohandas is the Ever Forward Club’s prior Youth Host. As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss high school, poetry, the future, adulthood, and what makes a balanced friendship, Mohandas is allowed to share some wisdom with Wenceslao as he follows a similar path…

(0:30) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:05) Wenceslao and Mohandas reunite.

(5:25) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - empathy, joy, straight forward.

(6:25) Mohandas shares the front of his mask - hard-working, confident, kind.

(6:50) Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - regret, insecure, shame.

(7:35) Mohandas shares the back of his mask - ashamed, worried, existential crisis

(10:40) Mohandas and Wenceslao answer some questions from the Everforward Club: The Adventure card game. What’s a hidden talent that you would like to work on more?

(12:10) Describe a time when you felt like you were in a battle with a friend.

(13:50) Name a relationship that recently ended.

(19:05) Share a lesson that you’re still learning.

(21:30) Tell us about a time when someone betrayed your trust. 

(27:05) Wenceslao and Mohandas discuss The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Then, Mohandas looks back on his time hosting the podcast.

(31:10) Wenceslao, a high school freshman, gets some advice from Mohandas, who’s about to graduate from high school. Then, Mohandas looks ahead at his future.

(41:45) Wenceslao and Mohandas close things out by reading one more poem from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

In this episode of "Face to Face," Wenceslao, a high school sophomore, welcomes Lucian, a 7th grader who has been part of the Ever Forward Club since the 4th grade. Lucian shares his experiences and personal growth through the club, emphasizing the importance of expressing feelings and building trust within the group.

“When you don't speak or speak up, the thought is like a bird in a cage; you have it in there, but you’re just not willing to let it fly. Let it out.”

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(0:00) Welcome

(14:00) Lucian introduces himself

(15:26) Lucian’s Mask

(15:40) Wenceslao’s Mask

(17:07) Playing the Adventure Card Game

(20:26) A poem from the Prophet

(23:06) QnA about Lucian's experience with the Black Boys Circle

(30:54) Closing

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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, Ashanti and Will discuss the dualities and contradictions of human beings and their masks, running organizations, and their shared Arkansas roots.

(7:45) Will introduces himself and his origins, passions, work, and platform. He and Ashanti discuss their roots in Little Rock, Arkansas.

(10:45) Will and Ashanti make their masks together.

(15:35) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - hard work, caring, funny. He shares how he applies the front of his mask to his work with youth.

(17:45) Will shares the front of his mask - vulnerability, the process, the happiness. He explores how the front of the mask feeds into the current social media frenzy, and how he wants to redirect this energy in more authentic ways.

(22:25) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - family history, worry, am I enough? He shares how the work of Ever Forward Club “is not always pretty.” Then, he reflects on his most recent trip to Little Rock to attend a family memorial service, which came after a family tragedy.

(26:35) Will shares the back of his mask - failures, the truth, depression, anxiety, fear. He explores how the back of his mask contradicts the front of his mask, how humans contradict themselves all the time, and how other people’s opinions and expectations cause these contradictions.

(32:10) Ashanti and Will discuss the faults of “comparison mode” and the process and merits of growing pains.

(36:00) Will shares his message for young people.

(41:35) Will shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Will Tidwell:

Website: speakupzee.com

Instagram: instagram.com/willzeetidwell

Facebook: facebook.com/zee.tidwell

Twitter: twitter.com/willzeetidwell

Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@neighborhoodhero96

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 the author of six books, and his journalism has been featured in Time, The Guardian, The New York Times, Virginia Quarterly Review, Nonprofit Quarterly, The Washington Post Magazine, and other national publications. A New York City teaching fellow turned non-profit executive, Dax is now a principal at the social impact consultancies Dax-Dev and Third Settlements, both of which focus on designing disruptive strategies to generate equity in workplaces and education spaces alike. Dax speaks with great conviction, and we are excited for you to experience this as he and Ashanti discuss their masks, the importance of friendship, and navigating the pitfalls of the dominant culture.

(5:45) Ashanti and Dax say hello. Then, Dax introduces himself, his name, his writing, and how he works to make sure every human being can thrive.

(12:50) After Ashanti shares how he felt guilt whenever he got good grades, Dax some of the class guilt he held onto while he was growing up.

(19:10) Ashanti and Dax make their masks together.

(24:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, dedicated, others before self - and how unsure he feels about putting others before himself.

(27:15) Dax shares the front of his mask - intellect, family man/provider, bridge builder - and the roles he wants to play as a writer, a relative, and a worker.

(32:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - tired, self-doubt, worrier vs. warrior - and he and Dax discuss how hard it is to extricate themselves from the scarcity mindset/dominant culture.

(36:30) Dax shares the back of his mask - a longing for connection and friendship, anxiety over financial future, anxiety over physical and mental decline.

(40:30) Dax and Ashanti ponder male friendships and how they have been affected by the over-sexualization of our society.

(46:30) Dax reflects on how it felt making a mask. Then, he and Ashanti share some final thoughts on how men and boys can break out of “the straight jacket.”

(53:00) Dax shares how you can connect with him.

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Connect with Dax-Devlon Ross:

Website: dax-dev.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dax-devlon-ross-69b3749

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch hosts filmmaker Alex Gabbay, and author and lecturer Dr. Judy Chu, as the three panelists answer audience questions and discuss Alex’s new film "Beyond Men and Masculinity". In addition to discussing the effects of culture and hierarchy on child development, the panelists are joined by nine-year-old Lucian, the youngest member of Ever Forward Club’s newest boys’ circle, and high school senior Justin Odom, who has contributed significantly to the launch of the Ever Forward Club’s Peer Mentoring program.

(0:09) Ashanti gives background on the film and the panel. He then shares some masks that he collected while visiting Mexico and taking some youth through the mask-making process.

(6:40) The panelists discuss the question, “How do we get more men to say yes to showing up in vulnerable spaces, and how do we create more of these spaces?”

(11:00) Lucian, a 9-year-old boy, shares what it is like being in a newly launched Ever Forward Club circle, for boys in grades 4 through 6.

(13:00) Justin, a high school senior based in Alameda, shares why he was drawn to the work of Ever Forward Club, especially while enduring the trials of a global pandemic.

(15:49) Alex shares where people can view Beyond Men and Masculinity and get in touch with him.

(17:10) The panelists consider the idea that promoting equality and democracy is a threat to masculinity.

(21:21) Next, they address the question, “What are things that adults and students can practice daily to help shift men into more honest, vulnerable spaces?”

(27:34) The panelists discuss the question, “For mothers raising boys, what are ways to raise them to be emotionally healthy and break traditional male norms?”

(35:27) Next, they consider some of the similarities and differences around the concept of masculinity amongst different cultures.

(38:02) The next question raised is, “Is the solution to patriarchy a “co-archy”?”

(40:35) Alex shares information on another one of his films, The Price of Fairness, addressing the question, “what does it mean to be fair?”

(41:45) Finally, the panelists discuss two questions: “How should a parent gauge whether a child is too emotional? How do we move a child from acknowledging the themes of emotionality to actually practicing them?”

(46:23) Dr. Chu and Alex share some words with the audience.

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Connect with Alex Gabbay

Instagram: instagram.com/futureishumane

Twitter: twitter.com/futureishumane

To See the Full film: https://thefutureishumane.vhx.tv/

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Connect with Dr. Judy Chu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juchu

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Biehl. Jason is an antiracist educator, born and raised in Washington, D.C., with over 20 years of experience working in education with youth from diverse backgrounds. In 2017, he founded Change The Narrative, and he works collaboratively as an educational consultant to further racial equity within organizations and schools. Jason is a truly radical thinker, who clearly puts a high priority on his self-awareness and humility. We’re excited for you to gain his perspective on fighting racism :)

(8:15) Jason introduces himself, his work on the frontiers of antiracism, and a turning point in his life.

(14:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, caring - and how being overly caring can lead to being hurt.

(18:05) Jason shares the front of his mask - playful/humor, outgoing/optimist, steady/reliable - then, he and Ashanti critique our standard email salutations.

(22:25) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worried, heavy, what’s next - and shares some family matters that have been on his mind lately.

(26:25) Jason shares the back of his mask - scared, sad/grieving, self-doubt - and how these things apply both to his country and his inner self.

(32:50) Jason reflects on how difficult it was within his college culture when he switched his major to African American Studies.

(37:40) Ashanti and Jason continue discussing white allyship.

(41:30) Then, they discuss how men’s work stands in solidarity with other marginalized groups by exploring the cognitive dissonance of masculinity.

(51:40) Ashanti and Jason find common connections in the education and men’s work world, then they wrap up the conversation.

(56:00) Jason shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jason Biehl:

Website: http://www.changethenarrative.me

Instagram: instagram.com/j.biehl

Twitter: twitter.com/JasonWBiehl

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-biehl-738171103

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever 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.

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Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ashantibranch

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/everforward...

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Frederick Marx. Frederick, best known for Hoop Dreams (1994), is an acclaimed Academy Award and Emmy-nominated filmmaker of 40 years. Throughout his career, he has addressed significant social issues through his films, and he has been named a Chicago Tribune Artist of the Year, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a recipient of a Robert F. Kennedy Special Achievement Award. To this day, filmmaker Frederick Marx remains driven by a commitment to storytelling and social change.

Topics include: grief, regret, filmmaking outside of the Hollywood system, public service, problems with the term “nonprofit”, nonprofit vs. social profit, social entrepreneurship, legacy, and succession

(0:00) Intro

(7:05) Frederick introduces himself and his rich history with Ashanti.

(12:50) Frederick and Ashanti make their masks together.

(14:38) Front of Frederick’s Mask, and how he doesn’t hold back.

(16:47) Front of Ashanti’s Mask

(20:56) Back of Frederick’s Mask

(24:47) Back of Ashanti’s Mask

(25:50) Diving deep into experiences with grief

(30:50) How personal suffering informs public service

(33:50) Two nonprofits reaching their 20-year anniversary - Warrior Films and the Ever Forward Club

(36:50) Legacy and successors - who do we pass the torch to before we’re gone?

(42:50) Frederick gives Ashanti a serious challenge

(46:06) Frederick’s book

(47:20) Closing

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Connect with Frederick Marx:

Website: http://warriorfilms.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warriorfilmspage/

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

We just celebrated our 20th Anniversary! At the anniversary, Bilal, who you can get to know better in episode 161, went around and asked guests a series of rapid-fire questions. Listen to the questions in quick succession. And as they get deeper, the answers lengthen.

Before Bilal’s section, please enjoy host Ashanti Branch’s thoughts on teacher burnout, social-emotional learning in schools, Mental Health Awareness Month, and what his experience as a private school educator made him see in his former public school.

Topics include: favorite teacher, getting things off your chest, little-known facts, brotherhood, challenges of being a man, teacher burnout, school culture and climate, teacher morale, classroom budgets, Skyline High School shooting

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(0:00) Welcome!

(0:10) Ashanti’s introduction. Getting things off his chest when it comes to education.

(17:40) Getting deep with Bilal

(26:00) Going even deeper - what challenges are you facing as a man?

(37:00) Closing

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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 immigrants and a first-generation Asian American. Jonathan finds duality and tension in this background, and he and Ashanti explore the beautiful dissonance of life in their conversation. Enjoy the show!

(2:05) Ashanti’s Introduction.

(6:00) Jonathan introduces himself and his life and career in journalism, marketing, and travel.

(10:35) Ashanti and Jonathan make their masks together.

(16:40) Jonathan shares the front of his mask - empathy/kindness, intelligence/articulating, curiosity.

(17:10) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, caring, dedicated - then shares a tender work story.

(22:20) Jonathan shares the back of his mask - race/Asian American, what it means to be a man, money - before continuing to explore the varied cultural sensitivities people have when discussing money.

(29:40) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - brother’s mental health, getting older, cost of building a big organization - and goes deeper into the responsibilities that are currently weighing on him and the dance of setting boundaries with these responsibilities.

(41:20) Jonathan tells a story about visiting Robin Island in South Africa, a place that held political prisoners during apartheid.

(45:30) Next, Jonathan reflects on his travels as it relates to his Asian American identity, and he and Ashanti discuss how Asian American representation has grown in the mainstream.

(54:15) Jonathan shares his final thoughts on the evolution of masculinity.

(58:30) Jonathan shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jonathan Santiago:

Website: santiagos.space

Website: videocraftshow.com

Instagram: instagram.com/jontiag0

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Live from SXSW 2024! Ashanti Branch, Wenceslao Soto Sanchez, Johnathan Pugh Jr., and Ryan Louie take the stage and the education landscape head-on by considering the questions: What’s up with young men? How does the way we present our identity affect the climate and culture of our schools? Through a profound conversation facilitated by a 20-year master educator, a filmmaker, and two high school boys with diverse perspectives, they gain insight into the challenges of marginalized communities in education and the importance of emotional well-being. They and the audience realize the change necessary to create healthy environments for your community and bear witness to what is possible when students and teachers recognize their shared humanity.

(00:00) Welcome

(06:15) Wenceslao’s background

(07:05) Johnathan’s background

(07:48) Ryan’s background

(09:10) Johnathan’s journey

(13:38) Wenceslao’s journey

(16:28) Why men have a hard time talking about their feelings

(18:21) How kids are different now versus in the past

(22:52) What are adults getting right/wrong?

(36:02) Mask activity

(44:45) Q&A

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“When I noticed that an educator had expectations for me or wanted me to succeed, or believed that I could succeed, I actually worked harder in those classes. For the educators and teachers who said, ‘I really care about you, I see your potential,’ those are the classes I actually worked hard in because I wanted to do it not just for me but for the educators themselves and those who believed in me.” - Justin Black

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Justin Black. Justin and his wife, Alexis, published an award-winning, bestselling book, Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love. The book has impacted over 15,000 individuals and families, and, with Redefining Normal, they hope to continue the conversation on healthy relationships, mental health, and community growth and healing through speaking engagements, trainings, and book clubs.

(4:30) Justin introduces himself and his book, Redefining Normal, and how it helps youth find an identity beyond their trauma.

(11:55) Ashanti and Justin make their masks together.

(16:10) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, caring.

(18:30) Justin shares the back of his mask - fatherhood/family man, service, caring.

(24:25) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worry, doubt, fear of failure - and he shares some worries he has about his brother and his brother’s health issues.

(29:00) Justin shares the back of his mask - let down, insecurity, doubt.

(34:10) Justin shares what he tells teachers about “warning signs” in students, and he talks about some of the general advice he gives to teachers.

(41:00) Justin shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Justin Black:

Website: re-definingnormal.com

Facebook: facebook.com/redefiningnormalmovement

Instagram: instagram.com/theblacksredefinenormal

TikTok: tiktok.com/@theblacksredefinenormal

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Bilal. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Bilal is a high school sophomore and has been a member of the Ever Forward Club for 3 years. As they share their masks; play our Adventure Card Game; and discuss life in high school, how they want to make the most of their lives, and some of their fondest Ever Forward Club memories, Bilal and Wenceslao find their bond growing even stronger...

(1:00) Ashanti's introduction.

(5:00) Wenceslao and Bilal introduce themselves.

(6:00) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - athletic, passionate, quiet. Then Bilal shares his - happy, energy, fun, image.

(7:00) Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - guilt, shy, scarred. Then Bilal shares his - anger, tired, sad, guilt, hard work.

(9:30) Wenceslao and Bilal play the Ever Forward Club: Adventure card game. Question 1. What stands between you and what you want?

(10:30) Question 2. Share a project that you’ve recently ended.

(11:00) Question 3. Describe a time when you’ve been in a difficult situation with your friend.

(12:30) Question 4. If you knew you’d die in 30 days, what would you do for those days?

(15:20) Question 5. Name something you can do to improve your life. What’s stopping you?

(16:50) Question 6. Name a relationship that has recently ended.

(18:00) Wenceslao interviews Bilal and reads some poetry, and they share some memories from the Ever Forward Club.

(32:20) Wenceslao and Bilal wrap up and look to the future.

