“Public speaking has always made me very very nervous, on a neurological level. So there’s a part of me that feels safe when I’m writing because I can spend a really long time working through one sentence. And also I can make sure that it’s padded by all of the caveats…” - Jason Rogers

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Rogers. Jason is an Olympic medalist in fencing and a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine. As an Olympic medalist, he spent most of his life conforming to unhealthy expectations of manhood. Now, he spends his time undoing these expectations by writing about the evolving state of masculinity. Jason and Ashanti share their masks, analyze the phenomenon of “public vulnerability”, and create space for a writer and a speaker to share where they lack confidence. Enjoy the show!

(2:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(8:40) Jason introduces himself and his work. Then, he and Ashanti look back on how they first connected.

(11:45) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, funny, caring - and he examines the cracks in his mask that come from his childhood.

(19:30) Jason shares the front of his mask - nice!, confident, easygoing - and how he found himself performing for the approval of others throughout his life.

(24:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - doubt, overwhelmed, fear - and opens up with some of the struggles of his work.

(29:00) Jason and Ashanti take a step back and ask the question, “why do we share publicly?” “Why are we publicly vulnerable?”

(32:40) Jason shares the back of his mask - selfish, judgmental, stressed - and how these elements of himself are habits within him that he is reconciling.

(35:30) Jason and Ashanti come back to the idea of public vulnerability.

(40:45) Ashanti examines how, as a public speaker, he struggles with writing. Then, Jason examines how, as a writer, he struggles with public speaking.

(50:45) Jason shares a final message and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jason Rogers:

Website: mandateletter.substack.com

Instagram: instagram.com/jasonrogersusa/

Twitter: twitter.com/JasonRogersUSA

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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 [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

Website: branchspeaks.com

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message