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#

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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