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

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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 [email protected]

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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