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

There are countless times as an educator where you have to communicate your vision to an outsider. What comes to mind when you read this? Are you a teacher communicating with a parent? A principal making your case to district leaders? A literacy coach presenting to major stakeholders in your school community?

I recently went to Exchange 24, a conference in DC with all the movers and shakers, hosted by the XQ Institute and the Carnegie Foundation. What stuck out to me the most from this conference was a presentation by Dr. Frank Luntz, about the “words to use” and “words to lose” when talking about education.

Here’s what you’re going to learn today:

(0:00) Class in session

(4:35) The differences between Democrats and Republicans when describing education issues

(12:40) “Words to use” and “words to lose” as as an educator/principal/education advocate/advocate for your school community

(16:00) The middle school matriculation problem in America

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Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Ever 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 player, who made the transition away from the game, lived on the road for 2 years, and found purpose in The Härt Collective, which helps former athletes find purpose.

(10:40) Ashanti and Joe discuss the difference between “doing” and “being”, and find similarities in their work. Ashanti also shares his newest mask, inspired by luchador Mil Máscaras, and shares what masks mean to him.

(18:40) Ashanti and Joe share the fronts of their masks. Ashanti - hard working, caring, funny, serious. Joe - happy, calm, funny.

(21:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, trauma. He reflects on his multiple fears, and how he seeks to chip away at these fears day by day. Joe encourages Ashanti to use fear as a guiding post, since on the other side of fear is freedom.

(25:38) Joe shares the back of his mask - overwhelmed, questioning if I’m capable, tired of having to prove myself. Then, they discuss why it is important to push their comfort zones and trust the bigger purpose, while fighting the feeling that “the grass is always greener on the other side.”

(30:45) Joe and Ashanti then discuss what it is like leading their respective organizations - the fears they are overcoming, how they are learning to ask for help and empower people, how they have learned to set boundaries, and the complicated intersection of life and work.

(44:20) Joe shares where you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Joe Hawley:

Instagram: instagram.com/joe.hawley

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joe-hawley

Website: joe-hawley.com

Website: thehartcollective.com

YouTube: youtube.com/c/JoeHawley68

Clubhouse: joinclubhouse.com/@joe.hawley

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Check out Ever Forward Club: The Adventure Card Game at indiegogo.com/projects/ever-forward-club-the-adventure-card-game#

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

All it took was three months… I haven’t been able to shake the story of freshman Jose Zamora, of Santa Clara High School. What happened to him is exactly what this podcast seeks to prevent.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What do statistics about bullying and suicide say about our male students

2. Specific routines and systems you can implement to make students feel more welcome at school and in your classroom

3. Personal stories from me (Ashanti Branch) about bullying

(0:00) Class in session.

(2:50) Some background on Jose Zamora and statistics on bullying and suicide.

(11:00) Ashanti’s perspective on bullying as an educator

(11:30) Important things to ask yourself as a teacher in order to prevent bullying

(15:30) Teachers need to demonstrate to students that they are aware of the undercurrent of behaviors so that students know they can trust a teacher to have their back

(22:30) What the statistics about bullying and suicide say about our male students

(25:00) Bullying is strictly about power

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

What percentage of your student body claims they are in a good place, but deep down, they feel like they can’t share their true feelings? My TED Talk answers this question - using data from the school site where I began my teaching career - and talks about a time when I went to get a gun. If I had pulled the trigger, I would have thrown my entire life away...

(0:00) Class in session; my history with the TED organization

(3:00) Videos about masks, masculinity, teaching, and education that I never post online

(6:50) TED Talk at TEDx Marin

---

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

On 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 he did not tell his mother because he decided that it was too much for her to handle, especially with his role as the "Man of the House"

(8:25) We learn how the incident disappeared from his memory, up until 2015 when he heard a similar story from another man.

(10:40) Ashanti shares the dissonance within: that his work is built around vulnerability, sharing things that people don’t normally share, and that he could not share this story from his childhood.

(12:00) We hear how Ashanti could never find a good time to tell his mom.

(13:15) Ashanti gives a breakdown of the night of the “Lost Boys” premiere, and how he felt as he realized what was being revealed to the world.

(16:38) We watch/listen to a video Ashanti made after watching this scene.

(18:08) Ashanti continues to reflect on why he hid this from his mom for so long and then shares what it was like talking to his mom after the episode ended.

(22:33) Ashanti reflects on how he was able to compartmentalize this trauma. He believes he did this subconsciously through eating.

(25:07) We learn more about Ashanti’s interview with Lewis Howes, and how even so many years after the incident that he couldn’t open up about his abuse, even after hearing Lewis’s story of abuse.

(28:23) Ashanti shares the sense of joy and healing that is coming through him now.

(31:23) Ashanti wraps up, and shares more about the Million Mask Movement and the Ever Forward Club.

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Youtube: Branch Speaks

---

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 accomplishments at the young age of 21 - Stanford University Innovation Fellow, CEO of his own company, board member for Kingmakers of Oakland - but George would be the first to tell you of all of the relationships, mentors, and support systems he’s had along the way. Ever since Ashanti met George as an eighth-grader leading a team of professional coders, George has been all about building deep relationships so that we can achieve bigger and better things together. We hope you enjoy learning about George’s masks, and how they play a role in his life every day.

(1:35) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:00) George introduces himself, and Ashanti shares how he met George - when he was an eighth-grader, already providing leadership and direction to a group of adult computer programmers. George shares how this and many other things in his life have been coming full circle.

(15:40) George shares the front of his mask - confident, creative, loud, outspoken - and explains why his extroverted brand of creativity is less common than introverted creativity.

(17:40) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny serious, hard-working - and he explores the contradictions that he lives with, sitting between funny and serious

(20:40) George shares the back of his mask - imposter syndrome, overthink, observant. He shares some of the racial disparities he has experienced in the tech industry. Then, Ashanti and George share how these experiences have shaped what is behind their mask.

(29:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worried, "am I enough?", fear of. He reflects on his college experience, the need for mentorship in his community when he was a child, and how important support systems are in his life today.

(35:10) George shares all of the support systems he’s cultivated over the years.

(43:10) Ashanti and George share some final thoughts, and George shares how you can get in touch with him

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Connect with George Hoffstetter:

Check out George in 8th Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tnXsnAaEF4

Website: georgehofstettertechnologies.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ghtechinc

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 unique way of coaching and mentoring that is on the leading edge of the human potential movement. But like all of our episodes, this conversation doesn’t just focus on the major successes - it goes back to a time when Shems’s “spectrum of aliveness” was closed up, and how he still searches to broaden that spectrum today. We hope you enjoy learning more about Shems, his life, and his masks!

(2:15) Ashanti's introduction.

(7:30) Shems introduces himself, how he met Ashanti, and how he helps men, groups, and couples show up for themselves and each other.

(12:50) Shems shares the front of his mask - bright, intelligent, kind

(14:50) Shems shares the back of his mask - fearful, sensitive, judgmental.

(17:10) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, funny.

(19:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, childhood wounds, I cry - and how acknowledging these things allows him to push himself to show the world his true value.

(24:50) Ashanti shares what he told himself - and what he let go - when looking into a mirror in the woods.

(28:50) Shems and Ashanti discuss the importance of allowing feelings to move through our system and be expressed.

(38:10) Shems shares how he believes we can open up our “Spectrum of Aliveness.” Then, he shares what it was like growing up with his father, and the mixed bag of emotions, environments, and experiences it created. Ashanti relates by sharing his unhealthy relationship with sugar.

(45:10) Whether it’s food, alcohol, entertainment,  etc., we can all use these things to “check out”. Shems and Ashanti discuss the need to identify when we have reached an unhealthy threshold, and the need for a community to help support us when we try to numb those who have retreated into a certain numbness.

(51:50) Shems shares where you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Shems Heartwell:

Website: shemsheartwell.com

Navigator Project: navigatorproject.org

Instagram: instagram.com/shemsheart

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Please enjoy a special BONUS episode, which originally aired on the podcast High Tech High: Unboxed. In the episode, educator Enrique "Chikle" Lugo shares how he helps students of color navigate white spaces.

Learn more about High Tech High at www.hightechhigh.org.

Ever 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.

(9:45) Donté and Ashanti both smile frequently, and they reflect on their different reasons why.

(14:40) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, brother’s mental health. He shares some deepening concerns about his brother, who has schizophrenia. This prompts a powerful memory in Donté, who recalls trying to help a man who appeared to be going through some tough times and was being confronted by people on the street.

(26:03) Donté shares the back of his mask - tears, anger, a reader, thoughtful, goofy, playful, prayerful, meditative. He shares how he gets angry, and the tears it brings to his eyes when he reflects on the lack of compassion he sees in the community.

(32:00) Ashanti shares how Donté’s poetry conjures up many thoughts about what needs to be done in our country and our communities. Donté emphasizes the work and organizing that need to be done, beyond just voting, to make up for the “400-year head start” that the Black community is up against.

(45:55) Ashanti and Donté discuss the untapped potential inside of our youth, and the need to “emancipate yourself from mental slavery.”

(59:30) Donté shares his current projects and where you can find him.

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Connect with Donté Clark:

Instagram: instagram.com/donblak

Facebook: facebook.com/josiah.james.1257

Purchase Donté’s Book, “Close Caskets”: bit.ly/3cu8YBP

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

This is one of the rare episodes where we did not make or share masks… But we sure did feel them come off. Trevor Taylor is back for part 2! (Listen to Part 1) Join Ashanti and Trevor as they explore nonviolent communication, how to communicate effectively to build community, the Think Feel Do methodology, and attachment to the process instead of the outcome.

Trevor brings over nine years of dedicated practice to the mat, seamlessly blending strength and grace in his dynamic Vinyasa flows. Beyond yoga, Trevor is a content creator, sharing mindfulness techniques, motivation, and glimpses into his personal yoga journey with a global community.

(0:00) Intro

(7:30) Trevor’s work bringing movement, mindfulness, and meditation to both online and local communities that need it

(16:30) Trevor’s rose and thorn

(21:18) Ashanti’s rose and thorn

(24:38) Is there anywhere you are fully known?

(24:47) Trevor talks about his relationship with his partner

(31:33) Nonviolent communication

(38:23) Attachment to the outcome vs. the process, and anger

(50:21) Think, Feel, Do methodology

(54:33) Closing and gratitude

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Connect with Trevor Taylor:

The Sanctuary: https://sunsolesanctuary.com/

Website: https://pillar.io/justliketrevor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justliketrevor/

---

Sign Up for the 20th Annual 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Angel. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s new Youth Host! You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Angel is a member of the EFC Social Emotional Leadership Academy. In fact, Angel and Wenceslao recorded a podcast together a year ago. As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss all things friendship, parenting, and even the American dream, the growth they have demonstrated in this episode is staggering.

(1:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:00) Angel introduces himself.

(6:50) Angel shares the front of his mask - cheerful, kind, energetic. Then Wenceslao shares his - happy, smart, explorer.

(7:45) Angel shares the back of his mask - stressed, anxious, worried. Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - anxiety, stress, not sure what to do.

(9:45) Angel and Wenceslao play the Ever Forward: Adventure Card Game.

(11:00) Question 1: A characteristic about yourself that you don’t really talk about much.

(13:40) Question 2: Name a relationship that recently started.

(16:15) Question 3: How are you different when you are alone vs. with others?

(19:05) Question 4: What is something you feel that you wish you’d say out loud?

(21:45) Wenceslao and Angel continue discussing the American Dream, how they define maturity, and the changes they’ve seen in their approaches to mental health.

(30:30) Then, they discuss “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, and share their thoughts on the purpose of friendship.

(35:15) Wenceslao and Angel share how they handle social media and how they communicate their anxiety to adults.

(47:15) Then, they analyze the poem “Making Love to Captain America”.

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“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. International life can be very difficult, but that hasn’t prevented Zeke from maintaining close relationships. We’re excited for you to learn about how Zeke navigates this world and his masks.

(1:35) Ashanti’s introduction.

(8:30) Zeke and Ashanti reminisce on how they first met and why Zeke made a big impression on Ashanti. Then, Zeke introduces himself, his origins, and his professional basketball career.

(13:30) Zeke shares the front of his mask - funny, friendly, trustworthy.

(14:45) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, funny, dedicated.

(18:00) Zeke shares the back of his mask - scared, indecisive, confused - and the challenges of international life.

(22:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worrier, doubt - and how images from social media make him disproportionately worrisome.

(26:45) Zeke and Ashanti take time to emphasize that we need to take the initiative to reach out to others.

(30:50) Zeke reflects on the day he and Ashanti first met at Stuart Hall High School and how he’s taken those lessons around the world and in everyday life.

(43:35) Zeke shares a final message with the audience.

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Connect with Zeke Crawford:

Instagram: instagram.com/_zeke2fresh

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

In this episode of "Face to Face," Wenceslao welcomes Demarco, an 8th grader, star athlete, and member of the Ever Forward Club. Demarco is a bit nervous but ready to take on the world of high school in the Bay Area. Listen in as they discuss friendship, boundaries, sports, bullying, and how to balance life as a teen in 2024.

Topics include: baseball, setting boundaries, understanding/empathizing with bullies, advice/what to expect in high school, athletics, balancing school and extracurriculars authentic friendships, deciding where to go for high school

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(0:00) Welcome

(3:00) Demarco introduces himself

(4:30) Front of Wenceslao’s Mask

(4:55) Front of Demarco’s Mask

(5:15) Back of Wenceslao’s Mask(5:55) Back of Demarco’s Mask

(6:40) The Ever Forward Club’s Adventure Card Game: boundaries, trust, and bad days

(13:50) The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran; reading and analysis

(17:30) Bullying, authentic friendship, empathy, brotherhood, balancing commitments, and what Demarco has learned from the Ever Forward Club

(29:55) One more poem by Kahlil Gibran; high school advice from Wenceslao to Demarco

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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 masculine engagement in the prevention of violence. Aside from what Saed sees while working with Northwestern students and with clients in all kinds of industries, Saed has done a lot of self-reflection about his own background. And today, he and Ashanti are granted the space to share - both where they have come from and where they are headed…

(0:25) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:20) Saed introduces himself, his work as a counseling psychologist at Northwestern University, and his overall passion to help people feel free from the structures of conventional masculinity.

(7:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, work-a-holic - and both men connect over insecurities about laziness and rest.

(13:05) Saed shares the front of his mask - funny, reflective, curious - and he looks back on his immigrant childhood.

(17:45) Ashanti and Saed discuss how they get past the pleasantries when asking, “How are you doing today?”

(19:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of losing mom, worry, desire for a legacy - and what he’s been thinking about when looking at his family tree. Then, Saed reflects on what it’s been like to not be a father while many of his friends are having children.

(29:55) Saed shares the back of his mask - lonely, numbing, not enough - and how he experiences vicarious trauma in his profession.

(35:00) Saed and Ashanti discuss burnout culture, and how the systems in place make it difficult for us to appreciate simply being human.

(43:35) Saed shares more about what he teaches and how he works with college students.

(51:05) Saed shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Saed Hill:

Website: dynamiccooperative.com/about

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/saed-d-hill-phd

Instagram: instagram.com/papercutrhymesphd

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

“Idealistic.” “Pie in the sky.” “Unrealistic.” “Chaotic.” Project-based learning can actually be done pragmatically and effectively. Listen to these stories and guidance from my 20-year career in education, so that you don’t make the same mistakes I did.

Check out the conversation that sparked these reflections,episode 12 with Justin Wells.

(0:00) Class in session

(1:00) Overview of project-based learning

(6:00) Project-based learning in India

(12:00) Introducing word problems to a math class in India

(16:00) And why it didn’t work/broke the norm too abruptly (SCAFFOLDING!)

