“If anything, you’re on a journey. And if you want to use a metaphor of a kayak in a river, don’t worry about who’s looking on the shores. It’s just you and your paddle and the water.” - Tu David Phu

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Tu David Phu. Tu is a renowned chef. You may recognize him from Bravo’s television show, “Top Chef”, or write-ups from the San Francisco Chronicle, or his documentary that aired on PBS, “Bloodline.” Tu boils life down to “living and loving righteously”. And he does this through filmmaking and “food justice” - whether it be sharing the therapeutic powers of cooking with incarcerated men, serving the Asian American community, or being a champion for sustainable cooking. His attitudes toward justice, masculinity, and power narratives were shaped at a young age. Enjoy learning about Chef Tu’s masks in this episode!

(2:10) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:40) Ashanti and Tu discuss how America’s definition of masculinity is defined by violent Eurocentric narratives, which differ from many cultures around the world.

(10:30) Then, Ashanti and Tu look back on their childhood, and how narratives and systems that emasculate certain young men and boys strip them of their authentic identity.

(27:40) Tu shares some of the masks he encounters in the world of food and media, and how he is trying to live by what he preaches.

(32:20) Tu and Ashanti discuss the relationship between sports and the dominant masculine culture, and how it shields young minds off from a world of possibilities, careers, successes, and passions.

(40:40) Ashanti and Tu make their masks together.

(47:25) Tu shares the front of his mask - I am big and strong, I have tattoos, I am a chef - and the back of his mask - I cry, I do a baby voice with my puppies, I’ve experienced abuse.

(54:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, dedicated - and the back of his mask - fear of failure, momma is so important to me, worry about being enough.

(59:10) Tu shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Tu David Phu:

Website: cheftu.com

Watch “Bloodline”: cheftu.com/watch

Social Media: @cheftudavidphu

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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

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