unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students

Ashanti Branch is joined by Blair Daly, a dedicated advocate for boys and men in Washington state. As the founder of the Washington Initiative for Boys and Men, Blair leads efforts in advocacy journalism and grassroots political advocacy to enhance the well-being of boys, male youth, and men in the state. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington and earned his bachelor's degree from Whitworth University. 

After college, he spent four years living in Malaysia and later drummed in a rock band in Seattle for three years. Outside of his professional life, Blair enjoys baseball, basketball, pickleball, and ping-pong.

Topics include: special interest groups, lobbying for men, getting male perspective and advocacy into government, depression, divorce, confronting grief, & family

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(0:00) Intro

(7:20) Blair introduces himself

(11:07) Front of Blair’s mask, his athleticism, and his older brother

(14:56) Front of Ashanti’s mask and the boundaries he’s working on

(22:14) Back of Blair’s mask, his history with depression, and being a child of divorce

(26:15) When is it appropriate to share difficult things with others(28:17) Back of Ashanti’s mask and an emergency with his sister

(34:30) What are you thinking vs. what are you feeling

(37:07) Grief, and the different ways we handle it - healthy and unhealthy

(43:22) Special interest groups for men

(46:00) A State Commission on Boys and Men

(49:21) Closing

(51:00) Final words from Blair

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Connect with Blair Daly:

Website: https://waboysandmen.org/

Website: https://wibm.us/

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

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

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

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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 [email protected] 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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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/

Two high schoolers come together in this TOTM Face to Face conversation. Our host, Wenceslao, is joined by Andres, a senior at Skyline High School in Oakland, CA, and a member of Youth Beat. ➡️➡️➡️ Youth Beat is an incredible organization that provides free digital media instruction for disadvantaged Bay Area students.

A future filmmaker, Andres finds common ground and shared humanity with Wenceslao. They share an interest in arts and self-expression; they both have biological fathers that live in Texas rather than with them in the Bay Area; they love accessorizing with rings and bracelets; and they both miss their grandparents.

(0:00) Intro

(8:22) Front of Andres’s mask

(10:54) Front of Wenceslao’s mask

(11:56) Back of Andres’s mask

(14:17) Back of Wenceslao’s mask

(15:25) A poem about beauty from Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet”

(18:55) Card #1 from Ever Forward Club’s The Adventure Card Game

(22:52) Card#2 from the Adventure Card Game

(27:59) Card #3 from the Adventure Card Game

(29:50) Andres’s love of filmmaking

(44:28) How Youth Beat and The Ever Forward Club could collaborate

(48:57) Closing remarks

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Connect with Youth Beat: https://youthbeat.org/

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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 [email protected] 

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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/

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 [email protected] 

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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/

Charles is a Christian, a father of two, a Recruitment Manager, and Ashanti’s COLLEGE ROOMATE! Charles loves helping people advance in their careers and developing a strategy for life. He’s currently spending much of his time outside of work studying for a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Topics include: being diagnosed with ADHD, leaving Los Angeles for Wisconsin and how changing environments can change lives, raising snakes in a college dorm, feeding snakes (with rodents!) in a college dorm, food stamps in college, negative self-talk and how it affects student behavior, 30 years of friendship, and self-esteem.

(0:00) Intro

(6:20) Charles introduces himself

(5:54) How Ashanti and Charles met

(11:30) Front of Charles’s mask

(12:49) Front of Ashanti's mask

(16:40) Ashanti’s snake story

(20:15) Food stamps in college

(25:50) Charles growing up in LA

(34:30) Back of Charles’s mask

(43:20) Back of Ashanti's mask

(48:00) Self-esteem and self-image

(51:35) California college tour memories

(54:20) Charles is a “cactus friend”

(55:00) Closing and "main character syndrome"

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Connect with Charles Smith:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Careerengineer4u

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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 [email protected] 

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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/

Johnny is the 26-year-old founder of Hey Brother Co., a men's work organization committed to reshaping the contemporary narrative of masculinity to promote a safer, more abundant world for all. As a survivor of domestic violence and a rigidly patriarchal upbringing, Johnny prides himself on his ability to transmute his painful lived experiences and traumas into opportunities for others to heal.

Topics include: Having a father in the South African Border War & “Murder Battalion”; ketamin-assisted mirror work; negative self-talk; teaching in America vs. more appreciative countries; and Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and young men.

(0:00 Intro

(6:20) Johnny introduces himself

(8:25) Front of Ashanti’s mask

(10:46) Switching from the traditional “wealth path” to teaching

(17:08) Front of Johnny’s mask - and wearing CPTSD on the front of his mask20:24 Being our own worst friend

(24:44) Back of Ashanti’s mask

(27:40) Back of Johnny’s mask - ketamin-assisted mirror work and negative self-talk

(31:55) Throwing away old recordings, literal and figurative

(38:04) Johnny’s observations about young men

(39:14) What’s up with young men

(45:34) Johnny’s background with abuse, patriarchy, and ultimately healing

(54:19) Closing

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Connect with Johnny Cole:

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

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

Website: http://heybrotherco.com

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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 [email protected] 

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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/

In this episode of Taking off the Mask, host Ashanti Branch welcomes Wesley Spence. Wesley is a 19-year-old entrepreneur, barber, and owner/operator of a clothing brand called iconicc22. Is comparison truly the thief of joy? Wesley and Ashanti delve into topics such as self-awareness, personal growth, and the journey to becoming the best version of oneself while finding common ground as entrepreneurs and fans of the book “The Alchemist.”

(0:00) Intro

(9:40) Front of Ashanti’s Mask. What he lets people see

(12:40) Front of Wesley’s Mask. What he lets people see.

(18:00) Back of Ashanti’s Mask. What he doesn’t let people see.

(21:30) Back of Wesley’s Mask. What he doesn’t let people see.

(23:20) Comparison being the thief of joy, while building a business

(24:30) Talking about the book “The Alchemist”

(29:05) Stoicism and how Wesley embraces it

(33:54) What’s happening with young men in Wesley’s community?

(46:00) Wrapping up and Wesley’s message to young people

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Connect with Wesley Spence:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ww3sleyy

Get a Haircut!: https://www.instagram.com/yeswescutss/

Clothing: https://www.instagram.com/iconicc22/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@userarchive22

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

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

Email us questions and comments at [email protected] 

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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/

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/

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

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments 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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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: 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 [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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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: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Join Ashanti and Matthew in a candid conversation about self-awareness, emotional/nervous system regulation, fatherhood, and the complexities of personal growth. Matthew has been a father since 2016 and a husband since 2013. He authors short, illustrated men's fiction for book clubs, men's groups, dad groups, and male studies courses. He Kickstarted his first book in 2011, called “Tulie’s Garden”, about his inner journey from boyhood to manhood—acknowledged by co-founder Bill Kauth of the Mankind Project as "soul poetry of worthy masculinity." His second book in progress, “Alexandra & the Moon”, is a story for mindful fathers raising spirited daughters.

(0:00) Introduction and overview of the episode's themes.

(05:29) Reminiscing about their early days together.

(13:30) The front of Matthew’s mask

(14:39) The front of Ashanti’s mask

(18:11) The back of Matthew’s mask

(18:20) Reflections on the role of fatherhood in personal growth and storytelling.

(24:00) The back of Ashanti’s mask

(32:00) Exploring the concept of nervous system regulation for emotional well-being.

(45:16) Closing remarks, acknowledgments, and information on how to contact Matthew.

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Connect with Matthew Sloane:

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

Website: https://fatherhood-dojo.com/

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments 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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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: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

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