(17:50) Mark Day School and a project about cell phone plans

(20:00) Overachieving students and project-based learning

(26:00) Our project-based learning curriculum: Masks, Emotions, and Math

(33:00) A call to action for our schools to evolve

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PBL Resources:https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design

PBL Resources:https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-teaching-practices 

Michael Gurian:https://www.michaelgurian.com/ 

Join our Skool Community:https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com

Create your own mask anonymously athttps://millionmask.org/ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website:https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter:https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“I try to lie to myself that ‘I find stillness in activity.’ But actually I think I’m terrified of stillness. I’m terrified of sitting with me.” - Kip Ioane

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kip Ioane. Kip is a former NCAA Head Basketball Coach of 14 years, who spent the last 10 years of his career crafting a framework of coaching designed to empower coaches to enlighten their players to the power of reimagining manhood. In creating and executing the TeamsOfMen program over the last decade, Kip has been forced to self-reflect and unlearn my own toxic ideas around being a man, a father, a husband, and a coach…

(0:25) Ashanti’s introduction

(5:00) Kip introduces himself, his family, his career in NCAA basketball, and his organization TeamsOfMen.

(12:25) Kip shares the front of his superhero-inspired mask - innovative, intentional, family legacy.

(16:05) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, determined, purpose - and the numbing that goes on in our culture that appears in many different forms.

(23:55) Kip shares the back of his mask - unworthy of belief, weak with self-doubt, the legacy ball dropper. All the way to 27:20 check for teasers.

(28:35) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, world-doubt, I can’t be lazy so I stay busy - and he and Kip further analyze grind culture.

(35:30) Ashanti and Kip discuss “the mean friend” and “the mean voice inside your head.”

(47:20) Kip shares some final words and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Kip Ioane:

Twitter: twitter.com/@teams_men; twitter.com/@kipioane

Youtube: youtube.com/@teamsofmen

TikTok: tiktok.com/@teamsofmen

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Ever 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 - peaceful, smart, authentic. Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, funny, hard working, (caring).

(17:00) Niroj shares the back of his mask - anxious, nervous, gloomy. Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, worry, sadness about death.

(18:07) They examine the worries Ashanti has, since many big events are coming up with Ever Forward; the tendency for Niroj to make gloominess his natural state of mind; and Niroj and Ashanti’s experiences being bullied.

(33:45) Niroj shares what it’s like to spend time with friends that emote happiness much more than him. It leads into a discussion on how to deal with negative emotions healthily, how it is important to provide structures for these emotions, and the accuracy of the film Inside Out.

(41:40) Niroj and Ashanti relate over the idea that there are multiple characters, personalities, or even people within them; they discuss how it is difficult to share this and other sentiments with everyone; and they continue discussing Inside Out.

(48:00) Niroj shares some final thoughts about the different components, or personalities, within us, and how life experiences impact these different components. They also discuss the trends that Niroj sees in Nepali men’s ideas of masculinity.

(52:45) Ashanti and Niroj discuss the patterns of behavior and emotional projections that get passed down between generations - and how Niroj wants to break these patterns.

(57:25) Niroj shares what’s next - his work with tech service, nonprofit work in the health field, and future practicing medicine.

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Connect with Niroj Bhandari:

Instagram: instagram.com/_nirojbhandari_/

Twitter: twitter.com/BhandariNiroj

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bniroj

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Check out Ever Forward Club: The Adventure Card Game at indiegogo.com/projects/ever-forward-club-the-adventure-card-game#

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 27, a teacher of the year in South Australia, a founding executive of multiple organizations, and a speaker of five languages, we could go on and on about Louka’s accomplishments and merits. But instead, Ashanti and Louka look within - Why do we let approval overtake authenticity? What happens when we see the world “not as it is, but as we are”?

(1:15) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:30) Louka introduces himself, his heritage, why he values education so much, and the critical moments in life that have shaped his identity. Ashanti and Louka also discuss the difference between “small talk” and “deep talk”, and getting to know

(22:10) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, careful, passionate - and how it relates to a recent workshop he conducted.

(26:30) Louka shares the front of his mask - confidence, warmth, intelligence - and why these characteristics serve as his natural equilibrium around others.

(32:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worry, people pleaser/shadow, my brother’s mental health - and how each of the words on the back of his mask connects to the “people pleaser” in him.

(39:30) Louka shares the back of his mask - uncertain, alone, different - and explores the difference between clarity and certainty.

(45:00) Louka and Ashanti continue to explore the idea that when we are too careful our presence shrinks - for better or for worse.

(56:00) Louka shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Louka Parry:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/loukaparry

Twitter: twitter.com/loukaparry

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Ever 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, and Ashanti gives context to the mask-making process. 

(12:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, and hard working. 

(14:25) Frimpong shares the front of his mask - talented, happy, strong, hard-working, and friendly. 

(15:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, and trauma. They discuss the difference between fear of failure and fear of success, whether success actually raises more questions and uncertainty than failure. 

(18:13) Frimpong shares the back of his mask - angry, lazy, doubtful, joy of being alone, funny, and sarcastic. We learn a little bit about each, and then fully examine why Frimpong holds a lot of anger, and why that anger comes back to being conditioned as a child to compare himself to others. 

(21:32) Both men relate to the idea of not being satisfied with their work, whether it is Ashanti’s videos or Frimpong’s artwork, they both have an inner critic with which to reckon. 

(24:18) Frimpong shares how his mother fosters his creativity, whereas friends from his community have difficulty pursuing their passions when their parents have differing expectations. 

(27:00) We learn about what’s next for Frimpong, how he wants to help others become an artist like himself, and his artistic process - going from sketches to photography to Photoshop. 

(29:13) Ashanti shares his mask sketchbook. 

(31:44) Frimpong shares one of his most recent pieces, which is very similar to Ashanti’s work with the front and back of masks. 

(36:20) Frimpong gives a message to the young people in his community and shares how you can get in touch with him. 

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 Connect with Nana Oduro Frimpong: 

Instagram: instagram.com/frizzlemadeit 

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com 

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com 

--- 

Connect with Ashanti Branch: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/branchspeaks 

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks 

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks 

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch 

--- 

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“We all grow up with an accent. We all grow up speaking a language, an emotional language, and the longer we stay in that emotional language the harder it is to learn a new one.” - Dr. Steve Perry

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Steve Perry. Dr. Perry is an educator, bestselling author, and the Founder and Head of Schools of Capital Preparatory Schools. Using his powerful voice to fight for disadvantaged children and families for over thirty years, you may have seen Dr. Perry on CNN and NBC, or with Oprah, P. Diddy, and Steve Harvey. Dr. Perry believes that the success of a life is not determined by where you start, but by where you end. He also believes that how you deal with your emotions is a major indicator of success. Some of these emotional languages are programmed deep within us - and, in this episode, Dr. Perry shows how he has found power in regulating his.

(2:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(9:35) Ashanti and Dr. Perry take the time to appreciate one another, and Dr. Perry introduces himself.

(13:35) Dr. Perry reflects on a conversation he had with his son and what buoys the negative behaviors perpetuated by masculine archetypes.

(18:35) Then, he and Ashanti discuss killing and murder through the lens of people’s inability to deal with their emotions.

(25:10) Dr. Perry explains the power of acknowledging the limitations of your own personality.

(28:05) Then, Dr. Perry tells the story of a fight that broke out at one of his schools and how awareness of your own emotions helped confront the situation.

(32:35) Dr. Perry shares some words about humility and tells the story of a speaking engagement he had with an audience of ex-offenders.

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Connect with Dr. Steve Perry:

Website: drsteveperry.org

Facebook: facebook.com/DrStevePerry1

Twitter: twitter.com/DrStevePerry

Youtube: youtube.com/c/drsteveperry/featured

Instagram: instagram.com/drsteveperry

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Everforward 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 wide variety of work he does and has done; then Dan and Ashanti recall past adventures, specifically an Evryman retreat at Joshua Tree.

(8:23) Dan shares the front of his mask - strong, caring, creative. He shares how he makes sure to keep the front of his mask representative of his authentic self.

(10:29) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working. He then ponders why he has never written “caring” on the front of his mask, and shares that he often struggles to find a balance between his funny self and his serious self when running the Ever Forward Club.

(12:33) We learn about the similarities and differences between Dan and Ashanti’s experiences rubbing up against stereotypes as school teachers.

(15:50) Dan shares the back of his mask - scared and full of fear, hopeless, angry, feeling as if he does not have things in his life together. We learn about how Dan feels all these things are connected, and connected to the state of the world.

(17:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, trauma. Ashanti relates to Dan’s feelings, and how his insecurities are connected to Ashanti’s tendency to compare himself to others. We learn the many ways that Ashanti wants to push his comfort zone in 2021.

(21:22) The men explore the idea that, with our career and our passions, we are trying to create the things that we lacked in childhood. And, after we achieve some of these milestones, they reflect on the many mental barriers and distractions that exist that prevent us from continuing to move forward.

(24:59) Dan shares what learned about vulnerability, mental health, and coping, while working on a pig farm in high school.

(26:42) Ashanti and Dan discuss the “rules of masculinity.” They question whether they are indeed rules, or if they are the manifestation of men lacking the tools to healthily express feelings.

(29:49) Dan shares how becoming a father further invigorates his work as a men’s coach, and Ashanti relates, with his work with young men.

(32:22) Dan shares a final message, and how we can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Dan Doty

Website: dandoty.com

Evryman: evryman.com

Instagram: instagram.com/danieldoty

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:   instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book,
The School of Greatness and his newest book, The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness, which has over 250 million downloads and just reached their 1000th episode since it launched in 2013. 

During their conversation, Ashanti and Lewis talked very little about all of his success as an athlete and podcaster but spoke about the masks that they wear and what gets in the way of being our full authentic selves. This conversation is about emotional well-being of men and how ignoring our emotions leads men to unhealthy outcomes and emotional overload. 

(7:38) Together, they discuss how Lewis’s childhood shaped his understanding of the pitfalls of masculinity; 

(24:30) And how Ashanti’s life and work is tied directly to Lewis’s The Mask of Masculinity, as well as how the norms of masculinity can explain the country’s violence and divisiveness. 

(35:18) Then, Lewis and Ashanti participate in the #MillionMaskMovement by sharing their masks.

__

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

___

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ashantibranch

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/everforward...

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn:    https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Today is a special crossover episode, featuring The Contemplative Corazón podcast, with Julie Calderon!

The episode you will hear today from The Contemplative Corazón, featuring Ashanti Branch, originally aired on June 11th, 2023 - episode 27: Holding Space for Healing.

In it, they discuss Ashanti’s career journey and eventual calling to be a teacher, the story of the Ever Forward Club, how to set high expectations for students, the time Ashanti was so burnt out he needed a ride to the hospital in an ambulance, how they practice self-care, and how wellness is going mainstream.

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Connect with Julie Calderon:

Website: mujerevolving.com

Podcast: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/julie-calderon

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Ever 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 the idea for his poem “Masks”, a poem closely aligned with Ashanti’s work.

Check out the poem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXO8qAaIESc

(17:20) After Adam shares why it was hard for him to stay in an authentic relationship with an image conscious celebrity, the two men discuss what “fulfillment” means to them, and why “lifestyle” is more important than “accomplishments".

(28:55) Adam and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks. Adam - smart, hard worker, caring. Ashanti - funny, caring, serious, hard working.

(29:45) Adam shares the back of his mask - uncertain, fear of failure, anger. He shares how uncertainty and fear of failure are on his mind despite his success, and how he is learning to utilize anger.

(31:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, brother’s mental health. This leads Adam and Ashanti into a discussion about faith and “the magic” of life. They discuss how these concepts apply to themselves, as well as how they apply to the young people Ashanti works with.

(38:48) Adam and Ashanti then explore the difference between being excited and being nervous.

(42:05) Next, the two men discuss how poetry and art can simplify complex emotions for those that are struggling, and how creating art can give people tools to process trauma.

(49:15) Adam shares a final message for young people, before sharing where you can find him and get in touch.

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Connect with Adam Roa

Instagram: instagram.com/adam.roa; instagram.com/thedeepdive

Facebook: facebook.com/IAmAdamRoa

Websites: adamroa.com; surrenderedartist.org; thecreatecommunity.com

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever 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) Ashanti and Kevin reflect on how they met, and the what ifs that came with it.

(11:25) Kevin introduces himself, an El Salvadorian college student raised in Oakland, California.

(13:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - caring, hard working, serious - and how his care manifests in multiple ways.

(17:05) Kevin shares the front of his mask - loud, positive, joyful, funny, energetic.

(20:30) Kevin shares the back of his mask - scared, non energetic, I’m in fear, I went through things to get where I am now. He then shares why he feels like he has nothing to hide on the inside, and how he feels burdened by the relationships that count on him to lift them up.

(23:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness about death, trauma. He reflects on what it was like to grow up without a mentor, in a culture that encourages toughness and individualism.

(26:05) Kevin pushes Ashanti to share more about death and family trauma. He explores both the passing of his father and his grandmother.

(32:30) Kevin shares when he became aware of how emotional masks hide who we really are, after ending an unhealthy relationship. He then explores how sometimes the most outwardly excited people have the most to share behind the mask.

(37:25) Ashanti and Kevin discuss what constitutes a healthy balance between going to others for emotional help, and trying to rely on yourself.

(47:15) Kevin shares how he has always been someone with a girlfriend, how this is the first time in a long time he isn’t in a relationship, and what he has learned about the burden of emotions in this new phase of his life.

(55:45) Ashanti gives Kevin advice about how to burden and unburden emotions in a sustainable way.

(1:09:10) Kevin shares his final thoughts.

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Connect with Kevin Romero:

Instagram: instagram.com/ayyy_kevin

Twitter: twitter.com/ayyy_kevin

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 podcast “have been”.

(8:45) Ashanti breaks down where the Ever Forward Club and this podcast is “right now”, the upcoming Global Champions Program, and what he sees in the world of education currently.

(14:45) Ashanti tells a story from a memorable workshop.

(18:45) Ashanti shares where the Ever Forward Club is “going next” as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

(23:55) We share a clip from Ashanti’s appearance on Julie Calderon’s podcast - The Contemplative Corazón.

Listen to Julie Calderon’s Podcast, The Contemplative Corazón: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-contemplative-coraz%C3%B3n/id1615279864

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Ever 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 experienced similar transitions: Khiari experienced his father coming back into his life in the 9th grade; and both Khiari and Ashanti experienced stepfathers coming into their lives and creating uneven dynamics.

(20:20) The men discuss how Ashanti saw something in Khiari’s eyes the last time he saw him, and they circle closer towards something deep down in Khiari’s heart.

(25:15) Khiari and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks.

(29:20) Khiari and Ashanti share the backs of their masks, connecting over Khiari’s disappointment in himself and Ashanti’s fear of failure.

(32:55) Khiari reflects on the expectations of his family, and how not meeting these expectations, especially with the sacrifices his mother has been making, is filling him with regret and disappointment.

(34:05) Ashanti shares a science experiment conducted with monkeys in a cage, which may teach Khiari something about societal expectations.

(37:50) After sharing more about his regrets and bringing himself down, Khiari receives encouragement from Ashanti to engage in more positive self-talk and let his positive assets shine brightly to those around him.

(44:00) Khiari shares his responsibilities at home, and how his stepfather moving across the country, and the ensuing stressors over the custody of a sibling, are causing Khiari to take in the stress that his family is projecting onto him.

(47:15) Ashanti and Khiari discuss anger, and whether Khiari’s is not actually balancing emotions, but rather suppressing them and preventing himself from finding a reason to care.

(52:20) Now that Khiari is a senior, the men discuss how Khiari is finding his reason to care, and now is developing an ability to lead other youth around him and youth in the EFC.

(57:00) After wrapping up, Khiari shares his last word.

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

--- 

Connect with Khiari:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/key.are.e/

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Ever 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 Ashanti and Ryan begin the one-year anniversary episode.

12:00 Ashanti shares the front of his mask - ambitious, determined, smart. Then, as two men with backgrounds in teaching, they discuss conventional opinions of intelligence and why educators feel outside of that cultural sphere.

23:00 Ryan shares the front of his mask - inclusive, countercultural, collected. He explores how his socioeconomic and ethnic identity, shaped by his schooling and the surrounding power structures, affects the front of his mask. They are also men who resort to smiling in order to make people happy, and they discuss what causes this shared habit.

37:10 Ashanti shares the back of his mask - wanting kids, legacy, am I good enough? Ashanti recently got back in touch with the “Branch” side of his family, and he shares how this experience conjured up some new perspectives on life.

48:00 Ryan shares the back of his mask - opinionated, regretful, embarrassment. They discuss times they have been taken advantage of, the problem with holding in negative emotions, the stories we tell ourselves, and leveraging self-awareness.

1:03:21 Ashanti and Ryan ruminate on the question, “what do you stand for?”

1:18:24 Ryan shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Ryan Louie:

Website: ryanlouieportfolio.wordpress.com

Instagram: instagram.com/rynlouie

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“I value my life based on how other people value my life. People see different sides of you, and they can only judge you by that side that they see. That’s how this stuff works.” - Mayank Sohani

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Sunny Bahuguna and Mayank Sohani. As the hosts of the Bottled Up Podcast, Sunny and Mayank provide a platform for people to share their journeys and mental health stories, in the hope of inspiring others to do the same. Notably, this is our first three-person episode, and we picked the perfect duo to do this first! Sunny and Mayank have been best friends for over five years - self-described “brothers from another mother.” Yet, despite this deep relationship, we found that the mask activity may still bring out things that have never been said before…

(6:40) Sunny Bahuguna and Mayank Sohani introduce themselves, their passion for mental health, and family backgrounds.

(11:50) Mayank shares the front of his mask - supportive, happy, hard-working.

(14:00) Sunny shares the front of his mask - composed/calm, hard-working, funny - and Mayank is there to verify it.

(18:40) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, caring, hard-working - and his journey with the Ever Forward Club spark some questions from Sunny and Mayank.

(25:45) Ashanti explains the privilege of “seeking discomfort.”

(31:35) Sunny shares the back of his mask - family issues, uncertainty, feelings of inadequacy.

(37:00) Mayank shares the back of his mask - stressed, anxious, tired - and how the front of his mask and his value system is interlinked with the back.

(43:00) Ashanti recognizes the “giver” in Mayank and makes sure to remind him to value himself outside of how others value him.

(50:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worry, doubt, fear of failure.

(51:50) Sunny and Mayank share some final words with the audience.

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Connect with Sunny & Mayank:

Instagram: instagram.com/bottledupaus

LinkTree: linktr.ee/bottledupaus

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 as a catalyst for systems change and will be released in September 2023. Sean charges head first into some of the toughest environments, leading with love. He’s worked to transform the culture of law enforcement, he’s led men on immersive Soul Adventures, and he’s brought his compassion-centered approach to right-wing militia groups and White nationalist groups. Today, he takes off his mask to share how he developed an unwavering emotional foundation that is able to do this work effectively.

(2:15) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:15) Sean introduces himself, how he found his spiritual calling to men’s work, and how he started reforming the hearts and minds of the police force and white nationalists.

(15:20) Sean shares the back of his mask - vision (strategic), journey (inspiration), intelligence (connects the dots).

(17:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, caring - and relates to Sean’s mask.

(22:50) Sean shares the back of his mask - addiction, HIV status (internalized homophobia), deep loneliness (not belonging), body shame.

(24:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worry, body shame - and tells the story of his relationship with body shame. Then, Sean does the same.

(34:50) Ashanti relates Sean’s story and his work to working with middle school boys.

(44:50) Sean and Ashanti take a look at “men’s work” and why it is in a place of reckoning.

(50:05) Sean then explains what it means to “surrender into the unknown.”

(54:40) Sean and Ashanti consider “the mask of love.” If love wore a mask, what would be on the front of it and behind it?

(1:02:05) Sean tells the story of how he reconnected with his father years after telling him he was gay.

(1:12:00) Sean shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Sean Harvey:

Website/Book: warriorcompassion.com

Instagram: instagram.com/warrior_compassion

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/seanharvey

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

In this 2 minute montage, you will hear clips from our first 4 episodes. You will hear the voices of young men and men getting real about challenges in their lives. You will hear some of the experiences that men have faced in their lives when they are courageous and willing to be vulnerable. They have joined this movement to help other boys and men realize that #YouAreNotAlone and that there are other boys and men who are dealing with similar challenges and life experiences.

You will hear powerful phrases of people getting real, going into their hearts, and sharing some of the challenges that have brought them to where they are today.

Educators, do you ever notice how a volunteer or a community leader can completely change how students behave in your classroom? What if these community volunteers could be an entire ecosystem of support for your young people? That’s what Jordan Bowman and his organization, Journeymen, represent when he and a group of male volunteers enter the school space. Please enjoy Jordan’s insights in this week’s episode. 

Getting involved with people like Jordan Bowman means it all doesn’t have to rest on your shoulders - and we know teachers are already dealing with far too much.

We cover:

1. How community mentors can support educators in supporting our youth

2. How rites of passage can change a young person’s life

3. The “bio, psycho, social, spiritual” framework, and how to use it to meet the needs of our young people

(0:00) Class in session

(2:00) Jordan introduces himself

(12:00) How can mentors, community leaders/volunteers, and afterschool program leaders better support teachers?

(14:00) Forging independence, resiliency, and emotional maturity

(16:00) The red tape of mentoring

(18:00) Asking, “Where else can we show up? Where else can we support?”

(19:00) What happens when a bunch of male volunteers show up at a school?

(22:30) Rites of passage - or rituals of maturity - can make young people rise to the occassion

(27:50) Youth are stuck in a state of dependence

(30:00) Rites of passage success stories

(34:00) Bio, psycho, social, spiritual

(40:00) More unstructured play and Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation”

(42:00) Educators need to practice their own presence

(46:00) How to connect with Jordan

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Connect with Jordan Bownman:

Website: journeymentriangle.org

Website: https://www.jbowman.org/

Social: @Jordan7Bowman; @Journeymen_NC

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Kevin and Chioke, two friends who have known each other for 4 years since high school. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Kevin and Chioke go somewhere they have never gone as friends, establishing a deeper connection that felt long overdue.

TOTM Face to Face was created during the launch of this podcast, where two or more young men participate in the process of making and sharing masks. Each participant will create a mask, as used in the TOTM podcast, and let the conversation go where it needs to go. The TOTM activity was created by Ashanti Branch during the documentary, The Mask You Live In. 

(6:00) Kevin and Chioke introduce themselves and their friendship.

(7:15) Kevin and Chioke make masks together.

(10:24) Chioke shares the front of his mask - dependable, fun, intelligent. Kevin shares the front of his mask - happy, excited, funny.

(12:27) Chioke shares the back of his mask - I don’t know how to get where I want to go; I feel lost. Kevin shares the back of his mask - unmotivated, stressed, loss of energy.

(16:20) Kevin and Chioke discuss how different behaviors on social media represent the front and back of the mask.

(23:50) Kevin and Chioke answer some questions from the card game Ever Forward Club: The Adventure.

(25:20) Question: Tell us about an obstacle you have overcome in your life - Kevin shares how he faced a lot of bullying and name-calling while in school. Chioke shares how it was hard for him to find an identity and a community while growing up.

(31:59) Question: Tell us about a time when you betrayed someone’s trust - Kevin shares how it took him a long time to earn his parent’s trust, and how he dealt with the shame of breaking their trust. Chioke tells a childhood story about a time he blamed a friend for something he was also involved in.

(39:50) They reflect on the similarities between what they have shared, their relationships with their respective fathers, and how this conversation should have happened earlier in their friendship.

(46:10) Question: Tell us about a time when someone earned your trust - Kevin reflects on the multiple romantic relationships he has had. Chioke talks about his first relationship and how he learned to trust.

(56:10) Question: What was the hardest day of your life? Chioke shares what it was like when his significant other struggled with alcohol abuse and had a serious incident of alcohol poisoning. Kevin goes back to when he was bullied in HS. He recalls snapping a rubber band against his arm over and over again, and how one phone call played a huge role in his life.

(1:06:45) Kevin and Chioke wrap up and give appreciations.

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Connect with Kevin Romero:

Instagram: instagram.com/kevinn.romeroo

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Connect with Chioke Allen-Alvarez

Instagram: instagram.com/aa_kuya

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

“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 is joined by Newton Cheng. Beyond being the Director of Health + Performance at Google, Newton is a father of 2 girls, a husband of 13 years, and a world champion powerlifter. In January 2022, Newton went on mental health leave. And after sharing this story, the responses were more positive than he ever imagined they’d be. Now, Newton is charged up to continue the work of destigmatizing having conversations about your mental health, and he’s ready to build a movement. We’re excited for you to get to know Newton and his precise insights on himself as a leader and as a man.

(2:30) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:45) Newton introduces himself and how he was introduced to Ashanti back in 2015. Then, he tells the audience about his family background, his athletic career, and his work at Google.

(10:45) Newton talks about the LinkedIn post that brought him and Ashanti closer together. Then, he and Ashanti broadly discuss the work they have to do around masculinity.

(16:35) Newton shares the front of his mask - kind, optimistic, zen - which he refers to as “Zen Newton.”

(18:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, dedicated - and how his serious side tends to take over during his interactions.

(24:25) Newton goes into the concept of “shadows” in the world of mindfulness, then shares the back of his mask - resentful, self-judging, lonely.”

(29:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sensitive, “I feel”, worry, fear - and how the back of his mask was formed early in childhood. Then, he goes into more detail about his wish to “turn certain feelings off.”

(39:15) Ashanti tells a story about a young man in his program that lost a pet recently.

(43:45) Ashanti finishes up the rest of the back of his mask, and he and Newton broadly discuss leadership, teaching, and the critical gap between where we are now and where we want to be. They reach the conclusion, “just keep doing the reps.”

(54:35) Newton shares some final thoughts and final words with the audience.

---

Connect with Newton Cheng:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/newtoncheng

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“We on the progressive side have twisted up intersectionality. And we’ve twisted it up such that we have not agreed - metaphorically speaking - to move through the intersection unified. We’ve gotten stuck in the intersection. And while we’re there people are making up new rules. And those new rules show up as new words. And everybody got a new word. So we can’t move because we’re in this biblical Tower of Babel.” - Steve Vassor

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Steve Vassor. A servant leader, founder, proud father, husband, mentor, emerging author, and DJ, Steve has worked at, led, supported, and funded many-a-nonprofit. In addition, he’s launched several social enterprises engineered around his passion for DJ-ing and desire for a brighter tomorrow. As in any profession, “the masks we wear” play a role in the nonprofit industrial complex - Steve can testify to this. And in this conversation, Steve needs to let a few things off his chest as to why the progressive movement isn’t where it should be…

(2:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:50) Steve introduces himself, his family, his work, and his love of DJ-ing.

(7:45) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, intense, caring - and ponders what brings out his intensity.

(10:45) Steve shares the front of his mask - smart, insightful, cheery - and how his DJ-ing style represents the reverse, or the back of his mask.

(17:35) Steve breaks down what happens when two people have different definitions of “the same thing.”

(24:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worried, food addiction, health deteriorating - and expands on the root cause of the addiction.

(35:00) Steve shares the back of his mask - optimistic/hopeful, worried/doubtful, impatient - and reflects on the fallout of the years 2016 through 2020.

(44:50) Steve explains why he believes progressive movements have been stagnant.

(50:30) Steve shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Steve Vassor:

Website: stevevassor.com

Website: djstevevassor.com

Twitch: twitch.tv/DjSteveVassor

Twitter: twitter.com/SteveVassor

Instagram: instagram.com/steve_vassor

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 skills to create satirical content on social media to chronicle what it's like working in education today. Arturo is a testament to the fact that humor has the power to get us through hard times and advocate change in our world for the better, and we hope you enjoy learning about his masks!

(1:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:55) Arturo introduces himself and his journey in education - specifically, how he arrived at teaching theatre.

(12:55) Arturo and Ashanti discuss how the masks of acting apply to the masks of real life.

(17:25) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working, caring - and how opposing characteristics occupy the front of his mask.

(22:10) Arturo shares the front of his mask - funny, friendly, creative, serious.

(24:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, fear of failure, my brother’s mental health/my sadness about it - and some of the self-evaluation that he has been doing around sharing his voice with the world and supporting his brother.

(30:55) Arturo shares the back of his mask - anxiety, doubt, fear - and gives some advice to Ashanti along the way.

(39:25) Arturo shares his perspective on humor in the classroom, education-based humor, and humor as a form of coping.

(47:25) Ashanti and Arturo take time to appreciate teachers and analyze how the public has viewed teachers.

(51:55) Arturo shares how you can get in touch with him, and shares his final message for the audience.

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Connect with Arturo Aviña:

Instagram: instagram.com/schooledbyarturo

Tik Tok: tiktok.com/discover/schoolbyarturo

Twitter: twitter.com/schooledbyart

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“I think that - something I think we should just say and admit in life - is that the large majority of your day you can’t expect to be experiencing happiness. Happiness has to be something that’s abnormal otherwise it wouldn’t be real… I have a very busy schedule, and I feel like I’m always trying to get something. I’m kind of always trying to be happy - and you should always try to be happy - but I think we don’t say you’re not going to be happy a lot of the time… And it’s just normal.” - Selim

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Mohandas and Selim. Mohandas is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host, whom you can get to know more about in episode 83. Selim is Mohandas’s friend since childhood, currently a freshman and UC Santa Cruz and an excellent competitive ultimate frisbee player. By playing the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Mohandas and Selim have a chance to reminisce on their friendship and reflect on how they project themselves to the world.

(7:00) Selim and Mohandas check in with each other.

(9:00) Then Selim and Mohandas begin answering questions from the Ever Forward Club: The Adventure card game.

(9:30) Question 1: Who is someone you are currently missing?

(12:50) Question 2: What is a characteristic about yourself that you don’t talk about much? Selim shares a little bit about his artistic side, and Mohandas talks about how he holds the “wild child” in.

(17:05) Question 3: Have you ever told someone that you loved them and didn’t mean it? If so, why?

(18:30) Question 4: What are you most afraid of?

(20:30) Question 5: What are some things that you feel that you wish you could say out loud? Selim and Mohandas discuss the temporary nature of happiness.

(25:30) Question 6: What is a dream that you’ve let go of?

(29:25) Question 7: What is a lie that you tell yourself about yourself that you need to stop telling?

(31:30) Question 8: Describe a time when you changed your mind about something that you once strongly believed.

(34:00) Question 9: Name something that you could do to improve your life. What’s stopping you?

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Connect with Mohandas & Selim

Selim: https://www.instagram.com/8miles4354/

Mohandas: https://www.instagram.com/moduewa/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

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 mask - serious, hard working, funny. He shares how he felt as if he was moving slowly this past week, and how certain emotions played a role in this.

(10:20) Big Bruh shares the front of his mask - Hard working, honest, a provider. He reflects on how he picked up these traits from his father, and how he wants to pass these traits on to his seven year old son.

(12:15) Big Bruh breaks down what it was like making a mask for the first time.

(14:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, trauma. He and Big Bruh discuss what happens when you don’t give yourself time to grieve. Ashanti hadn’t dealt with sadness over his grandmother’s passing, and Big Bruh relates, with similar experiences with his grandfather and his aunt.

(19:45) Ashanti and Big Bruh explore the trend that men shut down their emotions and numb these feelings with unhealthy behaviors.

(24:40) Big Bruh shares the back of his mask - stress, over thinker, failure. He shares how his habit of over thinking fuels his stress, and how his status as an illegal immigrant adds further stress. He then shares how a supportive marriage and family allows him to move forward.

(30:50) The two men then analyze what it means to “kill the messenger”, in an attempt to “ignore the message”. They consider how this affects young people today, and how Big Bruh broke out of this cycle, overcoming alcoholism.

(35:25) Ashanti shares thoughts on the book Cry Like a Man, by Jason Wilson. They discuss what happens when men turn off a part of their “humanness”.

(39:19) Big Bruh shares his final message for young men.

(44:08) Learn where to get in touch with Big Bruh.

(45:10) Ashanti shares thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Connect with Big Bruh

Podcast: livewithbigbruh.libsyn.com

Instagram: instagram.com/livewithbigbruh

Twitter: twitter.com/livewithbigbruh

Email: livewithbigbruh@gmail.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:   instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 and help them be themselves, and, in this conversation, he and Ashanti are allowed to do just so.

(0:45) Ashanti’s introduction.

(2:45) Diego introduces himself and his work; and he explains why he’s feeling impatient. Then, he and Ashanti find common ground around their work promoting emotional authenticity.

(12:45) Ashanti and Diego make their masks together. 

(16:10) Diego shares the front of his mask - courage, authentic, open. Then, he shares the back of his mask - doubt, constant comparison, physical stature.

(18:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - caring, serious, dedicated. 

(20:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - impatient, self-doubt, sadness.

(21:45) Ashanti and Diego discuss self-compassion.

(26:20) Ashanti breaks down an interaction he had with his godson in Mexico.

(29:00) Diego explains the difference between “fitting in” and “belonging.”

(36:30) Diego shares how you can get in touch with him and provides some final words for the audience.

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Connect with Diego Estrada:

Instagram/Tik Tok: instagram.com/tuvidaesincreible

Podcast: #TUVIDAESINCREÍBLE

Books Mentioned by Diego: Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

“Medical students are seen through a lens that a lot of people in our society are not. And it is unfortunate. You take the most neurotic people you could possibly imagine. You stick them all in one room and you've got future physicians.” - John Feldkamp

John Feldkamp, a medical student and co-president of his class at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, is passionate about pediatrics, emergency medicine, and men’s health. His research focuses on gender disparities in healthcare utilization and the chronic health burden of men. As the Director of Men's Health Initiatives at Hey Brother Co., John leads workshops and writes articles on various topics related to masculinity, including gym culture and men's mental health. He enjoys powerlifting, climbing, and writing poetry and prose. Join Ashanti and John as they discuss the intersections of medicine, masculinity, and community building.

Topics include: med school, medical school culture, medical school’s attitude towards men’s health initiatives, Murph workouts, health insurance, teacher retention/burnout, men’s health, doctor visits, how American masculinity affects our healthcare habits, the Surgeon General’s Loneliness Epidemic

(0:00) Welcome (4:24) John’s introduction and his work as a medical student/men’s advocate (6:20) Front of John’s Mask - strength, joy, confidence (8:40) Front of Ashanti’s Mask - funny, serious, hard-working, strength (14:00) Back of John’s Mask - anxiety/fear, pain, inadequate (15:41) What is a Murph? (16:25) Celebrating a friend’s achievement instead of envying it (18:46) Back of Ashanti’s Mask - worried, self-doubt, inadequate - and how he neglects himself (21:15) The faults in our American healthcare system (31:38) Teacher burnout (33:45) The nitty gritty of men’s health in America (50:30) Closing and how to connect with John

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Connect with John Feldkamp

John’s Writing: www.heybrotherco.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feldyj/

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Our BetterHelp Promo: https://www.betterhelp.com/everforwardclub/

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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 ago at San Lorenzo High School. In addition to having a one-on-one conversation with Ashanti, during the final section of this podcast, Eduardo speaks to some young men in the Ever Forward Club’s Social Emotional Leadership Academy. All of these young men are starting their first year of high school this fall. So, not by coincidence, they’re on the brink of where Eduardo was those 18 years ago…

(7:30) Eduardo introduces himself and how he and Ashanti know each other.

(9:50) Ashanti and Eduardo look back on the masks they wore when they first met 15 years ago. Eduardo examines his lack of self-confidence. Ashanti examines things from a teacher’s perspective, being the only black male teacher at the school.

(19:35) Ashanti and Eduardo look at the bond that Eduardo has made with his high school peers. They observe how different it is now in the smartphone era.

(23:35) Ashanti and Eduardo share the masks that they wear today. Eduardo’s front - calm, poised, happy. Eduardo’s back - irritated, sad, faithful.

(26:40) Ashanti’s front - funny, caring, serious, hard-working. Ashanti’s back - self-doubt, worry, fear. He reflects on his strengths and weaknesses as a leader and Executive Director.

(31:20) Eduardo shares some final words with Ashanti.

(34:10) Eduardo introduces himself to the young men of the Social Emotional Leadership Academy. And the young men ask Eduardo some questions. He looks back on his childhood move to America and some of the supports and relationships he’s had along the way.

(42:20) Eduardo gives some final advice to the youth.

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Connect with Eduardo Canche:

Instagram: instagram.com/eddienine

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Ever 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 black valedictorian at San Lorenzo High School, and an HR Coordinator in the cannabis industry.

(5:40) Ashanti recollects his experiences with Jordon as his teacher at San Lorenzo High School. He remembers seeing himself in Jordon, and how Jordon had an impact on EFC, bringing more young men into the club through financial literacy training.

(10:20) Ashanti and Jordon make their masks together.

(14:16) Jordon shares the front of his mask - strong, funny, confident, and Ashanti shares his front - hard working, serious, funny. Jordon reflects on what it means to be black in Orange County, while Ashanti reflects on how the front of his mask plays a role as Executive Director of the Ever Forward Club.

(18:29) Jordon shares the back of his mask - sadness, anxiety, anger. He shares the good and the bad of how he has learned to convert sadness into anger, how he can be “active” with anger, whereas he cannot be “active” with depression.

(22:06) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, fear of failure, trauma. He reflects on how giving back to young men so much allowed him to avoid examining his own mask. He also shares what it was like to transition from engineering to teaching, and how giving up the prospects of financial success pushed him to strive for a deeper impact on the world.

(25:45) Jordon shares his family’s bouts with anger, and how it stemmed from being an emotional child. Over time, his anger matured into more calculated responses, and now, he is learning to let go of his anger.

(31:50) Ashanti and Jordon further examine their past at San Lorenzo High School. They discuss what it was like to be the first black male valedictorian, and how Jordon forged an identity based around a friend group diverse in identities and points of view.

(40:00) Ashanti shares a final story from the day of graduation, before restating his mission to build a space that helps men find peace and navigate their emotions.

(43:28) Ashanti and Jordon share their final thoughts.

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Connect with Jordon Hodges:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordon-hodges-49138b4b/

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

E111. 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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Man Le. Man is one of the original members of the Ever Forward Club, a student of Ashanti’s at San Lorenzo High School. Nearly 20 years later, he is now a nurse and a loving father and husband based in San Diego, California. Please enjoy Man and Ashanti as they reminisce about old times, give merit to life paths outside of the conventional route, and share how they take off their masks and decompress in different ways.

(0:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:55) Ashanti and Man make their masks together and reflect on their time in the Ever Forward Club.

(10:40) Man introduces himself. He shares his origins, how he met Ashanti, and how he got involved with the Ever Forward Club.

(13:35) Ashanti and Man look at some old photos together. Our podcast is in video format on Spotify and Youtube.

(16:45) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, dedicated

(18:40) Man shares the front of his mask - positivity, always trust, consistency - and he and Ashanti give gratitude to one another.

(22:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, worry, “what am I doing” - and explains how he defines “giving his best”.

(26:55) Man shares the back of his mask - sadness - and how he and his wife are always there for each other. Then, he explains how he learns from all of his failures and how certain hobbies keep him mentally healthy.

(39:10) Ashanti and Man celebrate life’s “non-traditional” paths. Then, Man provides a challenge for the listeners.

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“I’m really really anxious, like, off the charts anxious. In my head, it’s the Tasmanian Devil. It is spinning and spinning. If you’ve ever seen the cartoon, whenever he stops to say something it’s unintelligible. It’s just, ‘blah blah blah blah.’ And then he spins off. And that’s what it feels like in my head. But people don’t see that. They see this calm, confident, semi-put-together person on the outside.” - Zach Tucker

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jeremy Grater and Zach Tucker. Jeremy and Zach host the podcast The Fit Mess. The Fit Mess is in direct alignment with how Jeremy and Zach identify, as two vulnerable guys who have made extraordinary efforts to improve their own lives and want to help others clear a path to better wellness. Jeremy and Zach believe that fitness is not just about outer appearances or physiological health, it’s about the mind and achieving inner peace. Though their journey to inner peace is ongoing, never complete, you can hear the strides they have made in their journey, as they communicate with Ashanti with joy, authenticity, and electric chemistry…

(1:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:30) Jeremy and Zach introduce themselves, their journey in fitness, and how they found healing in vulnerable conversations.

(14:30) Zach shares the front of his mask - funny, calm, confident - and why he identifies with the Tasmanian Devil.

(17:50) Jeremy shares the front of his mask - friendly, helpful, people pleaser.

(19:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, passionate - and why he’s worried about his city, Oakland.

(26:15) Zach shares the back of his mask - sensitive, introvert, anxious.

(31:50) Jeremy shares the back of his mask - terrified, insecure, selfish, alone - and how comparison is the thief of joy.

(37:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, fear, family mental health.

(40:30) Zach shares the science behind the benefits of venting.

(43:10) Zach and Jeremy give their final messages to the audience and share how you can get in touch.

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Connect with Jeremy and Zach:

Twitter: twitter.com/FitMessGuys

Instagram: instagram.com/fitmessguys

Facebook: facebook.com/fitmessguys

YouTube: youtube.com/@fitmessguys

TikTok: tiktok.com/@fitmessguys

Website: thefitmess.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

“As a guy, I want to be able to express my emotions. I would hate for other youth or young men to feel like they can’t do that. It’s such a narrow way of being. You miss out on such a huge experience if you don’t get to talk about how you’re doing.” - Nicholas M.

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nicholas M. As a Youth Outreach Worker, Nicholas provides 1-1 support to youth in the community. He meets his youth where they are, whether they just need some mentorship or they are dealing with anxiety and depression. Nicholas’s own mask, and the reason that supporting and mentoring youth resonates with him, is informed by his upbringing in South Africa. Now that he is in Vancouver, B.C., he’s navigating a new culture and honing in on what he expects from himself and what he’s looking for in friendships. Enjoy the conversation!

(1:25) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:40) Nicholas introduces himself, his work, and his hobbies.

(8:55) Nicholas shares the front of his mask - friendly, kind, quiet. Then, Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, serious, hard-working.

(13:15) Nicholas shares the back of his mask - insecure, self-doubt, lonely.

(15:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - overwhelmed, anger, self-doubt - and talks about how he dealt with a difficult workshop.

(21:05) Nicholas shares how he processes anger. And Ashanti relates to it through some work he’s been doing at a juvenile detention center.

(30:30) Nicholas sheds some more light on the work he does and how he was drawn to it.

(36:55) Nicholas looks back on his upbringing in South Africa drew him towards working with youth.

(43:30) Nicholas looks back on watching the documentary “The Mask You Live In” and shares his final message for young people. Then, talks about his friend and family groups and where he goes to take off his mask.

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Gant. Jason is a San Francisco native who brings an international perspective to his work in mental health and athletics. He has collaborated with and supported the youth of Ever Forward Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Ashanti discusses Jason's curios, adventurous nature, and what he has learned while abroad.

(1:24) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:55) Jason introduces himself. In addition to his experiences with mental health, we learn about his experience with entrepreneurial management and his travels in Spain and Taiwan.

(7:14) Jason shares the front of his mask - curious, joy, adventurous.

(8:16) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, hard-working. He shares how “caring” has become a new word on the front of his mask that he’s been reflecting on, and how it often replaces where he usually writes “funny”.

(9:55) Jason shares the back of his mask - victim, hyperrational, intense. He reflects on how these words change over time. He shares what it was like to write these words down for the first time, after seeing these descriptors in a personality test he recently took. He talks about what it’s like finding a balance between the front and the back, and how acquiring more mental health tools has helped him.

(13:12) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, his brother’s mental health. He shares that it was recently his brother’s birthday, and how he builds empathy and handles the frustrations of having a brother with paranoid schizophrenia.

(19:27) Jason shares how he found his current niche - developing the mental skills of athletes - while wandering the streets of Spain and providing space for his mind to ponder. He then shares what he learned about mental health, during the most intense moments of competitive sports, and how he can help athletes access peak performance in these moments.

(28:37) Jason shares his final thoughts on the mask-making process, and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jason Gant

Twitter: twitter.com/myvillagetribe

Instagram:.instagram.com/myvillagetribe

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/myvillagetribe

Email: myVillageTribe@gmail.com

Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=n_ZAkEvn5MQ&t=51s

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Check out the USA premiere of Beyond Men and Masculinity:

gofund.me/e5d204ee

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Email: everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“I can’t light a fire under young people. But I can help them find their fire, and then I can feed it. That’s my goal as a mentor.” - Jordan Bowman

Jordan Bowman is the Executive Director of Journeymen, a nonprofit mentoring teenage boys to become men of integrity. Jordan is passionate about fostering connection and compassion, focusing on self-awareness and emotional intelligence. He designs and facilitates transformative experiences for diverse groups, guiding them in leadership development, team-building, and strategy. Join us to hear Jordan's insights on building resilient young men and cultivating conscious masculinity.

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(0:00) Welcome

(1:10) Jordan introduces himself

(4:15) Jordan and Ashanti make their masks

(7:05) Front of Jordan’s Mask

(9:00) Front of Ashanti’s Mask

(10:45) Work-life balance and service-minded people

(12:49) Back of Jordan’s Mask

(16:20) Back of Ashanti’s Mask

(21:52) Mentoring, compromising with mentees, and the tension of stretching someone’s development

(30:30) Addressing conflict in the classroom; building a restorative classroom

(35:04) How to evolve while working with men and boys; next steps for our society

(37:40) How to get in touch with Jordan

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Topics include: sonder, work-life balance, mentoring, teaching, working with young boys and men, healthy masculinity vs. toxic masculinity, mentoring vs. teaching, building restorative culture with young people, conflict resolution, classroom culture

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Connect with Jordan Bowman:

Website: https://journeymentriangle.org/ 

Website: https://www.jbowman.org/ 

Social Media: @Jordan7Bowman

Social Media: @Journeymen_NC

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Are you a teacher? An educator? Administrator? We’re excited to launch a new series under the Taking Off The Mask podcast feed: Education Monthly - with Donofriend!

Donofriend, or Donovan Taylor Hall, joins Ashanti Branch to talk about what they are reflecting on as educators, what they’re seeing out in the schools, and what’s the latest news in education. You can learn more about Donovan, an experienced teacher and positive youth development expert,  in episode 152.

(0:00) Welcome!

(3:30) Donovan’s lesson for today.

(18:00) Ashanti’s lesson for today.

(23:30) Witnessing fear in the classroom.

(30:30) Testing out our first episode.

(34:35) Take this to your classroom.

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Connect with Donovon Taylor Hall:

Website: www.donovantaylorhall.com

Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @donofriend

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“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 podcast platforms. But before you get to know Mohandas as a host, we’d like for you to learn about his mask, his friendships, and how he carries himself in the hallways and classrooms of Latitude High. Enjoy the show!

(0:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:00) Mohandas and Ashanti reflect on their first meeting. Then, Mohandas introduces himself and shares some of his hobbies and interests.

(7:30) Ashanti and Mohandas make their masks together. Ashanti guides him through the process.

(16:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, funny.

(18:20) Mohandas shares the front of his mask - confidence, work ethic, friendliness.

(20:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - overthinking, fear of failure, childhood trauma.

(23:20) Mohandas shares the back of his mask - lonely, unsure, hard on myself - and how the front and back of his masks are at war with each other.

(28:20) Mohandas and Ashanti discuss how Mohandas’s generation of youth relates to one another and how much his friends really know about him.

(34:50) Ashanti and Mohandas look forward and anticipate what it will be like for Mohandas to host other youth on his show.

(41:50) Mohandas reflects on the experience of making a mask.

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Connect with Mohandas D.:

Instagram: instagram.com/moduewa

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“Compassionate living should be the focus of our existence - or our existential life. Because, of all the things we are able to be, one thing that will stand us out, when we leave the world, is the feeling we left behind in the hearts of other people, and that feeling originates from a heart that is very compassionate. And that’s what drives me every day - to bring these feelings out and give it to the world out there.” - Ola Akinwe

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ola Akinwe. "The Humanitarian Guru" that hails from Lagos, Nigeria, Ola is a literacy activist that has been passionately equipping, inspiring, and teaching young minds to love, learn, live, and leave a legacy of an exemplary life since 2007. He is the founder of the Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network (BMAN), a Non-Governmental Organization that guides boys and adolescent males on their journey to a healthy, caring, respectful and responsible manhood. We look forward to you learning how Ola grounds himself in loyalty and compassion as he navigates his masks and this world.

(2:10) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:00) Ola introduces himself and shares how he helps cultivate healthy and responsible boys in Nigeria. Then, he tells the origin story of Boys Mentoring Advocacy Network.

(10:20) Ashanti and Ola make their masks together.

(14:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask- serious, dedicated, passionate - and how certain pressures are shaping the front of his mask.

(16:20) Ola shares the front of his mask - compassionate, loyalty, supportive - and why he believes that these traits are needed more and more in today’s world. He also shares the support he provides for the youth in Nigeria.

(25:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, confusion, fear - and how all three of these feelings contributed to him avoiding writing his book over the long weekend.

(29:00) Ola shares the back of his mask - vulnerability, worthlessness, afraid - and how these feelings stem from a pervasive and consuming “culture of achievement.” Then, he and Ashanti discuss how comparison is the thief of joy and how adults still need people to believe in them.

(43:00) Ola shares how he needs to overcome distrust when seeking a mentor and how books are a form of mentorship for him. They discuss the books As a Man Thinketh and The Secret of the Ages

(49:20) Ola gives his final message and provides his answer to the question, “why do you live?”

(56:55) Ola shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Ola Akinwe:

Website: bmanadvocacy.org

Instagram: instagram.com/bmanadvocacy

Facebook: facebook.com/bmanadvocacy

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

Ever 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.

(9:58) The two men share the fronts of their masks. Keita - thoughtfulness, knowledge, optimism. Ashanti - serious, caring, hard working.

(11:36) Keita shares the back of his mask - foresight, my deepest work, who I really am. He shares how he is still learning how to be humble, instead of being secretive.

(13:20) Keita reflects on the passing of his grandmother, the good and bad of a virtual funeral, and how close his bond was with his grandmother.

(16:56) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, childhood trauma. Ashanti relates the passing of his own grandmother to Keita’s. Ashanti reflects on what his grandmother represents to him, and why he is upset that his family is selling his grandmother’s home.

(21:30) Keita talks about how he believes emotions are love notes to the self. He helps Ashanti unpack what "love note" Ashanti’s emotions are telling him, with regards to his grandmother.

(26:10) Keita shares why he believes he has only just begun the grieving process, and shares how he is applying what he has learned about his emotions to how he is raising his son.

(29:06) The men discuss the idea of emotional wounds and emotional scars. They discuss how this metaphor is multi-layered.

(33:31) Keita shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Keita Demming:

Instagram: instagram.com/kdemming/

Twitter: twitter.com/kdemming

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/kdemming/

Website: www.betterconversationsproject.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“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 enhancing emotional intelligence, communication, and connection. Paul also has a book, “The Heal.Thy.Man Method”, a pocketbook guiding men to self-awareness and self-fulfillment. So where does all of this inspiration come from? You’ll have to listen to Paul talk about bullying, parenthood, and what happens when these two universal life experiences intersect…

(2:30) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:05) Paul introduces himself, his work, and how he uses his “rocky road” of a life to help others.

(9:05) Paul and Ashanti share their experiences with bullying when they were in school. Then, Paul shares how he currently helps his son, who is being bullied.

(20:00) Paul and Ashanti continue to discuss bullying, specifically the balance between confronting bullies and providing those being bullied the tools to manage and know their self and self-worth.

(32:05) Ashanti and Paul give their thoughts on why Andrew Tate is enticing to young boys. Then, they discuss our “swipe it away” culture.

(44:20) Paul shares the front of his mask - jovial, grounded, wise.

(48:40) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - resting frown face, caring, serious, loving.

(51:35) Paul shares the back of his mask - regretful, combustible, powerless.

(55:40) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, family drama, where is my power.

(1:03:45) Paul shares how you can get in touch with him and find his book.

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Connect with Paul Newell

Website and Book: healthymanmethod.com

Instagram: instagram.com/newellnessmensguide

Youtube: youtube.com/@PaulNewellGuides 

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

“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 future for humanity exists within each of its individuals; and, in this conversation, they imagine a future where more of us can be our “whole” selves. We hope you enjoy this episode!

(1:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:20) Didier introduces himself, his background, his work, and his passions. Then, Ashanti shares how he has admired Didier’s work from afar, and the men discuss how hard it is to gain control over all the things our eyes and ears are taking in and presenting to us.

(14:40) Didier and Ashanti make their masks together.

(21:14) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, intense, caring.

(23:04) Didier shares the front of his mask - kindness, roundedness, playfulness - and explains why “vocal precision” is important to him.

(26:34) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - doubt, worry, comparison “not enough” - and he explores how the positives of success and excitement can, at times, summon more doubt, fear, and nerves.

(35:34) Didier shares the back of his mask - anger, vision, vulnerability - and how he is working to bring these thoughts and emotions to the front of his mask.

(41:04) Ashanti and Didier think back on the loss and tragedy they have both experienced in life. Didier considers what it would be like if vulnerability were a conscious muscle, not a reaction to external forces.

(50:19) Didier believes that human beings are inherently whole - Ashanti and Didier consider why we rarely present our “whole” selves. Then, Didier presents a question he frequently asks others: “What parts of yourself does your heart long to reunite with?”

(55:24) Didier shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Didier Sylvain:

Website: didiersylvain.com

Instagram: instagram.com/__didiersylvain__

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/didiersylvain

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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 American Studies and Human Biology, John currently serves as a Tom Ford Philanthropic Fellow at the Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital. Whether it is through his work or his art, John is all about promoting unity and liberation within individuals and amongst communities. John carries himself with a distinct focus and wisdom, and this can only come from his desire to generate self-reflection from honest dialogue - from taking off his mask.

(1:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:15) John introduces himself, his heritage, his professional work in the nonprofit world, his work in the arts, and his underlying goal to restore and heal.

(13:35) John shares the front of his mask - humor, kindness, strength, zen.

(16:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, funny, hard-working. Then, John and Ashanti find common ground in their relationship to humor and self-talk.

(22:20) John shares the back of his mask - sadness, worry, deep down anger and frustration, confidence - and then Ashanti relates to how John hides his confidence behind the mask.

(27:35) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of…, worry, stress. Then, John and Ashanti discuss the value in speaking up for the sake of dialogue, especially when you may not be completely informed.

(31:05) Ashanti and John explore how they are trying to shift what traits they value in themselves, and they take the time to celebrate rest and relaxation as a radical act.

(43:35) John looks back on his upbringing, and how he found a version of masculinity and femininity that best suited him and went beyond these gender categories.

(52:35) Ashanti explains the importance of modeling the behavior he is teaching in his workshops. And John takes these explanations and applies them to building understanding across generations.

(1:02:05) John expresses some final thoughts with the audience and calls for love and prayer.

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Connect with John Okhiulu:

Twitter: twitter.com/souliberationar

Instagram: instagram.com/souliberationary

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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. Zev was raised in the Bay Area and is now studying philosophy at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. College is a huge transition for young people - now add that to the fact that Zev is now 1,000 miles away, learning a new culture. With the ground shifting beneath him, Zev has approached things with empathy, humility, and an open mind. We hope you enjoy the episode as you learn more about Zev and the college students of 2021.

(1:40) Ashanti's introduction.

(7:00) Zev introduces himself and how the Ever Forward Club’s work around gender and emotions aligns with his college studies. He shares how college life in Bozeman, Montana, has pushed him out of his comfort zone.

(12:15) Zev shares the front of his mask - kindness, wisdom, funny.

(14:00) Zev shares the back of his mask - lonely, insecure, uncertain.

(16:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, dedicated, passionate - and explores the etymology of passion.

(20:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, anger, family stuff.

(23:00) Zev and Ashanti find common ground in the insecurities that exist on the back of their masks.

(27:00) Zev shares some of the masks he’s seen while in college in Montana - for example, a specific section of a wall that frustrated young men like to punch.

(34:50) Ashanti and Zev discuss the rarity of adults saying “that hurt my feelings.”

(38:45) Ashanti tells the story of how he encountered a salesman at Costco, who was put off by the term “toxic masculinity.”

(43:00) Ashanti and Zev share their thoughts on the phrase “toxic masculinity.”

(48:45) Zev and Ashanti give their closing thoughts.

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Connect with Zev Grossman:

Instagram: instagram.com/imzevg

Facebook: facebook.com/zev.grossman.31

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male. As a male at your school site, it gets lonely. And just think about the ramifications of this gender gap for your male students - walking the halls daily, acting out, and experiencing disproportionate levels of discipline - male students who just want to feel understood. Sound familiar?

This is a show for male educators - male educators who want to be more understood by their community and want to create emotionally safe classrooms and schools for the next generation of male students.

Listeners leave this show equipped with tangible, actionable lesson plans and techniques to engage their male students; nourished by stories and experiences from male teachers and educators at their school sites; and fired up to improve students’ learning and well-being with the sense that, as a male educator, they are not alone.

As US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy noted, the mental health of our young people is the “crisis of our time.” As more and more of our young boys fill this void with extreme thoughts and ideas - ideas from the likes of Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, etc. - we, as male educators, are uniquely positioned to stop this dangerous trajectory our students are on. Because real men teach.

Join our community of listeners. Join our community, Advocates for Young Men: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345

Attend our Young Men’s Conference: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw6tfn3lZrkBxZRqSqHjTTeygRNIgwk0KKgHRcwlclaS1xag/viewform 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

In this special 200th Episode, host Ashanti Branch beams in from the Ever Forward Club’s new office and revisits some of the most powerful moments from the past year. This includes some parts work (internal family systems) with Jamin Heppell (ep. 159), discussion on self-love with Gael Aitor (ep. 160), and an analogy between life and repotting plants with Trevor Taylor (ep. 177).

Topics include: parts work, internal family systems, IFS, self-love, self-hate, self-talk, positive self-talk, negative self-talk, mentoring, holding space, repotting plants, personal growth, changing environments

(0:00) Introducing the new office and welcome

(2:45) Jamin Heppell

(21:45) Gael Aitor

(31:00) Trevor Taylor

(34:45) Final thoughts and reflections

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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 a teacher in the state of Texas for over 38 years. One remarkable thing about Tim, in addition to his years of service, is his ability to adapt to the changing characteristics of youth for over three decades - and to remain an outstanding teacher this entire time. After listening to Tim take off his mask with Ashanti, you’ll see why he is able to do what he does.

(6:25) Tim introduces himself and his history as a teacher. Then, he and Ashanti look back on their experience in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program.

(12:55) This conversation was recorded on May 26, 2022, days after the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Tim and Ashanti take a moment and provide space for the grief our country is going through.

(15:15) Tim shares the front of his mask - happy, teacher, educated. Then, he shares the back of his mask - insecure, family issues, trauma.

(17:05) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - energetic, serious, caring. Then, he shares the back of his mask - sad, worry, family drama.

(20:35) Tim shares some thoughts on why “insecure” is on the back of his mask, and how this insecurity traces back to his childhood and past relationships.

(27:15) Self-validation and seeking the validation of others can get tangled and complicated. Ashanti and Tim sort these feelings out and the encounters teachers have when meeting with people with traditional “elite” backgrounds.

(34:30) Tim describes his bed of nails activity, and then he shares how, as a teacher, he is constantly innovating and adapting to the next group of young people.

(44:30) Tim shares how he approaches his students in class and makes them feel safe and take off their masks. Then, he thanks Robert Saleh, the teacher who inspired him the most.

(49:15) Tim shares his final thoughts, and he and Ashanti close out.

(52:30) Tim shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Dr. Tim Daponte:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-tim-daponte-2b7521b4

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

This is the story of a man who sacrificed two-thirds of his annual salary to become a teacher… You might be the ONLY male educator at your school site, quite an isolating experience. So in order to keep the classroom as invigorating as you imagined it would be when you first answered the call to teach, we need to share stories and reconnect with our why. We present to you, Vladimir Puvača. Listen to Vladimir’s story and apply these takeaways to your class tomorrow:

1. The things I wish someone had told me earlier as a teacher, and the things you CAN achieve that first-year teachers would call IMPOSSIBLE

2. How to have empathy but still set boundaries as an educator

3. The age-old question that never goes away: “Why’d I become a teacher again?”

4. A story about a teacher getting caught waiting tables after school 

(0:00) Class in session

(4:00) Vladimir introduces himself and what he learned about setting boundaries as a first-year high school teacher and how to get buy-in from students as a leader

(11:00) Closing your classroom door between periods

(15:00) Ashanti reflects on all the mistakes he’s made as an educator

(17:20) Ashanti and Vladimir share their “teacher persona” masks

(20:00) Waiting tables at Chili’s after teaching all day, and what happens when your faculty shows up

(23:00) Why Vladimir became a teacher, what he left behind at his corporate job, and why psychology and therapy are very important to him

(31:00) Vladimir fired himself instead of following his CEO’s mandate to fire 100 workers. This moment led him to teaching.

(34:00) Vladimir’s salary in his corporate job was 3 times more than his new job as an educator. He’s still an educator today :) How did he not go back?

(37:45) Finding time to do more for students and the community outside of the classroom, and being motivated by and gifted with empathy and the ability to understand student’s pain

(41:55) Vladimir’s message to youth on uprising, revolution, defiance, and finding oneself

Connect with Vladimir Puvača: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vladimirpuvaca/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimir-puvaca/ 

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

We’ve all had that amazing lesson plan that we were so excited to teach. And when we finally got to teach it, it fell apart within the first 30 seconds. So what went wrong? I'm riding solo today, with my individual takeaways from a conversation with educator, administrator, headmaster, director… Dr. Ray Swann. Check out my conversation with this veteran educator in episode 3.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why safety is more important than your most amazing lesson plan

2. How teachers make the weather in obvious and subtle ways

3. I’m going to answer this question - Where do I find the soul of teaching? And I’m curious to hear your answers to this question as well…

(0:00) Class in session

(2:10) Takeaway 1 - a story about letting students know you have their back, even when it means disagreeing with another educator

(12:10) Takeaway 2 - how teachers make metaphorical waves as they move about the classroom

(14:55) Takeaway 3 - reconnecting to the soul of teaching before you start your winter break

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Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

Ever 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 - competent, smart, caring. He shares how these positive elements of himself are motivated by some of his wounded elements.

(14:33) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working. He then breaks down how these traits affect his interpersonal dynamics while working.

(19:43) Malcolm shares how the concept of emotional masks plays a role in the incarcerated populations he works with, and how understanding the duality of the front and back of the mask is important.

(23:33) Malcolm shares the back of his mask - ashamed, afraid, inadequate. Ashanti shares - fear of failure, Father’s Day is hard, sadness about…

(26:28) Malcolm and Ashanti look at Father’s Day from a perspective outside of the traditional holiday, and Ashanti digs deep into his past with a story about his mother and her husband at the time.

(35:18) Malcolm looks back at his childhood, and how wounds from his 1st-grade self continue to impact him today.

(38:58) Ashanti and Malcolm take time to honor the front of the mask, and how it functions as a protective shield for us as we navigate different spaces.

(42:54) Malcolm likens his and Ashanti’s work to “moving at the speed of trust” and creating a “laboratory of humanity”. He and Ashanti explore these metaphors.

(50:58) Malcolm and Ashanti reflect on how the work of Ever Forward is connected to the work of Freedom from Within. Both organizations support men’s capacity to have internal and external dialogues.

(54:48) Malcolm shares some final thoughts, and how the conversation conjures up the faces of the men he works with.

(58:38) Malcolm shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Malcolm Dydo:

Instagram: instagram.com/freedomwithinproject

Facebook: facebook.com/freedomwithinprisonproject

Website: freedomwithinproject.org

Email: malcolm@freedomwithinproject.org

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Lincoln. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Lincoln is a fellow student of Wenceslao’s at City Arts and Leadership Academy ➡️➡️➡️ As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss all things poetry, friendship, and trust, it’s inspiring to imagine the future these two youth have in store for themselves…

(5:15) Lincoln introduces himself.

(6:15) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - set my path, passionate, outgoing.

(6:50) Lincoln shares the front of his mask - hilarious, enjoyment, leader.

(7:15) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - lack of communication, hesitant, stressed.

(7:45) Lincoln shares the back of his mask - socialization, short-tempered, bright.

(8:45) Wenceslao and Lincoln play the Ever Forward Club: The Adventure card game. Question 1. Tell us about a time when you realized you were becoming an adult.

(9:45 Question 2. Describe a time when you felt like you were in a difficult situation with a friend.

(10:25) Question 3. Tell us about a time when someone betrayed your trust.

(11:25) Question 4. What is the most important thing in making a relationship work?

(12:00) Question 5. Name something you can do to improve your life. What’s stopping you?

(13:05) Question 6. What is a lie that you tell yourself about yourself that you need to stop telling?

(13:45) Then, Wenceslao talks to Lincoln about his involvement in the Ever Forward Club.

(15:45) Wenceslao reads a passage from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Then, Lincoln shares more about how the Ever Forward Club has helped him.

(27:00) Wenceslao and Lincoln wrap up the conversation.

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

Have you ever felt ISOLATED at your school? Whether it be socially? Over a particular issue? Approach? In your own classroom?

Any honest individual will answer YES to this question. It’s human! Once we acknowledge our shared humanity as teachers, staff, and students, the faster we can build a safe culture and climate at our school site.

In this episode, we cover

1. The gender demographics for educators, as we move through elementary, middle, and high school

2. A story about being the only Black educator at my school site, and how empathy toward others’ identities can create a culture of belonging in your school community

(0:00) Welcome and intro

(4:00) Storytime

(13:15) Closing

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Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Attend our Young Men’s Conference: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw6tfn3lZrkBxZRqSqHjTTeygRNIgwk0KKgHRcwlclaS1xag/viewform 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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. Barajas. As a wellness mentor, mental health advocate, performer, and activist, Ceasar is an incredibly accomplished individual. His career has spanned 30+ years, and he's done everything from yoga instruction to fight and dance choreography, teaching at Columbia University to working with fellow veterans on their mental health and wellness. Importantly, amongst all of the accolades, he openly shares how he still presently copes and attempts to manage the anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress injuries that have plagued him his entire life. We hope you enjoy getting to know Ceasar in this week's episode.

(1:15) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:15) Ceasar and Ashanti discuss their favorite book, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho.

(7:15) Ceasar introduces himself. He shares the many lives he’s already lived and masks he’s already worn, and he shares what pushed him to seek “emotional sobriety.”

(18:45) Even after 11 years of therapy, Ceasar didn’t discover men’s groups until June of 2020. He shares all the things that led up to a major breakdown in June 2020, and the men’s group that changed his life.

(29:15) Ceasar and Ashanti discuss what it’s like staying in touch their college fraternity brothers.

(37:15) Ceasar and Ashanti return to an incident of racism Ashanti experienced. Ceasar applies his learnings and teachings to this incident, and he shares the different ways he’s been healing since March 2021.

(48:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, dedicated, determined. Then Ceasar shares the front of his mask - vulnerability, artistry, fortitude.

(54:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - deep sadness, worrier vs. warrior, no rest.

(58:15) Ceasar shares the back of his mask - self-sabotage, remorse/guilt, self-doubt.

(1:04:15) Ceasar shares how you can connect with him.

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Connect with Ceasar F. Barajas:

Instagram: instagram.com/ceasarfbarajas

Twitter: twitter.com/ceasarfbarajas

Website: thejourneywithceasar.com

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever 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) Spencer and Ashanti reflect on the process of creating a mask. They discuss Spencer’s prior history with Ashanti’s mask making workshop, and how making a mask allows individuals to lift their judgment away from the world, for just a moment, and focus on themselves.

(14:30) Spencer reflects on what it was like growing up in a traditional, masculine, sports culture, and what this upbringing means to him as a father of three.

(19:46) Ashanti and Spencer begin sharing the front of their masks.

(24:58) Then, the men share the back of their masks.

(27:28) This leads to a discussion about how fear of failure and anxiety are deeply intertwined. They both  are rooted in the question “what if?”, which can rule our minds and prevent us from being present and known.

(31:10) Spencer and Ashanti then discuss leadership, and how carrying past trauma while grabbing onto false identities can prevent one from truly connecting as a leader.

(43:31) The men wrap up, and Spencer shares his final thoughts with listeners.

--

Check out Spencer’s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerromero/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-romero-8084a156/

Work with The Movement: https://themovement.church/podcast/tag/spencer+romero

--

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

--

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

--

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashantibranch

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

“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 advocate. And he’ll be the first to say that he didn’t transform into a true man until he was 50 years old, after a lifetime of experiences he shares with the world in hopes of making it a more loving place.

(1:25) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:30) Phillip introduces himself, his upbringing, his veteran background, and his current work. Then, he shares his family’s history with mental health.

(11:55) Phillip shares the front of his mask - professional, outgoing, hard-working. Then, he shares the back of his mask - imposter syndrome, ongoing pain (John Henryism), ambivert. Then, he breaks down the physical and emotional fatigue he experiences while pushing up against the systems in place.

(15:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, dedicated, intense, on edge - and reflects on what it has been like to have a career coach. Then, they reflect generally on what it is like to dump out all of your emotions at once.

(23:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worry, doubt. Then, Phillip looks back on his time in the military and how the military dealt with mental health.

(29:00) Ashanti and Phillip observe how many men in our culture lack intimacy and how specifically Black men can change this culture.

(38:00) Then, Ashanti explains why he has resisted speaking publicly about our country’s history of racism, and how our culture places a mask over this history.

(46:50) Phillip gives some advice to fathers.

(53:00) Phillip shares how you can connect with him.

---

Connect with Phillip Tyler:

Instagram: instagram.com/color_fulconversations

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phillip-tyler-72213051

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011171763908

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Help 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 lean into it, and on the other side is a place of empowerment, and a place of pride and fulfillment and meaning.” - Ross Leppala

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ross Leppala. Ross describes himself beautifully: “A soul, having a human experience.  A seeker.  A person who desires to elevate my own consciousness and support others in their journeys to level up.  It is my mission to impact growth and healing in this world in such a way that we radically reduce suicide rates.  I coach powerlifting, produce a self-development podcast (Project UnchainED), and guide people through a self-development course; I’m a public speaker, partner, and father to a wonderful 6-year-old girl.” We’re excited for you to hear Ross explore his consciousness and escape the victim mentality. Enjoy.

(2:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:35) Ross introduces himself, his work as a powerlifter, passion as a public speaker, and how powerlifting saved his life.

(14:05) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, passionate, caring - and reflects on managing his intensity.

(17:50) Ross shares the front of his mask - capable, reliable, conscientious - and how these things help him approach things intentionally.

(24:40) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, self-doubt, fear of… Then, Ross identifies with a lot of the young people that Ashanti is trying to help and serve.

(31:10) Ross shares the back of his mask - personally (take things), destructive, narcissistic internal reactions

(35:20) Ross describes his inner, hurt child. Then, he and Ashanti discuss how they structure their journaling.

(46:50) Ashanti and Ross conclude their conversation.

(50:10) Ross shares how you can connect with him.

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Connect with Ross Leppala:

Instagram: instagram.com/ross.leppala

Facebook: facebook.com/ross.leppala

Podcast: instagram.com/project_unchained

Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“Teachers will generally give longer wait time for kids that they think know the answer, than kids that they think don’t know the answer.” - Dr. Ray Swann

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Ray Swann. Ray knows a thing or two about acting and emotions. Pair that with a deep knowledge of teaching and learning, and you have an excellent educator. 

Ray is currently the Executive Director of the Foundation for Positive Masculinity, an NGO based in Melbourne Australia. He hosts The Understanding Boys podcast and wrote “The Seven Stories: Planting Seeds for Positive Masculinities” - a book full of mindfulness stories for boys. 

(0:00) Welcome!

(5:15) Ray introduces himself.

(9:15) The front of Ray’s mask - calm, hard-working, engaged.

(14:35) The front of Ashanti’s mask - hard-working, passionate, emotions.

(15:35) What does “calm” really mean?

(21:45) The back of Ray’s mask - sensitive, characters/voices, sad/melancholic.

(24:30) William Shakespeare's "As You Like It".

(31:30) How to make students feel safe to participate in class.

(35:15) The back of Ashanti’s mask - fear of failure, sadness, worry.

(42:45) “The Wasteland” by T.S. Eliot.

(46:15) How acting and performing informs how Ray interacts with his students.

(54:45) Final thoughts and how to get in touch with Ray.

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Connect with Ray Swann:

Website: http://www.positivemasculinity.org.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrayswann/ 

Theater Company: www.identitytheatre.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-swann-6673531b/?originalSubdomain=au

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

“I was working so hard in service to my community; I hit burnout, had a massive breakdown. And I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was like, ‘Even though I’m aspiring so hard to be a positive role model and innovate and create change in my communities, I wouldn’t want anyone to be like me right now.’” - Jamin Heppell

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jamin Heppell. Jamin is a founding director and leadership coach of his company Mountains and Marathons; a transformational leadership development organization that delivers life-changing coaching programs for entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders. Jamin really turns this podcast ON ITS HEAD when he brings his experience with Internal Family Systems, better known as IFS or Parts Work, to the forefront. He introduces the concept, models it, and then guides Ashanti through this spiritual, metaphysical process… LIVE ON THE AIR.

(2:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(13:30) Jamin introduces himself, his background, and his work as a leadership coach.

(16:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, dedicated, caring, hard-working - and how his intense level of care can be a burden. They address the question: Is it possible to care so much and not carry a burden?

(28:05) Jamin shares the front of his mask - warmth, groundedness, inspiration.

(31:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worry, self-doubt - and he reflects on dealing with some disruptive students at a recent workshop.

(45:00) Jamin shares the back of his mask - inner-critic, little boy, shame, unworthiness - and explores the vulnerability of inviting others to things and receiving “no’s” and no responses.

(51:30) Jamin shares the process he undergoes in order to have conversations with himself - his many parts - and ultimately heal. This is called Internal Family Systems (IFS) or parts work.

(57:30) Jamin guides Ashanti through the IFS process.

(1:13:00) Jamin and Ashanti recap the IFS process and share closing remarks.

(1:16:30) Jamin shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jamin Heppell:

Instagram: instagram.com/jaminheppell

Business: instagram.com/mountainsandmarathons

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

Donofriend, or Donovan Taylor Hall, joins Ashanti Branch, a master educator with 20+ years of experience in schools, to talk about what they are reflecting on as educators and what they’re seeing in the halls of modern-day schools. Donovan is an experienced teacher and positive youth development expert who travels around the country speaking at schools and pushing into classrooms. Learn more about him in episode 152.

Topics include: video games, core values, extrinsic/intrinsic motivation, “call-out” vs. “call-in”, “book smart” vs. “street smart”, being a warm demander, and shared humanity amongst teachers and students.

(0:00) Welcome!

(1:30) Donovan and Ashanti introduce themselves.

(4:00) Student behavior, engagement, and distractions

(7:00) Video games and what they teach us about students

(11:00) Making education entertaining

(15:00) Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation

(17:00) Core values

(25:00) Safe vs. unsafe schools; accountability

(30:00) Warm demander - running out of warm

(34:00) When to “call-out” students, and desire for attention

(40:00) “Book smart” vs. “Street smart”

(43:00) Getting teachers more classroom management tools

(45:00) Teachers showing humanity; dropping ego

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Connect with Donovan Taylor Hall:

Website: www.donovantaylorhall.com

Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @donofriend

Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

“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 to share from. The boyhood energy is the bridge to get to the vulnerability for us.” - Noam Raucher

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Noam Raucher. As a spiritual coach, men’s coach, rabbi, classroom teacher, and father of two, Noam navigates many roles at home and in the community. Because of this, Noam is deeply reflective about masculinity, as it relates to his inner-critic and the spiritual stories connected to the critic inside all of us. We hope you enjoy this engaging conversation!

(1:25) Ashanti's introduction.

(6:50) Noam introduces himself, his work in the classroom and in coaching, and his identity and Jewish faith. He and Ashanti discuss the significance of finding meaning in life, and the role education plays.

(15:20) Noam shares the front of his mask - strong, smart, compassionate.

(17:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, intense, funny - and he and Noam discuss how they are learning to celebrate themselves and wrestle with their inner critic more often.

(29:35) Noam shares the back of his mask - depression, questionable self-worth, “stupid?”, failure.

(31:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, self-doubt, worry/letting go.

(37:20) Noam and Ashanti discuss and dissect all of the markers of traditional masculinity that are reinforced by what our culture defines as "attractive".

(48:50) Then, Noam and Ashanti consider what it really means to be on a team, and what it would take for men to be more open to asking for help.

(52:20) Noam shares some last words for the listeners and how you can reach out to him.

---

Connect with Noam Raucher:

Website: RabbiRaucher.com

Facebook: facebook.com/noam.raucher

Instagram: instagram.com/noamraucher

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noam-raucher-20933b164

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“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.  He is the author of  three books: “Talking Back to Dr. Phil”, “Revisioning Activism”, and “You Can’t Judge a Body by Its Cover.” David believes that being ashamed and emotionally hidden plays far too great of a role in how our society behaves and interacts. To counteract this behavior he believes in allowing the back of the mask to breathe and express its beauty. In this conversation, David and Ashanti do just that.

(1:55) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:25) David introduces himself and his focus on depth psychology and shame. Then, he and Ashanti discuss what it takes to come back to one’s self and cleanse oneself from all of the conditioning we’ve received in life.

(13:50) David unpacks his Jewish heritage and how it dictates some of the choices he makes in subconscious ways.

(19:50) David shares the front of his mask - teacher, writer, feeling/vulnerability.

(21:35) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, resting frown face, funny.

(29:35) Ashanti gives David some details about his life, background, and work, as well as his communities attitude toward education. 

(41:40) David shares the back of his mask - nighttime hell, exhaustion, terror - and how he finds beauty and belonging in his terrors.

(49:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worry, self-doubt, I go to church, inner battle.

(53:30) David shares how you can get in touch with him, as well as some final thoughts on suffering.

Connect with David Bedrick:

Instagram: instagram.com/david.bedrick

Website: davidbedrick.com

Facebook: facebook.com/david.bedrick.9

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support 

This episode originally aired on November 28, 2023.

“As much as people think I’m in my dad’s shadow, in many ways I live my life to NOT be like him. And even though my dad was a psychologist, I always felt like he wasn’t terribly emotional.” - Matt Englar-Carlson

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson. Matt is a professor of counseling and the director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on healthy/prosocial forms of masculinities, social justice, diversity issues in psychological training and practice, and theories of psychotherapy. In many ways, Matt is an originator in the psychology space when it comes to encouraging healthy and positive masculinity in school settings, and Matt also is the lead men’s health clinical researcher for the first men’s mental health app, Mental. Please enjoy this conversation! Like Matt, it’s equal parts informative, entertaining, and emotional :)

---

(5:30) Matt introduces himself, his passions, and how he helps boys and men seek help more effectively.

(10:00) Matt shares the front of his mask - engaged, carefree, together - and how his words have changed from age 30 to age 50.

(11:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, passionate - and provides some thoughts on Senator Markwayne Mullin and Teamsters President Sean O'Brien.

(17:10) Matt shares the back of his mask - the weight of responsibility, grief, shame.

(19:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - the weight of responsibility, worry, self-doubt.

(22:15) Matt looks back on his childhood and how he had a proclivity for psychology and gender studies.

(30:40) Matt shares what he has noticed in his college students and “how men have been changing.”

(37:30) Ashanti and Matt reflect on how students emote and ask for help differently.

(42:00) Ashanti and Matt take time to consider the alarming rates of death by suicide amongst men. Then, Matt shares how he is involved with the app, Mental.

(48:30) Matt shares some final thoughts and how you can get in touch with him.

---

Connect with Matt Englar-Carlson:

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/drmattec⁠

The Mental App: ⁠instagram.com/thementalapp⁠

Website: ⁠hhd.fullerton.edu/counsel/faculty/MattEnglarCarlson.php⁠

---

Create your own mask anonymously at ⁠millionmask.org⁠

Email us questions and comments at ⁠totmpod100@gmail.com⁠ 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/branchspeaks⁠

Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch⁠

Website: ⁠branchspeaks.com⁠

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠ 

Ever 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 in education circles.

(7:20) Ashanti walks Earl through his first time making a mask.

(11:05) Earl and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks. Earl - engaging, hopeful, strong, Ashanti - caring, hard working, dedicated.

(13:55) Earl shares the back of his mask - domestic violence perpetrator and victim, vulnerability, when I’m hurt or sad. He reflects on his tendency to withdraw from vulnerable situations, while still seeking the relief derived from sharing. He also shares how he feels like the traits on the front and back of his mask can be taken advantage of.

(16:05) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, childhood trauma. He shares how social media has put himself in touch with a multitude of fears. Earl then encourages Ashanti by taking the tortoise and the hare fable to the next level, and Ashanti reflects on how he has become older and wiser.

(23:22) Ashanti and Earl find commonality in their respective careers in education, as well as their lives as students in the very same city and system that they serve.

(28:00) Ashanti and Earl break down Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Masks”, and what it means for both students and adults in the education system.

(30:35) Earl shares his experiences, important learnings, and regrets as a father.

(35:44) Earl gives a message to young people who may be hesitant to make a mask.

(36:55) Earl shares how you can get in touch with him.

---

Connect with Earl Crawford Jr.

Instagram: instagram.com/encjr81

Twitter: twitter.com/encjr81

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/earl-c-40646014

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

“I had a car crash where I was lucky to survive. My best friend was in the car, and we were very fortunate we didn’t die. It was a period where I was very off the rails and I was using alcohol to cope - a drunk driving incident where the whole car was crushed in half. It became the biggest news story in the country.” - Nick Bracks

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nick Bracks. Growing up in one of the most famous political families in Australia, Nick was exposed to life in the public eye since he was 12 years old. Struggling to cope with depression and anxiety through substance abuse, Nick first gained notoriety in his early 20s through a publicly documented car crash that nearly killed himself and his best friend. The drunk driving incident became a catalyst for Nick to turn his life around, exposing his mental health issues and allowing him to get the help he desperately needed. Since then, Nick has developed a successful public speaking career dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental illness through storytelling.

(0:55) Ashanti’s introduction.

(8:50) Nick introduces himself, his childhood in the media, and how struggling in the public eye prepared him for the mental health work he does now.

(10:50) Nick and Ashanti make their masks together.

(14:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, passionate.

(17:35) Nick shares the front of his mask - vulnerability, empathy, passion.

(19:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of…, self-doubt, what’s next - success or failure.

(22:40) Nick shares the back of his mask - failures, don’t always speak my mind/people pleasing, not enough, money - and he and Ashanti discuss how they both tend to people please more than they’d like.

(29:55) Nick looks back on his life and childhood in the spotlight, how it conditioned his behavior, and how he eventually reclaimed control of his narrative.

(37:10) Nick tells Ashanti about a life-saving speech he delivered.

(43:50) Nick shares a final message with the audience and how you can get in touch with him.

---

Connect with Nick Bracks:

Website: nickbracks.com

Nick’s Newest Venture: moveyourmind.io

Instagram: instagram.com/nickbracks

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

“When I’m having a good time, I feel like my soul and my spirit are in the room. They’re both present and in the room. And if I’m not enjoying myself, then I feel like I’m disconnected from those bigger parts of myself.” - Ken Mossman

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ken Mossman. An executive and leadership coach who’s specialized in working with men for two decades, Ken has an international clientele from a wide range of industries – from finance, academia, and tech, to entrepreneurship, medicine, and the arts. Ken imagines a world in which all people are valued and experience a sense of belonging and wholeness, and he’s found that helping leaders lead with presence and heart is the best way he can help realize what he imagines for the world. We’re excited for you to learn about Ken’s approach to the work, his creativity, and his internal struggle as he seeks to achieve his vision…

(0:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(2:55) Ken introduces himself and looks back on the blessings he’s had while living a creative life and working many jobs to support it.

(9:45) Ken shares the front of his mask - fun, inspiring, big-hearted.

(14:55) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - creativity, serious, loving - and thinks about why it has taken so long to put “loving” on the front of his mask.

(25:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worry, self-doubt - and tells the story of an “Ask Me Anything” gone wrong.

(30:55) Ken shares the back of his mask - jealousy, entitlement, arrogance - and how he oscillates between the extremes of grandiosity and insignificance.

(39:50) Ken explains what he does in his men’s work and how he creates a sense of emotional safety.

(47:10) Ken shares some final thoughts for the audience and shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Ken Mossman:

Podcast: kenmossman.com/podcast

Website: kenmossman.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ken-mossman-3649b5

Facebook: facebook.com/ken.mossman.79

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---
Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

“We have to get over the idea that every problem can be fixed…

‘If there’s no logical solution, then is it worth thinking about?’

The answer is yeah, absolutely. There are so many problems in life that we’re never going to solve, but we should still think about them and talk about them.” - Tim Mousseau

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Tim Mousseau. As a survivor of sexual violence, Tim refused to let the incident control him. As someone who now controls his own story, speaking and advocating at universities, Fortune 1000 companies, and Congressional offices, he’ll be the first to tell you that the work he does on his emotions and identity will never be finished or “fixed” - it’s just an ongoing process. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Tim and gain strength and insight!

(1:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:10) Tim introduces himself and his work, which involves speaking about and researching sexual violence prevention, harassment prevention, and masculinity.

(7:05) Tim shares the front of his mask - knowledgeable, driven, courageous - and how these three words relate to his work and his personal story.

(10:55) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, dedicated, passionate - as it relates to leadership and motivating others. Then, they discuss what happens when work takes over your identity, and the phenomenon Tim calls “resting bro face.”

(17:35) Tim shares the back of his mask - listless, isolated, fragmented - and how he is still reconciling the dueling and disparate aspects of his identity.

(21:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - survivor remorse, doubt: writer and father, worried about youth. Then, he ponders why he hesitated to share the first section on the back of his mask. And Tim breaks down how our culture needs to improve how we handle disclosing survivorship.

(33:25) Often, men have been discouraged from showing both their joyful nature and their sadness, weakness, or victimhood. Ashanti and Tim discuss how to get men out of the restrictions that come from both sides of their emotions.

(44:05) For many men, the logical and rational side of the brain is valued over the emotional side. Ashanti and Tim talk about why this is problematic, and how this leads to the mentality that everything must always be “fixed.”

(49:55) Tim shares how survivors can reach a point in life where the story doesn’t control them, and they control the story.

(56:55) Tim shares how you can get in touch with him.

---

Connect with Tim Mousseau:

Website: timmousseau.com

Instagram: instagram.com/tim_mousseau

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tim-mousseau

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever 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, serious, and hard working.

(15:00) Chris shares the back of his mask - failure, anxiety, and vulnerability. He reflects on how the function of vulnerability, to him, is tied to history, social class, and privilege - especially as someone who came from homelessness and poverty.

(17:42) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear (not enough), sadness, and childhood trauma. It prompts him to reflect on how comparing himself to others gives him the feelings of not being enough, and how being prideful and bragging about his accomplishments was conditioned out of him at a young age.

(20:30) The men continue to discuss how class and privilege play a huge role in someone’s comfort with vulnerability. They talk about the turning point, when embarrassment becomes a badge of honor, in our “culture of conquering.” They talk about how, as public speakers, the audience’s class and comfort dictate what they share while on the stage.

(30:00) Ashanti shares how he was battling Covid-19 when he was a guest on Chris’s podcast. It leads to a discussion on why, even with those we are close to, we still hold back our vulnerability.

(36:45) Chris breaks down how everything in life comes down to safety and security. Ashanti relates this back to his work and his own childhood - how he, and now the young men he works with, sought safety and security, feared judgment and consequences, and did not yet know how to communicate the discomfort behind this search.

(44:00) Chris shares his thoughts on how to encourage more people to make a mask and be vulnerable. He also gives a brief history of a similar platform to the Million Mask Movement, called PostSecret.

(47:45) Chris shares his final thoughts for young listeners, and then the men wrap up.

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Connect with Chris Ategeka:

Instagram: instagram.com/chrisategeka

Twitter: twitter.com/chrisategeka

Website and podcast: www.christopherategeka.com

---

Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

---

Send in a voice message:

https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

*APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE AUDIO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

In this episode, Ashanti is joined by Camren Stepter, a college student from Kentucky State University with aspirations of becoming an educator and eventually a principal. Camren's journey is deeply rooted in community service, volunteering, and mentoring youth, driven by his passion for making a positive impact on future generations.

Topics include: being the class clown, turning your life around, self-improvement, community service, mentoring, leadership, college campuses, aspiring to be an educator and principal, breaking out of cycles, getting unstuck

(03:34) Front of Ashanti’s Mask

(05:56) Front of Camren’s Mask

(07:54) Ashanti, Camren, and Camren’s DAD’s origin story

(09:19) Back of Ashanti’s Mask

(11:25) Back of Camren’s Mask, and Camren’s upbringing

(16:00) Tech Difficulties

(22:00) Camren’s on campus community, Brothers Redefining the Odds

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Connect with Camren Stepter:

Camren’s Instagram/full inspirational story: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_IyxAqxIrW/

---

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

“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.

Visiting the mirror is considered a ceremony. And this ceremony has a name: The Death Ceremony.

(0:30) Ashanti makes some announcements about what’s going on at the Ever Forward Club. Then, he describes his visit to Sacred Sons’ Convergence 6, up on the Oregon coast, and “The Death Ceremony.”

(12:25) Ashanti approaches and explains “The Death Ceremony.”

(15:35) Ashanti begins the ceremony. He looks himself in the mirror. He reflects on what he sees and recalls what he used to see in the mirror as a child.

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

---

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club

“There was a point where I woke up on my birthday and I could not breathe. And every time I took a breath, it felt like I was having a heart attack. I went to the hospital, and they could not figure out what it was…” - Ryan Rigoli

In this episode, Ashanti welcomes Ryan Rigoli, a Spiritual Coach & Teacher, Musician, and Monk with Celebrating Life Ministries. Ryan shares his journey of profound healing through forgiveness, self-understanding, and grace, and he now supports others in awakening their hearts and accessing inner wisdom. A Stanford University graduate, Ryan has spoken at prestigious venues including, Stanford Business School and Wisdom 2.0. He also composes and produces meditative piano albums, including his latest, 'Harmony', a collaboration with his father aimed at helping people experience inner peace.

(0:00) Welcome 

(1:20) Ryan introduces himself

(6:26) Front of Ryan’s Mask

(9:28) Front of Ashanti’s Mask

(10:10) Bullying, and when a student curses at you

(17:28) Back of Ryan’s Mask

(22:58) Back of Ashanti’s Mask

(24:15) Bullying, and when a student curses at you, cont’d

(29:55) “Being a lion allows you to be a lamb”

(36:49) Ryan on working with clients

(40:25) Ryan’s experience with bullying

(47:02) How music helped cure Ryan’s physical and emotional ailments(49:51) Closing

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Connect with Ryan Rigoli:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.rigoli 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.rigoli 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanrigoli 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3eWHsgpUZAGt3AKevu49FH 

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ryan-rigoli/1311115109 

Website: http://www.ryanrigoli.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com --- Connect with Ashanti Branch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ --- Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support --- Connect with Ever Forward Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ 

“It’s hard to be the last strong pillar in a breaking-down house. It’s really challenging. Sometimes you just have to understand that the house is breaking down. And it’s always okay to rebuild.” - Theo Coker-Edwards

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Theo Coker-Edwards. Theo is a college athlete based in Albany, New York. And in Alameda, as a high schooler, he started and ran his own restorative justice program. IT NEEDS TO BE SAID, Theo is a college freshman who’s mature beyond his years; he is WISE. Please enjoy his thoughts on “the self”, conflict resolution, humility, and his mother - of course. What’s beautiful about Theo is that he understands both his vulnerabilities and his privileges. This came from a lot of self-reflection, and readings of spiritual texts like the Rastafari Bible. And as a result his honesty and self-awareness, his groundedness, is magnetic.

(6:00) Theo introduces himself, his hometown, and his work in restorative justice.

(8:30) Theo and Ashanti make their masks together.

(12:20) Theo shares the front of his mask - funny, college athlete, charismatic.

(13:40) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, caring - and they discuss the “fronts” society expects is to put on.

(19:10) Theo shares the back of his mask - mental health issues, insecurity, the desire to be wanted/needed - and how he never sees himself as enough.

(22:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, fear, worry - and the helplessness he feels when caring for his brother.

(27:00) Theo explains how some religious texts have helped him adjust his perspective and approach life with humility. Then, he shares some beautiful thoughts about his mother.

(36:00) Ashanti and Theo discuss conflict resolution, and picking your battles when you have a different perspective from someone.

(39:00) Theo holds a lot of wisdom and roundedness at a young age. He looks back on his childhood and the formation of his personality/EQ.

(42:00) Theo and Ashanti continue to discuss human behavior, triggers, and how we are all capable of different levels of good and bad - based on circumstances.

(49:20) Theo shares a final message for young people.

---

Connect with Theo Coker-Edwards:

Instagram: instagram.com/theo__coker

Twitter: twitter.com/TheoCoker4

---

Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

---

Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Sagun, a former Oaklander, a Certified Professional Men’s Coach, and an EVRYMAN Facilitator.

(1:20) Ashanti’s introduction

(3:50) Mike shares his background, as a business owner, men’s coach, and Bay Area native.

(6:00) After an early break in the production, Ashanti and Mike ruminate on the responsibilities of a leader.

(10:53) Mike and Ashanti discuss how they met in Oakland and Joshua Tree, and open up a general discussion on how masks function in our society and play a role in the social media era.

(18:15) Mike goes into more detail about the men’s spaces he leads and the unmasking that goes on, before Ashanti relates this to his own work with youth in the Ever Forward Club.

(25:35) The men begin to share their masks. The front of Mike’s mask prompts conversation about his experiences as a theater performer, and what it’s like to “perform” while holding in genuine trauma from real life.

(28:13) Ashanti shares the front of his mask, and the men discuss the idea that the front of the mask is a coping mechanism that is subconsciously dealing with the true feelings behind the mask.

(35:40) Mike shares the back of his mask, and how at a young age he was trained to hide anger and embarrassment.

(39:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask, and how navigating different expectations between home and in the outside world led to struggles with how to properly express his anger. It also prompts a discussion about self-worth, and the habit of comparing his work and organization with others around him.

(45:40) The men further their discussion about anger, and how their relationship with anger has matured over time, now understanding it as a “guardian of boundaries.”

(48:55) Ashanti shares how, at a young age, his anger was taken over by rage, an expression of his frustrations behind the mask.

(51:22) Mike pushes the audience to try taking off their masks, and gradually raise the bar for themselves over time. He then shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Mike:

Website: www.mikesagun.com

Instagram: @mike.sagun

Facebook: Mike Sagun Coaching, LLC

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at everforwardclub@gmail.com

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

The new chapter of the podcast, TALKING TO TEACHERS, begins on November 5th, 2024. Meanwhile, we’ll be IN THE LAB creating it! Plus, learn more about our upcoming Young Men’s Conference, on November 16th, 2024.

Topics include: getting in fights at school, self-talk, negative self-talk, our Young Men’s conference

(0:00) Welcome

(1:00) Getting in fights, and me being “the best (or worst) of the bad students”

(4:40) Esparto High School - what happens when people laugh at someone saying “I hate myself.”

(11:00) Learn about our Young Men’s Conference

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Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Attend our Young Men’s Conference: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw6tfn3lZrkBxZRqSqHjTTeygRNIgwk0KKgHRcwlclaS1xag/viewform 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/